See, thats a problem with "classic films". They are so hyped out of all reason that they can't really be anything other than a disappointment, no matter how good they are. If I had just stumbled upon the Godfather films, I'd probably have loved them. As it is I sat down to watch them feeling this should be one of the defining cinematic events of my life...and I enjoyed them sure, but I wouldn't necessarily want to watch them again and again.
Personally I prefer Goodfellas.
Also I find the films that mean most to me are ones I discover for myself, that haven't been hyped at all, have even perhaps been overlooked. Becauase then you feel like you in some way own part of the film. That is why Shawshank is so treasured by many people. It was a failure at the box office and people had no expectation when they saw it. So they feel like it was their discovery.
My "discoveries" include The Iron Giant, Gattaca, The HuRABucker Proxy, Solaris, The Wicker Man, A Simple Plan etc ....films that wouldnt be considered classics but which mean more to me than, say, the Godfather.
Anyway enough of my pretentious waffling.
