One and Done movies

Somehow Harry Brown is one of the only movies i can't try watching again, because the whole movie feels so threatening and depressing.

Just thinking about that movie sends me into a funk.

Makes sense; it was a quality piece of work. I think it's that I can't separate and enjoy the quality of the film from the history it drew on.

Neither can I. My country was occupied by the Nazi regime. I don't necessarily enjoy the film, per se, but am just thoroughly moved by it. Again and again and again.

I'll probably never fully pay attention to Grave of the Fireflies or Schindler's List again. Both great movies, both should be viewed by practically everyone, but they're both pretty heart-wrenching.

...Sort of? I mean, it didn't feel like a complete rehash or anything, but it is kiiind of similar territory, since it's the same cartel he's dealing with. They take it in some interesting directions though, I think.

I rewatched Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless mind for about the 10th time about 4 days ago. It is such a rewatchable film. Heartbreaking and amazingly crafted.

Came here to say Eraserhead... god, what a film.

I'm pretty sure this topic is Lars Von Trier's bread and butter.

The dude is a talented filmmaker, but holy shit can I not sit through his movies more than once. If I even make it to the credits.

Yep, not very well expressed on my part, I just meant these two movies stand up to repeated viewing as well as not being depressing or hard to watch.

I was just surprised because at most I consider ESOTSM to be bittersweet, and personally I find it heartwarming, the characters are charming and funny (Kate Winslet is just amazing) and I like the way it manages to show what a wonderful thing romantic love can be while also not being scared to show how much it can hurt and how we are prepared to lie to ourselves in search of the romantic dream.

However if it stirs up painful memories for you that is a perfectly understandable reason why you wouldn't want to watch it again, no matter how good it is. I was just very curious how someone could have such an strong reaction to a film I find so appealing. Thanks for explaining.

Oh man, The Conversation is just such an amazing film. It is one of those films which just feels perfect in that it achieves exactly what it sets out to do. I understand why you might not want to watch it again, because it is not exactly a thrill a minute, and this maybe isn't helped by the fact that it has all the trappings of a thriller but is really an intense, paranoid character study.

It is a shame you can't get back into the films of that period, I think it is my favourite era of American filmmaking. Taxi Driver, The Conversation and Chinatown must be 3 of my favourite films of all time and there are just boatloads of other expressive, individual pictures which feel like a real expression of an artists vision, rather than a studio's idea how to make a profit.

I suppose it doesn't help that many of the films of that period are very bleak, cynical and paranoid. I suppose this was all influenced by the political climate in the US at the time, with the Vietnam War, Watergate and then end of the optimism and idealism of the 60's. The Conversation seems like a real reaction to Watergate especially.

Also it was the decade where Gene Hackman ruled and I just love that guy...

Any Takashi Miike movie

Good call. I'll probably never watch Antichrist again.

The Pianist is probably on that list. Really really good but super depressing. The Nazi's throwing a wheelchair bound grandpa off a balcony in front of his family is a scene that's probably always gonna be in my brain and really bums me out when I remember it. Also the Nazi officer who saved the main character dying in prison ultimately was a depressing cap on the movie.

I actually enjoy the Pianist and watch it several times a year. It helps remind me to have faith in humankind even in some of the most dreary of events. One of my all-time favorite films even though it's directed by one of the worst people of all time, Roman Polanski.

Addressing the Eternal Sunshine thing, that's odd to me that you feel that way but I guess it's one of those films that can swing either way. Personally I found it oddly optimistic due to Joel kind of redeeming himself and changing his mind. Of course, the tragedy is that it's too late but still. The darkest part of that film to me is just the premise.

On topic, The Act of Killing has just come to mind, but I also consider it essential viewing. On a side note, Werner Herzog says some of the most profound things (to me) in this interview. "Facts, per se, do not constitute truth" Hear hear.

the Road has Nick Cave music, therefor it's perfect. If you like the road check out Proposition same director Nick Cave writing. It's fucking brutal film, but interesting and dark.

Argh, you peaked my curiosity and now I feel sick.

For me, its the entire Star Wars (1-6) and Lord of the Rings series I watched once and am satisfied. I still might watch a podrace scene or a death star run here and there, but I doubt I'll ever watch any of those movies in their full run time again.

And no, it's not they are essentially trilogies where each movie is several hours long, I'll watch all the Pirates of the Caribbean (yes all 4) movies at least once a year. Same for all the Marvel hero movies and the Dark Knight trilogy.

Also, for a specific single movie, one that comes to mind is Pacific Rim. I liked it, it was a cool movie to watch with my dad (and no one else in the family, it is rare this ever happens) but I don't want to ever see it again. Too many things annoyed me about it that it'll ruin what I like to remember about it

Hey don't blame you illness on me, warning everyone is all I can do from here. Seeing the scene out of context must be even weirder for people….not like seeing it in context helps or anything.

The Wolf Of Wall Street. Great movie, but too long to ever watch again.

I thought I could handle it. Apparently not.

I was actually going to watch the film at one point, but if that's the "highlight" of the film, I might give it a pass.

Mysterious Skin. One of Joseph Gordon Levitt's earlier films, and it is absolutely harrowing (it's about two boys who were sexually abused as kids, and the ways the experience affects them). One of those films where you're just left totally numb by the end of it.

I remember it being a pretty good horror/thriller film. But that is the only scene I remember from watching it 8 years ago. And now you can see why it is the scene I remember.

Fascinating film, totally forgot that one till the reminder right now. I think that film is a perfect example that fits the topic of the op.

I think I'd only consider a movie one-and-done if I thought it was bad.

If a movie is highly disturbing but worthwhile, I would absolutely watch it again if I think I could get more out of it for a repeated viewing. Yeah Oldboy throws real dark in parts, but I think it's also an incredibly beautiful film in a lot of ways and just a mesmerising piece of filmmaking. Fantastic score, too. Yeah, Audition gets messed up, but it's not schlock trash, there's actually something going on there worth thinking about and thus I think it merits at least a second viewing and some effort at an interpretation.

All this thread is doing is making me think that I should watch I Saw The Devil again. That movie is pretty rough, but holy shit, I'd struggle to think of a movie that had me on the edge of my seat more and it was still super thrilling and tense on second viewing.

All that being said, if there's one movie that comes to mind as one that I think very highly of that I'd maybe be hesitant to revisit, it's Dancer In The Dark. I can handle disturbing pretty well, but that movie is just really depressing, I'd be feeling it all day. I don't really love the way Von Trier shot it, but Björk's performance is rather amazing and I think it's otherwise categorically a pretty fantastic film, but OH BOY it's a bummer!

I think emotionally resonant movies, including those that resonate with sad-emotions, will probably impact you differently at different times in your life - and for that reason, if they're good, are worth rewatching.

One and done movies, to me, are bad and mediocre ones (unless they're like, wonderfully bad, of course).

This is pretty much the case for all movies I see nowadays. No interest whatsoever in repeat viewings.