My thoughts on Citizen Kane
Like a few others before me have already stated, I wouldn't put Citizen Kane on my list of the top movies of all time, simply because there are many other more modern movies (1990-present) that I would prefer watching over it. However, given the technical achievements, solid acting, and a tragic storyline illustrating the dangers of money and power which I think will "stand the test of time" (I think it can be applied to any time period), I can see why many people consider Citizen Kane as one of the best movies of all time. It became obvious that the film was ahead of its time after watching just the first five minutes of the movie. The rain pattering down, the camera's jerky movements as it approached Zanadu, and the ominous music instantly set the mood for the rest of the movie, and showed some of the "special effects" that Welle's was capable of during that time. It was amazing to me how real Zanadu looked, and how big it was for not being an actual house. As for the storyline, it is interesting that the character of Kane is modeled after William Randolph Hearst, a real newspaper tycoon who basically monopolized the entire business in the late 19th and early 20th centuries (I visited "Hearst Castle" [the real-life version of Zanadu] this summer with my dad, and it is just as big as the movie depicts it.) I wonder what he thought of the movie, given he was still alive when it was released. The message of the movie was clear and important: money cannot buy love, or true happiness. Kane thought he had everything, until he realized that all the money in the world couldn't get his wives to love him. I think many people could listen to his advice as they pursue their own "American Dream". All in All I think Citizen Kane was a great technical achievement, and has a message which will ring true for the rest of time, which is probably why Citizen Kane can still be found at the top of many people's list of the best movies ever made.