Long movies

[W0m6at]

I like miniseries, and I like long movies. Not all of them, but movies in longer form seem to have more room to "stretch their legs" as it were. I've not seen vast numbers of either, but they entice me... so I looked through my collection, and also recalled some long movies I've seen but don't own. For movies over 3hrs in length I came up with:

The Lord of the Rings (Extended) trilogy (683 / 11:23) [2001-2003]
20th Century Boys (437 / 7:17) [2008-2009]
Cleopatra (premiere version) (244 / 6:04) [1963]
Red Cliff (286 / 4:46) [2008/2009]
Dr. Mabuse - Der Spieler (270 / 4:30) [1922]
Che (134+135 = 269 / 4:29) [2008]
Die Nibelungen: Siegfried / Kriemhild's Revenge (291 / 4:51) [1924]
Gone with the Wind (224 / 3:44) [1939]
The Ten Commandments (222 / 3:42) [1956]
Lawrence of Arabia (218 / 3:38) [1962]
Back to the Future Parts II & III (104+113 = 217 / 3:37) [1989/1990]
Ben-Hur (213 / 3:33) [1959]
Doctor Zhivago (192 / 3:12) [1965]
The Fall of the Roman Empire (185 / 3:05) [1964]
El Cid (184 / 3:04) [1961]
The Green Mile (181 / 3:01) [1999]

As you can see, things like The Lord of the Rings and Red Cliff where there is one continuous story, only split across multiple releases, I still consider it a single film. The tragic thing is, I've seen very few on the above list. Although it's great for the movie to have the space to spread out and develop, it is often very hard to find the time to watch them (particularly in a single sitting as is my preference).

What are people's opinions on the above movies, and are there any glaring oversights? Right now I'm very keen to check out three off the list - 20th Century Boys, Dr. Mabuse: The Gambler and The Fall of the Roman Empire, but I'm keen to see all on the list at least once.

[Achim]

The Lord of the Rings (Extended) trilogy (683 / 11:23) [2001-2003]
Cleopatra (premiere version) (244 / 6:04) [1963]
Lawrence of Arabia (218 / 3:38) [1962]
Ben-Hur (213 / 3:33) [1959]

Those are the ones I know (although my Cleopatra is not 6:04... ). It's been very long since I have seen Ben Hur. I have watched my DVDs of Cleopatra as well as Lawrence of Arabia. I have watched the LOTR Trilogy earlier this year, in one sitting! It is indeed quite an effort though and difficult to make time for.

The other long films I own and remember without DVD Profiler:
Once Upon A Time In America
Watchmen: Ultimate Edition (not yet watched)
Salem's Lot
The Godfather Trilogy + +
The Last Emperor (Blu-ray not watched yet)

I like long films as well, but it needs a good script and a equally good director to keep us interested for that long...

[Critter]

I love long films myself but find it hard to rewatch them as much as shorter films. I have never had a problem with watching 3 hour plus films though as long as they are good. I remember when I saw the remake of King Kong which went about 3 hours some people I went with were complaining about the length at the end. I honestly didn't even notice it at all, I was so absorbed in the film it could have been 20 minutes for all I knew haha.

[Achim]

I was so absorbed in the film it could have been 20 minutes for all I knew haha.

Well, that is what I meant, what a good film does for ya! Obviously it's subjective...

[Jon]

I like long movies. My favourite of all time is Dances With Wolves, the 4hr+ cut!

I've often said that the extended versions of LoTR made all the difference for me, allowing the story to breathe as it should. But I also like deceptively simple stories, padded out to really get under the skin of characters, like The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, or There Will Be Blood.

And I've just been saying in my Watchmen review, that bloody thing isn't long enough, even in the 3hr+ DC! Ultimate Cut on the way. 

I love the sense of an event that long movies have and appreciate the restored intermissions in films like Lawrence of Arabia. I miss that and it demonstrates the showmanship that a director like Lean could produce a fine, engrossing film, yet not lose sight that it is a performance medium and the audience are part of it. So nothing wrong with a well timed and natural break.

[Touti]

I like long movies too, it gives the viewer more time to learn about the characters and allows really get "wrapped" in the movie.

Around 3 hours long movies I own that weren't mentioned

Kingdom of Heavens Director's Cut
Jack the Ripper (British thing starring Michael Caine....not sure if it should be considered movie or tv series)
The Deer Hunter
Amadeus Director's Cut
Meet Joe Black
Braveheart
American Gangster (I said movies I own.......not good movies I own )
A Bridge Too Far
Grand PRix
The Patriot Extended cut
The Great Escape


And a few long ones I don't own but like.

Wyatt Earp
Open Range
The God Father

[Jimmy]

This is the long one I own (I don't count the mini-series)

1900 (5h16)
Philosophy of a Knife (4h09)
Swedish Erotica Volume Four (3h56, ok it isn't really a film but a collection of loops)
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (3h55)
Once Upon a Time in America (3h47)
JFK : Director's Cut (3h26)
Apocalypse Now: Redux (3h22)
Reds (3h15)
The Deer Hunter (3h03)

Bold = recommanded by me (for what it's worth )

[karmesinrot]

Tbh, I think the longest movies I own are Apocalypto and King Kong. Pretty embarrassing selection

[Jimmy]

Don't worry King Kong would be in my list if I wouldn't have trade it with Pete. Wich was a good think since I dislike this film (the PJ remake of course, even the one from Dino DeLaurentis was better than this).

[karmesinrot]

Well Jimmy I've only seen King Kong twice and I thought it was  mediocre at best. Have never seen the original myself. I did really enjoy the dinosaur scenes though, but I'm a huge dinosaur geek!