Yvonne: Where were you last night?
Rick: That's so long ago, I don't remember.
Yvonne: Will I see you tonight?
Rick: I never make plans that far ahead.

There are obviously lots of famous quotes from Casablanca but that one had a special ring to it. I liked it both because it was quick and witty and because the second line (I never make plans that far ahead) gets recycled by Ilsa during the Paris flashback.

For me the best thing about Netflix is I force myself to add movies to my queue that I otherwise wouldn't watch, like Casablanca. Sure, this is a great piece of classic cinema. But I find as I watch these great old movies that I really don't enjoy them all that much. They're interesting to watch, and I recognize their quality - but the style just doesn't jive with me.

I think it's the lack of subtlety in the filmmaking. The dialog is choppy and unnatural. The cameras are static. The music is overpowering and forceful. Filmmaking has come a long way, especially in the last 20 years, and I must admit I'm shallow enough to really like the improvements.

Sure, these old films have great sentimental value. But I challenge you to put the great films of the past up next to the great films of today and claim the movies of the past are better. Like many areas today's films are better because they get the benefits of fifty years of progress.

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