sentimental

[2hype]

What exactly does it mean? I've looked it up in several places, but I still don't quite get it. Emotion and feelings don't neccessarily have negative connotations (although they often do in this forum), but pretty much anytime a movie, book, or poem is described as sentimental, it has a negative connotation.

What are some examples of books or movies that deal with feeling and emotion well, and what are some examples that stoop to sentimentality?

[ryan_m_parr]

What exactly does it mean? I've looked it up in several places, but I still don't quite get it. Emotion and feelings don't neccessarily have negative connotations (although they often do in this forum), but pretty much anytime a movie, book, or poem is described as sentimental, it has a negative connotation.

What are some examples of books or movies that deal with feeling and emotion well, and what are some examples that stoop to sentimentality?

Kurosawa movies deal with human plight in ways, that are effective to universal appeal.

I find the connotation of "sentimental" to be a subjective assessment for many, because some people are unafected by certain things where-as other's share an aspect of emotional connection. However, I would claim many fiction books follow under sentimentality, even if not of personal memory; people often lead a fantasy life in certain genre and art which can deride any sense of appreciation for whatever positive aclimation can be dealt from it.