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4th Annual September Criterion Challenge - List Thread

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4th Annual September Criterion Challenge - List Thread

Old 08-28-12, 08:46 PM
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4th Annual September Criterion Challenge - List Thread



LIST THREAD - 30 Days of Criterion
August 31st (dusk) - October 1 (dawn), 2012

This thread is for LISTS ONLY. Discussion of films, questions about the challenge, etc., should be directed to the Discussion Thread. You are; however, encouraged to provide reviews and comments within your list.

Challenge Rules: Watch current or past media from the Criterion Collection. See the Discussion Thread for complete details of what counts.

There is no number goal, no prizes, no winners, no losers. Counting is not necessary, but feel free to format your lists any way you want, including counting titles or even minutes if you are so inclined.

Many people put their checklists in spoiler tags, to allow easier browsing of the list thread by others.

Also, if you are planning to reveal key plots points/endings in your mini reviews, you should put them in spoiler tags. To apply spoiler tags, you can click the spoiler button on the toolbar or use the text below:

[ spoiler] Remove the spaces to really hide something, like this
Spoiler:
The Criterion Collection is a continuing series of important classic and contemporary films on home video.
[ /spoiler]

The challenge officially begins August 31 at dusk in whatever location you are in at the time, and ends on October 1st at dawn in whatever location you are in at that time. Also, feel free to time your final Criterion film(s) to coincide with the start of the Horror Challenge.
Old 08-28-12, 08:46 PM
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Re: 4th Annual September Criterion Challenge - List Thread

Optional Checklist


The checklist is completely optional. It is just a "fun" inclusion to give one a sense of accomplishment, to help one diversify viewing, or to use as a guide on what to watch next.

Watch one film from every decade covered by Criterion.
--- 1920 - (insert film title here)
--- 1930 -
--- 1940 -
--- 1950 -
--- 1960 -
--- 1970 -
--- 1980 -
--- 1990 -
--- 2000 -
--- 2010 (Optional) -

Watch films in at least five languages.
--- First language, (insert language), (insert title).
--- Second language, (insert language), (insert title).
--- Third language, (insert language), (insert title).
--- Fourth language, (insert language), (insert title).
--- Fifth language, (insert language), (insert title).

Watch films from five different directors in Criterion’s top 10 (Kurosawa, Bergman, Ozu, Malle, Fellini, Renoir, Powell, Godard, Truffaut, Melville)
--- First Director, (insert title)
--- Second Director, (insert title)
--- Third Director, (insert title)
--- Fourth Director, (insert title)
--- Fifth Director, (insert title)

Watch a film from five different “themes” on Criterion’s website
--- First Theme name, (insert title)
--- Second Theme name, (insert title)
--- Third Theme name, (insert title)
--- Fourth Theme name, (insert title)
--- Fifth Theme name, (insert title)

Watch something from spine number range:
--- 001-050 -
--- 051-100 -
--- 101-150 -
--- 151-200 -
--- 201-250 -
--- 251-300 -
--- 301-350 -
--- 351-400 -
--- 401-450 -
--- 451-500 -
--- 501-550 –
--- 551-600 -
--- 601-650 -
--- an Eclipse title -
--- Watch a title not released on DVD by Criterion -

--- Watch a film which won an Academy Award -
--- Watch a film with commentary –
--- Read an Essay -
--- Watch a short -
--- Watch a Criterion disc completely. Every part of it. -
--- Watch an entire Criterion Collector's Set/Eclipse Box Set -

(One film could fill multiple items. Example: Fanny & Alexander would qualify for a decade, language, spine number range, theme (Blue Christmases), Academy Award, and possibly more.)

(Change "---" to "-X-" or some similar mark when you have completed that line item.)

The challenge officially begins August 30 at dusk in whatever location you are in at the time, and ends on October 1st at dawn in whatever location you are in at that time. Also, feel free to time your final Criterion film(s) to coincide with the start of the Horror Challenge.
Old 08-28-12, 08:47 PM
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1. Certified Copy (2010)*: I waited for a full night's sleep before giving my thoughts on this film. After thinking about the subject, the content, and reading this essay by Godfrey Cheshire, I'm still not convinced that this film is effective. I know it's been an art house darling over the past year or two, but it didn't resonate with me. Perhaps it was unfair expectations: I've read comparisons to (In the Mood for Love, Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, L'Avventura), all of which I love. Yet, I find Certified Copy cold, emotionless even in moments it is trying to convey emotion. While the first three films I put in parenthesis emit that warmth, L'avventura is emotionless, but it is emotionless in an emotionless world. I couldn't help but think that the man and woman in Certified Copy were outsiders hoping for something much better. Before any defenders of the film cite the true article and the artifice, I get all of that from the film, but the exploration into what is a fascinating question, never drew me in. Last night, I would have given the film 2 stars, but I've reconsidered, found it's desire to reflect something complex worthy of an extra star. 3/5
a. Certified Copy: At Home and Abroad by Godfrey Cheshire: Interesting enough information about Abbas Kiarostami (which I did not know), but I would have liked to have read more about the film itself. It's worth a read, but in a film with some many questions, I was hoping to read one person's answers.
2. The Complete Jean Vigo (1930-1934)*: Although this covers three different films (well, one feature length, two 30ish-minute, and one 9-minute film), I thought it was best to lump them all into one number for clarity. I watched L'Atalante (1934) first. I don't think it's possible that I could have fairly viewed the film; I have heard so much praise over the years that I could only be let down. And, I wasn't let down, exactly, I felt it was a good film, but I think I was expecting something different. The shots of Juliette walking on the barge, the overhead shots, the feel of the film were great. In fact, I think the film was great, but I wanted a little bit more. I ended up loving it more and more as I read more about Vigo (he was so sick he was on a stretcher during production of the film?!). It's a film that I could easily recommend to anyone, and one that I'm sure to visit again. I followed that with Taris (1931) and it's just the kind of documentary-style film I love seeing. It's a profile in "how to swim" with a French swimming champion. Definitely worth a watch for nostalgia purposes. 4.5/5
a. It's not in the Criterion edition, but I read Roger Ebert's The Great Movies Review of the film. It's a good overview and gave me relevant background information on a film that so frequently ends up on greatest lists.
3. The Magician (1958)*: While Ingmar Bergman is my favorite director of all time, I haven't watched a "new-to-me" Bergman film in a long time. The Magician didn't disappoint. It's slightly slow in developing, but the payoff is big. The thing that most draws me in to Bergman is the exploration into human relationships and human struggles. 4.5/5

4. The Bank Dick (1940)*: The Bank Dick starts off as a borderline train-wreck of a film, but it gathers steam (and plot) in the second half. Most of the jokes are seriously dated and much of the physical comedy seems like thinly veiled ripoffs of Chaplin and Keaton, but as the film drew to a close, I was drawn in by the larger social message in all of it that seems like it would still be relevant today. A car chase scene is the highlight of the film; very well done, even by today's standards.

E-mail people: Spoiler Ahead!
Spoiler:
The way that wealth is obtained in The Bank Dick is solely on luck...and not just regular luck, but dumb luck...the dumbest luck and I wonder if the film was made today, if there would be heavy criticism levied at W.C. Fields for hating the wealthy. The conclusion seems very telling as it is a near mirror of the opening sequence in the home: the only difference are suits, a larger home, some servants, etc. Nothing has changed, no one has learned a lesson, they just happen to have come into money by the most accidental means. In the world W.C. Fields creates, you don't come into money through hard work, it literally falls into your drunken lap.
And, it happened again, I convinced myself of more stars once I started writing about it. 4/5

5. The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972)*: 3/5

6. Jimi Plays Monterey & Shake! Otis at Monterey (1986): I watched this last year for the challenge. I had seen bits and pieces prior to that. Here I was watching it again for a "mindless" break from foreign/art house films. I love how you can see Otis Redding's breath when he's singing. 5/5

7. Au Hasard Balthazar (1966)*: This is a tough one to get through because of the treatment of Balthazar. The film is promoted as following the life of a donkey from life to death, but it's more there as a device to show human hostility toward one another. This is one of those odd films that I'm able to completely appreciate on paper and say that it structurally contains the makings of a great film, but I care so little about what happens to every person in the film (save Jacques, who has far too little screen time), that I'm left without emotion. Not unlike those in the film. This one really leaves me with things to think about, but it's hard to imagine revisiting it anytime soon. 3.5/5

8. Some Like it Hot (1959)*: Now we're talking. I've stayed away from this one for years because of some notion of an aversion to Marilyn Monroe films. I can say that this is easily one of the most accessible "older" films that I've watched. I had no idea that the film had, as its backdrop:
Spoiler:
Bootlegging. St. Valentine's Day Massacre. Stock Market Crash.
The film seems well ahead of its time and I've changed my attitude towards Monroe and Lemmon. I had nothing against him in the first place, but for some reason I thought I wouldn't like him. I've yet to watch a Wilder film I don't love. 4.5/5

9. I Live in Fear (1955)*: A great postwar film. As always, Kurosawa sets up his shots so well. I'm not sure if another director is as strong at framing scenes, for some, it may be overdone, for me, the aesthetics of each shot could be a telling screencap. This film asks one of the ultimate questions about the nature of reality "after the bomb." Simply, how do we move on? How do we go to work? Protect our families? Is anywhere safe?
Spoiler:
By the end, the real question is whether or not he has created a planet anymore than we have. With lines like, "Is he crazy? Or are we, who can remain unperturbed in an insane world, the crazy ones?"

Toshiro Mifune is great in this film, it's one of his best performances, and I must have checked the Criterion website 3 or 4 times to make sure it was actually Mifune, completely transformed. Ultimately, you can see how this film lights the way for Rashomon in its dealing with the nature of reality. Is Nakajima wrong? Nope, but neither are his kids. It's a film that probably reflects you more than some objective reality. 4.5/5

*=First Time Viewing

Spoiler:
Watch one film from every decade covered by Criterion.
--- 1920 - (insert film title here)
-X- 1930 - The Complete Jean Vigo (1930-1934)
-X- 1940 - The Bank Dick (1940)
-X- 1950 - The Magician (1958)
-X- 1960 - Au Hasard Balthazar (1966)
-X- 1970 - The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972)
-X- 1980 - Jimi Plays Monterey & Shake! Otis at Monterey (1986)
--- 1990 -
--- 2000 -
-X- 2010 (Optional) - Certified Copy (2010)

Watch films in at least five languages.
-X- Italian: Certified Copy (2010)
-X- French: The Complete Jean Vigo (1930-1934)
-X- Swedish: The Magician (1958)
-X- English: The Bank Dick (1940)
-X- Japanese: I Live in Fear (1955)

Watch films from five different directors in Criterion’s top 10 (Kurosawa, Bergman, Ozu, Malle, Fellini, Renoir, Powell, Godard, Truffaut, Melville)
-X- Ingmar Bergman: The Magician
-X- Akira Kurosawa: I Live in Fear
--- Third Director, (insert title)
--- Fourth Director, (insert title)
--- Fifth Director, (insert title)

Watch a film from five different “themes” on Criterion’s website
-X- Comedies: The Bank Dick
-X- Food on Film: The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
-X- Documentaries: Jimi Plays Monterey & Shake! Otis at Monterey
-X- Animals!: Au Hasard Balthazar
--- Fifth Theme name, (insert title)

Watch something from spine number range:
--- 001-050 -
-X- 051-100 - The Bank Dick (#78)
-X- 101-150 - The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (#102)
-X- 151-200 - Jimi Plays Monterey & Shake! Otis at Monterey (#169)
--- 201-250 -
-X- 251-300 - Au hasard Balthazar (#297)
--- 301-350 -
--- 351-400 -
--- 401-450 -
--- 451-500 -
-X- 501-550 – The Magician (#537)
-X- 551-600 - The Complete Jean Vigo (#578)
-X- 601-650 - Certified Copy (#612)
-X- an Eclipse title - I Live in Fear (Postwar Kurosawa)
-X- Watch a title not released on DVD by Criterion - Some Like It Hot

-X- Watch a film which won an Academy Award - The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
--- Watch a film with commentary –
-X- Read an Essay - Certified Copy: At Home and Abroad
-X- Watch a short - Taris (1931)
-X- Watch a Criterion disc completely. Every part of it. - I Live in Fear
--- Watch an entire Criterion Collector's Set/Eclipse Box Set -



Last edited by CardiffGiant; 09-27-12 at 08:15 PM.
Old 08-28-12, 08:59 PM
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Re: 4th Annual September Criterion Challenge - List Thread

4th Annual September Criterion Challenge

King Kong BD 9-1
-----Feature Film

Quadrophenia BD 9-5
-----Feature Film [with new 5.1 soundmix ☼]
-----Trailers (x2) ☼
-----Bob Pridden sound remix featurette

Weekend / 2011 / BD 9-5
-----Feature Film
-----Trailer
-----Short Films: "Cahuenga Blvd" / "Five Miles Out"

Singin' In the Rain BD 9-6
-----Feature Film

Evita BD 9-6
-----Feature Film

Letters from Fontainhas: Three Films by Pedro Costa / DVD
-----Short Films: "Tarrafal" / "The Rabbit Hunters"9-7

Brief Encounter BD 9-8
-----Feature Film
-----Trailer
-----A Profile of 'Brief Encounter'

This Happy Breed BD 9-8
-----Feature Film
-----Trailer (x2) ☼

Blithe Spirit BD 9-8
-----Feature Film
-----Trailer

Spartacus DVD 9-9
-----Feature Film with commentary track
-----Original Theatrical trailer
-----The MPAA responds
-----Rare deleted scenes
-----Vintage newsreel footage
-----1960 promotional interviews with Jean Simmons and Peter Ustinov
-----1992 video interview with Peter Ustinov

Thunderball BD 9-10
-----Feature Film

The Rock BD 9-10
-----Feature Film

Yojimbo BD 9-11
-----Feature Film [in 'Perspecta Stereophonic sound']
-----Trailer

Sanjuro BD 9-11
-----Feature Film [in 'Perspecta Stereophonic sound']
-----Trailer and teaser

Le Haine BD 9-12
-----Feature Film
-----Trailers (x2) ☼
-----Introduction by Jodi Foster
-----Deleted and Extended scenes
-----The Making of a scene

Le Havre BD 9-12
-----Supplements Only
------ Trailer
------ Concert footage of Little Bob
------ Press Conference from 2011 Cannes Film Festival
------ interview with actor André Wilms

The Music Room BD 9-13
-----Feature Film

The Night of the Hunter BD 9-14
-----Feature Film
-----Trailer
-----video interview with Laughton biographer Simon Callow
-----Clip from the The Ed Sullivan Show
-----Documentary featuring interviews with producer Paul Gregory, Sanders, Feeney, Jones, and author Jeffrey Couchman

The King of Kings (1927) / [155min version] DVD 9-18
-----Feature Film
-----Trailers

Children of Paradise / BD 9-19
-----Feature Film

The Leopard / (Aussie: BD) 9-20
-----Feature Film [2010 4K restoration / 2.55 aspect ratio ☼]

The Complete Jean Vigo / BD 9-21
-----A Propos de Nice
-----Taris
-----Zero De Conduite
-----L’atalante9-29

Lawrence of Arabia / BD 9-22
-----Feature Film

Picnic at Hanging Rock / BD 9-23
-----Feature Film

Dr. No / DCP 9-24
-----Feature Film*

Grand Illusion / DCP 9-25
-----Feature Film* ☼

The Game / BD 9-27
-----Feature Film with commentary track

Rosetta / BD 9-28
-----Feature Film
-----interview piece featuring actors Émilie Dequenne and Olivier Gourmet
-----Trailer

In Which We Serve / BD 9-29
-----Feature Film

Colossal Youth / DVD 9-30
-----Feature Film

Island of Lost Souls / BD 9-30
-----Feature Film with commentary track


-----
☼ = First Time Viewing/Listen
* = theatrical viewing

Last edited by Giles; 10-06-12 at 10:35 PM.
Old 08-28-12, 09:05 PM
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Re: 4th Annual September Criterion Challenge - List Thread

* First Time Viewing

FTV Total: 1


Sept 6

1. Monty Python's Life of Brian - Criterion Collection Edition - DVD


Sep 7

2. Samaritan Zatoichi - Hulu *


Sep 16

3. Godzilla King of the Monsters - DVD

Last edited by shadokitty; 09-16-12 at 08:51 PM.
Old 08-28-12, 09:11 PM
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Re: 4th Annual September Criterion Challenge - List Thread

Mothlight (1963),Loud Visual Noises (1987), Delicacies of Molten Horror Synapse (1991), #n/a, youtube, 3/10.
Watched these and a couple other Brakhage shorts during the crossover time with the Animation Challenge. I've only tried a handful of his shorter films, but I just can't get into them at all. I guess I can appreciate his creativity and effort; but I prefer either entertainment or a thought-provoking story in my films (preferably both), and don't find much of either in these.
King Kong (1933), #n/a, BD, 10/10.
Made this all-time favorite one of the first films watched on my new 55" TV. A former Criterion laserdisc, and one I hope to find in that format someday. Watched some of the extras on this BD, which were very well done. Between this and my other Kong discs, I could fill several days of special features viewings. I'll probably change my mind five times before then, but my plan for the May Make-Your-Own-Challenge is a Special Features Challenge.
The Vanishing (1988), #133, DVD, 9/10.
Watched this with my horror-hating wife to kick off my birthday present, a 24 hour horror film marathon. She found it quite disturbing and vowed to never leave my side. I guess I'll need to watch the American remake someday, if only to get my money's worth out of the purchase.
Videodrome (1983), #248, BD, 7/10.
Jen fell asleep during this one, and knowing that she'd hate it, I didn't wake her. James Woods is great as this type of character.
The Silence of the Lambs (1991), #13, DVD, 10/10.
Probably shouldn't have been surprised, but Jen had never seen this. Couldn't find my BD, so dug out my old Criterion DVD. Jen liked it, but gets so scared that she can't truly enjoy any horror film I imagine; but hopefully the horror of being married to me will slowly change her.
The Night of the Hunter (1955), #541, BD, 7/10.
Blow Out (1981), #562, BD, 8/10.
For All Mankind (1989), #54, BD, 7/10.
Charade (1963), #57, BD, 8/10.
Thoroughly charming.
Yomjimbo, (1961), #52, BD, 9/10.
The Magician (1958), #537, BD, 8/10.
Bergman hasn't disappointed me yet.
Vivre Sa Vie (1962), #512, BD, 8/10.
Black Moon (1975), #571, BD, 7/10.
The Only Son (1936), #525, DVD, 8/10.
There Was a Father (1942), #526, DVD, 8/10.
set, #524
Monterey Pop (1968), #168, BD, 7/10.
Bottle Rocket (1996), #450, BD, 8/10.
Metropolitan (1990), #326, DVD, 8/10.
Le Trou (1960), #129, DVD, 9/10.
Wow. This may turn into one of my favorite films. So amazingly crafted and performed. I felt a part of the stoy, and find myself affected by it more and more as I contemplate both the ending, and the overall themes and parallels.
Secret Honor (1984), #257, DVD, 8/10.
Downhill Racer (1969), #494, DVD,
Rembrandt (1936), #Eclipse, archive.org, 8/10.
Surprised at how much I enjoyed this one.
Clean, Shaven (1994), #354, DVD, 8/10.
Have a nephew who was recently diagnosed with some schizophrenia, I pray he can keep it under control.
The Gold Rush (1925), #615, BD, 8/10.
Picked this one mainly for checklist purposes, but I'm glad I finally watched it. Was in the mood for a comedy after a string of dark films; but was surprised at several darker elements here. Murders, prostitution, oh my!
The Darjeeling Limited (2007), #, BD, 8/10.
Didn't enjoy this one on my first viewing a couple years ago, at least as much as I usually enjoy Anderson films; but am really enjoying it this time. Pretty sure I hadn't lost my father when I first saw this, so that aspect of the film is definitely affecting me more.
Kuroneko

Fiend Without a Face

Haxan

Spoiler:
Optional Checklist


Watch one film from every decade covered by Criterion.
-X- 1920 - (insert film title here)
-X- 1930 -
-X- 1940 -
-X- 1950 -
-X- 1960 -
-X- 1970 -
-X- 1980 - multiple
-X- 1990 -
--- 2000 -
--- 2010 (Optional) -

Watch films in at least five languages.
-X- First language, (Dutch, French), (The Vanishing).
-X- Second language, (English), (multiple).
-X- Third language, (Japanese), (multiple).
-X- Fourth language, (Swedish), (insert title).
-X- Fifth language, (French), (insert title).

Watch films from five different directors in Criterion’s top 10 (Kurosawa, Bergman, Ozu, Malle, Fellini, Renoir, Powell, Godard, Truffaut, Melville)
-X- Kurosawa, (Yojimbo)
-X- Ozu, (The Only Son and There Was a Father)
-X- Bergman, (The Magician)
-X- Fourth Director, (insert title)
-X- Fifth Director, (insert title)

Watch a film from five different “themes” on Criterion’s website
-X- First Theme, Scary Movies; (multiple)
-X- Second Theme Cult Movies; (Videodrome)
-X- Third Theme Comedies; (multiple)
-X- Fourth Theme Compare and Contrast; (Bottle Rocket)
-X- Fifth Theme Blue Christmases; (multiple)
-X- Sixth Theme America, America; (Blow Out)

Watch something from spine number range:
-X- 001-050 -
-X- 051-100 -
-X- 101-150 - The Vanishing
-X- 151-200 -
-X- 201-250 - Videodrome
-X- 251-300 -
-X- 301-350 -
-X- 351-400 -
-X- 401-450 -
-X- 451-500 -
-X- 501-550 –
-X- 551-600 -
-X- 601-650 - The Gold Rush
-X- an Eclipse title - Rembrandt
-X- Watch a title not released on DVD by Criterion - King Kong

--- Watch a film which won an Academy Award -
--- Watch a film with commentary –
-X- Read an Essay - multiple
-X- Watch a short - multiple
-X- Watch a Criterion disc completely. Every part of it. - multiple
-X- Watch an entire Criterion Collector's Set/Eclipse Box Set - Ozu set

(One film could fill multiple items. Example: Fanny & Alexander would qualify for a decade, language, spine number range, theme (Blue Christmases), Academy Award, and possibly more.)

Last edited by Trevor; 10-02-12 at 08:24 AM.
Old 08-28-12, 09:15 PM
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Re: 4th Annual September Criterion Challenge - List Thread



Starting point: 295 to go
chemosh6969's iCheckMovies.com Criterion Collection widget

Starting point: 134 to go
chemosh6969's iCheckMovies.com Eclipse Collection widget

1. Invasion of the Body Snatchers
2. Island of Lost Souls
3. Equinox
4. Salesman
5. George Washington
6. 3 Women
7. Naked
8. Head
9. Withnail & I
10. Life During Wartime
11. The Secret of the Grain
12. Ride with the Devil
13. Made In U.S.A.
14. Everlasting Moments
15. Grey Gardens
16. The Ice Storm
17. Night Train To Munich
18. Fish Tank
19. The Times of Harvey Milk
20. The Friends of Eddie Coyle
21. Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence
22. Tiny Furniture
23. 49th Parallel
24. This Happy Breed
25. My Dinner With Andre
26. Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles
27. And the Ship Sails On
28. The Tales of Hoffmann
29. Indiscretion of an American Wife
30. One Hour With You
31. Rembrandt
32. Secret Sunshine
33. That Hamilton Woman
34. Le Million
35. Blithe Spirit
36. Hobson's Choice
37. Certified Copy
38. And Everything Is Going Fine
39. Weekend
40. My Uncle Antoine
41. Fiend Without A Face
42. First Man Into Space
43. Dekigokoro
44. Robinson Crusoe on Mars
45. Paths of Glory
46. Devil And Daniel Webster
47. Cat People

Last edited by The Man with the Golden Doujinshi; 10-01-12 at 10:00 AM.
Old 08-28-12, 09:17 PM
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Re: 4th Annual September Criterion Challenge - List Thread

Collection from 2011

Spoiler:
Photobucket


Collection from 2012
Spoiler:
Photobucket


Challenge list
Spoiler:

Watch one film from every decade covered by Criterion.
--- 1920 -
--- 1930 -
--- 1940 -
--- 1950 - M. Hulot's Holiday,
--- 1960 - The Bad Sleep Well,
--- 1970 -
--- 1980 - Time Bandits, Eating Raoul,
--- 1990 - Cronos, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Crumb, Rushmore, The Game,
--- 2000 - The Darjeeling Limited, The Life Aquatic,
--- 2010 - The Royal Tenenbaums,

Watch films in at least five languages.
--- English, The Darjeeling Limited, The Life Aquatic, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Crumb, Time Bandits, Rushmore, The Game, The Royal Tenembaums, Eating Raoul,
--- Spanish/English, Cronos,
--- French, M. Hulot's Holiday,
--- Japanese, The Bad Sleep Well,
--- Fifth language, (insert language), (insert title).

Watch films from five different directors in Criterion’s top 10 (Kurosawa, Bergman, Ozu, Malle, Fellini, Renoir, Powell, Godard, Truffaut, Melville)
--- Kurosawa, The Bad Sleep Well
--- Second Director, (insert title)
--- Third Director, (insert title)
--- Fourth Director, (insert title)
--- Fifth Director, (insert title)

Watch something from spine number range:
--- 001-050 - 37 Time Bandits,
--- 051-100 - 65 Rushmore,
--- 101-150 - 110 M. Hulot's Holiday
--- 151-200 - 175 Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, 157 The Royal Tenenbaums,
--- 201-250 -
--- 251-300 - 300 The Life Aquatic, 265 Short Cuts,
--- 301-350 - 319 The Bad Sleep Well,
--- 351-400 -
--- 401-450 -
--- 451-500 -
--- 501-550 – 551 Cronos, 540 The Darjeeling Limited, 533 Crumb,
--- 551-600 -
--- 601-650 - 627 The Game, 625 Eating Raoul,
--- an Eclipse title -
--- Watch a title not released on DVD by Criterion - A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese through American Movies (LD #326)

--- Watch a film which won an Academy Award -
--- Watch a film with commentary –
--- Read an Essay -
--- Watch a short - Hotel Chevalier, Geometria,
--- Watch a Criterion disc completely. Every part of it. -
--- Watch an entire Criterion Collector's Set/Eclipse Box Set -

Last edited by Dr. Mantle; 09-29-12 at 09:40 PM.
Old 08-28-12, 09:23 PM
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Re: 4th Annual September Criterion Challenge - List Thread

'09 list
'10 list
'11 list


9/28/12

Dr. No (1962) - Watched MGM DVD while listening to the old Criterion laserdisc commentary by Terence Young, Peter Hunt, & Ken Adam. Really not much different from the MGM commentary.

9/29/12

Goldfinger (1964) - Watched MGM DVD while listening to the old Criterion laserdisc commentary by Guy Hamilton, Peter Hunt, Ken Adam, & Richard Maibaum. Again, not much different from the MGM commentary.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998) - Watched the Universal Blu-ray.

9/30/12

Kuroneko (1968) - Didn't watch the Criterion version, so no extras.
The Most Dangerous Game (1932) - Spine #46 - Watched feature, watched it again with the Bruce Eder commentary, read the liner notes, & checked out the color bars.

Last edited by Dimension X; 09-30-12 at 11:56 PM.
Old 08-28-12, 09:48 PM
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Re: 4th Annual September Criterion Challenge - List Thread

TravisSMcClain's iCheckMovies.com Criterion Collection widget TravisSMcClain's iCheckMovies.com Eclipse Collection widget

My List also available on Criterion | Letterboxd
  1. 9/01 À bout de souffle [Breathless]
  2. 9/03 The Devil and Daniel Webster
  3. 9/04 The 39 Steps
  4. 9/05 Secret Agent
  5. 9/06 Spoorloos [The Vanishing]
  6. 9/09 Kakushi-toride no san-akunin [The Hidden Fortress]
  7. 9/10 Fishing with John "Montauk with Jim Jarmusch"
    9/12 Fishing with John "Jamaica with Tom Waits"
    9/12 Fishing with John "Costa Rica with Matt Dillon"
    9/15 Fishing with John "Maine with Willem Dafoe"
    9/23 Fishing with John "Thailand with Dennis Hopper, Part 1"
    9/24 Fishing with John "Thailand with Dennis Hopper, Part 2"
  8. 9/11 Belle de jour
  9. 9/11 Gimme Shelter film & bonus content
    9/12 Gimme Shelter commentary track & essays
  10. 9/13 Kind Hearts and Coronets
  11. 9/13 The Third Man
  12. 9/16 Jungle Book
  13. 9/21 La strada
  14. 9/22 The Circus
  15. 9/24 Fat Girl
  16. 9/26 Young Mr. Lincoln
  17. 9/26 Les Enfants Terribles
  18. 9/28 The Horse's Mouth
  19. 9/28 Ai no korîda [In the Realm of the Senses]
  20. 9/30 Hitori musuko [The Only Son]
  21. 9/30 Chichi ariki [There Was a Father]
  22. 9/30 The War Room
  23. 9/30 The Idle Class SF
Looking Back
Spoiler:


I came into this challenge excited to make use of my HuluPlus account. Strangely enough, nearly a third of my selections were actually DVDs I checked out from my local library. Oh, well. It's nice to make use of that resource, too! Also peculiar is the fact that I somehow never got around to a single Ingmar Bergman film this year! I put him off till the end, as a sort of reward for making myself explore other filmographies, and then I just kinda ran out of time, choosing to complete the checklist instead.

I began the challenge with À bout de souffle [Breathless], which I found kind of wanting at the time. Now, a month later, its weaknesses have already begun to fade and I think back on it as that time when I spent an evening lounging in bed with a gorgeous woman, caught up in an adventure I couldn't really afford. It's not high art at all. Rather, it's the kind of story that seems to be more important than it is when you're young and everything in the world is urgent, but then later in life you see how silly it all was but by then you just kind of enjoy being reminded of having once been young. It's a sort of faux-nostalgia, I suppose, and that's its real appeal.

Japanese Cinema
When I looked back on the 2010 challenge, one thing I noted was that I hadn't explored any cinema from Asia and that I wanted to try to get to some of that in 2011. That didn't happen, but I finally did get to a handful this year. I found Kakushi-toride no san-akunin [The Hidden Fortress] was likable enough, but didn't really wow me. I'll explore more Kurosawa in the future, but I feel like in order to really appreciate his works, that requires more of a commitment from me than I want to make.

I also streamed a pair of Ozu films, Hitori musuko [The Only Son], which I found timely and relevant, and Chichi ariki [There Was a Father], which I just couldn't get into for various reasons. What I appreciated about both films was that Ozu distilled large social issues to essentially the relationships within a single family. It's not easy to do that without being reductive about the issues or turning the characters into one-dimensional placeholders.

My favorite Japanese film by far, though, was Ai no korîda [In the Realm of the Senses]. I had some complaints about it in my review, but Eiko Matsuda's performance - easily the most powerful of all the films I viewed this year - was so captivating that I can overlook those flaws. It's an unapologetic, unflinching and brazen performance; it's the kind of performance that reminds us why film is considered part of the humanities.

Chaplin
I saw my first two Charlie Chaplin films, The Circus and the short, The Idle Class. I wasn't really taken with either and I'll likely forget them entirely. A cinephile pal of mine remarked at one point that she strongly favored Buster Keaton to Chaplin, and though my sample size is very limited, at this point I concur with her. These two just didn't really do much for me, though I'm willing to continue exploring his work.

Guinness and Fellini
I've wanted for quite a while to delve further into Alec Guinness's works, and this challenge afforded me two opportunities: Kind Hearts and Coronets and The Horse's Mouth. In the former, he plays all eight members of a family targeted for murder; he wrote the screenplay of the latter. Both films gave me an interesting look at the comedic sensibilities of the venerable character actor, and were quite fun.

La strada was my second Fellini film (I first saw Otto e mezzo [8 1/2] last year). I came to it with a sense of enthusiasm and I really enjoyed its richness of character and setting. It didn't quite resonate with me in the same personal way as did 8 1/2, but I thoroughly loved it all the same. It would make for a fascinating double feature with Bergman's Sawdust and Tinsel, I should think.

All in all, this was a terrific challenge for me. I managed to make some progress on some personal goals, racked up a lot of checks on iCheckMovies and I had fun discussing both Bergman and 12 Angry Men here on the forum. I think this may be my personal favorite of our DVD Talk challenges, but don't anyone say anything to TV on DVD* or Historical Appreciation!

Awards
Favorite Film Overall: La strada
Favorite Performance: Eiko Matsuda, Ai no korîda [In the Realm of the Senses]
Favorite Music: Anton Karas's zither score, The Third Man
Funniest Movie: The Horse's Mouth
Best Way to Spend a Lazy Afternoon: Fishing with John
Most WTF Ending: À ma soeur! [Fat Girl]
Most WTF Moments: Ai no korîda [In the Realm of the Senses]

My List, Ranked by Entry Position on My Flickchart
0099 La strada
0132 Hitori musuko [The Only Son]
0144 The Third Man
0177 The Horse's Mouth
0194 Ai no korîda [In the Realm of the Senses]
0221 Kind Hearts and Coronets
0249 The 39 Steps
0251 Gimme Shelter
0253 Spoorloos [The Vanishing]
0354 Belle de jour
0368 À ma soeur! [Fat Girl]
0414 Les enfants terribles
0507 À bout de souffle [Breathless]
0570 The Hidden Fortress
0657 The Devil and Daniel Webster
0898 Young Mr. Lincoln
0937 Fishing with John
0949 The Circus
1017 The Idle Class
1074 Chichi ariki [There Was a Father]
1172 The War Room
1201 Secret Agent

Checklist
Spoiler:
Watch one film from every decade covered by Criterion.
-X- 1920 - The Circus (1928)
-X- 1930 - The 39 Steps (1935)
-X- 1940 - The Devil and Daniel Webster (1941)
-X- 1950 - Kakushi-toride no san-akunin [The Hidden Fortress] (1958)
-X- 1960 - À bout de souffle [Breathless] (1960)
-X- 1970 - Gimme Shelter (1970)
-X- 1980 - Spoorloos [The Vanishing] (1988)
-X- 1990 - Fishing with John (1992)
-X- 2000 - Fat Girl (2001)
--- 2010 (Optional) -

Watch films in at least five languages.
-X- À bout de souffle [Breathless] (French)
-X- The Devil and Daniel Webster (English)
-X- Spoorloos [The Vanishing] (Dutch, French)
-X- Kakushi-toride no san-akunin [The Hidden Fortress] (Japanese)
-X- La strada (Italian)

Watch films from five different directors in Criterion’s top 10 (Kurosawa, Bergman, Ozu, Malle, Fellini, Renoir, Powell, Godard, Truffaut, Melville)
-X- À bout de souffle [Breathless] (Jean-Luc Godard)
-X- Kakushi-toride no san-akunin [The Hidden Fortress] (Akira Kurosawa)
-X- La strada (Federico Fellini)
-X- Les Enfants Terribles (Jean-Pierre Melville)
-X- Hitori musuko [The Only Son] (Yasujiro Ozu)

Watch a film from five different “themes” on Criterion’s website
-X- À bout de souffle [Breathless] (French New Wave)
-X- The Devil and Daniel Webster (Great Soundtracks)
-X- The 39 Steps (Suspense!)
-X- Spoorloos [The Vanishing] (Scary Movies!)
-X- Kakushi-toride no san-akunin [The Hidden Fortress] (Samurai Cinema)

Watch something from spine number range:
-X- 001-050 - Fishing with John (#42)
-X- 051-100 - The 39 Steps (#56)
-X- 101-150 - Spoorloos [The Vanishing] (#133)
-X- 151-200 - The Horse's Mouth (#154)
-X- 201-250 - The Devil and Daniel Webster (#214)
-X- 251-300 - Fat Girl (#259)
-X- 301-350 - Kind Hearts and Coronets (#325)
-X- 351-400 - Les Enfants Terribles (#398)
-X- 401-450 - À bout de souffle [Breathless] (#408)
-X- 451-500 - Ai no korîda [In the Realm of the Senses] (#466)
-X- 501-550 – Hitori musuko [The Only Son] (#525)
-X- 551-600 - Belle de jour (#593)
-X- 601-650 - The War Room (#602)
-X- an Eclipse title - Jungle Book
-X- Watch a title not released on DVD by Criterion - Secret Agent (LaserDisc #023)

-X- Watch a film which won an Academy Award - The Devil and Daniel Webster (Bernard Hermann, Best Music [Scoring of a Dramatic Picture])
-X- Watch a film with commentary – Gimme Shelter (with directors Albert Maysles and Charlotte Zwerin, and collaborator Stanley Goldstein)
-X- Read an Essay - The Devil and Daniel Webster, Bruce Eder
-X- Watch a short - The Idle Class
-X- Watch a Criterion disc completely. Every part of it. - Kakushi-toride no san-akunin [The Hidden Fortress]
-X- Watch an entire Criterion Collector's Set/Eclipse Box Set - The Only Son/There Was a Father: Two Films by Yasujiro Ozu (#524)

BOX SETS STARTED
Spoiler:

Essential Art House, Volume II
--- Black Orpheus
--- The 400 Blows
--- Ikiru
--- The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
--- Pygmalion
-X- La strada

Essential Art House, Volume III
--- Ashes and Diamonds
--- Forbidden Games
-X- The Hidden Fortress
--- Last Holiday
--- Richard III
--- Variety Lights

Essential Art House, Volume IV
--- Gervaise
--- Le Jour se Leve
--- Mayerling
--- The Tales of Hoffman
-X- The 39 Steps
--- Throne of Blood

Wrong Men & Notorious Women: Five Hitchcock Thrillers, 1935-1946
-X- The 39 Steps
--- The Lady Vanishes
--- Rebecca
--- Spellbound
--- Notorious

AK 100: 25 Films by Akira Kurosawa
--- Sanshiro Sugata
--- The Most Beautiful
--- Sanshiro Sugata, Part Two
--- The Men Who Tread on the Tiger's Tail
--- No Regrets for Our Youth
--- One Wonderful Sunday
--- Drunken Angel
--- Stray Dog
--- Scandal
--- Rashomon
--- The Idiot
--- Ikiru
--- Seven Samurai
--- I Live in Fear
--- Throne of Blood
--- The Lower Depths
-X- The Hidden Fortress
--- The Bad Sleep Well
--- Yojimbo
--- Sanjuro
--- High and Low
--- Red Beard
--- Dodes’ka-den
--- Kagemusha
--- Madadayo

Essential Art House: 50 Years of Janus Films
-X- The 39 Steps
-X- The 400 Blows
--- Ballad of a Soldier
--- Beauty and the Beast
--- Black Orpheus
--- Brief Encounter
--- The Fallen Idol
--- Fires on the Plain
--- Fists in the Pocket
--- Forbidden Games
--- Grand Illusion
--- Häxan
--- Ikiru
--- Il Posto
--- The Importance of Being Earnest
--- Le jour se lève
--- Jules and Jim
-X- Kind Hearts and Coronets
--- Knife in the Water
--- The Lady Vanishes
--- The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
--- Loves of a Blonde
--- L'Avventura
--- M
--- M. Hulot's Holiday
--- Miss Julie
--- Pandora's Box
--- Pépé le moko
--- Pygmalion
--- Rashomon
--- Richard III
--- The Rules of the Game
--- Seven Samurai
--- The Seventh Seal
--- The Spirit of the Beehive
-X- La strada
--- Summertime
-X- The Third Man
--- Three Documentaries
--- Ugetsu
--- Umberto D.
--- The Virgin Spring
--- Viridiana
--- The Wages of Fear
--- The White Sheik
--- Wild Strawberries
--- Ashes and Diamonds

10 Years of Rialto Pictures
--- Army of Shadows
--- Au hasard Balthazar
--- Band of Outsiders
--- Billy Liar
--- The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
--- Mafioso
--- Murderous Maids
--- Rififi
-X- The Third Man
--- Touchez pas au grisbi

Eclipse Series 30: Sabu!
--- Elephant Boy
--- The Drum
-X- Jungle Book

The Only Son/There Was a Father: Two Films by Yasujiro Ozu (#524)
-X- Hitori musuko [The Only Son]
-X- Chichi ariki [There Was a Father]


Previous Years| 2010 | 2010 on Letterboxd | 2010 on Criterion | 2011 | 2011 on Letterboxd | 2011 on Criterion
Criterion.com | My Criterion | @Criterion on Twitter | Criterion on Facebook | Criterion on Tumblr
Flickchart | The Best Criterion Collection Movies | The Best Criterion Collection on Hulu Movies | The Best Criterion Eclipse Movies | Criterion Commentaries
Wikipedia - List of Criterion Collection Laserdisc Releases
Discussion Thread

DVD: 8 | Blu-ray Disc: 0 | Netflix Watch Instantly: 0 | Theatrical Exhibition: 0 | TV Broadcast: 0 | iTunes Digital Download: 0 | Podcast/Streaming: 0 | HuluPlus: 13, 1 short, 6 episodes
SF = short film

Last edited by Travis McClain; 10-01-12 at 05:44 PM.
Old 08-28-12, 09:49 PM
  #11  
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Re: 4th Annual September Criterion Challenge - List Thread

4th Annual September Criterion Collection Challenge



*= first time viewing
blue= personal BluRay
black= personal DVD
green= other

September 1st
1. An Autumn Afternoon (Yasujiro Ozu, 1962)* - Spine #446
~ "In the end, we spend our lives alone... all alone." - Sakuma the Gourd
  • Essay: "Ozu's Diaries" / Donald Richie
  • Essay: "A Fond Farewell" / Geoff Andrew
2. Touchez Pas Au Grisbi (Jacques Becker, 1954)* - Spine #271
~ "That's the trouble with young people - they're so doggone young!" - Max
  • Essay: "Strange Reflections" / Geoffrey O’Brien
September 3rd
3. Mon Oncle (Jacques Tati, 1958)* - Spine #111
~ "That's the beauty of it. Everything is connected!" - Madame Arpel
  • Introduction by Terry Jones
  • "L’école des facteurs" (Jacques Tati, 1947)* - short film
  • Essay: "Mon Oncle" / Matt Zoller Seitz
  • Essay: "Mon Oncle" / Alan Rich
September 4th
4. The Darjeeling Limited (Wes Anderson, 2007) - Spine #540
~ "I wonder if the three of us would've been friends in real life. Not as brothers, but as people." - Jack
  • "Hotel Chevalier" (Wes Anderson, 2007) - short film
  • Commentary on The Darjeeling Limited
  • Commentary on "Hotel Chevalier"
September 7th
5. Sweet Smell of Success (Alexander Mackendrick, 1957)* - Spine #555
~ "Don't do anything I wouldn't do! That give you a lot of leeway." - Sidney Falco
  • Documentary: Mackendrick: The Man Who Walked Away (1986)
  • Documentary: James Wong Howe: Cinematographer (1973)
  • Interview: Neal Gabler (historian)
  • Original theatrical trailer
September 10th
6. Osaka Elegy (Kenji Mizoguchi, 1936)* - Eclipse Set #13

September 11th
7. Paris, Texas (Wim Wenders, 1984)* - Spine #501

September 12th
8. M (Fritz Lang, 1931) - Spine #30
~ "It's there all the time, driving me out to wander the streets, following me, silently, but I can feel it there. It's me, pursuing myself!" - Hans Beckert

September 13th
9. Insignificance (Nicolas Roeg, 1985) - Spine #566
~ "I don't want to want." - The Actress

September 14th
10. Broadcast News (James L. Brooks, 1987)* - Spine #552
~ "I think we have the kind of friendship where if I were the devil, you'd be the only one I would tell." - Aaron

September 15th
11. Le Samourai (Jean-Pierre Melville, 1967)* - Spine #306
~ "I never lose. Never really." - Jeff

September 16th
12. The Love Parade (Ernst Lubitsch, 1929)* - Eclipse Set #8
~ "I'll lay the dish here. Ooh, la la la la! To hold the fish here. Ooh, la la la la!" - Jacques

September 17th
13. Monte Carlo (Ernst Lubitsch, 1930)* - Eclipse #8
~ "Trains don't go until I get on them." - Countess Helene Mara

September 18th
14. Stray Dog (Akira Kurosawa, 1949)* - Spine #223
~ "A stray dog becomes a mad dog." - Sato

September 23rd
15. Vivre Sa Vie (Jean-Luc Godard, 1962)* - Spine #512
~ "The more one talks, the less the words mean." - Nana

16. The Blob (Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr., 1958)* - Spine #91, borrowed DVD
~ "Doctor, nothing will stop it!" - Kate
  • Gallery: BLOB-abilia!
September 24th
17. The Smiling Lieutenant (Ernst Lubitsch, 1931)* - Eclipse #8
~ "Remember what Napoleon said before he went to Elba: 'So long'." - Lieutenant Niki

18. The Atomic Submarine (Spencer G. Bennet, 1959)* - Spine #366
~ "It was foolish. It was insane. It was fantastic." - The Narrator
  • Interview: Brett Halsey
  • Theatrical trailer
  • Gallery: Exploitation
19. The Honeymoon Killers (Leonard Kastle, 1969)* - Spine #200
~ "You want a sleeping pill? I've got some." - Martha Beck
  • Interview: Leonard Kastle
  • Theatrical trailer
  • Essay: "The Honeymoon Killers" / Gary Giddins
September 25th
20. One Hour with You (Ernst Lubitsch, 1932)* - Eclipse #8
~ "In Switzerland they have a very peculiar law. When a husband shoots his wife, they put him in jail." - Prof. Olivier

21. Cria Cuervos... (Carlos Saura, 1976)* - Spine #403
~ "Do you want to die?" - Ana

22. Swing Time (George Stevens, 1936) - Laserdisc release
~ "Now, eh... how did you say that last step went? Eh... oh, yes!" - Lucky

September 28th
23. Weekend (Andrew Haigh, 2011)* - Spine #622

24. Chungking Express (Wong Kar-Wai, 1994)* - Spine #453

September 30th
25. The Magician (Ingmar Bergman, 1958)* - Spine #537

Spoiler:
Watch one film from every decade covered by Criterion: Completed
-X- 1920 - The Love Parade (1929)
-X- 1930 - Osaka Elegy (1936)
-X- 1940 - Stray Dog (1949)
-X- 1950 - Touchez Pas Au Grisbi (1954)
-X- 1960 - An Autumn Afternoon (1962)
-X- 1970 - Cria Cuervos... (1976)
-X- 1980 - Paris, Texas (1984)
-X- 1990 - Chungking Express (1994)
-X- 2000 - The Darjeeling Limited (2007)
-X- 2010 - Weekend (2011)

Watch films in at least five languages: Completed
-X- Japanese, An Autumn Afternoon (1962)
-X- French, Touchez Pas Au Grisbi (1954)
-X- German, M (1931)
-X- Spanish, Cria Cuervos... (1976)
-X- Swedish, The Magician (1958)

Watch films from five different directors in Criterion’s top 10: Completed
-X- Ozu, An Autumn Afternoon (1962)
-X- Melville, Le Samourai (1967)
-X- Kurosawa, Stray Dog (1949)
-X- Godard, Vivre Sa Vie (1962)
-X- Bergman, The Magician (1958)

Watch a film from five different “themes” on Criterion’s website: Completed
-X- Heist Movies, Touchez Pas Au Grisbi (1954)
-X- Comedies, Mon Oncle (1958)
-X- Great Soundtracks, The Darjeeling Limited (2007)
-X- New York Stories, Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
-X- Dysfunctional Families, Paris, Texas (1984)

Watch something from spine number range: Completed
-X- 001-050 - M (1931), #30
-X- 051-100 - The Blob (1958), #91
-X- 101-150 - Mon Oncle (1958), #111
-X- 151-200 - The Honeymoon Killers (1969), #200
-X- 201-250 - Stray Dog (1949), #223
-X- 251-300 - Touchez Pas Au Grisbi, #271
-X- 301-350 - Le Samourai (1967), #306
-X- 351-400 - The Atomic Submarine (1959), #366
-X- 401-450 - An Autumn Afternoon (1962), #446
-X- 451-500 - Chungking Express (1994), #453
-X- 501-550 - The Darjeeling Limited (2007), #540
-X- 551-600 - Sweet Smell of Success (1957), #555
-X- 601-650 - Weekend (2011), #622
-X- an Eclipse title - Osaka Elegy (1936)
-X- Watch a title not released on DVD by Criterion - Swing Time (1936)

-X- Watch a film which won an Academy Award - Mon Oncle (1958), Best Foreign Film
-X- Watch a film with commentary – The Darjeeling Limited (2007)
-X- Read an Essay - 5 essays
-X- Watch a short - 2 shorts
-X- Watch a Criterion disc completely. Every part of it. - Mon Oncle (1958)
-X- Watch an entire Criterion Collector's Set/Eclipse Box Set - Eclipse Set #8:; Lubitsch Musicals

Last edited by mrcellophane; 09-30-12 at 05:12 PM.
Old 08-28-12, 09:59 PM
  #12  
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Re: 4th Annual September Criterion Challenge - List Thread

2012 Criterion Challenge



September 4
1. Tiny Furniture* - All I could think was Clerks meets Woody Allen somehow. I don't know how long people can enjoy her view of angsty twentysomethings.

September 5
2. This is Spinal Tap - I think I watch this every year at Criterion time. One of my favorite movies.

September 10
3. Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto* - Definitely has that "epic" feel like a "Gone With The Wind" or "Giant". Very good film.

September 11
4. Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple* - Very good battle scenes. Especially at the end with the 80/1 duel. Can't wait for the inevitable duel with Kojiro.

5. Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island*

Spoiler:
Watch one film from every decade covered by Criterion.
--- 1920 - (insert film title here)
--- 1930 -
--- 1940 -
X 1950 - Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island (1956)
--- 1960 -
--- 1970 -
--- 1980 -
--- 1990 -
--- 2000 -
--- 2010 (Optional) -

Watch films in at least five languages.
X First language, (Japanese), (Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto)
--- Second language, (insert language), (insert title).
--- Third language, (insert language), (insert title).
--- Fourth language, (insert language), (insert title).
--- Fifth language, (insert language), (insert title).

Watch films from five different directors in Criterion’s top 10 (Kurosawa, Bergman, Ozu, Malle, Fellini, Renoir, Powell, Godard, Truffaut, Melville)
--- First Director, (insert title)
--- Second Director, (insert title)
--- Third Director, (insert title)
--- Fourth Director, (insert title)
--- Fifth Director, (insert title)

Watch a film from five different “themes” on Criterion’s website
X COMEDIES , (This is Spinal Tap)
--- Second Theme name, (insert title)
--- Third Theme name, (insert title)
--- Fourth Theme name, (insert title)
--- Fifth Theme name, (insert title)

Watch something from spine number range:
X 001-050 - Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple (15)
--- 051-100 -
--- 101-150 -
--- 151-200 -
--- 201-250 -
--- 251-300 -
--- 301-350 -
--- 351-400 -
--- 401-450 -
--- 451-500 -
--- 501-550 –
X 551-600 - Tiny Furniture
--- 601-650 -
--- an Eclipse title -
--- Watch a title not released on DVD by Criterion -

--- Watch a film which won an Academy Award -
--- Watch a film with commentary –
--- Read an Essay -
--- Watch a short -
--- Watch a Criterion disc completely. Every part of it. -
--- Watch an entire Criterion Collector's Set/Eclipse Box Set -

Last edited by MrTerrific; 09-11-12 at 05:14 PM.
Old 08-28-12, 10:29 PM
  #13  
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Re: 4th Annual September Criterion Challenge - List Thread

Blu-ray
Any Other Format
*-First Time Viewing

September 1
1.)*The 39 Steps
2.)*Shallow Grave
3.)*Antichrist

September 2
4.)*Kiss Me Deadly

September 5
5.)*Godzilla

September 6
6.)The Royal Tenenbaums


September 13
7.)*Kuroneko

Spoiler:


Watch one film from every decade covered by Criterion.
--- 1920 -
-X- 1930 - The 39 Steps (1935)
--- 1940 -
-X- 1950 - Kiss Me Deadly (1955)
-X- 1960 - Kuroneko (1968)
--- 1970 -
--- 1980 -
-X- 1990 - Shallow Grave (1994)
-X- 2000 - Antichrist (2009)
--- 2010 (Optional) -

Watch films in at least five languages.
-X- (Japanese), (Godzilla)
--- Second language, (insert language), (insert title).
--- Third language, (insert language), (insert title).
--- Fourth language, (insert language), (insert title).
--- Fifth language, (insert language), (insert title).

Watch films from five different directors in Criterion’s top 10 (Kurosawa, Bergman, Ozu, Malle, Fellini, Renoir, Powell, Godard, Truffaut, Melville)
--- First Director, (insert title)
--- Second Director, (insert title)
--- Third Director, (insert title)
--- Fourth Director, (insert title)
--- Fifth Director, (insert title)

Watch a film from five different “themes” on Criterion’s website
-X- Scary Movies, (Antichrist)
-X- Noir and Neonoir, (Kiss Me Deadly)
-X- Cult Movies, (Godzilla)
-X- Dysfunctional Families, (Royal Tenenbaums)
-X- Scary Movies, (Kuroneko)

Watch something from spine number range:
--- 001-050 -
-X- 051-100 - The 39 Steps (56)
--- 101-150 -
-X- 151-200 - The Royal Tenenbaums (157)
--- 201-250 -
--- 251-300 -
--- 301-350 -
--- 351-400 -
--- 401-450 -
--- 451-500 -
-X- 501-550 – Antichrist (542)
-X- 551-600 - Kiss Me Deadly (568)
-X- 601-650 - Shallow Grave (616)
--- an Eclipse title -
--- Watch a title not released on DVD by Criterion -

--- Watch a film which won an Academy Award -
--- Watch a film with commentary –
--- Read an Essay -
--- Watch a short -
--- Watch a Criterion disc completely. Every part of it. -
--- Watch an entire Criterion Collector's Set/Eclipse Box Set -

Last edited by acubfaninmd; 09-13-12 at 09:24 AM.
Old 08-28-12, 10:49 PM
  #14  
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Re: 4th Annual September Criterion Challenge - List Thread

Undeadcow's 2012 Criterion Collection Challenge

September 2
1. Black Orpheus - fun with colorful song and dance sequences with a love story that is stretched but does so in style. The dark tones of the classic Orpheus story play well incorporated into modern Brazilian surroundings with an impressive contemporary depiction of hell.

September 3
2. Blue - at times aimless and some of the "liberation" theme escapes me but toughtfully scripted with interesting adapted color scheme.

September 4
3. In the Realm of the Senses - graphic and intentionally over the top in a way that works by emphasizing the connectedness between the two main characters towards a tense conclusion. Very effective but not for the weak.

September 9
4. Discreet Charm of Bourgeoisie - a subtle film with pointed social commentary and humor, too bad there's no commentary (which might defeat the purpose)

September 13
5. The Killing - a well paced tense heist film but third chapter was disappointing.

September 17
6. King Kong - one of my favorite movies, a blast watching with my 4 year old who yells at the scream for Kong to not bite because it's mean.

September 21
7. Close-up - Moments of brilliance with clever use of real participants as actors.

September 22
7. Paris, TX - a meditative film with good cinematography.

Spoiler:
Watch one film from every decade covered by Criterion.
--- 1920 - (insert film title here)
--- 1930 -
--- 1940 -
--- 1950 -
--- 1960 -
--- 1970 -
--- 1980 -
--- 1990 -
--- 2000 -
--- 2010 (Optional) -

Watch films in at least five languages.
--- First language, (insert language), (insert title).
--- Second language, (insert language), (insert title).
--- Third language, (insert language), (insert title).
--- Fourth language, (insert language), (insert title).
--- Fifth language, (insert language), (insert title).

Watch films from five different directors in Criterion’s top 10 (Kurosawa, Bergman, Ozu, Malle, Fellini, Renoir, Powell, Godard, Truffaut, Melville)
--- First Director, (insert title)
--- Second Director, (insert title)
--- Third Director, (insert title)
--- Fourth Director, (insert title)
--- Fifth Director, (insert title)

Watch a film from five different “themes” on Criterion’s website
--- First Theme name, (insert title)
--- Second Theme name, (insert title)
--- Third Theme name, (insert title)
--- Fourth Theme name, (insert title)
--- Fifth Theme name, (insert title)

Watch something from spine number range:
--- 001-050 -
--- 051-100 -
--- 101-150 -
--- 151-200 -
--- 201-250 -
--- 251-300 -
--- 301-350 -
--- 351-400 -
--- 401-450 -
--- 451-500 -
--- 501-550 –
--- 551-600 -
--- 601-650 -
--- an Eclipse title -
--- Watch a title not released on DVD by Criterion -

--- Watch a film which won an Academy Award -
--- Watch a film with commentary –
-X- Read an Essay - Certified Copy essay
--- Watch a short -
--- Watch a Criterion disc completely. Every part of it. -
--- Watch an entire Criterion Collector's Set/Eclipse Box Set -

Last edited by Undeadcow; 09-22-12 at 09:02 AM.
Old 08-28-12, 11:30 PM
  #15  
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Re: 4th Annual September Criterion Challenge - List Thread

(Shamelessy stealing Dim-X's intro)

'09 List
'10 list
'11 list


1st:
1. #341-A Canterbury Tale__Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger__1944
Since I have been on a good streak of enjoying Powell/Pressburger films for these challenges, I felt I needed a good omen by starting out with one this time around. I wasn't as completely wow'ed by this compared to their other works, but I liked this plenty enough.
-
2. #559-The Mikado__Victor Schertzinger__1939
This was reminiscent of my (Early) viewing of Bergman's Magic Flute last year. Not really my cup of tea and though I admit to zoning out on more than one occasion, I still found this more watchable than the Bergman film at least.
------------------------------------
2nd:
3. #607-"Zorns Lemma"__Hollis Frampton__1970

------------------------------------
3rd:
4. #412-Sawdust and Tinsel__Ingmar Bergman__1953
A pleasant surprise! Then again, I'm a sucker for any movie that has a circus setting. I'd also say that this (Along with Virgin Spring) would be a safe recommendation for Bergman-newbies.
-
5. #256-A Constant Forge—The Life and Art of John Cassavetes__Charles Kiselyak__2000
Intimidating 3-hour time, but hardly redundant. I definetly gained more respect for Cassavetes when all was through.....And when the heck will Love Streams be available to see?
------------------------------------
4th:
6. #484-Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles__Chantal Akerman__1975
Would make a great double feature with Satantango!
------------------------------------
5th:
7. #276-The River__Jean Renoir__1951
Part travelogue movie. Part coming-of-age movie (It's mostly this) Didn't quite have that Renoir touch, but this was certainly solid enough. Loved the techinicolor in this as well.
------------------------------------
6th:
9. (Eclipse) Shadows in Paradise__Aki Kaurismäki__1986
One of those slightly-above-average deadpan romance flicks. Not bad.
-
10. #512-Vivre sa vie__Jean-Luc Godard__1962
Best film I've seen (Yet) in this challenge. Loved the dialogue-sequences that were shot behind one's head (Something that influenced Tarantino...Notably in Pulp Fiction) and I won't be able to get that haunting theme out of my head for some time.
Also dug the inclusion of two films available from Criterion: Passion/Joan of Arc and Jules/Jim!
------------------------------------
7th:
11. #72-Le million__René Clair__1931
+
"René on sound"
Cute comedy and an uncoventional musical (For it's time) but my favorite moment on the disc was the brief interview---Which sure sounded like it had some advanced discussion that probably wasn't normally heard on 50's American TV!
------------------------------------
9th:
12. #498-Paisan__Roberto Rossellini__1946
+
"Introduction"
Rossellini at Rice University
(I had audio difficulties with this though)
Adriano Aprà Interview
"Into the Future"

I never knew this was an anthology of stories (On it's My Voyage to Italy segment, I thought the whole movie would be centered around the "Naples" story) so it was good to know that a lot more was added than what I had expected. Though some of the stories feel anti-climactic, this still ended up being a very good watch...And, thankfully, not quite as downbeat as Germany Year Zero.
------------------------------------
11th:
13. #127-Gertrud__Carl Th. Dreyer__1964
The most boring movie I've watched yet, but I still didn't completely hate it (The final 10 minutes really helped in saving things) Still though, I've only struck gold twice with Dreyer on Passion/Arc and Vampyr. The drought still continues.
------------------------------------
12th:
14. #621-Rosetta__Luc Dardenne and Jean-Pierre Dardenne__1999
I felt the need for a contemporary "Survival tale" and this one hardly disappointed. My only problem was that, since I fought with a headache today, the often shaky-cam photography didn't put me in a brighter mood.
------------------------------------
14th:
15. #384-Vengeance Is Mine__Shohei Imamura__1979
(As with Gertrud) Yet another movie where the last 10 minutes gets me most involved. Good moments here and there, but it just wasn't consistent enough to keep me interested. I'm starting to worry about my selections now.
------------------------------------
16th:
16. Eclipse Series 19: Chantal Akerman in the Seventies
The 3 films (La chambre, Hotel Monterey, News from Home) seem to each get gradually better. The final shot of News from Home obviously has much more greater meaning now than it did back then.
------------------------------------
20th:
17. #228-Salvatore Giuliano__Francesco Rosi__1961
Reminded me of a slightly-less dynamic version of Battle of Algiers. Worth checking out.
------------------------------------
21st:
18. #617-And Everything Is Going Fine__Steven Soderbergh__2010
Masterful job of combining performance footage and interviews together for a complete narrative on Spalding Gray's life. This entry felt like a much-needed breath of fresh air for this marathon.
------------------------------------
23rd:
19. #604-In Which We Serve__David Lean and Noël Coward__1942
I admit to getting a little restless and dozing off towards the end, but it's extremely rare to find war films from this era that features some sort of fractured timeline. For that, it shouldn't be dismissed.
------------------------------------
24th:
20. #454-Europa__Lars von Trier__1991
+
The Making of “Europa”
Not only was this the most visually-compelling film I saw for this challenge, but this has also now become my most favorite Von Trier film to appear in the Criterion Collection (Unless Dancer in the Dark shows up soon)
------------------------------------
25th:
21. #210-Winter Light__Ingmar Bergman__1962
+
"Exploring The Film"
I kinda moaned and groaned during the early-going of this. Thinking "Great. Yet another spiritual-conflict entry from Bergman". But boy, did this sucker really start pulling me in as it went along. At this moment, I'd say this is my favorite Bergman film that deals with these themes.


Last edited by Mondo Kane; 09-26-12 at 01:04 AM.
Old 08-29-12, 12:10 AM
  #16  
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Re: 4th Annual September Criterion Challenge - List Thread

*First-time viewing

1. The Game (1987)*: Love twisty-turny movies! Watched it by myself but would like to watch again with the fam. Crappy Universal non-anamorphic disc from Netflix, but fine when watching on my CRT in the basement.

Last edited by davidh777; 09-30-12 at 10:50 AM.
Old 08-29-12, 02:19 AM
  #17  
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Re: 4th Annual September Criterion Challenge - List Thread

2012 Criterion Challenge


[/URL]

Aug 31/Sept. 1
1. Quadrophenia (1979) DVD-Roddam, #624
Watching my old Rhino DVD I bought back in 2001 (oy!) has convinced me of three things: A-this is the most accurately insightful examination of adolescence on film; C-Quadrophenia is easily The Who's best album; C-I really need to upgrade this to the Criterion Blu. Director Franc Roddam and Phil Daniels as the protagonist Jimmy create a terrific snapshot of the mid-60s British working class youth scene as poor schlub Jimmy, a very average teen in terms of looks and intellect, tries to find an identity and something to believe in, only to have his every desire to fit in and to be loved fall apart. It's a brutal, brilliant film. Although I love Ken Russell's audacious visual style, I wish Roddam had directed Tommy instead because The Who's music was handled much better by Roddam than Russell.
2. Billy Liar (1963) TV--Schlesinger, #121
Can I just say the sight of the Studio Canal logo fills me with rage? Stupid greedy jerks. Tom Courtenay gives a terrific performance as the dream-filled title character who fills his empty life with heroic fantasies. I suppose his bumbling lies and gormless demeanor were supposed to elicit the audience's sympathies, but
Spoiler:
what kind of fool gives up the chance to run off to London with Julie Christie? That last shot of Billy marching back into his parent's house with his imaginary soldiers makes him look more disturbed and creepy than as a sympathetic anti-hero.

3. Autumn Sonata (1978) TV--Bergman, #60
The bitter argument between Liv Ullmann and Ingrid Bergman could have been taken verbatim from any number of angry exchanges between my mother and my sister over the years. Ingmar Bergman excels in showing the regrets and hidden bitterness that color the relationships with the people we love and sometimes resent. The print TCM used, though, is atrocious; Criterion needs to Blu this up.
4. Armageddon (1998). YouTube--Bay, #40
It's Saturday morning, I'm eating leftover enchiladas for breakfast, and I want to watch something undemanding and stupid. Helloooo, Michael Bay!
5. The Long Good Friday (1978) Netflix--Jordan, #26
A cracking good British crime thriller that takes the viewer through a journey to an unexpected end.

Sept. 2.
6. Blood Wedding (1981) DVD-Saura, Eclipse Series 6
Absolutely magnificent adaptation of Garcia Lorca's play to ballet as his tale of jealousy and revenge is told through the art of flamenco. And Antonio Gades was smokin' hot.
--Essay, "The Dress Rehearsal"
7. Carmen (1983) DVD-Saura
The second of Saura's flamenco trilogy, Carmen shares the same cinéma vérité feel as Blood Wedding, as rehearsal blends into the story.
--Essay, "The Performance"
8. El Amor Brujo (1985) DVD-Saura
This is more movie-like than the first two films, with less breaking of the fourth wall.
--Essay, "The Denouement"

Sept. 3
9. The End of Summer (1961) DVD-Ozu, Eclipse Series 3
There's something about Ozu that that cheers me up, even when the subject matter is tragic. He was a true master of cinema, able to evoke emotions and a sense of place in a few quick camera cuts, like the three-part montage of the sake tubs drying in the sun. The End of Summer is another take on one of Ozu's favorite themes, the conflicts between adult children and their parents and the struggle to achieve personal happiness while maintaining family harmony, as well as the transition between generations as the young supplant the old. This was one of three Ozu films that were not filmed at Shochiku, his home studio.
--Essay, "Moving On"

Sept. 4
10. Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (1970) Hulu -Jireš
How on Earth was this film made and released under a puritanical Communist dictatorship? It's an amazing blend of, as Joe Dante put it in his commentary on the trailer, "part Alice in Wonderland, part horror movie, part erotic romance." The surreal imagery reminded me very much of Lemora: A Child's Tale of the Supernatural

Sept. 6
11. Gimme Shelter (1970) Blu-Ray -with commentary -Maysles, #99
This is one of the best documentaries ever filmed, not only a document of the catastrophic concert at Altamont that marked the death of the 60s, but also a testament to the sheer awesomeness of the Stones in their junkyard dog prime.

Sept. 7
12. Jubilee (1977) DVD -Jarman, #191
Despite its billing as a punk movie, Jubilee is really a piss take on the punk movement; why else would a film about a working class phenomenon include esoterica like Queen Elizabeth and her court magician John Dee declaiming pseudo-Shakespearean dialogue?
--Essay, "Jubilee"
--Short, "Jubilee: A Time Less Golden"
--Trailer
13. L'Atalante (1934) Hulu -Vigo, #578
It's nice to know that even in my tottering state I can still be surprised by beauty. I've heard good things about Jean Vigo's films for years, but I had no idea he was such a masterful visual stylist. What a tragedy he died so young--dead at 29, an age when most artists are still finding their way. What films he could have made if he had lived to a more mature age!
14. My Dinner With Andre (1981) DVD -Malle, #479
I could watch this film over and over, and never grow bored. It's like listening in on the most fascinating conversation ever.

Sept. 8
15. House of Games (1987) TV--Mamet, #399
I'm really glad that I went into this cold because it would have been a crime to spoil this film about a psychiatrist who thinks she can hang with con artists with impunity.

Sept. 9
16. Sid & Nancy (1986) TV--Cox, #20
More style than substance, but with Gary Oldman you see the birth of a burning new talent.
17. Missing (1982) DVD -Costa-Gavras, #449
Jack Lemmon knocks it out of the park as a conservative, flag-waving father who becomes radicalized by the discovery that the U.S. government was complicit in his son's death at the hands of right-wing death squad when the fascist dictator Augusto Pinochet overthrew the democratically elected government of Salvador Allende in a CIA-backed military coup. It's a shame that more Americans are unaware of our history in backing some truly awful regimes.
18. Weekend (2011) Netflix -Haigh, #622
Two men meet in a bar, go home and trick, and begin to fall in love. The film feels like you are watching a love story play out in real time, and even though we don't get the conventional happy ending, it's clear that both men have grown through their time together.

Sept. 10
19. A Woman Is a Woman (1961) Netflix -Godard, #238
Leave it to Godard to make a musical that violates all the conventions of the movie musical. Songs are sometimes sung by the characters, and sometimes they just pop up on the soundtrack, the colors are bright but the sets are dingy. and the backing score sounds like it was lifted from a Bugs Bunny cartoon.
20. The Mikado (1939) Netflix -Schertzinger, #559
Even though this is an abbreviated production of Gilbert and Sullivan's funniest operetta (most of the songs have suffered drastic cuts, and "I Have a Little List" omitted entirely), it's extremely entertaining. The D'Oyly Carte company preserved the original orchestrations and stage directions, so this film is the closest we can get to seeing The Mikado as it was first performed in the 19th century.

Sept. 11
21. Stagecoach (1939) DVD -Ford, #516
One of John Ford's greatest films, Stagecoach made John Wayne a star and set the template for Westerns and character-filled disaster films to come.
22. La Bête Humaine (1938) Hulu -Renoir, #324
One of my favorite actors, Jean Gabin, in a riveting film about seduction, murder and revenge. Since it's from Studio Canal, and amazingly still in print, I need to pick this up in November before SC snatches it away.
23. Heaven Can Wait (1943) DVD -Lubitsch, #291
A sparkling, risque comedy that went right over my head when I saw it on TV back when I was a kid. The plot concerns a Lothario played by Don Ameche who finds himself in Hell, and the film unfolds as a flashback as Ameche reminisces with Satan on his amorous past. However, the DVD transfer is a disaster, with some serious color-timing issues. Criterion needs to remaster this for Blu-Ray.

Sept. 13
24. The Baron of Arizona (1950) DVD -Fuller, Eclipse Series 5
I do love Vincent Price, and he excels in this character piece as a con man who concocts an exceptionally elaborate plan to steal Arizona from the United States.

Sept. 14
25. Pandora's Box (1929) Hulu -Pabst, #358
It's amazing that G.W. Pabst could get away with the blatant sexuality depicted in Pandora's Box. Louise Brooks is sensational in this downright decadent silent gem from the Weimar era.
26. Hunger (2008) Netflix -McQueen, #504
I remember reading about the hunger strike by IRA prisoners in 1981, but at the time I was a clueless college kid who didn't know much about politics. Steve McQueen's film exposes that bit of history, although Hunger makes Bobby Sands a martyr to a political principle instead of the murdering thug he really was. Also, like many British films, it really needs subtitles for us poor Yanks.

Sept. 15
27. Close-Up (1990) Hulu -Kiarostami, #519
A weird blend of fiction and reality in which the actors are the real-life people in this story of a con-man who fooled an Iranian family into thinking he was a famous film director.
28. Equinox (1969) TV -Brooks, #338
Despite the micro budget, this bit of drive-in fodder is a lot of fun. I had no idea Sam Raimi lifted The Evil Dead's basic plot (4 kids in a cabin in the woods running from demons in pursuit of a book containing dark magic) from Equinox.

Sept. 16
29. The Game (1997) DVD -Fincher, #627
The Universal DVD blows--I definitely need to upgrade to the Criterion Blu. I had never seen this before, and I was in the edge of my seat through the whole film.

Sept. 17
30. Robinson Crusoe on Mars (1964) YouTube -Haskin, #404
When I was a kid back in the late 60s/early 70s, low-budget sci-fi movies like RCoM used to be on heavy rotation on the weekend and late night movie blocks that existed before infomercials took over. Despite the cheesy FX and the science illiteracy, I really enjoyed seeing this again. May have to get this in November.

Sept. 18
31. Koyaanisqatsi (1983) DVD -Reggio, #639
Another DVD I'll need to upgrade. Although the claims of profundity on the DVD case are IMO overstated, the contrasting images of tranquil nature and urban frenzy set to Philip Glass's hypnotic score create a beautiful piece of video art.
--Short, "Essence of Life"
32. Show Boat (1936) YouTube -Whale, LD #44
I associate James Whale with the Universal Frankenstein series, so finding his version of Show Boat was a pleasant surprise. IMO, this is the best of all 3 film versions.

Sept. 19
33. Street of Shame (1956) DVD -Mizoguchi, Eclipse Series 13
Kenji Mizoguchi's final film is a heartbreaking ensemble piece, telling the stories of 5 women trapped in prostitution in the dreary backstreets of postwar Tokyo.

Sept. 20
34. Naqoyqatsi (2002) Netflix -Reggio, #639
The third chapter in the trilogy, Naqoyqatsi has beautiful images set to Glass's score, but it lacks the impact of the first film.
35. Eating Raoul (1982) DVD-Bartel, #625
A funky commentary on the sexual revolution 30 years ago, now it seems naive in the face of the onslaught of AIDS that returned America to a puritanical past. I bought this DVD at Big Lots 3 years ago, and I'm probably going to upgrade this as well.

Sept. 21
36. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) DVD-Gilliam and Jones, LD #168
What is there left to say? One of the funniest films ever made. And see Spamalot on stage if it ever comes to your theater--even funnier than the film with better songs.

Sept. 24
37. Antichrist (2009) Netflix-Van Trier, #542
Antichrist is infuriating, beautiful, mesmerizing, and disgusting, in about equal measures. Ostensibly the film is about a couple working their grief over the death of their infant son, but there's no point in trying to wring any kind of rational sense from a Van Trier film. His films are meant to be felt, more than examined or dissected. And no filmmaker today has a more intimate understanding of the mechanics of mental illness and depression.

Sept. 25
38. Monterey Pop (1967) DVD-Pennebaker, #167
Yes, kids, there was a time when pop music had cultural significance and musicians played their own instruments.

Sept. 26
39. Edward II (1991) DVD-Jarman, LD #189
In defiance of AIDS and a bitter conservative backlash against gay rights, the early 90s were a benchmark for queer cinema, a highlight being Derek Jarman rewriting Kit Marlowe's already very gay play, Edward II.

Sept. 28
40. The Haunted Strangler (1957) DVD-Day, #364
Boris Karloff turns in a terrific performance in this late-career serial killer thriller.
41. Corridors of Blood (1958) DVD-Day, #364
Despite the low budget, this film looks terrific, including the Seven Dials slum scenes. Pre-Dracula Christopher Lee is suitably creepy as a Burke and Hare style "resurrection man" who kills drunks and sells their bodies to a hospital.

Sept. 29
42. Fiend Without a Face (1958) DVD-Crabtree, #92
Marshall Thompson wasn't a great actor, but he should have had a bigger career in films. Although the FX don't stand up a half-century later, the killer brains still manage to give me the willies.
43. Symbiopsychotaxiplasm Take One (1968) TV-Greaves, #360
A metatextual film about the process behind making movies, with one film crew filming another film crew filming a third film crew filming actors performing scenes from a film they think they are making. I still don't know what to make of it, although I suspect this must have an intense following among film makers.

Sept. 30
44. The Four Feathers (1939) TV-Korda, #583
I suppose the colonialist tone of the British empire epic might turn off some, but the ideas of honor and courage seems to have gone away from our society and it's nice to see them upheld in this film.
45. Rosemary's Baby (1968) DVD-Polanski, #630
Hail Satan! A classic of paranoia. I'm not a huge fan of Mia Farrow, but she is perfect as poor Rosemary Woodhouse who has been chosen to bear the Antichrist. Can't wait to trade in my dingy Paramount DVD for a new Criterion Blu.
46. The Last Wave (1977) DVD-Weir, #142
I enjoy movies about that explore aspects of the supernatural from other cultures, so Peter Weir's film is one of my favorites. Richard Chamberlain plays a Sydney lawyer who becomes entangled in Aboriginal magic and prophecies of rain that will end the world.
47. Kuroneko (1968) Blue-Shindo, #584
A mother and daughter are raped and murdered by rogue samurai, and return as vengeful spirits who lure samurai to their deaths. Kaneto Shindo's direction breathes pure creepy evil into this breathtakingly scary movie.

Spoiler:

Watch one film from every decade covered by Criterion.
-X- 1920 - Pandora's Box
-X- 1930 - The Mikado
-X- 1940 - Heaven Can Wait
-X- 1950 - The Baron of Arizona
-X- 1960 - Equinox
-X- 1970 - Monty Python and the Holy Grail
-X- 1980 - Koyaanisqatsi
-X- 1990 - The Game
-X- 2000 - Hunger
-X- 2010 (Optional) - Weekend

Watch films in at least five languages.
-X- First language, (Swedish), (Autumn Sonata).
-X- Second language, (Spanish), (Blood Wedding).
-X- Third language, (Japanese), (The End of Summer).
-X- Fourth language, (Czech), (Valerie and Her Week of Wonders).
-X- Fifth language, (French), (L'Atalante).
-X- Sixth language, (Farsi), (Close-Up).

Watch films from five different directors in Criterion’s top 10 (Kurosawa, Bergman, Ozu, Malle, Fellini, Renoir, Powell, Godard, Truffaut, Melville)
-X- Ingmar Bergman, (Autumn Sonata)
-X- Yasujiro Ozu, (The End of Summer)
-X- Louis Malle, (My Dinner With Andre)
-X- Jean-Luc Godard, (A Woman Is a Woman)
-X- Jean Renoir, (La Bête Humaine)

Watch a film from five different “themes” on Criterion’s website
-X- British Realism, (Billy Liar)
-X- Dysfunctional Families, (Autumn Sonata)
-X- Great Soundtracks, (Quadrophenia)
-X- Great Performances, (Gimme Shelter)
-X- Suspense!, (The Long Good Friday)

Watch something from spine number range:
-X- 001-050 - Armageddon, #40
-X- 051-100 - Autumn Sonata, #60
-X- 101-150 - Billy Liar, #121
-X- 151-200 - Jubilee, #191
-X- 201-250 - A Woman Is a Woman, #238
-X- 251-300 - Heaven Can Wait, #291
-X- 301-350 - La Bête Humaine, #324
-x- 351-400 - House of Games, #399
-x- 401-450 - Missing, #449
-X- 451-500 - My Dinner With Andre, #479
-X- 501-550 – Stagecoach, #516
-X- 551-600 - The Mikado, #559
-X- 601-650 - Weekend, #622
-X- an Eclipse title - Blood Wedding
-X- Watch a title not released on DVD by Criterion - Valerie and Her Week of Wonders

-X- Watch a film which won an Academy Award - Missing, Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium
-X- Watch a film with commentary – Gimme Shelter
-X- Read an Essay - "The Dress Rehearsal"
-X- Watch a short -"Jubilee: A Time Less Golden"
-X- Watch a Criterion disc completely. Every part of it. - Jubilee
-X- Watch an entire Criterion Collector's Set/Eclipse Box Set - Eclipse Series 6: Carlos Saura Flamenco Trilogy

Last edited by Gobear; 08-28-14 at 01:17 PM.
Old 08-29-12, 06:31 AM
  #18  
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Re: 4th Annual September Criterion Challenge - List Thread

1. Carnival of Souls (1962) 83 min.
2. Manual of Arms (1966) * 17 min.
3. Process Red (1966) * 4 min.
4. Maxwell's Demon (1968) * 4 min.
5. Surface Tension (1968) * 10 min.
6. Carrots & Peas (1969) * 5 min.
7. Lemon (1969) * 7 min.
8. The Spirit of the Beehive (1973) * 99 min.
9. Zatoichi on the Road (1963) * 87 min.
10. Dead Ringers (1988) * 116 min.
11. A Chairy Tale (1957) * 10 min.
12. Mon Oncle Antoine (1971) * 105 min.
13 . Zorns Lemma (1970) * 60 min.
14. The Cars That Ate Paris (1974) * 88 min.
15. Menace II Society (1993) * 98 min.
16. Clean, Shaven (1993) * 79 min.
17. Pearls of the Deep (1966) * 107 min.
18. Withnail & I (1987) * 107 min.
19. Young Törless (1966) * 87 min.
20. Hapax Legomena I: Nostalgia (1973) * 36 min.
21. Hapax Legomena II: Poetic Justice (1972) *31 min.
22. Hapax Legomena III: Critical Mass (1971) *26 min.
23. A Report on the Party and the Guests (1966) * 71 min.
24. Daisies (1966) 76 min.


*First time viewing.

Last edited by ororama; 09-27-12 at 12:39 AM.
Old 08-29-12, 10:06 AM
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Re: 4th Annual September Criterion Challenge - List Thread

Hoping to get through a few of the Eclipse sets this year.

1. A Generation (Wajda, 1955) - Occasionally exciting story of Polish communist resistance during World War II. - 6/10 [also watched Wajda's short film, Ceramics from Ilza.]
2. Kanal (Wajda, 1957) - Another tale of the Polish resistance - this time, it's a 96-minute journey through hell. - 8/10
3. The Fire Within (Malle, 1963) - Recovering alcoholic decides he wants to die. Experiences the ennui of his social class as he meets up with old friends; his decision is reinforced. - 6/10
4. The Lovers (Malle, 1958) - 5/10
5. Youth of the Beast (Suzuki, 1963) - 6/10
6. Juliet of the Spirits (Fellini, 1965) - 5/10
7. Fighting Elegy (Suzuki, 1966) - Funny, violent story of a Catholic Japanese teenager finding relief from his sexual urges through beating people up (or being beat up.) - 6/10
8. House of Games (Mamet, 1987) - Twisting story of an uptight psychologist/popular author discovering her dark side as she journeys into the underworld of confidence men. - 8/10
9. Amarcord (Fellini, 1973) - 7/10
10. Tiny Furniture (Dunham, 2010) - Hipsterphobes beware! - 6/10
11. The Rock (Bay, 1996) - Dumb and exciting. About a million times better than Armageddon, and the only Bay film I've ever enjoyed. - 7/10
12. Show Boat (Whale, 1936)
13. Homicide (Mamet, 1991)
14. Babette's Feast (Axel, 1987)
15. The Shop on Main Street (Kadar, 1965)

Last edited by Sondheim; 09-30-12 at 03:26 PM.
Old 08-29-12, 10:32 AM
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Re: 4th Annual September Criterion Challenge - List Thread

The 4th Annual September Criterion Challenge


September 3
High and Low

September 4
High and Low (Audio commentary by Akira Kurosawa scholar Stephen Prince)

September 5
Boogie Nights

September 8
Do the Right Thing
Harakiri - Video Introduction by Japanese-film historian Donald Richie
Harakiri - Trailer

September 9
Gimme Shelter

September 11
Harakiri
Akira Kurosawa: It is Wonderful to Create (High and Low)

September 12
Video interview with Toshiro Mifune (High and Low)
Video interview with Tsutomu Yamazaki (High and Low)
Japanese Trailer - High and Low
Japanese Teaser - High and Low
U.S. Trailer - High and Low


September 16
Blackmail

September 17
Introduction by Ingmar Bergman (The Seventh Seal)
A 1989 tribute to Ingmar Bergman by filmmaker Woody Allen (The Seventh Seal)


September 20
Bergman Island

September 23
The Seventh Seal

September 25
Fish Tank
Wasp (short)

September 27
Throne of Blood

September 28
Being John Malkovich

September 29
Blow Out

September 30
Kuroneko


Spoiler:

Watch one film from every decade covered by Criterion.
XXX 1920 - Blackmail (1929)
--- 1930 -
--- 1940 -
XXX 1950 - The Seventh Seal (1957)
XXX 1960 - High and Low (1963)
XXX 1970 - Gimme Shelter (1970)
XXX 1980 - Do the Right Thing (1989)
XXX 1990 - Boogie Nights (1997)
XXX 2000 - Bergman Island (2006)
--- 2010 (Optional) -

Watch films in at least five languages.
XXX High and Low (Japanese)
XXX Boogie Nights (English)
XXX Bergman Island (Swedish)
--- Fourth language, (insert language), (insert title).
--- Fifth language, (insert language), (insert title).

Watch films from five different directors in Criterion’s top 10 (Kurosawa, Bergman, Ozu, Malle, Fellini, Renoir, Powell, Godard, Truffaut, Melville)
XXX High and Low (Akira Kurosawa)
XXX The Seventh Seal (Ingmar Bergman)
--- Third Director, (insert title)
--- Fourth Director, (insert title)
--- Fifth Director, (insert title)

Watch a film from five different “themes” on Criterion’s website
XXX High and Low (Noir and Neonoir)
XXX Do the Right Thing (Great Soundtracks)
XXX Gimme Shelter (Documentaries)
XXX Harakiri (Samurai Cinema)
XXX Fish Tank (British Realism)

Watch something from spine number range:
XXX 001-050 - High and Low (#24)
XXX 051-100 - Do the Right Thing (#97)
--- 101-150 -
XXX 151-200 - Throne of Blood (#190)
--- 201-250 -
--- 251-300 -
XXX 301-350 - Harakiri (#302)
--- 351-400 -
--- 401-450 -
XXX 451-500 - Bergman Island (#477)
--- 501-550 –
XXX 551-600 - Fish Tank (#553)
XXX 601-650 - Being John Malkovich (#611)
--- an Eclipse title -
XXX Watch a title not released on DVD by Criterion - Boogie Nights

XXX Watch a film which won an Academy Award - Wasp (Best Short Film, Live Action)
XXX Watch a film with commentary – High and Low (Audio commentary by Akira Kurosawa scholar Stephen Prince)
XXX Read an Essay - "Between Heaven and Hell" by Geoffrey O'Brien (High and Low)
XXX Watch a short - Wasp
XXX Watch a Criterion disc completely. Every part of it. - High and Low
--- Watch an entire Criterion Collector's Set/Eclipse Box Set -

Last edited by Greg MacGuffin; 10-01-12 at 11:04 AM.
Old 08-29-12, 10:58 AM
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Re: 4th Annual September Criterion Challenge - List Thread

I'm hoping to watch at least 10 entries. Excited to see how this pans out!

1. This is Spinal Tap (1984)

2. High Noon (1952)

3. The Blob (1958)

Spoiler:


Watch one film from every decade covered by Criterion.
--- 1920 -
--- 1930 -
--- 1940 -
-X- 1950 - High Noon (1952)
--- 1960 -
--- 1970 -
-X- 1980 - This is Spinal Tap (1984)
--- 1990 -
--- 2000 -
--- 2010 (Optional) -

Watch films in at least five languages.
-X- English - This is Spinal Tap (1984)
--- Second language
--- Third language
--- Fourth language
--- Fifth language

Watch films from five different directors in Criterion’s top 10 (Kurosawa, Bergman, Ozu, Malle, Fellini, Renoir, Powell, Godard, Truffaut, Melville)
--- First Director
--- Second Director
--- Third Director
--- Fourth Director
--- Fifth Director

Watch a film from five different “themes” on Criterion’s website
-X- Cult Movies - The Blob (1958)
-X- First Films - This is Spinal Tap (1984)
--- Third Theme name
--- Fourth Theme name
--- Fifth Theme name

Watch something from spine number range:
-X- 001-050 - This is Spinal Tap (1984) #12
-X- 051-100 - The Blob (1958) #91
--- 101-150 -
--- 151-200 -
--- 201-250 -
--- 251-300 -
--- 301-350 -
--- 351-400 -
--- 401-450 -
--- 451-500 -
--- 501-550 –
--- 551-600 -
--- 601-650 -
--- an Eclipse title -
-X- Watch a title not released on DVD by Criterion - High Noon (1952)

-X- Watch a film which won an Academy Award - High Noon (1952)
--- Watch a film with commentary –
-X- Read an Essay - "High Noon" by Howard Suber
--- Watch a short -
--- Watch a Criterion disc completely. Every part of it. -
--- Watch an entire Criterion Collector's Set/Eclipse Box Set -


Last edited by tellybox; 09-03-12 at 09:01 PM.
Old 08-29-12, 12:32 PM
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Re: 4th Annual September Criterion Challenge - List Thread


As of 8/31, 73 checked and 670 to go.
dcrw6's iCheckMovies.com Criterion Collection widget

As of 8/31, 0 checked and 145 to go.
dcrw6's iCheckMovies.com Eclipse Collection widget

Bold = First Time Viewing
Rated out of *****

1. Head (1968)- I was never a fan of The Monkees as a child, even though my mom never ceased trying to get me to watch the television show. However, I really enjoyed this movie. Essentially, it's a stream of consciousness touching on various subjects such as how The Monkees have lived as corporate products and the Vietnam war while at the same time making it a fun watch, even if you start to tire by the end. Plus, hey! Victor Mature!
****

2. Easy Rider (1969)- The last and only time I watched this was when I was 12 and my grandfather felt it was important to show it to me. I enjoyed it back then, but something about revisiting it all these years later left me a little unengaged. I don't know if I'm just past that part in my life where I can identify with some of these issues, or if the hipster movement burnt me out on caring about waxing poetical about why no one likes them. I still find the movie entertaining and wonderfully shot. The entire sequence in the graveyard was the highlight for me.
***1/2

3. Five Easy Pieces (1970)- This movie I could identify much more with. The difference in classes and the struggle to find a sense of caring inside about others and what you're doing, it's all stuff I'm dealing with right now with an expensive degree being put towards generic labor work at the moment along with other kicks in the nuts lately, and I'm sure I'm not alone. Nicholson gives voice to the anger and dissatisfaction a lot of us has with life and ourselves. Along the way, the various characters in the film give the film life with a string of wonderful performances, adding a fair amount of humor.
****

4. Drive, He Said (1971)- I didn't really care for this one. It's filled with cliche hippie rhetoric ("You can't change the system within the system, man"), and the two main characters are on the two ends of the annoying spectrum. The story doesn't really have a lot of point to it, though you can tell it postures itself as having one. It's not a complete bore as I found enough entertainment to keep me going, but by the final few moments I was just kind of waiting for it to end.
**

5. I Am Waiting (1957)- On the outset, it's a fairly typical noir story only transplanted to Japan. But the fun of the movie lies in the style and the performances. Great lighting and compositions give it a look that makes it stand out. Yujiro Ishihara gives a subtly unhinged performance that gives him a bit of a wildcard feel to him, and which ultimately leads towards the climax of the movie where he socks just about everyone. Pretty damn fun.
***1/2

6. Louie Bluie (1985)- Immensely entertaining while following remnants of antique blues bands of the south. It's an easy hour-long watch and one wishes it could go on far more. Lots of laughs, good music, and a hell of a fun central character.
****

7. Sweet Smell of Success (1957)- Absolutely cracking writing and such slippery performances made this an incredibly fun film. One of those movies you dread having to see the end credits of.
*****

8. Rusty Knife (1958)- A fairly average crime film with a multilayered plot that ultimately doesn't add up to anything new. Yûjirô Ishihara stands out similarly to I Am Waiting with a great performance.
***

9. A Safe Place (1971)- Surprisingly, this is my favorite from the BBS boxset thus far (with only one to go). It's artsy but never feels pretentious or unwarranted. The editing style flows naturally like a dream which caught me up and I spent the entire movie watching almost as though I was in a trance.
****1/2

10. The Last Picture Show (1971)- While it follows the traditional arc of a coming of age story, it's still very well-done and handles the tone of nostalgia better than most. Solid performances and a very naturalistic portrait of life in a small town at that time.
***1/2

11. The King of Marvin Gardens (1972)- Another of the more accomplished films in the BBS box, it's a very engrossing and entertaining portrait of two brothers, with Nicholson playing against his usual roles. Lots of comedy and pathos that makes for a very nice viewing.
****

Last edited by dcrw6; 10-01-12 at 05:35 AM.
Old 08-29-12, 02:05 PM
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Re: 4th Annual September Criterion Challenge - List Thread

I think I'll put my list of hope right about here.
Old 08-29-12, 03:19 PM
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Re: 4th Annual September Criterion Challenge - List Thread

ok... lets set a lofty goal of 1..... 1 god damn movie.


Sept.
3rd
1. Night and the City #274(1950,Dassin)7.5/10
30th
2. Kuroneko #584(1968, Shindo)7/10


Last edited by Darkgod; 10-16-12 at 04:17 PM.
Old 08-29-12, 11:27 PM
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Re: 4th Annual September Criterion Challenge - List Thread

2012 Criterion Challenge


* First Time Viewing

1. Clean, Shaven (1993) *
2. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
3. This is Spinal Tap (1984) *
4. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
5. Forbidden Planet (1956)
6. Brazil (1985) *
7. Fanny and Alexander (TV Version) - (1982) *
8. White Dog (1982) *
9. 3 Women (1977) *
10. Time Bandits (1981)
11. Scenes From A Marriage (TV Version) - (1973) *
12. Forbidden Games (1952) *
13. Antichrist (2009) *

Last edited by Bladz; 09-30-12 at 09:34 PM.

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