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DVDTalk's First Annual Criterion Challenge - September 2009

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DVDTalk's First Annual Criterion Challenge - September 2009

Old 08-30-09, 03:47 PM
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DVDTalk's First Annual Criterion Challenge - September 2009

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30 Days of Criterion
September 1st - 30th 2009


The Planning Thread


The List Thread


THE "RULES"

This is not your father's Challenge. Think of this as an un-Challenge. The only goal is to watch Criterion content and share your experience with the rest of us. There is no specific number goal, no counting, no winners, no losers, no prizes.

This is not about bulk watching. Just watch however much you would normally watch in a month, but concentrate it on Criterion content as much as you can/want. In fact, bulk watching is discouraged, as that will limit your time for discussion and for immersing yourself in a film. Fully exploring a film is highly encouraged. Instead of racing through films and watching three or more in one day, why not fully experience each Criterion disc? Watch the film a second time with the audio commentary. Watch all of the special features on the disc. Read the insert booklet.

There will be a separate thread to include your lists as linked above. Be creative and personalize it however you wish - use one post for the whole month, daily posts, weekly posts, give reviews, provide IMDB links, add YouTube videos, add images, etc. It's recommended that you provide a link to your list(s) in your signature for easy access.

What qualifies? Any film, short, video or DVD supplemental feature that has been released by Criterion qualifies. The film does not have to watched on an actual Criterion disc. You may watch the film on any format imaginable, provided that it is the same film that Criterion has released. For example, the film Silence of the Lambs was released by Criterion on DVD. But you don't have to watch the movie on that particular DVD. You can watch it on VHS, on broadcast TV, on the internet, UMD, iTunes, or any of the various DVD releases SOTL has had. The only thing that won't count is the blu-ray version. Absolutely no blu-ray discs or even blu-ray players may be used in this Challenge.

Discussion and debate on how to change the Challenge is encouraged. We may not make changes in this current year, but there's always next year. The blu-ray comment was a joke.

A daily journal sort of entry is recommended for your list. Since counting is not required or "scored" in any way, you are free to be as creative as you wish in how you list items. Bolding of your item titles is encouraged, if only to make them stand out to allow others to quickly see if they have seen the same items and wish to comment. Give reviews. Even if it's just a mini-review, a simple / , or a one word description.
Originally Posted by Fist of Doom
How about this: Instead of a numbered list, we have a daily summary. Everyone has 30 entries (assuming it's done September) and reports what they watched that day. It could be the first disc of Berlin Alexanderplatz, the extras to Ran, the Man Who Fell to Earth novella, or the entire Cassavetes box set. There's no competition - it's just about exploring
Example:
September 1st - Watched Silence of the Lambs.

September 2nd - Watched all of the special features on the SOTL disc. (Insert in depth opinions here)

September 3rd - Snuck into the local mental institution and interviewed patients as if they were Hannibal Lector.

September 4th - Called my parents to bail my out of the local jail.


Optional Checklist

The checklist is completely optional. It is just a "fun" inclusion to give one a sense of accomplishment, or 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 -

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 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 -
--- an Eclipse title -
--- a laser disc only Criterion from this list -

Watch a film from the following genres:
--- Comedy
--- Drama
--- Horror
--- Science Fiction
--- Action / Adventure
--- Musical
--- Epic / Historical
--- Mystery / Thriller
--- War / Western
--- Documentary

--- Watch a film which won an Academy Award -
--- Watch a film with commentary -
--- Watch a short -
--- Watch a Criterion disc completely. Every part of it. -

(One film could fill multiple items. Example: Silence of the Lambs would qualify for a decade, language, spine number range, genre, Academy Award, and possibly more.)
(Change "---" to "-X-" or some similar mark when you have completed that line item.)

Wiki list of Criterion laser disc releases, all eligible regardless of format.


Criterion TV schedule here, courtesy of Mondo Kane.


For in depth discussion of a specific Criterion disc each week, see the Criterion Film Club thread. Sign up to select a film for the group to discuss here.



The challenge officially begins Tuesday, September 1, 2009 at midnight of whatever time zone you are in at the time, and ends on Wednesday September 30th, 2009 at 23:59:59 in whatever time zone you're in at that moment. Renting a fast plane could enable you to squeeze an extra 24 hours out of this thing.

Last edited by Trevor; 08-02-10 at 03:46 PM. Reason: typo
Old 08-30-09, 03:57 PM
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Re: DVDTalk's First Annual Criterion Challenge - September 2009

Originally Posted by Trevor

Wiki list of Criterion laser disc releases, all illegible regardless of format.
I don't own any laserdiscs, but I'm pretty sure they are legible.
Old 08-30-09, 03:58 PM
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Re: DVDTalk's First Annual Criterion Challenge - September 2009

Originally Posted by Numes
I don't own any laserdiscs, but I'm pretty sure they are legible.
Oops, I meant eligible. I need a logic check to go with the spell check. I'm sure there are at least two more mistakes.
Old 08-30-09, 04:03 PM
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Re: DVDTalk's First Annual Criterion Challenge - September 2009

hmmmmm I am kinda wary about this now. If people are gonna be counting extras and such it doesnt really seem like a fair and appropriate "challenge".
Old 08-30-09, 04:06 PM
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Re: DVDTalk's First Annual Criterion Challenge - September 2009

Repeat after me. There is no counting.
Old 08-30-09, 06:51 PM
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Re: DVDTalk's First Annual Criterion Challenge - September 2009

I'll probably give it a try...
Old 08-31-09, 09:44 AM
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Re: DVDTalk's First Annual Criterion Challenge - September 2009

I've finally registered after months of lurking and reading these forums, specifically because I was excited about this challenge. Excellent!
Old 08-31-09, 12:46 PM
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Re: DVDTalk's First Annual Criterion Challenge - September 2009

List thread created.
Old 08-31-09, 03:58 PM
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Oz joke

Originally Posted by RodneyOz
I've finally registered after months of lurking and reading these forums, specifically because I was excited about this challenge. Excellent!
Welcome to the forums Rodney! Does the prison library have a good selection of Criterions?
Old 08-31-09, 04:35 PM
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Re: DVDTalk's First Annual Criterion Challenge - September 2009

Can anyone think of any good date-specific films? Like anything Labor Day oriented? Or 9/11?
Old 08-31-09, 08:35 PM
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Re: DVDTalk's First Annual Criterion Challenge - September 2009

Originally Posted by Trevor
Can anyone think of any good date-specific films? Like anything Labor Day oriented? Or 9/11?
Labor Day:
Falling Down

9/11:
United whatever the number was
Some firefighter movie about the towers, once again I don't know a name
LOTR: The Two Towers
Fahrenheit 911
Fahrenhype 911
Loose Change and other similar videos
W
Spider-Man 2 (in a way)
Old 08-31-09, 08:38 PM
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Re: DVDTalk's First Annual Criterion Challenge - September 2009

I'm pretty stoked for this since I bought over forty Criterions during that whole crazy B&N sale back in July. I now have ninety-five from which to choose and I've managed not to watch any since I bought them. This should be fun.

It's good to see that I can also watch things like The Princess Bride on BD since it was once a Criterion LD. Very nice. I just picked that up recently.
Old 08-31-09, 08:49 PM
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Re: DVDTalk's First Annual Criterion Challenge - September 2009

Originally Posted by Mister Peepers
Labor Day:
Falling Down

9/11:
United whatever the number was
Some firefighter movie about the towers, once again I don't know a name
LOTR: The Two Towers
Fahrenheit 911
Fahrenhype 911
Loose Change and other similar videos
W
Spider-Man 2 (in a way)
Did you forget what thread you're in MP?
Old 08-31-09, 09:03 PM
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Re: DVDTalk's First Annual Criterion Challenge - September 2009

For 9/11, may I suggest Le Corbeau? The plot involves a town filled with fear and paranoia as the citizens accuse each other of spreading terror in their village through poison pen letters. It just seems to me that the theme of people regarding each other with suspicion links thematically with the post-9/11 political atmosphere.

Or one might watch The Thief of Baghdad, set in a kingdom ruled by an amiable dunce who is under the control of a profoundly evil adviser.

Last edited by Gobear; 08-31-09 at 09:15 PM.
Old 08-31-09, 09:08 PM
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Re: DVDTalk's First Annual Criterion Challenge - September 2009

Originally Posted by Trevor
Did you forget what thread you're in MP?
You mean Criterion hasn't put out Loose Change yet?
Old 09-01-09, 01:24 AM
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Re: DVDTalk's First Annual Criterion Challenge - September 2009

the fact that we can watch stuff found on that wiki list makes this a very interesting challenge/ non-challenge/ whatever
Old 09-01-09, 09:27 AM
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Re: DVDTalk's First Annual Criterion Challenge - September 2009

Just a reminder that everyone is encouraged to join DVDTalk's Criterion Film Club, which has a weekly movie for in-depth discussion.

This week's film is F for Fake, thread here.

And it's never too late to discuss the week two film, George Washington, here, or the week one film, Empire of Passion, here.

Also, 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. Spoiler tags work like this:

[ spoiler] Remove the spaces to really hide something, like this
Spoiler:
Han shot first.
[ /spoiler]

Last edited by Trevor; 09-01-09 at 09:33 AM.
Old 09-01-09, 08:21 PM
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Re: DVDTalk's First Annual Criterion Challenge - September 2009

Hopefully I can post some watches. I'm transitioning to a new position at work, so free time is stretched pretty thin for me right now. (I know, a real DVD fan does not recognize any excuses ... I feel shame ... )
Old 09-02-09, 11:49 AM
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Re: DVDTalk's First Annual Criterion Challenge - September 2009

I have the non re-mastered versions of: Seven Samurai, Yojimbo, Sanjuro, and The Hidden Fortress.

I *think* these were all re-mastered and I was eventually planning on getting the new versions, but I was wondering if anyone here had any thoughts. If there is a huge difference, I will probably hold off.
Old 09-03-09, 12:00 AM
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Re: DVDTalk's First Annual Criterion Challenge - September 2009

Originally Posted by Numes
I have the non re-mastered versions of: Seven Samurai, Yojimbo, Sanjuro, and The Hidden Fortress.

I *think* these were all re-mastered and I was eventually planning on getting the new versions, but I was wondering if anyone here had any thoughts. If there is a huge difference, I will probably hold off.
neither of use want this to turn into blu vs the world, but imho, a good flick is a good flick
Old 09-03-09, 08:07 AM
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Re: DVDTalk's First Annual Criterion Challenge - September 2009

I'm adding a couple of things to the checklist (at the end of the spine # section) that I forgot to add last week.

I know it's late notice, so feel free to ignore them on your personal checklist.

--- an Eclipse title -
--- a laser disc only Criterion from this list -

Last edited by Trevor; 09-03-09 at 07:51 PM.
Old 09-03-09, 08:45 AM
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Re: DVDTalk's First Annual Criterion Challenge - September 2009

Originally Posted by Trevor
I'm adding a couple of things to the checklist (at the end of the spine # section) that I forgot to add last week.

I know it's late notice, so feel free to ignore them on your personal checklist.

--- an Eclipse title -
--- a used-to-be Criterion from this laser list -

which would open the viewing possibilities ALOT - I'd watch Blade Runner, Menace II Society, Halloween, El Cid, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, Zulu (on bluray) Dersu Uzala (which seriousily needs a new dvd/bluray release mastered from a 65mm negative)
Old 09-03-09, 09:37 AM
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Re: DVDTalk's First Annual Criterion Challenge - September 2009

Originally Posted by Trevor

F for Fake (1973) - I'm very ashamed to say that I had never watched an Orson Welles film until now. Seriously, not even Citizen Kane.
well I'm just shocked! saw "Citizen Kane" for the first time this year for the Oscar Challenge.
Old 09-03-09, 10:07 AM
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Re: DVDTalk's First Annual Criterion Challenge - September 2009

Originally Posted by Giles
well I'm just shocked! saw "Citizen Kane" for the first time this year for the Oscar Challenge.
And you didn't comment on it in your Oscar list, what's up with that?

I'll be writing more in my list/journal, but I finally watched it yesterday. Amazing.
Old 09-03-09, 11:21 AM
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Re: DVDTalk's First Annual Criterion Challenge - September 2009

I really like how some people have begun their lists. Hope to get to a couple of films within the next week. I have so many unwatched Criterions. I'm probably going to buy a few new ones this month that I've got my eye on. I've already pre-ordered Homicide by David Mamet. I recall really enjoying this one way back when it first hit video. Since that I've become more of a Mamet aficionado, so I'm excited about seeing that one again. Criterion did a fantastic job with Mamet's House of Games which I strongly recommend for consideration by anyone participating in this challenge. One of the most compelling and disturbing crime films I've seen. Expect lots of great dialogue and intrigue, but in no way is it an action film.

Can I use this thread to request that Criterion please release Walkabout on Blu-ray? It was announced early that it might be among their first titles, but it has yet to surface. Sorry, but I just can't wait to view that in hi-def. I apologize if I'm not supposed to mention HD in here.

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