The Seventh Annual Historical Appreciation Challenge Discussion - June 2016
#1
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The Seventh Annual Historical Appreciation Challenge Discussion - June 2016
Believe it or not, folks, but this is the seventh year of the Historical Appreciation Challenge. Travis pored over the 2013 Discussion Thread, and has made the following adjustments for future years. Any other modification suggestions are welcomed right up until the beginning of the challenge, so go ahead and toss out your ideas!
In a nutshell, here are the basics:
Is TV Content Allowed?
Certainly! Just make sure that it's as consistent with the spirit of the challenge as the movies you might watch. We used to allow anything on The History Channel carte blanche but with the proliferation of reality TV shows there, try to remember that no matter how dangerous driving a semi across ice is, it isn't "historical"...yet!
Counting
Many of the films at the heart of this challenge have considerable run times, so even though there's always a sort of de facto goal of hitting 100 movies watched, it's not really expected here. We'd much rather you take this opportunity to finally see Lawrence of Arabia than to squeeze in two shorter films.
Since there are no prizes for this challenge, feel free to count using whichever method best suits you. The standard is that 2 TV broadcast hours or short films is equivalent to 1 movie. Some members prefer to count each episode or short as a single entry. Others tally their cumulative viewing time. Whatever floats your boat. It's your list!
Why Aren't Documentaries on the Checklist?
It's up to each participant to decide what mix of dramatizations and documentaries best suits him or her. If you want to watch documentaries exclusively, you're welcome to do that. If you don't want to watch any, that's fine, too. Some checkmarks will be easier to attain with docs, though!
Hey, What About...?
Travis is the usual host and his BA was earned in history, but he hasn't seen every movie ever made and doesn't have an encyclopedic knowledge of every historical figure, event and period. Regarding specific films, he would suggest--and this goes for any questions--that you ask about a specific film in the discussion thread and see what feedback you get from others who have seen it. If you don't get anything helpful, his rule of thumb is that if you feel that you have a sufficient reason to believe that it's an appropriate selection then go ahead and watch it. If it turns out not to really fit the nature of this challenge, still count it as a viewing but please share your thoughts with us.
CHECKLIST
In a nutshell, here are the basics:
- This challenge will run from dusk on 31 May until dawn on 1 July 2016.
- Movies and TV content specifically about a historical figure, event or period are eligible.
- Tangential content (i.e., fantasy, time travel, movies merely set in a generic "past" where the time period is not emphasized as important) is to be excluded, except...
- The final night of the challenge, from dusk on 30 June until dawn on 1 July, you may watch Time Travel films to count double with your Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge list. However, the setting(s) must have already taken place, so you can't watch a movie set in the future that travels to a different point in the future.
Is TV Content Allowed?
Certainly! Just make sure that it's as consistent with the spirit of the challenge as the movies you might watch. We used to allow anything on The History Channel carte blanche but with the proliferation of reality TV shows there, try to remember that no matter how dangerous driving a semi across ice is, it isn't "historical"...yet!
Counting
Many of the films at the heart of this challenge have considerable run times, so even though there's always a sort of de facto goal of hitting 100 movies watched, it's not really expected here. We'd much rather you take this opportunity to finally see Lawrence of Arabia than to squeeze in two shorter films.
Since there are no prizes for this challenge, feel free to count using whichever method best suits you. The standard is that 2 TV broadcast hours or short films is equivalent to 1 movie. Some members prefer to count each episode or short as a single entry. Others tally their cumulative viewing time. Whatever floats your boat. It's your list!
Why Aren't Documentaries on the Checklist?
It's up to each participant to decide what mix of dramatizations and documentaries best suits him or her. If you want to watch documentaries exclusively, you're welcome to do that. If you don't want to watch any, that's fine, too. Some checkmarks will be easier to attain with docs, though!
Hey, What About...?
Travis is the usual host and his BA was earned in history, but he hasn't seen every movie ever made and doesn't have an encyclopedic knowledge of every historical figure, event and period. Regarding specific films, he would suggest--and this goes for any questions--that you ask about a specific film in the discussion thread and see what feedback you get from others who have seen it. If you don't get anything helpful, his rule of thumb is that if you feel that you have a sufficient reason to believe that it's an appropriate selection then go ahead and watch it. If it turns out not to really fit the nature of this challenge, still count it as a viewing but please share your thoughts with us.
CHECKLIST
Spoiler:
Last edited by Trevor; 05-16-16 at 09:14 AM.
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Re: The Seventh Annual Historical Appreciation Challenge Discussion - June 2016
I haven't been able to watch a lot of movies for a while. Mostly because of work.
But these challenges force me to watch some. It probably won't be a lot.
And i'm not going to win any of these challenges.
But just putting yourself in the mindset to plan what and when you're going to watch.
Is part of the fun also.
But these challenges force me to watch some. It probably won't be a lot.
And i'm not going to win any of these challenges.
But just putting yourself in the mindset to plan what and when you're going to watch.
Is part of the fun also.
#5
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Re: The Seventh Annual Historical Appreciation Challenge Discussion - June 2016
So something that started in the world's oldest person thread seems appropriate here, especially with the addition Travis put on my Facebook post about it.
Our tenth President, born in the 1700s John Tyler, has two living grandsons. My grandmother was born more than 100 years after him and her grandkids are old!
I'll let Travis comment/expand hopefully, but he said something very interesting on how we view history.
Our tenth President, born in the 1700s John Tyler, has two living grandsons. My grandmother was born more than 100 years after him and her grandkids are old!
I'll let Travis comment/expand hopefully, but he said something very interesting on how we view history.
#6
Re: The Seventh Annual Historical Appreciation Challenge Discussion - June 2016
Looking forward to this. I don't think I'll get a whole bunch of movies in but that Films of Budd Boetticher set has been sitting around unopened for years and I think it's time to take care of that. I've also picked up a few classic war films on blu-ray that I'd like to get to and maybe some b-westerns and a documentary or two.
#7
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Re: The Seventh Annual Historical Appreciation Challenge Discussion - June 2016
Looking forward to this as well. Plus the new season of Ancient Aliens has started on the History Channel.
#8
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Re: The Seventh Annual Historical Appreciation Challenge Discussion - June 2016
I found a Historical Horror movie you might be interested in Trevor. I believe Ginger Snaps Back is on Max Go, if you get Cinemax. If not, you could always do a free trial of Sling TV and add Cinemax.
#9
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Re: The Seventh Annual Historical Appreciation Challenge Discussion - June 2016
Any thoughts about starting the challenge early this year? Memorial Day weekend is coming up. TCM is airing 72 hours of classic military films starting on May 27th (Friday at 8PM).
http://www.tcm.com/this-month/articl...May-27-30.html
http://www.tcm.com/this-month/articl...May-27-30.html
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Re: The Seventh Annual Historical Appreciation Challenge Discussion - June 2016
Any thoughts about starting the challenge early this year? Memorial Day weekend is coming up. TCM is airing 72 hours of classic military films starting on May 27th (Friday at 8PM).
http://www.tcm.com/this-month/articl...May-27-30.html
http://www.tcm.com/this-month/articl...May-27-30.html
On a side note: There's a new History Channel documentary about the fall of the Roman empire debuting on June 6 that i'm looking forward to seeing.
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Re: The Seventh Annual Historical Appreciation Challenge Discussion - June 2016
I think we talk every year about starting it on Memorial Day. I don't remember when we've done that or not.
#12
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Re: The Seventh Annual Historical Appreciation Challenge Discussion - June 2016
Yeah, last year, I ran it, and allowed Memorial Day. I'd be all for an early start too. It would give me ppl to discuss my documentaries I am watching with.
#13
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Re: The Seventh Annual Historical Appreciation Challenge Discussion - June 2016
Any thoughts about starting the challenge early this year? Memorial Day weekend is coming up. TCM is airing 72 hours of classic military films starting on May 27th (Friday at 8PM).
http://www.tcm.com/this-month/articl...May-27-30.html
http://www.tcm.com/this-month/articl...May-27-30.html
But maybe with only war films counting that day; thoughts?
Last edited by Trevor; 05-25-16 at 02:25 PM.
#14
Re: The Seventh Annual Historical Appreciation Challenge Discussion - June 2016
During the first Historical challenge Memorial Day fell on May 31 and that was allowed as Bonus Day for the Challenge (according to my list anyway) and so that's not much different from starting a day early this year. It does feel right to have Memorial Day as part of this challenge if it's not too much before June 1. It won't really matter to me since I probably won't have time that day to watch anything at all but I say go for it. Restricting that day to war films or documentaries makes sense but I'm pretty ambivalent about that.
#16
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Re: The Seventh Annual Historical Appreciation Challenge Discussion - June 2016
I vote for the whole Memorial Day weekend. But it's up to you guys.
I might start the challenge early on my own, since it's just for fun. I was planning on switching over to TCM on Friday night and letting it play all weekend. Looks like there's at least a dozen movies I haven't seen before on that line-up.
Also airing on Memorial Day is that Roots remake (May 30th - June 2nd).
I might start the challenge early on my own, since it's just for fun. I was planning on switching over to TCM on Friday night and letting it play all weekend. Looks like there's at least a dozen movies I haven't seen before on that line-up.
Also airing on Memorial Day is that Roots remake (May 30th - June 2nd).
#17
Re: The Seventh Annual Historical Appreciation Challenge Discussion - June 2016
And this is that rare year where Memorial Day is actually celebrated on the exact day that was established as Memorial Day (May 30) long before they started shifting all holidays to Monday to give us three-day weekends.
#18
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Re: The Seventh Annual Historical Appreciation Challenge Discussion - June 2016
A beauty of the Historical Appreciation Challenge is that the May Make-Your-Own Challenge precedes it (and allows multiple themes), so all of us could start the Historical Appreciation Challenge a whole month early actually.
For now, let's go with a bonus 48 hours of war films or Memorial Day specific documentaries. Instead of starting at dusk/sunset on the 31st of May, we can start at dusk/sunset on Sunday the 29th, the night leading into Memorial Day.
For now, let's go with a bonus 48 hours of war films or Memorial Day specific documentaries. Instead of starting at dusk/sunset on the 31st of May, we can start at dusk/sunset on Sunday the 29th, the night leading into Memorial Day.
#19
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Re: The Seventh Annual Historical Appreciation Challenge Discussion - June 2016
A beauty of the Historical Appreciation Challenge is that the May Make-Your-Own Challenge precedes it (and allows multiple themes), so all of us could start the Historical Appreciation Challenge a whole month early actually.
For now, let's go with a bonus 48 hours of war films or Memorial Day specific documentaries. Instead of starting at dusk/sunset on the 31st of May, we can start at dusk/sunset on Sunday the 29th, the night leading into Memorial Day.
For now, let's go with a bonus 48 hours of war films or Memorial Day specific documentaries. Instead of starting at dusk/sunset on the 31st of May, we can start at dusk/sunset on Sunday the 29th, the night leading into Memorial Day.
Interestingly enough, I discovered a show I already watch today is according to the Dish Guide, a documentary, Send in the Dogs, on Fido TV. It's classified as education.
#20
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Re: The Seventh Annual Historical Appreciation Challenge Discussion - June 2016
Which part of "Please don't duplicate an existing 'Official' DVD Talk Challenge" did you not understand?
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Re: The Seventh Annual Historical Appreciation Challenge Discussion - June 2016
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Re: The Seventh Annual Historical Appreciation Challenge Discussion - June 2016
A beauty of the Historical Appreciation Challenge is that the May Make-Your-Own Challenge precedes it (and allows multiple themes), so all of us could start the Historical Appreciation Challenge a whole month early actually.
For now, let's go with a bonus 48 hours of war films or Memorial Day specific documentaries. Instead of starting at dusk/sunset on the 31st of May, we can start at dusk/sunset on Sunday the 29th, the night leading into Memorial Day.
For now, let's go with a bonus 48 hours of war films or Memorial Day specific documentaries. Instead of starting at dusk/sunset on the 31st of May, we can start at dusk/sunset on Sunday the 29th, the night leading into Memorial Day.
on Sunday night would be great.