Any suggestions to improve my meager collection?
 

If you have a little time on your hands, could anyone take a look at my small collection and come up with any suggestions that you think that I would like?

I really like all titles in my collection, and anything along these lines would probably be good.

The television titles are on bottom.

http://www.dvdaficionado.com/dvds.ht...All&id=amsouza

You should look into the thousands of good movies that were made prior to the last 20 years.

I was expecting that criticism, but not right out of the gate. Thanks for your "help."

your missing

jackie brown
raising arizona
and another vote for checking out anything pre 1975

He's right, though. The oldest thing in your collection is from '79. I suggest getting some classic film noirs

You ask for suggestions on improving your collection and you complain about the "help" because you already knew what was lacking?

Might want to look into some foreign films as well. Unless I miscounted, Brotherhood of the Wolf is your only one.

Not sure if you would want my "help" either because I'd recommend some anime (Miyazaki), animation (Pixar) and older horror movies.

But other than a few titles, your collection has a good start.

I see you liked war films. My suggestion.

Das Boot
The Longest Day
Patton
The Battle of Britain
Zulu
Glory
Gettysburg

I concur. Are you at all averse to subtitles?

Anything from Stanley Kubrick. kthx.

And for the hell of it, some random .. wtf ... suggestions:

- OldBoy
- Interstate 60
- Equilibrium
- Gattaca
- Arrested Development Season One

Any suggestions for quality foreign films? I have no experience at all in that genre.

Thank you for your suggestions...I will check into them. Is there any particular reason why you chose those titles?

Alright, I'll actually offer some titles for you. Falling in line with the ones that you have listed in your collection, each of which you claim to love...I'd recommend the following:

12 Monkeys
25th Hour
Adaptation
American History X
American Splendor
Buffalo 66
Being John Malkovich
Blow
Chasing Amy
Clerks (get the 10th anniversary, the extras are well worth your time)
Dogma (this & last 2 are highly recommended, if you enjoyed Jay & Silent Bob S.B.)
Ed Wood
Fargo
Following (British film, black and white...trust me: you'll enjoy it)
Frailty
Garden State
Hard Eight
Heat
Jackie Brown
Jaws
Kid Stays in the Picture, The (Good, smooth introduction to documentaries)
L.O.T.R. trilogy (everybody seems to own `em, you may love them, you may not.)
Lost in Translation
Leon: The Professional
Mallrats (up there with the other Kevin Smith films, if you liked J&SB SB, you'll like this)
Mean Creek
Memento (my highest recommendation here. If nothing else, see this)
Office Space
Primal Fear
Royal Tenenbaums, The
Rusmore (The last two you may or may not like. They feature really dry wit.)
Se7en
Shawshank Redemption, The
Super Troopers
Trainspotting (Another British film, but I think you'll like it)
Usual Suspects, The
Virgin Suicides, The
Whale Rider
Wonderland

Here's a list of older or contemporary foreign titles you should check out if you're ever in the mood (don't bother with them, even the more well-known titles, if you're not in the mood...especially if you're new to classic and foreign cinema. That can ruin the experience). I've put a C. (Classic) or F. (Foreign), or both, to let you know which titles make this list for whatever reason. Since it seems you're just starting out, you may find that you like contemporary foreign titles more than classic films or classic foreign films. I'd suggest that you read up on all of them to see which you'll enjoy. It's possible that you'll like classic titles (like Citizen Kane and Casablanca), contemporary foreign titles (like City of God and Run Lola Run), but won't like classic foreign titles (like 8½ and Wild Strawberries). So, perhaps you'll want to rent at first...just to get a feel for where your tastes lie right now, and what you'll have to acquire a taste for with time or repeat viewings. I think, given your current collection, you're most inclined to the contemporary foreign titles (those with just an "F") before any of the others. Either way, here's that list.

8½ (C.F.)
Amores Perros (C.)
Amélie (F.)
Casablanca (C.)
Citizen Kane (C.)
City of God (F.)
Godfather Trilogy (C.)
Gone With the Wind (C.)
Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, The (C.)
Hero (F.)
Ikiru (C.F.)
Motorcycle Diaries, The (F.)
On the Waterfront (C.)
Night and Fog (best documentary I've ever seen. foreign language...but check it out)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (C.)
Rashomon (C.F.)
Rules of the Game (C.F.)
Run Lola Run (F.)
11'09''01 - September 11 (F., some segments are in English, though)
Seventh Seal, The (F.C.)
Sex and Lucía (F.)
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring (F.)
Talk to Her (F.)
Taxi Driver (C.)
Wild Strawberries (C.F.)
Y tu mamá también (F.)

Must-have TV:

Family Guy Volume 1
Family Guy Volume 2

I don't know how much good this list will do you, because it's hard to make recommendations to people, even if you're able to browse through their collection. For your taste, just breaking you in (I assume) to more obscure titles...I'd recommend those films at the top of my list. Beyond the contemporary, acclaimed, American titles...I'd suggest you start with some newer foreign titles (titles like Amores Perros, City of God, Run Lola Run, Amélie, and so forth). These are movies that will be no different from what you've grown a taste for aside from the fact that they're in a different language.

Once you get used to watching subtitled films that are in line with your current tastes, you can try to expand your tastes to include some classic cinema (like the more acclaimed films, Citizen Kane, On the Waterfront, Casablanca, and so forth). From there you can move on to more obscure classic titles, classic foreign titles, and so forth. Just don't jump from Pulp Fiction straight to The Seventh Seal. That's where a lot of people get turned off. Take baby steps, and don't get discouraged if you run across a film or two that you dislike.

Anyway, hopefully I've pointed you into the direction of a new personal favorite or three. If not...at least I got a chance to compose a list of some of the favorite and more well-known titles in my collection. Have fun exploring...and know that I'm jealous. I miss the days where I was just getting my feet wet in more obscure cinema. I'd give anything for the chance to experience another first-ever-viewing of Memento and Wild Strawberries, Office Space and Citizen Kane.

-JP

Thank you Thrllr, for your time in compiling this tutorial for me to look at. I actually printed this out and plan to use it to "broaden my horizons." I appreciate the effort.

I have seen several of your suggestions. Some I have no desire to own, others are on my wish list. LOTR trilogy is one of the former. I just could not get behind the story, no matter how beautiful the scenery.

Anything from Kubrick: IMO, the greatest. Simple as that.

Oldboy: Well, here's a "quality foreign film". Actually my 4th favorite movie of 2004.

Interstate 60: Superb cast, and underrated (well, unknown) film from Mr. Gale (back to the future).

Gattaca and Equilibrium because you have Dark City and Minority Report.

Arrested Development because it's the best show (comedy) on tv. :)

I just viewed your collection and those titles popped into my head. NBK has a great list below. The term "must own" is always thrown around on those titles. But I figured I'd take a different route and recommend some of my personal favorites based on what you already own. Also stuck with the "current" (newish) theme. ;)

Here are some suggestions:

Pre 1980:
Citizen Kane
Casablanca
Gone with the Wind
The Wizard of Oz
The Godfather Collection
The Graduate
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Star Wars Trilogy (ok so Empire & Jedi were released in the 1980s)
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Jaws
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (one of my all time favorites)
Taxi Driver
The Great Escape

Post 1980:
ET: The Extra Terrestrial
Cinema Paradiso
Almost Famous
Schindler's List
Back to the Future Trilogy
Ed Wood
Indiana Jones & the Temple of Doom
Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade (I see you have Raiders already)
Field of Dreams
Tootsie

Oh. I forgot them, apparently...but I'll second Schindler's List, Back to the Future 1-3, E.T., The Wizard of Oz, and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I think I just assumed you'd seen all of them at some point. If you haven't seen any of them, Willy Wonka and E.T. are at the top of my must-see list, closely followed by Oz. Those two (er, three) movies are just...awwww. Though the ending of "The Wizard of Oz" has now become the standard by which cliched twists are judged.

-JP

Freaks and Geeks
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Wonderfalls

You mantion broadening your horizons. A few months back I wanted to do the same. So I hit AFI.com (American Film Institute) and printed out the top 100 movies. Between BlockBuster and my Tivo, I have seen some movies I probably would never have and enjoyed many. My viewing habits have definately changed and I have found some great movies I plan on buying in the near future.

I also have found that reading threads, ocassionaly people will mention movies they liked in other threads. If the material sounds interesting or they compare it to another movie you like, you should give it a rent.

one flew over the cuckoo's nest is a must have. as it is the best movie of the last 30 years :)
family guy 1 and 2 if you're not familiar with the show it's an acquired taste for some. I see futurama, which smart tends to be silly, as we all know fry is very dumb:
BENDER BENDER...have you seen my sombrero?

if you liked windtalkers then there are better john woo films to invest in:
hard boiled*
the killer*
bullet in the head*
a beter tommorow trilogy*
face/off
*Hong Kong

and a couple schwarzenegger films never hurt anybody
terminator 1 2 AND 3
predator
true lies is popular, but IMHO not all that great

Try the original:
Dawn of the Dead

Maybe some older Scorsese as well:
ala Raging Bull

But please for heaven's sake you must get The Godfather Trilogy (At least 1 & 2)

Classics from Troma Video and Something Weird Video always rounds a collection out nicely!

I am constantly hearing people singing the praises of this show, but (and I know this is sacrilege on this forum) I don't really care for that show. It has it's moments, but I can get what I want from it on TBS/CARTOON NETWORK.
Futurama, however, is (in my opinion) the best cartoon ever aired on television. I can't get enough of that show, and mainly bought the seasons for the commentaries on each episode.

fg's really not for everyone. lucky for the ones that do like it has got a second life. :)
futurama was too short. what pissed me off the most: semi-spoilers:
was only one of the plot lines was wrapped up. it was the most essential plot line, but what about the other characters?

ams what are some of your favorite eps?
mars university
jurassic bark
hell is other robots
-devils hands idle play things
-and luck of the fryish
were both very touching for a comedic cartoon

bite my shiny metal ass!

If you don't mind PVD titles, you can pick up good used titles at Hollywood Video or BBV to build your collection.

You also need a few good Criterion titles in your collection.