I've never clicked on a "---- DVD Challenge" thread before. I'm not sure how it goes, but count me in.

I am down for this one. I got a week off in September, so I need something to fill that time.

This.

I have a small amount of Criterion's, but I have enough BU and Synapse (and now Mya) discs unwatched to take up a month and a half.

If anything, the Criterion discussion would be interesting to read.

I'm for it! Especially for next month.

I see no reason to apologize for enjoying complexity in one's entertainment. Sure, I love cheesy exploitation flicks and monster movies, and they are satisfying in the way that a burger and a beer satisfy one's appetite. However, I also enjoy films that work on multiple levels and that can spawn conversations after they end.

It's sad that we live in an infantilized culture that indoctrinates us to believe that possessing intelligence and sophistication is inherently discriminatory, and that enjoying films or books that require a basic level of knowledge is nothing more than snobbery.

Maybe so, but in my opinion, a Kobe filet is tastier than a Big Mac, Chimay ales contain more varied flavors than Coors Lite, and The Seventh Seal is a better film than Final Destination.



So, yes, count me in.

During the laser craze, I rented tons of discs and taped them onto VHS like mad including many Criterions and their supplements. That's the only way I have copies of Taxi Driver and Raging Bull with the Scorsese commentaries. If allowed, I'll watch these tapes as well. Of course, I recorded the films twice, with and without the commentary! Come to think of it, I should get a list together of the titles I have.

I have tried these challenges at least twice before and have been unable to find the time to participate in them. Having said that, I would really like to try this one. And I think the checklists is the way to go.

I've never looked in the "challenge" threads before, so this is like a watch 1 movie per day deal? If that's the case my schedule is to unpredictable, & some nights the girl chooses what we watch, so I can't do the actual challenge, but with the massive accumulation of blind-buys I made during the sale, I'd love to post my thoughts in the thread as I get through a DVD if that's OK? I agree, when I watch a Criterion, I have to watch every single extra on the Discs before I move on to the next one.

(random thought) I have no idea how many Criterions I have, I never counted, it's not that many though compared to some here.

I don't have that many, but I just bought all the Blu-rays that are available. I wish it would take place after the Horror Challenge so I could get my unwatched pile down a little.

Yeah that!

I just added 24 new Criterions to my collection and I'd love a kick in the rear to begin chewing through 'em.

A few questions I thought of today that are bound to come up (if the challenge does happen):

1. Would Eclipse titles count?

2. What about films like Spinal Tap or Robocop that have Criterion editions, but also have other non-Criterion releases? Would the non-Criterion editions count as well?

3. Theatrical showings of movies that are in the Criterion collection?

I don't really have opinions about any of these issues, just thought I'd throw them out there.

Yes. Yes. And yes.

Likewise.

Knowing the level of commitment put into these, you honestly don't think running two continuous back-to-back challenges over a 2-month period isn't going to burn anyone out? And you don't see how it could be an exhaustive burden to those who want to fully participate in both? Or possibly even affect their outcome in the proceeding challenge?

Criterion's are always on people's minds around here.

April 15 - March 15

May 5 - June 5

Both spots are readily available and allow for at least a 20-day gap between them.

Or August 15 - September 15 if absolutely need be. That would at least allow for a couple of weeks recovery time.

Are we really expecting that many more?

For a Criterion challenge that's perfectly understandable, but not when regarding the horror one. That was simply a set goal for the challenge itself and never meant to dissuade anyone from surpassing it and setting their own goals. Some have a higher tolerance for mass viewing than others and they shouldn't be discouraged from doing so as long it remains an enjoyable experience, IMO.

Two words: Michael Bay

Often times, yes. Then again, you know that several of those "mindless" horror films included in the horror challenge will be of the Criterion variety.

*I realize you weren't insinuating that.

So, a max of 60 Criterions in one month. I can't speak for everyone, but I wouldn't exactly be anticipating starting a new challenge the very next day after that endeavor ...especially if you factor in the supplemental material! And I can say with utmost certainty, unless I scaled back considerably, that it would definitely diminish the enjoyment of the next one.


Again, I think it's a great idea, but the proposed date isn't. There really needs to be some breathing room between the two or any of the challenges.

You know what would be interesting. And im just throwing this out there. I dont even know if its a great idea or anything....
OK How about a challenge where we count anything by Any director who has at least 1 film in the Criterion COllection. ?????

^^ I see your points Chad, but think you're in the wrong mindset perhaps. Well, not wrong, just different from what I'm aiming for here.

This is not your father's Challenge.

It's not about bulk. It's a group exercise to use the amount of normal viewing time you would normally do in September for Criterions. You only watch 30 minutes of TV/movies per day? Make them Criterion oriented and join the thread. You are just as much a winner as someone who watches 50 full films. There will be no "winner" and no losers.

And start on a random day? The Academy Award Challenge is symmetrical going from nomination day to Oscar day. The Holiday Challenge goes from holiday to holiday (pretty much). Other Challenges are one nice neat organized calendar month. 15th to 15th? Inconceivable!

Again, I'm just rambling and open to anything, especially one of you volunteering to run it.

Again, this is pretty much what I was looking for. If we have to add a score, or a goal for the challenge, it would be to have something in your daily summary every day for the month. So the maximum "score" anyone could get would be 30.

Your entry could be as little as watching a single trailer on a Criterion disc, or reading a single insert; or as much as spending the entire 24 hours watching every Bergman film. Any of those or the Fist's examples would be equal to one point for that day.

If anyone personally wants to try for 100 films, or even 300, awesome, go for it. If you only have one Criterion but want to spend the entire month slowly devouring the film and all the special features, awesome. If you want to count minutes watched, fine. Anything goes.

As Fist and others have echoed, it's not about "winning" or numbers, it's just about exploring your Criterion films with some like-minded people. We'll hopefully have fun, see some good movies, and learn a few things from each other about Criterion releases and film in general.

I like the idea. Some of the challenges have become laborious and less than insightful if you are looking for movies that others recommend. This sounds like it would fit the bill. There are plenty of Criterions that don't fall into Favorites or Disappointing Criterion DVD threads. This gives those DVDs a chance to be discussed and may cause a few blind buys that people will enjoy.

id be in for a bu challenge too. but shouldnt it really be called anchor bay challenge?

back to this silly cc challenge though, i would love for this to be not about numbers and rather more about variety and "trying" new things out plus discussion heavy

What do you all think of the checklist idea?

To add some spice/variety to the month, all of the challenges here have adopted an optional checklist. Here is an example:

Watch a film from the 1930s -
Watch a film from the 1940s -
Watch a film from the 1950s -
etc
etc
Something from Spine #1-25 -
Something from Spine #26-50 -
etc
etc
Watch a disc in it's entirety -
watch a drama -
comedy -
horror -
etc
etc

These checklists are competely optional, but add more variety and a competitive option to the Challenge for those so inclined. Whoever completes the checklist first wins "Bingo".

And if you all really want to keep a competitive, counting, aspect to things, we could make each item on the checklist worth one point, with perhaps 30 items on the list, so a max score for the month would be 60.

I like this idea. I have stuff from the collection that is scattered all over the place (although I seem to have an abundance of samurai flicks) and this would be great for me.

Your collection of Criterion discs sounds suspiciously like mine. Right down to the abundance of samurai flicks.
I think this is a great idea. Including the supplements allows those of us with smaller criterion collections to take part as well. I think the whole ide aof having a goal of 1 title or day (or whatever you come up with) is a little better than going for sheer numbers. Maybe come up with an avatar, or an icon (like the tophat, if allowed) for all the people that successfully complete the challenge.

i like that trev, i like it a lot.

id like to see the list get more and more refined list, as well as allow everyone to have some kind of input on it. if other are on board as well, is it possible for you to start a work-in-progress checklist and post it here so we can all applaud and/or poke holes in it?

i dont quite understand the 30 checks each worth one point and a max of 60 points though. if there are 30 checks, is that not just 30 points max? and just throwing this out there, but how about the option of one goal-worthy check worth 3 bonus points or something like that for each future year's challenge. i.e. watch everything kurosawa for three bonus points. im getting ahead of myself yesh.

30 points would be from the checklist (if it is 30 items long), and 30 points if you watched something each day (1 point for each day).

Yes, I'll work up a sample checklist, but you all feel free to start without me.

Also, speaking of user input, how about this idea similar to the 31 films in 31 days we did for the Horror Challenge. Each of you that commits to participating, and has a film that you would love to "watch with the group" and hear our thoughts on, can choose a film and it will be assigned a specific day of the month. Completely optional of course, with maybe a bonus point for people who watch all 30. Will be near impossible of course, unless you own most of the collection, get lucky with netflix, and have a library with a good selection.

I'm for keeping the challenge as simple as possible and letting the discussions be the perk. The lists alone make the thread quite lengthy add checklists and it's doubled. Separate threads for lists and discussions?

While I have access to a healthy number of Criterion DVDs I am sure that there are many who may only have access to a few titles. I would rather see these people participate than feel that they don't have enough to do so.

I still feel the core idea of the challenge is great and will reveal some overlooked Criterion disks but the enjoyment lessens as the work increases.