Anyone up for the 1st Annual DVDTalk Criterion Challenge?
 

I'm just at the consideration stage, not committing to running one, but gauging interest.

Considering that many of us just expanded our Criterion collection thanks to the nearly over B&N sale, and the new Amazon sale; I figured this would be a good time. September is my target, as October thru March are pretty much out thanks to the Horror, Holiday, and Academy Award Challenges.

I'm strongly thinking that a Criterion Challenge here should be radically different from the other DVDTalk Challenges. I'm toying with two "rules"/ideas to implement.

First, I don't think we want to encourage massive amounts of watching. Criterion films should be savored, not rushed through with five or more of them viewed in a day. I'm considering emphasizing a one per day goal, perhaps even penalizing people that watch "too much".

Most Criterion releases have hours of worthwhile special features, and many could take ten hours of viewing or more to fully experience everything on the disc. This leads into my second point/idea. The runtimes vary dramatically, and the special features are often just as worthwhile as the films. Someone who watches 'just' a 90 minute film and none of the extras, should not 'score' the same as someone who spends the 21 hours it would take to get through the entire Berlin Alexanderplatz.

Of course, these two points are pretty much contradictory. But with the creative minds here, I'm sure that we could come up with something unique to the other Challenges. I really don't want it to be about the numbers, with people watching ten films a day, or even three. I want the films to be explored and experienced, not checked off a list and rushed through.

Any ideas? Thoughts? Interest?

Re: Anyone up for the 1st Annual DVDTalk Criterion Challenge?
 

My five Criterions and I will sit this one out, but I hope the rest of you have fun! :)

Rob

Re: Anyone up for the 1st Annual DVDTalk Criterion Challenge?
 

I don't think it's a bad idea, although those that don't have a large number of Criterions (and fall victim to Netflix's throttling) would possibly be at a disadvantage...

Re: Anyone up for the 1st Annual DVDTalk Criterion Challenge?
 

im up for it

Re: Anyone up for the 1st Annual DVDTalk Criterion Challenge?
 

Love the sig Rob! But then, I'm obviously hooked on these Challenges.

If my plan works though, you could watch 1 per day and be tied for first place until September 6th! And there is always renting, or taking Amazon up on their great sale right now.
Good point, but I'm hoping the "winner" ends up with no more than 50-60. Between our collections, renting, and the local library perhaps many could get in that range.

Re: Anyone up for the 1st Annual DVDTalk Criterion Challenge?
 

Perhaps I'm in a minority in that I don't own a single Criterion. And since I continue to focus on my unwatched pile, I'd have to be on the sidelines for this one.

I certainly don't want to discourage one from being started. I'll probably just have my own personal animation challenge so I can watch some of the sets picked up at Big Lots!

Re: Anyone up for the 1st Annual DVDTalk Criterion Challenge?
 

Sounds like fun. Sign me up.

Re: Anyone up for the 1st Annual DVDTalk Criterion Challenge?
 

I'd love to be part of this even though I only have around 30 criterions.

Re: Anyone up for the 1st Annual DVDTalk Criterion Challenge?
 

Count me in. I need an excuse to start watching more of them.

Re: Anyone up for the 1st Annual DVDTalk Criterion Challenge?
 

im in!

i imagine this challenge would feature a lot of discussion, analysis, friendly banter, and the such. ive been on and off watching criterion releases because i would sadly have to watch the majority of them alone. i know yous guys feel me.

trev, i like the idea of not making it about numbers, but that is one significant goal of a "challenge" no? perhaps something along the lines of making the challenge about something else then? kinda like that optional checklist i saw in the sc-fi challenge? i.e. watch one film from every decade and/or genre, director, country, heck how about one from every ten spine numbers?, and so on? maybe there is something interesting there?

Re: Anyone up for the 1st Annual DVDTalk Criterion Challenge?
 

I'd be in with my 10 or so Criterions... I haven't watched the special features on most of them anyways

Re: Anyone up for the 1st Annual DVDTalk Criterion Challenge?
 

I can give it a go with my 25 or so.

Re: Anyone up for the 1st Annual DVDTalk Criterion Challenge?
 

I'd be in. I have about 200 Criterions, and some 50 of them are unwatched.

Re: Anyone up for the 1st Annual DVDTalk Criterion Challenge?
 

I'd definitely be interested, but not in September. By the time the horror challenge rolled around I'd very likely be considerably burned out.

Personally I think we need to space them out a little and allow some time for recovery purposes. Currently the closest gap between challenges is, what, 21 days between the Holiday and Academy Awards challenge?

Why not have it sometime in April or May between the AA and Sci-Fi challenge to give us a little breathing room?

Re: Anyone up for the 1st Annual DVDTalk Criterion Challenge?
 

I see your point, but...

1 - I don't see this as a challenge where anyone would be worn out. It's a group exercise where we concentrate our normal viewing time on Criterions for 30 days.

2 - I was thinking that the sooner the better, since Criterions are on everyone's minds right now due to the killer sales.

3 - I think that we'll eventually have several more Challenges, so spacing them out isn't going to be possible.

Just my current thoughts. Every aspect of this thing is still up in the air, but I really hope for it to be totally different than our usual Challenges, at least in terms of numbers.

I understand that having a goal is a key part of the Challenges, and 100 movies has settled in as the de facto goal for each of them. Maybe I'm the only one, but I want to get away from that sort of mass watching. Over three movies a day is A LOT, and seems even harder if you're talking mainly dense foreign films, and not fluffy holiday films or mindless sci-fi/horror. That hopefully doesn't sound elitist or condescending. Personally, silly B horror and sci-fi films will always be my favorite. But seriously, isn't it right that it is "easier" to watch a Godzilla movie, a Halloween sequel, or a holiday comedy than most Criterion films? Anyway, I'm thinking 2 per day as a max, and maybe 30 as the goal. Maybe even no counting. Just list what you watch and discuss. Ok, I'm probably getting too radical...

Re: Anyone up for the 1st Annual DVDTalk Criterion Challenge?
 

I think I will also get my wife to join this if it happens (she needs a reason to watch them sometimes).

Re: Anyone up for the 1st Annual DVDTalk Criterion Challenge?
 

:up:

This would be a great impetus for me to go through all the extras I haven't seen yet.

I agree a Criterion challenge should emphasize quality over quantity. Maybe even call it something other than a "challenge."

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 all of the Criterion stuff we haven't gotten around to before.

Re: Anyone up for the 1st Annual DVDTalk Criterion Challenge?
 

I like this idea, more of an exploration of what Criterion offers.

Re: Anyone up for the 1st Annual DVDTalk Criterion Challenge?
 

That's part of my plan, to make extras almost as "important" as the films.
I've turned myself off with some of the quantity I've watched in the past.
Hadn't thought of that, but perhaps you have a good point.
Now we're talking! And to spice it up a bit, implement checklist options like Hindolio mentions below.
Yes, I was initially really gung ho about this, but we're a bit more limited perhaps, given that people's Criterions collections are typically going to be a heck of a lot smaller than any genre/Challenge collection.

Re: Anyone up for the 1st Annual DVDTalk Criterion Challenge?
 

this is a very good idea and i would luv to be a part of it :)

Re: Anyone up for the 1st Annual DVDTalk Criterion Challenge?
 

I'd be up for this but I only have a handful of Criterion DVD's. I have 20 or so Criterion Laserdiscs though. I could use those if that's cool...

Re: Anyone up for the 1st Annual DVDTalk Criterion Challenge?
 

Of course!

Re: Anyone up for the 1st Annual DVDTalk Criterion Challenge?
 

Good idea, I'm definitely in for it.

Re: Anyone up for the 1st Annual DVDTalk Criterion Challenge?
 

I'm up for this. Absolutely.

Re: Anyone up for the 1st Annual DVDTalk Criterion Challenge?
 

How silly.

Count me in for the Blue Underground challenge, though.