Go Back  DVD Talk Forum > DVD Discussions > DVD Talk
Reload this Page >

May 2011 Make-Your-Own Challenge ***Lists Go Here***

DVD Talk Talk about DVDs and Movies on DVD including Covers and Cases

May 2011 Make-Your-Own Challenge ***Lists Go Here***

Old 04-27-11, 08:23 PM
  #26  
DVD Talk Limited Edition
 
Quack's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Flo Rida
Posts: 7,110
Received 23 Likes on 11 Posts
Re: May 2011 Make-Your-Own Challenge ***Lists Go Here***

Meh....I've been sucking, so I'll change it to Star Trek: The Next Generation since I started watching it a couple days ago.



May 15th

1. Encounter at Farpoint S1E1&2

May 16th

2. The Naked Now S1E3
3. Code of Honor S1E4

May 17th

4. The Last Outpost S1E5
5. Where No One Has Gone Before S1E6
6. Lonely Among Us S1E7
7. Justice S1E8

Last edited by Quack; 05-17-11 at 02:52 PM.
Old 04-27-11, 09:22 PM
  #27  
DVD Talk Legend
 
BobO'Link's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 10,352
Received 611 Likes on 451 Posts
Re: May 2011 Make-Your-Own Challenge ***Lists Go Here***

"Movie Serials" Challenge.
*=First time viewing

Rules:

Must be a "serial" - i.e. multi-chapter "cliffhanger" type film, TV show/segment or film based on/inspired by serials. "Episodic" cliffhanger type TV series are allowed with the stipulation that every episode/chapter *must* end with a cliffhanger and each episode/chapter must begin with a recap of the previous episodes.

Examples of acceptable TV/films:
"Rocky & Bullwinkle" story segments only, supporting cartoons from a R&B episode are *not* accepted
"Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones" film series, "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow", and "The Phantom".

Each serial/series/film counts as 1 (one) selection no matter how long or short. Example: a 4 season TV series counts as one. A 4 episode R&B story counts as one. The 6 "Star Wars" films count as a single selection. All 6 must be watched for the series to count.

Number your list and indicate the number of chapters/episodes for each serial. Count the serial on the day you watch the last chapter/episode no matter what day on which you started.

May 1st
1. King of the Rocket Men (1949 - 12 Chapters) *
2. Zorro Rides Again (1937 - 12 Chapters) *

May 2nd
3. Undersea Kingdom (1936 - 12 Chapters)

May 3rd
4. The Phantom Empire (1935 - 12 Chapters)

May 4th

May 5th
5. Hurricane Express (1932 - 12 Chapters) *

May 6th
6. Shadow of the Eagle (1932 - 12 Chapters) *

May 7th
7. The Three Musketeers (1933 - 12 Chapters) *
8. Zorro's Fighting Legion (1939 - 12 Chapters) *

May 8th
9. Zorro's Black Whip (1937 - 12 Chapters) *

May 9th
10. Flash Gordon (AKA Space Soldiers) (1936 - 13 Chapters)

May 10th
11. Radar Men from the Moon (1952 - 12 Chapters)

May 13th
12. Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars (1938 - 15 Chapters)

May 14th
13. Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (1940 - 12 Chapters)

May 15th
14. The Phantom Creeps (1939 - 12 Chapters)

May 16th
15. Jet Fuel Formula (1959 - Rocky & Bullwinkle - 40 chapters)
16. Box Top Robbery (1960 - Rocky & Bullwinkle - 12 chapters)

May 17th

May 18th

May 19th
17. Drums of Fu Manchu (1940 - 15 chapters) *

May 20th
18. Upsidaisium (1960 - Rocky & Bullwinkle - 36 chapters)
19. Batman (1943 - 15 chapters)

May 21st
20. Superman (1948 - 15 chapters)
21. Atom Man vs. Superman (1950 - 15 chapters)

May 22nd
22. Batman and Robin (1949 - 15 chapters)
23. The Rocketeer (1991 - homage to the "Rocket Man" serials)

May 27th
24. Adventures of Captain Marvel (1941 - 12 chapters)
25. Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004 - more a homage to pulp novels/comics but has lots of cliffhanger action/suspense elements)

May 28th
26. Zombies of the Stratosphere (1952 - 12 chapters) *
27. The Phantom (1996 - Based on the original stories and an homage to the serial)

May 30th
28. The Lost City (1935 - 12 chapters) *
29. Metal Munching Mice (1960 - Rocky & Bullwinkle - 16 chapters)
30. Greenpernt Oogle (1960 - Rocky & Bullwinkle - 12 chapters)

May 31st
31. Buried Treasure (1961 - Rocky & Bullwinkle - 14 chapters)
32. The Last Angry Moose (1961 - Rocky & Bullwinkle - 4 chapters)

Last edited by BobO'Link; 05-31-11 at 08:44 PM.
Old 04-27-11, 09:31 PM
  #28  
DVD Talk Special Edition
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Rockville, MD
Posts: 1,697
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Re: May 2011 Make-Your-Own Challenge ***Lists Go Here***

icheckmovies.com List Challenge
Blu-ray/On Demand/Cable/Theater/* First Time Viewing
Rules: Watch movies from the various Checklist at icheckmovies.com

May 1st
1.) The Fast and The Furious
-All-time Worldwide Box Office #413

May 2nd
2.)* The Blob
-Criterion Collection #56
-Top 500 Horror Movies #262

3.)2 Fast 2 Furious
-All-time Worldwide Box Office #337

4.)*All The President's Men
-The Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made #24
-1,001 Movies You Must See Before You Die #29
-AFI's 100 Years...100 Cheers #34
-History #35
-1970's #37
-Best Of Rotten Tomatoes #38
-National Board Of Review #45
-AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills #57
-AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies #77
-501 Must See Movies #121
-Empire 500 #296
-Academy Awards Best Picture Nominees #304
-They Shoot Pictures, Don't They? #530
-National Film Registry #549
-Have You Seen? A Personal Introduction to 1,000 Films #786

May 3rd
5.)Fast & Furious
-All-time Worldwide Boxoffice #156

6.)*(500) Days Of Summer
-FilmTotaal Top 250 #83
-Reddit Top 250 #130
-Fok! Top 250 #144

May 4th
7.)127 Hours
-2010s #13
-Biography #44
-21st Century's Most Acclaimed Films #180
-Academy Awards Best Picture Nominees #484

8.)Evil Dead II
-50 Greatest Sequels #10
-Horror #33
-Empire 500 #49
-Top 500 Horror Films #67
-FilmTotaal Top 250 #175
-501 Must See Movies #177
-They Shoot Picture, Don't They? #402

May 5th
9.)*Troll 2
-The New Cult Cannon #23
-Ain't Nobody's Blues But My Own #228

10.)*Day Of The Dead (1985)
-50 Greatest Sequels #19
-Top 500 Horror Movies #83
-Jonathan Rosenbaum's Essential Films #777

11.)Jacob's Ladder
-Top 500 Horror Movies #84
-1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die #432

12.)The Game
-FOK! Top 250 #224

May 7th
13.)*Thor
-2010's #28

14.)*Black Dynamite
-Reddit Top 250 #239

May 8th
15.)South Park: Bigger Longer And Uncut
-Top 100 Animated #9
-Musical #28
-FOK! Top 250 #165
-Doubling The Canon #942

16.)Land Of The Dead
-Top 500 Horror Films #327

May 9th
17.)Dawn of The Dead (1978)
-The Deuce Top 20 #4
-Horror #14
-Top 500 Horror #18
-50 Greatest Sequels #29
-1970s #41
-Independent #44
-501 Must See Movies #168
-The Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made #201
-1,001 Movies You Must See Before You Die #218
-They Shoot Pictures, Don't They? #271
-Empire 500 #415
-Have You Seen? A Personal Introduction To Movies #809

May 10th
18.)*Blue Valentine
-2010s #17

May 11th
19.)Artificial Intelligence
-The Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made #12
-The 21st Century's Most Acclaimed Films #29
-A.V. Club The Best Films of the 00's #32
-Reddit Top 250 #228
-icheckmovies Most Checked #240
-Empire 500 #265
-501 Must See Movies #338
-All-Time Worldwide Box Office #351
-They Shoot Pictures, Don't They? #740
-Jonathan Rosenbaum's Essential Films #981

May 12th
20.)Star Trek (2009)
-Sci-Fi #26
-Action #45
-Adventure #47
-100 Greatest Sci-Fi Movies #93
-icheckmovies Most Checked #99
-All-Time Worldwide Box Office #136
-Reddit Top 250 #189
-Top 250 #193
-FOK! Top 250 #243

21.)Top Gun
-501 Must See Movies #29
-All-Time Worldwide Box Office #182
-icheckmovies Most Checked #247
-Empire 500 #455
-1,001 Movies You Must See Before You Die #896

May 13th
22.)District 9
-Sci-Fi #17
-Reddit Top 250 #24
-Action #30
-2000s #35
-icheckmovies Most Checked #82
-Top 250 #145
-FOK! Top 250 #151
-FilmTotaal Top 250 #229
-501 Must See Movies #345
-All-Time Worldwide Box Office #435
-Academy Best Picture Nominees #471

May 15th
23.)Dark City
-Top 100 Greatest Sci-Fi Movies #75
-Roger Ebert: The Greatest Movies #78
-Reddit Top 250 #167

May 17th
24.)*Event Horizon
-Top 100 Greatest Sci-Fi Movies #84
-Top 500 Horror Movies #418

May 22nd
25.)Poltergeist
-Top 500 Horror Movies #27
-AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills #84
-501 Must See Movies #174
-1001 Must See Movies Before You Die #676
-The Best 1,000 Movies Ever Mad #679
-Have You Seen?A Personal Introduction To 1,000 Movies #852

-

Last edited by acubfaninmd; 05-22-11 at 09:30 PM.
Old 04-27-11, 10:38 PM
  #29  
Cool New Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Re: May 2011 Make-Your-Own Challenge ***Lists Go Here***

Finally Getting Around to a Bunch of Unwatched Items in My Collection
May 1st
1. Fat Girl
2. The Informant!
3. Blue Valentine
May 2nd
4. The Way Back
5. The Shield Episode 5.1/The Shield Episode 5.2
May 3rd
6. The Shield Episode 5.3/The Shield Episode 5.4
7. La Femme Nikita
8. Superbad
May 4th
Nothing. :-(
May 5th
9. The Double Life of Veronique
May 6th
10. The Green Mile
11. The Greatest Places
May 7th
12. The 40-Year-Old Virgin
13. The Girl From Mexico
14. Mexican Spitfire
May 8th
15. Mexican Spitfire Goes West
16. Mexican Spitfire's Baby
17. Mexican Spitfire at Sea
May 9th
18. The Shield: Episode 5.5 & 5.6
19. The Shield: Episode 5.7 & 5.8
May 10th
20. The Shield: Episode 5.9 & 5.10
21. The Shield: Episode 5.11 & 6.1
22. The Shield: Episode 6.2 & 6.3
23. The Shield: Episode 6.4 & 6.5
May 11th
24. Search for the Great Sharks
May 12th
25. The Naked Kiss
May 13th
26. Run Lola Run
May 14th
27. The Great Dictator
May 15th
28. Diabolique
May 16th
29. The Shield: Episode 6.6 & 6.7
May 17th
30. The Shield: Episode 6.8 & 6.9
May 18th
31. The Shield: Episode 6.10 & 7.1
32. The Shield: Episode 7.2 & 7.3
May 19th
33. Black Death
May 20th
34. Blow-Out
May 21st
35. Pineapple Express
36. The Misfits
May 22nd
37. Some Like it Hot
May 23rd
38. The Comancheros
May 24th
39. The Yards
40. The Lookout
May 25th
41. Mad Men: Episode 1.1 & 1.2
May 26th
42. Mad Men: Episode 1.3 & 1.4
May 27th
Nothing. :-(
May 28th
43. Fish Tank
May 29th
44. The Shield: Episode 7.4 & 7.5
45. The Shield: Episode 7.6 & 7.7
46. Man Men: Episode 1.5 & 1.6
47. Mad Men: Episode 1.7 & 1.8
48. Mad Men: Episode 1.9 & 1.10
49. Mad Men: Episode 1.11 & 1.12
May 30th
50. Mad Men: Episode 1.13 & 2.1
51. Mad Men: Episode 2.2 & 2.3
52. Mad Men: Episode 2.4 & 2.5

Last edited by indy2003; 05-30-11 at 11:22 PM.
Old 04-27-11, 10:52 PM
  #30  
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 4,049
Received 213 Likes on 140 Posts
Re: May 2011 Make-Your-Own Challenge ***Lists Go Here***

Form Over Content Challenge

Rotating blocks of movies by a director (i.e. Argento, Hitchcock) or other material linked together by cinematic style/technique (i.e. neorealism, silent film). The only rule is that there are no rul... err... material must be connected by a common style (not content).
* = first time viewing


May 1 [Terry Gilliam mini-marathon]
1. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998, 118 minutes)
2. The Fisher King (1991, 137 minutes)*

Pending: Tideland (2005, 120 minutes)*

Dead participation; sorry.


Target: 30 films shooting to include Godard, Hitchcock, neorealism, and shaky hand camera horror.

Last edited by Undeadcow; 07-08-11 at 11:38 PM.
Old 04-27-11, 11:12 PM
  #31  
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
 
caligulathegod's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Grove City OH
Posts: 3,846
Received 31 Likes on 22 Posts
Re: May 2011 Make-Your-Own Challenge ***Lists Go Here***

reserved
Old 04-27-11, 11:31 PM
  #32  
DVD Talk Special Edition
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,238
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Re: May 2011 Make-Your-Own Challenge ***Lists Go Here***

i was going to do zombies, but after watching 5 i realized how much crap Iv ordered over the past month that took forever to ship and stull that didnt qualify for last months challenge im turning this into a delete ye unwatched pile.

May 2.
Blood Oath - Troma releasing, typical low budget bleh. one of the leads acting was terrible and had a horrible cgi opener but still was able to sit thru it and pretend i didn't drop 15$ on it.

Last edited by terrycloth; 05-02-11 at 08:14 PM.
Old 04-28-11, 12:54 AM
  #33  
Moderator
 
Giles's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Washington DC
Posts: 33,630
Received 16 Likes on 12 Posts
Re: May 2011 Make-Your-Own Challenge ***Lists Go Here***

"and now ladies and gentlemen I present... the commentary track"

01. Erotic Adventures of Zorro / 1972 / Robert Freeman (DVD) (5/1)
-----Commentary track featuring David Friedman and 'Something Weird' owner Mike Vraney

02. City of the Living Dead / 1980 / Lucio Fulci (Arrow Video Blu-ray) (5/2)
-----Audio Commentary by actor Giovanni Lombardo Radice

03. Piranha / 2010 / Alexandre Aja (Blu-ray) (5/10)
-----Alexandre Aja, Producer Grégory Levasseur, and Producer Alix Taylor commentary track

04. Amarcord / 1973 / Federico Fellini (Blu-ray) (5/16)
-----Peter Brunette and Frank Burke commentary track

05. Taxi Driver / 1976 / Martin Scorsese (5/17)
-----Martin Scorsese, Paul Schrader commentary track

06. Hot Fuzz / 2007 / Edgar Wright (5/18)
-----Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg commentary track

07. The Double Life of Veronique / 1991 / Krzysztof Kieslowski (Blu-ray) (5/19)
-----Annette Insdorf commentary track

08. Five Deadly Venoms / 1978 / Cheh Chang (Blu-ray) (5/23)
-----Bey Logan commentary track

09. Waiting for Guffman / 1996 / Christopher Guest (Blu-ray) (5/24)
-----Christopher Guest, Eugene Levy commentary track

10. The Beyond / 1981 / Lucio Fulci (Arrow Video Blu-ray) (5/25)
-----Antonella Fulci, Callum Waddell commentary track



: First Time Listen

Last edited by Giles; 05-26-11 at 09:28 AM.
Old 04-28-11, 01:01 AM
  #34  
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Champaign, IL
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Re: May 2011 Make-Your-Own Challenge ***Lists Go Here***

1930's / 1980's

May 1, 2011
01. Born to Dance (1936) - Academy Award nominee, AFI Song nominee
02. The Dresser (1983) - Academy Award nominee, Golden Globe nominee

May 2, 2011
03. A Star Is Born (1937) - Academy Award winner/nominee, AFI Movie nominee, AFI Passion nominee

May 3, 2011
04. After Hours (1985) - Golden Globe nominee, AFI Laugh nominee

May 4, 2011
05. The Richest Girl in the World (1934) - Academy Award nominee

May 8, 2011
06. Balalaika (1939) - Academy Award nominee

May 9, 2011
07. First Blood (1982) - AFI Thrill nominee, AFI Hero/Villain nominee

May 10, 2011
08. Frances (1982) - Academy Award nominee, Golden Golbe nominee

May 11, 2011
09. Buster (1988) - Academy Award nominee, Golden Globe nominee

May 14, 2011
10. Waikiki Wedding (1937) - Academy Award winner

May 15, 2011
11. The Pirates of Penzance (1983) - Golden Globe nominee

May 16, 2011
12. Poor Little Rich Girl (1936) - AFI Musicals nominee

May 17, 2011
13. Way Down South (1939) - Academy Award nominee

May 18, 2011
14. Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) - Academy Award nominee, AFI Cheers nominee

May 22, 2011
15. Rasputin and the Empress (1932) - Academy Award nominee

May 23, 2011
16. Naughty Marietta (1932) - Academy Award winner, AFI Passions nominee, AFI Musicals nominee, AFI Songs nominee

May 24, 2011
17. Blonde Crazy (1931) - AFI Quotes nominee

May 28, 2011
18. The Secret of My Success (1987) - Golden Globe nominee

Last edited by aspects; 05-28-11 at 09:39 PM.
Old 04-28-11, 05:07 AM
  #35  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: CA
Posts: 504
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Re: May 2011 Make-Your-Own Challenge ***Lists Go Here***

Reserved
Old 04-28-11, 05:41 AM
  #36  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Ash Ketchum's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 12,615
Received 274 Likes on 209 Posts
Re: May 2011 Make-Your-Own Challenge ***Lists Go Here***



Japanese TV Challenge: live-action/anime
Goal: to watch several Japanese TV series, both anime and live-action, in their entirety or, for incomplete series in my collection, as least as many episodes as I have. And the occasional movie spin-off.
Except when the only copy I have is dubbed in English (and I'll note those), all will be in Japanese with English subtitles (or, in some cases, without subs.).
Each volume I watch counts as one, no matter how many or how few episodes are on that volume. (It all averages out, since some discs have six or seven eps. and some have two.)

May 3, 2011
1. Mahoromatic Automatic Maiden (2001/Japan, animated sci-fi-comedy) DVD
Vol. 1: Combat Maiden
Ep. 1: “In an Hydrangea Garden”
Ep. 2: “Lady Teacher Saori, Age: 25”
Ep. 3: “So Shallow the Grave”
Ep. 4: “I Will Shoot Him Through the Heart”
Spoiler:
Yes, I watched this volume for the TV on DVD Challenge back in January, but I want to see the whole series now and not just a lot of Volume Ones like I did in January. So I'm starting at the beginning again, which I'll probably do with a lot more series I started in January only this time I'll finish them. This is a teen comedy with a sci-fi background that's very funny at times, but is underlaid with a current of heart-wrenching tragedy, a mixture that only the Japanese know how to pull off so beautifully.


May 4, 2011
2. Mahoromatic Automatic Maiden (2001/Japan, animated sci-fi-comedy) DVD
Vol. 2: Haunting Past
Ep. 5: “638 of 8 Is Doing Fine”
Ep. 6: “Moon, Flowers, Feeling of Autumn”
Ep. 7: “The Maid, Chased by the Past”
Ep. 8: “The Owner of the Perfect Heart”
Spoiler:
This series gets more serious as it goes along as it explores the plight of a combat android-turned-maid for a schoolboy whose late father she had served with in combat. But it still takes time for the characters to live life: eat, pull pranks, laugh, go on picnics and participate in summer festivals.


3. Mahoromatic Automatic Maiden (2001/Japan, animated sci-fi-comedy) DVD

Vol. 3: A Warrior’s Fate
Ep. 9: “Limelight”
Ep. 10: “The Fate of a Warrior”
Ep. 11: “My Important Person”
Ep. 12: “At the Scenery I Dreamed One Day”
Spoiler:
The sci-fi aspects really kick in in this volume, but there are some beautiful poetic moments, as well as a sense of impending tragedy. The series ends at ep. #12, but was continued in a follow-up series.


One series complete: Mahoromatic Automatic Maiden

May 5, 2011
4. Slayers (1995/Japan, animated sword & sorcery comedy) DVD
Vol. 1
Ep. 1: "Angry! Lina's Furious Dragon Slave!"
Ep. 2: "Bad! Mummy Men Aren't My Type!"
Spoiler:
This was one of those cheap promo DVDs containing only two eps. ("Anime Test Drive") Everything else I have from the Slayers franchise is on VHS tapes, including more random tapes from the original series and a box set of 14 eps. of "Slayers Try." Plus two movies. I'll try to get through them all for this challenge. It's a funny show and Megumi Hayashibara's voice work as Lina Inverse is priceless. She also sang the theme songs and put out a complete album of them a couple of years ago, which is now one of my favorite albums.



5. Slayers (1995/Japan, animated sword & sorcery comedy)
VHS Vol. 2
Ep. 5: "Escape! Noonsa, the Flaming Fish Man!"
Ep. 6: "Focus! Rezo's the Real Enemy!"
Ep. 7: "Give Up! But, Just Before We Do, the Sure Kill Sword Appears!"
Spoiler:
I don't understand how any fan could have watched the English dub of this. Megumi Hayashibara's voice work is the best I've ever heard in creating a comical character in anime. You'd probably laugh even if there weren't subtitles.


May 6, 2011
6. Slayers (1995/Japan, animated sword & sorcery comedy)
VHS Vol. 4
Ep. 11: "Knockout! The Seyruun Family Feud!"
Ep. 12: "Lovely! Amelia's Magic Training!"
Ep. 13: "Money! Crush Those Bounty Hunters!"
Spoiler:
So now I've seen all the episodes of the initial Slayers series in my collection. I need to get more. This is a great show. In this volume, Lina acquires a sidekick/protege, Amelia, a princess schooled in white magic (as opposed to Lina's black magic), but who's a complete klutz when trying to use it against bad guys. She even turns against Lina when someone puts a price on Lina's head, convincing poor naive Amelia that Lina's now a bad guy. On to the box set of "Slayers Try."


May 7, 2011
7. Tenchi in Tokyo (1997/Japan, animated sci-fi teen comedy) VHS

Vol. 2: A New Friend
Ep. 5: “Money! Money! Money!”
Ep. 6: “Play Date”
Ep. 7: “The Day We Met”
Spoiler:
I’m missing the first volume of this, so I plunged into the second. This is not the best Tenchi series. I prefer the original “Tenchi Muyo!” OAV series and its follow-up/reboot, the 26 episode TV series, “Tenchi Universe” (1995). But I have a bunch of tapes from “Tenchi in Tokyo” that I want to get through. And at least it has a great comical end song, “Yamerarenai” (I Just Can't Stop), sung by the seven-person cast. I love when that happens.


8. Tenchi in Tokyo (1997/Japan, animated sci-fi teen comedy) VHS
Vol. 3: A New Legend
Ep. 8: “Tenchi Anniversary”
Ep. 9: “The Guardians of Old”
Ep. 10: “Ryoko’s Big Date”
Spoiler:
This series is really growing on me. I like the leisurely pace and the fact that it’s more character- than plot-driven. The first episode here flashes back to the day two years earlier when all the girls landed on Earth and encountered Tenchi for the first time. It’s a completely different origin story than we got in the original OAV series. But there’s something nice and touching about it.


9. Tenchi in Tokyo (1997/Japan, animated sci-fi teen comedy) English-dubbed VHS
Vol. 4: A New Enemy
Ep. 11: “Moon Mission”
Ep. 12: “Stupid Cupid”
Ep. 13: “The Eye of the Destroyer”
Spoiler:
Okay, I ran out of subtitled eps. and have to watch the dubbed ones, starting with this volume. This is the last of my pre-records so if I want to see more eps., I have to dig out the ones I taped off Cartoon Network about ten or so years ago, all dubbed of course. The plot really starts to kick in at episode 13.


May 8, 2011
10. Tenchi in Tokyo (1997/Japan, animated sci-fi teen comedy) English-dubbed VHS Vol. 1
Ep. 1: “Separation Anxiety”
Ep. 2: “Four’s a Crowd”
Ep. 3: “Long Distance Lunacy”
Ep. 4: “The Eternal Pledge”
Spoiler:
Okay, so I’m watching this series out of order. After I finished my "Tenchi in Tokyo" pre-records yesterday, I decided to search for the eps. I taped off Cartoon Network 11 years ago and I found them all pretty easily, so I’m back to the first four eps. I’m actually glad I started where I did. The series quality picks up around that point.


11. Carranger (1996/Japan, live-action sentai series) In Japanese/no subs. VHS Vol. 1

Eps. 1-4
Spoiler:
The first live-action series I've watched for this challenge. This series provided action and fight footage for the Power Rangers Turbo season (1997), the U.S. version of the sentai franchise. This tape has no subtitles, but it’s packed with action, so who needs them? Five youths (3 boys, 2 girls) who work in a garage get picked by an alien Yoda type, a refugee from an embattled world, to become the Carrangers to battle the alien oppressors after they follow the Yoda type to Earth. One monster, “Space Beethoven,” conducts an orchestra consisting entirely of cars that he sends into orbit around the earth. Great stuff.


12. Romeo x Juliet (2007/Japan, animated historical fantasy-drama-romance) DVD
Vol. 1 / Disc 1: eps. 1-6
Act 1: “If They Did Not Meet”
Act 2: “The Promise – A Scent Remembered”
Act 3: “Love – Cruel Mischief”
Act 4: “Bashfulness – Beaten by the Rain”
Act 5: “Whirlwind – Burning Resolve”
Act 6: “Hope – Tomorrow Entrusted”
Spoiler:
Textbook example of how to turn something quintessentially English (a Shakespeare play) into something quintessentially Japanese (a swashbuckling anime fantasy romance). Shakespeare’s even a supporting character in this one. The setting is “Neo-Verona,” an “aerial continent” floating in the sky. Romeo rides a winged “Dragonhorse.” Juliet has a secret life as the Red Whirlwind, a masked swordfighter who stops the Carabinieri from oppressing the citizens. She’s the last heir of the crushed House of Capulet and on her 16th birthday, this fact is revealed to her, along with her mission—to overthrow the regime of Prince Montague. Just one problem: she’s in love with the prince’s son, Romeo. Uh-oh… Not a lot of Shakespeare is left in this (although there is some), but it’s very dramatic and beautifully designed.


May 9, 2011
13. Carranger (1996/Japan, live-action sentai series) VHS Fan-sub: eps. 5, 12.
Spoiler:
There's a character named Signal Man in ep. 12, some kind of intergalactic cop who's after the same villains the Carrangers are after. He's dressed in snazzy blue armor that's reminiscent of Robocop and he's more powerful than the Rangers. They want to work with him, but he refuses their help. Interesting character, but I have no idea how the series uses him since I have no more episodes.


May 10, 2011
14. Tenchi in Tokyo (1997/Japan, animated sci-fi teen comedy) English-dubbed VHS
Ep. 14: “Tokyo or Bust!”
Ep. 15: “Love Match”
Ep. 16: “Carnival!”
Ep. 17: “Drifting Away”
Spoiler:
Tenchi draws closer to his cute classmate, Sakuya, and even kisses her in the full moon after the school festival, which has great symbolic meaning. The girls back home are dismayed and come to Tokyo to try to intervene, but Tenchi berates them all. It's kind of sad actually, although I'm still rooting for Tenchi and Sakuya to develop a committed relationship. The other girls are just too high-maintenance.


May 11, 2011
15. Tenchi in Tokyo (1997/Japan, animated sci-fi teen comedy) English-dubbed VHS
Ep. 19: “The Lonely Princess”
Ep. 20: “Old Friends”
Ep. 21: “Real Friends?”
Ep. 22: “Sakuya’s Secret”
Spoiler:
I’m missing episode 18 (never taped it). The plot kicks in in these episodes, but it’s never terribly compelling—something about villain Yugi originating as a mutant on planet Jurai and wreaking havoc 3500 years ago and now that she’s awakened in Tokyo she tries to break up Tenchi and his harem to get back at the Jurai royal family. At least I think that's what's going on. Ryoko becomes a space pirate again. Kiyone and Mihoshi, her friends in the Galaxy Police, go after her. Tenchi and Sakuya grow closer but in ep. 22 we begin to realize Sakuya is not quite what she seems. Ayeka and Sasami waste a lot of time. Every good scene alternates with a silly, unnecessary one. No wonder this series doesn’t have a great rep among Tenchi fans. But I’m nearing the end.


May 12, 2011
16. Tenchi in Tokyo (1997/Japan, animated sci-fi teen comedy) DVD
Ep. 18: “Game Over”
Spoiler:
I’m no longer missing ep. 18. I found the DVD with it at a used book/CD/DVD shop. I also found the final volume, so I decided to buy that as well to watch the final eps. in their original Japanese.


May 13, 2011
17. Tenchi in Tokyo (1997/Japan, animated sci-fi teen comedy) DVD
Vol. 8: A New Ending
Ep. 23: “Here, There and Everywhere”
Ep. 24: “Yugi’s Shadow”
Ep. 25: “The End of Time”
Ep. 26: “Payback”
Spoiler:
It becomes obvious, once we learn Sakuya’s secret in this final volume, that the premise of this series was reworked for the 1999 Tenchi movie, TENCHI FOREVER, which made much better use of the idea. It’s not a bad series, and I certainly enjoyed the opportunity to see these girls in action again, but the plot is never adequately developed nor is the villain, Yugi, very formidable or particularly well thought out. (And Tenchi is something of a tool for most of the episodes. Which is probably true of every incarnation of these characters.) But I’m now inspired to re-watch TENCHI FOREVER, a superb anime movie in its own right, for this challenge.

Second series complete: Tenchi in Tokyo


18. Romeo x Juliet (2007/Japan, animated historical fantasy-drama-romance) DVD Vol. 1: Disc 2: eps. 7-12
Act 7: “Warmth – Just for Now”
Act 8: “Nativity – What Justice Is”
Act 9: “Rise to Action – Hesitation Quelled”
Act 10: “Tears – To Have Met You”
Act 11: “The Vows – The Blessing of the Morning Sun”
Act 12: “Solace – To Stay this Way”
Spoiler:
The romance between Romeo and Juliet heats up in these episodes. There are bursts of exciting action as Prince Montague gets wind of Juliet’s existence and sends spies, assassins and troops to make short work of her and the Capulet loyalists. Romeo finds Juliet in hiding and the two go off together, astride Romeo's winged "dragonhorse," on an adventurous journey to the woodlands far away from Neo-Verona, where they have a lengthy romantic idyll that includes wedding vows in an abandoned church. The song, “You Raise Me Up,” a hit for Josh Groban a few years ago, is sung in Japanese as the opening theme song. But it’s also sung in English in episode 7 in a scene where R&J embrace on a bridge at a festival and fireworks go off behind them. Korean-American singer Lena Park sings both versions.

Semi-complete (seen every episode I have): Romeo x Juliet

May 14, 2011
19. Heavy Metal L-Gaim (1984/Japan, animated sci-fi mecha thriller) Fan-subbed VHS, eps. 1-4.
#1: “Dreamers”
#2: “Prearmo Scandal”
#3: “Coming Man”
#4: “The Connection”
Spoiler:
Wild mecha action from Yoshiyuki Tomino, the creator of “Gundam.” This one’s much lower-budgeted than the average Gundam series and is much more crudely animated. The plot and characters aren’t terribly well developed either, at least on the basis of the first four episodes. But there’s a lot of action and a certain rough comical charm to it that you won’t get with the much more intense and deadly serious Gundam franchise. On a colonized planet in the middle of nowhere, a hero, his sidekick and a cute, spunky girl he picks up along the way are harassed by bandits who want his Gundam-like robot combat vehicle, the L-Gaim. There are some wild chases and mecha fights in city streets. I got this fan-sub at a convention years ago. This series never got released in English. I’d like to see more.


May 15, 2011
20. Gekiranger (2007/Japan, live-action sentai series) In Japanese, no subs. DVD Vol. 1, eps. 1-3

Spoiler:
This is the sentai series that became the basis for the 2008 entry in the Power Rangers franchise, “Power Rangers Jungle Fury.” There’s more martial arts in this one, with characters training and using nunchakus and various motifs borrowed from classic kung fu films like THE FIVE VENOMS. There are only three Rangers (Red, Blue and Yellow) in these episodes. They each have power animals that project out from them and turn into zords. Red’s is a tiger. The other two are big cats also, but I couldn’t tell which ones. Lots of action. This was partly shot on location in New Zealand, including all the outdoor city street scenes. All the extras are Asian, though. Not sure if it’s supposed to take place in Japan or not. The Power Rangers series has been shooting in New Zealand also, starting with “Ninja Storm” (2003).


21. Mermaid Forest (2003/Japan, animated fantasy adventure) DVD
Vol. 1, eps. 1-3

#1: “Mermaid Does Not Smile”
#2: “Village of the Fighting Fish, Pt. 1”
#3: “Village of the Fighting Fish, Pt. 2”
Spoiler:
This is a tale of a young fisherman who ate mermaid flesh 500 years ago and became immortal and continues to traipse around Japan in the modern era looking for a mermaid to make him normal so he can age and die like everyone else. Based on a manga by Rumiko Takahashi, but one of her deadly serious ones. Eps. 2-3 constitute a flashback to the hero’s encounter with a pirate/fisher girl named Rin hundreds of years earlier. A dark and gruesome fairy tale at times, but not as inspired as Takahashi’s other work (Ranma ½, Urusei Yatsura, Inuyasha). This volume is all I have of this series.


May 16, 2011
22. Zatoichi The Blind Swordsman (1974/Japan) Live-action chambara (swordplay) series. DVD Vol. 1/Disc 1: eps. 1-3

Ep. 1: “A Challenge of Chance”
Ep. 2: “The Flower That Bloomed with the Lullaby”
Ep. 3: “A Memorial Day and the Bell of Life”
Spoiler:
Shintaro Katsu went from playing blind swordsman/masseur/gambler Zatoichi in a series of movies (which began in 1962) to playing the character in a weekly TV series. Each episode ran 46-47 min. They were like shortened versions of the movies. Which is fine. I love the movies and I loved these episodes. I can’t wait to watch the remaining episodes I have (up through #13). Lower-budgeted than the movies, but more than made up for by good writing, sharp character touches, beautiful cinematography and superb acting. Plus nice bursts of lethal swordplay action. Katsu himself directed some episodes.


May 18, 2011
23. Mighty Jack (1967/Japan, 95 min. compilation, live-action sci-fi) English-dubbed VHS.
Spoiler:

Notorious syndicator Sandy Frank (“Battle of the Planets”) took "Mighty Jack," a 1967 color live-action sci-fi series from Tsuburaya Productions (maker of Ultraman) and edited some episodes into an English-dubbed 95-minute feature that may have been shown on American TV (I can’t confirm it) or simply gone straight to video, which is where I found it. This compilation is so randomly put together, it has no rhyme or reason. The only real thrill involves seeing the miniature effects showing the Mighty Jack, some kind of high-tech fighter plane cum submarine, in action. And those shots are few and far between, at least in this tape. Lots of white actors in it, mostly as villains. I now have the first two episodes from the original Japanese series on DVD (in Japanese, no subs.), so I can make some kind of comparison.


May 19, 2011
24. Slayers The Motion Picture (1995/Japan, 67 min., animated fantasy) English-dubbed VHS.
Spoiler:
This is a movie spin-off of the “Slayers” TV series, produced in the series’ first year. Unfortunately, the only copy I have is dubbed in English, so I can’t hear Megumi Hayashibara’s hilarious voice work. It’s also less comedic than the TV eps. and more concerned with its demonic reptilian villain. So there’s lots of sorcery and magical fighting action, but I wanted more laughs. At least it’s got Lina’s buxom, scantily-clad sidekick, Naga. That counts for something. And we DO hear the wonderful end song, “Midnight Blue,” sung in Japanese by Ms. Hayashibara, the song that first introduced me to the excellence of this singer/voice actress. I’ve performed it in karaoke myself a couple of times.


May 21, 2011
25. Saint Seiya (1986/Japan, animated fantasy series)
DVD Vol. 1: eps. 1-5.
Ep. 1: “A New Era of Heroic Legends”
Ep. 2: “Burn, Pegasus Meteor, Seiya!”
Ep. 3: “Cygnus! Warrior of Ice Cold”
Ep. 4: “Dragon! Invincible Fist and Shield”
Ep. 5: “Revival and Friendship”
Spoiler:
This was shown on Cartoon Network as “Knights of the Zodiac.” I’ve seen the movie spin-offs, but very few episodes of the TV series, even though I taped many off CN. I’ve only got the first and fifth volumes on DVD and I wish I had more. I’d much rather see this in Japanese and uncut. It’s quite violent and I imagine much of the bloodshed was cut on CN. It’s about boys trained in fighting arts in different countries who wear “sacred cloth” armor based on various constellations (e.g. Pegasus, Cygnus, Draco) and how they amass in Tokyo to fight each other in the Galactic Wars Tournament in a replica of the Colosseum, presided over by a lilac-haired beauty named Saori. I can’t figure out the plot yet, but it’s beautifully animated and full of action. They don’t make ’em anymore like they did in the ’80s.


26. Zatoichi The Blind Swordsman (1974/Japan) Live-action chambara (swordplay) series. DVD Vol. 1/Disc 2: eps. 4-5
Ep. 4: “The Kannon Statue That Was Tied”
Ep. 5: “The Heartless Man, Touched by Compassion”
Spoiler:
More Zatoichi mini-movies. Toshio Kurosawa (THE WATER MARGIN, LADY SNOWBLOOD: LOVE SONG OF VENGEANCE) is a guest star in ep. 5. Other familiar actors, whose names I can’t recall, turn up, but there’s no list of cast names in English. I just happened to recognize Kurosawa. There’s a certain formula to these episodes (Zatoichi takes up the cause of a beleaguered woman/family and gets caught up in turmoil between two rival gangs), but that’s okay. It works.


May 22, 2011
27. Nodame Cantabile (2007/Japan, animated comedy-drama) DVD Vol. 1: eps. 1-4

Lesson 1
Lesson 2
Lesson 3
Lesson 4
Spoiler:
This is a 26-episode series based on a popular manga about students at a prestigious music academy in Japan. There’s a set of pretty eccentric characters and a load of unrequited love. Unlike the manga, we actually get to hear the music in the anime. It’s quite nice. I’m reading the manga also and the anime follows it quite closely.


28. Blue Gale Xabungle (1982/Japan, animated sci-fi) VHS Vol. 4: eps. 13-16. In Japanese, no subtitles.
Spoiler:
Like “Heavy Metal L-Gaim,” this is another low-budget Gundam knock-off from the creator of Gundam himself, Yoshiyuki Tomino. No subs, so I can’t tell you the plot, but it had tons of mecha action, including a couple of low-end Gundam style fighting vehicles used by the heroes and much more rickety combat units used by the bad guys. It’s fast-paced and wildly imaginative, although it was certainly no competition to the far more intricate and intense Gundam. Still, if it’s 1980s giant robot anime I’ll give it an appreciative look no matter what.


29. Dirty Pair (1985/Japan, animated sci-fi) DVD Vol. 1: eps. 1-5

#1: “How to Kill a Computer”
#2: “Do Lovely Angels Prefer Chest Hair?”
#3: “Go Ahead, Fall for Me, Love is a Russian Roulette”
#4: “Pursuit Smells of Death & Cheesecake”
#5: “Criados’ Heartbeat”
Spoiler:
This is the first volume of the Dirty Pair TV series and it only came out on DVD last year. I have the other Dirty Pair releases—OAV episodes and some movies/specials—all on VHS. The TV series came first and it’s easily the best of all the Dirty Pair anime. The action is fast and furious, the scripts are funny and suspenseful, and the animation is brightly colored and beautifully done. Kazunori Ito (Patlabor, Ghost in the Shell) wrote the scripts for the first four episodes here. Now I want to see the whole series.


May 24, 2011
30. Knights of the Zodiac (aka Saint Seiya, 1986/Japan, animated fantasy series) English-dubbed VHS Vol. 2, eps. 6-9
#6: “Return of the Phoenix”
#7: “Theft of the Gold Cloth”
#8: “Battle for the Gold Cloth”
#9: “The Black Knights Appear”
Spoiler:
So I dug out my tapes with the episodes I recorded off Cartoon Network. Problem is, the English dubbing is awful and the violence is cut down. But it’s a good series. And I want to see the eps. I have that come before the next DVD volume I have (Vol. 5: eps. 21-25). And then I’ll watch three of the movie spin-offs. The Black Knights appear in these episodes, causing trouble for our heroes, leading to a nice chase through Tokyo streets, highways and docks in ep. #8.


May 25, 2011
31. Inuyasha (2000/Japan, animated historical fantasy) DVD
Vol. 2: A Girl's Best Friend

#4: “Yura of the Demon-Hair”
#5: “Aristocratic Assassin, Sesshomaru”
#6: “Tetsusaiga, the Phantom Sword”
Spoiler:
Why did I wait so long to get into this series? It’s a beautifully produced work and filled with imaginative demon-fighting action and baroque violence. It’s about a modern Japanese girl who goes through a time warp in her family’s well back to the Warring States Period where she hangs out with a half-demon/half-human named Inuyasha. I taped 56 episodes of this off the Cartoon Network. This is the only DVD I have from the series proper. (I have the four spin-off movies on DVD.) Book Off carries DVDs of the series occasionally. I need to get more. I prefer watching it uncut in Japanese than cut and dubbed in English.


32. Knights of the Zodiac (aka Saint Seiya, 1986/Japan, animated fantasy series) English-dubbed VHS Vol. 3, eps. 10-12
#10: “Dragon in the Graveyard of Knights”
#11: “Seiya Battles Black Pegasus”
#12: “The Nebula Chain of Friendship”
Spoiler:
More episodes taped off CN. Standard good-knights-vs.-Black Knights battle action, but the Himalayan backgrounds are rendered in stark, beautiful detail. The original music score, which was quite nice, has been replaced with something louder and more grating for the English dub. The theme song used on CN is “I Ran,” by Bowling for Soup. It sounds familiar. Was that a hit once upon a time? Forgive me if I prefer the Japanese original.


May 26, 2011
33. Knights of the Zodiac (aka Saint Seiya, 1986/Japan, animated fantasy series) English-dubbed VHS eps. 13-15, 20
#13: “Duel of the Dragons”
#14: “Defeat of the Phantom Demon”
#15: “Phoenix’s Secret Revealed”
#20: “Shina’s Revenge”
Spoiler:
More battle action between the good knight and the bad knights in the Himalayas (these battles can last almost as long as the ones in Dragonball Z), plus a detailed flashback to Phoenix’s grueling training on the Island of Doom. There was evidently a gap in my taping and I’m missing eps. 16-19 and a lot happens in those eps. When I put in #20, there was a whole new setting and a whole new set of villains. But I do have eps. 21-25 on DVD, so I can pick up with those.


May 27, 2011
34. Saint Seiya (1986/Japan, animated fantasy series) DVD Vol. 5, eps. 21-25.
#21: “A Fight in the Ice Field”
#22: “The Flame Returns to Life! Immortal Ikki”
#23: “Silver Saint! The Proud Assassin”
#24: “Fly, Pegasus, Fly!”
#25: “Fight On! United with Athena!”
Spoiler:
It’s nice to get back to uncut episodes in Japanese and the series’ original music. The settings are quite varied in these episodes, moving from Siberia to Greece to China to Japan. Even in Japan, they move around quite a lot. The background art is just gorgeous, with the forest backgrounds in one episode resembling water colors. There are are heaps of new villains, too, including the fiery Flame Saint and the androgynous Silver Saint. Now I’ve seen all the Saint Seiya episodes I have. On to the movie spin-offs!



Semi-complete (seen every episode I have): Saint Seiya

May 28, 2011
35. Dirty Pair (1985/Japan, animated sci-fi) DVD Vol. 2: eps. 6-9
#6: “Lots of Danger, Lots of Decoys”
#7: “Love is Everything, Risk Your Life to Elope!!”
#8: “Gotta Do It! Love is What Makes a Woman Explode”
#9: “Hire Us! Beautiful Bodyguards Are a Better Deal”
Spoiler:
These episodes are not as well written as the first five, or maybe I’m just getting tired of the formula. There’s plenty of action and the girls get to fight a lot in standard space opera/crime plots, but I wanted more comedy and flirtatious banter. Y’know, more personality! The animation is superb, though.


May 29, 2011
36. Noir (2001/Japan, animated crime thriller)
DVD Vol. 1: Shades of Darkness
#1: “Maidens with Black Hands”
#2: “Daily Bread”
#3: “The Assassination Play”
#4: “The Sound of Waves”
#5: “Les Soldats”

Spoiler:
I wanted to take a break from “Dirty Pair” with something darker and more sophisticated, so I put in this one, the only DVD volume I have from this series. It’s about a pair of female assassins, one a French woman and one a Japanese schoolgirl, who wind up working together out of an apartment in Paris. (Think LA FEMME NIKITA meets THE PROFESSIONAL meets BLACK CAT.) It’s very stylish but a bit too ponderous and it takes itself way too seriously. The girls are such good shots and the teams of opposing bad guys in shades and dark suits are such poor shots that no suspense is ever generated. We just know the girls are gonna shoot and fight their way out of any situation with ridiculous ease. But it has a great music score by female composer Yuki Kajiura (".hack/sign").


May 30, 2011
37. Dirty Pair (1985/Japan, animated sci-fi)
DVD Vol. 1: Disc 3: eps. 10-13
#10: “What? We’re Heinous Kidnappers”
#11: “Hah, Hah, Hah, Dresses and Men Should Always Be Brand New”
#12: “The Little Dictator! Let Sleeping Top Secrets Lie”
#13: “What’s This?! My Supple Skin is a Mess”
Spoiler:
This volume is an improvement over the previous one. Every episode here has an interesting storyline. #11 is best because it highlights the girls away from their job as they head to a party and stop to buy dresses and get caught up in a police action—with much hilarity ensuing. #12 has an intriguing sci-fi plot about a super-intelligent talking rat leading a rat revolution. The rat’s named Algernon, after the sci-fi story, “Flowers for Algernon.”


Semi-complete (seen every episode I have): Dirty Pair

Last edited by Ash Ketchum; 09-02-11 at 09:46 AM.
Old 04-28-11, 09:03 AM
  #37  
DVD Talk Gold Edition
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: currently Philly originally from Puerto Rico
Posts: 2,893
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Re: May 2011 Make-Your-Own Challenge ***Lists Go Here***

I'm going to do an Iberian and Latin American (including Caribbean) challenge.
My rules will be:

1. A film that is from any of these countries and in its native language
2. films that are from out of the country but that take place entirely in one of these countries i.e. Turistas, Man On Fire, Girl from Rio, Westerns based on the Mexican Revolution or before the Mexican-American War (so old Mexican territory)
3. Film from one of these countries but not on the countries native languages due to dubbing or intentionally done in another language but with at least 70% crew from native contry. i.e. Kovak Box
4. TV shows are allowed if completely from one of these countries and in native language i.e. Epitafios
5. Concerts are allowed if longer that 60 minutes and by musician from one of these countries or foreign musicians in concert in one of these countries.
6. Territories are considered autonomous so a movie from France or the UK would not count unless one of the rules above applies
7. documentaries about a one of these countries or person/s from these countries allowed with no location restrictions.
<hr size=1 width=50% align="left">
<hr size=1 width=50% align="left">


May 1st
1. Tony Manero (Chile)
2. Me Best Enemy (Chile)
3. Se Permuta (Cuba)
4. Cafundo (Brasil)

May 2nd
5. Cama Adentro (Argentina)
6. Maluala (Cuba)

May 6th
7. Los Lobos de Washington (Spain)
8. Santo Lizbel (Mexico)
9. Bar "El Chino" (Argentina)

May 7th
10. El Chacal de Nahueltoro (Chile)
11. Mujeres Infieles (Chile)
12. Clandestinos (Cuba)

May 8th
13. Zuzu Angel (Brasil)
14. Taxi: Un Encuentro (Argentina)
15. Macunaima (Brasil)
16. Exxeso (Guatemala)

May 9th
17. Ed Motta: Ao Vivo (Brasil)

May 10th
18. Animalada (Argentina)
19. Talento de Barrio (Puerto Rico)
20. Cao sem Dono (Brasil)
21. La Gran Sangre (Peru)
22. El Polaquito (Argentina)

May 11th
23. God Is Brazilian (Brasil)
24. La Zona (Mexico)
25. El Esqueleto de La Senora Morales (Mexico)

May 12
26. Moi, Fidel Castro: 1. Un joven rebelde (France)
27. Moi, Fidel Castro: 2. Asalto al Moncada (France)
28. Moi, Fidel Castro: 3. El Che (France

May 14th
29. Yo Soy La Juani (Spain)

May 15th
30. Cinema, Aspirina e Urubus (Brasil)
31. Mirageman (Chile)
32. Orfeu (Brasil)
33. Amor, Dolor y Viceversa (Mexico)

May 16th
34. Drama/Mex (Mexico)

May 17th
35. Guantes Magicos (Argentina)
36. Rapado (Argentina)

May 18th
37. Via Lactea (Brasil)
38. Lifting de Corazon (Argentina)

May 20th
39. Seis Dias En La Oscuridad (Mexico)

May 21st
40. Edad De Las Luces (Spain)
41. O, Pai, O (Brasil)
42. Incautos (Spain)

May 22nd
43. Hello Hemingway (Cuba)
44. Derecho de Familia (Argentina)

May 23rd
45. Jamon Jamon (Spain)

May 25th
46. Silvia Prieto (Argentina)
47. Hamaca Paraguaya (Argentina)

May 28th
48. Canoa (Mexico)

May 30th
49. PVC-1
50. Rosarigasinos (Argentina)
51. Moi, Fidel Castro: 4. Mea Culpa (France)

Last edited by BuddhaWake; 04-25-12 at 11:11 AM.
Old 04-28-11, 09:48 AM
  #38  
DVD Talk Gold Edition
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: DFW
Posts: 2,541
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
Re: May 2011 Make-Your-Own Challenge ***Lists Go Here***



Doc Moonlight's VINCENTENNIAL Challenge

Celebrating the life and works of Vincent Leonard Price, Jr. May 27, 1911 - October 25, 1993

Challenge will incorporate films, television, recordings and a visit to the Vincentennial Exhibit at the Sheldon Art Gallery in St Louis.

May 1
Bios:
1. VINCENT PRICE THE VERSATILE VILLAIN (2003) DVD
THE SINISTER IMAGE: VINCENT PRICE (1993) DVD

May 2
2. THE MONSTER CLUB (1980)* DVD

May 3
3. THE LAST MAN ON EARTH (1964) DVD

May 5
4. HOUSE OF LONG SHADOWS (1983) DVR

May 6
5. HOUSE OF WAX (1953) DVD

May 7
6. MASTER OF THE WORLD (1961) NetFlix Streaming

May 8
7. DRAGONWYCK (1946) DVD

May 9
8. THE TINGLER (1959) DVD

May 10
9. CRY OF THE BANSHEE (1970) DVD

May 11
10. HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL (Mike Nelson Commentary) (1959) DVD
11. MADHOUSE (1974) DVD

May 12
12. Visit to the Vincentennial Exhibit in St Louis

May 16
13. LAURA (1944) DVD

May 18
14. HIS KIND OF WOMAN (1951)* DVD

May 19
15. THE FLY (1958) DVD

May 20
16. WITCHFINDER GENERAL (1968) DVD

May 21
17. THE BIG CIRCUS (1960) DVD

May 22
18. VPTV 1:
"Freddy the Freeloader's Christmas Dinner" HBO Special (1980)* Netflix Streaming
"The Perfect Crime" ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS (1957) (Directed by Hitchcock, himself) HULU Streaming
"The Moor's Revenge" HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL (1959) Netflix Streaming

May 24
19. KEYS OF THE KINGDOM (1945) DVD

May 25
20. SHOCK (1946) Netflix Streaming
21. HOUSE OF USHER (1961) DVD

May 26
22. THEATER OF BLOOD (1973)

May 27 - HAPPY BIRTHDAY, VINCENT PRICE!
23. VP Radio
THE JACK BENNY PROGRAM (1949) Online Streaming
ESCAPE "Bloodbath" (1950) Sirius Radio
THE SAINT " Ladies Never Lie Much" (1951) Sirius Radio
HOLLYWOOD FIGHTS BACK (1947) Online Streaming
VINCENT PRICE ON PREJUDICE AND RACISM (1947) You Tube
24. THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM (1962) DVD

May 28
25. THE GREAT MOUSE DETECTIVE (1986) DVD
26. THE OBLONG BOX (1969) DVD Happy Belated Birthday (May 27) Christopher Lee (one of Price's co-stars in this film)

May 29
27. VP Audio
"America the Beautiful: The Heart of American Poetry"
"Darling of the Day" (Original Cast Recording)
"Thriller"
"Imagine the Thriller"
"Monster Mash"
"The Color of Your Eyes"

May 31
28. CHAMPAGNE FOR CAESAR (1950)

Last edited by Doc Moonlight; 06-03-11 at 11:21 AM.
Old 04-28-11, 11:21 AM
  #39  
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sonora, Mexico
Posts: 193
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Re: May 2011 Make-Your-Own Challenge ***Lists Go Here***

The First Annual Comic Book Movie/TV Series Challenge
Watch any movie or tv show based on a comic book.

The Rules:
a) Movies count for one entry.
b) Hour long (broadcast time) TV epsiodes shows are 2 for one entry.
c) Half hour TV epsiodes shows are 4 for one entry.
d) Three wild cards for stuff NOT based on a comic book but clearly influenced by them.

Unless otherwise noted, all are DVDs from my personal collection.

May 1
1. Wonder Woman TV pilot The New Original Wonder Woman (with commentary by Lynda Carter)
2. The Phantom, 1996 movie

May 1
3. Wonder Woman S1, Wonder Woman meet Baroness Von Gunther / Fausta, the Nazi Wonder Woman

May 2
4. Wonder Woman S1, Beauty on Parade / Superfriends the Lost Episodes, Mxyzptlk's Revenge / Roller Coaster / Once Upon a Poltergeist / The Krypton Syndrome / Invasion Of The Space Dolls / Terror On The Titanic

May 3
5. Wonder Woman S1, The Feminum Mystique parts 1 and 2

May 4
6. Dick Tracy vs Cueball

May 5
7. Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome

May 6
8. Batman Begins

May 7
9. The Dark Knight
10. Thor (seen in movie theater)

May 8
11. Planet Hulk
12. Iron Man 2

May 9
13. Daredevil

May 10
14. Les Aventures Extraordinaires d'Adele Blanc-Sec (Blu Ray rental)
15. Kick-Ass (Blu Ray rental)

May 11
16. Kick-Ass, special features (Blu Ray rental)
17. Constantine, special features (loaned DVD)

May 12
18. Wonder Woman S1, Wonder Woman vs Gargantua / The Pluto File

May 13
19. The Incredible Hulk, Pilot
20. The Incredible Hulk S2, Wedding

May 14
21. Superman The Movie
22. The Incredible Hulk, Pilot with commentary by Kenneth Johnson

May 15
23. Superman II with commentary by the producers
24. Priest (seen in movie theater)
25. The Incredible Hulk S2, Wedding with commentary by Kenneth Johnson

May 16
26. Smallville S10, Finale

May 17
27. Red (Blu Ray rental)

May 18
28. Smallville S10, Booster (TV broadcast) / The Incredible Hulk S2, Kindred Spirits
29. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (Blu Ray rental)

May 19 - Nothing

May 20
30. Superman III with commentary from the producers
31. The Incredible Hulk S4, The First parts 1 and 2

May 21
32. Superman IV with commentary by writer Mark Rosenthal

May 22
33. The Cape S1, Dice (TV broadcast) Wildcard 1 - This show is NOT based on a comic but it's clearly influenced by them/ The Black Panther, Vol. 1, Battle for the Crown
34. The Incredible Hulk (2008 movie), with commentary by director Louis Leterrier and Tim Roth
35. The Incredible Hulk (2008 movie) special features

May 23
36. Return to the Batcave
37. Wonder Woman S1, Last of the Two Dollar Bills / The Black Panther, Vol. 2, Invasion of Wakanda

May 24
38. Watchmen (Blu Ray rental)

May 25
39. Whiteout (Blu Ray rental)
40. Smalville S10, Dominion (TV broadcast) / Wonder Woman S1, Formula 407

May 26
41. Scott Pilgrim vs the World (DVD rental)

May 27
42. Wanted (Blu Ray rental)
43. The Death of the Incredible Hulk

May 28
44. Sin City (Blu Ray rental)
45. Wanted, special features (Blu Ray rental) / Wonder Woman S1 The Bushwackers

May 29
46. Sin City, special features (Blu Ray rental) Almost as long as the movie itself so I count it as an entry.
47. Superman / Batman: Public Enemies

May 30
48. Surrogates (Blu Ray rental)

May 31
49. Wonder Woman S1, Judgment From Space parts 1 & 2
50. Batman, the Movie (1966)

That's it! An even 50 entries.

Last edited by pagefrance; 06-01-11 at 11:16 AM. Reason: List update
Old 04-28-11, 01:03 PM
  #40  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Idaho Falls, ID USA
Posts: 459
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Re: May 2011 Make-Your-Own Challenge ***Lists Go Here***

I am finally going to jump in on a challenge and try to whittle away at my unwatched pile. I must have over a thousand! (Thanks Big Lots...) I will shoot for fifty...

(I am counting Netflix physical media but am also adding it to my acquired total as I will probably sell off or trade most of what I watch anyway

Acquisistions: BBS Story 6 Blu-Ray set, 27 discs from Johnny Legend, Big Lots, 22 dvd's from Big Lots' latest batch , 5 blu-rays via BB trade-in... you DVD Talkers are evil evil people, I would never have bought any of these if I didn't hear about the deals here first!)

Total watched: 54 (+4 duplicates)
BB trade-ins: 5
total acquired: 68


Net: -5

Spoiler:
1. 5/1/11 - The Grand - A comedy about poker tournaments with a great cast.
2. 5/1/11 - Gumshoe - Albert Finney 'Martini movie
3. 5/2/11 - Wonder Woman -DC direct animated
4. /2/11 - The Galaxy Invader - scifi cheapie from 1985
5. 5/2/11 - Head -The Monkees

6. 5/2/11 - The Wendell Baker Story - The Wilson brothers
7. 5/3/11 - Rocket Science - Indie Dramedy about a boy who stutters
8. 5/4/11 - RocknRolla - Guy Ritchie visits the London underworld (again)
9. 5/4/11 - Easy Rider - classic from the BBS story Blu-Ray set
10. 5/4/11 - Son of Rambow

11. 5/6/11 - New York, New York - I have two copies of this so I am going to count it twice because the goal was to knock my pile down! When it's all said and done this will probably be the case for other movies on my list this month.
12. 5/6/11 - HIghlander: The Quest For Vengeance - animated
13. 5/7/11 - Conan the Barbarian - Ahnold, I can't believe it but I don't think that I had ever seen this one!
14. 5/7/11 - 13 Seconds - horrible low budget horror disguised as a mainstream horror flick
15. 5/8/11 - The Constant Gardener - Thriller about a corrupt drug industry

16. 5/9/11 - The Black Dahlia - Brian De Palma - I didn't care for this one very much (nor did my wife)
17. 5/9/11 - SNL The Best of Dan Aykroyd - there are some really funny sketches in here!
18. 5/9/11 - Back To School - This one did not date very well at all!
19. 5/10/11 - Mongol - Netflix and a pretty good movie!
20. 5/10/11 - Office Space

21. 5/11/11 - The House on Haunted Hill - the original
22. 5/11/11 - Donnie Darko - director's cut
23. 5/12/11 - TV Mania/Commercial Mania - from Johnny Legend
24. 5/13/11 - Napoleon Dynamite - it's still quite funny!
25. 5/14/11 - Chronicles of Riddick - Dark Fury - animated

26. 5/14/11 - Austin Powers International Man of Mystery
27. 5/15/11 - Greystoke The Legend of Tarzan - long!
28. 5/15/11 - Son of Kong
29. 5/16/11 - My Lucky Stars - 1985 Jackie Chan - sequel to Winners and Sinners
30. 5/16/11 - THX-1138

31. 5/17/11 - Teenage Caveman - 2002 - low budget post-apocalyptic T&A movie
32. 5/17/11 - Star Trek V
33. 5/17/11 - Harvie Krumpet - strange claymation 2003 Academy Award winner
34. 5/17/11 - Godzilla The Series - The Monster Wars Trilogy - animated
35. 5/18/11 - AVP Requium - Netflix... ugh!

36. 5/18/11 - Once Upon a Time In the Midlands
37. 5/18/11 - Living in Oblivion - indie comedy, recommended
38. 5/20/11 - Taxi Driver
39. 5/20/11 - Wedding Crashers
40. 5/21/11 - The Sadist - this is a pretty creepy movie and the Johnny Legend print is by far the best I have seen

41. 5/23/11 - Dirty Harry
42. 5/25/11 - Lupin 3: The Secret of Twilight Gemini
43. 5/25/11 - Due Date - Netflix
44. 5/26/11 - Dracula Has Risen From the Grave
45. 5/26/11 - Five Easy Pieces - Jack Nicholson

46. 5/26/11 - Bob's Big Break in 3D - the 3D was decent for analglyph
47. 5/26/11 - Bewitched - With Will Ferrell and Nicole Kidman.. ugh...
48. 5/27/11 - Flight of the Conchords S1D1 - really funny, highly recommended!
49. 5/28/11 - The Great Santini
50. 5/29/11 - I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry - ugh!

51. 5/30/11 - There Was a Crooked Man - Henry Fonda and Kirk Douglas
52. 5/30/11 - Suspiria - giallo
53. 5/31/11 - Star Trek VI
54. 5/31/11 - Sweeney Todd - the original with Tod Slaughter

Last edited by AdamGott; 05-31-11 at 04:53 AM.
Old 04-28-11, 07:11 PM
  #41  
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
 
Greg MacGuffin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Formerly known as "Jeffy Pop"/Denver
Posts: 3,038
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Re: May 2011 Make-Your-Own Challenge ***Lists Go Here***

2011 Foreign Language Film Challenge


May 1
1. Shoah (France)

May 2
2. Revenge of the Musketeers (France)

May 4
3. Ip Man (Hong Kong)

May 7
4. Love on the Run (France)

May 8
5. Ichi (Japan)
6. The White Sheik (Italy)

May 11
7. Day For Night (France)

May 13
8. The Silent House (La Casa Muda) (2010) (Uruguay)

May 14
9. Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (South Korea)

May 15
10. Merci Pour Le Chocolat (France)

May 17
11. Diabolique (1954) (France)

May 21
12. Oldboy (South Korea)

May 29
13. La Ceremonie (France)

May 30
14. Breathless (1960) (France)

Last edited by Greg MacGuffin; 05-30-11 at 11:01 PM.
Old 04-28-11, 09:45 PM
  #42  
Senior Member
 
CardiffGiant's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 755
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Re: May 2011 Make-Your-Own Challenge ***Lists Go Here***

Mini-Challenges of Unwatched Material:

Goals:

- Get above 50% empty on the DVR (this will be the most difficult)
- Watch all of last year's Film Movement titles (12 titles)
- Tear through the unwatched BD and DVD pile (which remains relatively small)
- Clear out a bunch of Netflix Instant Viewing Criterion titles (since they are leaving soon for Hulu)

List (w/Qualification):

1. Get Him to the Greek (DVR)
2. Howards End (DVR)...although it's also a streaming Criterion title
3. Drag Me to Hell (DVR)
4. Leaves of Grass (DVR)
5. The Times of Harvey Milk (DVR)
6. Storm (Film Movement)
7. Green Zone (DVR)
8. Bottle Shock (DVR)
9. and 10. Californication: 6 Episodes (DVR)
11. Night on Earth (DVR)
12. Hunger (Netflix Instant Viewing)

Last edited by CardiffGiant; 06-01-11 at 10:07 AM.
Old 04-28-11, 09:59 PM
  #43  
DVD Talk Limited Edition
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Raleighwood
Posts: 6,643
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Re: May 2011 Make-Your-Own Challenge ***Lists Go Here***



Goal: Watch a bunch of films/TV shows that revolve around radio and TV.

FILMS
1. Network (1976)
2. Broadcast News (1987)
3. A Face in the Crowd (1957)

TV SHOWS
1. Remember WENN, episodes 1-3, 5-6, 10

Last edited by Fist of Doom; 06-01-11 at 12:18 AM.
Old 04-28-11, 10:42 PM
  #44  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Chad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Somewhere Hot Scoville Units: 9,999,999 Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
Posts: 12,258
Received 811 Likes on 316 Posts
Re: May 2011 Make-Your-Own Challenge ***Lists Go Here***




MINI-CHALLENGES

_________________________________________________________________


THE LIST
LAST UPDATED: 5/14
Spoiler:


T
H
E

L
I
S
T


Sunday, May 1st
1. Highlander: The Search for Vengeance (2007)

Monday, May 2nd
2. Narrow Margin (1990)

Wednesday, May 4th
3. Heist (2001)

Thursday, May 5th
4. Hamlet 2 (2008)

Saturday, May 7th
5. Hot Pursuit (1987)

Monday, May 9th
6. The Desperate Hours (1955)

Wednesday, May 11th
7. Burn Notice - Season 1, Episode 1: Pilot (2007)
7.5 Burn Notice - Season 1, Episode 2: Identity (2007)
8. National Lampoon's Movie Madness (1983)

Thursday, May 12th
9. Burn Notice - Season 1, Episode 3: Fight or Flight (2007)
9.5 Burn Notice - Season 1, Episode 4: Old Friends (2007)
10. Mayor of the Sunset Strip (2003)

Friday, May 13th
11. Friday the 13th Part III w/ cast commentary (1982)





L
E
G
E
N
D


= First Time Viewing
PDD = Public Domain Download
NWI = Netflix Watch Instantly
TCM = Turner Classic Movies
HD = HD DVD
BD = Blu-ray
RC = Roku Channel
OV = Online Viewing
No Symbol = DVD



Other titles viewed during the month:
Spoiler:
Jekyll (2007)
The Legend of Hell House (1973)
Friday the 13: The Final Chapter (1984)



Last edited by Chad; 05-14-11 at 03:43 PM.
Old 04-29-11, 03:02 PM
  #45  
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Kalifornia
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Re: May 2011 Make-Your-Own Challenge ***Lists Go Here***

Hot Tub Time Machine (a.k.a. 80's Rewind) Challenge


Rules: Movies (and maybe television) from the 80's with 1 wild card.
Goal: 25 Movies. Most will be non-horror movies since they are covered in October.

May 2
1) Back to the Future (1985, Blu-Ray) - An absolute classic that belongs in every 80's movie afficianado's library. The Blu-ray disc looks great. Nice bright picture and great sound with tons of extras. If only Universal would get the packaging right. Movie 5/5 Disc 5/5

May 3
2) Revenge of the Nerds (1984, Encore HD) - "Their Time has Come"....NERDS! I had not seen this one in a long time. Typical 80's teen comedy with some pretty funny moments. Features Anthony Edwards 2 years before he was "Goose". Soundtrack featuring Michael Jackson, Talking Heads, and Queen. Movie 4/5

May 5
3) Back to the Future Part 2 (1989, Blu-Ray) - Great sequal to a classic movie. This was actually always my favorite of the trilogy. Movie 5/5 Disc 5/5

May 7
4) Jaws 3 (1983, DVD) - I have a soft spot for amusement parks gone bad movies. Originally released in 3D the effects are dated, but fun for those of us who saw it in the theater. A guilty pleasure I guess. Movie 3.5/5 DVD 3.3/5

May 9
5) Weird Science (1985, DVD) - One of my absolute favorite comedies! I ahve the "High School Reunion" version of the DVD. Descent sound and picture but bare bones. Movie 5/5 Disc 3.5/5

May 11
6) Risky Business (1983, Blu-Ray) - Tom Cruise's Big breakout. His "underwear" dance to Bob Segar became part of pop culture. Blu-ray picture looks good considering the age of the movie. Probably the best it's going to look. Movie 4/5 Blu-Ray 4/5

May 12
7) Footloose (1984, HBO HD) - Fun flick with a great 80's soundtrack. Are they really going to remake this? Not a good idea! Movie 4/5

May 13
8) Friday the 13th (1980, DVD) - Seemed appropriate for the day! Movie 4/5 Disc 4/5

May 15
9) Three Amigos! (1986, HDNET) - As much as I like Chevy Chase & Steve Martin, I forgot just how painfully unfunny this movie is. Chevy looks bored and must of realized this was missing the mark. Movie 2/5

May 19
10) Bachelor Party (1984, DVD) - Pretty funny movie with Tom Hanks fresh off the success of Splash. You would never know he would go on to be a more dramatic actor. He was actually good with the comedy thing in the 80's. Also starring video vixen Tawny Kataen before she was Mrs. Whitesnake. Paired in a great 2-Disc set with Revenge of the Nerds. A great example of 80's comedy. Movie 4/5 Disc 4/5

May 27
11) Police Academy (1984, Encore HD)

12) Less Than Zero (1987, Encore HD)

May 28
13) The Great Outdoors (1988, Encore HD) - Entertaining comedy starring Dan Aykroyd and the late great John Candy. Written by John Hughes. Movie 3/5

May 29
14) Spies Like Us (1985, Blu-Ray) - The great Dan Aykroyd & Chevy Chase team up for this John Landis comedy about two spy decoys who help prevent a nuclear war. Nice upgrade over the standard DVD. Blu-Ray actually has this movie & another Chevy Chase classic: Funny Farm. Movie 4/5 Blu-Ray 4/5

May 30
Two of my favorites today....

15) Ghostbusters (1984, Blu-Ray) - I never get tired of watching this classic! The Blu-Ray picture is a bit uneven. At times it looks great and at other times there is a lot of "noise". Maybe just a small upgrade over the standard DVD. Movie 5/5 Blu-Ray 3/5

16) Cobra (1986, Encore HD) - Sly is the man when it comes to 80's action flicks. This one has always been one of my absolute favorites. I have it on DVD, but was curious to see the HD version as this is due out on Blu-ray later this year. This version looked really good. Movie 4.5/5




Television

A) Miami Vice "The Home Invaders" (original air date 3/15/85, DVD) - Is there anything more 80's than Miami Vice? From the synth music, to the fashion, the neon lit back drop of Miami, or guests like Jon Bon Jovi, Glen Frey, Phil Collins, and Bruce Willis just to name a few. I chose this episode at random from my season 1 DVD set. This one actually didn't have Tubbs, but featured Sonny & Castillo working a home invasion robbery case. An entertaining, but pretty run of the mill entry in the series. The picture on these DVd sets generally looks pretty good with bright colors. The opening title sequence shows it age. Only complaint is I have run across a disc or two that freezes up as these are the infamous flippers from Universal. Episode 3/5 Disc 3.5/5

B) Don't You Forget About Me (2009, Encore HD) - Documentary about John Hughes. Unfortunately he didn't participate & sadly died not long after it was finished. 3/5

C) Ozzy Osbourne: 30 Years After the Blizzard (2011, VH1 Classic) - Short documentary on Ozzie's landmark 1981 albums "Blizzard of Oz" & "Diary of a Madman". 3.5/5


Que

1) Trading Places (1983, Blu-Ray)
2)
3)
4)
5)

Last edited by SnapDawg; 05-31-11 at 03:58 PM.
Old 04-29-11, 05:11 PM
  #46  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 395
Received 14 Likes on 10 Posts
Re: May 2011 Make-Your-Own Challenge ***Lists Go Here***

Special Features / Japanese Movie Challenge

OK, I'm in but this will have to have some fairly modest goals. It will be a two part challenge. First I want to check out special features and commentaries from DVDs previously watched. I'll try for 15 of these. The second part will be Japanese live action movies, theatrical or direct to video. I hope to watch at least 20 of these.

Special Features Challenge
To watch special features, including commentaries, from previously viewed DVDs.
1. Not all special features need to be watched. Dull commentaries will not be tolerated.
2. Each title will count as one item.
3. I will try to keep track of the times for each title just for the heck of it.

Special Features Total Items = 6
Special Features Total Time (commentary/other stuff) = 4 hr. 20 min./9 hr. 0 min.

Special Features List
Spoiler:
May 05
01. Doctor Who: Warriors of the Deep
Commentary all four episodes (Peter Davison, Janet Fielding, Eric Saward - script editor, Mat Irvine -visual effects supervisor) [92 min];The Depths: Making of Warriors of the Deep [32 min.]; They Came From Beneath the Sea (costumes) [13 min.]; Science in Action (clip from TV science show featuring Dr. Who visual effects supervisor Mat Irvine) [6 min.]; Previews for new season and upcoming shows [4 min.]; Photo Gallery [7 min.]

May 12
02. King Kong (1933) Disc 2
I'm King Kong! The Exploits of Merian C. Cooper [57 min.]
RKO Production 601: The Making of Kong, Eighth Wonder of the World [2 hr. 39 min.]
Creation Test Footage with commentary by Ray Harryhausen [5 min.]

May 13
03. Warlock Moon (1973)
Commentary with Joe Bob Briggs [84 min.]
Recreated original trailer, alternate opening sequence [4 min.]

May 21
04. The Giant Spider Invasion The Directors Cut
Disc 1: Trailer [4 min.]
Disc 1: Commentary with director Bill Rebane [84 min.]
Disc 2: Short features including clips from interviews and local news, footage of the Bill Rebane film festival in 2005, and a long sequence about recovering and renovating the mobile giant spider [2 hr. 16 min.]
Disc 2: 8mm version of the Giant Spider Invasion [24 min.]

05. Being Human Season 1 Disc 2
Deleted Scenes; Extended Scenes; Stunts Package; Our Journey's End; Becoming a Werewolf; Video Diaries [58 min.]

May 30
06. Lady Terminator (1988)
Trailer [3 min.]
Documentary -- Indonesian Exploitation [25 min.]
Alternate (clothed) scenes [3 min.]
Text pages -- Indonesian Exploitation; Director Filmography; The Legend of the South Sea Queen; Still Gallery [???]



Japanese Live Action Movie Challenge
1. Theatrical or direct to video will count.
2. Commentaries and special features will count in the Special Features Challenge (OK, this is getting just a little bit strange....)

Japanese Film Total = 13

Japanese Film List
Spoiler:

* = first time viewing

May 09
01. Sanshiro Sugata (1943)* (Eclipse #23: The First Films of Akira Kurosawa)
The story of Sanshiro Sugata, a judo student, and his growth from foolish bully to mature young man. Set in the 1880's against the backdrop of jiujitsu vs judo conflict. Its almost impossible to believe this was Kurosawa's first directorial effort. Very well done.

May 14
02. The Most Beautiful (1944)* (Eclipse #23: The First Films of Akira Kurosawa)
Propaganda effort about a group of volunteer girls working in a precision optics plant and the personal sacrifices they must make. A bit slow in spots but overall interesting and an apparently fairly accurate representation of one aspect of the Japanese home front. Emotional at times but never overly melodramatic.

May 22
03. Japanese Girls at the Harbor (1933)* (Eclipse #13: Travels with Hiroshi Shimizu)
Story of two girls who love the same man. One marries him and the other becomes a geisha. Well acted and photographed. The outside, location shots are almost poetic at times and an interesting look at Japan of the 1930's.

May 23
04. Mr. Thank You (1936)* (Eclipse #13: Travels with Hiroshi Shimizu)
The story of one day, one trip really, in the life of a rural bus driver. Good premise, well executed. Interesting interactions between the riders, driver, and people met on the road. The countryside almost becomes another character.

May24
05. Sanshiro Sugata, Part Two (1945)* (Eclipse #23: The First Films of Akira Kurosawa)
Sugata beats up a couple of American bullies for the war effort and then has to face his own doubts and the brothers of the fighter he bested in part one. Totally absorbing story that ends with a battle in the snow between judo and karate but once again the emphasis is not on action but character and spirit.

May 25
06. The Masseurs and a Woman (1938)* (Eclipse #13: Travels with Hiroshi Shimizu)
A story about people staying at a summer resort mountain inn, including the title characters among others. A little romance, a little intrigue, sometimes lighthearted, sometimes sad, always interesting.

07. The Men Who Tread On the Tiger's Tail (1945)* (Eclipse #23: The First Films of Akira Kurosawa)
A very formally structured retelling of a legend about a 12th century historical figure. Lord Yoshitune and a few followers must bluff their way past a roadblock put up by his half brother who thinks the Lord has betrayed him. This could have been a stage play with limited sets and three distinct scenes. Short but fascinating.

May 28
08. Dragon Blue (1995)*
OK story about a descendant of the Dragon Clan who must unleash her full powers to combat a Sea Demon. Plot is a bit muddled at times but the monster suit is very nicely done. Good for a Saturday afternoon.

09. Space Amoeba (1970)*
Average Toho monster fest. A space force comes to earth and turns various sea creatures into giant monsters. Hits all the typical notes -- isolated island, superstitious natives, slick gangster type, heroic reporter, stoic scientist but I just didn't feel much of the old magic. Three minor monsters do not a Godzilla make.

May 29
10. Gamera the Brave (2006)*
Surprisingly entertaining Gamera reboot. I was prepared for the worst but there was only one spot where it hit WTC (way too cute) and then not for long. The evil monster, Zadeus, looks pretty cool and there's a good fight at the end. The whole thing was handled very well.

11. Sleepy Eyes of Death 1: The Chinese Jade (1963)* (Sleepy Eyes of Death Collectors Set Vol. 1)
A wandering samurai gets involved in a conflict between a powerful lord and crooks the lord had hired. Star Raizo Ichikawa is excellent as the world weary samurai. Contains as much skullduggery as sword fighting but there is enough action. Good cast all around.

May 30
12. Underworld Beauty (1958)*
Yakuza story about the search for some diamonds. Very stylish with some nice noirish scenes, good acting, and a big shootout at the end. Very good.

May 31
13. Ornamental Hairpin (1941)* (Eclipse #13: Travels with Hiroshi Shimizu)
Story of the relationships that develop between a small group of people staying in an increasingly crowded resort. Romance threatens but never quite breaks out. Often humorous, great characters, well acted and directed -- a really wonderful film. Somewhat bittersweet in the end.

Last edited by omike; 06-01-11 at 12:21 PM.
Old 04-30-11, 12:45 PM
  #47  
DVD Talk Special Edition
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Singapore
Posts: 1,005
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Re: May 2011 Make-Your-Own Challenge ***Lists Go Here***



Indian Cinema Challenge

May 01

1. Vaadaa (2010, Tamil)

Director Sundar C was well known for making some memorable comedies and some silly masala movies in Tamil cinema from the mid 90s in a career that has spanned about 15 years. and then back in 2006, he decided to get in front of the camera instead and began to make a slew of really stupid masala movies. Vaaada is one of them which features a plot ripped off from the Hollywood movie Shooter to really ridiculous effect.

2. Ninaithale Inikkum (1979, Tamil)

Director K. Balachander, widely considered as one of Tamil Cinema's greatest living legends, took a break from his serious social dramas to make this absolutely delightful musical that was filmed in Singapore. It features the last pairing of his 2 most famous proteges Kamal Haasan & Rajinikanth and the movie has 12(!) songs which received heavy airplay back in the day. Kamal plays a band leader who meets a mysterious lady admirer who plunges him into a whirlwind courtship filled with lies, half truths and ultimately ends in bittersweet tragedy.

May 02

3. Bayam Ariyan (2010, Tamil)

The movie is supposed to be a gritty depiction of a dirty cop who manipulates 2 rival gangs towards his own financial gain. the cop is shown to have a sensitive side especially in the scenes with his wife and one of the gang leaders is shown to be absolute scum with the way he treats his own mother but he's decent towards his gf who inexplicably decides to fall for a punk like him. this kinda story isn't supposed to have a happy ending and it doesn't after all.

May 03

4. Thaskara Veeran (2005, Malayalam)

Mamooty stars as a thief who comes back to his village to avenge the murder of his grandfather.

May 04

5. Vaseegara (2003, Tamil)

Before Vijay started blatantly aping Rajinikanth and doing full blown action movies filled with ridiculous dialogue, stupid plot points & OTT stunt sequences, he was making romantic comedies such as this one. The luvly Sneha plays a girl who is engaged to another man when she meets Vijay who is her house guest. Of course, she falls for him gradually but he doesn’t reciprocate due to the respect that he has for the friendship between his dad and Sneha’s dad. The happy ending is a cliché but it’s a feel-good movie after all.

May 05

6. Orange (2010, Telugu)

Rom-Com shot entirely in Australia for some reason about a boy, who always tells the truth. he declares himself the world's greatest lover because while he enjoys being in love, he doesn't believe in everlasting love. so he breaks up with his gfs at the slightest signs of the relationship souring. he goes through 9 girls this way and when he meets the 10th girl, he realizes that there may be more to love after all and that includes sacrifice & compromise.

Last edited by InnocentBlood; 05-07-11 at 11:14 PM.
Old 05-01-11, 02:37 PM
  #48  
DVD Talk Gold Edition
 
PopcornBandit's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Upstate, SC
Posts: 2,248
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Re: May 2011 Make-Your-Own Challenge ***Lists Go Here***

SITCOM CHALLENGE



No real guidelines or goals. I just want to see how many episodes of various sitcoms I can watch in a month.

------------------------------------------------

MAY 1ST
Community S2, episode 18 - "Custody Law and Eastern European Diplomacy"
Community S2, episode 19 - "Critical Film Studies"
Community S2, episode 20 - "Competitive Wine Tasting"
Community S2, episode 21 - "Paradigms of Human Memory"
Community S2, episode 22 - "Applied Anthropology and Culinary Arts"
How I Met Your Mother S6, episode 20 - "The Exploding Meatball Sub"
How I Met Your Mother S6, episode 21 - "Hopeless"
Lucky Louie episode 1 - "Pilot"
Lucky Louie episode 2 - "Kim's O"
Mr. Sunshine S1, episode 1 - "Pilot"
Mr. Sunshine S1, episode 2 - "Employee of the Year"

MAY 2ND
It's Garry Shandling's Show S1, episode 1 - "The Day Garry Moved In"
It's Garry Shandling's Show S1, episode 2 - "Grant Gets Broken"
How I Met Your Mother S6, episode 22 - "The Perfect Cocktail"
Mad Love S1, episode 11 - "The Secret Life of Larry"
Mike & Molly S1, episode 22 - "Cigar Talk"

MAY 3RD
Nothing.

MAY 4TH
Modern Family S2, episode 21 - "Mother's Day"

MAY 5TH
Breaking In S1, episode 5 - "Take the Movie and Run"
Community S2, episode 23 - "A Fistful of Paintballs"
The Office S7, episode 23 - "The Inner Circle"

MAY 6TH
Nothing

MAY 7TH
It's Garry Shandling's Show S1, episode 3 - "Garry Throws a Surprise Party"
It's Garry Shandling's Show S1, episode 4 - "Foul Ball"

MAY 8TH
Modern Family S1, episode 12 - "Not in My House"
Modern Family S1, episode 13 - "Fifteen Percent"
Modern Family S1, episode 14 - "Moon Landing"
Modern Family S1, episode 15 - "My Funky Valentine"
Modern Family S1, episode 16 - "Fears"
Modern Family S1, episode 17 - "Truth Be Told"
Modern Family S1, episode 18 - "Starry Night"
Modern Family S1, episode 19 - "Game Changer"
Modern Family S1, episode 20 - "Benched"
Modern Family S1, episode 21 - "Travels with Scout"

MAY 9TH
Nothing.

MAY 10TH
How I Met Your Mother S6, episode 23 - "Landmarks"
Mad Love S1, episode 12 - "Friends"
Mike & Molly S1, episode 23 - "Victoria's Birthday"

Last edited by PopcornBandit; 05-10-11 at 01:53 PM.
Old 05-01-11, 03:06 PM
  #49  
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
 
LickTheABCs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Viva BuyMoria!
Posts: 3,464
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Re: May 2011 Make-Your-Own Challenge ***Lists Go Here***

I'll figure something out.
Old 05-01-11, 06:36 PM
  #50  
Cool New Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Carbondale, PA
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Re: May 2011 Make-Your-Own Challenge ***Lists Go Here***

My John Wayne Collection Challenge!


Goal: 50 films starring the Duke!

All films are from my own collection.

Blu Ray viewings are in BLUE and VHS in RED

5/2
1. True Grit (1969-Hathaway) **** Decided to start with one I've seen several times rather than a 1st time viewing...been waiting to watch it on Blu Ray since I got it.

5/3
2. Ride Him, Cowboy (1932-Allen) 1st **1/2 Now on to the first time viewings...first up are the 6 B-Westerns Wayne made at Warner Brothers early in his career. This one is good for what it is. Even if Wayne plays second fiddle to a horse!

3. The Big Stampede (1932-Wright) 1st **

5/4
4. Haunted Gold (1932-Wright) 1st **1/2

5/6
5. The Telegraph Trail (1933-Wright) 1st ***

6. Somewhere in Sonora (1933-Wright) 1st **1/2

7. The Man from Monterey (1933-Wright) 1st **1/2

5/9
8. The Big Trail (1930-Walsh) 1st ****

9. Stagecoach (1939-Ford) *****

5/10
10. Texas Cyclone (1932-Lederman) 1st **

11. Two Fisted Law (1932-Lederman) 1st **1/2

5/11
12. His Private Secretary (1933-Whitman) 1st ***

13. Riders of Destiny (1933-Bradbury) 1st **

5/12
14. Sagebrush Trail (1933-Schaefer) 1st ***

15. The Lucky Texan (1934-Bradbury) 1st **1/2

5/13
16. West of the Divide (1934-Bradbury) 1st **1/2

17. Blue Steel (1934-Bradbury) 1st **1/2

18. The Man From Utah (1934-Bradbury) 1st **

5/15
19. Randy Rides Alone (1934-Fraser) 1st ***

5/18 - Need a break from the Lone Star westerns!
20. The Searchers (1956-Ford) *****

21. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962-Ford) *****

5/19
22. Rio Bravo (1959-Hawks) *****

23, El Dorado (1966-Hawks) ****

Last edited by JHCA13; 05-19-11 at 10:37 PM.

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.