I was confused because at first I thought you were talking about this:

I started off with The Scarlet Empress, which is supposedly a biopic of Catherine the Great, but it is more of a love story between the camera and Marlene Dietrich's cheekbones. Terrific, albeit wholly demented, pre-Code film, which to me, with the title cards and over-the-top acting, seemed more like a silent film with dialogue than a talkie.

Mamet's Homicide first. Bought the DVD a year or two ago, but haven't actually seen it since the days of VHS. Fucking incredible dialogue.

"You mad at me?"
"Yeah, I'm mad at you. I'm not gonna invite you to my birthday party."

That looks awful and the quote at the bottom makes it seem even worse.

It was pretty lame. I think I watched it last year for the sci-fi challenge.

Love the OCD! I've been known to splice together e-mail conversations when they start diverging into separate threads so I can totally relate.

For anyone in the NYC area, MOMA is screening quite a few films this month that have been released in the collection if you're interested in a chance to see them on the big screen.

Just in the next week, for example:

L'Avventura
The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
Rome, Open City
Rashomon
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Do the Right Thing
Notorious
Kinfe in the Water

I started off the challenge at midnight with "Miss Julie," a 1950s Swedish film not directed by Ingmar Bergman. I can't say that I was completely won over by the film (I just didn't find a lot of the story particularly engaging), but it was quite a beautiful looking film. Much of the film consists of flashbacks, and I loved how the filmmakers handled them - instead of a traditional dissolve or whatever, the camera would often just pan over from where the "present-day" characters are standing or sitting to versions of their younger selves, in the same setting, re-enacting previous events. Many films with a story that relies on multiple flashbacks often seem a bit contrived, with the parts in the "present" taking a backseat and seeming less relevant than the story in the flashbacks. This film avoided that trap, and felt more organic and "of a whole" as a result.

I also watched "Lawrence of Arabia" (one of their laserdisc releases) this morning, and don't have much to say about it that hasn't already been said. It's all sorts of epic, and Lawrence is a fascinating character that I want to learn more about. It does seem just a tad long, but I was very rarely ever less than enthralled by the film.

In the Mood for Love was amazing, great thematic devices and breathless romantic tension. Best film I've seen in a long time.

I love that film. Be prepared to have that song bounce around your head for the next couple of days.

I started with Wes Anderson's first film, Bottle Rocket (1996) which is much more organic and less overtly ponderous than his other films. Though I love his films, I had not seen this one before and was astonished by the way that he builds his world without the quirky cinematography and hooks of his other films. Despite the lack of labels and pointed closeups, the attention to setting detail is wonderful. My favorites included the Love's gas station sign looming over the "Motel" the guys are hiding out in and Future Man's frat-boy SUV. Also, the costumes are phenomenal - brilliant pairings of textures and colors which are slowly replaced with more sophisticated dress and then stripped back to yellow jumpsuits.

I also read the articles by James L. Brooks and Martin Scorsese on Criterion's website. Brook's article examines the process of producing and marketing the film which was enlightening. It made me appreciate the fact that the film was even made!

Starting off with Straw Dogs

Started off with my Criterion copy of Robocop. I bought used copies of that and Life of Brian for only $3 each back in August to start my Criterion Collection. $3 for a Criterion collection movie is not a bad deal.

Time for a sticky on the list thread.

Straw Dogs is on my list too; let us know what you think.

Edit: Curses to the remake (which I haven't seen).

I know people always say, "anyone can request a sticky by contacting a Mod"...how the hell do I do that? I've looked all over DVDTalk trying to figure it out.

I now await everyone's "n00b!!!!!1!" comments.

I watched Make Way for Tomorrow yesterday via the Masters of Cinema Blu. I was pretty indifferent towards the whole thing at the start because nothing was really pulling me into the film, I didn't like the way Beulah Bondi (as the grandma) was delivering her lines, and I never liked the over-the-top acting that's characteristic of the time. This did allow my mind to wonder though, made me remember things about my grandma, and made me hope I won't be so selfish and fussy when my parents get to that age.

My whole feeling of the film changed in the last act though when and I ended up liking it very much. Loved the ending and am glad McCarey stuck to it as he was pressured to change it.

The mods for each sub forum are listed at the bottom right of that main page, so in this case they're nemein and Scott_Lecter. PM either of them with the list thread and the request.

Easiest way is to hit the little red icon in the bottom left of every post. Ignore the wording and deliver a message to that subforum's mod(s) that way, we've been told that method is fine.

Another way is to look at the bottom right of the main page of every subforum, where the mods for that subforum are listed. You can then click on their name and email or PM them.

Thanks to both of you. I knew that they were at the bottom of a page, but I forgot that I had to back out to the main forum areas. Also, I went to report my own post, saw that message, and figured that wasn't the right way to go about it.

Perhaps it's time for a change to that button...

Anyway, I sent out a PM, so we should be stickified soon enough.

Yeah, that messaging scared me off when I was asking to merge threads. Nice to know that it's not as threatening as it sounds.

That almost exactly describes my reaction to the film except I didn't really like the ending either. Disappointing because the film is highly regarded and I generally like films of that era. It just didn't click for me.

I just finished streaming Dazed and Confused from Netflix, a first time viewing. I meant to watch it last year but couldn't get hold of it. I liked it alright, but it never really seemed to build to any kind of payoff for most of the plot threads. It just kind of ran out the clock instead.

I also never had a sense of who half the characters even were. There was a moment near the end where a boy and a girl slipped off into the woods and started kissing, and then the girl asked about his girlfriend. He was almost as surprised as I was, because I had no idea who the hell she was talking about or that it was even an issue.

Still, it's one more off my To See list and and an alright way to inaugurate this year's challenge. For anyone who might be a fan of this one, the Criterion Blu-ray comes out 25 October.

Question: Can we use one movie for more than one Theme on the checklist? 'Cause Dazed and Confused shows up under "America, America" and "Great Soundtracks."

so i experienced my first chaplin movie...and was worried when i picked it up as im not too big into comedies, but heard good things and wow really enjoyed it. would anyone reccomend modern times? and due to my lack of knowledge any other comedies in the same vein? or even stuff like groucho marx?

i knocked out 4 so far im dedicate the first two weeks knocking out my CC (about 10 more to go) then im gonna go back through them and go thru commentaries and other sf.

also i thought netflix lost CC but was pleasantly surprised to find alot still streaming.

Any ideas for interesting categories not on the standard form? I've got one:
---Watch two different versions/cuts of the same film. German and French versions of the Testament of Dr. Mabuse, director's cut of Brazil and Love Conquerors All version, theatrical and miniseries of Fanny and Alexander, etc.

Also, if you can, post a picture of your collection along with your challenge list.