Trevor

As one who once (and once only) averaged 9 films a day, I think those numbers are very possible to maintain for an entire month. But to do so, I think the following are necessary:

• You must either not have a job, or have one that allows you to watch films all day.
  
• You must swear off pretty much everything else in life and just watch TV all month.

Lots of people have the first requirement, and most of us could do the second if we really wanted. Sure, you might lose your sanity, spouse, and friends, but you could do it.

As for the multi-tasking, my rule is that no other sounds can interrupt my viewing. So no conversations, music, phone calls, or the like can be happening to "count" a film (I rewind/pause a film if I miss a word); but occasional light distractions like glancing at my email or updating my list are okay, as long as I maintain primary concentration on the film).

dcrw6

Oh, it's not rude at all to me. Unfortunately, that's just how the world works right now. And yeah, the second 2001 Maniacs was just horrid.




I watched Boogiepop quite some time ago now, but I really enjoyed it when I did. I probably could follow only about half of what was going on, but I loved the tone and atmosphere of it. I did once find a site that had basically Cliff Notes to read along as you watched it that would clear everything up, but I think I lost the bookmark before I could go back and do it.

Trevor

Don't forget Vampire Circus! Today's subset film was excellent.

shadokitty

Being retired I can see how some people have plenty of time to do nothing but watch movies. Unfortunately other obligations keep me from being one of them, so I am still lucky if I can get between 3-4 in during the day.

SethDLH

Have a couple hours of errands to run but then it is on to a Hammer marathon!

The Man with the Golden Doujinshi

7 days in and so it begins

I mean really, is anyone that does something like just play a movie in the background even going to admit it? Hopefully it doesn't get crazy and get the thread shut down again, although I will admit the drama made for an interesting read.

SterlingBen

I didn't think the UR version had been released in the US. I could be wrong though.

shadokitty

I wasn't trying to raise drama, I was merely stating that in my opinion, I could see how people could get those kinds of numbers legitimately.

The Man with the Golden Doujinshi

I meant more of the whole "How could anyone watch this many movie a day?" type topic that comes up every year, which in one case got the challenge shut down for a few days because it got so bad.

SethDLH

When Paramount released it on DVD a few years back it stated that it was the R cut but it had at least some of the uncut version in it. I'm pretty certain it was a hybrid of the 2 cuts while not being the full uncut version, it was partially uncut. If that makes sense.

brainee

Definitely. I while I didn't understand it, I did like it. I think some things are made to evoke moods or emotions rather than tell a coherent story - "Eraserhead" is a live-action example. I was able to follow along with what was happening to new characters (that would typically be introduced for every episode). The characters were mostly confused by weirdness going on around them - if anything, I was a bit ahead of them in that regard.

And the way it ended really drove home the point that the show was about journeys.

clckworang

I remember that. It completely derailed the discussion thread. Last year was pretty peaceful, though.

Dick Laurent

I think it's just our competitive streak that brings out the curiosity of how people can watch so much, being that we're always looking to better our own strategy.

I myself mirror what Trevor stated as rules, but at work if I'm just updated Excel spreadsheets and can watch my phone at the same time, I'll do that. But it took me 5+ hours to watch Sometimes They Come Back the other day, as I pause and rewind when needed. Great movie, btw. I hadn't seen it before.

I’ve also only been at this for the last 4 years, so I missed all the drama that shut things down before. Sounds like it was an interesting time. There’s been drama since then, but nothing too bad. My only drama is I can’t seem to find the time to actually update my list properly.

asianxcore

Then I apologize to everyone for bringing it up. I'm not questioning numbers, it more of my own personal jealously that made the question come up. I wish I had more time to watch the stuff I buy

Between having a girlfriend, classes, work and being a community organizer for the competitive video game community here in Northern California, I'm still surprised I've managed to watch as many as I have even at this point.

Back on topic....

Finished watching The Haunting In Connecticut. A little longer than it should have been, put it was pretty good for your usual Haunted House flicks. The production was ridiculously high and I enjoyed a lot of the visuals in the film. After watching this, it definitely confirmed that I am a complete wuss when it comes to Ghost films.

Maybe I'm mistaken? I know Julie Walker had mentioned the differences on here on a post I read.

Nevermind: NSFW

http://movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=4458

brainee

Did there used to be a special prize for the person that "won" the challenge with the most movies watched? If not, I never understood why anyone would care (must less get worked up over it). As has been mentioned here, it's not like getting a crazy high total paints a flattering picture of the viewer. Instead, most people see those lists and imagine the person as some kind of unemployed shut-in with no life. No insult intended to all the unemployed shut-ins with no lives here of course!

cwileyy

Just watched From Beyond, and it's definitely my favorite of the challenge so far!

I can't believe it's taken me so long to see this one, but it was definitely worth it!

asianxcore

Anyone thinking of seeing Human Centipede 2 for this years' challenge?

Thanks to Rypro's information on some theater changes, I found a theater in San Francisco that is screening it tonight. I'm still up in the air about going out tonight to see it at Midnight.

Whiskey Warfield

I'm at 25 films in on Day Seven. I am a self-employed shut-in with no life. It's not as hard as you think if you have zero else going on.

The Man with the Golden Doujinshi

Yeah, that's how it worked. Chad just sat back, sipping his wine and laughing, as he turned us against each other. He met his goal for that year

Numbers fighting has only really been a problem with this challenge, or at least I've never seen it in any of the others. I think I skipped out on the challenge the next year and then only participated a little the year after that.

Shack

Yeah, the year in question it was really out of control and it became about "winning" by having the highest total. I think there's been a great effort in the years since to point out that it's a challenge, not a contest or a race, and that everyone who reaches 100* wins.

[*Or whatever your own personal goal is, if you choose to pitch it lower.]

clckworang

My first challenge was 2008, so I'm not sure what it was like before that. But when I remember things getting out of hand, it was because someone clearly was not being honest. I think someone even added up all of that guy's time for one day and it was more than 24 hours. And it was like that for multiple days.

I recall a lot of us just being mystified at *why* someone would even care enough about this to lie about it. I mean, it's only been in the last couple of years where we have even had sponsors. Before that, it was just donated prizes from challenge participants. But anyway, that's why we now emphasize that this is the October Horror Movie Challenge; it's not a contest.

SterlingBen

List of G-Rated Horror Movies?

clckworang

Use the advanced search function at IMDB for a complete list. I know Trevor posted a link to that somewhere in this monster thread.

JHCA13

I can relate! I am lucky enough to get back to back days off from work so had planned on utilizing them to pull off all nighters. It worked out for the most part on the 1st...but last night I had tapped out after 3 movies. I was going to try for it again tonight but I'm having second thoughts!

It's all about time management! I don't find it too hard to squeeze 3 or 4 films on a day I have work as long as they aren't too long and I watch one at midnight to start off and then give up my social life on at least one of my days off during the week to watch somewhere around 10! However I have to be careful not to put off watching longer films for the sake of numbers. I made that mistake with the drive in challenge...I watched well over 100 but towards the end I found myself forcing movies just to finish the checklist (I didnt finish it btw). I lost sight of the real point of these challenges.

I couldn't agree more with this...I think another important thing is our love for the genre and the genre itself. I've tried several challenges and with the exception of the Drive In Challenge I have had trouble breaking out of the twenties. But with these genre films I have no trouble watching one after another as long as I have the time! For me even a bad horror movie is usually still enjoyable on some level. And while I love epic westerns, for example, I find it draining to watch more than one in a day. On the other hand I could watch four Friday the 13th films (which I also love) with little problem. These movies carry less baggage and are more like roller coaster rides than long hikes, both very enjoyable but just try taking 4 long hikes in one day!!...if that analogy makes any sense in this context!

...on a final note I'm typing all this while watching The Mummy (1959)...I've had to pause 3 times! If nothing else this discussion has made me hyper sensitive of falling into the habit of background watching!!

Chad

Yeah, that was before we had "official" sponsors and I was asking anyone that could to donate something. That was probably bad idea #2 as a couple of people never followed through with that. Not to mention my contribution of donating a $25 Amazon GC was probably not the brightest idea looking back in retrospect.