Re: 4th Annual Criterion Challenge
 

Re: 4th Annual Criterion Challenge
 

BTW, I just learned that there's now an ICheckMovies.com signature for Criterion Eclipse that you can add to your list: http://www.icheckmovies.com/signatur...se+collection/

Edit to add
Criterion also has a Tumblr now, which could be great for those who like to use photos in their list posts!

Re: 4th Annual Criterion Challenge
 

Thanks for the reminder on signatures. I suck at watching Eclipse. Only have 11 checked.

Re: 4th Annual Criterion Challenge
 

I would be curious to hear about people's favorite Criterion. It's unfortunately out of print now but Bunuel's The Milky Way is an excellent release for a film that is funny and thought provoking. I highly recommend tracking down a copy if you can do so and hope it one day gets a blu-ray release from someone. Bunuel's work is hit or miss for me. I really like a lot of his surreal material like Simon of the Desert yet found Bella De Jour interesting but less engaging on recent viewing.

It's too bad the Criterion Challenge doesn't have "subset films" like the horror challenge (granted CCC is not as big) encouraging participants to all watch selected movies (maybe even just voting on 4 movies, one per week). With so many CC films on Netflix and Hulu accessibility of films shouldn't be a problem. I'd love to further discuss stuff like Certified Copy with participants, that film seems inpenetrable.

I am just now reading the discussion about including non-criterion films in the checklist as "it ought to be a criterion" and think that is non-sense contrary to the purpose of the challenge.

Looking forward to digging further into my recent splurges from the July Barnes & Noble sale.

Re: 4th Annual Criterion Challenge
 

Don't you think that's a tad harsh? I suggested nominating 1 (ONE) film on the checklist just to expand the discussion a bit--not every great film has made it to the Criterion Collection.

It was just a suggestion--I won't be making any more.

Re: 4th Annual Criterion Challenge
 

I'll give this one a try. I previously did the first TV on DVD challenge and Academy Awards challenge and had a great time. Perfect opportunity to watch some of those "essential" films.

Re: 4th Annual Criterion Challenge
 

I apologize if I came across too harshly, please do make future suggestions. I have seen and appreciated your comments in the past, Gobear. Just because it's not my taste doesn't mean the majority won't like it (and they seem to). I didn't mean to sink the thread with harshness. Keep at it. The idea of expanding horizons to include new things is a big part of the challenges and checklists so I appreciate that aspect of it.

Re: 4th Annual Criterion Challenge
 

This is a constant 'problem' for me as well. I usually end up going with something new, and as a result, have films in my all-time-favorite list that I've only seen once.
Belated thanks for the awesome post ororama. I ended up having no time for films this past week or two, but did watch a few of those shorts this morning to get my double credit in.
Thanks! Maybe this is the year I add pics to my list post.....
I like this idea. One per week, with a vote done in the month leading up to the Challenge sounds perfect to me..
No offense Gobear, but he shouldn't have to apologize. If I had a suggestion and every other poster slammed it, it wouldn't stop me from making more suggestions, and being grateful for a forum where people share their opinions.

Re: 4th Annual Criterion Challenge
 

Nobody needs to apologize. I made a stupid suggestion, got deservedly flamed for it and have learned my lesson.

Re: 4th Annual Criterion Challenge
 

Both those comments pretty much summed up my feelings towards the Criterion Challenge in prior years. I truly don't like the majority of foreign or art house type films as they're just not my style, and only own a handful of Criterion releases. Then I came to the realization that:

1. You don't actually have to own the Criterion release. The film just has to have actually been released by Criterion at some point.
2. There is a large number of Criterion releases that are not foreign or art house type films.

#2 is a very recent enlightenment mostly caused by MinLShaw with this post in the Animation Challenge thread:

It was looking at that list and the companion DVD/BR list that I found there are many Criterion releases I love and try to watch on a regular basis. It's very possible I'll not "explore" new films/genres but it's a *very* good excuse to watch several loved classics and just chill a bit.

Re: 4th Annual Criterion Challenge
 

Well, I had that "stupid suggestion" idea myself and I gamely entertained it so you'll forgive me if I don't throw you under the bus over it.

At the end of the day, The Criterion Collection is still just a "greatest" list. By design, it invites debate over inclusion/exclusion. "Lemme get this straight: RoboCop got a Criterion release, but never Doctor Zhivago?" I don't see what's so "stupid" about at least proposing an exploration of that debate.

Re: 4th Annual Criterion Challenge
 

I realized the other day that this challenge happens during Back to School time and wondered if that was intentional. :)

Re: 4th Annual Criterion Challenge
 

I've got one basic objective for myself, and that's to chip away as best I can on the Sight & Sound 2012 list. 25 of the Top 50 are Criterion titles, and Criterion.com has been running a spotlight on each of them. I can't seem to find a comprehensive, easy-to-use guide to the Criterion titles that are on the list but I'm sure it's out there somewhere.

Re: 4th Annual Criterion Challenge
 

Thanks! Just did the same.

This might mean that there might be a French overload for me on this challenge, but we'll see how it goes.

Re: 4th Annual Criterion Challenge
 

My goal is just to take some stuff off the unwatched pile. The Lady Eve and Rififi, among others.

Re: 4th Annual Criterion Challenge
 

Don't really have a set goal this challenge, just will watch some movies that I want to watch.

Re: 4th Annual Criterion Challenge
 

My goal is to watch some that sit in my unwatched pile and also stream a bunch of awful foreign ones that I won't like one minute of.

Re: 4th Annual Criterion Challenge
 

I think that this probably wouldn't work because I suspect that most people would choose a readily available favorite that really doesn't need to be released by Criterion, and won't be. There might be interesting discussion, but in the end most of it wouldn't really have much to do with Criterion. I would be tempted to advocate for something relatively obscure that I saw 25 or 30 years ago, and that hasn't had a U.S. DVD release, which would be difficult because my memories of the movies wouldn't be too sharp.

There is nothing stupid about this suggestion, though, and I enjoy your contributions to the discussion.

Re: 4th Annual Criterion Challenge
 

Planning on starting with Vivre Sa Vie... after I get up...

Edit: For the record I called no person or suggestion stupid.

Re: 4th Annual Criterion Challenge
 

This is my experience and philosophy as well (although I'd substitute Naruse, Mizoguchi, Renoir or Rossellini for Fellini).

I would hesitate to use the word cerebral, though-it might scare some people off. I think that most of the foreign and art house movies that Criterion has released are not difficult to understand and appreciate. The spirituality of Saint Francis of Assisi in The Flowers of Saint Francis, the emotional impact of the consequences of war in The Cranes Are Flying, and the sense of excitement that came with the realization that Closely Watched Trains was much more than the sex comedy that it appeared to be at first (although that would have been enough in itself) are not difficult for just about anyone to appreciate. These are three Criterion releases that have joined my list of favorites in the last few years.

As I think about it more, the suggestion about discussion about movies that should be in the Criterion Collection could be a good idea. There is an acknowledged phenomena of Criterion snobs who believe that release of a movie by Criterion validates it, and some of them are as much in need of expansion of their horizons as the people who are too lazy to read subtitles. Something to encourage broader viewing, in the spirit of but beyond the challenge, could be worthwhile.

Re: 4th Annual Criterion Challenge
 

If it is easy to locate, I might start the challenge with Life of Brian.

Re: 4th Annual Criterion Challenge
 

It's not on Hulu or Netflix, but you can watch it on Youtube (in 8 segments and with Spanish subtitles). The Rock and Armageddon are also available on YouTube.

Re: 4th Annual Criterion Challenge
 

Thanks, man. The tumbler slipped by me. I'll add both to the first post.

Re: 4th Annual Criterion Challenge
 

Sorry that I've been absent from my duties for the past few days. The middle of the week is always a really busy time for me where I don't get a lot of free moments.

Regarding the debate over the suggestions...please continue to make them. I couldn't help but think of the person who discouraged me from posting anything on this forum for a very long time (I don't even remember who it was). The person went right after me for having an opinion about a film, essentially questioned my credentials for analyzing film (I certainly have them, but feel no need to flaunt or volunteer them), and made me feel unwelcome in the forums. I figured if a bunch of childish people were running the show around here, then I would make my contributions scarce (or nonexistent).

Trevor probably doesn't know it, but it was his attitude around the forums that got me back into discussions because I knew that people like he, and MinLShaw were logical, calm, and well-reasoned when it came to the forums, there are certainly many others, but I've had more contact with them because of this challenge. This is a long-winded way of saying, keep the suggestions coming. I thought the suggestion was a good one, I just didn't think it had a place in the challenge. I do think it's an interesting discussion for this thread (or the HD Talk Thread for Criterion). I automatically think of Le Grand Voyage, a little known French/Moroccan film from 2004 that Film Movement put out on DVD in 2006. I would love to have a fully loaded edition and see the film get more coverage than it has. The Secret in Their Eyes is another such film that, although more known, could use more coverage (how in the world did they do that scene at the stadium?). Again, a long-winded way of saying to keep the suggestions coming.

I don't want to speak for Undeadcow, but the comment seems to have been more sarcastic/tongue-in-cheek than hostile.

I'm glad this is being communicated to more and more people. MinLShaw continues to be a great ambassador for this (and many other) challenges.

Yeah, my argument against having a "should be in the collection" check is that Criterion Collection isn't a collection of the best films but, as they state, "a continuing series of important classic and contemporary films" and to that I would add: to which they can secure the rights. I'm sure they'd love to have all kinds of great films in the collection? Do they think Torment is a more important Bergman film than Persona? Or that La Dolce Vita is an unimportant film, but not as great as The Rock? They get what they can get, so I think that if I watched La Dolce Vita and said, "it should be in the collection," the selection committee over at Criterion would nod emphatically.

Perhaps most importantly, it goes against the original goals of the challenge. To consume Criterion content and not to go for numbers, but depth over breadth.

I think when Trevor first created the challenge, it was the result of what month was open, but I like where you're going with things. As an educator, I'd choose any other month than September to lead and participate in this challenge, but I love that it's here.

That's a good idea. Good timing on that poll coming out.

Big fan of Vivre Sa Vie. I hope you like it.

Re: 4th Annual Criterion Challenge
 

I just added my first review. While I don't intended to discuss every film I view here, I thought it would be interesting to see how others feel about Certified Copy.

1. Certified Copy (2010)*: I waited for a full night's sleep before giving my thoughts on this film. After thinking about the subject, the content, and reading this essay by Godfrey Cheshire, I'm still not convinced that this film is effective. I know it's been an art house darling over the past year or two, but it didn't resonate with me. Perhaps it was unfair expectations: I've read comparisons to (In the Mood for Love, Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, L'Avventura), all of which I love. Yet, I find Certified Copy cold, emotionless even in moments it is trying to convey emotion. While the first three films I put in parenthesis emit that warmth, L'avventura is emotionless, but it is emotionless in an emotionless world. I couldn't help but think that the man and woman in Certified Copy were outsiders hoping for something much better. Before any defenders of the film cite the true article and the artifice, I get all of that from the film, but the exploration into what is a fascinating question, never drew me in. Last night, I would have given the film 2 stars, but I've reconsidered, found it's desire to reflect something complex worthy of an extra star. 3/5