Let's admit it: We all have a List of Shame, but some are just more forthcoming about revealing it than others.

I'd also add that Takeshi Shimura has a prominent role as a guilt-wracked scientist. Shimura starred in several classic Japanese films in the Collection, including Seven Samurai and Ikiru. The original uncut Gojira isn't just a monster movie, but a revelation of the post-Hiroshima Japanese national psyche.

Good ideas; both have been amended.
I had to think about this one for a bit and, ultimately, I think there is an abundance of trailers on the discs and you're right, there's little time commitment here. The checklist has been amended.

Thanks.

I have made a number of changes to Post #1, including the checklist. I went crazy with linkifying, so that should make searching easier for everyone. I also made significant changes to language, but not spirit of the "rules." Hopefully, it'll help us avoid confusion in the future.

Re: MILLENNIUM ACTRESS-- one of the actresses who was a partial inspiration for this film, Setsuko Hara, stars in several Japanese films by Ozu that are Criterion releases, e.g. TOKYO STORY, LATE SPRING, END OF SUMMER, etc., as well as at least one Kurosawa film, NO REGRETS FOR OUR YOUTH, all of which I'd highly recommend. Two notable contemporaries of Ms. Hara, Machiko Kyo and Hideko Takamine, are well represented in the Criterion Collection also.

When I interviewed Satoshi Kon, director of MILLENNIUM ACTRESS (and TOKYO GODFATHERS), about ten years ago, I asked him who the inspiration was for Chiyoko and here's what he said:

Thanks for the heads up! I've seen many of the Ozu films in which she's starred. It also looks like she is in Kurosawa's The Idiot. It seems she's one of those actresses I love without realizing it.

While putting together my list, I remembered that Persona, my favorite Ingmar Bergman film, is not part of the Criterion Collection. Of course, I knew this, but I associate Bergman's films with Criterion. Sometimes I wish Criterion was a big bully and would beat up other distributors to take their films.

Edit: Ash, forgot to ask if you have a link to your interview. As I've stated elsewhere, Millennium Actress is one of my favorite animated films, and I would love to read more about it!

I saw that it was based, loosely, on a real actress but didn't know who it was. I'll have to get one or two just for that reason, to watch.

Very cool! It sounds like you've been able to interview quite of a few people. I feel like I'm a bit late to this anime/Japanese animation scene, and it's always nice to get some background!

List Thread is up. I still need to tinker with the language a bit, but I wanted everyone to have a chance to get their lists in order before the challenge officially begins.

It was for a magazine and it was around the time TOKYO GODFATHERS came out, but years later, after Mr. Kon died, I found the original transcript and posted it on my J-pop blog:

http://madara-blog.livejournal.com/58530.html

I made a little trip to the library today. I think I'm ready to start the Criterion Challenge!

How long can you keep those out! Mine only allows a week unless it's a TV show, and then it's only two weeks!

Agreed!

I put in some request of my own to the library. I have 6 coming in, but one has a short wait. I try to stick with 5 at a time; for me that is a good number and not as overwhelming.

Impressive pile to say the least. If you wanted recommendations for priorities, I'd suggest the Fuller and Kurosawa sets, two of my favorite filmmakers, and films that are unlike anything else in that pile. The Kurosawa set has both a war propaganda film he made during WWII, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL, which is pretty astounding in its own right, coming from Kurosawa, but also a 180-degree turn in the opposite direction after the war with NO REGRETS FOR OUR YOUTH, which is critical of the war and stars Setsuko Hara in an incredible performance. These two are, possibly, Kurosawa's only films with female protagonists.

Fuller's THE STEEL HELMET is a masterpiece, unlike any other Hollywood war film of the 1950s. Fuller was a veteran of WWII, an infantryman who survived Omaha Beach (see SAVING PRIVATE RYAN), yet the Pentagon wouldn't give its support to this film. It was too bleak, too honest.

Two weeks minimum, with opportunities to renew three times. The sad thing is many of them were just sitting there on the shelves. I have more on hold. Trying to focus on ones I haven't seen before and unopened titles that I bought.

Thanks for the suggestion!

We can renew ours if there is no holds on them. Depending on how new the release is, this can be a problem, but I don't foresee any with these Criterion's really, but it can happen occasionally. But nice that you can keep yours two weeks!

Some of my Criterion box sets (below SHINOBI and KILLING MACHINE):



I've only completed two of them and parts of two others, so I have a lot to get through, plus another couple of shelves worth not pictured.

That Postwar Kurosawa has I Live in Fear in it which involves the story of a man who wants to move to South America to avoid atomic destruction. Since you were involved in the Gojira conversation, I thought I should mention it. It's really an underrated Kurosawa film and it deals well with postwar sentiment and, of course, fear.

I know everyone holds Kurosawa in a high regard, deservedly so. For some reason, I am more drawn to Ozu. Last year was the first time I watched anything by him. During the Challenge, I watched Floating Weeds. Besides the awesome transfer, I was immediately drawn to his director style.

Oh, by the way, I picked up a few more today. Think I'm good for now.

I've only seen Ozu's Tokyo Story and, while I liked it OK, it didn't draw me in for more exploration. I'm going to have to look into Floating Weeds...I've heard good things.

I'm like Kurosawa because of Seven Samurai, Rashomon, Ikiru, I Live in Fear, but I didn't care much for Sanjuro, Yojimbo, Kagemusha.

That's a nice haul from the library. I think Revanche is one of the most underrated Criterion titles. I have heard zero about it, before and after seeing it, and it's one of my favorite titles. I went in with no expectations, which is a rarity within the collection.

I recently saw FLOATING WEEDS for the first time--on the big screen at an Ozu retrospective at the Film Forum in Manhattan. Great movie. But then I think most Ozu movies I've seen are great, especially the ones made from 1949 on. I've seen far more Kurosawa films and there's a greater range among them in terms of films that strike me as great (SEVEN SAMURAI, YOJIMBO, IKIRU) and films that are flawed but highly interesting (HIDDEN FORTRESS, RAN, some of his 1940s movies). I think the two men are Japan's two greatest filmmakers and among the top five filmmakers in the world--ever. Everything they've done is worth seeing.

My big challenge for this Challenge is to finally watch some Bresson movies, a filmmaker I've never seen a complete work by. I picked up three of his movies at the last Barnes & Noble Criterion 50% off sale, so I'm ready to start.

My library limits DVD check-outs to just 3 days!

As far as Kurosawa and Ozu, last year was my introduction to both. The Hidden Fortress for the former; The Only Son and There Was a Father for the latter. My favorite of the three was The Only Son, by far. Still, it's much too small a sample size for me to commit to either over the other.

Ozu and Kurosawa were amazing directors, but Kenji Mizoguchi was every bit their equal. His films, like Oharu Monogatari and Chikamatsu Monogatari, are brilliant critiques of Japanese cultural mores, especially regarding the status of women. The Mizoguchi Eclipse box has a great selection of his later work; his last film, Street of Shame, is probably the best film in the set.

All this talk of Ozu, Kurosawa, and Mizoguchi have me chomping at the bit. I hope to get to all three in the following month. While I'm enjoying all the cartoons, I really want to delve into some serious cinema. I'm all ready for the challenge, and dusk on the 31st cannot get here soon enough!

My parents got me the BD release of In the Mood for Love, and that is where I intend to start. I have my viewing list mapped out, but I almost always deviate and end up sidetracking myself. Hope to get some films out of my unwatched pile and list of shame. Like other people's lists of shame, mine is quite extensive.

I'm starting by unwrapping my new Blu-ray copy of 12 Angry Men. Funny huh? I have that large stack of unseen gems but I'm starting with my favorite Lumet film.

Now I'm jealous! I don't have that BD (yet). Hmm... now I'm tempted to add my old "Vintage Classics" DVD to my ever-growing pile. Such a great film!

I got Criterion's newsletter today and was pleasantly surprised to see that Kazu Kibuishi had contributed a Top 10 list. I'm a huge fan of his work and have followed his website for many years after discovering his online comic, Copper. I was also pleasantly surprised to find that it is doable to watch his list. I own a lot of his selections, and my local library has the rest. I may join Trevor and try to finish a Top 10 list! (Did I mention how excited I am about the challenge?)

Moving into a new apartment and a new city over the next few days, but I'm still going to participate as time warrants. I have quite a number of unwatched Criterions and without setting any goals, I'll hope to get through a handful of quality films.