Re: 7th Annual Criterion Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

There's a thread about it, and possible fixes, in feedback.

One about you there too!

I agree on spines.

Re: 7th Annual Criterion Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

Went through all the Bulldog Drummond films in - corrected - order, and thoroughly enjoyed them again.

The first few, with rotating casts (and occasionally recurring Algy) are interesting, but the 'proper' sequence with John Howard, Heather Angel & EE Clive are excellent. Short, and therefore feeling as much like a 60m TV series as a film sequence, they don't deviate much from a set formula, but the performances keep them from being boring.

EE Clive is particularly good (with catchphrase 'I rather thought so, Sir') as Tenny the manservant/Jeeves, and the Inspector's catchphrase predates/eches Perry White's chastising of Jimmy Olsen.

As soon as they remember they're a series, and begin to remember that Hugh and Phyllis have been trying to get married REPEATEDLY, the potential staleness and repetition falls away into delightful near-farce and adventure.

I'm particularly glad that the final Howard film does serve as a fitting finale. I wonder if contracts were up, or if it was just a good stopping point..?

Re: 7th Annual Criterion Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

Was too busy trying to finish up North America last night to get any viewings in, but I do still plan to get some Criterion Horror in tonight for crossover double credit time. Don't know how many I'll get in, but will get in at least one. My main regret is never getting around to watching The Black Stallion, that I bought specifically for this Challenge.

Re: 7th Annual Criterion Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

David showed me how to get my phone to display the full site. (Hint: it involves the big conspicuous button at the bottom that says "Full Site".) And yeah, I knew about the thread about me; that was a favor done for me that got me back into the forum!

I'm not at all able to complete the checklist, but I'm in striking distance of quite a lot of it, so Imma hole up with Hulu until I crash tonight!

Re: 7th Annual Criterion Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

Finished Y Tu Mama Tambien, and now spinning The Naked Kiss. Been jagging for some noir.

Yeah, it probably doesn't have that much actual value, but I should get a viewing copy from StudioCanal or something.

:up:

:up:

Re: 7th Annual Criterion Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

Haven't been paying attention to new list entries, so wouldn't know. But given your last statement, not doing the Horror Challenge?

Re: 7th Annual Criterion Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

No, though I do intend to try to get around to seeing more from the Universal Horror canon next month.

As for this challenge, I only need something from the 90's to complete the decades, and I just don't think I've got it in me. Given that I didn't even start until seven days ago, I feel alright with my showing this year. Earlier, I streamed what I suppose is probably my last of the challenge:

LE HAVRE
This is one of those movies that's predictable and pat all the way through, but is so earnest that saying so feels unkind. I found myself thinking of a point made in SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS, about how vulgar it is for the affluent to play at poverty. I feel similarly about the subject here of refugees trying to reach a safer place and going through untold horrors along the way. LE HAVRE is built on the story of a young boy making that journey, but it has all the heft of an AMELIE knockoff. It just feels wrong, no matter how genuinely likable its characters.

If anything, that's another of its shortcomings. There are no actual villains here, aside from nameless pursuers. Everyone is altruistic, right down to Little Bob, who somehow throws together a charity concert overnight complete with promotional posters, a venue, gear, etc., and with a band that seemingly hasn't played together in awhile. It's so ludicrous to believe such a thing even could be pulled off so easily, much less that it would be, that it took me entirely out of the movie. Hell, even WAYNE'S WORLD 2 got that right.

Oh, I also streamed the trailer for TUNES OF GLORY. I retract my earlier allowance that comparisons with THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI may be unfair; the ad campaign opened by name-checking that earlier film. The 23 minute interview with Ronald Naeme was interesting, though, particularly his remarks about cinematography.

Re: 7th Annual Criterion Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

For the Horror Challenge Crossover period, I just watched Godzilla, King of the Monsters. While not quite as good as Gojira, in some ways, I think it is more enjoyable, and definitely one of the better 50s atomic monster movies.

Re: 7th Annual Criterion Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

Managed to fit one last watch in tonight-The Princess Bride. One of my favorite films, it's always an entertaining watch! It also fits in with me watching the Wallace Shawn films, though I did miss out on A Master Builder.

I still have hopes I can get hold of it, but at this point it won't be until next month. I'll watch it, but it'll be a little late for this challenge! Oh well. :)

Re: 7th Annual Criterion Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

I didn't get to VANYA or BUILDER either, though I had hoped to.

I did finish up yesterday with a great eclectic mix, though: Bulldog Drummond's Bride (Hulu only), My Dinner With Andre (CC-proper), Carnival of Souls (CC/Horror) and........ C.H.U.D. (Spoof-spine 527-or-so). :)

As mentioned, the final Bulldog was a great one - comedy, action, explosions, catchphrases, and a decent ending - while Andre was MILES better than I'd feared: engaging, surreal, satirical and utterly engrossing. Carnival was suitably creepy and unsettling, while C.H.U.D (which I've been meaning to sneak in for a couple of years, by back door il-logic) turned up on Hulu when I was looking for other Criterion crossover titles.

Hulu is very irritating. If you search for CC titles, it gives you a couple of themed selections. If you search for Horror, ditto. They seems to be NO WAY to search for "ALL Criterion" and then order by genre or date or title... You have to know precisely what you're looking for. Which is very annoying. And the Horror basic search turns up a lot of rubbish crowding out what I was trying to find. So... C.H.U.D. Which was tolerable - ridiculous, of course - and had some interesting moments. I wasn't sure the creatures' design or villain's motives really held together, but it was entertaining enough.

A very enjoyable month. Thanks!

Re: 7th Annual Criterion Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

I didn't make as good a showing as I would have liked, due to family health problems taking the wind out of my sails. But I did get 22 viewings in. I ended last night with Godzilla, King of the Monsters. I hope to make a better showing next year, as this challenge introduces me to movies I never would have given a second glance at otherwise. Thanks Cardiff for running this Challenge.

Re: 7th Annual Criterion Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

I fell short of completing the checklist, though I came a lot closer than I honestly thought probable by the time I finally started with just a week remaining. I'm okay with that, but I'm disappointed that I wasn't active in the discussion thread this year. This is always my favorite challenge of the year, and while I do love the concentration on the kinds of storytelling that make up the lion's share of the Criterion Collection, I know without a doubt that I wouldn't have become nearly as enthusiastic if not for the conversations we've had here about those films. I missed being part of that.

As for what I did get to, I engaged in a pair of repeat viewings, which is atypical for me. One was Persona, which I'd splurged to buy on Blu-ray during Barnes & Noble's most recent 50% off sale. I love the film and I'm thrilled it's now in my library, but I confess that I was disappointed by the supplementary content (exclusive of the feature length documentary, Liv & Ingmar, which was satisfying). The other repeat viewing was Sullivan's Travels, this time with its audio commentary. It too was somewhat disappointing.

Of my first time viewings, I didn't fall in love with anything this year but I only felt negatively toward one film, Vivre sa vie, which I found to be an exhibition in self-exhibition on the part of Godard. At least there was Anna Karina to hold the screen the whole time, and even if I was annoyed by the gimmickry and pretentious monologues, it was sometimes mesmerizing just to watch her reactions and mannerisms.

I watched a higher concentration of English-language, even mainstream, films this time than usual, including The Blob and Hopscotch. The former was a lot stronger than I anticipated, having the misconception all these years that it was merely a goofy monster movie. Its characters' relationships with one another are recognizable and interesting, and it's nice to be reminded how horror films were made before they were all self-aware.

It was ultimately Hopscotch, though, that I enjoyed the most. I've never really actively sought out films with Walter Matthau (except when I made it a point to see all the movies he made with Jack Lemmon, which I still haven't completed), but I've had fun watching him in everything I've seen so far, and this was as entertaining as any of the others. Maybe more, since it's also a spy movie and I dig that genre.

When I finally get caught up writing my Letterboxd diary entries and the rest of my elaborate record keeping processes, I think one or even both of those are going to make it onto my Criterion for Noobs list. I'll have to think it over a bit more, but they're both easily accessible for viewers not quite ready to wade into Bergman and Ozu - and they're both fun. Sometimes that's a hard trait to find in all the esoteric, contemplative, raw, and provocative stories that tend to turn up in the Collection!

I tip my hat to you, CardiffGiant, for running the show again, particularly after being so uncertain about it at the outset. I'm glad everyone who spoke up helped to reassure you that the expectations you feared you weren't up to meeting weren't the ones any of us demanded of you in the first place, and I hope you had an enjoyable experience as a participant as well as as host.

One parting question for checklist purposes: Regarding the aforementioned documentary, Liv & Ingmar - it's streaming on Hulu as its own title, but doesn't have a standalone DVD or Blu-ray Disc release. Instead, it's included as a supplement with Persona. How do we feel about counting that (or similar fare) as something Not Released on DVD? Technically, yes, you can watch it on an optical disc manufactured and distributed by Criterion, but it isn't assigned a spine number or considered part of the official DVD canon.

Re: 7th Annual Criterion Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

You know, it's not like this thread will be closed or is even remotely 'cold'. Converse away!

Re: 7th Annual Criterion Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

Just wanted to also suggest The Black Stallion for the list. I think it would fit in well. Not really a deep film the way most of Criterion is, it still has beautiful visuals and good, solid story.

Thanks to CardiffGiant for hosting!

Re: 7th Annual Criterion Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

Amen on both of those!

Re: 7th Annual Criterion Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

After Game Two ended last night, I streamed F for Fake. Seeing as it's in The Criterion Collection, I thought I'd drop my Letterboxd diary entry here in case anyone else has seen it and would like to kick it around.