Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Got a late start to this year's challenge, but I finally wet my feet with Tampopo. It's late and I'm drowsy, so I'm gonna have to come back tomorrow to organize my thoughts. For the moment, I'll simply note that it was odd in that the story wasn't at all what I had imagined, but the experience itself kinda was. It's zany, it's sweet, it's energetic, it's funny, and at times, its non sequitars become almost dizzying. It was, in a word, delightful.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I got a late start to the Challenge myself. I was browsing the Dish Guide, and came across Rosemary's Baby, on Epix Drive In. I had never seen it before, but I thought it was a very good movie. I can see why it was chosen to be part of the Criterion Collection.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Late starter as well, but popped in The Lady Vanishes yesterday. I had picked it up at the library a couple of weeks ago and held on to it for this month. If course, I've seen it before but it had been quite awhile. It so interesting to watch the early Hitchcock films and see how he progressed over the decades.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Been watching about two films a day so far, following my recent norm of racing to complete my personal checklist first, and then being able to relax and pick more for enjoyment the latter part of the month.

That said, I've loved my choices so far, including old favorites like The Wizard of Oz (in 3D!) and Carnival of Souls, and a fantastic first time viewing of The Shooting.

Queued up next is my possibly first serious viewing of Dr. Strangelove; seems like an unfortunately timely choice.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I saw it in theaters many years ago and have only a poor-quality (probably non-anamorphic) DVD. I gave my parents the new Criterion version but should probably get it myself someday. The Ramen Girl wasn't terrible but not nearly as charming.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Unlike a lot of other folks, I'm not actually into most of Hitchcock's iconic, later works (Psycho, Vertigo, The Birds, etc.), but I highly enjoyed a lot of his earlier ones, and I found The Lady Vanishes in particular was engaging from start to finish. I would not have guessed at the outset that it would wind up going where it did, and thankfully I'd managed to not know anything about it before I watched it so I was genuinely taken in and surprised along with our protagonists. It's easily one of my top 5 Hitchcock movies. (Another would be The 39 Steps, also in The Criterion Collection.)

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Aha! Someone else who has seen The Ramen Girl! I felt the romance subplot incongruous and undermined the final act, but otherwise I really dug it. It's probably my favorite Brittany Murphy performance, though I've yet to make my way through her entire filmography.

That said, it's no Tampopo. I've seen very few movies this year to date (this was just my eighth, and that count includes a short film), but even so, it's been quite some time since I reacted to a film with the kind of bemusement, fascination, and affinity that this one elicited from me.

I am, however, retroactively even more disappointed that I wasn't well enough to attend the Speed Art Museum's screening of it earlier this year.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I met Brittany Murphy several years ago, and she seemed really genuine and charming. And then she was gone. :(

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Finally watched the cult dark comedy Harold & Maude and loved it.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

And now you know how Wes Anderson was made.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Okay, this is the second time in about a week, someone's mentioned Harold & Maude that I've come across. I may have to watch it this month.

Meanwhile, I wanted to watch something but wasn't sure what I wanted to watch so I threw a challenge over to Travis to pick a title for me. He chose 1933's King Kong. I swear I have watched it before, but nothing is really familiar. I'm enjoying it and it's a fun romp.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Wow. Yeah, I think you're right. Haven't listened to him speak much, or read analysis of his work, but it wouldn't surprise me if H&M is a key inspiration.
I think most people here would like it. It's a fun film with some serious issues put out there, and some delicious acting.

And a sorta first time viewing of King Kong?! I'm jealous!

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Good to know. It's been on my radar for quite a while but just haven't felt the need to follow through and watch it. Thinking this month might be it. :)

I did start to remember parts, pretty much at the end of the movie starting at the stage. I have a feeling that I have seen the end 15-20 minutes before and thought I had watched the full movie instead. So, sorta first time viewing indeed!

While watching the movie now, in this period of extreme CGI, it still is amazing at what they managed to do with puppets and stop motion. Weeks and months to get just a few shoots. And it really doesn't look too bad!

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I might watch King Kong sometime this month myself. Lately I haven't been motivated to watch anything for the Challenge, so right now I'm sitting at one movie.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

It's an easy watch, that's for sure. But as Travis says, it's not the number of watches this month, it's all about the quality of the watch! I'm only at 3 myself, one of which was a crossover with animation, Fantastic Mr. Fox. Another easy watch. I'm a huge Roald Dahl fan (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) but only a so-so Wes Anderson fan. I can appreciate his sense of aesthetics, but not a huge fan of the actual movie. I do enjoy Fox and Moonlight Kingdom, though!

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Oh definitely! Anderson's writing style is very reminiscent of early Hal Ashby comedies (also see Being There). His directorial style/symmetrical framing also borrows from Stanley Kubrick (especially Paths of Glory and Dr. Strangelove).

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I agree about this Challenge being about quality, not quantity. Being my viewing was not only a first time view, but it had been on my radar for a long time, and I enjoyed Rosemary's Baby, I would say that so far, it has been a successful challenge. Another movie I am thinking of watching is George Bernard Shaw's Caesar And Cleopatra, which I have found on OVGuide, on Roku. That movie interests me because Ancient Egypt is one of my favorite historical periods.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I've been watching almost nothing but Hurricane Irma reports today and needed something else to do, so I decided to watch Harold and Maude.

First three impressions: 1. Huh, starts like it's in the middle of the movie rather than a beginning. This first scene really feels like a transition shot as it focuses on the door, feet and stairs. 2. Love the music! Cat Stevens! 3. Grr...insert swearing...as my Roku keeps on buffering and I put up with it for 10 minutes before I unplug it and reboot the player.

*sigh* Hoping it fixes the problem as I'm enjoying it so far.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Watched Punch Drunk Love and all its features today. It's not the first time I've watched it, but, man, I really like that movie! Querky, funny, sweet, unnerving, unsettling, strange... Really keeps my interest, and it's nice to see Philip Seymour Hoffman. Some neat little features too, like a short film made of alternate takes and deleted scenes. Glad I picked it up when I saw it in the library.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Just finished Harold and Maude. That was well worth the watch. I really enjoyed it. Very black humor at times, of course. Loved the music. Never knew that I Want to Sing Out was written for this movie. One of my favorite songs, and I listen to it often. This movie is why I participate in challenges. Every once in a while I discover a gem of a film that justifies watching many others that stink. :)

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Well, looks like I'm going to have to look for that one now too.

Pulled out my copy of The Honeymoon Killers that I finally bought at some point this past year. It was pretty cool. Didn't realise it was based on a real life story from the 40s. Some really good interviews on the disc too.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Deep Discount has a Criterion 45% sale going on right now. You can also add the promo code AUTUMN (good across the entire website) to then take off a further 15%. A regularly priced $39.95 Blu-ray goes down to $18.99.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Wednesday night, I revisited Koyaanisqatsi. I saw it in 2013 and hated it. Decided to watch it with friends this time, to see if it may resonate differently with me this time or if maybe their insights could unlock something.

Nope. Still hate it.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I had checked out a copy from the library, but just returned it unwatched. I wasn't going to have time for it and was pretty sure I would feel the same way as you.

On the other hand, I enjoyed Punch-Drunk Love so much, after watching the DVD copy from the library, I ordered a Blu-ray copy from Amazon yesterday and it arrives today! Can I count it twice for watching it on another format? ;) Wish it had a commentary track.

While I was at it, I also ordered Lost In America, one of my wife and my favorites! I'm looking forward to watching that one with her this month.

Unfortunately, the last 10 days of this month will be taken up attending the Calgary International Film Festival, so I don't have much more Criterion time left.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Cat Stevens was music of my childhood. :up:

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Unfortunately?! Sounds like you're embracing the spirit of the challenge to me!

I have to admit, I didn't really listen to him until a few years ago-kind of embarrassing but I discovered him via a commercial! I knew who he was...just never really listened to him until then.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

You should retroactively update your list should anything you see at the festival later be added to the collection.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Wow. You've opened up a can of worms/whoopass on my OCD!

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Nah, he's not exactly a mainstream artist like, say, Billy Joel and Elton John. And his personally dropping out of popular culture gave him further distance. My parents were big on the folk-rock sounds of the '70s and had a lot of his albums. :)

Now you've done it, Travis. :lol:

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I'm not above doing that, that's for sure! I still update my Oscar lists and even added a couple new years recently.

They certainly show a lot of Criterion kind of movies. Those are the ones I kind of look for when I'm scheduling my viewings. In fact, The Lure comes out in October and I original saw that at last year's Calgary Underground Film Festival.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I felt like watching a movie for the Challenge earlier tonight, so I looked through my DVDs, and decided on the original Halloween. John Carpenter is a great director, and an essay I read about Halloween, on the Criterion Collection website, placed it among the horror classics, such as Psycho, and the original Night Of The Living Dead. It also mentioned how in one minute of the movie, John Carpenter elevated Michael Myers to an antagonist of mythic proportions.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

While I won't be updating my lists, I revisit past challenges too. Felt like working on Make Your Own Challenge viewing today.

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I've gone stagnant. Too many screeners. Coco over the weekend, Kingsman 2 tonight, and I have a 20+ stack of borrowed Criterions to get to before the end of the month. *sigh*

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I've been so busy this month that I haven't been able to watch as much as I would like. However, I was able to see a special theatrical presentation of Stalker last Friday. I'd not seen it before, and it absolutely blew me away.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I didn't count it, being it wasn't an official Criterion feature, but I just finished watching the making of documentary for Halloween, Halloween Unmasked 2000. I think it actually was an official documentary, as I seem to remember seeing it listed on a website somewhere, I think IMDB. I did list it, just as an uncounted bonus feature.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

First time viewing of Nicolas Roeg's Insignificance was a great time. Not sure exactly how I feel about the film or what it all means, but I know I enjoyed it and that I'll remember parts of it more than most films.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

That's one of my favorite movies! Roeg and the cast make me feel an emotional connection to several of the characters (especially Theresa Russell as Actress) despite the surreal absurdity of the script. When I was teaching Composition, I would sometimes show a short clip of the Actress explaining physics to introduce a lesson on handy rhetorical devices.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I really liked it too. Watched during my MYOC - My Month With Marilyn month a couple years ago. Never got around to buying it. Thanks for the reminder though.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I managed to watch 8 Criterion movies and MANY MANY extras, in fact ALL of them on most. I also watched one other documentary on disc and went to the theatre 3 times. But, as today is the start of the Calgary International Film Festival, I have to imagine my Criterion watching has come to an end. It's too bad. I was really enjoying it and still had several on my list that I wanted to watch, including a few I'll have to return to the library unwatched.

Last year I was able to see 37 films during the 13 days of the festival (including one that has already been released by Criterion: Personal Shopper). I have 37 scheduled to see this year as well. I'll have to see how it goes. I'm tired already and haven't even seen the first one yet! lol

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

That's a cool tool there mr. And yes, it evoked much empathy with "Marilyn" for me. Interesting that Russell and Roeg ended up married after an earlier film together, I'll need to see that one someday.
I guess I didn't look closely at your month with Marilyn back then; assumed it was just actual Marilyn films, love that you included this one too!
Film festivals can be wonderful. I've only done two, but they were among the highlights of my media life. The local horror one changed venues so as to make it three times as expensive with half the films, makes me cry every October just thinking about what it once was.