2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

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September is upon us, so it's time to actually watch those Criterion discs we bought in July during the Barnes & Noble sale and get as many viewings out of our Hulu subscriptions as we can before the Criterion Channel launches on Filmstruck later this year! CardiffGiant has done a fantastic job hosting this challenge the last several years, and here's the overview of this challenge that he's crafted:

The goal of the Criterion Challenge is to watch Criterion content and share your experience with the rest of us. There is no specific number goal, no winners, no losers, no prizes.

Rather than compile long lists, watch what you would normally watch in a month, but concentrate it on Criterion content as much as you can/want. In fact, bulk watching is discouraged, as that will limit your time for discussion and for immersing yourself in a film. Participants are encouraged to explore fully a film and its supplemental material.

There will be a separate thread to include your lists as linked above. A daily journal sort of entry is recommended for your list. Since counting is not required or "scored" in any way, you are free to be as creative as you wish in how you list items. Bolding of your item titles is encouraged, if only to make them stand out to allow others to quickly see if they have seen the same items and wish to comment. Give reviews. Even if it's just a mini-review, a simple :up:/:down:, or a one word description. Be creative and personalize it however you wish - use one post for the whole month, daily posts, weekly posts, give reviews, provide IMDB links, add YouTube videos, add images, etc. It's recommended that you provide a link to your list(s) in your signature for easy access. Last year's List Thread should give you a good idea how participants format their lists.

What qualifies? Any film, short, video or supplemental feature that is planned for release or has been released by Criterion/Eclipse qualifies. The film does not have to be watched on an actual Criterion disc. You may watch the film on any format, provided that it is the same film that Criterion has released. For example, the film On the Waterfront was released by Criterion on DVD/BD. But you don't have to watch the movie on that particular DVD/BD. You can watch it on VHS, on broadcast TV, on FilmStruck (the new official streaming home of the Criterion Collection), anywhere else that may have the streaming rights, or any of the other DVD/BD releases On the Waterfront has had. Additionally, any title released by Criterion exclusively on streaming (See: FilmStruck) is eligible for this challenge.

Check out the full list of Criterion and Eclipse DVD and BD releases here. Criterion's website allows for sorting by Brand, Format, Director, Country, Decade, and Features. This will allow easy searching for working through needed checklist items.

There are some titles currently streaming on Netflix, including a number of OOP titles. On rare occasions, you can find an Eclipse title there as well.

Since our last challenge, The Criterion Collection's streaming library has been moved to FilmStruck. This is an add-on channel not included in the base FilmStruck subscription. It includes titles that have yet to be issued on physical disc from Criterion; any such film included in this channel is eligible for this challenge (but not anything else on FilmStruck outside the Criterion Channel).

Criterion titles occasionally appear on broadcast television. Keep an eye on this discussion thread for upcoming broadcasts.

Titles originally released on Criterion Laserdisc are also eligible for the challenge.

Optional Checklist

The checklist is completely optional. It is just a "fun" inclusion to give one a sense of accomplishment, to help one diversify viewing, or to use as a guide on what to watch next.

Each film can count for multiple sections, but only one check mark per section. Example: Pierrot le fou could count for the 1960's in Decades and Jean-Luc Godard in People, but it could not count for Godard and Anna Karina in People. You would need a separate film for Karina.


The challenge officially begins August 31 at dusk in whatever location you are in at the time, and ends on October 1st at dawn in whatever location you are in at that time. Also, feel free to time your final Criterion film(s) to coincide with the start of the Horror Challenge.

Online Resources

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

With the loss of Criterion on Hulu, I don't have access to as many films, but I'll try to watch some.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

If people are interested in doing both the animation challenge that's going on now and the Criterion one in September, there are a few crossover films. They are: Akira, Fantastic Planet, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Watership Down, Jason And The Argonauts, King Kong, and Robocop. Also, there is animation in the By Brakhage and Science is Fiction box sets.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

And I believe Akira is available on Hulu.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Thanks for putting this up early. It's always good to look ahead to the next challenge.

For those who go to/work at an university (hi lisadoris) check out Kanopy for their free collection of Criterion films including classics like Breathless, Rashomon, M, and La Strada. Check it out to see if your university offers it.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

^ Thanks, and maybe I'll check to see if Hoopla has any Criterions.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I only plan to keep it through September, due to it's price, but I just discovered Filmstruck was available on Roku, so I signed up for it. There is a 14 day free trial, and after that it is $10.99 a month. Too much to keep year round, but I'm willing to do it for the Challenge.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Too bad The Lure and Vampyr aren't released until October. :(

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

But at least you can watch them in other formats and still count them.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

True, as far as watching the films go, but to dig into content won't be possible. Maybe there'll be some content online early.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

One of my friends violated my no-gifts policy at Christmas and gave me a Barnes & Noble gift card. I held onto it until the 50% sale. Picked up 45 Years and Ghost World. I was thrilled that both were being added to the collection, and I'm keen to dive into their bonus materials. I also still have The Testament of Dr. Mabuse, Summer Hours, and Certified Copy all waiting for me to finally watch. Mabuse will be a first time viewing for me; the other four, I've already seen and loved.

I managed to complete the checklist in 2012 (I forget that the one check I missed was optional that year), but I still have never managed to complete an entire Top 10 list during one of these challenges. Losing access to The Criterion Collection on Hulu is going to make that all but impossible for me this year. I may be able to place enough library loan requests to make it happen, but I doubt it. If I just go through the ones I already own, I'll call this year a win.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Filmstruck won't cover what Hulu lost either. I've noticed that the collection on Filmstruck is not as large as Hulu used to have.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

As much as I appreciate and somewhat utilize digital copies/Vudu/Amazon Prime, this is the main reason I still prefer to have a hard copy of movies. Sure, if I'm in a mood for an action/adventure movie, there are tons out there, but if I'm in the mood for something specific? A great deal of the time, it's not available.

Not sure what I'm going to focus on this year. I've found I kind of like having a theme. A couple years I went looking for the eligible Alfred Hitchcock movies but as of last year, I had watched them all. Maybe Travis's idea of doing a Top 10 list might be the way to go...I'll have to go looking. My library has a very nice selection available to me (or more accurately, my library system).

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Yeah, this is why I keep discs of movies I know I like enough I'll want to revisit. I regard digital/streaming more as a virtual rental store rather than a replacement for my personal library.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Incidentally, I have updated my post that lists all the box sets and Top 10 lists, already formatted for DVD Talk in case anyone wishes to copy and paste from that into their list. If you want the hyperlink and italics to appear in your list, you'll need to quote my post in order to see the coding. (Then just copy the section you want, rather than the whole thing.)

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

To get discussion going as we ramp up for this year's challenge, I thought I'd throw out some questions.

For those who have participated in previous Criterion challenges, what's something you've taken away from them? This can be anything from finding a new favorite movie to having an epiphany about yourself emerge as part of your evolving relationship with art.

What's something you've enjoyed about previous challenges?

For those who have not participated in any previous Criterion challenges, what are some of the things you're hoping to get from this year's challenge?

Have you set any objectives for this year?

Will you be watching movies solo or are you planning to share your viewings with others?

Are you planning to focus on first time viewings, or are you leaning more toward revisiting movies you've seen before?

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

This is one of my favorite challenges! I've always been grateful for the Criterion Collection since it contributed so much to my film education and introduced me to so many favorite films and directors. With only a few exceptions, I find most Criterion films almost demand multiple viewings, so I try to do a mixture of rewatches and first time views.

Unfortunately, I usually cannot get many of my friends or family interested in most of the films that I'm interested, so I'll be flying solo most of the time. However, I will definitely propose a Criterion selection at the weekly movie night I attend with a couple of cinephile friends.

I'll already got a pile of things to watch so I'm excited and ready to go!

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I normally watch my movies alone, so I too will fly solo.

As for goals, one goal is, while I won't go out of my way, and ignore real life to complete it, I plan to work on the checklist. Another goal, is since I enjoy horror movies, and with October looming ahead, I plan to watch quite a few horror movies.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

What I've enjoyed most about this challenge is the hidden gems. I've definitely had to work harder to find them, but every once in a while, there's a movie that just really draws me in that I would never have watched on my own incentive.

I usually watch alone. This one is a little harder for me to find someone who is also interested in watching. Though, when I was going through the Hitchcock films a couple years ago that qualified, my mom watched with me as she had seen a lot of them many years ago but not since then.

I have to admit, I haven't even thought about what I'm going to watch this year. I host the July and August challenges so I think I'm going to take the first week off, then dive in here a bit. I try to make it a mix of mostly new watches with a few old that I've grown to love. Either last year or the year before, Criterion released The Black Stallion which was one of my favorite books/movies as a kid. I plan on adding this one in for the challenge on a yearly basis.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

It was two years ago. I bought it, and plan to finally watch it this year.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I watched it the year it came out and it looked pretty nice, if I remember correctly! It's a slow start, but beautiful visuals with the island.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I forgot to mention that I'm planning to see a couple of qualifying films - Stalker and Le trou - that are playing at my local art cinema. Solaris is also playing, but I'm unfortunately busy so I'll just have to watch my BD copy.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Since it is available on Starz On Demand, if you have a subscription to the channel through the Starz Channel on Roku, I might take the opportunity to revisit Close Encounters Of The Third Kind next month. I haven't seen it since I was a kid.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

It's also getting a theatrical re-release this weekend. I totally forgot this was a Criterion LD. Timing is great since I was planning on seeing it Saturday.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I forgot until recently myself. In preparation for the Challenge, I looked at the links of Criterion releases a few days ago.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Criterion really does have the best catalog of any company out there. They deserve the fanboy love and the :johnwoo2: haters :saber: can suck it.

It gives me an excuse to ignore TV and games for a while and focus on my real life goal.

BERLIN ALEXANDERPLATZ!!!

Mostly I watch them solo, but once in a while I can tie something into a group activity.

Except for Chungking Express, I'm planning on only first time titles.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Amazon Prime currently has:

Le Havre
Ride in the Whirlwind
The Shooting
If. . .
Cameraperson
David Lynch: The Art Life

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

This Challenge is always the most problematic for me, if just in terms of really making time for it. The problem is the calendar.

As a lifelong football fan, September is always a very busy month outside of film for me. Most of my free time has historically been committed to watching and thinking about football. You all think I'm obsessive about Challenges or comic books, it's nothing compared to my obsession with football. Until recently, I could recite the scores of every Super Bowl. There has not been a day since 1972 that I haven't thought about the Minnesota Vikings. I used to scour stats and watch highlights constantly, played fantasy football before the Internet existed, and was outside playing with friends every day. That passion has diminished with marriage, and may disappear as I get disgusted with the sport's handling of CTE. But for now at least, I'll likely still spend more TV time next month on football than on all other media combined.

But even if I give up football, September is busy with family commitments (school starting for my wife and daughter), and enjoying the weather. I hate the heat of the summer, and typically use April and September as my main "fresh air" months.

All that pesonal fluff aside, I still love this Challenge for the same reason I love Criterion films themselves. The chance to explore non-popcorn story telling and sometimes experimental film styles broadens my horizons and hopefully helps me grow in knowledge and compassion.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

^ And I must also confess that much of my (August and) September free time is spent planning for the October Horror Challenge.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I will be watching solo because my husband usually spends his time playing video games. One of the reason I enjoy this challenge is to have the opportunity to discuss these films with fellow cinema fans. I find your comments educational and I am often turned on to new directors and films.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

The highlight of this challenge every year for me is ticking a couple titles off the unwatched list.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

That's always the main goal for me, but I rarely get more than a couple done. Between the busyness of my month, and the need for these films to require more time/attention than most (subtitles), I tend to watch a lot of the same English Criterions year after year. :(

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

Right, I try not to watch The Rock and Silence of the Lambs EVERY year.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

You know, I haven't watched The Rock in years. In fact, it's possible that I've only seen it once. But that box is in storage David, rats.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

It's the Michael Bay film that it's OK to like! ;)

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I have to make a concerted not to watch Sweet Smell of Success ever year. However, I may have to pop in Akira despite having seen it many times.

Tonight is Movie Night, and it's my night to choose the film, so we're going to watch The Exterminating Angel! I'm very excited to show this to my friend for awhile.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

I'm starting off the challenge tonight with Truman Capote's In Cold Blood. It's also doubling as the last movie in my friend's Letterboxd August Scavenger Hunt. The task: Watch a film set in Kansas. No problem.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

My friends really enjoyed The Exterminating Angel, and we had a lively discussion about the film as well as context. None of us know about Franco's Spain beyond the broadest of strokes, so there was a lot we know we were missing, but the surreal yet human situation still left an impression on us. The film is about a group of upper-class people who find themselves mysteriously unable to leave a couple of room in a large mansion. As the situation frays their nerves and resources run short, they go a bit... crazy.

The film reminded me of a couple of things I watched and read recently (including the excellent When the Wind Blows for the animation challenge) that explore what happens when the infrastructure of civilization fails or in inaccessible. With the horrific disaster in Texas as well as the erosion of our governmental agencies and norms by the current ruling body, it seemed more poignant and hellish on this viewing. Thankfully, our current prison is the world - which is preferable to a drawing room - but trapped is trapped nonetheless, and I found myself empathizing with the characters' desperation and madness.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

My goal is to complete the checklist as I try to do every year. I find that this gets me to dig deeper into the collection and try out some things that I might not otherwise try. It also stops me from just watching whatever the stuff is that I most want to watch. I used to be Criterion blu-ray complete until I saw something would eventually be coming out that I could not justify supporting, so I have a lot of stuff that has been languishing in my backlog for years. I started last night with They Live By Night which was really good. I still haven't decided which boxset or Eclipse set to watch this time, but since I still have four days remaining in my vacation that I will be home for, maybe that will happen sooner rather than later.

Re: 2017 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread
 

After a holiday weekend without any Criterion viewing, I returned home and watched Broadway, a supplemental film on the BD of Lonesome. It's a pretty standard backstage drama about a showgirl caught between her poor partner and a wealthy producer who bootlegs on the side. There were several impressive tracking shots of the theater and several musical numbers, and the cinematographer, Hal Mohr, gives an interview about how they were accomplished that is worth a listen. All-in-all an okay film with several technical flourishes to recommend it.