Groucho’s Movie Challenge: Week 2
What is Groucho’s Movie Challenge? Its mission is simple: let us all, as a forum, work to seek out films that might otherwise slip our radar. Each week, anybody who wants to participate will see a film within the guidelines, and return back to the forum to report on the film they saw. It’s easy, it’s fun, and everybody can participate. It’s not a trivia contest…it’s not a game…it’s merely a way we can all be exposed to new avenues of film appreciation…or at the very least see a good flick or two.
Week 2: Foreign Film Week This week’s challenge isn’t quite as daring as it might have been a few weeks ago, but I’m goint to proceed anyway. Between now and next Monday (3/22), watch a film that is filmed in a language you don’t understand. For example, if you don’t understand Spanish you could watch Amores Perros. Likewise, if you don’t understand English you could choose Herbie Goes Bananas. Some other rules: 1. It must be a film you have never seen before. 2. It must be sub-titled, no dubbed or silent films. 3. In order to keep this thread from becoming 50 reviews of The Passion of the Christ, I’m going to exclude it from the mix. Sorry! Watch your film whenever you have the time, and come back here to report…whether your experience was positive or negative. Missed a previous version of the Movie Challenge? It’s never to late to play: Week 1: Old Movie Week |
I thought this was going to be a Die Hard vs. Predator thread. moving along..
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I've got a bunch of Chabrol movies I've never seen, so I'll probably go with one of them.
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Once again I have an unwatched DVD in my collection that fits the theme, so this week I will be watching my new Criterion DVD of Le Corbeau.
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guess, i'll go to blockbuster and rent a kurwosawa movie.
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hmm, (pulls out Volcano High from video collection ' must view' pile)
other possiblities - Beau Travail - Fanny and Alexander (5 hour cut) - Blind Shaft (E Street Cinema) |
Originally posted by Giles hmm, (pulls out Volcano High from video collection ' must view' pile) |
mine will either be chunking express or in the mood for love. have not yet decided, will take recommendations.
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Originally posted by deadlax mine will either be chunking express or in the mood for love. have not yet decided, will take recommendations. |
Ohh, a perfect opportunity to watch my Das Boot Superbit when it arrives this week from Korea.
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Watched Gamera 1 - 3.
Done. Can you give us something difficult? Both of these challenges have been way to easy. |
Originally posted by Scot1458 Give you give us something difficult? Both of these challenges have been way to easy. I also want to try to keep the challenges to the point that people don't have to work just to find a qualifying title. "Armenian Films from the 1930's...GO!" I've got a few ideas brewing for future weeks, but I'm open to any and all suggestions. |
Originally posted by Groucho While many of us regularly watch foreign and classic films, many of us also avoid such movies like the plague. I'm also trying to start off with some "slowballs" to get things rolling. I also want to try to keep the challenges to the point that people don't have to work just to find a qualifying title. "Armenian Films from the 1930's...GO!" I've got a few ideas brewing for future weeks, but I'm open to any and all suggestions. Film Noir (real noir, not The Usual Suspects or Chinatown) Silent Films (everybody can dig Phantom of the Opera) Special Historic Films (like The Jazz Singer, Birth of a Nation) a Horror or Sci-Fi movie without CGI |
Some good suggestions there...some are similar to ideas I already had, some are brand new.
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Another suggestion: great pairings (Abbot and Costello, Bogart and Bacall, even something like Herzog and Kinski)
Meanwhile, this week's challenge is a perfect excuse to watch some Bunuel films I picked up recently. |
Why no dubbing?
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This will be a good warm up for next weeks challenge: watching a foreign language film with NO subtitles. :D (hmmm, actually I've had to do that before).
Note to deadlax: Chungking Express first. |
Originally posted by RyoHazuki Why no dubbing? oh and a suggestion. pick a movie that you were not allowed to see when you were younger. |
So does Star Wars count since much of it is not in English?
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Originally posted by RyoHazuki So does Star Wars count since much of it is not in English? |
I know some godless hethens who haven't.
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Well, I recently watched 4 of the Kinski/Herzog films from the box set. I've seen Fitz and Nofs. before, but never Aquire nor the other two.
Aquire was pure genius. I loved it. The other two were horrible. |
hmmm....i think maybe we'll have to watch camille claudel, andre rublev or in the mood for love.
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Can I watch Castle in the Sky with the Japanese Language track?
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I'll be watching Scenes from a Marriage this week. 5 hrs of subtitled goodness.
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I have four movies sitting in my unwatched pile that would work for the challenge this week:
Yojimbo Alexander Nevsky Ivan the Terrible Parts 1 and 2 I think i'll check out Alexander Nevsky because i've never watched a Russian film before. |
Originally posted by Scot1458 Well, I recently watched 4 of the Kinski/Herzog films from the box set. I've seen Fitz and Nofs. before, but never Aquire nor the other two. Aquire was pure genius. I loved it. The other two were horrible. "I WANT MY OPERA HOUSE! I WANT MY OPERA HOUSE!" - absoultely classic. |
Looks like I'll use this weeks challenge to get around to watching The Vanishing (1988).
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Originally posted by Rypro 525 wasn't that on mtv recently in a badly dubbed version by rappers? I didn't know the original was on dvd. |
I've never seen Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai. I'll hit that up on Saturday.
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Originally posted by wendersfan I've got a bunch of Chabrol movies I've never seen, so I'll probably go with one of them. I can't use Ballad of a Soldier because I saw it when I was ten. I'll wait for the B&W Russian Road Movie challenge. |
Do I open my Rashamon or Brotherhood of the Wolf? I think BotW is the way I shall go this week.
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Originally posted by Nick Danger I'll wait for the B&W Russian Road Movie challenge. |
I just watched Once Upon A Time In China (theatrical version) and was disappointed overall. The story was unfocused, jumbled and I didn't feel anything for the characters. The fight scenes were excellent, but I was hoping for more.
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Originally posted by scroll2b How can you say that about Fitzcarraldo? Aside from the issues I had with the audio, it was an amazing film - something we won't ever see again. And Kinski was god in this. "I WANT MY OPERA HOUSE! I WANT MY OPERA HOUSE!" - absoultely classic. I meant the other two, Wyzolek and the last one they did. Wasn't impressed at all. You're right, I think Fitzcarraldo is Kinski's best work. Hey, anybody seen Kinski's Paggonini (sp) film? The one who supposedly lost the last of his mind on? |
Just watched A Better Tomorrow. Liked it alot! I'm getting more into HK movies. Now to save up and buy The Killer and Hard Boiled CCs.
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Odd, yesterday I called in sick to work and ended up watching a borrowed copy of Almodovar's All About My Mother (1999). Came in today and saw the newest topic for "Groucho's fascist regime of movie-watching."
So, since I hadn't seen it before and I don't speak Spanish it qualifies. Having only seen one other Almodovar film (Talk to Her) and knowing of his style I watched All About My Mother with practically no expectation. What I got was wonderful. What a funny and bittersweet tribute to women, actresses, movies, theater, and of course, mothers. The whole movie was lighter than air, less concerned with narrative strands than in creating an ode to matriarchy. It all seemed so effortless and certain. I truly didn't feel one frame was out of place. The movie is beautiful to look at too, bold hues and Manuella's Barcelona apartment is a trip. |
Originally posted by drjay Just watched A Better Tomorrow. Liked it alot! I'm getting more into HK movies. Now to save up and buy The Killer and Hard Boiled CCs. |
Originally posted by Scot1458 Hey, anybody seen Kinski's Paggonini (sp) film? The one who supposedly lost the last of his mind on? Aguirre Wrath of God is still my favourite Kinski film. |
Just got finished with Bergman's Cries and Whispers: Criterion Collection. I enjoyed it, but then again I love Bergman's style. Not my favorite of his (I've only seen it once, though), but it's still a good film.
The interview on the disc is definitely worth checking out. I was going to email you, Groucho, about doing a Foreign Film Challenge but you're just too smart! Good one. Keep 'em coming! |
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