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Never viewed a film w/sub-titles: Considering Criterion's Insomnia or The Vanishing (1 Viewer)

John Fieldstadt

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As the title says, I've never sat through a film with sub-titles before but thanks to my home theater (and the HTF) I've started to expand my horizons when it comes to film.

On that note I've read a number of reviews and Criterion's Insomnia & The Vanishing have both caught my eye. Does anyone have any input as to which of these two titles would be a good choice for my first "foriegn" film experience? I'm also open to suggestions of other films to check out.

Thanks in advance!
 

Ken_McAlinden

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You have two good choices unless you happen to be looking for a lighthearted romp. There are lots of good recommendations in this thread.
Regards,
 

Bryant Frazer

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I'd recommend against Insomnia, which is a decent film but kinda dry even as Scandinavian cinema goes and thus maybe not the greatest introductory piece. The Vanishing would probably be better, assuming you like being disturbed.

For a first immersion in the wild world of foreign film, though, it seems more obvious to recommend something a little more Hollywood-like -- like Run Lola Run, a poster child for mainstream crossovers. And dare I ask if you've tried Crouching Tiger?

-bf-
 

Michael Reuben

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Does anyone have any input as to which of these two titles would be a good choice for my first "foriegn" film experience?
"Foreign" films are as diverse as their English-speaking counterparts. So it's hard to make recommendations without knowing more about your taste in films. Both The Vanishing and Insomnia are psychological thrillers. They're both excellent, but The Vanishing is more of a straight-up creep-you-out mystery.

If you enjoy action films, you might want consider Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon or Brotherhood of the Wolf (which is still in theaters).

M.
 

John Fieldstadt

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Ok, I realize that "foriegn" is much too much of a generalization. :)
Believe it or not I have not seen Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and have had no desire to, as martial arts themed films have never held much attraction for me.
My tastes in films covers a wide range of genres, although I tend to lean towards action/adventure and thrillers (not horror/gore fests!).
I will check out reviews of the other titles suggested to see if they sound appealing at all. And I will continue to monitor this thread for further input.
Thanks all!
 

JohnS

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Anybody who doesn't watch subtitled films, is being very close-minded in my book. You're missing out on alot of great films that are subtitled. I'm not truely bashing anyone, I just feel people who ignore movies, just because you have to "read" them, is being close-minded.
The are some truely amazing movies out there!
Here are some other choice selections
Abre Los Ojos(Open Your Eyes)
Princess Mononoke
Diabolique
Princess and the Warrior
Run Lola Run
 

John Fieldstadt

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Ken, WOW! Those are some lists on that thread! Definitely something I'll follow-up on.

As I stated, I'm just getting my feet wet with this.....better late than never....and am looking forward to some new and exciting film experiences. Prior to my involvement in HT my viewing habits were limited to recent films, generally recent comercial hits and not much more. Now I find myself with in interest in viewing classics that I have never seen before (and never had any interest in whatsoever!) and checking out different genres. This thread is just one way for me to get started. Thanks.
 

James D

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If you like film noir, then by all means check out Criterion's Rififi. This is a great French noir from the 50's.
 

Voon Jiet

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I have not seen Insomnia, but I own a copy of Criterion's The Vanishing and I highly recommend it. A creepy little flick that I fully endorse unless you are not too keen on disturbing films.
 

Douglas R

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The first sub-titled film I saw was The Wages of Fear when I was about 10! It was a family visit to the cinema, my father being keen on foreign films. It is a great dramatic film with nail biting scenes of suspense. One of the all time classics and the first foreign sub-titled film to gain a general release in cinemas in the UK. The sub-titles are not a problem because there's not a great deal of dialogue and some is in English.
 

Jeff Swindoll

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Seven Samauri
Seventh Seal
Another recommendation for Riffi, great movie
1000 Eyes of Dr. Mabuse
Better Tomorrow, Hard Boiled, and the Killer (all John Woo)
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Like someone said before, it all depends on your tastes. You could always rent some of the recommendations (online or locally if anyone carries them) rather than purchase them.
I enjoyed Insomnia, but have not seen the Vanishing.
Not subbed, but my fave foreign film would be Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell starring Peter O'Toole ;). You'd need a region free player capable of PAL conversion however. Cheers.
 

SteveK

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John- You may also want to check out "Babette's Feast". It is a delicious tale of a woman who wants to provide a sumptuous gourmet feast to a community of people who, for religious reasons, seem to deprive themselves of all pleasant sensory stimulation. It doesn't sound like a promising premise, but it turns into a beautiful movie.

I also find it intriguing that you find yourself wanting to expand your horizons regarding what kind of movies you watch. I'm doing the same thing. I can enjoy the latest blockbuster, but I also enjoy the old classics, foreign films, independent films, etc. I'm consciously trying to find less mainstream titles to enjoy. I know that not all of the movies may be memorable and perhaps not even enjoyable and that some may be complete flops, but there will also be the occasional gem that will make all the experimentation worthwhile.

Enjoy your journey!

Steve K.
 

Jeff Kleist

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I'm amazed no one's brought up Das Boot!

Anything by Akira Kurosawa, Life is Beautiful, Grave of the Fireflies, Avalon (Mamoru Oshii) and many many more
 

Qui-Gon John

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One time I rented the Legend of Bagger Vance DVD, and I recorded it for time-shifting purposes. Through some glitch it recorded in English with English sub-titles. I also did not have enough time to redo the recording, (those damn late fees, ya know), so I wound up having to watch it this way. I found it very annoying. As much as I tried to ignore the sub-titles and just watch the movie, my eyes kept being drawn to them.
 

Ken_McAlinden

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Contemporary non-English language movies that have been popular favorites with mainstream US audiences have been:

Amelie

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon

Run Lola Run

Life is Beautiful

Il Postino

Like Water for Chocolate

Cinema Paradiso

Regards,
 

DonRoeber

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Since we're also talking about recent releases that are subtitled, Brotherhood of the Wolf is in French, and doing very well in mainstream movie theaters here in the states. I enjoyed it much more than I normally enjoy action films.
 
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The last outstanding "subtitled" film I saw was Amores perros AKA Love's a Bitch. It's similar to Pulp Fiction in that it has three different stories that interweave with each other. Highly entertaining.
 

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