The HTF Movie Challenge! (1 Viewer)

[SteveGon]

Hello all! I'm not sure if this will fly given the other movie review threads, but we'll give it a go. Kissinger and I came up with this idea of picking a "movie buddy" and challenging them to watch a movie they hadn't seen before. Naturally a review - doesn't have to be comprehensive - is expected afterwards. Remember that this is meant to be fun, so try and pick films that your buddy would probably enjoy. At the same time, try and pick something that would hopefully expand their filmic parameters a bit.


I suppose there should be some ground rules:

1. Your buddy has to be an HTF member.

2. Films should be fairly accessible (members can mail each other movies if need be).

3. This is a "challenge" but try not to get too extreme - this thread shouldn't be seen as an excuse to make George Kaplan watch Peter Greenaway movies.

4. You don't have to stick with the same buddy - if you feel you've tortured someone long enough, pick a new buddy. Actually it might be more interesting to switch buddies on a montly basis. Let me know what you think.

5. One movie a month minimum per participant! Thanks!

So pick a buddy if you're so inclined and sign up! Remember, the primary goal here is to have fun and share your love of movies!


First up:

With all the whacked-out movies I'm always blathering on about, Kiss is probably very afraid so I'll take it easy on him (for now): buddy, I hereby challenge you to watch Ernst Lubitsch's To Be or Not to Be, starring my favorite old-timey movie actress, Carole Lombard. Enjoy.

 

[Brian Kissinger]

Hello,

For those unawares of who I may be, let me introduce myself. I have been a member here for a few years, but haven't posted all that much lately. This is due to a few reasons, but mostly my free time has been eaten into much with greater responsibilities at work....and the fact that the evil John Rice likes to post here and the judge said even with a restraining order I should still try to sever all ties with him.

But that is all an aside. I do enjoy movies very much, but my tastes and Steve's tastes run a bit in the opposite direction. So why not "challenge" one another to have some fun. What's the worst that could happen; you might have to sit through a crappy movie....if you're anything like me, you do that now from time to time. (okay, in my case much more often than time to time) And the best? You may just uncover a tidbit otherwise undiscovered. (although you have my word as a gentleman that Steve will get no "diamonds in the rough" from me )

So let it begin. And I must say that with all Steve's talk of his viewing habits (including the eating of fetuses and women searching for lost bottle caps in certain areas of their bodies where one is usually not likely to lose a bottle cap) I am most surprised to be challenged with To Be Or Not To Be. Perhaps I should be thankful that I do not own a multi-region player.

I have not yet decided what Steve's challenge is (The SOB has seen nearly every movie ever made) so I'll have to get with him on that within the next day.

P.S. to Mr. Rice- should you feel so inclined, I have a dandy to send you if you want in.

 

[SteveGon]

Oh, don't worry! There's plenty of bizarre stuff from region one! Heh heh...

 

[Brian Kissinger]

To Be or Not to Be (1942)
directed by Ernst Lubitsch


I can only assume Steve picked this one figuring I'd like it. And he was correct. I'm not sure why I don't pick up more "older" (I guess "older" is a vague reference as I talked my wife into watching Manhunter the other night and she said that was an old movie) films, I always seem to enjoy them.

I wish I had some witty remark, or clever comment to make, but I know I can't add anything that someone hasn't already said. If you dig comedies, then check it out....especially if you're a fan of Hogan's Heroes. But you should know one thing in advance, the opening of the film promises to deliver Hitler's favorite choice of delicious deli cold cuts, but never delivers. This isn't so much a spoiler as a warning so others don't suffer the same crushing disappointment I did.

I have several titles picked out for Steve. A few crazy, and a few real ones. Here's hoping he hasn't seen them.

 

[SteveGon]

Glad you enjoyed it, sir! Before I foist the weird stuff on ya, I'm gonna challenge you to another comedy. This time it's Harold Lloyd's silent feature Safety Last, for my money one of the funniest flicks ever made (though the best part is the justly famous building-climbing sequence that comprises the final act - still a sweaty-palm inducing experience 83 years later!). Enjoy!

 

[SteveGon]

A big ha-ha to you suckers who ain't joined up - I now have in my possession The Crippled Masters, Hell Comes to Frogtown and Ninja Scroll.

 

[Brook K]

I've seen Ninja Scroll. It's pretty good video game anime if you're in the mood for that sort of thing.

 

[SteveGon]

Gave Mr. K the hookup on some more tasties:

Wim Wenders' Wings of Desire

The noir classic Out of the Past - "Build my gallows high."

Takashi Miike's black comedy musical The Happiness of the Katakuris

Rounding out the list is one of my favorite unknown gems:

A cross between David Lynch and Elmore Leonard, Aleksei Balabanov's Of Freaks and Men is a sepia-toned excursion into the pornography trade in turn of the century St. Petersburg. Darkly funny and disturbing, the film is a kaleidoscope of spankings, singing siamese twins and geriatric sex, capped with a haunting finale. Ostensibly a stylized freakshow, it also works as a condemnation of the destructive natures of both repressive sexual mores and unfettered deviant desires. Enjoy!

 

[SteveGon]

The Crippled Masters

Two kung-fu masters run afoul of a mobster; one has his arms lopped off, the other gets his legs ruined with acid. Mutilated and banished, they join forces to get revenge...

This is good ol' cheesy kung-fu action, replete with amplified sound effects and bad dubbing. Wears out its welcome near the end, but overall an entertaining time killer.

:star: :star: 1/2 out of :star: :star: :star: :star:

 

[Michael Elliott]

I hope you have a twelve pack in your possession when you watch HELL COMES TO FROGTOWN. Pretty fun flick but made even better if your mind can be bent enough to believe what you're seeing.

I've been wanting to see THE CRIPPLED MASTERS for a few years now.

 

[JohnRice]

Nobody else joining? I would probably challenge someone. Shouldn't be too difficult to pick out some movies.

 

[SteveGon]

George?

 

[george kaplan]

Hmm. Let's see. I'm not sure what Greenaway pictures are, but I'm sure John would love to make me watch something I hate. I did this with Lew once, and it worked out great, cause Lew strove very hard to find films he thought I'd like - some of which I added to my collection.

The thing is, even in good faith, could John and I make recommendations that the other would actually like?

After the new software, my old ignore list got wiped out, but how long would it take John, after watching my recommendation of The Barefoot Executive, for him to lash out in a way that would force me to put him back on my ignore list?

 

[SteveGon]

Peter Greenaway = The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover (et al), a movie even Kissinger couldn't make it through.


I'm sure you could - it'd just take a little thought. As Brian said, his and my tastes are, for the most part, radically different, but we have found middle ground on quite a few films.


Hell Comes to Frogtown

Goofy, grungy, post-apocalyptic tale stars Roddy Piper as Sam Hell, one of the few fertile men left in the world who's shanghaied by the government into rescuing some kidnapped women from the mutant haven of Frogtown. A fun concept to be sure, but the film is bogged down by a dull midsection. Picks up at the end. On the upside, while Piper won't be headlining Shakespeare anytime soon, he does have an amiable presence and his two traveling companions are easy on the eyes.

"...long-winded sonuvabitch!"

:star: :star: out of :star: :star: :star: :star:

 

[Lew Crippen]

Something I’d love to do—but as I don’t have access to a wide range of movies (on demand) it would be pretty hard for me to join in.

I’ll just be reduced to lurking (and possibly the odd comment).

As George commented, we did this kind of thing once—and I was pleased with the results (I added a couple to my collection as well).

 

[Walter Kittel]

I've thought about it. I never seem to have as much time as I'd like but since this is a low pressure sort of thing, if someone wishes to swap recommendations with me, let me know.

(I think post software upgrade PMs are okay.)

- Walter.

 

[JohnRice]

I can't bite my tongue any longer. It never ceases to fascinate me how Kaplan views me as such a horrible person for making observations on his actual actions and comments, yet he never passes up an opportunity to criticize me for what he thinks I will do or say. Just grow the hell up George.

Well, I would like to give this a shot with someone. I can even provide access to some titles, if that is a problem. It would be nice if they had a PAL compatible player. Region free is not necessary.

How about it Walter?


BTW, for a moment I thought it might be interesting to do a challenge with George, but I have returned to my senses. No good could come of it.

 

[Brook K]

My viewing schedule is so packed it's hard to squeeze something else in. Especially when right now I'm already participating in a way couresty of Bill McA. But I'll give it a shot with George.

I'll throw out 4 for George that you can choose 1, none or all (I don't really have a handle on what you have and haven't seen Walter). I think you would like these with Daniel Webster having the best chance of being added to your collection. Inish and Children of Heaven you could watch with your son. (I've showed mine Inish). I never can tell but I think at worst these would receive your "good but I don't ever want to see it again" rating.

Samurai Rebellion
Children of Heaven
The Devil and Daniel Webster
The Secret of Roan Inish

 

[Walter Kittel]

Sounds good to me, John. I'm fairly sure that I have PAL compatiblity. I believe my new display supports PAL. (It should.) PM on the way.

- Walter.

 

[JohnRice]

Walter, you'll need a PAL compatible player as well. Even if your display will display PAL, most regular players will just reject a PAL disc. IF you are using some sort of HTPC, you should be set.