trying to have 1859 films checked before April 3

[1859]

this is an attempt to bring myself back to times when I could watch more than 2 films a day no problem.

i thought creating a challenge would be a little too much, so i've found this little corner here to post about my progress.

i have 1824 checks currently, so I have to watch 35 films in 20 days, seems like not much, but for me it is
on 3rd I turn 27, and this is my way to celebrate it xD I'm gonna live up to my own nickname xD

I'm also resetting my watchlist which grew so much it started to scare me.
So for now I downloaded the son by darnennes and paddington 2, reassured that I don't need paddington 1 to enjoy the second. for some reason i'm really hyped for that one.
maybe it's gonna work!

[Nathan Treadway]

Shorts are your friend

[1859]

that crossed my mind of course.

though it doesn't feel like that much of an easy route - i didn't have much luck with shorts so far.

[joachimt]

Maybe you explained before, but why is your username 1859?

[matthewscott8]

What does it mean when your username is in bold and green?

I suggest the films of Lav Diaz ;)

Good luck to you!

[3eyes]

in case I forget on Apr 3, happy 159th!

[sol]

What does it mean when your username is in bold and green?

It means that Adam has not yet noticed that you have posted this year.

[tirefeet]

I'm sure Adam would let you keep this special color if you manage your goal

[1859]

Maybe you explained before, but why is your username 1859?

Because when I was picking username for criticker I had a biology textbook nearby. I was never satisfied with my usernames, I hated my own name at that time as well, so I thought of just opening it on a random page and trying to find something okayish. Or maybe I was reading it and got inspired? But anyway it's coming from the year in which 'on the origin of species' was published.

Later I checked that there was a cool solar storm that happened on that year as well.

[Nathan Treadway]

Very random way to choose a username.

[1859]

in case I forget on Apr 3, happy 159th!

Thank you! And as I started my another attempt at obtaining higher education just a year ago, I indeed feel that old sometimes.


So I saw Paddington 2 yesterday.

At the beginning I didn't like it at all and around window cleaning scene I thought of switching it off. Glad I didn't cause when the real plot kicks in it really started working for me. Richard Ayoade's appearance was the moment I smiled honestly for the first time, cathedral scene was hysterical, and I enjoyed the rest of it quite much. It had this stylistic vibe of grand budapest hotel, which I found annoying at first, but as it got better I thought it gained the right for it and it suited the story well Intrigue was simple but it was compelling to watch.

And if you know what I mean it kinda fits my challenge.

Very random way to choose a username.

Do you imply it's what most people do more or less? ;p


edit: Aaaand now I added Paddington 1. There is a really solid backstory there, which I missed before. I loved that part. The 'adventure' part if I may call it that, was way too stressful for me, kinda meh. Yeah, lows not as low as in 2nd and highs not as high. But it's always more time to look at that bear, it's animation is so so so nice for the eye.

[1859]

I'll do a weekly update but after watching scorpio rising, in a few minutes. Yeah, I have to throw a few shorts in. I can't do 3 about 2 hrs movies a day

[1859]

That was a good batch.

Excellent:

himizu

Pretty goodish cool:

fallen angels - i've been doing stock-taking as a part-time job, and as a non smoker, that's the way I've been introduced to a world of scary pictures on cigarettes. I was aware, but didn't pay much attention. I, personally, find smoking glamorous and a cool every now in a while activity, and hell, does this shit like pictures and ban of flavoured ones even help the hardcore addicted ones? i hope?, but it also gives me first reason to hate european union's laws.

fallen angels is a rare case, when style over substance is tottaly okay. i could screenshot whole movie but let me pick just one:

Spoiler: click to toggleShow

bad genious - whoo, the best teen exam heist movie, hands down.
the lego batman movie - it grew on me while watching. this whole family/ batman-joker-ship / working together theme made my heart melt. batman's voice is cool. I got a bit drunk while watching it, which helped? Lots of action but done in a cool animation style and colorfully which makes it stand out for me
the square

decent and totally satisfactory:

the son
scorpio rising - cool, nice soundtrack. motorhead already warmed me up to nazi stylistics so whatever. jesus seems to disapprove all of it (and especially covering some guy's belly with mustard) which is correct.
be sure to share

meh:

annihilation - reminded me of phase in my life, around 2012, when I'd gather every week to watch shitty z class natural horror films and a bit sci-fi too, on tv. Maneater series. Annihilation made me think of sand serpents the most, but only because of the way they entered that shimmer... well, and bad dialogues...

Spoiler: click to toggleShow

Shiet:

the brand new testament

[1859]

I suggest the films of Lav Diaz ;)

I never know where to start. I'm leaning toward century of birthing - now that I retrained my movie watching muscle, I could do that.

In other news I have still 9 to go.

[Nathan Treadway]

I suggest the films of Lav Diaz ;)

I never know where to start. I'm leaning toward century of birthing - now that I retrained my movie watching muscle, I could do that.

In other news I have still 9 to go.

Have you decided what 1859 is going to be?

[1859]

No, but yeah, it should be just at least a little bit special to think about it...

And it turns out that with Diaz, I'll start with Butterflies Have No Memories


Later I'll write something more about what I've seen to make it a proper diary.

[Carmel1379]

Najlepszego! And good luck with finishing your quest.

I'm glad you liked 'Himizu', that's one of my very favourite films.

[1859]

Thank you very much, karmel!

Actually I snatched Himizu from your list of favourites when I was looking for inspiration

Whoo, I finished, great moment for my icm profile:



I thought I haven't watched any Ozu in a loooong time, so I decided to pick something from his vast filmography. I was thinking about Battle Royale for a moment (not Ozu ofc and polar opposite), but luckily sticked to Equinox Flower. I really enjoyed visiting this world after a break. And for more number magic it was released in 1958 xD Destiny.

[maxwelldeux]

Congrats! And nice little shot there!

[Carmel1379]

Thank you very much, karmel!

Actually I snatched Himizu from your list of favourites when I was looking for inspiration

Hehe, that makes me happy. You're welcome to look for more inspirations, of course.

Seen any other Sion Sono movies, then?

What favourites would you share back? 'On the Beach at Night Alone'? ;)


In other news that can force some enthusiasm out of me - I will be able to see BABYMETAL live at Download this year! My exams do clash with the Friday, so I won't be able to do the whole festival, but I'll definitely get a day ticket for Saturday (which has some other bands I enjoy playing and two lads I know will see too). Of course now wishing - following your hope - for a tour in Europe by these two next year:

[RedHawk10]

I'm glad you liked 'Himizu', that's one of my very favourite films.

I'm a big fan of Sono but haven't gotten around to this one yet. Hearing it's one of your all time favorites definitely bumps it up as a higher priority. Out of curiosity, how does the rest of his filmography stack up for you? Besides my undying love for Love Exposure I think his next best films are Tag, Cold Fish, and Why Don't You Play in Hell.

And more on topic, congrats to 1859 on hitting 1,859!

[Carmel1379]

I'm glad you liked 'Himizu', that's one of my very favourite films.

I'm a big fan of Sono but haven't gotten around to this one yet. Hearing it's one of your all time favorites definitely bumps it up as a higher priority. Out of curiosity, how does the rest of his filmography stack up for you? Besides my undying love for Love Exposure I think his next best films are Tag, Cold Fish, and Why Don't You Play in Hell.

'Himizu' was a FotW at some point and I listed my ranking there, coincidentally (click here) (since then I've also seen Antiporno which would rank third from the bottom). As said there, 'Himizu' is not a film I can really write about.

It seems like everyone has different rankings of Sono's filmography (like the Coens'); there isn't really much of a consensus as what his best films are after 'Love Exposure'. Each of his films feels like a standalone, but does contain re-occuring themes and fruitful connections to his other work.

Anyway, obviously I'm a big fan as well. Which ones haven't you seen that I have (apart from 'Himizu')? I'd guess 'Hazard' and 'Into a Dream', which are less famous but I'd say definitely worth watching, the latter if only for PdA's great post from the CuM SWAP back on FG.

[RedHawk10]

I'm glad you liked 'Himizu', that's one of my very favourite films.

I'm a big fan of Sono but haven't gotten around to this one yet. Hearing it's one of your all time favorites definitely bumps it up as a higher priority. Out of curiosity, how does the rest of his filmography stack up for you? Besides my undying love for Love Exposure I think his next best films are Tag, Cold Fish, and Why Don't You Play in Hell.

'Himizu' was a FotW at some point and I listed my ranking there, coincidentally (click here) (since then I've also seen Antiporno which would rank third from the bottom). As said there, 'Himizu' is not a film I can really write about.

It seems like everyone has different rankings of Sono's filmography (like the Coens'); there isn't really much of a consensus as what his best films are after 'Love Exposure'. Each of his films feels like a standalone, but does contain re-occuring themes and fruitful connections to his other work.

Anyway, obviously I'm a big fan as well. Which ones haven't you seen that I have (apart from 'Himizu')? I'd guess 'Hazard' and 'Into a Dream', which are less famous but I'd say definitely worth watching, the latter if only for PdA's great post from the CuM SWAP back on FG.

These are the ones I've seen from him (roughly ranked):

1. Love Exposure - 10
2. Tag - 8
3. Cold Fish - 8
4. Why Don't You Play in Hell? - 8
5. Suicide Club - 8
6. Guilty of Romance - 7
7. Strange Circus - 7
8. Noriko's Dinner Table - 7

I like them all a good deal. I'm yet to run into a misfire from him but he's got a pretty decent sized filmography, so it's bound to happen sooner or later. From your ranking the highest I haven't seen besides Himizu is Tokyo Tribe. That one looks pretty goofy, not necessarily in a bad way though.

[1859]

Seen any other Sion Sono movies, then?

What favourites would you share back? 'On the Beach at Night Alone'? ;)

Maybe I was just too tired but 'on the beach at night alone' didn't do much for me, it even evaporated from my memory quite much by now.

Of Sang Soo Hong my little precious fav is Our Sunhi and I won't deny - it touches me on a personal level since I feel i'm in a similar life stage as the main protagonist, but I also like it because of it's clean structure and how it plays with the idea of repetition and recycling shit in conversations. It also contains my favourite drinking scene from Hong so far. And it's super underseen, 152 checkos oh my god!

Spoiler: click to toggleShow

Sang Soo Hong kinda can though .

From Sono these are the ones I've seen and I'm gonna star the ones I like more:

*why don't you play in hell?
*himizu
*guilty of romance
*love exposure - especially the first two hours or so ;p
*antiporno - i've been waiting so much for this one aaaand..... it brings me colours, I like it. Thanks for linking that thread about it, i missed it and I see some long posts, gonna check them out.
whispering star - "this adoration toward distance and time is probably similar to the pulsing of a heartbeat to a human" aww
? tokyo vampire hotel - hell, I love the bar shooting scene. it was a huge mess if I remember correctly, and my viewing was tainted by the fact that I saw it at the festival in the evening and my battery was running veeery low. I'd like to see it someday in parts as it was intended.
the room - need to rewatch
love and peace - those kind of stories are not my cup of tea that much. Pikadon song is 10/10 though
3/4*cold fish
be sure to share

i feel like watching tag finally, so it might join soon.


babymetal + r+ are some quality wishes!
also, good for you, goddammit! last year i failed my last chance to pass one class because of radiohead btw, that felt so much yolo ;p

[Carmel1379]

I mentioned 'On the Beach at Night Alone' since that's where your avatar is from, which I was curious about. Sang Soo Hong is a new director for me, so thanks for the rec. - I'll check out 'Our Sunhi' at some point.


Radiohead - Open'er? Sounds like it was worth giving up the class for.

[1859]

I get it. ^^ I like how she appreciates that cabbage flower btw.


Yeah, open'er and seeing the sea after a long time, and docks were all worth it. And I have way more enthusiasm for that class this time (vertebrate zoology, for all interested), so it was win win.

[Carmel1379]

A metaphor for your interest in and study of biology?


Brings back memories of Gdańsk from several years ago for me. Don't think I've been further up north in the Tricity, which I'd definitely want to visit again. Maybe coinciding with some future Open'er indeed (probably not this year).