Kiddo's favorites

[kiddo]

Some of the ture favorites for the moment; the films that I feel utterly comfortable calling some of my present favorites:


Jeder für sich und Gott gegen alle (Herzog, 1974)
Everything I love about/in cinema is to be found here in this uniquely thouching film by Werner Herzog. It's such a tender, attentive look at the world. Established (logical) thruts is challenged by unlogical and abstract thinking; abnormality becomes normal, normal becomes abnormal. An exquisit meditation on life, society and the fragile individual.


Day of the Dead (Romero, 1985)

Umberto D (De Sica, 1952)
Chinatown (Polanski, 1974)
Smultronstället (Bergman, 1957)
Stroszek (Herzog, 1976)
Apocalypse Now! Redux (Coppola, 1979)
Son otoko, kyobo ni tsuki (Kitano, 1989)
Nattvardsgästerna (Bergman, 1962)
Rio Bravo (Hawks, 1959)
El Topo (Jodorowsky, 1970)
Rouge (Kieslowski, 1994)
Body Double (De Palma, 1984)
Touch of Evil (Welles, 1958)
Nostalghia (Tarkovsky, 1983)
Assault on Precinct 13 (Carpenter, 1976)
Cobra Verde (Herzog, 1987)

The slaves will sell their masters and grow wings...

[criterionmaster]

I am dying to see Europa, where did you see the film? I can't even find a DVD for it.

[kiddo]

I think you will love that film. I got it in a film and music store here in Norway. It's a box set with Triers whole Europa-trilogy, including Element of Crime, Epidemic, Europa and a bonus disc.

You can get it here:

www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/709809/Lars_Von_Trier_Europe_Trilogy_Element_Of_Crime_Epidemic_Europa/Product.html

Or if you only want Europa, and not the whole triogy, you could buy this (expensive, though):

www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/104070/Europa/Product.html

It's worth every penny, though - and I would advise you to buy the whole trilogy. Element of Crime is a visual orgy.

[criterionmaster]

Thanks, but I will have to wait till I get a region free player, although I am going to see Element of Crime soon since it is on Criterion. I will probably get the box set when I get the player, which will happen in a month or two.

[kiddo]

Oh, I see. Then it's about time to get region free dvd player...

And why haven't Europa been noticed by Criterion?

[Nomansvally]

God dag! There are three films I haven't seen:

Your #1 Jeder für sich und Gott gegen alle by Herzog. This film is in my MUST-GET list and have been there along time. Herzog is to me a consistant filmmaker and one of the greats, I've seen six films by him (5 Kinski collaberations pluss Stroszek - my favorite! Great to see two Herzogs in there!) and I like them all. His book Herzog On Herzog is one of the most interesting books I own and I have frequently read some pages here and there. I highly recommend it if you are'nt familiar with it.

Europa and the rest of this triology seems interesting enough to give it a try. I know my local-videostore got copies of it so it's a matter of time. Von Trier is one of the finest filmmakers operating in Scandinavia today (along with Moodyson...) and he's so experimental and innovating you always want to check out more of his films. I love Dancer In The Dark, Dogville, Fem Bænspend but disliked Idioterne... Hope to watch Breaking The Waves soon 'cos that one I own but have yet to see.

I've never heard of Miyamoto Musashi kanketsuhen: kettô Ganryûjima... Hmm, what's this film about?

Great to see Rio Bravo inserted, a very fine and funny film. I love the cast very much and you feel for them more than other Hollywood westerns, the blood & beer scene is one of the best!

[kiddo]

God dag/kveld!

In fact, I have Herzog on Herzog. And yes, it is very, very interesting. I just love the part about televison today, and how that kind of destroys our ability to seek out fresh images and so on. Herzog is such an interesting man, with so many admirable thoghts and ideas concerning the world. I think I've said it before, but Jeder für sich und Gott gegen alle is a film that perfectly show what I love about cinema. Definitively check it out!

Miyamoto Musashi kanketsuhen: kettô Ganryûjima is the last film in a trilogy by some called, simply, the Samurai trilogy (or something). the trilogy is about this wild "wannabe-samurai who kills without remorse, which, through these three films, developes into a fullworthy samurai that thinks before he kills. He learns that killing is not the easiest way to a good life, and that he should avoid it if possible. The story is told extremely good, with quite a heavy dose of melodrama, capturing many themes.

I especially love the first film, and the third. The second one is good, but not quite as brilliant as the two others. All films are visually extraordinary; so beautiful! I absolutely reccomend the trilogy with all my heart! Here's some pictures:



And about Rio Bravo: Yes, I totally agree with you say. You definitively feel strong about the characters (I especially cared for Dean Martins character), and that scene in the bar, where they try to find the "assasin" is nothing but great - and one of the best scenes in the film.

[Nomansvally]

Akkuratt!

Thanks for the comment, I appreciate good words. I treasure Trois Couleurs very high, when I think of it it's defienitly my favorite trilogy.

I've seen them countless times since I discovered Kiesloski about two years ago and I've seen Bleu the most times, I somewhat feel more connected with it than the others, Juliette Binoche's preformance is so affective, so vulnerable but manages to hide it in the most human expressions...
Rouge like second and them Blanc, I really like Blanc and the way it's both sad and comic at the same tame, that brings out alot of striking emotions. Rouge is superb, all of it - just excellent filmmaking.

As I've said before - La Double Vie De Veronique is highly recommended, and I know you'll like it 'cos you dig Trois Couleurs.
Go get it man!

By the way is'nt Miyamoto Musashi like the James Bond of Japan?

[Nomansvally]

Hehe, I see. And by the way I don't know if they'll air Fanny Och Alexander this season, but I ordered the Criterion Collection 5-disc box some weeks ago so it will be watched anyway, that's my situation and I'm happy!

[Nomansvally]

Great, great, happy hunting! Search for some imports like artificial eye or criterion collection dvd editions. Platekompaniet usually have 'em. I bought The Wages Of Fear Criterion Collection DVD for just 249,- at Platekompaniet in Oslo this previous autumn vacation. Great buy!

[captainofbeef]

Top 3:
1. OUATIW
2. 8 1/2
3. Chinatown

I like your list too much, so no bottom three for you.

[agentknight]

TOP 3

1. 8 1/2 (very funny, very clever film - I love it!)
2. A Clockwork Orange (Kubrick's best? At the moment I'm leaning more towards Barry Lyndon, but a great film it certainly is)
3. 12 Angry Men (the concept is so simple, but so brilliant!)

BOTTOM 3

1. C'era una volta il West (sleep time)
2. The Godfather (as overrated as movies get)
3. The Elephant Man (one of the most disappointing films ever)

[kiddo]

Update: added the number of how many times I've seen the films, just for fun really. Maybe I get some pictures up there next... It's just that I don't like to copy. Whatever it is.

[The Anti-Snob]

I have yet to see the final installment of the Samurai trilogy, but it is lying around the house; you've just motivated me to make it the next film I watch (well, perhaps after Castle in the Sky ). Thanks, Kiddo!

-Dan

[kiddo]

Oh, good. Enjoy!

Btw, I added Apocalypse now! Redux on the list. I have thought about it a long time now, if I was to put it on the list or not, and finally I ended up putting it in my top 10. It just means so much too me, and I think about the film all the time.

[criterionmaster]

Your list looks really nice, I look forward to you expanding your list further than top 20.

[Clark Nova]

omg, what a fantastic list!

top 3 (and it was really, really hard to separate 3 from the pack):

- The Godfather
- Taxi Driver
- Apocalypse Now
- Once Upon a Time in the West (yes, i know i said top 3, but i couldn't possibly leave this out...and yet i'm still leaving out Chinatown...and touch of evil...and Sunset Blvd. ;D...so this might as well be a top 7)

bottom 3:

- Miyamoto Musashi (wasn't a fan of the trilogy...thought it was too melodramatic)
- Elephant Man (not great, not terrible, but Lynch has done better)
- Seventh Seal (i actually like this one, but i had to choose something)

[mixed]

I really like your list and the fact you list the amount of times you've seen each film. I think a films replayability fdactor is very important and unless a film is very special I wont lit it till I've seen it at least twice. I think that increases its credability somewhat.

[kiddo]

Updated the list with some new pictures and additional 30 films...

[criterionmaster]

You said you give Day of the Dead a 9 even though it is like number 10 on your list?

[ie]

criterionmaster said:

You said you give Day of the Dead a 9 even though it is like number 10 on your list?

Maybe he's more harsh with his ratings than I am.

[kiddo]

Well, it's quite difficult to explain - and at the same time it isn't.

First off, I do give very few 10s. I think I've give it to around 15 films. For example, I remember giving The Deer Hunter a 10. I was so amazed by it, didn't really find one flaw in it. And it was so huge (and at the same time quite minimalistic). But I have had so much fun with Day through the years, while I haven't had this great urge to visit The Deer Hunter. And it didn't leave that great impact I'de hoped for; while I remember been very affected by it after I've seen it, today I don't think about the film that often. Still, I think it's one of the greatest of them all out there, it's more that I think about Day so much, and how much fun it is, and at the same time so full of different intereting aspects. It's diffivult to make you understand my choice here, but hopefully you understand some of my reasons.

When that's said, how I've ordered my top 20 is not that important. The Godfather is a 10 for me, but I've put Day higher up, mostly because I feel more connected to it in a way (sorry if that sounds banal).

(A little note concerning my top 50: I'm not totally satisfied with the list yet, so changes will come).

[Nomansvally]

Hey, now I'm glad! You got some Kieslowski on board. Rouge isby all means an excellent film you know, now when I think of it I haven't seen it in some time. Gotta do a rewatch soon, man.

I also dig your top 30, as I've said before. I still haven't got a hold on Europa, Miyamoto Musashi kanketsuhen: kettô Ganryûjima, Day Of The Dead or Jeder für sich und Gott gegen alle your number one. And that's a shame, I feel favorite things films (and other things) tells a lot about a person.

Anyway concerning tens, I was reading your last comment there, I think all the ones I've seen on your list are tens.

[kiddo]

Updated my top 50; now I'm pretty comfortable with it. I feel it represent my taste very well.

[sacrilegend]

Hi Endre! (are there any little marks on the E's? Like this: è?)

I can't really comment on your list, I haven't seen most of these films. I was about to rent The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover yesterday, but I had to get something my sister could watch, so I got Buena Vista Social Club instead. Let me know what you thought!

I'll use this list as a reference whenever I go a-renting though, you have some wonderful taste, and I agree with an earlier statement: you and I find our emotions at about the same places.

Have you seen Mulholland Drive or Paris, Texas?
WHEN are you seeing Wings of Desire...?

[kiddo]

Update: I've now written something about the films in the #11-#40. Check it out if you want. I'll write something about the films in my top 10 also... Just have to give me some more time.

[kiddo]

Updated my list again. I've made it a top 15 now. Feel it's more personal, kind of.

Make a comment if you want. I appreciate it.

[sacrilegend]

My comment is: at your list, and at having your old avatar back.

And my other comment: Did you get my laborously typed e-mail?

[drizzt]

You probably already know, but I love your list. I think we got some fav. movies in common.

[kiddo]

Kayla: Yes, I got your email, and I did answer it as well. Haven't you got it?

drizzt: Yeah, I think I know which titles you mean.

I will try to write something about every film on the list soon. Maybe I copy a little bit og what I've written in the "rate the last film you saw"-thread, but I'll let you know when I've done it.