4v291o

Watched on Monday May 19, 2025.

Watched on Thursday May 15, 2025.

Watched on Thursday May 15, 2025.

Okay but how do we know Benitez didn’t orchestrate those bombings?

Watched on Saturday May 10, 2025.

Polonius definitely would’ve been an English bulldog, you philistine.

Watched on Thursday April 24, 2025.

Watched on Tuesday April 15, 2025.

Watched on Monday March 31, 2025.

Watched on Saturday March 29, 2025.

Watched on Monday March 24, 2025.

Watched on Friday March 21, 2025.

Watched on Thursday March 13, 2025.

Hoo boy, a complicated film.

The animation is quite nice. The use of different styles for different segments of the story makes the film constantly a treat to look at. Special mention goes out to the rotoscoped breakup/fire-dance sequence, as well as the shadow puppet narrators.

Speaking of, that's my other major kudos - the narrators are charming and really sell the case for reinterpretation that the film makes wrt the Ramayana. Each of them contributes their own details in their walk through the story of Sita and Rama, harkening to the ways that mythology and religious lore are often matters of taking up and varying the details of the same basic narrative to suit the ends of whatever the teller is trying to convey. Good stuff! I'm not especially interested in parsing out the "correct" or "true" version of this kind of story, because mythologies and religious tales have always been the subject of (re)interpretation.

Now, then, as one other reviewer said, this is definitely a case of "terrible person has a good point." Nina Paley is a transphobe and her connection with the tale (and of herself with Sita) is perhaps a bit self-aggrandizing. It especially rings strange given her recent defense of generative AI art in line with her "creative commons" crusade. It's like Paley is living in a world where her ethics are based around idealized principle rather than through material relations.

Also, why does an 80 minute movie need a 3 minute intermission?

Watched on Thursday February 20, 2025.

Watched on Wednesday February 19, 2025.

Watched on Sunday February 9, 2025.

Watched on Thursday February 6, 2025.

Watched on Saturday February 1, 2025.

Watched on Sunday January 26, 2025.

Watched on Saturday January 25, 2025.

Watched on Monday January 20, 2025.

Watched on Wednesday January 15, 2025.

Watched on Wednesday January 15, 2025.

Watched on Monday January 13, 2025.

Watched on Sunday January 12, 2025.

A fine pre-code film with a nice visual design and lackluster acting and writing. Some performances are okay (Lugosi is a standout when he's onscreen) but there are large chunks where the action seems to slow to a crawl and the characters' wooden acting really grates.

Feels like nothing so much as Hesse's Steppenwolf to me. Same dreamlike structure as a man reflects on the relationships that transitioned him from childhood to adulthood, juxtaposed against an unease at the transition from the 19th to the 20th century. However, I wish it had more of the pathos of other inter-war novels like the works of Kafka. One of the main problems with the surrealist movement is that you can't actually depict things that exist outside of your awareness or experience without completely breaking away from cultural references or symbology, which this film seems mostly mired in. A scene where a man repeats the scientific names of birds does not convey the random concatenation of synapses in a dream--it conveys the effort that appearing "random" actually involves. Perhaps the novel was more able to weave its phantasmagoric imagery with that sense of loss and anachronism, but the movie just feels like it's trying too hard. It's simultaneously less formally ambitious and strange than other films it is contemporary with -- Daisies and WR: Mysteries of the Organism, and other adaptations of Schulz's work like the Quay Brothers' Street of Crocodiles. Also, The Company of Wolves seems to have the exact same lighting and cinematography. Honestly not sure what folks here on Letterboxd are raving about.

Watched on Tuesday January 7, 2025.

Watched on Saturday January 4, 2025.

Watched on Saturday January 4, 2025.

Watched on Thursday January 2, 2025.

Watched on Sunday December 29, 2024.

Watched on Wednesday December 25, 2024.

Watched on Saturday December 21, 2024.

Watched on Friday December 20, 2024.

Watched on Thursday December 19, 2024.

Watched on Monday December 16, 2024.

Watched on Sunday December 15, 2024.

Watched on Friday December 13, 2024.

Watched on Wednesday December 11, 2024.

Watched on Sunday December 8, 2024.

Fight scenes are cool. Did not care for the politics of the film. AKAB.

Watched on Saturday December 7, 2024.

Watched on Thursday December 5, 2024.

Watched on Saturday November 30, 2024.

Watched on Friday November 29, 2024.

Watched on Sunday November 17, 2024.

Watched on Thursday November 14, 2024.

Watched on Sunday November 10, 2024.

• The Disaster Artist
• Crash
• Stand by Me
• My Dinner with Andre
• Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom
• Superbad
• The Emperor's New Groove
• Holes
• Ed Wood
• The Lighthouse

(Copied from the original list by Ponders - found here: letterboxd.sitesdebloques.org/thponders/list/the-anti-criterion-challenge-2025/)

Welcome to the fifth annual Anti-Criterion Challenge- a companion, confutation, rebuttal, and rebuffing of the Criterion Challenge!

The goal is simple: 1 Year. 52 prompts. 52 feature length films that are NOT in The Criterion Collection. (And no rewatches!)

I’m very excited for this year’s challenge! A lot of playtesting and design goes into creating the ACC, and I had a lot of fun finding exciting prompts. You can check the notes for recommended films in each category and for the all of the bonus challenges. And this year, all of the prompts can be completed with films by BIPOC and Latinx directors. (More on that in the Certificate of Completion section below.)

As in previous years, share your list in the comments and I’ll add it to the description. Then let me know when you've completed the challenge and you'll get a green check and a certificate.

And feel free to use “anti-criterion challenge 2025” or “acc2025” so others can see what you’re watching.

But you don’t care about any of that. You just want the challenges. Let’s do this.

—

Categories

1. 5 Years of Anti-Criterioning! Pick any challenge from the past 4 years of challenges! - Star Sign Film
2. 1920's
3. 1930's
4. 1940's
5. 1950's
6. 1960's
7. 1970's
8. 1980's
9. 1990's
10. 2000's
11. 2010's
12. 2020's
13. Starring Hiam Abbass
14. Starring Sandra Oh
15. Starring Isaac de Bankolé
16. Olivier Lemay's I'M ALWAYS A SLUT FOR UNUSUAL ASPECT RATIOS
17. Adam T's Hotels as Liminal Spaces
18. michelle grondine's blue eyeshadow cinematic universe
19. comrade_yui's neo-expressionism: the forgotten studio style
20. Horror made in Indonesia by an Indonesian director
21. Romance or Drama made in South Korea by a South Korean director
22. A film with practical monsters or creatures
23. Golden Raspberry Winner in any category
24. Film that did have a theatrical release, but did not have a theatrical release in the US
25. Film from any director in any style or genre
26. Another film from the same director in a different style or genre
27. A narrative film or documentary about sex work *
28. A narrative film or documentary about a revolution, demonstration, protest, activist, or human rights movement *
29. Starring one of the Real Housewives
30. Payal Kapadia's List of 50 Favorite Films
31. Condemned by the Catholic Church
32. Directed by an indigenous director whose work you haven't seen before
33. Directed by a trans, nonbinary, two-spirit, or other gender non-conforming director whose work you haven't seen before
34. Broken up into chapters
35. Five or more words in the title *
36. Made with a micro-budget (less than $400,000) *
37. Armando Vanegas' Afro-Latino Representation
38. Mentioned in Shazia Iqbal’s article Muslim Life in India for Film Independent
39. Edited by Maysie Hoy
40. Edited by Marie-Hélène Dozo
41. Edited by Tina Baz
42. A film whose primary spoken language is the primary language for less than 1,000 other films *
43. Musical that is not in English
44. Based on mythology, folklore, or fairy tales *
45. Adapted from a children’s book
46. Silent film made in Japan by a Japanese director
47. Comedy made in Egypt by an Egyptian director
48. Starring a professional athlete
49. From a fandom you've never participated in
50. Hallmark holiday (or equivalent vibes)
51. Someone holds a cat
52. Ends in a freeze frame

Started: 1/4/25
Progress: 1/52
Finished:

• Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
• Faust
• King Kong
• The Gang's All Here
• Rear Window
• Barbarella
• The Hourglass Sanatorium
• Angel's Egg
• The City of Lost Children
• Blood Tea and Red String

...plus 42 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Copied from Ben's original list @ letterboxd.sitesdebloques.org/benvsthemovies/list/the-criterion-challenge-2025/

Welcome to the fifth annual Criterion Challenge where we celebrate The Criterion Collection! Can you believe it has been HALF A DECADE? When I started this challenge, I never expected it to hit the ground running as fast as it did, so thanks to all of you for participating. I wanted this year to mix in some categories throughout the years as well as be even more collaborative. I took many of your suggestions and turned them into categories. It’s a very exciting line-up for 2025!

But first, time for the rules:

There are 52 categories. The goal is to watch any Criterion released film based on the categories below between 1/1/25-12/31/25. Your choices can be any films released by Criterion on 4K, Blu-ray, DVD, VHS, Laserdisc, or ones that have been featured on The Criterion Channel streaming service (although I'd prefer you choose films they've actually put out themselves).
The films can be watched daily, weekly, or monthly, and in any order! Watch them at your own pace, but you have to finish by 12/31/25.
I would like for all picks to be first time watches, but will leave that up to you.

Don't forget to visit The Criterion Collection for all your film needs, and they have a pretty sweet streaming service for endless options to choose from when you're struggling to find things to watch.

HUGE SHOUTOUT to Josh and Criterion Closet Picks for their amazing lists which helps this process be much smoother.

Now...what you all have been waiting for...

Categories:

1. Watch a film from the CC40 Boxset
2. Watch a film from the year you were born
3. Directed by Robert Altman
4. Watch a film that would be your first choice in the Criterion Closet
5. Great Soundtracks
6. John Turturro’s Adventures in Moviegoing
7. 1920s
8. Watch a film that will be added to the physical collection in 2025
9. 1930s
10. Andrew Garfield’s Closet Picks
11. 1940s
12. Celine Song’s Top 10
13. 1950s
14. Watch a film from the Criterion Channel’s all time favorites lists
15. 1960s
16. Watch a film that is currently out of print from the physical collection
17. 1970s
18. William Friedkin’s Closet Picks
19. 1980s
20. Spine #451-499
21. 1990s
22. Documentary
23. 2000s
24. Janus Contemporaries
25. 2010s
26. Bill Hader’s Second Closet Picks
27. 2020s
28. Noir and Neonoir
29. All Time Top Criterion Closet Picks
30. Criterion Releases Never Picked in the Closet
31. North American film
32. Ayo Edebiri’s Closet Picks
33. Wim Wenders’ Adventures in Moviegoing
34. South American film
35. Random Number Generator (Google random number generator, set values from 1 to whatever number Criterion has listed last here. This number will change as more releases are announced so please keep up to date by using the link I have provided as I will not be updating each time Criterion makes announcements. Watch whatever movie corresponds to the spine number you are given.)
36. AAPI Filmmakers
37. Watch a film shorter than 80 minutes
38. European film
39. Cult Movies
40. Isabella Rossellini’s Adventures in Moviegoing
41. Winona Ryder’s Closet Picks
42. African film
43. John Carpenter’s Top 10
44. Horror
45. Asian film
46. Dark Comedies
47. Rachel Kushner’s Adventures in Moviegoing
48. Australian film
49. Female Filmmakers
50. Ben Wheatley’s Closet Picks
51. A film by a director whose work you have not seen before
52. Watch any Criterion film from your watchlist

Helpful Links:
The Complete Criterion Collection
The Criterion Collection by Spine Number
Every Film Available on The Criterion Channel

Please use the tags "cc2025" and “criterion challenge 2025” so that we can keep track of everything, and link your lists in the comments below. Have fun!

Previous challenges:
The Criterion Challenge 2021
The Criterion Challenge 2022
The Criterion Challenge 2023
The Criterion Challenge 2024

Started: 1/2/25
Watched: 1/52
Completed:

• Y Tu Mamá También
• Until the End of the World
• 3 Women
• The Trial
• Inside Llewyn Davis
• Wild Strawberries
• The Docks of New York
• Punch-Drunk Love
• Island of Lost Souls
• The Red Shoes

...plus 42 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

quoting from Ben's original list: letterboxd.sitesdebloques.org/benvsthemovies/list/the-criterion-challenge-2024/

The Criterion Challenge 2024
Welcome to the fourth annual Criterion Challenge where we celebrate The Criterion Collection!

There are 52 categories. The goal is to watch any Criterion released film based on the categories below between 1/1/24-12/31/24. Your choices can be any films released by Criterion on 4K, Blu-ray, DVD, VHS, Laserdisc, or ones that have been featured on The Criterion Channel streaming service (although I'd prefer you choose films they've actually put out themselves).
The films can be watched daily, weekly, or monthly, and in any order! Watch them at your own pace, but you have to finish by 12/31/24.
I would like for all picks to be first time watches, but will leave that up to you.

Don't forget to visit The Criterion Collection for all your film needs, and they have a pretty sweet streaming service for endless options to choose from when you're struggling to find things to watch.

Now...what you all have been waiting for...

Categories:

1. Spine #351-450
2. Spine #601-700
3. Watch a film with a rating of 4.3 or higher
4. First film in your watchlist
5. Most recently added film in your watchlist
6. Longest runtime in your watchlist
7. Most popular film in your watchlist
8. Martin Scorsese's World Cinema Project
9. Criterion Staff Picks
10. New York Film Festival Favorites
11. Watch a film in the Saturday Matinee series "Observations on Film Art"
12. First Films - watch a directorial debut
13. Virtually Reality
14. Random Number Generator (Google random number generator, set values from 1 to whatever number Criterion has listed last here. This number will change as more releases are announced so please keep up to date by using the link I have provided as I will not be updating each time Criterion makes announcements. Watch whatever movie corresponds to the spine number you are given.)
15. Technicolor
16. Women Auteurs
17. Criterion Sight and Sound
18. Dreaming of a Holiday Movie Marathon
19. Watch a Netflix Original released by Criterion
20. 100 Years of Olympic Films
21. LGBTQ+
22. Directed by Luis Buñuel
23. Directed by Mai Zetterling
24. Starring Liv Ullmann
25. Italian Neorealism
26. Hong Kong Cinema
27. Made in Brazil
28. Ari Aster’s Closet Picks
29. Yo La Tengo’s Closet Picks
30. Charlie Day’s Closet Picks
31. Michael Shannon’s Closet Picks
32. Aubrey Plaza’s Top 10
33. Anthony Bourdain’s Top 10
34. Alan Arkin’s Top 10
35. Tunde Adebimpe’s Top 10
36. Genre: Made for TV
37. Genre: Family
38. Genre: Animation
39. Genre: History
40. Guillermo del Toro’s Twitter Film recommendations
41. 1920s
42. 1930s
43. 1940s
44. 1950s
45. 1960s
46. 1970s
47. 1980s
48. 1990s
49. 2000s
50. 2010s
51. 2020s
52. Watch any Criterion film from your watchlist

Helpful Links:
The Complete Criterion Collection
The Criterion Collection by Spine Number
Every Film Available on The Criterion Channel

Please use the tags "cc2024" and “criterion challenge 2024” so that we can keep track of everything, and link your lists in the comments below. Have fun!

Previous challenges:
The Criterion Challenge 2023
The Criterion Challenge 2022
The Criterion Challenge 2021

Started: 1/3/24
Progress: 52/52
Completed: 12/29/24!!!!

• WR: Mysteries of the Organism
• The Decameron
• High and Low
• Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai
• Still Walking
• Shoah
• The Grand Budapest Hotel
• Touki Bouki
• For All Mankind
• Harakiri

...plus 42 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant
• My Dinner with Andre
• Pontypool
• Autumn Sonata
• The Lighthouse
• Persona
• Cube
• The Witch
• The Descent
• Woman in the Dunes

• The Thing

  Jed/Norwegian dog

• Possession

  Heinz Bennent/Heinrich

• Nope

  Michael Wincott/Antlers Holst

• Tetsuo: The Iron Man

  Kei Fujiwara/Salaryman's Girlfriend

• The Wicker Man

  Diane Cilento/Miss Rose

• Day of the Dead

  Sherman Howard/Bub

• House

  Miki Jinbo/Kung Fu (she's credited highly, but Gorgeous and Fantasy are the real main characters, IMO).

• The Love Witch

  Elle Evans and Fair Micaela Griffin/Sun and Moon

• Gozu

  Renji Ishibashi/Boss

• American Psycho

  Chloe Sevigny/Jean

• Lilo & Stitch
• The Straight Story
• My Neighbor Totoro
• The Virgin Suicides
• Winter's Bone
• Dead Ringers
• Ginger Snaps
• The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
• Spy Kids
• Nope

• eXistenZ
• Run Lola Run
• Reservoir Dogs
• Bound
• Fargo
• The Night of the Hunter
• After Hours
• Perfect Blue
• Get Out
• A Scanner Darkly

...plus 1 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• The Shining
• The Thing
• Tetsuo: The Iron Man
• The Fly
• Videodrome
• Day of the Dead
• Society
• Threads
• A Nightmare on Elm Street
• The Evil Dead

• Koyaanisqatsi
• Man with a Movie Camera
• Conspirators of Pleasure
• The ion of Joan of Arc
• Window Water Baby Moving
• At Land
• Metropolis
• Nosferatu

• Airplane!
• Porco Rosso
• The Wind Rises
• Kiki's Delivery Service
• Home Alone
• Hidalgo
• Raiders of the Lost Ark
• Avatar
• Snakes on a Plane
• Life of Pi

...plus 1 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

I just learned about Hooptober so I thought I'd try to take part! Happy to get . This list is just preliminary and might change.

"There must be 31 films
6 countries
8 decades
2 post apocalyptic or natural disaster related films
1 film with Robert Englund
1 something is underground film
3 Satan/Devil centered films
1 Amicus film.
The worst Dracula film (by Letterboxd rating) that you haven't seen and can access.
1 LGBTQ+ connected film
5 Films from De Palma, Wes Craven, Ken Russell, Hitchcock and/or Morehead & Benson.
2 Peter Cushing films
1 film based on a work of or invoking the name Bram Stoker
1 film based on a Clive Barker story
1 film that was released the year that you turned 10
1 Mario Bava film.
1 film with an 'x' in the title

And 1 Tobe Hooper Film (There must ALWAYS be a Hooper film)

***FOR THOSE THAT LIKE TO DO EXTRA WORK: WATCH The Zodiac Killer and 10 Rillington Place. Like last year, there is a third film: Shaky Shivers.

****I'm proud to have Screambox back as a partner, this year. I'd like to thank them for being a part of Hooptober Live, too.
Use This Link for a complimentary trial, and watch Shaky Shivers.

There is a lot of cool stuff on Screambox, so enjoy. 🤡

-review them all.(eek)

Clearly one film can satisfy multiple criteria. Viewing and reviewing will begin at 12:01am cst on Sept 15th."

• Black Sunday
• Galaxy of Terror
• Tales from the Crypt
• Dracula 3D
• The Lair of the White Worm
• Cthulhu
• The Curse of Frankenstein
• The Mummy
• Psycho
• Exorcist II: The Heretic

...plus 21 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.