A Couple of Films (ohnottheydidnt Challenges)
Two films I've seen recently that should meet some of the ohnotheydidnt film challenge criteria (yes, I'm still trying to do these).
I watched The Terminator some time ago, and forgot that one of the actors (Lance Henriksen) was in the Scream franchise: Scream 3, a film so bad that it killed the series for me and I didn't watch past this one.
I really enjoy The Terminator though and like to return to it as often as I can, just watching Arnold's first appearance as a ruthless killing machine sent from the future. Some of the special effects are quite wobbly-looking forty years on, but the other thing that makes this film for me is Linda Hamilton's performance as Sarah Connor, as she stands up against her pursuer.
Tonight, I watched a more recent film, Haunt where a group of young people come across a "haunted house" attraction on Hallowe'en. I did google the word "giallo" while I watched, and turns out its an Italian film genre that involves suspense, murders and masked killers, and this definitely counts.
Its guessable that when they see a masked "actor" attacking a bound up woman, this is no acting performance, but that the mask-wearing gang running the haunted house mean to bump off the visitors, one-by-one, in a way that is a little bit like the Saw franchise. The first three quarters or so of this film were quite good, but towards the end I started to wonder if some of the running time could have been cut out, as it turned into a montage of killings, followed by a couple of twists at the end that came in quick succession. Without giving much away, the final scene resembled a gruesome version of Home Alone.
January 2022
1. January 5th is National Bird Day, watch any movie that features a bird on the poster (some ideas).
6. Watch any movie that has been mentioned on the show It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
December 2021
10. Watch any movie that takes place during New Years (some options).
November 2021
7. Watch any movie that is adapted from a television show (some options).
9. November is Native American Heritage Month. Watch any movie featuring a Native actor/actress.
October 2021
1. Watch any movie that features an actor/actress that has appeared in the Scream franchise.
3. Watch any horror movie directed by a woman.
7. Watch any giallo.
September 2021
7. It's September, watch any movie that features the song September by Earth Wind & Fire. I made a list with some options that is hopefully helpful, here, but I'm sure there's other options out there.
August 2021
3. Watch any movie that has featured on the How Did This Get Made podcast.
6. Watch any movie that features an actor/actress that started out on reality TV - a link with examples is on Letterboxd, the source is banned :(
July 2021
1. Directors sometimes hate their own movies, maybe studio interference or just plain ol' lack of talent (which they won't admit, but I'll gladly call them out for), watch any movie that has been hated on by the very director that made it (I linked ideas over at Letterboxd, but its from a banned source... so go over there for a link or google for ideas).
6. On July 16th Anthony Bourdain's documentary will be released, watch any movie he's previously called one of his favorites.
10. Using this list find a movie you've previously seen and liked and watch a movie that is in the same row and is apparently similar to the one you've previously liked.
June 2021
1. Pick any user who has previously participated in this challenge and watch one of their favorite movies (any movie featured in their top 4 or that they've given 5 stars). If you're not on Letterboxd, then this might be a difficult one, but here's some lists from users who have participated, you should be able to see them without having an account.
May 2021
4. Watch any streaming original movie.
April 2021
2. Pick any movie from this list and watch the suggested companion movie (if you like the older one then watch the newer one, if you like the newer one then watch the older one).
3. Watch any movie on the 250 Essential Female Filmmakers list.
5. April 25th is the Academy Awards. Watch any short that is nominated this year or any previous year. Options: Animated, Live Action, Documentary.
March 2021
1 and 2. Same Name, Different Movie. Watch two movies that share a name. Some ideas: here and here. Thanks to decemlvng for coming up with the task!
5. Pick any film movement and watch one of the important movies within it.
6. Martin Scorsese once again upset some Twitter folks with a recent essay. Watch any movie he mentions in the essay (to expand your options, you could watch any movie by any of the directors on the list).
February 2021
1. Pick any top member on Letterboxd (under the members tab) and watch one of their favorite movies.
4. Watch any movie that is on the 2020 Best Picture According to Letterboxd Users list.
I watched The Terminator some time ago, and forgot that one of the actors (Lance Henriksen) was in the Scream franchise: Scream 3, a film so bad that it killed the series for me and I didn't watch past this one.
I really enjoy The Terminator though and like to return to it as often as I can, just watching Arnold's first appearance as a ruthless killing machine sent from the future. Some of the special effects are quite wobbly-looking forty years on, but the other thing that makes this film for me is Linda Hamilton's performance as Sarah Connor, as she stands up against her pursuer.
Tonight, I watched a more recent film, Haunt where a group of young people come across a "haunted house" attraction on Hallowe'en. I did google the word "giallo" while I watched, and turns out its an Italian film genre that involves suspense, murders and masked killers, and this definitely counts.
Its guessable that when they see a masked "actor" attacking a bound up woman, this is no acting performance, but that the mask-wearing gang running the haunted house mean to bump off the visitors, one-by-one, in a way that is a little bit like the Saw franchise. The first three quarters or so of this film were quite good, but towards the end I started to wonder if some of the running time could have been cut out, as it turned into a montage of killings, followed by a couple of twists at the end that came in quick succession. Without giving much away, the final scene resembled a gruesome version of Home Alone.
January 2022
1. January 5th is National Bird Day, watch any movie that features a bird on the poster (some ideas).
6. Watch any movie that has been mentioned on the show It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
December 2021
10. Watch any movie that takes place during New Years (some options).
November 2021
7. Watch any movie that is adapted from a television show (some options).
9. November is Native American Heritage Month. Watch any movie featuring a Native actor/actress.
October 2021
1. Watch any movie that features an actor/actress that has appeared in the Scream franchise.
3. Watch any horror movie directed by a woman.
7. Watch any giallo.
September 2021
7. It's September, watch any movie that features the song September by Earth Wind & Fire. I made a list with some options that is hopefully helpful, here, but I'm sure there's other options out there.
August 2021
3. Watch any movie that has featured on the How Did This Get Made podcast.
6. Watch any movie that features an actor/actress that started out on reality TV - a link with examples is on Letterboxd, the source is banned :(
July 2021
1. Directors sometimes hate their own movies, maybe studio interference or just plain ol' lack of talent (which they won't admit, but I'll gladly call them out for), watch any movie that has been hated on by the very director that made it (I linked ideas over at Letterboxd, but its from a banned source... so go over there for a link or google for ideas).
6. On July 16th Anthony Bourdain's documentary will be released, watch any movie he's previously called one of his favorites.
10. Using this list find a movie you've previously seen and liked and watch a movie that is in the same row and is apparently similar to the one you've previously liked.
June 2021
1. Pick any user who has previously participated in this challenge and watch one of their favorite movies (any movie featured in their top 4 or that they've given 5 stars). If you're not on Letterboxd, then this might be a difficult one, but here's some lists from users who have participated, you should be able to see them without having an account.
May 2021
4. Watch any streaming original movie.
April 2021
2. Pick any movie from this list and watch the suggested companion movie (if you like the older one then watch the newer one, if you like the newer one then watch the older one).
3. Watch any movie on the 250 Essential Female Filmmakers list.
5. April 25th is the Academy Awards. Watch any short that is nominated this year or any previous year. Options: Animated, Live Action, Documentary.
March 2021
1 and 2. Same Name, Different Movie. Watch two movies that share a name. Some ideas: here and here. Thanks to decemlvng for coming up with the task!
5. Pick any film movement and watch one of the important movies within it.
6. Martin Scorsese once again upset some Twitter folks with a recent essay. Watch any movie he mentions in the essay (to expand your options, you could watch any movie by any of the directors on the list).
February 2021
1. Pick any top member on Letterboxd (under the members tab) and watch one of their favorite movies.
4. Watch any movie that is on the 2020 Best Picture According to Letterboxd Users list.