Hi all, I’m Walid, currently living in Springfield, MA. I am Bangladeshi, but was born and raised in Kyoto, Japan, then spent my teenage years in Singapore, lived in Naperville, IL for a bit before spending 4 years for college in Atlanta, GA, lived in Scottsdale, AZ for a bit before work began. I move a lot, but my parents are not with the military. I am an engineer by trade, no formal film or music background.
Because English was the third language I picked up, I’ve been slow in getting up to speed with the years of classic cinema, but the earliest memory of my exposure to cinema was when they will air old European cinema over the weekends on the local TV stations in Singapore. I would see black and white German, French, Italian and English films. I think watching Run Lola Run began my fascination and obsession with film watching. I started renting all sorts of film from everywhere from Russia, Argentina, Thailand, while I explored unorthodox styles by likes of Tarantino and Soderbergh. After college, I started getting into Independent film, fortunately there was an art theater nearby where I studied, so I would frequently go to catch the latest releases. I definitely am more tuned towards newer releases and I’ve been hacking away at some of the classics by Hitchcock, Kubrick, Fellini, Kurosawa and others, since there’s so much golden material from those ages. I think due to my multi national up bringing, I’m definitely very appreciative of all foreign films and indie flicks that are just simply about life. I just escape into a different world, different lifestyle, to imagine myself living their lives.
It’s hard to list my favorite movies, some feel very personal to me at various points in my life, and besides, there’s so many good movies out there. There are some that stand out, of course. I’ve grown to love Leon (The Professional) over the years, Solyaris, City of God, 12 Angry Men, Amores Perros, Dirty Pretty Things, The Shining, Snatch, Pulp Fiction, Mulholland Drive, Seven Samurai, Pi, Central Station, Lost in Translation, Rear Window, Station Agent, You Can Count on Me, and the list can go on and on.
Hi everybody -
I’m Ryan and I live in Fresno, CA, where all the movie theaters all show the same movies all the damn time.
I have a BA in Cinema from San Francisco State, and I currently work as a temp. I’m in the process of applying for grad school with the purpose of getting an MFA in Creative Writing .
I’m a big fan of Bergman, Kubrick, and lots of other directors. I’ve got about 200 DVDs and Blu-Rays, but as I’ve a very limited budget, my collection has been growing slowly as of late. I’ve got Netflix though, so it’s not too hard to get a hold of things I want to watch.
So, yeah, there you go.
Woah, I somehow missed this thread earlier…
Hey everyone! I’m Ron and I currently live in South Jersey (although not for long). I’m 22 and I recently graduated college with a BA in Health and Societies. I work in Philadelphia right now, but I’m in the process of applying to grad school for sociology with a concentration in health outcomes, so this time next year I’ll most likely NOT be in Jersey anymore.
I’ve always been an avid movie-watcher, but I didn’t get into arthouse/indie films until my senior year of high school. During a lesson in English class my teacher was trying to explain to someone how the “climax” of a story didn’t have to be explosive or action-packed. She used the example of “Lost in Translation,” saying that the climax of that movie was when Bill Murray smiles after he kisses Scarlett Johansson. Having not seen it (but having seen a million commercials of it during Oscar season), a group of my friends and I went to a local theater to watch the movie to see a) what all the Oscar fuss was about and b) to see why our English teacher made such a big deal about a smile. I loved every second of it. That was the first truly indie movie I had ever seen, and will always have a special place in my heart, because it was this movie that made me view films not as entertainment but as an artform. And for what it’s worth, I now agree with my English teacher…that kiss is SO the climax of the movie.
I don’t have any formal training in film (I wanted to take a film class in college for fun, but I never got the chance to…the classes always conflicted with my major), I’m just a fan of good movies. Over the past few years I’ve been trying to catch up on the good stuff that has come out this decade, and I just recently started watching a queue of classic movies (HOW COME NOBODY TOLD ME THE 400 BLOWS WAS SO BRILLIANT!?). So, of course, any recommendations would be appreciated.
Favorite movies of the 2000’s: Lost in Translation, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Sideways (my all-time fave), The New World, Volver, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, No Country for Old Men, There Will Be Blood, Finding Nemo, The Squid and the Whale
That’s me in a nutshell. I came across this site by accident and I’m glad I found it…I was a member of another “film appreciation” site the past few years, but the members acted very snobbish to one another. This seems to be a much more friendly community of film-lovers. Can’t wait to dive in and explore!
Glad to see such an active board/discussion forum on this site! Look forward to reading and posting after all my seminar papers for the semester are done!
I am a student in my first year of college, very fascinated by films, and one who, of course, wants to be a filmmaker. I have been sutdying movies for about four years now, which, for my age, is not necessarily bad. I am very pleased that such a company like Criterion exists. If not, where else would I find all of Roger Ebert’s list of great movies?
Mainly, my focus is on films, but I also love art and writing, two things that I tend to do well (with an emphasis on tend).
Recently, I purchased seven films off the Criterion site during the forty percent off sale, although I wish I had started sooner, so that I could have gotten Rohmer’s Six Moral Tales and 4 by Agnes Varda (although, of course, getting Bergman’s Scenes From a Marriage is NOT a bad thing).
Bergman is my favorite director, followed closely by Truffaut, Linklater, and Fellini. I tend to like Godard’s stuff, but I can’t get over his complete arrogance toward Truffaut. (That does not mean, of course, though, that I will not watch his films)
Savvy
I’m a magazine editor living in the Cleveland area. I act in local theater productions and also write for dvdverdict.com. I didn’t get truly obsessive about movies until I went to college. My favorite directors include Truffaut, Woody Allen, Malick, Kubrick, Peter Weir, Wong Kar-wai and Melville. I also very much enjoy the “angry young man” films from Britain in the 1950s/1950s; “The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner” and “Billy Liar” are two of my favorite movies.
Great idea Juan… I’m a musician from Sydney, and Criterion has been my weakness for nearly 10 years I’d guess… I’d have about 500 or so. Through them I developed a great passion for French and Italian films. Growing up in Australia in the 70’s there was pretty much only British and American films, and fairly mainstream at that. The European films come at life from a slightly strange angle for me, maybe that’s what I find mesmerising in them… fav’s include Melville, Carne, Malle and Jean Renoir above all of them. I love all kinds of film, but especially ones that make you think… too little of that going on these days.
Thanks again for the idea.
benjamin here in austin, tx.
scientist by day and a self-taught film student (because i am still learning as much as i can) the rest of the time. i really enjoy godard, lynch, antonioni, bergman,…..whatever, i could go on.
i remember while i was watching O. Stone’s The Doors, there was a line something like… “script, i don’t need a script, Godard doesn’t use a script. He improvises with the camera.”….. i was in high school and did not know who this Godard was. it has been a full on snowball of everything Godard (which expanded into the new wave, then sweden, italy, etc.). all things film ever since.
i hope to share things with you all.
let’s have some fun
Hello, I’m from a somewhat obscure yet growingly infested place in Temecula, California. I’m 15 years old, and joined the other day because of the promised free films. I’m interested in broadening my film horizon, as I aspire to be involved in some sort of aspect of the movie business. If anybody would like to chat, I’d very much enjoy it. :D
Relatively new (once Criterion’s new site was launched and found the link to here). Out of college, I worked for an Oscar-winning producer then worked freelance as an editor and casting assistant. Now I’m currently working in production again in New York. The office job keeps my schedule regular enough to keep on my writing and be less likely to abandon another story idea.
Hey there: Name is Alex and I’m addicted to film.
‘Crowd says “hello Alex”. With a understanding looks on their faces’
Anyway, I’m a lazy college kid who has a mom with a film degree…so I grew up with film. I can stomach pretty much any type of cinema from “Silent” to “Itallian Neo Realism” to the average big dumb Hollywood blockbuster.
So send me a friend request or write on my wall or something, I’m pretty easy to chat with.
I have seen every criterion dvd. I am really runing out of films to see. Unfourntanetly the people in my enviorment do not share the same intrests or passion for film, especially if it is “art”. I hope you guys can create some intresting conversation so I can get back into film, or I might go out like Travis Bickle.
Film student at Emerson in Boston. As a Criterion buff and someone who even at film school doesn’t really know anyone who shares a similar taste for autuers, this site is especially awesome to me
helllllooo, my name is rachel, but you may call me SHE. i bide my time in either newyork or la, because i have great love/hate for both cities at different times of years. i love film and filmmakers and i hope one day to be an actresss extraordinareee.
Hi, spanish is my first language..so,i´ll read the forum mostly(instead of writing) ….i know about this site because of the Criterion website…and i finally register to take a look. Take care everyone! – Daniel
Hello, my name is also Daniel, I’m 18, and I stumbled across this place yesterday. Its quite overwhelming how much some, well most of you know about films, and how many films you all discuss that I haven’t seen or even heard of.
Anyway, I ‘d just really like to get more into films really. My favourite directors are Godard and Wes Anderson, and I really like most of Studio Ghibli’s films too.
As an extra note, I find it incredibly hard and frustrating to watch films – I have a terribly limited budget and there is so much that I have missed.
bugger, sorry
My name is Angela and I was raised on cinema, at the age of 6 my favorite films were the Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre(the original), La Dolce Vita & Mommie Dearest. So needless to say my friend’s parents weren’t too keen on them coming over to my house. I’ve grown into a complete and total film snob and have no problem telling others that they just might have bad taste in films. I never listen to anyone’s opinions and never read reviews before I go see a film in the theater.
Howdy. I’m a student majoring Drama/Television/Film Performance at ORU. This website is a dream come true!
Live and work in film production in NYC – so excited about this website!
I’m Australian but I’ve been living in Singapore and Hong Kong for the last few years. We have strict censorship laws in this part of the world so I have my DVD’s sent to Australia and smuggle them back in my suitcase. Highly “irregal” but I’d risk being deported for Fellini.
Fell in love with arthouse film about a year ago when I chanced upon a clip from Godard’s ‘Band of Outsiders’. I must have replayed that clip 30 times with my mouth agape. How can one describe that feeling without sounding foolish? I dare not try. I have a definite soft spot for French film but I also love Italian, German and Chinese cinema (with the added benefit of aiding my Mandarin studies!).
Found out about The Auteurs through the Criterion newsletter.
LOVE YOUR STUFF. Keep it coming.
Hello friends. I am a 22 years young filmmaker from the East Bay Area and though I have been attending the Academy of Arts University, I am currently taking a break to home school my film knowledge further and saving money. I have been hunting for a solid forum to post in for the past few years and finally I have found a home. This is a great place and I have been enjoying my stay and appreciate all the wisdom.
My name is Lloyd. I’m a movie lover after working at the Studios for 10 years and realized I didn’t have the passion to read a bunch of bad scripts. So. . .I followed my love which is music. On another note, anyone care to predict the future of Blu-Ray?
Hi, the names Calero. I like good films. Not bad ones.
I enjoy Bela Tarr, Tarkovsky, Kar-wai, Kaurismaki, Godard, Fassbinder, Almodovar, Argento, Gaspar Noe, but I really think CARLOS REYGADAS is the best thing happening right now.
I don’t enjoy Quentin Tarantino, David Lynch, most comic book movies, and I’m still deciding whether or not Hal Hartley is middle-brow.
I’m a writer, film historian and occasional DVD producer/contributor who’s likely to be somewhere between London (work) and the south coast of England (home) at any given moment. My current professional interests are British film and television history (for my main day job at the BFI) and central/eastern European cinema (for most of my freelance commissions and DVD productions), but I’ve spent nearly twenty years working in the independent/arthouse sector in some capacity: exhibition, distribution, criticism and even production – the latter disastrously, but I’m glad I did it!
I found this site courtesy of a random email a couple of days ago which alleged that I’d signed up to its mailing list. I don’t remember this at all, but the email’s large still from W.R. MYSTERIES OF THE ORGANISM suggested that it might be worth following the link, and I’ve been pretty impressed so far.
Hi, my name is Sesega, I am an architect, originaly from Russia, now living in Berlin…
My favorite directors are: Mikhalkov, Tarkovskij, Lars, Kore Eda, never understand Sokurov…
mary x-mas to all…
Hello, My name is Neal. I love films, I’m not a film student and have never been one. This is an awesome website. As usual the Criterion Collection gets things right.
Yes, it is very difficult to find people who enjoy good cinema. Average citizens flock to their local megaplexes and think that they are viewing the best that the industry has to offer. I guess that we, as real film lovers, are fortunate that we haven’t fallen into the Hollywood trap.
I am a huge fan of Japanese Cinema. Kurosawa, Ozu and Mizoguchi are some of favorite directors. They deal with some heavy and interesting subject matters. It is absolutely amazing how their work can linger in the consciousness for days. Seven Samurai, Sancho the Bailiff, Ugetsu, Ikiru and Early Summer are some the best films I’ve ever seen.
Anyway, that’s a rather short version of my story.
Hi, I’m Eleanor. I’m a Religious Studies major and Gender and Women’s Studies Concentration at a fancy-schwancy liberal arts school in the midwest. I’m originally from the Chicago northern suburbs. I’m 20—almost 21 in a littler over a month!—and when I’m not reading or getting fucked up and watching Youtube videos with my friends, I’m watching movies.
I wouldn’t say I’m a “film snob”, although I can have weirdly particularly tastes. Nontheless, I have nothing but disdain for the low art/high art dichotomy. I don’t get why so many film fans insist on demarcating this shit, what with film already being the most maligned and shit upon art form itself. Super lame.
Tracking down movies can be pretty rough where I go to school, and the AV Center kinda wants to kill me. Maybe you kids can help me out with this in the future! I look forward to talking movies with everyone here!
Hi everyone. I’m Ray, an English professor living in Minnesota. I don’t teach film, but have always loved it, and I do sometimes incorporate this or that film into one of my literature courses. As a lit person, I’m naturally attracted to movies with big, sweeping themes and ideas; so my favorite directors are people like Bresson, Dreyer, Bergman, etc. The two best films I’ve seen this year are both French, and both happen to be literary adaptations: Jacques Rivette’s “The Duchess of Langeais,” and Catherine Breillat’s “The Last Mistress.” But my third favorite film of the year so far is neither French nor literary: “Let the Right One In.”
Winston
Just got here. Fancy digs on the internets, eh? Something to romp on?
Good, I movie. Let’s movie together? Call me Winston or something.