Before I begin this final installment of my 200 Movie Challenge, I’d like to talk a bit about the challenge itself. When I conceived of the idea, my original estimate was that I would be be able to comfortably squeeze in 100 movies in a year. TWGW suggested that 200 should be more of a challenge. Not one to back down easily, I decided she was right, and thus the 200 Movie Challenge was born.
As you may, or may not recall, my original reviews consisted of lengthy disscussions of the movies I had recently watched. In those long reviews, I included still shots from the films–which, most of you probably know, included a fair amount of digital editing to include some sort of relevant easter egg. That took scads of time, and I was reluctant to watch another movie until I had finished a review. This slowed me down considerably. Add to that the fact that I acquired high-speed internet at home for the first time ever, and got a copy of God of War 2 for the PS2, and it was a recipe for procrastination. A third of the way into the year, and I had only watched around 20 movies. I clearly was not on track to meet my goal of 200 by year’s end.
Then I switched to my super-short reviews, using the number scale you’ve grown to love and/or hate. Things really picked up then, and I started knocking out reviews quickly. It looked like I might just make it after all. This Summer, however, life had different plans for me. Work was such a demand, that I barely had the energy to watch movies with any kind of critical eye, but I perservered, and still made a respectable pass at staying on track. (A note on my number-scale: some have suggested that my scores are over-inflated as I tend to rate everything near a 10. Well, this means one of two things, either I don’t waste my time watching movies I won’t like and have refined my skills at picking a worthwile [to me] film–or, as is more likely the case, I’m able to find merit in almost any movie I endeavor to watch. Either way, I like movies of all sorts, and I stand behind my ratings. Your mileage may vary.)
Then came Netflix. Oh how I love Netflix.
For a movie lover, having Netflix is like a heroin addict having a live-in dope dealer. Movies delivered to my doorstep, and more importantly, movies on tap via the streaming feature. Who could ask for more? The problem came in when I discovered that I could stream not just movies, but television shows as well! I started soaking up shows that I haven’t seen in 20 years, shows I’ve only caught glimpses of when visiting family who had cable, and shows I’ve only recently discovered. Since getting Netflix, I’ve watched nearly 4 complete seasons of Futurama, 1 1/2 seasons of Miami Ink, the complete 4 seasons of Good Neighbors (aka The Good Life) series, all 8 seasons of Red Dwarf, the better part of a season of A-team, about 1/3 of a season of Babylon 5, and a good chunk of the Fawlty Towers series.
In short, I’ve watched a pantsload of Netflix. If you add up all those hours, it’s probably the equivalent of 100 movies. I loved every minute of it, and I’m not sorry for missing my goal of 200 movies. This challenge was about enjoying myself, and being entertained. Well, mission accomplished, as far as I’m concerned.
81. Batman: Under the Red Hood
Audience (1=Mainstream 10=”Cult”):8
Tone(1=Drama 10=Comedy):1
Kid safe? (Yes or No)No
Reminds me of: Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, Batman Mask of the Phantasm
Did I like it? (0=”Not at all” 10=”I want to put on tights and run around Gotham after dark with it”) 10
82. Murder on the Orient Express
Audience (1=Mainstream 10=”Cult”):3
Tone(1=Drama 10=Comedy):2
Kid safe? (Yes or No)No
Reminds me of: And Then There Were None, House on Haunted Hill
Did I like it? (0=”Not at all” 10=”I would help it hide a dead body”) 10
83. Paprika
Audience (1=Mainstream 10=”Cult”):10
Tone(1=Drama 10=Comedy):6
Kid safe? (Yes or No)No
Reminds me of: Memento, Tekkonenkrete, What Dreams May Come
Did I like it? (0=”Not at all” 10=”I would share my dreams with it”) 8
84. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Audience (1=Mainstream 10=”Cult”):3
Tone(1=Drama 10=Comedy):1
Kid safe? (Yes or No)Yes–in fact, you should make your kids watch it.
Reminds me of: It stands alone, really. Maybe similar-ish to To Kill a Mockingbird
Did I like it? (0=”Not at all” 10=”I would endorse it’s run for Senate”) 10
85. An Affair to Remember
Audience (1=Mainstream 10=”Cult”):5
Tone(1=Drama 10=Comedy):5
Kid safe? (Yes or No)Yes–but some the themes will go over kid’s heads
Reminds me of:Don’t Eat the Daisies
Did I like it? (0=”Not at all” 10=”I want book a cruise with it”) 10
86. Man, Woman and the Wall
Audience (1=Mainstream 10=”Cult”):10
Tone(1=Drama 10=Comedy):3
Kid safe? (Yes or No)No
Reminds me of: Sliver
Did I like it? (0=”Not at all” 10=”I would spy on it regularly”) 8
87. The Fantastic Voyage
Audience (1=Mainstream 10=”Cult”):10
Tone(1=Drama 10=Comedy):1
Kid safe? (Yes or No)Yes
Reminds me of:Westworld, Journey to the Center of the Earth
Did I like it? (0=”Not at all” 10=”I’d put my life in danger to save its life”) 10
88. King of Kong
Audience (1=Mainstream 10=”Cult”):8
Tone(1=Drama 10=Comedy):2
Kid safe? (Yes or No)Yes, but not “kid friendly”
Reminds me of:A Mighty Wind, Dogtown & Z-Boys
Did I like it? (0=”Not at all” 10=”I would let it beat me at pac-man”) 10
89. Casablanca
Audience (1=Mainstream 10=”Cult”):5
Tone(1=Drama 10=Comedy):1
Kid safe? (Yes or No)No, mature themes
Reminds me of:Ninotchka
Did I like it? (0=”Not at all” 10=”I would take the fall so it could escape the Nazis”) 10
90. After The Thin Man
Audience (1=Mainstream 10=”Cult”):7
Tone(1=Drama 10=Comedy):8
Kid safe? (Yes or No)No, excessive alcohol use
Reminds me of:Clue, Thin Man
Did I like it? (0=”Not at all” 10=”I want to team up with it and solve crimes”) 10
91. The Knack and How to Get It
Audience (1=Mainstream 10=”Cult”):10
Tone(1=Drama 10=Comedy):8
Kid safe? (Yes or No)Not Really
Reminds me of:Lickerish Quartet
Did I like it? (0=”Not at all” 10=”I want to ride a bed around the city with it”)8
92. Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation
Audience (1=Mainstream 10=”Cult”):4
Tone(1=Drama 10=Comedy):10
Kid safe? (Yes or No)Mostly–some mild swearing
Reminds me of:National Lampoon’s Summer Vacation, Mr. Hulot’s Holiday
Did I like it? (0=”Not at all” 10=”I want to book a month on the beach with it”) 10
93. The Colour of Magic
Audience (1=Mainstream 10=”Cult”):7
Tone(1=Drama 10=Comedy):9
Kid safe? (Yes or No)Not really–scary moments and swearing
Reminds me of:Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Xena, Hercules the Legendary Journeys
Did I like it? (0=”Not at all” 10=”I would gift it with magic luggage”) 10 <The books are definitely better, though>
94. Sex Drive
Audience (1=Mainstream 10=”Cult”):4
Tone(1=Drama 10=Comedy):10
Kid safe? (Yes or No)Absolutely not
Reminds me of:American Pie, Road Trip
Did I like it? (0=”Not at all” 10=”I would turn Amish for it”) A very surprising 10
95. Moog
Audience (1=Mainstream 10=”Cult”):10
Tone(1=Drama 10=Comedy):2
Kid safe? (Yes or No)Yes
Reminds me of:King of Kong
Did I like it? (0=”Not at all” 10=”I would hire it to play at my wedding”) 8
96. Park
Audience (1=Mainstream 10=”Cult”):3
Tone(1=Drama 10=Comedy):8
Kid safe? (Yes or No)No
Reminds me of:Twenty Bucks, SLC Punk
Did I like it? (0=”Not at all” 10=”I would stop it from committing suicide”) 10
97. It’s A Very Muppet Christmas Movie
Audience (1=Mainstream 10=”Cult”):1
Tone(1=Drama 10=Comedy):10
Kid safe? (Yes or No)Yes
Reminds me of:It’s a Wonderful Life
Did I like it? (0=”Not at all” 10=”I would slap a Cusack on its behalf”) 4
Watch this instead:
98. Beowulf & Grendel
Audience (1=Mainstream 10=”Cult”):3
Tone(1=Drama 10=Comedy):1
Kid safe? (Yes or No)No
Reminds me of:Beowulf (The Chris Lambert version), 13th Warrior
Did I like it? (0=”Not at all” 10=”I would fight demons to the death for it”) 8
99. White Christmas
Audience (1=Mainstream 10=”Cult”):3
Tone(1=Drama 10=Comedy):8
Kid safe? (Yes or No)Yes
Reminds me of:Holiday Inn, Guys and Dolls
Did I like it? (0=”Not at all” 10=”I’d put on a special benefit show to remind it of how much it’s loved”) 10
100. The Ωmega Man
Audience (1=Mainstream 10=”Cult”):7
Tone(1=Drama 10=Comedy):1
Kid safe? (Yes or No)No
Reminds me of:The Last Man on Earth, I Am Legend, Soylent Green
Did I like it? (0=”Not at all” 10=”I want to repopulate earth with it”) 8
Watch this instead, it’s much better:
Gentlemanbeggar 