Our A-Z Film Challenge

Hello Friends,
Well, this instalment will not involve any potting of edibles into jam jars, creative uses of leftovers or back garden growing of food because I promised to tell you about our A-Z Big Film Challenge.

To be truthful, this is something we started quite a while ago. We decided to cancel our subscription to Lovefilm.....all spare pennies were then being diverted into financing our lovely new bathroom........& also to be a little bit 'greener' by watching what we already owned, rather than continuing to buy new. We've always enjoyed watching our own DVD collection, but often, a typical DVD conversation would go like this:

Big Hairy One: D'you fancy watching a film?
Me: Yeah, great idea.
BHO: What d'you fancy watching?
Me: Anything, I'm not bothered.
BHO: What about 'X'?
Me: God no, I'm not in the mood for that.
BHO: Well what about 'Y'?
Me: Nope! I didn't even like that one first time round......
BHO: Well you suggest one then.
Me: I can't remember what films we've got.
BHO: Well come & have a look.
Me: OK. What about 'Z'?
BHO: Too long............

...........& so forth, until there is no time left actually to watch any film at all. Rubbish & time-wasting......but that's how our Big A-Z Film Challenge began.

The rules are that we will watch every film in our DVD collection, in strict alphabetical order then post a little review on Facebook. Excuses such as "That's not my type of film", "I've seen this 27 times already" ,"I'm washing my hair" or any other attempt to wimp out are disallowed. Knitting during the film is ok, but not reading i.e WE HAVE TO WATCH THE FILM.

We have just reached the end of the As.

The As have not been kind to me. I have thoroughly enjoyed, as usual, Abigail's Party with the only downside being that the 'Buy a broom' song circles around my head for the next three weeks. I quite enjoyed re-watching About a boy in which Hugh Grant isn't too cheesy & Toni Collette plays a right-on hippy mother & Amelie is a delight. Then there was Amadeus, adapted by Peter Shaffer from his stage play, which has long been one of my favourite films. At the 'mud & misery' end of the spectrum (I LIKE a bit of mud & misery) I've enjoyed re-watching Aguirre wrath of God - band of conquistadores heading down a Peruvian river in search of Eldorado, anyone? These are not just ANY conquistadores. These are Klaus Kinski-led  conquistadores so the jury's out on whether they will find even a whiff of that fabled gold before someone has a bit of a meltdown! German film (Werner Herzog) with subtitles, some of which are iffy & amusing. 
Amy Foster was also worth a re-watch. This film, aka 'Swept from the sea' is based on a short story by Joseph Conrad......& therein lies your clue that it won't be big on laughs. It was filmed in North Cornwall, particularly in Port Quin. I happened to be renting a cottage at Port Quin during filming & saw the tiny cove-edge hamlet enlarged with scenery. The church in the film looks very realistic, but there is no actual church there. It was just cleverly decorated wooden boarding held up at the back by pit props. The next time I visited, the village was back to normal......a few cottages & a tiny car park for people visiting the charming rock-pooled cove. Apparently, another visitor had complained about the heinous destruction of the 'lovely old church'. Nothing could convince him that it had merely been a two-dimensional piece of film set. He was adamant that he'd been visiting Port Quin for years & the ancient church had always been there! Beautiful scenery, grim film.....with some salient messages about attitudes to outsiders. So with these high points, why have the As not been kind to me?

Yes. Aliens. Lots of 'em.  Three films too many of 'em in my humble opinion. I enjoy the original Alien with the famous John Hurt stomach bursting scene (what's not to love when the critter sits up, has a quick look around before sguigging off on his naughty adventures?) The follow-up films fail to engage me, however, apart from the interesting Giger artwork. I know these films have a loyal following, but the truth for me, is that I ceased to care whether the Alien Mother ate Sigourney Weaver or it didn't, so much of the dramatic impact was lost. As a non-fan, to find that there was not only another film in this sequence to go, but that sadly, the BHO  owned it, & because of the previously agreed terms of the Big A-Z Film Challenge, I'd have to watch it, was a deflating discovery. I'd like to tell you that was the end of it, but no, because unbeknownst to me, the bloody thing fought Predator too, & yes, he had the DVD, so that was another couple of hours of my life gone.
Did I get through Aeonflux, Altered states & A.I ? Well, yes, I did, without huge enjoyment. Although the latter benefits from a second viewing, the one-track sentimentality of the second half was still an obstacle for me. Although the BHO & I share many favourite films in common, he partakes in genres I generally avoid. On the bright side, at least I got all those aliens over early in the challenge........& I can get my own back when we get to 'S'........

Oh yes. No aliens in that one! 
So we are about to embark on the Bs. The first one will be Best on Show, which is amusing, if rather too heavy on dogs for this cat girl. I'm really looking forward to Le Bossu (now't like a bit of leather-clad swashbuckling on a chill January night.....) and to Brotherhood of the Wolf , such a stylish & intriguing film. On the downside, I know the BHO is pondering whether ALL FIVE CUTS of Bladerunner will need to be watched for the validity of the challenge.......I damn well hope not! It's not too late for me to start scanning charity shops for copies of Grease, Footloose & others on his spew-making movie list!

Despite the moaning, I'm enjoying watching films from our own collection instead of instantly buying more or paying to view. Any that fail to be declared a 'keeper' are destined for the infamous Bay of E.

I can hear Albert Whiskers approaching to tell me the state of his bowl.........

....so will wish you all goodnight. Stay warm, snow tonight for many of us, so take care on the roads & remember to feed those hungry birds.
Till next time,
C x