BS: Good Films for Winter Nights?

Subject: BS: Good Films for Winter Nights?
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 28 Nov 09 - 12:32 PM

My Mr. is tough to buy for, so often we don't really bother. But I thought I could get some box sets of films from different genres that neither of us is too familiar with, to while away Winter nights with.

So far I've put in my basket a box set of classic Film Noir. Suitable for the season. I might do a box of Spaghetti Westerns too (seen 'em all loadsa times, but hey).

Next on my list is some Anime (a complete series of something fantastical), any suggestions?

I've also been looking for a set of B&W British horror films, but so far no joy.

Any other suggestions?

We've got most the modern Sci-Fi classics already, kinda looking for collections of interesting stuff outside our usual spectrum, so if you dig films, please just throw up random suggestions.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Films for Winter Nights?
From: Chris Green
Date: 28 Nov 09 - 01:03 PM

Anything by Terry Gilliam. Or David Lean.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Films for Winter Nights?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 28 Nov 09 - 01:09 PM

How about one of umpteen versions of "A Christmas Carol"...not long to wait!

Subject: RE: BS: Good Films for Winter Nights?
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 28 Nov 09 - 01:12 PM

'Chocolat'

Subject: RE: BS: Good Films for Winter Nights?
From: Micca
Date: 28 Nov 09 - 01:14 PM

Three Colours set (Red,White,Blue) Kryzstof Kieslowski's visually stunning and emotional, funny, and a powerful conclusion that ties the threads together
The Count of Monte Christo (French production)with Gerard Depardieu
The Ken Burns "American Civil War" ( if history is your bag) Fascinating
Then There is the "Essential Dennis Potter" including"Pennies from heaven" and " The Singing Detective" if you want to really give your mind a workout!!
All available from Amazon

Subject: RE: BS: Good Films for Winter Nights?
From: Chris Green
Date: 28 Nov 09 - 01:58 PM

I second all of Micca's! Also if you're going for stunning acting, direction and writing (and don't mind disturbing themes!) there's also Channel 4 recent Red Riding which is one of the best things I've ever seen on television.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Films for Winter Nights?
From: gnu
Date: 28 Nov 09 - 02:49 PM

Never Cry Wolf.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Films for Winter Nights?
From: Wesley S
Date: 28 Nov 09 - 11:13 PM

If you are looking for box sets I've seen some Sherlock Holmes movies at reasonable prices. I esp love the ones where Holmes and Watson battle the Nazis....

Subject: RE: BS: Good Films for Winter Nights?
From: frogprince
Date: 28 Nov 09 - 11:49 PM

Clear plastic shrink film, taped over the windows and smoothed with a hair dryer, can make the winter nights more comfortable.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Films for Winter Nights?
From: Alice
Date: 29 Nov 09 - 12:10 AM

The PBS Masterpiece series of Dickens, like "Little Dorrit" and "The Old Curiosity Shop".

Subject: RE: BS: Good Films for Winter Nights?
From: Rapparee
Date: 29 Nov 09 - 12:13 AM

Anything by Mel Brooks or Monty Python.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Films for Winter Nights?
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 29 Nov 09 - 09:16 AM

Plan to get Kamikaze Girls, Ashes of Time, Hero and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon for our Asian collection

I advise the following: Geisha, House of Flying Daggers, The Pillow Book and Joy Luck Club. All brilliant.

Anime - have you seen Spirited Away?

I need some ideas for documentaries. I like natural world stuff. We have Earth: The Power of the Planet (geology), British Isles (Alan Titchmarsh), Planet Earth (wildlife).

Thinking about first and second series of Coast, before the annoying long-haired Scotsman supplanted Nicholas Crane.

I would like more sci fi / fantasy but have no idea what. We just got The Fountain which looks a bit surreal.

My daughter is bringing me the Song Catcher from US because I can't get it in UK. must remind her of that.

We got everything by Monty Python last Christmas. But Mel Brooks, what a good idea. Young Frankenstein and High Anxiety to start.

Subject: RE: BS: Good Films for Winter Nights?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 29 Nov 09 - 03:39 PM

I love the old Japanese Godzilla films. Godzilla vs. The Smog Monster is an especial favourite; eco-heavy & ahead of its time! We're big fans of Studio Ghibli which provides the perfect alternative to Disney for feature length animation. Howl's Moving Castle is a masterful adaptation of Diana Wynne Jones' novel; Spirited Away (seconded, VT!!!) is a magical adventure in a Hogwarts x100; Grave of the Fireflies is unrelentingly bleak & heartbreakingly perfect. Were also big fans of Kitano 'Beat' Takeshi films from his ultra-violent gangster films to the touching road movie Kikujiro which is perfect in every way. I think it's Takeshi who utters the eponymous line Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence! - another classic.

For inspired underrated comedy : Funny Bones - a paean to Blackpool with Lee Evans, Oliver Platt and Jerry Lewis; the only film ever I can watch over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over...

For a little known Spaghetti Western : Il mio nome è Nessuno / aka My Name is Nobody - the brilliant Morricone theme tune of which was pinched for the British sit-com Nighty Night.

For a special treat : El Topo

For the soul : Flame

Subject: RE: BS: Good Films for Winter Nights?
From: Ref
Date: 29 Nov 09 - 05:27 PM

How about "Runaway Train?" It's bound to make your house feel a lot warmer!

Subject: RE: BS: Good Films for Winter Nights?
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 30 Nov 09 - 11:02 AM

For those in the U.S., or with U.S.-coded DVD players (and Blueray), there are two fine sources of films that I've recently been exploring: The Criterion Collection and Kino on Video. (Criterion also has downloadable options.)

If they don't have your format, they might be a good source of ideas...

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: BS: Good Films for Winter Nights?
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Nov 09 - 01:06 PM

I just watched a beautiful Japanese film called "Twilight Samurai" which is NOT your usual samurai film, at all. It was really beautiful about a "petty" class samurai a widower who raises his two daughters alone, with a senile mother...a reluctant samurai who pushes back when society tries to make him do other than enjoy raising his daughters. It was REALLY good.

Another really excellent foreign language one, "The Widow of St. Pierre:"
Ariel Neel Auguste (Emir Kusturica) awaits execution for murder in 1849 on the French fishing island of Saint-Pierre et Miquelon. Under the watchful eye of the captain of the island guard (Daniel Auteuil), who is waiting for a guillotine to arrive from the mainland, the convict becomes the pet project of the captain's wife (Juliette Binoche). As she guides him through rehabilitation, she tolerates criticism from the town's leadership.

There are lots of good suggestions in this THREAD.