General Discussion : Library DVD Collection Advice?

[KGB]

Coppola shouldn't be there imo. I was the first to name him but not really as a distinct director, he didn't really develop a style of his own but, in the peak of Hollywood's new approach to cinema, made three (arguably four) of Hollywood's most memorable masterpieces in its best decade, before tragically becoming a perfectly mediocre director. But these films should probably be considered in the genre category as they're easily the best of each genre ('Apocalypse Now' in War and 'The Godfather' in crime). If you do choose to include Coppola then only include 'Jack' as a reminder of how deeply can Hollywood corrupt one's soul.

Other than that it's a good division, will probably help me narrow down some films.

[Hopscotch]

Anyone else agree with Coppola? I'm open to a few director changes as there are so many good ones out there. Also, I'm changing both China and Hong Kong back to two films each, and with the extra slot giving Portugal back one film.

[td888]

Yes, 'Apocalypse Now' in War and 'The Godfather' is more than enough.

[Hopscotch]

Alright I've made a couple more changes to the list. Replacing Francis Ford Coppola with Zhang Yimou, bumping Sci-Fi from 5 to 3, New American Cinema from 4 to 3, and adding a Fantasy genre of 3.

[Criteenque]

I would personally lessen some of the "genre" categories in favor if giving some directors two films. How to choose between "8 1/2" and "La dolce vita" for Fellini? Would it be a just world if "Taxi Driver", "Raging Bull", and "Goodfellas" were not all included?
I would probably decrease the "Adventure" category to just one: I can't think of a very notable "Adventure" film other than "Raiders of the Lost Ark". Animation isn't really a genre, but if you're going to have just three, I'd make sure classic Disney (probably "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves", simply because it's checks all the boxes as a historically, culturally, and aesthetically important film), Pixar (even if it's not my favorite, "Toy Story" is arguably the most famous and most important), and Miyazaki (probably "Spirited Away" simply because, apart from being a great film, it contains many tropes of Japanese animation) are represented. I would also reduce "Horror" to five, simply because there are very few historically compulsory viewings - "Psycho", "Silence of the Lambs", and "Nosferatu", maybe.
Just some thoughts.

[Hopscotch]

I'm in agreement about adventure, but instead of knocking it to one I've swapped it with crime for position; which would be a good place for Goodfellas. Taxi Driver could easily fall into new american cinema or the seventies categories. None of it is certain, but it isn't unlikely. I've personally never seen either of the Fellini's you've mentioned, but Italy is one of the most prominent countries making up the list, along with France, due to the number of directors I've featured in addition to the film movements; making both films possible contenders for filling slots. Horror I've shown favor simply due to the fact that it is hardly represented anywhere else on the list, and because, along with comedy, it is the most popular genre with the patrons. Animation is niche, and I'm sure we could easily think of three adult examples (remember we have a family section) worthy of consideration: Akira, Waltz with Bashir, Plague Dogs, Watership Down, Mind Game, Millenium Actress, When the Wind Blows, and The Triplets of Belleville come to mind immediately.

Anyways, I believe we're ready to start. A few things may still change in the other categories, but the director list doesn't seem to have created any controversy; beyond the easily fixed Coppola deal. Here are the first five:

Abbas Kiarostami
Akira Kurosawa
Andrei Tarkovsky
Billy Wilder
Buster Keaton

[Criteenque]

I'd choose SUNSET BOULEVARD for Wilder, seeing as it's his most famous movie that isn't SOME LIKE IT HOT, which could easily fit in with comedy.

[Hopscotch]

Sunset Blvd. would definitely be a good choice, with Double Indemnity being a perfect choice for Film Noir. It serves as an interesting look into the old studio system as well.

Also, based on the Kurosawa discussion earlier I'm assuming Seven Samurai will be the film for him, and with Keaton I'd guess either The General or The Cameraman. Kiarostami and especially Tarkovsky are a little harder for me to narrow down though.

[stuie299]

You should post this as a collection once the list is finalized. This seems like a great list for anyone knew to Criticker. I've only been seriously watching films for about two years now but would have loved to have this list when I had first started out. There are still a lot of films on here that I haven't watched.

[Gregzilla]

Stalker would be my pick for Takovsky.