Sunday, February 3, 2008

What Should I Watch Next?

I talk about films quite a bit in all of my classes. So much, that my students often bring films to me that they love and want me to watch. Right now, I have four films loaned to me by students that I have kept TOO long. I never seem to get around to watching them. They are: Unbreakable, Requiem for a Dream, Pi, and Sicko. Please let me know what you know about these films--and let me know which I would watch first. I seem to have some of the most comment-shy friends on the blogosphere. Please don't be shy! I want to hear what you think.




I have always really wanted to watch Reqiuem, but have been quite afraid--have heard some horror stories about it (the intensity and trauma of it).

10 comments:

John B. said...

Mary,
I've seen Pi and Requiem. Regarding the former, I once told a colleague of mine who teaches calculus and physics that that's the film to show would-be math majors to warn them of the dangers of that discipline; re the latter: you heard right. It's very stylish but very very intense and--there's no other way to say it--depressing toward the end. Of those two, I'd personally see Pi again, though it doesn't exactly traffic in an Up-With-People vibe, either; seeing Requiem once was and will remain plenty for me.

I hope this helps in some form or fashion. Happy viewing.

Reeve said...

I've seen Pi and Unbreakable. Unbreakable is one of my favorite movies. That's all I have to say.

Jennifer Kring said...

interesting list, mary... i haven't seen enough of these to decide on an order so I will default to Joshers who says to watch Pi, Requiem, Unbreakable and then, Sicko... in that order. hmmm...
happy viewing!

vanckirby said...

pi first and the best of the lot

becki said...

Haven't seen Sicko yet. But all three of the others are well done, and worth viewing at least once. Pi is a personal favorite. Unbreakable is well done, and touches on lots of pop culture. Requiem is so good, but please don't watch by yourself -- it's quite a downer.

I think that's the order I'd give them.

Auntie J said...

I haven't seen Sicko either, but I'm sure it's educational, entertaining, well-intentioned and slightly misleading, like his other ones.

Unbreakable rocks. I loved it, it might be my favorite Shamalamadingdong movie, and that's saying something.

Pi was good, worth watching once at least (I've seen it at least twice).

Requiem for a dream was manipulative, cheap and gross. I really wouldn't recommend it. Bad art. Sorry Becki, can't agree. It's in my Freddy Got Fingered category: just not worth the time.

But hey, that's just my opinion. :)

Mary said...

Thanks for the comments everyone! Wow, it seems like Pi is the winner for next to watch. I am even more afraid now to watch Requiem--I am wondering if it is worth it. I am also wondering if reading just the first 10 pages of Burroughs Naked Lunch had the same effect that this would.
I am quite keen on watching Unbreakable as well--mainly because Reeve Hunter is so cool and he says it is good. Well, actually, I have wanted to see it ever since Thomas Hibbs, philosophy prof from Baylor, came and spoke about M. Night Shyamalan's films. I have never been interested in them before, but now I really want to see Unbreakable and Signs. But there is a new problem, you see. I have only just been introduced to the wonderful world of Lost, and that seems to be taking all my watching time! oh dear.

Mary said...

Wow, i love what crappy writing (including multiple left out words) my little comment contains. Way to shame myself on my own blog. I think you get the point, and I am too lazy to correct it. By the way, hi Jerah! I haven't spoken with you in ages. What a nice surprise.

Thaddeus Glapp said...

Requiem is a staggering film. It haunted me for weeks. Definitely not a movie to be missed.

Anonymous said...

Sicko am not interested - one more of these films about M Moore's ego.
I hated Requiem for a dream - the last sex scene is absolutely traumatic and unfortunately, I might never forget it. Well I can't say it's a bad film - it's ok really, and is actually interesting. Just a shame it is so traumatic. The thinking about addiction/appearance/TV is quite interesting tough. So for people who can stand that level of "violence", it is probably a good film. Would never want to watch it again though...