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[Seamas]

What would you watch?

I'm in that position, more or less.  My university has a vast collection of films/documentaries in the library basement (think: warehouse at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark), with viewing rooms that are usually deserted.  It's open late.  Since I'm almost graduated, I've got to make the most of it before they give me the boot!

They've got pretty much everything down there...any recommendations?  I've already treated myself to some masterful films - Koyaanisqatsi, Baraka, Che (might watch that one again, now I think of it.  So much to cast the eye upon, in every shot), a series of mini-documentaries called the Ring of Fire (stunning footage from an odyssey of two young travelers through Indonesia and Java back in the 1970's - simply unbelievable) and some others.

There's just so much to choose from I don't know where to begin.  Particularly open to some unique documentaries if you have some in mind.  Any films of substance or sharp humour go to the top of the list.

[Retro]

Hmm. I'd absolutely suggest 3-Iron, a Korean film by Kim Ki-Duk (I've heard his other stuff is quite good as well). A very peaceful/quiet but incredibly good movie. There's practically no dialogue, with only one of the main two characters ever talking and it's about one sentence total, but I found it riveting. It's also got Yunjin Kim, or Sun from Lost, as the female lead turning in a great performance. The Host is another great Korean film (not familiar with the director though), an incredibly well done monster movie. I'm not sure where I'd toss City of God but that was a pretty goddamn spectacular movie as well (not Korean though). I went in expecting some sappy intentionally-gut-wrenching documentary thing and ended up with this really sharp, very powerful and highly stylized (to great effect) film. I'd also suggest some of Kurosawa's stuff, particularly Seven Samurai and Rashomon.

Other stuff: Pan's Labyrinth, 25th Hour, Rear Window, Being John Malkovich (esp. if you're familiar with John Malkovich), Adaptation, Lars and the Real Girl (funny but sentimental), Three Kings, Trainspotting, L.A. Confidential. For good mockumentary humour, Best in Show is probably the best way to go.

[Seamas]

Great suggestions.  Will definitely check out those Korean films, most of the rest I've seen but that just assures me that you have good taste.  Thanks!

[Retro]

Jeez, you've seen all those? Most people I know have seen maybe three or four. Nice taste yourself!

Hm... have you seen many film noirs? I watched Maltese Falcon and Double Indemnity lately, basically together making up the first real film noirs. I preferred Double Indemnity but both were pretty good.

I'm trying to think of other, less well-known stuff I've seen but I haven't really kept track off all the stuff I've watched in the last year. I might have to come back to this later.

[Dakk]

Oh yes, The Host was great.

Alternatively, old brittish movies! Caligula, If..., A Clockwork Orange, O lucky man.

This awesome german vampire movie called Let the Right One In (not the lame american remake, the original), it'll make you d'awwww and ewwww at the same time. There's also this german series of films with names that start with "The Girl that...", such as "The girl that played with fire". German movies are sweet in a sick kind of way, very enjoyable.

German movies are so awesome, I need to look for more.

[NewsMuffin]

Red Dawn and Reign of Fire. Neither are that old; Red Dawn is from the '80s, and Reign of Fire is from the late '90s, early '00s.
Both are overlooked gems, in my opinion.
I mean, not the pinnacle of film, but good movies nonetheless.

The Confederate States of America, and The Death of A President are both good mockumentaries, the first is insanely racist in a funny way, and the second one is serious and deep, I think.

[Realmfighter]

This awesome Swedish vampire movie called Let the Right One In (not the lame american remake, the original), it'll make you d'awwww and ewwww at the same time.

Why would you call it German.

[Retro]

There's also this german series of films with names that start with "The Girl that...", such as "The girl that played with fire".

I think these were Swedish as well. The first (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo) was just fabulous, the other two... were middling. No need to watch past the first installment.

[Dakk]

Swedish, German, they're all stark white and have chubby fingers.

But yea, excellent movie. I saw the girl that played iwth fire aswell, and it seemed ok, did not watch the other though.

[xeo]

Dr. Zhivago
Apocalypse Now
Barry Lyndon
Syriana
Blade Runner: Director's Cut
Amadeus
The Mission
Paaschendaele
Battle Royale (might be tough to find that one though, and it'll be subtitled)
Empire of the Sun
Sunshine

Hm, documentaries..

Frontline: Storm over Everest
National Geographic: Collapse
If you like History, BBC's A History of Britain is excellent.
The Battle of Chernobyl

[Grakelin]

Battle Royale can be found pretty easily on torrenting sites, and since it was never distributed to the West, I would say there are no moral quandaries to it.

Though, I hear you can get it on Netflix in the US.

[scriver]

Swedish, German, they're all stark white and have chubby fingers.

But yea, excellent movie. I saw the girl that played iwth fire aswell, and it seemed ok, did not watch the other though.

Dear sir, I believe I find myself offended. Select your weapon of choice and meet me in front of the Big Ben come dawn; we have bloody dueling business to conclude.

Also, a tidbit a can't help but share: The first movie/book was called what translates to "Men who hate women". France, however, translated it into "Men who don't love women". Way to miss the point, France! 

[Retro]

Just watched Treasure of the Sierra Madre. Fantastic film, save for how incredibly in-your-face and usually completely inappropriate the soundtrack was. Watching The Third Man later, I'll probably edit in how I find that. It's supposed to be quite good as well.

Also, a tidbit a can't help but share: The first movie/book was called what translates to "Men who hate women". France, however, translated it into "Men who don't love women". Way to miss the point, France! 

Hah! I knew the right translation but hadn't heard the French's interpretation.

[Il Palazzo]

Good documentaries I've seen up to now:
-Man on Wire - regarding Philippe Petit's high-wire walk between the Twin Towers. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/man_on_wire/
-Touching the Void - follows two mountain climbers on their disastrous attempt to climb Siula Grande in Peru. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/touching_the_void/

Documentaries I want to see:
-Taxi to the Dark Side http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/taxi_to_the_dark_side/#
-Bus 174 http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bus_174/#

[Retro]

The Third Man was pretty great. I had forgotten Welles was in it until he showed up all of a sudden in the third act. I was most interested in the setting, actually; four-way-divided post-WWII Vienna was a pretty interesting place assuming it was accurately depicted in the book the film was based on (by a German-English writer, so I'd like to think so). I don't know, though, I really like Joe Cotten's acting, but something about his face and body type seemed so wrong for the role. He doesn't really feel like a sharp quick-witted prick kind of guy so much as an out-of-place ordinary guy; all his film-noir-leading-role sharp remarks didn't feel suited to him at all. Still, though. Great movie. I love black murder mysteries where neither the murder nor the mystery is really the point.