So we appear to be having a problem with the Movie Club in that very few people want to participate. I managed to get more people to comment on a 91-word post about the Hansel & Gretel Witch Hunters poster than I did on this week’s Movie Club entry for McCabe & Mrs. Miller. Adding insult to injury, people got upset with me for insulting said Hansel & Gretel poster wondering why I would do such a thing… Well, maybe now you have your answer. You want to talk about quality, then let’s do so, but don’t presume to act like you are only out for genuine cinematic discussion when I am doing my very best to offer just that only to be met by crickets.
That said, this coming Monday will be yet another entry in the RopeofSilicon Movie Club with Yasujiro Ozu‘s Tokyo Story, our first foreign language entry, and a film you have absolutely no excuse for not watching and participating in if you want this club to continue. Tokyo Story is available on Netflix, Amazon, Hulu and YouTube. On top of that, 71 people voted for it to be the December 3 title for discussion.
Personally, my experience with Ozu’s work is extremely limited, having only seen Floating Weeds (which I wrote about Top 50.
We’re talking about a film that has influenced generations of filmmakers and the filmmakers influenced by them. Hopefully some of you will join me in the conversation because quite honestly, talking to myself isn’t much fun, especially when I can garner just as much of your attention with 91 words as opposed to the 1,800+ I dedicated to McCabe & Mrs. Miller.
I am also taking questions and topics for discussion that can be emailed to [email protected]. Along with a few thoughts from myself on Monday, I will present a few questions and topics to get the conversation started and any input you would like to add in advance is certainly welcome.
I have included the Club rules and information below as well as the poll for the next title to be added for discussion. As of the posting of this reminder Francis Ford Coppola’s The Conversation is winning over Bob Rafelson’s Five Easy Pieces. Speaking of which, only ten people commented on the McCabe & Mrs. Miller post and yet 108 people voted so far… what gives?
WHEN
Movie Club discussions begin every Monday at 2 PM PST / 5 PM EST.
WHERE
Movie Club articles will be posted like any other article. They will be added to the homepage and will always be visible on the RopeofSilicon Movie Club homepage.
FORMAT
The RopeofSilicon Movie Club is set up to mimic your standard book club, a place to come and explore themes, questions, etc. regarding the movie of that week along with your thoughts on the movie overall, the performances, direction and whatever else caught your attention. I will post a few thoughts of my own along with questions and topics to start the conversation and you are more than welcome to email in questions and topics of your own to [email protected].
QUESTIONS & TOPICS
I will do my best to come up with a selection of questions and topics to discuss for each title, but I also invite you to submit questions and topics as well. You can do so by emailing me at [email protected]. This way I can compile and track the questions easily and make sure you’re continually involved not to mention, you’ll probably be able to come up with even better questions than me.
THE RULES
The rules are simple and, if necessary, will update as we go along.
- No topic is off limits as long as it pertains to the movie of the week or comes as a natural progression of the conversation.
- Keep your comments to a reasonable length. I know the urge to write a lot at once is there, but try to rein it in and get out one thought at a time. That way the conversation will move more fluidly and make sure none of your thoughts are overlooked.
- NO BULLYING: This is important, while you are free to disagree, do so in a mature manner. Hopefully I won’t have to explain that any further.
- Suggestions for future Movie Club titles must be emailed to [email protected]. Comments on actual Movie Club articles pertaining to future discussions and not the film being discussed will be deleted to make sure we remain on topic.
SCHEDULE
The schedule of upcoming films will always be listed at the top of the RopeofSilicon Movie Club homepage with links on where to find and watch the upcoming movies and get more information on each.
Additionally, at the bottom of the article for each week’s Club selection will be a poll where you will vote to determine the next week’s title out of a list of five potential movies. These movies will be selected by myself, but I will also be taking suggestions, which you can also send in to [email protected].
VOTE FOR THE DECEMBER 24, 2012 SELECTION
Use the following poll to vote for the December 24, 2012 Movie Club selection and to suggest films for future entries direct all your emails to [email protected].
And that about does it. If you have any more questions about the club feel free to ask away, otherwise I will see you here on Monday for our first gathering and hopefully it will be a successful one. Book clubs are typically limited to only a few people, but hopefully this club will continue to grow and grow as the number of people that can be involved is limitless.
