tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post4713111075235721006..comments2024-02-10T01:22:29.316-08:00Comments on Hugo Stiglitz Makes Movies: The Jumbled, Incoherent Ramblings on Why I am a CinephileKevin J. Olsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-8444737194123383172009-06-26T13:27:17.548-07:002009-06-26T13:27:17.548-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-68318378017496394532009-06-08T17:44:18.412-07:002009-06-08T17:44:18.412-07:00Jon:
Thanks for the kind words. I too had a good...Jon:<br /><br />Thanks for the kind words. I too had a good experience with a father who loved movies, and who also wasn't afraid to show me movies that most parents would never think of having their 10 year old kids watch. That isn't to say he was irresponsible, just realistic in the sense that he knew a "bad" movie content wise wasn't going to corrupt me forever. <br /><br />I am envious that you thought of the Criterion thing. You're right, I didn't even think of talking about it even though, like you, I often bought up tons of Criterion discs based on the cover art. Perhaps had I written a longer, more comprehensive, piece I would have remembered something about Criterion. I should have mentioned it though seeing how my copies of Woo's The Killer and Hard Boiled are the rare first print Criterion editions.<br /><br />I used to just buy whatever they put out knowing that it was going to be, for better or worse, a memorable film experience. Well, except for when they released a version of Armageddon...<br /><br />You're so right about the "aura of sophistication" that a lot of the times I flaunted their prominence on my DVD shelf so everyone good see how eclectic and global my tastes were, haha. Those fancy Criterion covers are still something that sucks me in; luckily I can't really afford the discs anymore, so I don't drop 40 bucks on some random disc because of the cover art, but thanks to Netflix I can still see all of the fine films they release.<br /><br />Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving such a wonderful comment.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-77338316902593306092009-06-08T14:14:39.921-07:002009-06-08T14:14:39.921-07:00This a quite magical post. You capture the tendern...This a quite magical post. You capture the tenderness of nascent cinephila with a perceptive, confessional tone. A great read -- although it dredges up what are, for me, rather painful memories of maturing as a social inept, overweight, sesquipedalian film fan in the suburbs of Los Angeles.<br /><br />Interestingly, I don't think I had a similar experience where a single film converted me, although I had the benefit of a father who taught editing and cinema at a local community college, so I was exposed to foreign fare pretty early on (I think I was ten the first time I saw "Metropolis"). "Le Samourai" is a worthy film to be baptized by, however, and like you I discovered a lot of great movies by reading essays and following genre threads (I still do discover movies that way).<br /><br />Also interesting that no one has yet given the Criterion Collection a shout-out this meme (at least none of the entries I've read have). I remember trolling video stores while in Junior High just so I could pass my hands across their indelibly designed laserdisc covers. They had an aura of sophistication about them I yearned to be a part of. I discovered a lot of great films as a result of their art department, I'm a little embarrassed to admit...Joseph "Jon" Lanthierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00826623899121215596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-90586951520711419912009-06-06T15:24:00.635-07:002009-06-06T15:24:00.635-07:00Rick:
Thanks for stopping by. I'm glad you e...Rick:<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by. I'm glad you enjoyed the images. Le Samourai is very personal to me so that was a natural choice, and Citizen Kane is...well it's Citizen Kane! That's like the Speak-n-Say for any cinephile.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-53974419176884491702009-06-06T15:22:31.533-07:002009-06-06T15:22:31.533-07:00Sam:
I posted a quick note on your blog about the...Sam:<br /><br />I posted a quick note on your blog about the final tallying of the 60's best of list. How great that my favorite film sits atop the list. You're right, it did make me smile. And thanks for the shout-out in the essay.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-37190379270690331062009-06-06T11:33:29.864-07:002009-06-06T11:33:29.864-07:00Nice piece, Kevin. As so many have ably said, it ...Nice piece, Kevin. As so many have ably said, it is very interesting to read about others' love of a thing and how it started.<br /><br />Plus, I like your choice of images.Rick Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04846018585978997261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-85529318326005593022009-06-06T10:40:08.099-07:002009-06-06T10:40:08.099-07:00Thanks very much for that Kevin--this is indeed a ...Thanks very much for that Kevin--this is indeed a revered stop!<br /><br />Here's something that will surely make you smile from ear to ear:<br /><br />http://wondersinthedark.wordpress.com/2009/06/06/fellinis-8%c2%bd-places-first-in-1960s-polling-films-by-hitchcock-bergman-kubrick-and-bresson-complete-top-5/<br /><br />Notice you are mentioned prominently at the beginning of the second paragraph!Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-70883597790838312032009-06-05T10:23:56.080-07:002009-06-05T10:23:56.080-07:00Sam:
Thanks. I've said numerous times on thi...Sam:<br /><br />Thanks. I've said numerous times on this blog, and you've reiterated on your fine blog, great quality (not quantity) comments and encouragement are the best medicine for all of us cinephiles who blog for the love of it. You're one of the best one's out there. I count myself lucky that you make this blog one of your daily stops.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-68095971934699461422009-06-05T04:56:56.644-07:002009-06-05T04:56:56.644-07:00What makes this piece so great is that it personal...What makes this piece so great is that it personalizes the blogging experience, and makes it much more than just making the rounds and adding to a colleague's comment total. It rightly acknowledges the vibrant film community that informed someone (like yourself) who is dedicated and appreciative. You make the entire time-consuming venture something that MATTERS. I was fascinated reading about your journey, how it started--yes reviews and lists were my own temptation to launch too--and how it developed into en enriching discourse with your most beloved hobby. Italian horror may have been the hook, but it's grown into something bigger, better and more all-inclusive.<br /><br />Thanks so very much for the flattering shout-outs (I am so appreciative for that) and thanks for being the exceedingly gracious on-line voice. I don't know you all that long, but I must say you are one class act. I have enjoyed every shared correspondance with you, and I'msure that will never change. Thank You.Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-15072853728460147592009-06-04T11:36:00.638-07:002009-06-04T11:36:00.638-07:00Troy:
Ah yes the good old days of me watching Rob...Troy:<br /><br />Ah yes the good old days of me watching Robin Hood over and over...thanks Columbia House! And you would be the one on the left...I thinks that's Jason. Thanks for the compliments. I try to keep things fun and informative here without taking myself too seriously.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-59448867543676715312009-06-04T11:31:03.156-07:002009-06-04T11:31:03.156-07:00Word Life - way to pay homage to your roots. I st...Word Life - way to pay homage to your roots. I still remember those days of you repeatedly watching <i>JFK</i> and <i>Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves</i> (your mancrush on Costner continues to this day).<br /><br />You've always had an easy to read, yet still very literate style to your writings -- plus you are more than willing to throw in a little humor when necessary. It all makes for good reading and is probably why you've got so many readers.<br /><br />Oh, and if I'm the irreverent one, does that make me the "Jason" or the "Randy" of the two of us (to continue our lifelong goal of emulating the Sklars).Troy Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14843741571724231174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-53830030701623659582009-06-04T10:13:39.517-07:002009-06-04T10:13:39.517-07:00Ryan:
Thank you for the kind words and for stoppi...Ryan:<br /><br />Thank you for the kind words and for stopping by. This loose meme by Greg has reaffirmed the necessity of blogs. In a somewhat small town (yeah, Salem is the capitol, but Portland is the real big city here in Oregon) you tend to feel in the minority about your cinephilia, so it's always great to know that fellow bloggers like yourself and everyone I link to on my blog come from similar experience.<br /><br />Thanks again for stopping by.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-44146557023364065372009-06-04T10:05:56.706-07:002009-06-04T10:05:56.706-07:00What a wonderful, wonderful read--- far too many e...What a wonderful, wonderful read--- far too many emotional truths and well-articulated sentiments for me to respond to here. As Jason said, I'm a sucker for people telling the story of their love for movies. <br /><br />Like Greg said, it's funny no matter how different those stories are (and I've read them all over the place), there is always a common tone amongst them: the overwhelming gratitude for finding something they love so much, the nostalgia for the films that awakened them to the wonders of cinema, and the acknowledgment that no matter how many films we've watched--- we're really just getting started.<br /><br />And I, too, am blown away by the fact that I have readers.Ryan Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18054550377681273142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-60798081608961459642009-06-04T09:41:50.586-07:002009-06-04T09:41:50.586-07:00Greg:
I thank you for punching me in the arm and ...Greg:<br /><br />I thank you for punching me in the arm and giving me something personal to write about. I need to implement more of that on the blog. Your meme was my favorite kind: personal and non-gimmicky. And yes, cinephiles will always be learning. Something I tell my students often is how I will fail as a teacher if I continue to stop learning. So hopefully they realize the importance of continuous questioning and academic inquiry. <br /><br />Thanks again for the kind words.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-79673436555053605272009-06-04T09:38:50.915-07:002009-06-04T09:38:50.915-07:00Jason:
Thanks so very much for the kind words. I...Jason:<br /><br />Thanks so very much for the kind words. I'm thrilled you stopped by to take a peek. And thanks for the encouraging words.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-13404455993350940382009-06-04T06:05:24.750-07:002009-06-04T06:05:24.750-07:00That was a great piece Kevin and I'm happy to ...That was a great piece Kevin and I'm happy to have it connected to my loose, vague, no-real-rules, barely thought-out meme. <br /><br />Every time I read someone's piece on how they became a cinephile it's always amazing to me how similar all of our experiences are. And years later there are still so many movies to see that you'll never see them all so no matter how long you've been a cinephile you always feel like you're still learning.Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05730146625671701859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-63691997174387322372009-06-04T04:22:54.376-07:002009-06-04T04:22:54.376-07:00I'm a sucker for essays on personal journies t...I'm a sucker for essays on personal journies through film. Hung on every word. Nice job. Keep blogging!Jason Bellamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18150199580478147196noreply@blogger.com