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Mission Accomplished: A Year’s Worth of Movies In Under A Year

On April 9, 2010 at 2:15pm, I stepped into my local movie theater to culminate my goal of watching 365 movies I have never seen before within the time frame of an entire year.  I have accomplished my goal in 328 days from when I first started on May 17, 2009. It’s been a pretty ridiculous long trip throughout cinema as I have seen many films of every genre that were pretty amazing, great fun, timeless classics, and horribly bad. I wanted to do this fun journey through film as a way to build up my film “palette.” I had this growing love of film and film news, but realized I have not seen very many older movies and needed to start to watch more and more to at least make it plausible that I know what I’m talking about. Through suggestions and just sitting down to an open mind, I welcomed most movies that came my way and ultimately finished my goal.

I can just say if you really don’t believe me that I have never seen any of these movies than you can just believe that, but I don’t know who would really lie about something like that for the sake of saying never seeing certain movies.

This craziness all began May 17, 2009 with just a smaller goal of watching 100 movies I have never seen before by the time Summer ended, which would be the end of August or 100 movies in 100 days. I ended up completing my goal in 93 days on August 18th. After these first 100 films I developed a new appreciation for most genres of film and it really broadened my spectrum of what I was willing to watch. I never really had a love for Harry Potter films, but after finally seeing them all I can say I do in fact enjoy them a lot. I saw many original horror films that I should be ashamed of never seeing, but now I can say I am familiar with them now. The biggest thing out of these first 100 films is my developing taste of big dramatic pieces like No Country for Old Men,  A Beautiful Mind, Revolutionary Road and so on.

1: West Side Story  – May 17
Star Trek
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Terminator: Salvation
Bug
Pretty Woman
Black Snake Moan
My Boss’s Daughter
Zodiac (2007)
10: Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist
Fired Up
Miss March
The Wrestler
The Unborn
The Uninvited
There Will Be Blood
Whatever It Takes
Premonition
20: Groundhog’s Day
Taxi Driver
Chasing Amy
The Last House on the Left (2009)
College
Observe and Report
The Devil Wear’s Prada
The Talented Mr. Ripley
The Condemned
Mr. Brooks
30: No Country for Old Men
Hostage
American Psycho
Friday the 13th: Part III
The Passion of the Christ
The Hangover
Drag Me to Hell
Constantine
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Speed Racer
40: Dan in Real Life
X-Files: I Want to Believe
Atonement
21
The Amityville Horror ‘79
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – June 24
The Incredibles
The Proposal
Knowing
I Love You, Man
50: Beowulf
The Haunting in Connecticut
The Fountain
There’s Something About Mary
Robocop
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
The Departed
Paper Heart
Save the Last Dance
60: My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Mad Max
Minority Report
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
From Hell
Way of the Dragon
The Lost Boys
Moon
Grease 2
Taken
70: (500) Days of Summer
Platoon
Gran Torino
My Bloody Valentine (2009)
Revolutionary Road
The Ugly Truth
Philadelphia
Bewitched
A Beautiful Mind
Cube
80: The Toy
Orphan
Funny People
I Love You, Beth Cooper
Year One
Die Hard 2
Major League
History of the World: Part 1
Stripes
Get Shorty
90: Blazing Saddles
Seven Pounds
The Soloist
The Collector
Public Enemies
Walk the Line
A Perfect Getaway
Total Recall
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Adventureland
100: District 9 – Aug 18

With watching all these movies, I decided to up the ante and just try again to watch 100 movies I have never seen before  in 100 days again. Finishing this round, I ended in 92 days, one day faster than before.  Again, I definitely broaden my film tastes with a lot more smaller indie flicks and also many horror films during October. I found a some really great gems with these smaller films, especially the movie Lost in Translation. There were a lot of terrible movies in this second attempt at this goal, but I did find a lot of great films in the process.

101: America History X       – August 19  – Day 1
Meatballs
Eagle Eye
G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra
War
Into the Wild
Pretty in Pink
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2006)
110: The Blob (1988)
Naked Fear
Halloween 2 (2009)
Van Wilder: Freshman Year
Ninja Cheerleaders
Must Love Dogs
Rescue Dawn
Catch Me If You Can
Inglorious Basterds
Sorority Row
120: City Slickers
Jennifer’s Body
Lethal Weapon
Psycho (1960)
Next
The Skeleton Key
Away  We Go
The Last House on the Left (1972)
Surrogates – October 1st
Zombieland
130: Evil Dead
Trick r’ Treat
The Exorcist (1973)   –  Oct 3  –  Day 46
Pandorum
Evil Dead 2
Unbreakable
Slumdog Millionaire
The Hills Run Red
It
The Killing Room
140: Splinter (2008)
Army of Darkness
Hannibal
Sicko
Charlie Bartlett
Robocop 2
Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Fanboys
Pontypool
150: Grace
Dead Girl
Dawn of the Dead (1978)
Zerophilia
Where the Wild Things Are
Paranormal Activity
Saw VI       –      Oct 24 – Day 67
Milk
Akira
The Hills Have Eyes (1977)
160: Carriers
S. Darko
The Girlfriend Experience
Diary of the Dead
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
The Brother’s Bloom
The Hurt Locker
The Reader
Rachel Getting Married
This Is Spinal Tap
170: Big Trouble In Little China
[Rec]
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior
Footloose –         Nov 1  –  Day 75
Lost In Translation
Powder Blue
Hard Candy
The Informers
The Terminal
The Stepfather
180: Interview With The Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles
Pride and Prejudice
The Informant!
Couples Retreat
Sleepless In Seattle
Vicky Christina Barcelona
The Island
Million Dollar Baby
Gigi
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
190: House of 1000 Corpses
The Crypt
Swingers
Frost/Nixon –      Nov 15  – Day 89
Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan
Magnolia
Kingpin
Letters From Iwo Jima
All The Boys Love Mandy Lane
Reservoir Dogs
200: Casablanca – Nov 18 – Day 92

Completing the task of watching 100 films never seen before in 100 days for the second time, I decided to just up the ante to watching a years worth of movies under a year. So I really wanted to get going on this mission as I would be cutting it pretty close if I just stuck to one a day. This third time around I finished watching 100 movies in an astonishing 63 days; I was thoroughly impressed with myself with this ridiculous feat.

This time around I really felt like doors were WIDE open for any movie and finally opened up to the idea of animated films. I have never really had an interest in animated features since Toy Story when I was younger, but I really found that I really do like them when they are done well and that many are becoming very mature with their themes and messages. After watching The Incredibles in the first round of 100 films, which I absolutely enjoyed, I really did find an open place in my world for animated movies.

With award season also coming upon us, I had taken an initiative to watch most of the films out that seemed to be getting high praise and also many of the older films who have won big awards back in their time.

201: The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor – Nov 19
The Graduate – Nov 20
Get Smart – Nov 20
Shoot ‘Em Up – Nov 21
Say Anything – Nov 21
Halloween 2 (1981) – Nov 22
Election – Nov 23
The Godfather – Nov 23
RocknRolla – Nov 24
210: Girlfight – Nov 24
2012 – Nov 25
Bride Wars – Nov 25
Doomsday (2008) – Nov 26
Burn After Reading – Nov 27
Rocket Science – Nov 27
Run, Fatboy, Run – Nov 28
Max Payne – Nov 29
Bedtime Stories – Nov 29
The House Bunny – Nov 29
220: Death To Smoochy – Nov 29
The Godfather: Part II – Nov 30
Day of the Dead (2008) – Nov 30
Martian Child – Nov 30
The Godfather: Part III – Dec 1
Thinking XXX – Dec 1
The Omen (1976) – Dec 1
Mamma Mia! – Dec 2
Schindler’s List – Dec 2
Assassination of a High School President – Dec 3
230: Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitter’s Dead – Dec 3
Antichrist – Dec 5
The Holiday – Dec 6
The House of the Devil – Dec 8
Jerry Maguire – Dec 9
Memento – Dec 11
The Box – Dec 11
Casino – Dec 14
Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium – Dec 14
The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard – Dec 14
240: The Rocker – Dec 15
Changeling- Dec 16
Law Abiding Citizen – Dec 16
August Rush  –  Dec 16
The Tale of Despereaux – Dec 17
He’s Just Not That Into You – Dec 20
Ratatouille – Dec 20
Dr. Strangelove – Dec 21
Misery – Dec 21
Up – Dec 21
250: Låt den rätte komma in (Let The Right One In) – Dec 22
Avatar – Dec 23
Fool’s Gold – Dec 23
Body of Lies – Dec 23
Blade Runner – Dec 24
Carrie – Dec 28
Fiddler On The Roof – Dec 28
American Pie Presents: The Book of Love – Dec 28
Little Miss Sunshine – Dec 29
Doubt – Dec 29
260: Bitch Slap – Dec 29
The  Messenger – Dec 30
Alvin & The Chipmunks (2007) – Jan 1
Babylon A.D. – Jan 1
Extract – Jan 2
Memoirs of a Geisha – Jan 2
Shutter (2008) – Jan 2
Taking Woodstock – Jan 3
Julie & Julia – Jan 4
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock – Jan 4
270: Shrek – Jan 4
Leatherheads – Jan 5
Wrong Turn – Jan 6
Airheads – Jan 6
Up In The Air – Jan 6
American Graffiti – Jan 8
The Deer Hunter – Jan 9
9 – Jan 9
Gone With The Wind – Jan 10
Precious Based on the Novel Push By Sapphire – Jan 10
280: Annie Hall – Jan 12
Whip It – Jan 13
The Omen (2006) – Jan 13
Sherlock Holmes – Jan 14
Tank Girl – Jan 14
Rosemary’s Baby (1968) – Jan 14
Rock Star – Jan 14
A Serious Man – Jan 15
The Road – Jan 15
Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs – Jan  16
290: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus – Jan 17
Invictus – Jan 17
Fargo – Jan 18
The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters – Jan 18
An Education – Jan 19
Daybreakers – Jan 19
The Dark Crystal – Jan 19
Risky Business – Jan 20
Youth In Revolt – Jan 20
Oldeuboi (Old Boy) – Jan 20
300: Mr. Woodcock – Jan 20

Finally we get into the final 65 films and it actually took me way too long to get to finishing this goal sadly. After a month into this final step, I had to cancel my Blockbuster subscription due to financial responsibility and the three free months of HBO had also ended. This made the final 65 films very difficult to punch out, but I did complete it in 79 days.

Again I was catching up with some awards movies past and present, which were pretty great to watch. I did happen to catch a lot of older classics as well, but I also was trying to catch up on a lot of modern films as well. I found a few more great films to add to my favorites and also some surprising films that I underestimated , but also so pretty bad movies as well of course. Something I never thought I would get out of this was be an avid Coen Brothers enthusiast now. I never thought I would watch films like the The Big Lebowski, Fargo, A Serious Man or Burn After Reading ever.

301: Adam – Jan 21
50 First Dates – Jan 23
13 Going on 30 –  Jan 23
Lethal Weapon 2 – Jan 23
30 Days of Night – Jan 25
Almost Famous – Jan 25
The Aviator – Jan 26
A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy’s Revenge – Jan 26
The Invention of Lying – Jan 27
310: Kung Fu Panda – Jan 27
The Big Lebowski – Jan 28
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas – Jan 29
12 Rounds – Jan 30
P.S. I Love You – Jan 31
Notorious – Feb 2
Ghost Town – Feb 2
Post Grad – Feb 2
Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008) – Feb 3
Death Race – Feb 3
320: Triangle – Feb 4
Food, Inc. – Feb 4
Love Happens – Feb 4
Coraline – Feb 5
Los cronocrímenes (Timecrimes) – Feb 5
Ghost Rider – Feb 6
Close Encounters of the Third Kind – Feb 6
The Cove – Feb 7
The Lovely Bones – Feb 8
Ali – Feb 9
330: Shrooms – Feb 9
How to Lose Friends and Alienate People – Feb 9
The Time Traveler’s Wife – Feb 10
New York, I Love You – Feb 10
You, Me and Depree – Feb 11
The Combebacks – Feb 12
Snatch – Feb 13
17 Again – Feb 13
King Kong – Feb 14
Gangs of New York – Feb 14
340: The Hottie & the Nottie – Feb 14
Requiem For A Dream – Feb 15
The Blind Side – Feb 17
Legion – Feb 20
The Queen – Feb 20
The Book of Eli – Feb 26
The Karate Kid, Part 3 – Feb 28
Gamer – Mar 2
12 Moknkeys – Mar 4
Father of the Bride – Mar 5
350:  Shutter Island – Mar 8
The Wolfman (2010) – Mar 11
The Punisher (2004) – Mar 13
Slither (2006) – Mar 13
The Ladykillers – Mar 20
The Crazies (2010) – Mar 25
She’s Out of my League – Mar 26
Soul Men (2008) – Mar 26
From Dusk Til Dawn – Mar 27
The Forbidden Kingdom – Mar28
360: Alice In Wonderland 3D (2010) – Mar 30
Hot Tub Time Machine – Apr 1
Father of the Bride Part II – Apr 3
Enchanted – Apr 4
The Sound of Music – Apr 4
365: How To Train Your Dragon  3D – Apr 9

Overall, I am glad I did this as I have truly opened my eyes to any genre of film. I do however still hold my guard against anything with Hugh Grant, Twilight garbage, tweens, and Sex in the City. I do appreciate the fact that I am open to watching films that I never would have thought I would back in the day like animated movies or long dramatic epics; I mean seriously, The Sound of Music and me just don’t seem to flip the bill when you think of films I would watch. But hey, now I’ll watch pretty much anything except the previous aforementioned categories.

This experience has really built up my love for film and now can really hold my own in some good conversations of film. I never thought that this hobby of just looking up viral marketing for films, love of horror and superhero movies would propel me into this ludicrous passion of film.

Look forward to seeing me continue again on May 17, 2010 when I attempt this mission for the 2nd time. We will also see how many films I can watch in a year as I will continue this list until then. I fear that the second time around may be a little harder now that I have seen a great many movies, but there still are many more out there that I must see.

If you have any suggestions as to what I may need to watch please shoot any suggestions over.

[wpchatai]