TinaTardigrade

My ex-boyfriend/friend Mike is really into good old foreign films: Kurosawa, Bergman, Fellini, etc. When we started dating he introduced me to the criterion collection. We saw a few movies that I remember liking (though can barely remember) And though I liked them, I didnt really go out of my way to see them. After he and I broke up I just didnt think about them anymore.
I recently rejoined netflix after a few years absence. I still had my old queue, which included many films of the criterion collection. I bumped Fellini’s “La Strada” up because people seemed to really love it. When I watched it, I was mesmerized. I love, love, love this movie. Its like, when I read a passage in a book that is so beautiful I have to read it to a friend aloud. That is how the whole movie made me feel. And there is something so satisfying about a really good old movie. When I realize everyone is dead or really, really old, its like being transported back in time to watch them make their statement, leave their mark. How many people have seen and loved this movie throughout the decades past? How many more will in the future, when I am long dead?
When I went on the criterion site to see how daunting a task it might be to see all of the films, I found 500 listed (and more on the way). I was completely shocked to see that “chasing amy” (which I hated) and “armageddon” (which I would never subject myself to) were criterion movies! ridiculous. I guess criterion doesnt quite stand for what I thought it did (a seal of approval? signifying a masterpiece?) but as my friend pointed out when I asked him about it, there are very few of these shitty movies labeled criterion collection. I dont know what thats all about. Anyhow, I figure if I stick to older movies ill be safe. And thats what I was most interested in seeing in the first place. And maybe Ill be able to do this within the next few years, if I pepper my netflix queue heavily.

im starting with fellini, since I loved “La Strada” so much…..

8 1/2
Amarcord
And the Ship Sails On
Juliet of the Spirits
Nights of Cabiria <3<3<3<3<3
La Strada <3<3<3<3<3
Variety Lights
I Vitelloni

I watched “salo: 120 days of sodom” (i think thats what its called), i had heard about how depraved & shocking this movie was over the years, i read some reviews which treated it as a masterpiece, and realized it was a criterion dvd.
what a total piece of garbage. it just felt like someone put together 2 hours of sick shit and called it art. and its sick shit with horrible acting and effects, rendering even the shock value worth next to nothing. the only thing i found shocking about any of it is that this movie is considered serious art. so to further narrow down my list, i am going to stick to black and white on this one, except for movies whose directors i already know are great.

but money. And no, I dont mean that I married some old rich guy to have him take care of me. It was a young gay man (actually a couple of years younger than me) from Peru. He needed his papers. I needed some money while I was going to school full time, not working. I was extremely hesitant at first, but over many drinks one night, dancing at a club I told him I would. And woke up the next day scared but feeling as though I couldnt turn back. We married in a courthouse a few days before September 11th (yes…in 2001) And after various attempts at securing his citizenship, we were finally successful about a year and a half later. I didnt feel a particular need to end it at the time, figuring that it would be eons before I would want or find a real husband. He moved away to New York to pursue his dream of a career in fashion, and we lost touch. my being married has come back to bite me in the ass a few times. And for various reasons I would rather deal with this problem sooner than later…even though it is later.

Out of 12 classes I missed 1. And I even went running and exercising with a friend on another day to make up for it (though no one can push themselves as hard as boot camp will make you go, except for maybe the crazies who are addicted to exercise) Im not too upset with myself. I lost 5 pounds last time I checked (not amazing but better than nothing or steadily gaining weight as I was before), and I can now run 2 laps without walking (the first class had me alternately sprinting and walking the whole time). My body doesnt hurt AS MUCH the day after class as it did in the beginning. So i have benefitted from taking the class. I plan on taking it again, but next time I wont word my goal so strictly. I will give myself a little wiggle room because its really not as important to me to never ever miss a single class as it is for me just to lose weight, tone up and just feel better about myself.