I almost was going to see that other version of Day of Wrath when I spotted it a my neighborhood VCD store in Chiang Mai, but the version they had was strictly Thai dubbed. Otherwise, I think of Carl Dreyer as the film equivalent to broccoli. I know it's good for me, but I really rather go for the nutritiously dubious works of Jesus Franco. I have seen Vampyre, but I have more fun with the exploration of the genre by Jean Rollin. Maybe if Carl Dreyer had the courage to stock his films with lesbian vampires who wander around wearing diaphanous nightgowns, I'd watch more of his films. I guess I will have to seek out Dreyer's Day or Wrath as well as Ordet on DVD.

I missed the theatrical run of Army of Shadows as I was in Thailand at the time, but I will be getting a copy from the Denver Public Library soon. Forbidden Games was already on my rental list. It's a film I recall my parents discussing. I've seen a couple of other films by Rene Clement including what may be one of the best films Charles Bronson was ever in, Rider in the Rain.

As for The Story of the Late Chrysanthemums, I'm not about to buy a VHS tape for the sake of a possible vote. Had my own film collection not been in storage, I might have more easily remembered my own favorite Mizoguchi, Princess Yang Kwei Fei. My region free DVD player is also in storage so Bela Tarr's Satantango will have to go unseen as well.

I may see Cinema Paradiso again only because of the recommendations of those who have seen the complete version, not the U.S. theatrical version I am familiar with. The films I have seen by Giuseppe Tornatore have not made me enthusiastic about his work, including the Italian version of Malena.

While some have questioned Run Lola Run, I might have included this film. I saw it theatrically and own both the DVD and the soundtrack DVD. From my Buddhist point of view, Tom Twyker's film and Robert Bresson's L'Argent are both terrific in how they detail cause and effect, the unintended consequences of actions of people.

I have to wonder if Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon would score so high if more people were familiar with Ang Lee's source of inspiration, King Hu. Having seen a number of Hong Kong martial arts films that have preceded Lee's, my own feeling is that Lee had the advantage of a relatively huge budget and the marketing muscle of Sony Pictures. Part of my problem stems from the fact that the success of Lee's film has inspired so many variations, the best of which was Zhang Yimou's Hero. A few years ago I had the opportunity to see one of the first Hong Kong films with a female star, Come Drink with Me with Cheng Pei-Pei in attendance. Speaking of King Hu, I am hoping to see Dragon Inn, the film screened in Goodbye, Dragon Inn. I do love the Tsui Hark remake. Not that Zhang Ziyi and Michelle Yeoh are not attractive, but nothing compares to the opening scene of the new version of Dragon Inn. The sparks are palpable when, disguised as a young man, Maggie Cheung flirts with Brigitte Lin.