Holy calamity! [or "recommend me a magical-realist film on DVD buyable in Exeter tonight"]

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My brother just rang me and asked what I want for Christmas because he's going shopping tonight. I don't know what I want! What do I ask for? I'm getting a DVD player off ma + pa, so I guess I ought to ask for a DVD to watch on it (cos obviously, working where I work I don't have enough to choose from [Chaplin DVD box set arrived today! and Eraserhead! And Der Golem!]). So recommend me a film. I like magical realist stuff, fantastical but not stupid, I'm thinking adventure/sci-fi (NOT Matrix)/magic/werewolves/weird imagery; stuff I have/already love that would give you an idea includes Brotherhood Of The Wolf, Waking Life, Hulk, LoTR, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Spirited Away, Terry Gilliam stuff... Films that make your eyes and brain pop out at the same time, that take you to another world, I'm talking phantasmagorically splendid and enjoyable CINEMA! So, recommend away please (and do it by 5pm or I get no Xmas pressie off Jim)!

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Thursday, 11 December 2003 13:30 (twenty-two years ago)

You've got "Delicatessen", obv?

― Markelby (Mark C), Thursday, 11 December 2003 13:33 (twenty-two years ago)

No, but I do want City Of Lost Children I think, which is the same guy, innit? is Deli good? Should I ask for it? Give reasons! I want nuts stuff! To watch while slowly drunk on champagne.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Thursday, 11 December 2003 13:35 (twenty-two years ago)

It's brilliant. It's pretty much perfect, as far as I can tell. It mixes realism with grotesque and bizarre situations and places, does wonderful things with visuals and sound and has a cracking soundtrack. It's a sure-fire winner.

― Markelby (Mark C), Thursday, 11 December 2003 13:37 (twenty-two years ago)

Delicatessen is better than City of Lost Children, the latter is visually more stunning but kinda empty. You should also consider...

The Nine Lives of Tomas Katz
Chronos
Year of the Devil
James and the Giant Peach

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Thursday, 11 December 2003 13:37 (twenty-two years ago)

City Of Lost Children would fit the bill perfectly as would Delicatessen. Belleville Rendezvous not on DVD yet I don't think. Equally not sure if Cypher is availible but was great in this kind of field. eXistenZ (some people hate it but I loved it). Dark City, Alex Proyas mind fuck (terrible Kiefer Sutherland performance aside it is really interesting and I think Connelley is in it).

― Pete (Pete), Thursday, 11 December 2003 13:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Dark City is grebt.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Thursday, 11 December 2003 13:41 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm sorry, I didn't notice the DVD thing, I'm not sure whether the first three films on my list are on DVD. I'll come up with something else...

(And by the way, eXistenZ is bad and Dark City is mostly good, but the ending sucks.)

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Thursday, 11 December 2003 13:41 (twenty-two years ago)

I've got Cronos at work; keep meaning to take it home to watch.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Thursday, 11 December 2003 13:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Agree the ending is pretty poor.

See I told you some people don't like eXistenZ.

― Pete (Pete), Thursday, 11 December 2003 13:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Okay, here you go:

Corto Maltese: La cour secrète des Arcanes
Drive
The Wings of Honneamise
The Iron Giant
My Neighbor Totoro
Last Night
The Waiting List
The Tenant
Songs from the Second Floor
Truman Show
The Lovers of the Arctic Circle
Lilies

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Thursday, 11 December 2003 13:51 (twenty-two years ago)

I haf asked 4 Delicatessen.

X-post - Tuomas, Truman Show is a great shout, one of my favourite films.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Thursday, 11 December 2003 13:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Whoot! I win!

― Markelby (Mark C), Thursday, 11 December 2003 13:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Haha I was wondering what was magic realist about the movie with Stanley Tucci and Tony Shaloub opening a restaurant, but that's First Night! Also not to be confused with First Knight.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Thursday, 11 December 2003 13:54 (twenty-two years ago)

I think, in the scheme of things, that Jeunet is the winner.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Thursday, 11 December 2003 13:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, some props must go to Mark, this is the only time in ILX history that a thread could actually have stopped after the first answer.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Thursday, 11 December 2003 13:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Hehe.

Further to the success of this thread, I have decided to get each of my three cousins a DVD. 22 year old female, 18 year old male, 15 year old female. Suggest me stuff ASAP!!

― Markelby (Mark C), Thursday, 11 December 2003 14:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Belleville Rendezvous not on DVD yet I don't think.

as ally read through the entire [yeah] christmas radio times to me, last night, he mentioned that belleville rendezvous is on BBC2 on christmas day.

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 11 December 2003 14:05 (twenty-two years ago)

is it really? wow, that'll annoy my sister as I insist on watching it.

Mark - get the 18yr old Bring it on, he'll thank you for it

― chris (chris), Thursday, 11 December 2003 14:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Hehe, he will, won't he? Though if Spirited Away is out on DVD I fancy that for one of them.

― Markelby (Mark C), Thursday, 11 December 2003 14:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Spirited Away isn't out on R2 till february, I'm afraid.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Thursday, 11 December 2003 14:43 (twenty-two years ago)

What about some Tim Burton stuff? Like Edward Scissorhands maybe? Or Peewee's Big Adventure? Those are definitely eye-popping and involving.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 11 December 2003 14:44 (twenty-two years ago)

"DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WISH TO SHARE WITH THE REST OF US, AMAZING LARRY?"

yeah, go for Pee-Wee.

― Kingfish Beefstick (Kingfish), Thursday, 11 December 2003 15:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Devil's Backbone

― Huckleberry Mann (Horace Mann), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:14 (twenty-two years ago)

True Stories

― Matt (Matt), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Tuomas, I love you.

Nick, you were also asking about films with accordians in them too. Do you like Emir Kusturica? I'm not sure if any of his films are available on DVD in the UK yet.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:16 (twenty-two years ago)

I've noticed we have a similar taste in film, but isn't that a bit of an overstatement..

..well, all right, I wuv u too, you big teddy bear.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Thursday, 11 December 2003 17:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Of love.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Thursday, 11 December 2003 17:03 (twenty-two years ago)

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