I was also kind of indifferent to MD when I read it in college. I reread it a few years ago and it was about as much fun as I've ever had with a book (that is, a book without pictures). It seems like Melville was trying to make the point that he can cover every genre. Within the context of whaling, you have a travel…

Ran and Rashomon are my favorites, but Seven Samurai is probably the most obvious entry point. I can't imagine anyone watching Seven Samurai without having a great time. The AVC really needs to do a primer already.

The greatest, earliest film I've seen is The Passion of Joan of Arc. All of Dryer's films are worth checking out. Ditto for Bergman, Bunuel, Truffaut and Kurosawa.

Decalogue 1 is one of my favorite films of all time. The whole series is wonderful but that episode towers over the rest of the series for me. That kid breaks my heart every time. My next favorite Kieslowski is Three Colors: White.

Oh man, now I have to reread my 10 favorite books? I guess I'll start with something short to see if the difference is that significant. Ivan Ilyich, here I come for the millionth time.

Oh, and I also enjoyed the heck out of No Time for Comedy.

I'm with Hamburglar on all of those except The Naked Spur. I just saw that a few weeks ago and I found it pretty dull. Those other westerns are top-notch though.

12:08 East of Bucharest
That movie is awesome. I can't think of a foreign language film that made me laugh harder. The comedy doesn't usually translate too well.
I'm pumped for the grammatical thriller.

I think it's safe to assume that Ms. Meyers speaks the same Yiddish as my grandmother did.

Farkakter, the word is farkakter.

Well, that's the greatest thing I've ever seen.

The screenwriter for Un Chien Andalou doesn't like our comedic choices?

Wet Hot American Summer is also great.

My vote goes to Spinal Tap. I'd also have to put Anchorman way ahead of the pack. Bad Santa is great but it always pisses me off to watch Lauren Graham speak such inane dialogue.

Man, if Munro's in the same league as Hemingway and Cheever, then I feel lucky to get a fresh crack at her. Do you really think the short story will be dying soon? I can't imagine that will happen. The electronic readers should give it a nice boost. I don't see myself buying a Kindle but that seems like a good…

Thanks. I liked Away from Her- I didn't realize the connection.

Gateway?
It seems that Munro is a gaping hole in my library. I just bought a copy of Runaway based on the ecstatic write-up in the best of the decade piece. Is that a good place to start, or is there a better entry point? It sounds like Todd might recommend Too Much Happiness.

@TWfS, You mentioned almost all the good ones. I'd definitely add Sweet and Lowdown and Shadows and Fog. Also, Small Time Crooks isn't really *good* but it makes me laugh.

@Carnivorous Danus
I'm with you on Alice, not so much with Mighty Aphrodite.
I think Crimes and Misdemeanors, The Purple Rose of Cairo and Hannah and Her Sisters stand out in a mostly incredible resume.

That Bastard…
Osborne is gonna bang her.