Completely missed January's scavenger hunt but Tel is hosting February's here: letterboxd.com/theextralife/list/scavenger-hunt-95-february-2023/
Scavenger Hunt #95 - February 2023
Now onto the prompts!
1. Watch a film from Sarah's favourites.
I'm going to try keep the 'pick from a list' prompts to a minimum here, but it's my partner's mum's birthday today and she has a really... unique taste in movies that I'd like to share with you all.
2. Watch a film about the transition from winter to spring, either literally or any major themes around new life springing from old. Or if you haven't seen it, watch groundhog day!
It's groundhog day! One of my all time favourite films, and it birthed a love of time loop movies that I won't subject you to today as I think we've had the prompt before. Instead let's examine the point of groundhog day, the transition of winter to spring. Unless you haven't seen it, in which case watch groundhog day, it's brilliant.
3. Watch an anthology!
Shorts aren't a part of the scavenger hunt but I think they're an important part of film, and that when grouped together either thematically or through common plot threads they can be elevated... or at least if you don't like what you're watching something new comes along quick.
4. A film starring Johnny Depp
Today is world cancer day, a horrible disease that last year took my partner's stepmum from us, she was absolutely in love with Johnny Depp, so this one is for her.
5. Watch a film directed by and starring black talent.
It's black history month and so I would be remiss to not have a prompt celebrating black talent.
6. Watch a movie with a unique visual style
Movies that take an the medium and twist it in a unique way always excite me, the wolf house is stop motion taken to another level with scenes painted frame by frame onto the walls of a single room for example, this is a broad prompt, I'm excited to see what you all come up with.
7. Watch an alternate version of a film you have already seen
Not just remakes but films based on source material that has already been adapted, maybe note which you preferred in your review.
8. Watch a film in which the main character has a mental illness
I am studying to be a clinical psychologist and so representations of mental illness in film always interest me, if you're up for some extra work, read into the condition represented in the film to find out how accurate that version was.
9. Watch one of Kama's favourite films
My partner and my tastes in movies differs considerably, although there are a few on this list that I really like. Watch one of his favourites.
10. Watch a folk horror movie
The wickerman and midsommar are two of my all time favourite horror movies, I have only recently learned that they share a subgenre.
11. Watch a film rated 2.5 or lower on letterboxd
Do your very best to find a low rated film that you'll enjoy. I hope you succeed.
12. Watch a film that had a social impact
Movies have the power to shape people's perceptions and sometimes impacts are clear enough that they can be traced to a specific movie. Watch one of these movies that changed society in some way.
13. A movie about being trapped
This time last year I was isolating for what felt like months after catching COVID, let's remember what that was like by watching a movie about people not being able to leave wherever they are stuck.
14. Watch a movie about an archer
It's valentines day, but a love story seems all too obvious. This prompt is a tribute to cupid.
15. Watch a movie with a budget of under $50,000
Ultra low budget movies that are worth watching are a real testament to the skill of the film makers. See iMDB for the stats
letterboxd.com/theextralife/list/scavenger-hunt-95-february-2023/
16. Watch a movie with a title of twelve words or more
This one is admittedly pretty arbitrary but I think seeing who has the most ridiculously titled film that's actually any good will be fun
17. Watch a film that won the saturn award for best VFX
It's Michael Bay's birthday, let's bask in VFX.
18. Watch a film you haven't seen since you were a child
For those of you that rediscover something you love, you're welcome. For those of you who discover they had awful taste as a child, I'm sorry.
19. Watch a musical with dark themes
Musicals are too often assumed to all be romantic and nice. Seek out some darker weirder musicals this month.
20. Watch a film that you think will make you cry.
Watch it in all the right conditions and completely shut off your cynicism as far as is possible. My personal challenge to all of you is to summon a tear today.
21. Watch a film that contains a fast of some kind OR pancakes
It's pancake day! A tradition that is meant to signal the beginning of a religious fast but for most of us it just means eating pancakes.
22. Watch a film featuring scouts in some capacity
It's founder's day today the birthday of the man who started the worldwide scouting movement (not something I usually celebrate as he was a bit of a nazi but we'll gloss over that), I'm a scout leader and it's a growing part of my life so I wanted to celebrate that on this list. Guides and every age demographic across both groups is completely acceptable.
23. Watch a movie starring a drag queen
I'm very much gay and so wanted to do an LGBT category, but starring or about LGBT people has been done to death. Drag queens are not always necessarily LGBT, but they have always been a cornerstone of the LGBT rights movement and they have made some seriously fun movies.
24. Watch a bleak, hopeless movie
I have depression, and sometimes immersing yourself in a film that shows some aspect of how that can feel is enlightening. Experience depression with me... not exactly a strong sales pitch.
25. Watch one of Roger Ebert's 'great films'
Roger Ebert was a great critic and his website still runs to this day and is filled with my favourite set of movie reviews on the internet. His is an opinion I hold in high regard so we'll all watch a movie he considered great today.
26. Watch a film about war that isn't from the perspective of a soldier
Francois Truffaut famously said that all war films are pro war. I personally nearly agree, I think when removed from the context of a soldier, anti-war messages can really get across.
27. Watch a film recommended by a stranger
Either message a random member of the discord server or if you're feeling ballsy ask someone you don't know in real life. I love the idea of this, I hope most of you get good movies.
28. Watch a film that is over three hours long
There are several three plus hour movies that everyone is supposed to watch but never get to. The shortest month with the least prompts when it's too cold to go outside seems like the best time to have you all watch one of them.
If you find yourself particularly struggling with one of the prompts or just straight up don't like one, you can pick a film from this hastily made list of films I recommend.
