Thursday 15 January 2015

TBW - My 'To Be Watched' Challenge

When I finished University, I set myself a number of reading challenges (which you can see here) to encourage me to read more fiction after three years of sticking to reading lists. Before I went to University, not only did I used to read lots of fiction, but I also used to watch lots of films. I did watch the occasional film at University, but as they were usually with others, they had to be films everyone would enjoy (so lots of the time ended up being big Hollywood Blockbuster movies). So, I have set myself a number of challenges to force me to watch a wider variety of films, TV shows, and to go to the theatre.


  1. Watch the entire IMDB Top 250
  2. Watch at least 10 more films in a foreign language
  3. Watch a silent film
  4. Go to the National Theatre and watch a play
  5. Watch a film I have never heard of
  6. Go and see a musical
  7. Watch 2 TV shows in a foreign language
  8. Watch all the Studio Ghibli films
  9. Watch some of the classic Disney films I didn’t watch as a child
  10. Go to a midnight showing of a film
  11. Go to a cinema with a bar in it to watch a film
  12. Watch all Stanley Kubrick’s films
  13. Watch all Alfred Hitchcock’s films
  14. Watch at least 5 documentaries
  15. Watch every Best Picture Oscar winning film.


My goal is to have made a serious dent in these by the end of the year, but I haven’t really set myself a deadline. Lots of these I have already made a start on – I have seen 166 of the IMDB top 250 already, been to the National Theatre before, seen a musical in a theatre and seen lots and lots of films in a foreign language for example, but I have put them on the list to encourage me to continue or repeat some of the things I enjoyed.

Anyway this became a much longer post than I intended it to be so I should probably stop here. One more thing is that if you’re curious as to how many of these goals you have already completed, this website is a pretty easy way to take a look.

I won’t blog about every single thing I watch but I will post about anything that I come across that is particularly interesting. Have you got any suggestions for my list? 


Beth x

9 comments:

  1. I ran through these pretty quick so I probably missed a couple, but I've only seen 51 of the 250 - apparently I don't watch enough movies! I was surprised to see Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Into the Wild, and Requiem for a Dream on the list. If you haven't seen any of these, I would definitely recommend (although I feel weird suggesting the third one). They're probably all considered "love it or hate it" movies, but fantastic nonetheless.

    Disappointed that Titanic didn't make the cut.

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    1. When I first discovered IMDB and counted up how many I had seen it was barely any, but since I started trying to watch more and branched out to genres I had never tried and films I had never heard of, I have discovered some of my favourites! :)

      I actually haven't seen Into the Wild or Requiem for a Dream so I will have to give them a watch and let you know what I think! :D

      Beth x

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    2. I'm excited to see what you think of them! And if you hate them, be honest ;)

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  2. For a film in a foreign language, "Its a Beautiful Life" is one of my favourite films. If you watch it, I hope you love it too.
    Amanda.

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    1. Yes! This is one of my favourite films actually, used to watch it all the time when I was doing Italian at school :) Thank you for the suggestion :D

      Beth x

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  3. This is a fab list! It is always good to try and experience things from other cultures. My mum collected all the Best Picture movies ever so I have made my through most of them which was really enjoyable. My aim is to go to more plays this year and get back to the globe - if you haven't been then you have to go!! xx

    Jasmin Charlotte | UK Lifestyle Blog

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    1. Ah thank you :) for foreign films I'm really enjoying using the Empire Top 100 as a little bit of guidance for film industries I know absolutely nothing about!

      It's ridiculous because I live in London but have never been to the globe D: maybe I should add it to my list! I have barely seen any plays actually so starting on that aspect of my challenge is something I'm really looking forward to.

      Beth x

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  4. I live with people who love watching films, and my boyfriend is a film student so I feel sick of watching films haha, they always have to be 'good' films as well, I like a good crappy chick flick now and then! I need to watch a silent film, and I definitely want to go to more musicals as I adore them, they're just so fun!

    Emma x
    Writing Essays With Wine

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    1. I won't lie I'm probably one of those people haha I am a bit of a film nerd! To be fair I do like most genres though so I don't mind watching a crappy chick flick from time to time! :) Hope this gave you some ideas of challenges you might do to watch more films!

      Beth x

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