[fortunato]

Originally Posted by _____V_____

Some, like Alky, Return, Fortunato...give critically appreciated and powerful flicks more priority.

Originally Posted by _____V_____

Which brings me to the topic. When you rummage through your collection, or rentals, your choices are driven by what? Obviously most of us are looking for entertaining flicks...but exactly what makes you actually WATCH a movie?

well, first off let me say that i will certainly give virtually any film a chance, regardless of how good or bad it's perceived to be. i love a lot of flicks of all different sorts.
that being said, you're right that i do tend to put more "critically acclaimed and powerful flicks" towards the top of my queue, although that's mostly incidental, as the people and sources from which i trust recommendations, coupled with my own curiosity/research generally tend to generate films like that.
mostly, i agree a lot with what rod was saying. i just want to be entertained, regardless of how it's done. whether it's style over substance, substance over style, great direction, great performances, etc., or a combination of anything and/or everything else, i just try to watch something as objectively as i can. i fairly easily am sucked into a film, so i generally find myself in my own world until it's over (regardless of whether i even liked it or not), and try to wait until it's over to make a judgement.

so, anyway, to answer your question:

when i'm going through my collection, as most others have said, it depends on several factors. mostly mood, and if/when i've seen it last. i do generally choose to watch things i either haven't seen ever, or haven't seen in quite some time. every once in a while, of course, i'll feel like picking an old favorite. although, kind of like what neverending was saying, if i find myself getting into a trend, i'll actively try to change it up some (unless i really really like the trend i'm in:D ).

but again, if i come across something i know of that has received a lot of interesting acclaim and/or infamy, i tend to be drawn more to those sorts of films. i also like to choose films that have been cited and recognized as examples of milestones in cinema, if nothing else, out of curiosity and to educate myself.

also:

Originally Posted by urgeok2

I can watch The Holy Grail over and over, Napoleon dynamite,

i'm glad you still love napoleon dynamite.
i too have always thought it was hysterical. sure, it got hyped way too fast, got crap because of it, and it got old hearing it quoted constantly.
but especially now, after the hype has ended, i still think it's great comedy.

Originally Posted by newb

Then I'll throw on The Goonies

that damn Sloth gets me every time......the big lug:(

haha, me too, newb.
me too. :o