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What I've been doing lately is creating lists (I use IMDb) of films I want to watch, using specific themes. I'm not going to force myself to go through and view everything methodically, because I want the freedom to check out other movies as well if I randomly come across them.
So, I'll watch whatever I feel like choosing from my compilations, then go in a different direction, then check the list again, etc. This makes me feel that I am still completing my objective, but without restraints. If I don't finish everything within this year, it's not a big deal, because I'll still be exploring cinema, and I can go back to the watchlists later.
I've also been mindfully selecting more and more films from various countries, and I agree that it would be cool to be able to say I had seen at least one movie from every country that had ever produced one (or that which had the director/actors/location in the country, but was produced elsewhere, if that was the only option).
This might inspire me to start my own new list. :P