The Criterion Collection

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by jayembee

I haven't seen it since it first came out. I wasn't terribly excited about it at the time, mostly because I'm not a fan of Bette Midler. I do recall, though, that it was a better film than I was expecting. Vilmos Zsigmond's cinematography was particularly astonishing.

It's a shame that his The Sadist is already out. That would have been a great cult title to fit in with the likes of Equinox, Carnival of Souls, and Fiend Without a Face. (All of which need a Blu upgrade)

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

I don't know if this was in part directed at me, or not. But if it was ...

I wasn't complaining. I was saying that none of these titles interest me. Well, the Fassbinder maybe. But beyond that, I would rather spend my money on the titles I don't yet own than on any of these.

But I am sort of on a few month long stretch of not being excited about any announcement. And that's saddening. It's not a big deal. I have a lot of stuff I need to watch, a lot of stuff I still need to buy. It's just that I look forward to things and hope for them, then I am disappointed when they aren't announced.

I don't see what's wrong with that.

It wasn't directed at anyone. Just a general observation. Follow this thread regularly and you'll see it happen every month

[octagon]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

It wasn't directed at anyone. Just a general observation. Follow this thread regularly and you'll see it happen every month

There's another side to that coin though.

We also see indignant overreactions to imagined slights pretty much every month too.

'Meh, nothing for me this month' aren't exactly fighting words but they're often treated like an attack on film itself.

[Brad1963]

The newly announced titles are in line with what Criterion releases and always has. To dismiss them is kind of like complaining about getting wet after you jump into a swimming pool. For those who complain each month, you may want to re-think why or even if you like Criterion in the first place.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Infernal King

This is a really dumb post.

And yours is an even dumber one. As a retort to a post that you feel targeted you, it has all the potency of a bottle of O'Doul's.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by octagon

There's another side to that coin though.

We also see indignant overreactions to imagined slights pretty much every month too.

'Meh, nothing for me this month' aren't exactly fighting words but they're often treated like an attack on film itself.

Eh, I realise that not everything appeals to everyone, but when that particular statement usually is used in conjunction with "Criterion is releasing crap films, and why won't they release what I like," is when I take issue. I don't always like everything Criterion releases, but sometimes it feels like it's the same people every time who complain that Criterion only releases, in their opinion, crap.

Also, sometimes the complete dismissal of titles unseen is a bit annoying, and can be seen as a double standard because I remember when a certain director's film was added to the collection, the director was criticised for dismissing films without having seen them. Certain posters thought that the director had to see those films in order to be taken seriously, yet some of those same posters often dismiss films right out of hand sand say Criterion doesn't release anything good.

[atlantajoseph]

Adding to my Criterion wishlist: a BD box set of Lars von Trier's Dogville and Manderlay.

I watched Dogville on Hulu Plus -- twice -- and cannot get over how much it has gotten under my skin. I had to order the DVD so I can hear the commentary.

Unfortunately I decided to watch Manderlay via Amazon Instant because the DVD does not have any extras. When I started to stream it I realized that not only is it standard def (which I knew going in), it is also freaking NON-ANAMORPHIC. So I stopped watching and will likely order the DVD. Argh.

Where's the love?

Edit to clarify: These are not currently in Criterion's library. Dogville is Lions Gate; Manderlay is IFC.

[The Crimson King]

Out of the newest announced, I'm going to want Limelight and Make Way for Tomorrow. When's the next Barnes and Noble 50% off sale, May? If so, they'll be coming out right then looks like.

[dsman71]

Originally Posted by The Crimson King

Out of the newest announced, I'm going to want Limelight and Make Way for Tomorrow. When's the next Barnes and Noble 50% off sale, May? If so, they'll be coming out right then looks like.

Those are the two movies I am most interested in watching as well. Otherwise nothing really grabbed me either

[jcs913]

Originally Posted by Brad1963

The newly announced titles are in line with what Criterion releases and always has. To dismiss them is kind of like complaining about getting wet after you jump into a swimming pool. For those who complain each month, you may want to re-think why or even if you like Criterion in the first place.

IMO Brad, you are 100% correct in your thought. These films have been the forte of Criterion for many, many years now. The problem is that people always bring up the argument that Criterion used to release films like, Silence of the Lambs, Robocop, etc back in the days. They expect many main stream Hollywood titles from the past 30 years or so, which is not what Criterion does. Unfortunately, they forget, or just do not have the past knowledge, that those films were released because no one else was releasing them, and frankly, they were easy money makers for Criterion. That money earned has been used over the years to purchase rights to many of the films Criterion believes is their backbone, which are films like the ones just announced.

Oh Yeah... and LIMELIGHT!!!
Bring on The Kid...

[octagon]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Eh, I realise that not everything appeals to everyone, but when that particular statement usually is used in conjunction with "Criterion is releasing crap films, and why won't they release what I like," is when I take issue.

Did anybody today say Criterion is releasing crap films?

[jcs913]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Eh, I realise that not everything appeals to everyone, but when that particular statement usually is used in conjunction with "Criterion is releasing crap films, and why won't they release what I like," is when I take issue. I don't always like everything Criterion releases, but sometimes it feels like it's the same people every time who complain that Criterion only releases, in their opinion, crap.

Also, sometimes the complete dismissal of titles unseen is a bit annoying, and can be seen as a double standard because I remember when a certain director's film was added to the collection, the director was criticised for dismissing films without having seen them. Certain posters thought that the director had to see those films in order to be taken seriously, yet some of those same posters often dismiss films right out of hand sand say Criterion doesn't release anything good.

BG, Lena needs to reinvent herself soon. Maybe she can watch some of those classic films she dismissed and get some inspiration from them...

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by octagon

Did anybody today say Criterion is releasing crap films?

Not this month, but in the past, in other threads, and on the actual news item on the main blu-ray.com page. We who like the films are pretentious toffs who will bend over and buy overpriced crap, as Criterions are only worth purchasing when they go on sale for 50% off and you have a bunch of coupons to stack.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

But I am sort of on a few month long stretch of not being excited about any announcement. And that's saddening. It's not a big deal. I have a lot of stuff I need to watch, a lot of stuff I still need to buy. It's just that I look forward to things and hope for them, then I am disappointed when they aren't announced.

I don't see what's wrong with that.

Nothing, per se. I, too, get excited by the promise that Criterion will be bringing certain titles out, or wish for a number of their LD and/or DVD titles to get upgraded, and feel disappointed when they aren't announced. However...

That disappointment is almost always counter-balanced by the joy of seeing them announce something that I wasn't expecting. Sure, I'm as disappointed as the next guy that Z isn't being upgraded, but excited at the prospect of getting not one, but two other Costa-Gavras political thrillers.

[ravenus]

The Costa Gavras films and the Man of Four Seasons sound intriguing. I must look them up before making a decision.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by jcs913

BG, Lena needs to reinvent herself soon. Maybe she can watch some of those classic films she dismissed and get some inspiration from them...

I'm not a Dunham fan by far, but I couldn't help but point out some of the double standards some folks have.

I think she's currently trying to pass herself off as a female Woody Allen or a real-life Adrian Mole. It's not working. I read her book because it was controversial with the accusations of her molesting her younger sister. Completely taken out of context, but there were other things in there that were pretty horrifying. She was trying to make unfunny things like being sexually assaulted seem funny. I actually ended up disliking her more after reading her book.

[The Great Owl]

We all have a few blind spots when it comes to directors and films in the Criterion Collection, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

I'm not familiar with the works of Rainer Werner Fassbinder or Costa-Gavras. This does not mean that I'm close-minded or that I'm a failure as a fan of cinema. It simply means that there are a whole lot of movies in the world, and I have not seen them all, nor will I ever see them all.

So, when I post, "Other than Limelight, nothing really jumps out at me.", I'm not condemning the other movies. If you are a huge fan of Fassbinder or Costa-Gavras, then there's no need to act as though I just killed your puppy. I have not yet made my way to their films, but I might make my way down those side roads at some point in the future. There just happens to be other places on the map that I'm more interested in seeing at the moment.

[BobbyMcGee]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

We all have a few blind spots when it comes to directors and films in the Criterion Collection, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

I'm not familiar with the works of Rainer Werner Fassbinder or Costa-Gavras. This does not mean that I'm close-minded or that I'm a failure as a fan of cinema. It simply means that there are a whole lot of movies in the world, and I have not seen them all, nor will I ever see them all.

So, when I post, "Other than Limelight, nothing really jumps out at me.", I'm not condemning the other movies. If you are a huge fan of Fassbinder or Costa-Gavras, then there's no need to act as though I just killed your puppy. I just have not yet made my way to their films, but I might make my way down those side roads at some point in the future.

I would HIGHLY recommend Fassbinder's Ali: Fear Eats the Soul. Especially, if you are familiar with Sirk's All That Heaven Allows.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by BobbyMcGee

I would HIGHLY recommend Fassbinder's Ali: Fear Eats the Soul. Especially, if you are familiar with Sirk's All That Heaven Allows.

World on a Wire is the Fassbinder film that most intrigues me, but there's always something else on the Criterion rack that takes precedence.

Someday...

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

World on a Wire is the Fassbinder film that most intrigues me, but there's always something else on the Criterion rack that takes precedence.

Someday...

My wife and I couldn't get through WotW. Ali looks like something I might like, but I am put off by how much I didn't enjoy WotW.