The Criterion Collection

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by iScottie

The Black Stallion (REVIEW)

Watched this over the weekend and its as wonderful and beautiful a film as I remembered. Glad Criterion released it. Its such a overlooked gem. Yeah the director takes his time filming taking months and months just to shoot. And while I understand why studio's hate this the imagery he got is simply amazing to behold. Reading reviews on IMDB makes me sick every time I see someone rate it low and just say "Too slow", but that's pretty much any movie that isn't transformers or some other shallow CGI explosion-fest.

Sad the young kid actor never really did anything else and it was Clarence Muse's last film. Even though I felt his character could have easily been cut to the films benefit he was marvelous in it.

Listening to the director interview about all the execs showing up at Coppola's house thinking they were previewing Apcocalypse Now and instead saw this film and complained just reaffirms the studio exec stereotype for me. They wanted to shelve the film.

I hope Criterion tries to pick up some of this directors other films. He only did 7 and most seem to rate about as high as this. Never seen any of them, but really interested.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Banned User

Watched this over the weekend and its as wonderful and beautiful a film as I remembered. Glad Criterion released it. Its such a overlooked gem. Yeah the director takes his time filming taking months and months just to shoot. And while I understand why studio's hate this the imagery he got is simply amazing to behold. Reading reviews on IMDB makes me sick every time I see someone rate it low and just say "Too slow", but that's pretty much any movie that isn't transformers or some other shallow CGI explosion-fest.

Sad the young kid actor never really did anything else and it was Clarence Muse's last film. Even though I felt his character could have easily been cut to the films benefit he was marvelous in it.

Listening to the director interview about all the execs showing up at Coppola's house thinking they were previewing Apcocalypse Now and instead saw this film and complained just reaffirms the studio exec stereotype for me. They wanted to shelve the film.

I hope Criterion tries to pick up some of this directors other films. He only did 7 and most seem to rate about as high as this. Never seen any of them, but really interested.

As I've previously mentioned in several other posts, I enjoyed the film when I watched it a few weeks ago, but I would have absolutely loved it if the focus was on the boy and the horse on the beach. It would have been an interesting story of man and animal. Furthermore, the cinematography and the sense of serenity and mystery are top notch in those scenes.

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by Banned User

I hope Criterion tries to pick up some of this directors other films. He only did 7 and most seem to rate about as high as this. Never seen any of them, but really interested.

Oh, you should definitely try to see Never Cry wolf!
Great film.
From the description you give of Black Stallion (I haven't seen it), it's in the same path.
But that is Disney and our only hope , if ever, is Disney Club exclusive!!

Also I have seen Fly Away Home (don't remember anything of it) and the Nutcracker, which is like a filming of the ballet.

[shadedpain4]

A little something for the Red Beard fans.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

A little something for the Red Beard fans.

This would be the best Criterion news in a long time.

[prior]

Thanks for the link. C'mon Criterion just do it.

[Ray Jackson]

Hopefully Ikiru will be close behind.

...that one's badly in need of a high-def transfer.

[lordmorpheus72]

Went to BN today and didn't buy a single Criterion release. Must be feeling sick!

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Just want to thank anyone here who offered me any encouragement on the blind buy purchase of Picnic at Hanging Rock.

...goodnight and god bless.

told you... it made your subwoofer woof, right? I've got your back, Ray J.

[MTS]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

Oh, you should definitely try to see Never Cry wolf!
Great film.
From the description you give of Black Stallion (I haven't seen it), it's in the same path.
But that is Disney and our only hope , if ever, is Disney Club exclusive!!

+1. Never Cry Wolf is my all time favorite film, and I wait endlessly for its release on blu.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

told you... it made your subwoofer woof, right? I've got your back, Ray J.

I actually don't have a subwoofer.

My sound system is limited to the speaker in the TV, which I know sounds pathetic to an audiophile.

But my ears are sensitive and anything with more juice seems to aggravate them.

...it sucks.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by GentleGiant

I rewatched it this past weekend and was once again stunned by how perfect that film is. Nary a misplaced frame in the entire thing. To me, it's a work of cinematic art - no less!

Well written.

[diskspinner]

I made not 1 but 2 lists for the last week of B&N sale. Any recommendations to move films from Level 2 to Level 1 or vice versa will be great...

Level 1 (Higher priority, bold signifies I am almost certain to get these)

Ace in the Hole
Ali: Fear eats the soul
BBS Story Box - Bought
L'avventura
High and Low - Bought
In the Mood for love
Jules & Jim
Like Someone in Love
Monsieur Verdoux
Repulsion - Bought
The River
Seconds
Vivre Sa Vie

Level 2 (Lower priority, bold signifies some encouragement may cause move to Level 1 list)

The Big Chill
La Dolce Vita
Gates of Heaven/Vernon, Florida
Harakiri
A Hard day's night
Hoop Dreams
John Cassavetes Box
The Killers
Limelight
Paths of Glory
Il Sorpasso
The Thin Blue Line
World on a Wire

I am planning to get 1 box (BBS or Cassavetes) & 8-10 titles.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by diskspinner

I made not 1 but 2 lists for the last week of B&N sale. Any recommendations to move films from Level 2 to Level 1 or vice versa will be great...

Level 1 (Higher priority, bold signifies I am almost certain to get these)

Ace in the Hole
Ali: Fear eats the soul
BBS Story Box
L'avventura
High and Low
In the Mood for love
Jules & Jim
Like Someone in Love
Monsieur Verdoux
Repulsion
The River
Seconds
Vivre Sa Vie

Level 2 (Lower priority, bold signifies some encouragement may cause move to Level 1 list)

The Big Chill
La Dolche Vita
Gates of Heaven/Vernon, Florida
Harakiri
A Hard day's night
Hoop Dreams
John Cassavetes Box
The Killers
Limelight
Paths of Glory
Il Sorpasso
The Thin Blue Line
World on a Wire

I am planning to get 1 box (BBS or Cassavetes) & 8-10 titles.

Harakiri should be on level 1 imo.

One of the greatest movies ever made.

...and the black and white transfer is simply outstanding.

[BobbyMcGee]

Originally Posted by diskspinner

I made not 1 but 2 lists for the last week of B&N sale. Any recommendations to move films from Level 2 to Level 1 or vice versa will be great...

Level 1 (Higher priority, bold signifies I am almost certain to get these)

Ace in the Hole
Ali: Fear eats the soul
BBS Story Box
L'avventura
High and Low
In the Mood for love
Jules & Jim
Like Someone in Love
Monsieur Verdoux
Repulsion
The River
Seconds
Vivre Sa Vie

Level 2 (Lower priority, bold signifies some encouragement may cause move to Level 1 list)

The Big Chill
La Dolche Vita
Gates of Heaven/Vernon, Florida
Harakiri
A Hard day's night
Hoop Dreams
John Cassavetes Box
The Killers
Limelight
Paths of Glory
Il Sorpasso
The Thin Blue Line
World on a Wire

I am planning to get 1 box (BBS or Cassavetes) & 8-10 titles.

These are all must-haves IMO:

Ace in the Hole
Ali: Fear eats the soul (if you don't own it already, also recommend All That Heaven Allows, which Ali is a remake of)
BBS Story Box
High and Low
In the Mood for love
Monsieur Verdoux
Repulsion
Harakiri
Limelight
A Hard day's night

Get the rest when the next sale comes around.

[Namuhana]

Originally Posted by diskspinner

I made not 1 but 2 lists for the last week of B&N sale. Any recommendations to move films from Level 2 to Level 1 or vice versa will be great...

[Show spoiler]Level 1 (Higher priority, bold signifies I am almost certain to get these)

Ace in the Hole
Ali: Fear eats the soul
BBS Story Box
L'avventura
High and Low
In the Mood for love
Jules & Jim
Like Someone in Love
Monsieur Verdoux
Repulsion
The River
Seconds
Vivre Sa Vie

Level 2 (Lower priority, bold signifies some encouragement may cause move to Level 1 list)

The Big Chill
La Dolce Vita
Gates of Heaven/Vernon, Florida
Harakiri
A Hard day's night
Hoop Dreams
John Cassavetes Box
The Killers
Limelight
Paths of Glory
Il Sorpasso
The Thin Blue Line
World on a Wire

I am planning to get 1 box (BBS or Cassavetes) & 8-10 titles.

Hmm, I'd go with the following 10:

Ace in the Hole
High and Low
Il Sorpasso
Jules and Jim
La Dolce Vita
L'avventura
Limelight
Paths of Glory
Repulsion
Vivre Sa Vie

As well as the BBS Story set.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by diskspinner

I made not 1 but 2 lists for the last week of B&N sale. Any recommendations to move films from Level 2 to Level 1 or vice versa will be great...

Level 1 (Higher priority, bold signifies I am almost certain to get these)

Ace in the Hole
Ali: Fear eats the soul
BBS Story Box
L'avventura
High and Low
In the Mood for love
Jules & Jim
Like Someone in Love
Monsieur Verdoux
Repulsion
The River
Seconds
Vivre Sa Vie

Level 2 (Lower priority, bold signifies some encouragement may cause move to Level 1 list)

The Big Chill
La Dolce Vita
Gates of Heaven/Vernon, Florida
Harakiri
A Hard day's night
Hoop Dreams
John Cassavetes Box
The Killers
Limelight
Paths of Glory
Il Sorpasso
The Thin Blue Line
World on a Wire

I am planning to get 1 box (BBS or Cassavetes) & 8-10 titles.

Keep Harakiri bold, but move it to level 1, then bold In The Mood For Love and you'll be off to a great start with that list.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

A little something for the Red Beard fans.

Great news

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

The poll is about the films, not the filmmakers.

It's not logical to say that director X has five films on a list like this, while director Y has only one and not conclude that the general consensus among critics is that director X is the better or the more important filmmaker. Of course the list has some bearing on how critics generally feel about certain directors. You can't judge their films without judging them as filmmakers.

Francis Ford Coppola has four films on the list. This is more than (among others) Sergei Eisenstein (2), Vittorio de Sica (1), Luchino Visconti (1), Robert Altman (1), David Lean (2), D.W. Griffith (1), Woody Allen (2), John Cassavetes (3), Agnes Varda (1), Jean-Pierre Melville (1), and Pier Paolo Passolini (1).

Do you really think that that means the poll is claiming that Coppola is a more important filmmaker than any of those worthies? Not to mention directors that have no films on the list, like Frank Capra, John Huston, Elia Kazan, Otto Preminger, King Vidor, the Coen Brothers, Jean Cocteau, Shohei Imamura, or Zhang Yimou?

Does the fact that Robert Bresson has the most films on the list (7) mean that the poll considers him the most important director ever, even more important than (in addition to those listed above) Hawks (6), Powell & Pressburger (6), Buñuel (6), Hitchcock (5), Kubrick (5), Bergman (5), Ford (4), Fellini (4), Tarkovsky (4), and Truffaut (2!)?

Charles Laughton has a film on the list: The Night of the Hunter. Does that make him a more important director than any of those without films on the list, even though it's a only film he directed?

I will grant you that "more important" directors are probably going to have more films on the list, for the simple reason that being outstanding filmmakers means that they're more likely to make outstanding films. But the poll really is about the films, not the filmmakers.

And that's it for me in this discussion.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by Banned User

Which brings up the question where is The Passion of Joan of Arc Criterion ? The MoC release has been out for ages now and is every bit a revelation in terms of contrast and depth/detail.

Probably waiting for the Pathé restoration.