The Criterion Collection

[Snicket]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

White Material is one of those Criterion titles that intrigues me, but not quite enough to make the leap of faith. It's one of those titles that I always pick up in the store, glance at, and put back on the shelf. I'll check it out somehow somewhere.

I didn't even know it was on blu...damn. I need to get it then.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

The Night of the Hunter does wear a lot on its sleeve. It's basically a live-action fairly tale, complete with a big bad wolf. I love the enchanted imagery when the kids are on the river.

Night of the Hunter is a bit maddening to me. Overall it's a wonderful film with a couple of sequences-

[Show spoiler]the children's escape down the river and especially the one of Shelly Winters underwater with her hair shimmering and slowly waving like a tragic siren.

that are as beautiful as anything you'll ever see. However, there are a couple of others-

[Show spoiler]Mitchum chasing the children up the steps with a goofy cartoony Frankenstein posture and when he's shot, yelling and jumping like a WB cartoon villain.

that are so different in tone they derail the film (for me anyway) temporarily. Fortunately the film is great enough to right itself after each of these but I still cringe before and after these two scenes.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Thanks for sharing!

John Ford is in the Collection, so your review has a place here.

I love Ford's use of framing in his films. Stagecoach and The Searchers are both fun examples of the use.

I have The Quiet Man in my stack to watch in a few days.

I'm not a fan of westerns, but, somehow I was able to write that paper (how, I don't know exactly). Thanks for reading though!

[Visco.]

Whatever happened to the Criterion film of the week thing?

Planning to watch Videodrome tonight

[Sherlock_Jr]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Didn't dislike it, and in terms of its expressionistic visuals it's pretty amazing in a lot of shots, but I certainly can't imagine watching it more than once. To quote from the review on my blog:

As you stated, all those films came AFTER Night of the Hunter. The 50s weren't really a time for sublty and ambiguousness; that came more in the 60s when the world changed. It's fine if you didn't buy into what it was selling — and it's certainly heavy handed — but comparing it to films that came later, during a different time or even from different country (and which may have been influenced in some degree by this film), doesn't really make a case for much.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Sherlock_Jr

As you stated, all those films came AFTER Night of the Hunter. The 50s weren't really a time for sublty and ambiguousness; that came more in the 60s when the world changed. It's fine if you didn't buy into what it was selling — and it's certainly heavy handed — but comparing it to films that came later, during a different time or even from different country (and which may have been influenced in some degree by this film), doesn't really make a case for much.

Eh, I dunno about all that.

There was plenty of ambiguity and subtlety in both the world and in film prior to the 1960s.

[pause to let Boomers look about for the nearest fainting couch]

We were just talking about 310 to Yuma yesterday. That was released in 1957 and the characters were almost noir-ish in their complexity and ambiguity and noir characters were almost by definition subtle and complex and conflicted. You could go back to silents and find subtle and ambiguous characters (Sunrise immediately leaps to mind).

The broad, almost fairy tale simple characters in The Night of the Hunter were an artistic choice, not simply a product of the times.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

Night of the Hunter is a bit maddening to me. Overall it's a wonderful film with a couple of sequences-

[Show spoiler]the children's escape down the river and especially the one of Shelly Winters underwater with her hair shimmering and slowly waving like a tragic siren.

that are as beautiful as anything you'll ever see. However, there are a couple of others-

[Show spoiler]Mitchum chasing the children up the steps with a goofy cartoony Frankenstein posture and when he's shot, yelling and jumping like a WB cartoon villain.

that are so different in tone they derail the film (for me anyway) temporarily. Fortunately the film is great enough to right itself after each of these but I still cringe before and after these two scenes.

[Show spoiler]The Criterion supplemental essay makes a good case for why Harry Powell screams and jumps in a cartoonish way at the end. Sometimes, it's best just to laugh in the face of evil, instead of being afraid, because evil draws its power from fear.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Visco.

Whatever happened to the Criterion film of the week thing?

Planning to watch Videodrome tonight

Just died off I guess...you can always post your thoughts here.

[The Great Owl]

I'm about to put The Double Life of Veronique into the player, and am looking forward to seeing how the Blu-ray compares to my old standard definition copy.

The Single Life of The Great Owl is quite nice on evenings like this.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

[Show spoiler]The Criterion supplemental essay makes a good case for why Harry Powell screams and jumps in a cartoonish way at the end. Sometimes, it's best just to laugh in the face of evil, instead of being afraid, because evil draws its power from fear.

Ok. I don't own the Criterion so didn't know that. My thought had been maybe it was to defuse the tension somewhat since this was a '50s film and even the potential harm to children was a touchy subject in regards the Production Code. Regardless, it still weakens the film, if only a little, for me.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by jw007

I'm a fan of White Material. I bought it on BD but only watched it once. I really got into the film though.

It also features one of my favorite scores for a Criterion film

[bluesilo]

Some low quality photos I took of Devil's Backbone Blu-ray case with my iPhone. Hope this helps get an idea of what it looks like.

[Show spoiler]

[jw007]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I'm about to put The Double Life of Veronique into the player, and am looking forward to seeing how the Blu-ray compares to my old standard definition copy.

The Single Life of The Great Owl is quite nice on evenings like this.

You are going to love the high definition version of TDLOV! Be prepared to be swept away into a vivid, watery dream (Kieślowski was indeed a water sign too - Cancer).

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

It also features one of my favorite scores for a Criterion film

Wow, now I must revisit that film again soon!

[Tin Drum]

Speaking White Material. I would love Beau Travail in the collection. I love that film and that ending? Amazing!

[Tin Drum]

Originally Posted by starman15317

I rented The Wages of Fear from Netflix (fortunately they have the Blu-Ray like they should have for every Criterion on Blu ) so I'll be watching it tonight.

An amazing film.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Tin Drum

Speaking White Material. I would love Beau Travail in the collection. I love that film and that ending? Amazing!

...to bring things full circle (posted the same thing today after listening to "Rhythm of the Night")

[Tin Drum]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

...to bring things full circle (posted the same thing today after listening to "Rhythm of the Night")

Great minds...

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by bluesilo

Some low quality photos I took of Devil's Backbone Blu-ray case with my iPhone. Hope this helps get an idea of what it looks like.

[Show spoiler]

Thank you!

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Tin Drum

Great minds...

I think I may see The Intruder tonight.

[Brian81]

Does the Criterion website do 50% off sales periodically?

I'm curious about this...