The Criterion Collection

[BobbyMcGee]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Im sorry but The Orphanage was utter tripe - I found it such a poor and terribly made film.

On the other had, The Devils Backbone is a masterpiece - it has everything, horror, emotion, depth etc etc I also love it avoids tacky horror, cheese and CGI (obvious stuff). Definitely of the better horror/ghost films out there - I did find Cronos to be quite weak and not as developed. Pans Labyrinth is also pretty incredible - but those are his main films, I don't like his mainstream films much though - I'm excited about his new gothic film coming out

Also - was in London and couldn't resist (will upload picture later) but The Criterion theatre was showing The 39 Steps Stage show XD - just found it so amusing that everywhere I look or go Criterion follows me lol!

I saw The 39 Steps stage show a few years ago here in Los Angeles at the Ahmanson theater. Quite amusing and also a really inventive use of props. Highly recommend the show if it is playing near anyone.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

When you're used to buying academic texts $70 is nothing!

It's not as bad as Standard Parking gouging students on parking permits.

[Joe Dalek]

I tried skimming the past 10 days or so worth of pages but didn't turn anything up...has anyone received their replacement discs (from the bronzing issue exchange program) yet? It's been a couple weeks since I sent mine in.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

I tried skimming the past 10 days or so worth of pages but didn't turn anything up...has anyone received their replacement discs (from the bronzing issue exchange program) yet? It's been a couple weeks since I sent mine in.

The word is Criterion may be receiving the corrected blu-rays in the next several days.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Im sorry but The Orphanage was utter tripe - I found it such a poor and terribly made film.

On the other had, The Devils Backbone is a masterpiece - it has everything, horror, emotion, depth etc etc I also love it avoids tacky horror, cheese and CGI (obvious stuff). Definitely of the better horror/ghost films out there - I did find Cronos to be quite weak and not as developed. Pans Labyrinth is also pretty incredible - but those are his main films, I don't like his mainstream films much though - I'm excited about his new gothic film coming out

Also - was in London and couldn't resist (will upload picture later) but The Criterion theatre was showing The 39 Steps Stage show XD - just found it so amusing that everywhere I look or go Criterion follows me lol!

What specifically did you dislike about The Orphanage? Whether you like it or not, I'm not sure how you can possibly say it's terribly made?

[Joe Dalek]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

The word is Criterion may be receiving the corrected blu-rays in the next several days.

Lovely, thanks for the tip.

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

What specifically did you dislike about The Orphanage? Whether you like it or not, I'm not sure how you can possibly say it's terribly made?

The last time I heard someone say that and asked them to explain, I discovered they were talking about "Orphan," that silly thriller from a few years ago with Vera Farmiga. :P If this guy has the right movie I'd really like to see a detailed explanation of that.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

The last time I heard someone say that and asked them to explain, I discovered they were talking about "Orphan," that silly thriller from a few years ago with Vera Farmiga. :P If this guy has the right movie I'd really like to see a detailed explanation of that.

Ha! The ending of that movie has to be one of the strangest and worst out there. Maybe he has the wrong movie.

[blujazz]

I have to agree, The Orphanage is a brilliant example of the female gothic. And a fine example of the "haunted house" genre. A fairly accessible film especially if read through a Freudian lens.

Orphan, on the other hand... 😴

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

What specifically did you dislike about The Orphanage? Whether you like it or not, I'm not sure how you can possibly say it's terribly made?

Only seen once and for me was enough, was a while back and its not stuck with me and can barely remember it tbh, all I remember was cliche horror elements, boring story again full of cliches, and the ending... seriously? I thought the end was a joke until I realised it was serious :/, the film itself for me had no tension or anything to draw me in, I just didn't care about it lol.

Just an awful film, nothing special for me.

If you guys like it then fine, but for me it's not even worth watching the trailer. I may be over reacting and as I said not seen in ages but what I remember was a very bad film and feeling extremely disappointed and let down.

I can't think of any reason to give this film a try again... Oh and I couldn't stand any of the characters so I just didn't care about them lol

Don't even get me started on Orphan LOL.

Honestly don't get why so many people have hard time understanding why I hate the film? and don't really need patronising lol, i know what film I am talking to about, how can you confuse those two films...?

[cakefactory]

Wow, that was the most generic long-winded pan i've ever seen. Not one sentence in that post said anything that applied specifically to the movie, I'm not at all sure you even saw the same movie we're talking about. What are some of these cliche horror elements? I don't see that at all. And what the heck is wrong with the end? "Seriously?" sure isn't a descriptive critique.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

Wow, that was the most generic long-winded pan i've ever seen. Not one sentence in that post said anything that applied specifically to the movie, I'm not at all sure you even saw the same movie we're talking about. What are some of these cliche horror elements? I don't see that at all. And what the heck is wrong with the end? "Seriously?" sure isn't a descriptive critique.

Oh whatever - no need to be so patronising and belittling.

I hate the film - BIG DEAL! We can't all like the same thing sheesh.

[ShellOilJunior]

Let's bring some levity back to the thread...

Elaine at the movie - YouTube

[pedromvu]

Wow never thought someone could hate that much The Orphanage, i am not a fan of horror films but that along with Rosemary's Baby and The Others are some of the very few of the genre that i really love.

As for the Del Toro horror films, i think it is better than those, except for Pan's Labyrinth but i am not sure that is considered a Horror film.

[blujazz]

Pan's Labyrinth and The Devil's Backbone is definitely Del Toro's best work.

The rest are a bit inconsistent or lacks gravitas. Although, Hellboy 2 I actually really admire only because it has a very thoughtful villain.

[pedromvu]

Does anybody knows if Happiness has any possibility of being released by Criterion in the future?

I saw Life during Wartime without knowing it was a kind of sequel to that, but i must say i really enjoyed it, and since everyone says how it isn't nearly as good as the first one i am really looking forward to that.

I know the themes are really dark but i thought the cast alone made it work, not sure what everyone else thought about this one since it hardly gets mentioned.

[JoeBuck]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

Does anybody knows if Happiness has any possibility of being released by Criterion in the future?

I saw Life during Wartime without knowing it was a kind of sequel to that, but i must say i really enjoyed it, and since everyone says how it isn't nearly as good as the first one i am really looking forward to that.

I know the themes are really dark but i thought the cast alone made it work, not sure what everyone else thought about this one since it hardly gets mentioned.

I sure hope so! Happiness is one of my favorite comedies.
Definitely makes you feel really dirty after the first time you see it though

[blujazz]

Originally Posted by JoeBuck

I sure hope so! Happiness is one of my favorite comedies.
Definitely makes you feel really dirty after the first time you see it though

Yeah some people don't even consider it a comedy considering how dark it is.

[Polaroid]

I looooooooove happiness

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

Heh. Good point. Those prices are insane.

SO glad I'm not in school anymore.

I'm not in school either, but I do still keep up with things (I still want to do a PhD one day).

On a related book note, given your avatar, you might be interested in this. My copy arrived in the UK last week, it's pretty much the holy grail of Godard texts. https://www.caboosebooks.net/true-history-of-the-cinema