The Criterion Collection

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by IronWaffle

What I wish I had missed:
Intouchables
The Hobbit

[IronWaffle]

Originally Posted by blkhrt

I read this comment twice, and both times I thought you said "I still remember how I felt when I landed on that big, desolate planet." I was wondering what you were trying to tell us

Prometheus was my biggest movie disappointment of 2012... and I'd kept my expectations in check. I've seen it twice. The first time in 3D on a heeeoooge screen. The spectacle was great, but we walked out and without missing a beat were able to discuss character and theme problems (not even the plot nitpicks, of which there are plenty). Of course, all three of us are writers and teachers so we may seem to dissect everything.

The second time I saw it was on a recent flight back to the U.S. wow, put that movie on the back of a headrest with an 8" diagonal 16:9 screen and it is an overt mess. That said, I still watched it end-to-end even though they had some 100 movies to choose from. Of course, why would I want my first viewing of Beasts of the Southern Wild or Chicken with Plums, or for that matter my umpteenth viewing of Maltese Falcon be on a postage stamp screen?).

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by Blu-Velvet

... I thought THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL was fun and deserved at least one or two acting nominations...

Hey, nice to see someone talking about The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.
It's a film that totally wears its heart on its sleeve, but it's just so lovely and enjoyable.
It pulls on your heart strings in a predictable and obvious way, but it's so easy to go along with. The cast is first class - you can't go wrong with Dench, Wilkinson, Nighy and Maggie Smith.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by drbikeshorts

I think Fallen Angels is a pretty solid Wong Kar-Wai film and Happy Together is gorgeous and exceptional. I don't think Abdrewes was exaggerating in his praise.
It's every bit as beautiful and heartbreaking as In The Mood For Love. Tony Leung is one of my favourite actors and it is in no small part to do with Happy Together and In The Mood For Love.
If you've liked other Wong Kar-Wai films, then the Kino double should be on your list.

As Tears go by is on my list, but i havent pulled the trigger because price is a bit steep.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by drbikeshorts

Even though Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is really a 2011 film, I saw it early in 2012, so it's my favourite new release of last year. A perfect film.
Sort-of-in-order after that:
The Master
Holy Motors
Brave
The Dark Knight Rises

Probably my best cinema experience last year was seeing Lawrence of Arabia in 4K on the massive screen at The Astor in Melbourne.
Either that or seeing The Dark Knight Rises in IMAX. An incredible and overwhelming cinematic experience.

I should add to this that because I'm in Australia I'm only now catching up with some of the high-profile films from the end of 2012:
Life of Pi - visually stunning film, and quite moving right up until the end when its ridiculously heavy-handed explanation of its subtext undid everything.
Django Unchained - very entertaining, if shallow, right up until the end. Then for some reason it didn't stop, but continued for another 20 minutes and really out-stayed its welcome.
Flight - great crash sequence, but the rest of the film plays out like a dreadful television film-of-the-week sponsored by Alcoholics Anonymous. I love Denzel Washington, but I was reaching for a spew-bag by the end of this film.
The Hobbit - 40 minutes before your main character even leaves the front door? I think I'm still just disappointed that Guillermo del Toro never got to make the greatest fantasy film of all time.
Killing Them Softly - an Andrew Dominik film that I can really get behind. Pitt and Gandolfini are great, but so is the rest of the supporting cast: Jenkins, Ben Mendelsohn, Scoot McNairy, and Liotta.
Zero Dark Thirty - worthy of the hype. I guess you'd call this one a military procedural. Chastain is exceptional and Jason Clarke is about to become a star.
Hoping to see that vampire hunter film with Daniel Day-Lewis soon and I'm really hoping Cloud Atlas gets released here before the end of the decade.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

As Tears go by is on my list, but i havent pulled the trigger because price is a bit steep.

As Tears Go By is a nice, early Wong Kar-Wai film, but it has dated and it lacks the finesse of the later films.
Oddly enough, the outline of its story is from Mean Streets, which is somewhat amusing.
Of course, it has Maggie Cheung and is therefore worth every penny.
I've also got the MegaStar edition of Days of Being Wild. I think it's a much better film than Tears, but the subtitles on the disc are pretty dreadful. I'll be looking to double-dip if Artificial Eye or Kino or someone does a nice edition.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Douglas567

I am hoping they decide to take the plunge and start at least releasing all new movies on blu.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by drbikeshorts

As Tears Go By is a nice, early Wong Kar-Wai film, but it has dated and it lacks the finesse of the later films.
Oddly enough, the outline of its story is from Mean Streets, which is somewhat amusing.
Of course, it has Maggie Cheung and is therefore worth every penny.
I've also got the MegaStar edition of Days of Being Wild. I think it's a much better film than Tears, but the subtitles on the disc are pretty dreadful. I'll be looking to double-dip if Artificial Eye or Kino or someone does a nice edition.

Oh that one too! Did you order from YesAsia?

[brandon_260]

Kind of surprised how few arthouse choices people named as their favorite movies of last year. I assumed in a thread like this I would have seen a lot more foreign language films and a lot less Oscar films and Bond.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Oh that one too! Did you order from YesAsia?

Yeah, I've used YesAsia a few times - always had really good service/delivery.
I've also bought quite a lot of Johnnie To films from them.
Two huge recommendations:
Exiled
Sparrow - easily my favourite film of the previous decade

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by drbikeshorts

Yeah, I've used YesAsia a few times - always had really good service/delivery.
I've also bought quite a lot of Johnnie To films from them.
Two huge recommendations:
Exiled
Sparrow - easily my favourite film of the previous decade

I'll be sure to pick those up as soon as a decent sale hits:

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by IronWaffle

What I wish I had missed:
The Hobbit

You did not like The Hobbit?

I haven't seen it yet, been mostly in 3D in theaters around me so I could not go. Looking forward to seeing it however.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Oh that one too! Did you order from YesAsia?

I have ordered close to 30 K-drama series from them, never a problem, never any issues on delivery. Just be patient and don't expect your order to arrive in 2 days.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

I have ordered close to 30 K-drama series from them, never a problem, never any issues on delivery. Just be patient and don't expect your order to arrive in 2 days.

Good to hear

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

You did not like The Hobbit?

I haven't seen it yet, been mostly in 3D in theaters around me so I could not go. Looking forward to seeing it however.

Pretty much everyone I have heard talk about it disliked the movie, and that includes a number of people obsessed with the other films, or with Tolkien in general. I will check it out eventually, but am not holding very high expectations.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by blkhrt

Pretty much everyone I have heard talk about it disliked the movie, and that includes a number of people obsessed with the other films, or with Tolkien in general. I will check it out eventually, but am not holding very high expectations.

I seem to be hearing much of the same but I suspect I might still enjoy it but much like you I am going in with low expectations.

Low expectations is how I tackle much any new releases now. In the last 5 or 6 years been burn too many time after spending months going in my head or talking about a movie "this will be great, this will be great...." Hollywood has been teaching me to lower my expectations

[IronWaffle]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

You did not like The Hobbit?

I haven't seen it yet, been mostly in 3D in theaters around me so I could not go. Looking forward to seeing it however.

I had a great time. I went with a friend who is devoted to the books and it made for lively conversation, but I found the movie to be a bit shapeless (though I'm told it adheres to a similar structure as FotR, which I last saw four years ago (though I see the Blu on my shelf daily!). While I like that trilogy, I can't say I love it; I also went in with low (not tempered... LOW expectations) which The Hobbit exceeded.

There's a lot to like, but most of it was spectacle. I loved the Smigel scene, which was the only time I felt the film really opened up, whereas the set pieces were claustrophobic in how they forced me along. I expect that in action movies but expected better here based on the Tolkien legacy.

Storywise I've forgotten much but I recall being bored by the prince trying to regain his throne through line which I'm told is at best a minor thread in the book. in the movie it feels TOO parallel to Aragorn (?).

I'll probably see the second, but my gut tells me this trilogy will deserve an "editor's cut" that pares it down into a digestible version of the children's book that will make it a stronger entry point for new, young viewers.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by IronWaffle

Prometheus was my biggest movie disappointment of 2012... and I'd kept my expectations in check. I've seen it twice. The first time in 3D on a heeeoooge screen. The spectacle was great, but we walked out and without missing a beat were able to discuss character and theme problems (not even the plot nitpicks, of which there are plenty). Of course, all three of us are writers and teachers so we may seem to dissect everything.

I liked Prometheus alright, but

[Show spoiler]the final camera shot was completely unnecessary, and it did not make any sense in the context of the story except to throw a bone to the Alien fanboys.

What I did like about Prometheus is that it was a straight up interpretation of H.P. Lovecraft's At the Mountains of Madness. In fact, that big creature at the climax of the movie was totally a shoggoth.

[Scottie]

May releases are now available for pre-order on Amazon (everything except Band Of Outsiders):

3:10 To Yuma - $27.97

Jubal - $20.97

Life Is Sweet - $27.97

Medium Cool - $27.97

[Thebunk]

Originally Posted by IronWaffle

Yes, I do believe it is a 2011 film, but it only hit my area (DC/Balt.) last summer.

Like you it was my first brush with the Dardennes, though I was vaguely familiar with them. I'm tempted to rush into their other films but want to take my time. I'm taking a similar approach to Ozu, who I think you will appreciate. As with the Dardennes and Kieslowski he has a wonderful attention to character -- whether it is in directing the actor or in the mise-en-scene and how the frame's content informs the character. In all cases I can think of with these three, character comes first (y'know, like on them TBS shows) with theme closely behind. Plots may be deceptively simple, but the stories they choose or so specifically zoomed in to particular people in specific places and times, that complexity doesn't need to be shoe-horned in with twists, turns, clever and not-so-clever contrivances. I find them the most honest storytellers. And if you do try Ozu and like his work, seek Kor-Eda (in fact you may want to see his Still Walking, a CC title, before Ozu).

Off-topic, but worth mentioning. The best find I've had on Netflix streaming is a BBC program called Accused. It's only six episodes, but it is well worth seeking out. It is as close to this kind of filmmaking as I've seen tackled on TV short of Kieslowski's Dekalog (which I mention almost as often as BohemianGraham mentions The Monkees' Head).

Thank you for the great reply. I have yet to check out Ozu but he has just been bumped up, along with Kor-Eda.

Re: Dardennes, Kid with a Bike was the first of theirs that I saw and I think one of their best (I have seen them all thus far except Lorna's Silence). The Son /Le Fils though is their high water mark in my opinion and Olivier Gourmet rightfully deserved the Best Actor Award at Cannes that year (which he did win). All I can say is try not to read anything about it before going in. The first 30 mins are very tense because you are not sure what his characters motivations are yet and once it is revealed things get even more tense.

Unfortunately there is no blu ray yet for The Son and I just purchased and received a used copy of the New Yorker DVD which you can find for cheap on eBay (I believe there is one on there for less then $10). The quality of the video is not great and the subs are really not great but I URGE you to pick it up. I think it is the best film from any genre or year that I have seen in the last 10 years. Please trust me on this and again, try not to read too much about it.