The Criterion Collection

[IronWaffle]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I'm sure you know what you're getting into with Jeanne Dielmann. It's 3 1/2 hours and (rightfully) details the tedious tasks she has to do to make ends meet. If the film ends up "wearing" on you, that's because it's supposed to. I feel tempted to say I was a single mother once, because the experience was so intimate.

Yeah. I've read comments how this and Everlasting Moments are tedious, but both have appealed to me since I first read them. I prefer slow burns and meditations. Over the last few months, though, even though I have time to burn (for now) my viewing time has been very limited (yay health crap!). I plan on forcing myself to actually view things again and enjoying the system I've cobbled together.

[IronWaffle]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

it's just several hours of characters doing the same terrible things over and over and nothing ever changing. Nothing kept me appealed...instead, I slowly grew increasingly bitter .

You make it sound like a perfect Criterion selection

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

Those who have seen it could probably add to this---but personally, I couldn't help but feel frustrated. The first part does a pretty good job at portraying that social relevance previously mentioned, but from there (and yes, it's close to the original work, so you'd probably know what to expect) it's just several hours of characters doing the same terrible things over and over and nothing ever changing. Nothing kept me appealed...instead, I slowly grew increasingly bitter . Not happy that I blind-bought.

Maybe youre a much more patient viewer, but I cant stand the TV format. There's way too much padding. Honestly, does there need to 100 hours on a select group of characters? At the same time I understand HBO's programming is some of the finest out there, so maybe it doesn't apply to Mildred Pierce as it's only 6 hours.

[oildude]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

No, I was playing a female, far more psychotic, version of Nathan Lane's character in Mouse Hunt. It wasn't books, it was rodents. First time in 3 years I've had a rodent problem. The company that took over the building in July has done nothing right since they took over, PaP still isn't working, they don't do proper snow removal, and now meeses. Supposedly an exterminator is coming in, but I doubt it. He hasn't shown up yet, and it's been a week. The building super ran out of traps and never set any in my apt like they promised, and I had to go buy my own.

Why fight the ratsies when you can be their leader......

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by IronWaffle

You make it sound like a perfect Criterion selection

Do you know what I mean, though?

Originally Posted by IronWaffle

Yeah. I've read comments how this and Everlasting Moments are tedious, but both have appealed to me since I first read them. I prefer slow burns and meditations.

I don't see Everlasting Moments as slow or tedious at all...especially not in relation to Revanche, as talked about earlier. Moments is excellent, but it does feel much less subtle...not one I'd issue a 'warning' for

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by IronWaffle

Yeah. I've read comments how this and Everlasting Moments are tedious, but both have appealed to me since I first read them. I prefer slow burns and meditations. Over the last few months, though, even though I have time to burn (for now) my viewing time has been very limited (yay health crap!). I plan on forcing myself to actually view things again and enjoying the system I've cobbled together.

Everlasting Moments is a great film too. It's a small, intimate movie that understood the tough situation this strong woman was placed in. But it's not as dry as any of that would suggest. There are moments of pure grace and honest feeling (not in that Spielberg type of way) that I'll never shake.

[IronWaffle]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

Do you know what I mean, though?

I don't see Everlasting Moments as slow or tedious at all...especially not in relation to Revanche, as talked about earlier. Moments is excellent, but it does feel much less subtle...not one I'd issue a 'warning' for

Yes, I do know what you mean. Much as I like the adaptation, it could use some pruning. And as I originally posted, it is a bit "airless" (a criticism I also level at Far from Heaven, though I appreciate it too).

Tanks for the input on Everlasting. That's not something I recall reading. Granted, I've avoided reading about it since shortly after release so I can approach it with a pretty clean slate.

Revanche isn't even on my radar. Not a reflection on the film, but simply the reality of controlling my budget!

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Maybe youre a much more patient viewer, but I cant stand the TV format. There's way too much padding. Honestly, does there need to 100 hours on a select group of characters? At the same time I understand HBO's programming is some of the finest out there, so maybe it doesn't apply to Mildred Pierce as it's only 6 hours.

Oh, I am a TV fan. Still, I did think there was too much padding to it (although honestly I disliked the experience so much I can't settle on any bearable length). Though on a more general level, I think many hours on a select group of characters does work, as long as there's enough change on a regular basis (or at least, great writing).

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

It's a wonderful film and I'm tempted to say it's one of the best films on the occupation. Malle almost paints it in a fantastical light, giving it a parable type feel without drowning in whimsy like Life is Beautiful.

We were talking about it a couple weeks back, Malle was a master of tone and underappreciated as a visual artist. He knew where to place a camera and how to marry form with function. None of his pictures looked alike because he didn't bludgeon them with big Malle Style. The material dictated how the film would look.

Yeah, I noticed that too.

I was expecting some repeat shots or some predictability, but I was pretty surprised.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by RiFiFi1955

I haven't upgraded Miller's Crossing to Blu yet? How is the Blu-Ray? Big difference over the DVD?

I'm probably the wrong person to answer this.
I love Miller's Crossing so much, I couldn't to wait to upgrade.
Even before it was delivered I'd given away my DVD, so I never got a chance to compare it.
The blu-ray looks fine on my 50" plasma, but I wouldn't know how it looks on a bigger display.
I'm pretty sure the extras are the same.

[IronWaffle]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

Oh, I am a TV fan. Still, I did think there was too much padding to it (although honestly I disliked the experience so much I can't settle on any bearable length). Though on a more general level, I think many hours on a select group of characters does work, as long as there's enough change on a regular basis (or at least, great writing).

I agree with you here. But I'm finicky, too. The worst I can say about even well-written series is how sloppy the third act can be when it's distended into a whole season. When it doesn't work, its a much more invested slog that can reveal that TV really is very much a medium of getting to the next episode and kicking the can until the execs pull the plug. On a dramatic series it can also lead to ridiculous coincidences meant to "tie things up" and it can be suffocating in the process.

Film's self-contained nature is a different beast altogether.

[Abdrewes]

The forums heating up, but it's John Ford time for me

[IronWaffle]

Originally Posted by drbikeshorts

I'm probably the wrong person to answer this.
I love Miller's Crossing so much, I couldn't to wait to upgrade.
Even before it was delivered I'd given away my DVD, so I never got a chance to compare it.
The blu-ray looks fine on my 50" plasma, but I wouldn't know how it looks on a bigger display.
I'm pretty sure the extras are the same.

It is better but not stellar. I pretty much concur with the site's review.

[metaridley]

Originally Posted by IronWaffle

I agree with you here. But I'm finicky, too. The worst I can say about even well-written series is how sloppy the third act can be when it's distended into a whole season. When it doesn't work, its a much more invested slog that can reveal that TV really is very much a medium of getting to the next episode and kicking the can until the execs pull the plug. On a dramatic series it can also lead to ridiculous coincidences meant to "tie things up" and it can be suffocating in the process.

On the other hand, all of these things can lead to sometimes-excellent television: 24, which moves so fast you often don't pick up on them during your first viewing. In fact, I'd gladly take my favorite season of that show over almost any movie ever made, when I want pure entertainment.

[Page14]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I've been tempted too, but I really can't afford another splurge. Since discovering importcds, my wallet's been taking a pounding.

Uh-oh ... I'm not sure I'm happy to hear this, as I just started an ImportCDs account today, by ordering Gorgo.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by Page14

Uh-oh ... I'm not sure I'm happy to hear this, as I just started an ImportCDs account today, by ordering Gorgo.

I do most of my non-mainstream film pre-orders through them... even worse, I never get just one item, to save on shipping.

[RiFiFi1955]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

I do most of my non-mainstream film pre-orders through them... even worse, I never get just one item, to save on shipping.

hahaha I do that too, it really is just such an excuse to order more.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

I thought Yojimbo was closer to Red Harvest, to be honest.

Also, High and Low was much better than King's Ransom, if we're going to discuss Kurosawa adaptations of Crime novels. I hated all the characters in King's Ransom. Kurosawa made them all far more sympathetic, although he changed quite a bit from the plot.

Actually, I think that's true. I was just quoting Wikipedia, because it's been awhile since I read either "The Glass Key" or "Red Harvest".
It seems there's confusion over which book Yojimbo was based on. Kurosawa says "The Glass Key".
I say: watch Yojimbo, A Fistful of Dollars, and Miller's Crossing, and read "The Glass Key" and "Red Harvest" and as many of Hammett's other novels as possible.

[serenityncc880]

Monty70, CoopFilm, IronWaffle, brandon 260 Thanks for the help!!!

[A Sith Lord?]

Watched On The Waterfront for the first time ever...

Wow!

The last 20-25 minutes especially were amazing.