The Criterion Collection

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

For the love of God, No.

Really? I was wanting to see it.

[A Sith Lord?]

I've decided I'm not going to watch the final 60 minutes of Last Year at Marienbad, until I learn to understand French fluently.

It's too hard to follow what's going on from a visual standpoint, when I'm constantly reading the subtitles to try and put 2 and 2 together.

I can't really enjoy the really beautiful fantasy cinematography this movie has and the amazing visuals it presents when I am only looking at the subtitles and trying to decipher the metaphors and literature and looking up and down up and down.

It seems like I'd enjoy the movie more if I could worry less about reading, but instead listen and watch what's going on. Entirely different from 400 Blows,Wages of Fear, and Army of Shadows, where the dialogue was slower so I was able to enjoy the picture much more.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

Really? I was wanting to see it.

It's worth seeing (especially to be part of the conversation), but I'm sorry, Korine is just an unruly prankster: his satire is as flimsy as that of Coylote Ugly.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by bluesilo

Just finished Repo Man. WTF was that ending. Nuts. I really thought everything up to that point was well put together though. Need to give it some more time for reflection.

Also the credits going backwards is a little disarming.

Pretty much my thoughts exactly haha.

Originally Posted by MasturB

I've decided I'm not going to watch the final 60 minutes of Last Year at Marienbad, until I learn to understand French fluently.

It's too hard to follow what's going on from a visual standpoint, when I'm constantly reading the subtitles to try and put 2 and 2 together.

I can't really enjoy the really beautiful fantasy cinematography this movie has and the amazing visuals it presents when I am only looking at the subtitles and trying to decipher the metaphors and literature and looking up and down up and down.

It seems like I'd enjoy the movie more if I could worry less about reading, but instead listen and watch what's going on. Entirely different from 400 Blows,Wages of Fear, and Army of Shadows, where the dialogue was slower so I was able to enjoy the picture much more.

That's what rewatching the film is for

Also it's not a film with an easily identified plot. There's a lot of speculation on what the events in the film are, but nothing has ever been confirmed.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by MasturB

It seems like I'd enjoy the movie more if I could worry less about reading, but instead listen and watch what's going on. Entirely different from 400 Blows,Wages of Fear, and Army of Shadows, where the dialogue was slower so I was able to enjoy the picture much more.

I do like the dialogue of the film, but on repeated viewings I definitely focus more on watching than keeping up with any 'story' elements. It might be because I'm so familiar with the film these days...but still, it really benefits from being viewed more than once.

[A Sith Lord?]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Pretty much my thoughts exactly haha.



That's what rewatching the film is for

Also it's not a film with an easily identified plot. There's a lot of speculation on what the events in the film are, but nothing has ever been confirmed.

I understand the plot is not easily identifiable.

But I feel as if I'd probably have to rewatch this movie about 500 times to finally get comfortable enough to enjoy it.

I'm watching this for the first time, on the third try now (I've had to keep going back chapters to made sure I knew what was going on), and the narration is so constant I'm constantly just looking down at the subtitles instead of being able to look at the dynamic width of the picture.

Perhaps if it was 4:3 or 1:37, I would have less to deal with, but the fact that the picture is so beautiful and clear and there's so much scenery to look at, I can't really do the movie any justice.

I'm definitely not trashing it as some have on here previously, I love the concept and the frozen in time stuff and what not, I just need to improve my french before I watch it again!

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Pretty much my thoughts exactly haha.

I guess it might just be me, but I would have liked more outrageous elements to come in at that volume, earlier in the film.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by MasturB

I understand the plot is not easily identifiable.

But I feel as if I'd probably have to rewatch this movie about 500 times to finally get comfortable enough to enjoy it.

I'm watching this for the first time, on the third try now (I've had to keep going back chapters to made sure I knew what was going on), and the narration is so constant I'm constantly just looking down at the subtitles instead of being able to look at the dynamic width of the picture.

Perhaps if it was 4:3 or 1:37, I would have less to deal with, but the fact that the picture is so beautiful and clear and there's so much scenery to look at, I can't really do the movie any justice.

I'm definitely not trashing it as some have on here previously, I love the concept and the frozen in time stuff and what not, I just need to improve my french before I watch it again!

It took me a couple tries to actually sit down and attempt to focus with such things as the constant narration coming into play very frequently.

I hope we opt to decide to have the film as one of the monthly films for "Criterion Film of the Week" because I'm really interested in revisiting it. When first seeing it and then researching post-watch, I was leaning more toward the thing resembling a residual haunting. For anybody who knows about the paranormal, the event is replayed over and over.

Maybe when the actual event occurred, the man inquired that he knew the woman. Maybe in this alternate reality now, they vaguely remember one another but have a difficult time putting all of the pieces together. Maybe it's one big joke and they're doing it as a game or maybe the woman is just playing hard to get. So much room for interpretation that it definitely requires an additional watch or two.

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

I guess it might just be me, but I would have liked more outrageous elements to come in at that volume, earlier in the film.

It just came out of thin air, in my opinion. As you have pointed out, had they introduced some more wacky elements earlier on in the film, then I would have been expecting a crazier ending.

[Fightertown]

Anyone here actually suggest a title to Criterion?

[Lordy]

Originally Posted by MasturB

I've decided I'm not going to watch the final 60 minutes of Last Year at Marienbad, until I learn to understand French fluently.

It's too hard to follow what's going on from a visual standpoint, when I'm constantly reading the subtitles to try and put 2 and 2 together.

I can't really enjoy the really beautiful fantasy cinematography this movie has and the amazing visuals it presents when I am only looking at the subtitles and trying to decipher the metaphors and literature and looking up and down up and down.

It seems like I'd enjoy the movie more if I could worry less about reading, but instead listen and watch what's going on. Entirely different from 400 Blows,Wages of Fear, and Army of Shadows, where the dialogue was slower so I was able to enjoy the picture much more.

I'm wondering why Criterion cannot offer a decent dubbed track along with the subtitle options on their foreign film releases. I know that the purists cringe in horror at this idea but I just don't see why. For example: Studio Canal's blu-ray version of Kurosawa's Ran has an English dubbed option in addition to an English sub-title option. I got more out of the film when dubbed as opposed to having to plow through subtitles whilst missing much of the on screen action due to having to read subtitles.

[vader4]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

It's worth seeing (especially to be part of the conversation), but I'm sorry, Korine is just an unruly prankster: his satire is as flimsy as that of Coylote Ugly.

I'm going to have to disagree with you there. I've seen all of his films and I think all of them are pretty great. Spring Breakers can be a bit over the top at times, but I think that's the point. It describes our generation's sense of entitlement, desensitization to violence, as well as the little fads of our time. I'll give you that he may be a bit over the top at times, but it's never gratuitous and rather it seems to me he's more "Lars Von Trier" than "Tom Six". Have you seen all of his movies? My personal favorite is Gummo and I feel like I got more out of his movies because I started with that one.

[dsman71]

I just finished watching Le Cercle Rouge and really enjoyed it...and the problem now is that I thought it would be a difficult time to get it since it went out of print. I decided to order it from Import CDs with that 5-10 days notice on it and pray I can get it for a normal SRP price and not the OOP price...Hope they can deliver on it
I waited too long to try this film again

[Oblivion138]

I've kept a photographic record of my BD Collection since I had only a handful of Criterion titles, and taken quick snaps here and there as I've obtained more. It's interesting to look back and see how my Collection has grown little by little. Here's where it was two years ago, right after Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas and Blow Out were released:

[Show spoiler]

And here's a current shot:

[Show spoiler]

Apologies for the poor quality of the images...there's a reason I'm not a professional photographer. haha

[KrugerIndustrial]

^ Fantastic collection. I should take some pics of my collection too once I've received everything from Amazon.

[KrugerIndustrial]

Amazon had an estimated shipping date between April 16 and April 24 for my order. Today I noticed it is once again showing up as 'We'll notify you via e-mail when we have an estimated delivery date. You can cancel at any time'.

This sure looks a little worrying.

[Oblivion138]

Originally Posted by KrugerIndustrial

^ Fantastic collection. I should take some pics of my collection too once I've received everything from Amazon.

Thanks. I've got some interstitial photos, as well. I'm always shocked when I look back a couple of years and see how few Criterion BD's I had, and how much my Collection has grown since.

Originally Posted by KrugerIndustrial

Amazon had an estimated shipping date between April 16 and April 24 for my order. Today I noticed it is once again showing up as 'We'll notify you via e-mail when we have an estimated delivery date. You can cancel at any time'.

This sure looks a little worrying.

Yikes! That does seem troubling.

Hope they come through, but if they've gone indefinite on the delivery date, that seems pretty suspect.

[KrugerIndustrial]

Originally Posted by Oblivion138

Thanks. I've got some interstitial photos, as well. I'm always shocked when I look back a couple of years and see how few Criterion BD's I had, and how much my Collection has grown since.

I'm actually shocked that out of the 23 Criterion's I currently own, 8 are OOP. But it doesn't matter. I love them all.

[joie]

Originally Posted by MasturB

I've decided I'm not going to watch the final 60 minutes of Last Year at Marienbad, until I learn to understand French fluently.

It's too hard to follow what's going on from a visual standpoint, when I'm constantly reading the subtitles to try and put 2 and 2 together.

I can't really enjoy the really beautiful fantasy cinematography this movie has and the amazing visuals it presents when I am only looking at the subtitles and trying to decipher the metaphors and literature and looking up and down up and down.

It seems like I'd enjoy the movie more if I could worry less about reading, but instead listen and watch what's going on. Entirely different from 400 Blows,Wages of Fear, and Army of Shadows, where the dialogue was slower so I was able to enjoy the picture much more.

You could turn the subs off and imagine your own dialog, if you'd like. You can imagine any "story" you'd like. Let the emotional tone (where there is any) of the spoken French be your guide. I don't think there is any consensus about what the film is about. It may be about nothing more than the sets, costumes, cinemaphotograpy ... .

[Cinemach]

Originally Posted by monorail91

After seeing Spring Breakers, I think that would be a great Criterion title. Not even kidding!

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

For the love of God, No.

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

Really? I was wanting to see it.

Spring Breakers is a better recent title than most I see bandied about for Criterion request...but no, Criterion will not be releasing it.

Originally Posted by vader4

I'm going to have to disagree with you there. I've seen all of his films and I think all of them are pretty great. Spring Breakers can be a bit over the top at times, but I think that's the point. It describes our generation's sense of entitlement, desensitization to violence, as well as the little fads of our time. I'll give you that he may be a bit over the top at times, but it's never gratuitous and rather it seems to me he's more "Lars Von Trier" than "Tom Six". Have you seen all of his movies? My personal favorite is Gummo and I feel like I got more out of his movies because I started with that one.

Totally agreed. Spring Breakers is a Millennial Movie through and through, and I'd add sexual commodification to the bolded points above. It's one of the better films I've seen on the young year--and it looks like a great companion to the upcoming The Bling Ring, which appears to trade on the same themes whilst upping the omg celeb-obsessed factor.

As to Korine's other films I haven't seen them, and from what I've read they could confirm some sort of prankster accusations; but Spring Breakers, in my estimation, does not succumb to this.

I do largely agree with that accusation re: Lars von Trier, though.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by KrugerIndustrial

I'm actually shocked that out of the 23 Criterion's I currently own, 8 are OOP. But it doesn't matter. I love them all.

I have 5, and only one was bought after it "officially" went OOP. Pierrot le fou certainly did seem like it hung on forever, unlike Marienbad and the Melvilles.

I've just packed up all my Criterions I have at my apartment. It took a large cloth groccery bag, and half of another. Sansho, Purple Noon, The Blob, and Colonel Blimp are at my parents' place, and I'll grab them when I go home for a couple days. I can start moving stuff in today, but I don't officially get the keys until the first for my new place.

Originally Posted by Lordy

I'm wondering why Criterion cannot offer a decent dubbed track along with the subtitle options on their foreign film releases. I know that the purists cringe in horror at this idea but I just don't see why. For example: Studio Canal's blu-ray version of Kurosawa's Ran has an English dubbed option in addition to an English sub-title option. I got more out of the film when dubbed as opposed to having to plow through subtitles whilst missing much of the on screen action due to having to read subtitles.

Lordy, there are a couple Criterions that do have English dub versions, such as The Seventh Seal, The Leopard, and Senso. However, in the case of the latter two, they're completely different cuts of the film, and are far shorter than the original Italian versions. Also, the dub of The Seventh Seal is pretty shitty, the audio quality is horrible, and it's nowhere near the subs in terms of translations. I only watched it because my mother claimed she watched The Seventh Seal in high school back in the early 1970s, and she said it was in English.

There might be a few more Criterions with dubs, but I only know of those three, because I own them.