The Criterion Collection

[Seamus McFly]

Hmm, I think I'll go with On the Waterfront and The Wages of Fear. I'll definitely pick up The Thin Red Line and Seventh Seal at some point though. Thanks guys!

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by onetet

I love Badlands and Days of Heaven, and have liked each and every Malick film to one degree or another until To the Wonder.

Unfortunately, cinematography aside, I can't say anything else nice about To The Wonder. In characters, plotting, dialogue, editing, and (especially) voice-over, it felt like an SNL spoof of a Malick film to me. I kept a respectful silence since I was watching it in the theater, but I was fighting hard to suppress laughs throughout.

Onetet, you are probably right 100%. But yeah, the cinematography alone was enough to push it into the good category. I guess To the Wonder will be a guilty pleasure for me.

[Visco.]

Thanks guys! I have a feeling I'm gonna love it. I needed to order something to go with my Clockwork Orange digi. I'm expecting these are both going to be great blind buys.

[SammyJankis]

I'm not sure if any Malick would ever constitute a "guilty pleasure" for me. I know what I'm getting myself into; not going into a Malick film with a checklist for character and plot. Like another poster said, it's kind of crazy how there isn't a consensus on his best film.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

I'm not sure if any Malick would ever constitute a "guilty pleasure" for me. Like another poster said, it's kind of crazy how there isn't a consensus on his best film.

Report back after You see it. I once thought the same thing, but there are some things that just didn't sit well after my viewing of To the Wonder.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Report back after You see it. I once thought the same thing, but there are some things that just didn't sit well after my viewing of To the Wonder.

I will. Just saying I go in expecting an evolution in his style, which doesn't involve conventional plot or character. I've read enough (mostly from Ebiri) to know what to expect. Even if it's a failure, I wouldn't label a film from who I think is one of the most original filmmakers around as a guilty pleasure. Different strokes, I suppose.

Now, if it's on the level of Serpent's Egg, I'll freely admit it's a piece of crap - but I'm not expecting that.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

I will. Just saying I go in expecting an evolution in his style, which doesn't involve conventional plot or character. I've read enough (mostly from Ebiri) to know what to expect. Even if it's a failure, I wouldn't label a film from who I think is one of the most original filmmakers around as a guilty pleasure. Different strokes, I suppose.

Now, if it's on the level of Serpent's Egg, I'll freely admit it's a piece of crap - but I'm not expecting that.

I really like Ebiri's take, and mostly agree...but then you have some pretty clunky voice over and celebrities who don't separate themselves from their off screen persona. It's pretty hard getting on board with the film from a narrative standpoint because of that.

Think of the difference between this film and the rest of Malicks as the same difference between JFK, Born on the Fourth of July...and Alexander. Not a film without its merits, but much less successful when juxtaposed against his other works.

I will say this though: I also really admired the impressionistic cutting which was often more furious than his last two films.

[onetet]

FWIW, I didn't see To The Wonder as a failure in conventional plotting and character--I generally don't like films that adhere to conventions, and would never expect or desire that from Malick.

I found the film to magnify some romantic and pretentious notes that may have been present to a lesser and more palatable degree in Tree of Life to the degree of being ridiculous. I walked away from the film thinking it was insubstantial to almost an "emperor's new clothes" degree. And the style was trite such that it couldn't triumph over substance.

But to each their own, and I know other people have enjoyed it and will have a good experience with it.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

In all seriousness, I would give everything I own to see Terrence Malick direct a version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, or another comparable storyline when an alien entity replicates the likenesses of human beings. With the trademark Malick voiceovers and focus on facial expression nuances, such a film could be wonderfully horrific and unnerving.

Yes, I posted not too long ago about my desire to see Terrence Malick direct a science fiction film. Although I could do without his version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers (I really thought the 1978 movie was the best - with Donald Sutherland, Leonard Nimoy, Jeff Goldblum), I wouldn't mind some sort of 2001-style film. Maybe he could make 3001: The Final Odyssey, which was Arthur C. Clarke's final book in the series.

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I'm about one viewing away from hailing The New World my favorite Malick! That one gets better and better with repeat viewings, especially when you try to figure out all of his formal decisions (ellipses, contrapuntal narration).

The BluRay is pretty damn impressive too! Although, I wouldn't mind it if CC gives us a release aswell one day

The New World is probably my favorite Malick film, although I posted that The Thin Red Line was my all-time favorite. The more I think about it, the more I realize that a non-war film is far more re-watchable and The New World is just that. Of course it has battle and fighting sequences but they are not as bloody and gory as in TTRL. I really love TNW though. Some scenes are just highly emotional.

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

I love Del Toro, and I'm a HUGE Evangelion fan (which seems to be a bit of an influence) but Pacific Rim looks dreadful to me. I hope I'm wrong.

It looks like a new Transformers movie. It's just going to be another big, dumb, CGI movie. The trend lately is "big and dumb" and that is enough for Hollywood to rake in the dough. Will audiences keep buying into these terrible films? The Lone Ranger is just the latest "big and dumb" movie. I should change my screename to "MoreIsLess". Because more really is less. "More" leaves me walking out empty because my senses have been radiated and sterilized from the noisy film.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by jw007

It looks like a new Transformers movie. It's just going to be another big, dumb, CGI movie. The trend lately is "big and dumb" and that is enough for Hollywood to rake in the dough. Will audiences keep buying into these terrible films? The Lone Ranger is just the latest "big and dumb" movie. I should change my screename to "MoreIsLess". Because more really is less. "More" leaves me walking out empty because my senses have been radiated and sterilized from the noisy film.

I've only been to see three new movies in 2013 (To the Wonder, Oblivion, and World War Z) much in part due to the reasons you've mentioned above. During the past couple of summers, I've paid money to see these extravagant special effects blockbusters only to walk out of the theater and immediately forget what the movie was all about. I decided against going to see Iron Man 3, for example, because I don't remember one single thing about Iron Man 2. I mean, I remember enjoying it while I was at the theater, but everything blends together storywise in retrospect. I avoided the new Star Trek movie, because the 2009 Star Trek reboot had the same effect on me.
Nothing about The Lone Ranger quickens my pulse. It looks fun, but ultimately forgettable, just like the Pirates of the Caribbean movies were.

It's almost like the "loudness wars" with the mastering of new albums over the past decade or so, where the dynamic range of albums is clipped to death so that every instrument and nuance is amped up to maximum loudness to compete on iPods and mp3 players. The songs on the recent U2 albums are good enough, for example, but I find that I do not listen to them as often, because, on a subconscious level, it's physically painful to absorb the music. A lot of the newer movies, especially the 3D movies, have the same overbearing effect of too much going on all at once, as if to compete with the busy video games that people are playing these days.

I'm holding out some optimism for Pacific Rim, though, because Guillermo del Toro is at the helm, and he does this sort of thing as well as anyone. I also have a hankering to relive some of the old Voltron cartoons from my youth. I'm planning to give this movie a chance on the big screen.

[RiFiFi1955]

Throw me into the category of loving every Malick film up until To The Wonder as well. I have a hunch he might be trying to bang out his films too quick all of a sudden, like he has to make up for lost time or something.

[RiFiFi1955]

Oh yeah and if there is a overlap in the 2 barnes and nobles sale tonight can someone please ring my phone and wake me up

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by RiFiFi1955

Throw me into the category of loving every Malick film up until To The Wonder as well. I have a hunch he might be trying to bang out his films too quick all of a sudden, like he has to make up for lost time or something.

As much as I loved The Tree of Life and To the Wonder, I am admittedly skeptical about the short time intervals between Malick's projects now. He may have simply hit a stride, but we'll know for sure soon.

If the next film does not measure up, then we can chase Malick back into hiding for another 20 years or so, so that the creative process will have years to ascend back to full potential just as it did during his time between Days of Heaven and The Thin Red Line.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

If the next film does not measure up, then we can chase Malick back into hiding for another 20 years or so, so that the creative process will have years to ascend back to full potential just as it did during his time between Days of Heaven and The Thin Red Line.

If the next Malick filme is good, I will have no problems with his recent prolific output. Hell, I wont mind if he starts cranking em out as fast as Woody Allen.

Now if the choice is between a couple good ones and one big great one, I will choose the latter.

[Crimson King]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

If the next Malick filme is good, I will have no problems with his recent prolific output. Hell, I wont mind if he starts cranking em out as fast as Woody Allen.

Now if the choice is between a couple good ones and one big great one, I will choose the latter.

okay, here's one for fun, all three Malick Criterion releases ARE approved by Malick, so why is his signature NOT on those blu Criterion stickers on the three releases?

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Crimson King

okay, here's one for fun, all three Malick Criterion releases ARE approved by Malick, so why is his signature NOT on those blu Criterion stickers on the three releases?

Good question!

[Crimson King]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Good question!

I'm thinking that Criterion might have gotten the approval somehow from him without actually meeting him!

is it Bigfoot, no its Terence Malick!

Terrence Malick -- Mega-Director's RARE Public Appearance - YouTube

[starman15317]

Speaking of Malick, I still need to see The Thin Red Line, The New World and To The Wonder. The only film of his I've seen so far that I actually like is Badlands. Days of Heaven and The Tree of Life are too slow for me, though I do appreciate their visuals.

[brandon_260]

Malick's next two projects sound infinitely more interesting to me than To The Wonder did, and I loved that. Seriously, Malick movies about the music and film industry sound so damn intriguing. The cast on the still untitled project is wild as well, but who knows who will make the cut.

Originally Posted by starman15317

Speaking of Malick, I still need to see The Thin Red Line, The New World and To The Wonder. The only film of his I've seen so far that I actually like is Badlands. Days of Heaven and The Tree of Life are too slow for me, though I do appreciate their visuals.

It's very likely you won't have an appreciation for his other films either.

[onetet]

Originally Posted by Crimson King

I'm thinking that Criterion might have gotten the approval somehow from him without actually meeting him!

is it Bigfoot, no its Terence Malick!

Terrence Malick -- Mega-Director's RARE Public Appearance - YouTube

On his way to see Zoolander, no doubt.

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplayli...rks_hes_also_a