The Criterion Collection

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Oh come on, Andrew. Don't act like you've never thought of one word and accidentally typed out another one.

Yes, but never two words so different in meaning

Either your a sour person, or you've has Godard on your mind lately.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Yes, but never two words so different in meaning

Either your a sour person, or you've has Godard on your mind lately.

Well I have been under the weather, so I guess that could contribute to me being "sour".

[ccg1978]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Oh, by the way, before I get to my book, I was going through my CD collection this past weekend and thought that this would suit one of the upcoming October titles...

[Show spoiler]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZlMzB_sNxk

Fugazi – "Cassavetes"

"Crush my calm you Cassavetes
I was sitting tight so quiet quiet
In the dark till the lights came up my heart
Beating like a riot riot
Hollywood are you sitting on a sign
For someone to come on bust a genre
You poor city of shame
Ask me what you're needing
I'll sell you his name

cos he was the one to send it with truth
That's something from someone and Gena Rowlands

complete control for Cassavetes
If it's not for sale you can't buy it buy it
Sad-eyed mogul reaching for your wallet
Like hand to holster why don't you try it try it
Hollywood are you waiting on a sign
For someone to come on bust a genre
You poor city of shame
Ask me what you're needing
I'll front you his name

cos he was the one to send it with truth
that's something from someone and Gena Rowlands"

wow, I found a fellow Fugazi fan on a Blu message board! Nice!

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by ccg1978

wow, I found a fellow Fugazi fan on a Blu message board! Nice!

We're here, trust me. We just don't talk about it since it's a movie-based forum.

[The Great Owl]

Well, I decided to pull the trigger on the Twilight Time Blu-ray, Leave Her to Heaven, so my funds for any possible Criterion Flash Sale are now limited at best.

That's quite alright, though, since there are a few titles that I'll be re-watching in October with the horror frenzy, and there's probably a big November sale on the way.

[danmovie]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Letter Never Sent won my vote for Best Criterion Title of 2012. I love the film with an insane enthusiasm.

I will not delve too deeply into the details of the story, except to say that four Russian geologists gets more than they bargained for when they are searching for diamonds in the remote forests of Siberia.

A forest fire scene provides the main backbone of the film, and I am in awe of how the filmmakers pulled this off. It really looks as though they burned down half of Russia just to make this movie.

I probably speak for everyone here when I say that I'm tired of action movies that show people running through flames or running away from explosions without so much as a scratch. Letter Never Sent keeps it real. If a flaming tree branch falls on you, then that's all she wrote. The movie brings fire and smoke into your own home like no other work of cinema has ever done, to the best of my knowledge. After that, you get no relief whatsoever, because the movie then brings snow and coldness into your home like few movies have ever managed to do. You get the most brutal of both worlds in a film.

This is one rugged, beautiful, intense, poetic, and mind-blowing work of foreign cinema that needs more viewers on these shores.

I'll chime in with another vote for Letter Never Sent.

It does an astonishing job combining artistic beauty with uncompromising realism. There are many shots, beginning with the first extended shot of the four geologists waving to the departing plane, that are extremely enjoyable and very unique. Sometimes unorthodox camera work can come off as gimicky, but the quality of cinematography combined with excellent storytelling and characters make this film truly enveloping.

Does anyone have any suggestions of other films for someone who enjoyed this film so much?

[octagon]

Originally Posted by danmovie

Does anyone have any suggestions of other films for someone who enjoyed this film so much?

People on Sunday popped immediately into my head for some reason.

They don't really seem all that similar and yet the association is surprisingly strong.

Eh, even if my stream of consciousness is totally crazy here People on Sunday is a great film in its own right and well worth at least looking into.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by danmovie

Does anyone have any suggestions of other films for someone who enjoyed this film so much?

If you enjoyed Letter Never Sent, then I would heartily recommend these...

The Wages of Fear (1953)
Taxi for Tobruk (1960)
Walkabout (1971)
Sands of the Kalahari (1965)
The Grey (2012)
Ivan's Childhood (1962)
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
Deliverance (1972)
Lord of the Flies (1963)
Marketa Lazarová (1967)

These films differ in various ways from Letter Never Sent, because there is no other film quite like Letter Never Sent, but they do share various similarities of wilderness adventure plotlines, cinematography techniques, and general tone.

A fair warning that some of these films include intense hunting scenes that may seem distasteful if you are one of those people who likes animals. Walkabout, in particular, uses footage from actual hunts.

[Visco.]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

If you enjoyed Letter Never Sent, then I would heartily recommend these...

The Wages of Fear (1953)
Taxi for Tobruk (1960)
Walkabout (1971)
Sands of the Kalahari (1965)
The Grey (2012)
Ivan's Childhood (1962)
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
Deliverance (1972)
Lord of the Flies (1963)
Marketa Lazarová (1967)

These films differ in various ways from Letter Never Sent, because there is no other film quite like Letter Never Sent, but they do share various similarities of wilderness adventure plotlines, cinematography techniques, and general tone.

A fair warning that some of these films include intense hunting scenes that may seem distasteful if you are one of those people who likes animals. Walkabout, in particular, uses footage from actual hunts.

I'm pretty sure you're The Grey's biggest fan on the forum. It was a great film. I think it was my #3 of 2012.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Visco.

I'm pretty sure you're The Grey's biggest fan on the forum. It was a great film. I think it was my #3 of 2012.

The Grey is quite amazing. It blew me away when I saw it at the theater, and I've seen in quite a few times at home since then. I need to write a fancy review for it someday, because I've got a lot to say about that film.

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

If you enjoyed Letter Never Sent, then I would heartily recommend these...

The Wages of Fear (1953)
Taxi for Tobruk (1960)
Walkabout (1971)
Sands of the Kalahari (1965)
The Grey (2012)
Ivan's Childhood (1962)
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
Deliverance (1972)
Lord of the Flies (1963)
Marketa Lazarová (1967)

These films differ in various ways from Letter Never Sent, because there is no other film quite like Letter Never Sent, but they do share various similarities of wilderness adventure plotlines, cinematography techniques, and general tone.

A fair warning that some of these films include intense hunting scenes that may seem distasteful if you are one of those people who likes animals. Walkabout, in particular, uses footage from actual hunts.

Some of those are on my wishlist (the Olive releases especially).

Just got my shipping notice, should be here tomorrow. Going to be a glorious Criterion day!

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

A fair warning that some of these films include intense hunting scenes that may seem distasteful if you are one of those people who likes animals. Walkabout, in particular, uses footage from actual hunts.

That warning would also apply to Rules of the Game if anyone is considering buying it.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

That warning would also apply to Rules of the Game if anyone is considering buying it.

I used to own the old blue digibook DVD of The Rules of the Game, and I enjoyed watching it a couple of times, but I still have not got around to upgrading it after streamlining my DVD collection months ago. I want the Blu-ray with the improved transfer, but it's not on the immediate priority list.
I mean, it's a great film, but I simply did not watch it as much as I watched the other Criterions that I've been in a hurry to upgrade.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I used to own the old blue digibook DVD of The Rules of the Game, and I enjoyed watching it a couple of times, but I still have not got around to upgrading it after streamlining my DVD collection months ago. I want the Blu-ray with the improved transfer, but it's not on the immediate priority list.
I mean, it's a great film, but I simply did not watch it as much as I watched the other Criterions that I've been in a hurry to upgrade.

I own the dvd also but seeing the film yesterday on TCM, along with two of the Jean Vigo films, pushed them up my upgrade list.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by CriterionJunkie

Hahaha! I actually get a lot of curious browsers when friends come over my place and see my movie shelf.

My current distaste for digital media is that I don't want to go online to watch streaming video. If the connection is unstable, the picture quality and the movie itself gets disrupted during viewing! Which is why I prefer a physical copy. Pop it in the player and just let it play! If I had to take a quick break for any reason, I can pause it.

Also, I love revisiting the movies that are in my collection. If I don't care for something, that's why I don't mind catching it at some random moment when you have the television on and just surfing channels out of boredom.

Well, my reason for not using streaming video is that I still only watch films on my HDTV and never on my computer. I just cannot mix the two together. I am still a purist and must watch films on my HDTV with my surround sound system while sitting on my couch, not on my old MacbookPro with 2 powered speakers on my computer chair. My reasons are justified and fair!

Movies are like books to me. Rather than showing off books, I show off films. And I can back it all up by saying I've watched/seen most of the films I own, rather than some of those people who buy a whole bunch of "essential" books to display in their home (but never read any of them).

Originally Posted by CriterionJunkie

Ok, I was being over presumptuous about the SC transfer. I hate to be such a stickler about quality that I come off obnoxious like some fanatic. Though, rest assured, I will NOT be going out of my way to dish out a few hundred dollars for the rare, out-of-print Criterion Third Man.

I love Criterion's treatment of the titles they acquire, though, I don't also want to sound like they are the 'end-all-be-all' company for all things classic cinema. As I've mentioned to JW, I'm still open to other third party home video companies to release great films.

Though, it is hard to beat Criterion's label with all the quality they put into their collection.

Yes, its true Criterion is a great label/company but there are some others who do good work in releasing films (Kino Video, Artificial Eye or Masters of Cinema come to mind). I think, in terms of major labels, Sony and Warner Bros. offer the best Blu-ray releases in terms of quality and consistency.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

I own the dvd also but seeing the film yesterday on TCM, along with two of the Jean Vigo films, pushed them up my upgrade list.

It's only a matter of time before I own the Blu-ray.

Of the currently available Criterion Blu-rays, there are quite a few that I owned on DVD before I streamlined my collection and would like to own on Blu-ray, but have still not got around to upgrading...

The Four Feathers
Anatomy of a Murder
Smiles of a Summer Night
Rashomon
High and Low
Robinson Crusoe on Mars
The Samourai Trilogy
The Rules of the Game
Au Revoir Les Enfants
Beauty and the Beast
Blow Out
Tokyo Drifter
Branded to Kill
A Night to Remember
...and, obviously, The Third Man

I may get around to upgrading all of these someday, or I may not get around to upgrading all of these someday. They're all great films, but I've just had bigger fish to fry so far.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by jw007

Well, my reason for not using streaming video is that I still only watch films on my HDTV and never on my computer. I just cannot mix the two together. I am still a purist and must watch films on my HDTV with my surround sound system while sitting on my couch, not on my old MacbookPro with 2 powered speakers on my computer chair. My reasons are justified and fair!

You just need a smart TV that you can stream directly to. I never used streaming video to my laptop for much the same reason as you. The other month, when my wife and I got a new TV for the living room, we got a smart TV, at which point I renewed my Netflix sub, and stream movies from there or Amazon right to the TV. The only problem is that I have to use the TV's speakers instead of my receiver. But many of the films I watch don't require more than two channels.

I do occasionally stream to my laptop now, but only when my wife is ensconced in the living room. And then, it's only for streaming movies or TV shows that aren't offered in HD. Like the other week, when I watched the Hawks Scarface.

For the most part, I use the Netflix/Amazon streaming option to "test drive" films that I'm unsure of so I don't have to blind buy them. If I really like something, I'll get it on Blu-ray later. Though there are a number of films in my queue that I've seen before, and possibly have on DVD or LD but not on BD and the streaming version is HD.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by jayembee

You just need a smart TV that you can stream directly to. I never used streaming video to my laptop for much the same reason as you. The other month, when my wife and I got a new TV for the living room, we got a smart TV, at which point I renewed my Netflix sub, and stream movies from there or Amazon right to the TV. The only problem is that I have to use the TV's speakers instead of my receiver. But many of the films I watch don't require more than two channels.

I do occasionally stream to my laptop now, but only when my wife is ensconced in the living room. And then, it's only for streaming movies or TV shows that aren't offered in HD. Like the other week, when I watched the Hawks Scarface.

For the most part, I use the Netflix/Amazon streaming option to "test drive" films that I'm unsure of so I don't have to blind buy them. If I really like something, I'll get it on Blu-ray later. Though there are a number of films in my queue that I've seen before, and possibly have on DVD or LD but not on BD and the streaming version is HD.

Meh, I'm sticking with what I like. I'm a physical being with physical tastes in physical films! I don't think my TV is "smart" anyway cause its about 7 years old and I never read about it being able to stream movies. I have my own habits now, and old habits die hard.

[Visco.]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

The Grey is quite amazing. It blew me away when I saw it at the theater, and I've seen in quite a few times at home since then. I need to write a fancy review for it someday, because I've got a lot to say about that film.

I LOVED the cinematography and direction. Joe Carnahan is a very good director IMO and I hope he continues to make thriller type films. The writing was pretty impressive as well. Not to mention it kept me on the end of my seat.

I'm also a fan of the A-Team. That movie is such a guilty pleasure.

[Mansinthe]

i didnt like the grey at all. "the way back" was a better survival movie in my opinion...did anyone notice that the wolfs did change size through movie? sometimes they looked like dogs and other times they had 3 times the size ...