The Criterion Collection

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by lordmorpheus72

So ended up going back to return the Jimi Monterey disc and get the complete set. Also got a 20% coupon so picked up 3 Films by Roberto Rossellini Starring Ingrid Bergman for $39.00! Hopefully this is my last trip, but it's early in the month.

Looking forward to your thoughts about 3 Films by Roberto Rossellini Starring Ingrid Bergman. I really enjoyed Stromboli last night, and I will be starting Europe '51 tonight.

[Infernal King]

Seconds was interesting for the most part and the ending was great in an "oh shit!" sort of way but it's nothing truly outstanding or "classic"-worthy. Pretty much an above-average feature length Twilight Zone episode, which is certainly nothing to scoff at. My point is that I wouldn't even think of putting it in the top 10 American films made in the 1960s.

[Infernal King]

I just finished watching The Blob (1958) and I'm still unsure why Criterion felt the need to include this film in their collection, let alone upgrade it to Blu-ray. Is it a popular seller or something? I mean, it's okay but...

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Gate

I just finished watching The Blob (1958) and I'm still unsure why Criterion felt the need to include this film in their collection, let alone upgrade it to Blu-ray. Is it a popular seller or something? I mean, it's okay but...

Cult classic. I didn't really like it either.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Gate

Seconds was interesting for the most part and the ending was great in an "oh shit!" sort of way but it's nothing truly outstanding or "classic"-worthy. Pretty much an above-average feature length Twilight Zone episode, which is certainly nothing to scoff at. My point is that I wouldn't even think of putting it in the top 10 American films made in the 1960s.

When we completed a "Top 20 Films of the 1960s" in the Movies forum recently, Seconds ranked toward the back of my own list, and nowhere near the top 10. This is not a bad reflection of the film, but rather a complement of how great that decade was as a whole for cinema.

Originally Posted by Gate

I just finished watching The Blob (1958) and I'm still unsure why Criterion felt the need to include this film in their collection, let alone upgrade it to Blu-ray. Is it a popular seller or something? I mean, it's okay but...

Criterion does not have the market on a specific type of film. The Blob is a fun and interesting slice of 1950s pop culture that probably just happened to slide into the Criterion equation at just the right time with respect to studio rights and such. I personally think that it's a great film on all fronts, because it's entertaining and because it's a good example of how an interesting low budget idea can turn into something huge.
I'm always sort of astounded when I stumble across people who dislike The Blob. It's not a genre-defining monument of socially-conscious intellectual cinema, but it's an exciting flick.

The Blob has one of the best-looking Blu-ray transfers in my collection, incidentally.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

cheese and camp are two different things, but I'll just put it out there.. I found the sci-fi elements of Seconds to be a bit campy. I did enjoy the film, but I'm actually slightly surprised at the heaps and mounds of praise it has garnered. I generally say that one would be pleased w/ a blind buy of the film, but I don't think it's the masterpiece that some are claiming it is. but, of course, that's just one man's opinion.

I'll go even farther...I found them to be largely non-existent.

To my eye the sci-fi content of Seconds was about the same as The Manchurian Candidate. Both films took existing technologies and made them far more effective than was currently the case but neither really altered the tech in any fundamental way. And the science in both films was largely a plot device (ie simply a way to get from point A to point B) rather than a significant element.

That said, I really enjoyed it too and I expect to enjoy it more and more over the coming years. But yeah, the breathless quality of some of the praise had me expecting a bit more.

[zkirkland]

My order arrived today which is awesome. Too bad The Royal Tenenbaums arrived without a disc in it.

[The Great Owl]

Speaking of decades, I checked my collection statistics, and found out that I now own more films from the 1950s than I own for any other decade. I am not sure what this says about my cinematic leanings, but I do think that the 1950s was a brilliant era for movies, and I'm especially enjoying the film noir material from those years. The Ingrid Bergman box set probably kicked the decade over the edge with my Blu-rays, and it'll go up more as soon as a few more Olive Films titles arrive in the mail.

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Looking forward to your thoughts about 3 Films by Roberto Rossellini Starring Ingrid Bergman. I really enjoyed Stromboli last night, and I will be starting Europe '51 tonight.

I'm looking forward to watching them soon. I've been so busy I only just watched the first of the haul from the last BN sale, To Be or Not to Be.

I loved To Be or Not to Be! I've only seen a few things with Jack beeny, but he always makes me laugh. It's weird to sit there and laugh at a movie about the Nazis, but since it's not really about them, and I did love Hogan's Heroes, I just fell in love with it on the first veiwing.

Benny's performance is just amazing, and I like that it's not over the top, that's what great about him. It's the subtleties of his facial expressions, and the tone of his voice. It was a pure joy to watch. I can't wait to watch it again.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by octagon

I'll go even farther...I found them to be largely non-existent.

To my eye the sci-fi content of Seconds was about the same as The Manchurian Candidate. Both films took existing technologies and made them far more effective than was currently the case but neither really altered the tech in any fundamental way. And the science in both films was largely a plot device (ie simply a way to get from point A to point B) rather than a significant element.

That said, I really enjoyed it too and I expect to enjoy it more and more over the coming years. But yeah, the breathless quality of some of the praise had me expecting a bit more.

Originally Posted by Thebunk

So without spoilers (if possible) is the sci-fi comments campy due to props/sound effects or the concept?

Also, any opinion on Eyes Without a Face?

not props or sound effects, but the concept.. with that being said, I do not refute octagon's assessment here. in fact, he hit it right on the head - it's a plot device. the story has less to do with its sci-fi element and more to do with its commentary on life, regret, and whether the grass really is greener on the other side.

and as many have said, it plays out a bit like a twilight zone episode. there are at least a dozen TZ episodes that I'd hold in higher regard, but its good nonetheless.

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by lordmorpheus72

I loved To Be or Not to Be! I've only seen a few things with Jack beeny, but he always makes me laugh. It's weird to sit there and laugh at a movie about the Nazis, but since it's not really about them, and I did love Hogan's Heroes, I just fell in love with it on the first veiwing.

Beeny's performance is just amazing, and I like that it's not over the top, that's what great about him. It's the subtleties of his facial expressions, and the tone of his voice. It was a pure joy to watch. I can't wait to watch it again.

I can't praise this movie enough. Extremely funny, witty and smart. Has to be one of the best finely tuned scripts to ever have been written. All the jokes come around and everything just lines up perfectly. A much better film then Design for Living IMO. Ready for some more Lubitsch!

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by Gate

I just finished watching The Blob (1958) and I'm still unsure why Criterion felt the need to include this film in their collection, let alone upgrade it to Blu-ray. Is it a popular seller or something? I mean, it's okay but...

It's not very good. I believe it is the only 2013 Criterion release that I have gotten rid of this year.

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by Banned User

I can't praise this movie enough. Extremely funny, witty and smart. Has to be one of the best finely tuned scripts to ever have been written. All the jokes come around and everything just lines up perfectly. A much better film then Design for Living IMO. Ready for some more Lubitsch!

Agreed, the timing in this movie is just perfect! Look forward to seeing more Lubitsch films.

[bwdowiak]

wanted to post my thoughts on a few Criterion titles that have been recommended or discussed by others here on this thread...

Le Deuxième Souffle - fantastic film! if this is Melville's 4th or 5th best, than I can't wait to see more. colorful characters. great crime story. plot is a bit difficult to follow, but I watched it a leisurely pace and replayed a few bits so that I was clear as to what was going on.

La Jetée - as a work of art, it's brilliant.

[Show spoiler] the whispering of those conducting the experiment and the scene where a memory seems so vivid that it comes to life.. pretty special stuff. the fact that the movie consists of still images facilitates the effect of the 'come to life' scene.

I certainly haven't seen anything like it before.

The Vanishing - just finished this one less than an hour ago... I'd say it is a must see for anyone who loves suspense. upon completing it, I had one word in mind - diabolical. Thanks, Owl (again) for recommending this one. one of the best psychological thrillers I've seen in a long while.

[Infernal King]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Criterion does not have the market on a specific type of film. The Blob is a fun and interesting slice of 1950s pop culture that probably just happened to slide into the Criterion equation at just the right time with respect to studio rights and such. I personally think that it's a great film on all fronts, because it's entertaining and because it's a good example of how an interesting low budget idea can turn into something huge.
I'm always sort of astounded when I stumble across people who dislike The Blob. It's not a genre-defining monument of socially-conscious intellectual cinema, but it's an exciting flick.

The Blob has one of the best-looking Blu-ray transfers in my collection, incidentally.

It held my attention but I think the one part of the movie I really liked was how they make you think - not once but twice - that the little dog has been absorbed by the blob but it turns out

[Show spoiler]he's okay each time and eventually runs the hell away,

which makes him probably the smartest character.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Gate

I just finished watching The Blob (1958) and I'm still unsure why Criterion felt the need to include this film in their collection, let alone upgrade it to Blu-ray. Is it a popular seller or something? I mean, it's okay but...

Maybe they wanted Steve McQueen in their collection, and it was the only title they could license.

On edit: It just occurred to me that their licensing of The Blob goes back to their laserdisc days, and they put out an LD of another, much, much, better McQueen film a couple of years later: The Great Escape.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Gate

I just finished watching The Blob (1958) and I'm still unsure why Criterion felt the need to include this film in their collection, let alone upgrade it to Blu-ray. Is it a popular seller or something? I mean, it's okay but...

As 50s b-movies go this is a pretty good one. And 50s b-movies are a pretty cool and significant part of movie history so even from a movie snob standpoint a pretty good case can be made for The Blob.

It probably sells pretty well too.

[SilentDawn]

Going right now to return my broken copy of Hoop Dreams at B&N, wish me luck!

Also got a nice extra 15% off coupon in my inbox today so I might pick up another Criterion, not sure which one though. Plus, I will be watching Paris, Texas again tonight because after being in awe about it throughout the day today; it is in serious consideration of replacing Halloween as my favorite film ever.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by SilentxStatik24

Going right now to return my broken copy of Hoop Dreams at B&N, wish me luck!

Also got a nice extra 15% off coupon in my inbox today so I might pick up another Criterion, not sure which one though. Plus, I will be watching Paris, Texas again tonight because after being in awe about it throughout the day today; it is in serious consideration of replacing Halloween as my favorite film ever.

well, it was Kurt Cobain's favorite film, too. I don't know if that does anything for you, but there you go...

as for me, I am considering making it a blind buy although I generally don't like doing that. The trailer alone nearly moved me to tears, so I have a good feeling about it.

[SilentDawn]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

well, it was Kurt Cobain's favorite film, too. I don't know if that does anything for you, but there you go...

as for me, I am considering making it a blind buy although I generally don't like doing that. The trailer alone nearly moved me to tears, so I have a good feeling about it.

It's a simply masterful film with emotions so deep and natural you would think it's a documentary. The characters are fully-realized, the cinematography is drop-dead gorgeous and the conclusion will movie you to tears! I highly, highly, HIGHLY recommend the purchase!

Edit: Not a massive fan of Nirvana and Kurt Cobain but that certainly is interesting!