The Criterion Collection

[Visco.]

The trailer for The Future made me disinterested.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

Yeah, I have to admit I'd find that incredibly boring, but they must get really obsessed with the worlds.

I am guessing Cameron might make some more documentaries (ie, make someone pay him to dive in interesting places in the world)

Originally Posted by jayembee

Actually, the smallest movie he ever made was his first: Piranha II: The Spawning.

That aside, I'd say it was The Terminator, which had no really big stars to speak of. Ahnold was on his way up, but he wasn't that big a star at that point -- his only notable films before it were the two Conan films. It was arguably The Terminator that made him a star. Anyway, it also had only a $6.5M budget.

His budgets only got larger from that point. Aliens had an $18M (3 times as much) budget only 2 years later, The Abyss had a $70M budget, Terminator 2 $100M, and True Lies $120M.

Originally Posted by ravenus

Many directors that break new technical ground are megalomaniacs, its how they push their crews to achieve something previously not done. Not saying that its a prerequisite, but Cameron is hardly alone in this regard - Lang, Kubrick and Fincher, for example - and his films do IMO justify his obsession with technical details and the demands he puts on his crew to get what he wants. I wouldn't want to get on his bad side, but I can understand why he's a workaholic that doesn't suffer fools gladly. And if you're suggesting that low budget indie makers are some kind of hippy-happy flower children spreading light and sunshine, I doubt that's always true

I would hardly describe Cameron as one of those, he has so far made all of ONE sequel to his movie - Terminator 1&2. When he made Piranha 2 and Aliens he was still a new director and took the assignments he was given. He has so far made announcements towards 3 more Avatar films, but give him a chance and see how they work out before decrying him already. Who knows he may even change his mind if he sees that they're not working out.


That's IMO a silly complaint. He's making films he feels comfortable doing. Nobody complains about how Bergman never made any big action epics or Alfred Hitchcock never made any serious existential crisis films.

Originally Posted by olivehead

You beat me to it. This is spot on. I would only add that, unlike some filmmakers who at a certain point in their career seem to go back to basics and work on less expensive and more character-driven films (and maybe Cameron simply hasn't reached this point in his career), Cameron seems have only one direction -- forward (meaning bigger stories, bigger budgets, although not necessarily bigger stars). I think he's always only been limited by what money he could come up with at a certain time in his career. I think that if he'd had $100 million to spend on the first Terminator, he'd have spent it.

Thanks for all the feedback on James Cameron, guys.

I didn't want to include Piranha II: The Spawning in the conversation but yes, that is probably his only "low budget" movie... but then again, The Terminator is also his only low budget movie. But boy oh boy, when I think of "low budget", I sure do not think of The Terminator! Then again, the film really isn't that big, though the concept is (and it paved the way for T2). I guess certain directors, as olivehead said, strive for big expensive movies as long as they have the money and the means. I guess "forward" is all he understands. I guess if Hitchcock was the master of suspense, then Cameron is the master of "bigness" (or blockbusters). Personally I of course prefer independent cinema above all else as very little in the way of big Hollywood films interest me anymore these days (with the exception of Aronofsky's Noah that is coming out in 2014).

I think Cameron's true passion lies in the ocean though...with The Abyss, Ghosts of the Abyss, Aliens of the Deep, Titanic and all of these other movies he shot underwater. I think he should be most remembered for his passion for exploration and what better place to explore than deep below the surface where very few humans, still to this day, have mapped or charted. He truly does boldly go "where no man has gone before".

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Visco.

What does everyone think of The Forgiveness of Blood? I'm pretty sure the cover art is one of the best criterion has ever done.

Which reminds me that I still need to see that and Maria Full of Grace.

Maybe I'll do a double feature of them tomorrow.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by joie

It's posssible that they were all disappointing, is it not?

Seems to me that the "most disappointing upgrades" would be ones that they didn't do.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by olivehead

You beat me to it. This is spot on. I would only add that, unlike some filmmakers who at a certain point in their career seem to go back to basics and work on less expensive and more character-driven films (and maybe Cameron simply hasn't reached this point in his career), Cameron seems have only one direction -- forward (meaning bigger stories, bigger budgets, although not necessarily bigger stars). I think he's always only been limited by what money he could come up with at a certain time in his career. I think that if he'd had $100 million to spend on the first Terminator, he'd have spent it.

I've always suspected that Terminator 2 is precisely what Cameron would've done with The Terminator if he'd been given $100M back in 1984.

The other "forward" you haven't mentioned with respect to Cameron is filmmaking technology. The Abyss was not just a giant leap forward in CGI, but the technology that was developed to make underwater cinematography that much easier. Avatar -- whatever faults the story may have -- was a considerable technical achievement in 3D photography. The poor guy was hoping that it would be the future of filmmaking. Too bad that the studios have, for the most part, gone the cheaper route of shooting in 2D, and using post-processing for the 3D.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by RojD

Me, too. Are there any blu releases of his work Stateside other than Blue Angel? (and what's with the new Kino blu of that release? Is it a big enough step up to warrant a new blu?)

Depends. Sternberg shot two versions at the same time: one in German, one in English. The previous Kino BD had only the German version. The new BD has both. I have the Kino DVD with both, and I want to get the BD with both, but I'm a bit of a completist. Your mileage may vary.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by EricJ

Think it was just a harmless cartoon in the Criterion Christmas-sales e-mail, but

(Can't be a hint, we already got the Zatoichi Box...)

In the email, they said it was a gift card.

[TheHighRoller]

Originally Posted by Visco.

What does everyone think of The Forgiveness of Blood? I'm pretty sure the cover art is one of the best criterion has ever done.

I bought it for that reason. I saw it and liked it, but it's definitely one I would want to rewatch. So I sold it.

[TheHighRoller]

Originally Posted by Taikero

Hope some others here got in on A Night To Remember.

Did they release another list of OOP Criterions?

[TheHighRoller]

They need to release Max Ophuls's Le plaisir and both L'Eclisse and Le Samourai on Blu-ray.


I also finally got around to watching Chungking Express, and although it differed as to how I originally thought it was going to be shot, I still think it's one of the best films in the Collection. The colours in the cinematography were beautiful.


Faye was a bit creepy though. I mean, who sceams and laughs at the sight of someone's strand of hair?

[TheHighRoller]

Oh, and I forgot: Does anyone know which Criterion discs are bad?

I would have sworn that one disc from the Three Colours trilogy was bad, but I forgot the details. I think there was one other disc from a different title as well.

[Blu-Velvet]

Originally Posted by Visco.

What does everyone think of The Forgiveness of Blood? I'm pretty sure the cover art is one of the best criterion has ever done.

It's a good film worth seeing, but whether you want to own it may be a different story. You might want to rent or borrow it first. Criterion's bonus features definitely help appreciate it, however.

[Oblivion138]

Originally Posted by TheHighRoller

Oh, and I forgot: Does anyone know which Criterion discs are bad?

I would have sworn that one disc from the Three Colours trilogy was bad, but I forgot the details. I think there was one other disc from a different title as well.

White and Disc 2 of Carlos both had audio issues in their original pressings. Criterion offers replacements for both.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by TheHighRoller

Did they release another list of OOP Criterions?

I think he's referring to an Amazon lightning deal.

[hustlermane]

Originally Posted by TheHighRoller

They need to release Max Ophuls's Le plaisir and both L'Eclisse and Le Samourai on Blu-ray.


I also finally got around to watching Chungking Express, and although it differed as to how I originally thought it was going to be shot, I still think it's one of the best films in the Collection. The colours in the cinematography were beautiful.


Faye was a bit creepy though. I mean, who sceams and laughs at the sight of someone's strand of hair?

Agree on the top 3 - I don't love Plaisir…actually, I kind of do. That first fifteen minute segment > most films, ever. Le Samourai obviously. I still haven't seen L'Eclisse and I think by now it's probably worth waiting for the blu. I think it's the only prospective title that I would genuinely day 1 from Criterion.

And Chungking Express is definitely a tale of two halves for me - love the first, but the Manic Pixie Dream Girl second annoyed me, and I wanted to smash a vase or something every time I heard California Dreaming. All beautifully shot, though.

[Jef Costello]

I love the music of Carlos. Is there a Soundtrack album to it?

[Clare2904]

Originally Posted by TheHighRoller

Oh, and I forgot: Does anyone know which Criterion discs are bad?

I would have sworn that one disc from the Three Colours trilogy was bad, but I forgot the details. I think there was one other disc from a different title as well.

I remember people mentioning Walkabout as being a disc that freezes.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Which reminds me that I still need to see that and Maria Full of Grace.

A few scenes in Maria Full of Grace are hard to swallow, but I thought that it was a good movie when I rented it several years ago. I still have not seen The Forgiveness of Blood, but it's not a candidate for a blind buy.

[Iamspartacus]

Sorry to ask a dumb question but is Nashville a digipack and not a traditional plastic cased criterion?

[bsweetness]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

A few scenes in Maria Full of Grace are hard to swallow, but I thought that it was a good movie when I rented it several years ago. I still have not seen The Forgiveness of Blood, but it's not a candidate for a blind buy.

Intentional pun? :P