The Criterion Collection

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by smoss469

I had high hopes for Gosford Park. I really enjoyed Rules of the Game and was hoping for something similar, however I was let down. The movie is marketed as a "whodunit" but sadly the movie is about 90% character development, 5% mystery and 5% here, let me just tell you who did it so we can roll the credits.

I'm still on the fence with Seconds and The Spy Who Came In From the Cold and the one I was disappointed with was Mafioso.

I like all those Criterions you mention. Mafioso is an odd bird. The opening credits and especially the score set you up for a different type of film that only appears here and there throughout the movie with a jarring shift of mood in the last third or so.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

Mafioso is an odd bird. The opening credits and especially the score set you up for a different type of film that only appears here and there throughout the movie with a jarring shift of mood in the last third or so.

Which I think was the point. Here was this happy-go-lucky guy who was overjoyed to revisit his old stomping grounds and see his family, and it resulted in his doing something that destroyed his soul.

I suppose one can look at it as an extreme case of "you can't go home again".

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Agreed.

I won't name any specific movie (*cough* Robert Altman's Nashville *cough* *ahem*), but I'm also sure that each of us is underwhelmed by a movie that is widely acclaimed.

*cough*
Nashville
*cough*

(Okay, it's not a bad movie, but it is my least favorite of the Criterion Blu-rays in my collection.)

I could not get down with this film at all. Maybe if it wasn't so heavily padded with music performances that are far off from my taste, it might have worked for me. It's very low down the list of Criterion titles I own.

[Mansinthe]

Originally Posted by iScottie

The only Criterions that I genuinely cannot stand and would never want to see again are America Lost and Found (I love Five Easy Pieces and The Last Picture Show, though), Brazil, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Harold and Maude, Life is Sweet, and Seconds.

Hell, I can even see myself going back and seeing such things as Pale Flower, Rosetta, Safety Last!, Tokyo Drifter, and Videodrome, just to name a few (and I disliked those, just not as strongly).

loved those , and even will revisit them soon.
tokyo drifter is really a lot of fun ! but i wouldnt rate it as a "awesome" must see movie like some of bergmans work.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

loved those , and even will revisit them soon.
tokyo drifter is really a lot of fun ! but i wouldnt rate it as a "awesome" must see movie like some of bergmans work.

here's an unpopular opinion: I liked Tokyo Drifter more than Kurosawa's High and Low and would be more inclined to revisit the film as opposed to H & L, too.

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by iScottie

The only Criterions that I genuinely cannot stand and would never want to see again are America Lost and Found (I love Five Easy Pieces and The Last Picture Show, though), Brazil, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Harold and Maude, Life is Sweet, and Seconds.

Hell, I can even see myself going back and seeing such things as Pale Flower, Rosetta, Safety Last!, Tokyo Drifter, and Videodrome, just to name a few (and I disliked those, just not as strongly).

Not sure I have seen any that I hate yet, but there are couple so far that I have watched and may not buy. Belle de jour and Persona were both in that category(although, I want to watch Persona again after the great review by Pro-B and give a second thought to purchasing it). And I wished I had wacthed Salo before I purchased as well... to date, I have only made it through the first hour of the movie.

[Rich Pure Doom]

I just want to say that I absolutely love Gosford Park and actually wrote a paper on it for a sociology class one time on the different classes of society. Shame on you guys!

[SilentDawn]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

oh.. for Criterion films, it's Le Samourai. I am absolutely CRAZY about Melville and maybe this will change when I get to see it again, (I do look fwd to a blu-ray release) but there is seriously nothing happening in this film. I am all for the minimalist style, but I just couldn't grab onto anything with this one.

I agree about Le Samourai, couldn't get into that one at all.

[JeffTheMovieGuy]

I'm looking forward to getting Hausu, for a movie that spent years on the shelf its up there as my favorite.

I keep trying to show my friends the movie but they never set long enough for all the magic to start happening. While I understand it might be hard for people to set through a Japanese film they really haven't given it a fair shake or they can't keep their faces out of their phones.

I learned of Hausu from Bill Hader when he visited the Criterion closet on their youtube channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=348qOuXOAXo

and when I watched it I had such a big grin on my face.

Love the theme that is played ad nauseum and hum it often as I clean the house

[Spire]

Originally Posted by lordmorpheus72

Here's my haul... spent a little more than I wanted, but hey, it was a good deal.

[Show spoiler]

Interesting. My Beastie Boys release is the old style, didnt know they changed it. Now I kind of want the new one to match the format of my blu-rays :P

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

here's an unpopular opinion: I liked Tokyo Drifter more than Kurosawa's High and Low and would be more inclined to revisit the film as opposed to H & L, too.

I liked Tokyo Drifter, but I LOVED Branded to Kill.

Originally Posted by SilentDawn

I agree about Le Samourai, couldn't get into that one at all.

I liked it, but it's my least favorite Melville so far. There were a few minor points in the film that irritated me plus I really didn't care for the ending, I would've liked to have seen it turn out on a more positive note.

Slightly off topic, anyone else pumped that The Grand Budapest Hotel opens Friday?

[natureboy]

Originally Posted by smoss469

I liked Tokyo Drifter, but I LOVED Branded to Kill.

Agree 100%

Originally Posted by smoss469

Slightly off topic, anyone else pumped that The Grand Budapest Hotel opens Friday?

Nope. It's been all downhill for Anderson since Royal Tenenbaums (with Rushmore being the best film of his career). He's become a parody of himself and the style he's created. That SNL sketch last year was spot on.

[TJS_Blu]

Originally Posted by Rich Pure Doom

I just want to say that I absolutely love Gosford Park and actually wrote a paper on it for a sociology class one time on the different classes of society. Shame on you guys!

I am hoping this gets a US or UK release, hopefully with subs.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by natureboy

Agree 100%



Nope. It's been all downhill for Anderson since Royal Tenenbaums (with Rushmore being the best film of his career). He's become a parody of himself and the style he's created. That SNL sketch last year was spot on.

I missed the SNL sketch. Is there a link to it?

Regarding Branded to Kill.. looks like I better put it in the queue!!

[natureboy]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I missed the SNL sketch. Is there a link to it?

New Horror Trailer - SNL Highlight - YouTube

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by natureboy

New Horror Trailer - SNL Highlight - YouTube

wow, that is hilarious. guess we're not the only ones who feel that way. "The New York Times says, "You had me at Wes Anderson"

Edward Norton does a really darn good Owen Wilson voice, too.

The thought occurred to me that if Anderson really did make a horror movie, I'd probably want to see it. Kubrick used all of his trademark tricks and whatnot in every one of his films and any work by him is easily identifiable. But Kubrick made two war films, a black comedy, a horror movie, a sci-fi flick, etc.. (you get the point)

[natureboy]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

wow, that is hilarious. guess we're not the only ones who feel that way. "The New York Times says, "You had me at Wes Anderson"

Edward Norton does a really darn good Owen Wilson voice, too.

The thought occurred to me that if Anderson really did make a horror movie, I'd probably want to see it. Kubrick used all of his trademark tricks and whatnot in every one of his films and any work by him is easily identifiable. But Kubrick made two war films, a black comedy, a horror movie, a sci-fi flick, etc.. (you get the point)

Yeah, it would be interesting to see Wes Anderson branch out into other genres. Unfortunately, he just keeps remaking Royal Tenenbaums.

[Tekka]

Originally Posted by JeffTheMovieGuy

I'm looking forward to getting Hausu, for a movie that spent years on the shelf its up there as my favorite.

I keep trying to show my friends the movie but they never set long enough for all the magic to start happening. While I understand it might be hard for people to set through a Japanese film they really haven't given it a fair shake or they can't keep their faces out of their phones.

I learned of Hausu from Bill Hader when he visited the Criterion closet on their youtube channel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=348qOuXOAXo and when I watched it I had such a big grin on my face.

Love the theme that is played ad nauseum and hum it often as I clean the house

Hausu is wonderful insanity.

[Clare2904]

Originally Posted by smoss469

Slightly off topic, anyone else pumped that The Grand Budapest Hotel opens Friday?

I can say that I am not a WA fan but I am actually going to go to the cinema to watch The Grand Budapest Hotel when it opens here

[TylerScruggs]

This Wes Anderson hate makes me uncomfortable.