The Criterion Collection

[Tin Drum]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I think that my reading of the Michel Faber novel helped me to grasp the general flow of Under the Skin, but I quickly decided a few minutes into the movie that I should take it in on its own terms.

[Show spoiler]I like how the movie remains ambiguous about why the disfigured man was released, and how it remains ambiguous about what happens to him when he is caught by the motorcycle accomplice during the clean-up/cover-up procedure.

I also find it interesting that Johansson's character targets hitchhikers in the novel, but the movie depicts her simply targeting isolated males. I think that this helped the movie function better from a horror standpoint, since there's apparently more randomness to her choices.

I'm going to feel bad if this title is announced as a non-Criterion Blu-ray (It probably will be.), because I've been cluttering up the thread talking about it.

Totally understand. I read over at IMDB that some people did not know the real truth of her character until the final reveal. I can totally see that. The film, though, starting in a general fashion, does sort of drop you down in the thick of things.

[Show spoiler]IMO, I think the disfigured man is a goner. She brings him back under the expectations that he'll be sucked down, but since they don't want him because of his disfigurement he's out the door of his own accord and they call upon the motorcyclist to track him down and end him so that he cannot go to the authorities.

At least that's my take on it.

It's funny how the novel is engrained in my brain, still, after three years.

[Meek12345]

Originally Posted by jlk155

The first Criterion Collection releases were CAV laserdiscs of Citizen Kane and King Kong, both issued on December 1, 1984. I would expect that date to be celebrated by Criterion as its 30th anniversary rather than the company's founding date (a somewhat academic matter).

Thanks for that information. The Criterion flash sales are usually in February and September from what I understand. However, I wonder if the second sale will be moved to December to celebrate their 30th.

Originally Posted by Norbie

I always find it weird when people find a character/s in the film unlike able, therefore the movie is bad.

I don't understand it.

Peace.

I am beginning to see where you are coming from with this viewpoint. I watched Insomnia last night and found the lead character portrayed by Stellan Skarsgard to be unlikable. So, my feelings of dislike toward his character initially made me think that I didn't like the film. Now I realize that the film is a wonderful psychological crime thriller. The main character is flawed, but that makes things interesting in this case. Skarsgard's character did have some redeeming values anyways.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Tin Drum

Totally understand. I read over at IMDB that some people did not know the real truth of her character until the final reveal. I can totally see that. The film, though, starting in a general fashion, does sort of drop you down in the thick of things.

It's funny how the novel is engrained in my brain, still, after three years.

I only read the novel, Under the Skin, a month or so ago, and I saw the movie on Friday, but I'm thinking that this is one of the few instances where I prefer the movie adaptation to the source novel.

[Show spoiler]The novel seemed occasionally heavy-handed in terms of ecological themes (meat consumption, etc.), and I'm glad that the movie veered away from those themes.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by Oscar Rothman

Out of curiosity, what's everyone's most desired upgrade(s)?

Mine would probably be Spartacus, followed by Mishima.

With Pickpocket (my most wanted upgrade) being released July, , these are the other desired upgrades:

Andrei Rublev (I have the russian blu ray, but the criterion cut would be awesome)
Diary of a country priest
Au hasard balthazar
The "Faith" Trilogy by Bergman
Virgin Spring
Phantom Liberty
The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
The Exterminating Angel
Hiroshima mon Amour
La Strada
Nights of Cabiria
The Cranes are Flying
I am Cuba
Le Samouraï
Bob Le Flambeur

[demonknight]

Looks like Criterion Month is actually going to happen next month... Here's my lineup. No suggestions, as it was hard enough to narrow it down to this many... I may even have to drop a few. Tell your thoughts though, as I have never seen any if these (well, half of Blow Out).
-The Big Chill
-Blow Out
-The Brood
-Carnival of Souls
-The Darjeeling Limited
-Dead Ringers
-Easy Rider
-The Game
-Gimme Shelter
-Godzilla
-Head
-Island of Lost Souls
-The Last Picture Show
-The Last Temptation of Christ
-The Man Who Fell to Earth
-Naked Lunch
-Peeping Tom
-Quadrophenia
-The Royal Tenenbaums
-Rushmore
-Sid and Nancy
-Something Wild
-Straw Dogs
-Thief
-Withnail and I

[LPMA]

Originally Posted by demonknight

Looks like Criterion Month is actually going to happen next month... Here's my lineup. No suggestions, as it was hard enough to narrow it down to this many... I may even have to drop a few. Tell your thoughts though, as I have never seen any if these (well, half of Blow Out).
-Blow Out
-The Brood
-Carnival of Souls
-The Darjeeling Limited
-Dead Ringers
-Easy Rider
-The Game
-Gimme Shelter
-Godzilla
-Head
-Island of Lost Souls
-The Last Picture Show
-The Last Temptation of Christ
-The Man Who Fell to Earth
-Naked Lunch
-Peeping Tom
-Quadrophenia
-The Royal Tenenbaums
-Rushmore
-Sid and Nancy
-Something Wild
-Straw Dogs
-Thief
-Withnail and I

Good news for you, The Brood isn't out or announced yet!

[Page14]

Just finished watching Two-Lane Blacktop and all of the supplements. To me, this movie comes across at first as being maybe a little bit amateurish. It's so "raw". But once you dig into the supplements and learn about its history, you get a better understanding and a real appreciation for it.

[Show spoiler]I learned how the actors (who were not "really" actors at all at the time) were selected ... how the only actor allowed to see the script ahead of time was Warren Oates ... a little bit about Harry Dean Stanton's brief part in the film.

I first bought this because I'm a fan of both James Taylor and Dennis Wilson, and wanted to see them act ... and even after seeing it, that's still a lot of the draw for me. But it's more than that too. This movie (again, to me) is a time capsule of the way things were in the late 60s and early 70s. Being pretty much a child of that era myself

[Show spoiler](EDIT: I was 15 or 16 at the time this was first released)

, I could relate to so much of it.

I don't know if any other company could appreciate this film and bring it to its deserved recognition in film history the way Criterion has. Bravo Criterion!

[demonknight]

Originally Posted by LPMA

Good news for you, The Brood isn't out or announced yet!

It has no release date as of yet, but it has been soft announced. Look for it on iTunes. The Criterion logo is there. Not to mention the articles that flat out said that Janus Films had it.

On iTunes, this image appears...

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by demonknight

Looks like Criterion Month is actually going to happen next month... Here's my lineup. No suggestions, as it was hard enough to narrow it down to this many... I may even have to drop a few. Tell your thoughts though, as I have never seen any if these (well, half of Blow Out).
-Blow Out
-The Brood
-Carnival of Souls
-The Darjeeling Limited
-Dead Ringers
-Easy Rider
-The Game
-Gimme Shelter
-Godzilla
-Head
-Island of Lost Souls
-The Last Picture Show
-The Last Temptation of Christ
-The Man Who Fell to Earth
-Naked Lunch
-Peeping Tom
-Quadrophenia
-The Royal Tenenbaums
-Rushmore
-Sid and Nancy
-Something Wild
-Straw Dogs
-Thief
-Withnail and I

What do you mean by "Criterion Month"?

By the way...
The Brood isn't out
Dead Ringers is OOP
Easy Rider, Head, and The Last Picture Show are only available in the BBS set
The Man Who Fell To Earth is OOP
Peeping Tom is OOP
Sid And Nancy is OOP
Straw Dogs is OOP
Withnail And I is OOP

[demonknight]

Originally Posted by iScottie

What do you mean by "Criterion Month"?

By the way...
The Brood isn't out
Dead Ringers is OOP
Easy Rider, Head, and The Last Picture Show are only available in the BBS set
The Man Who Fell To Earth is OOP
Peeping Tom is OOP
Sid And Nancy is OOP
Straw Dogs is OOP
Withnail And I is OOP

Just checking out a bunch of movies in the current numbering system I have not seen already. I am aware that those are all OOP/exclusive.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by demonknight

Just checking out a bunch of movies in the current numbering system I have not seen already. I am aware that those are all OOP/exclusive.

I was under the impression that you were buying these, so my mistake.

[demonknight]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I was under the impression that you were buying these, so my mistake.

Perfectly alright. My initial post, upon inspection, was not clear as to what my intentions were.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Oscar Rothman

Out of curiosity, what's everyone's most desired upgrade(s)?

Mine would probably be Spartacus, followed by Mishima.

1. Kwaidan
2. The River
3. Andrei Rublev
4. The Passion of Joan of Arc
5. The Human Condition
6. Magnificent Obsession
7. The Last Wave
8. La Strada
9. Ugetsu
10. Ali: Fear Eats the Soul

[BillWatkins]

Most wanted upgrades:

1. Blast of Silence
2. House of Games
3. The Naked City
4. Ikiru
5. Hiroshima Mon Amour
6. Ballad of a Soldier
7. La Strada
8. Night on Earth
9. Great Expectations
10. The Burmese Harp
11. Onibaba
12. White Dog
13. Ali: Fear Eats the Soul
14. Sullivan's Travels
15. Elevator to the Gallows
16. Murmur of the Heart
17. Kanal
18. Kapo
19. The Honeymoon Killers
20. Floating Weeds

[oildude]

My most wanted upgrades include:

Ballad of a Soldier
Le Samourai
The Cranes are Flying (such a gorgeously shot film)
Pickup on South Street
The Naked Prey
The Bad Sleep Well
Drunken Angel
Stray Dog
The Burmese Harp
Fires on the Plain
The Human Condition
The Virgin Spring
Hiroshima mon amour
The Spirit of the Beehive
Bicylce Thieves
Spartacus
Elevator to the Gallows
Andrei Rublev
Missing
Young Mr. Lincoln
The BRD Trilogy
An Angel at my Table
Floating Weeds
Three Films by Hiroshi Teshigahara
The Bergman Faith Trilogy

[pro-bassoonist]

Like Someone In Love Blu-ray REVIEW



Pro-B

[Ctzalman]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

With Pickpocket (my most wanted upgrade) being released July, , these are the other desired upgrades:

Andrei Rublev (I have the russian blu ray, but the criterion cut would be awesome)
Diary of a country priest
Au hasard balthazar
The "Faith" Trilogy by Bergman
Virgin Spring
Phantom Liberty
The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
The Exterminating Angel
Hiroshima mon Amour
La Strada
Nights of Cabiria
The Cranes are Flying
I am Cuba
Le Samouraï
Bob Le Flambeur

Fantastic, I could not agree more with this list. I'd tack on the rest of the truffaut and ozu titles. And my own private idaho. Altho is cuba a criterion title?

[Dumbhuman]

Originally Posted by Oscar Rothman

Out of curiosity, what's everyone's most desired upgrade(s)?

My current top ten most desired upgrades (as opposed to stuff I wish they'd acquire):

Juliet of the Spirits
Nights of Cabiria
La Strada
The Exterminating Angel
I Am Cuba
Cria Cuervos
The Cranes are Flying
L'Avventura
Big Deal on Madonna Street
Man Bites Dog (yeah, I know... I don't expect it to look as good as the ones above)

[The Stick]

Originally Posted by Oscar Rothman

Out of curiosity, what's everyone's most desired upgrade(s)?

My top 10 most desired titles for an upgrade:

Cleo from 5 to 7
Drunken Angel
Hamlet
Haxan
Ordet
The Red Balloon
The Scarlet Empress
Trouble in Paradise
Vampyr
Winter Light

[GenPion]

A lot of good movies were mentioned as needing upgrades... or a lot of films from great filmmakers that I hope I'll consider good as I haven't seen a lot of them still. Personally, upgrading the entire Criterion collection to Blu-ray would be a neat thing and I think the company should put out as many of the titles as they possibly can in High Definition too.