The Criterion Collection

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by jlk5844

Ballad of Narayama doesn't get talked about a lot. What's that one like? It's a cheaper title too so I wouldn't feel as risky about blind buying that one.

I do not like it much at all. Imamura's interpretation of the material, on the other hand, is incredible.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by jw007

Nope, Achtung Baby album, their greatest album of all time in 1991. It was released on DVD though but we need an HD version now.

By the time that Sydney show took place they were touring Zooropa.

(Completely right about Achtung being their best album)

[jlk5844]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I went to youtube to watch the trailer so that I could come back and tell you that I feel it to be spoiler free. That is not the case, IMO. Avoid the trailer. See the film!

Thanks for the heads up. I try to avoid trailers in general now because they just ruin a fresh, blind experience.

[jlk5844]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I have major respect for anyone who can smile, chuckle, giggle, laugh, bust a gut, or anything similar in regards to Harold Lloyd and his humor.

I hate him and find him painful to watch.



Revanche is one of the masterpieces of the 21st century. It's a shame that not many people have seen it.

Beauty and the Beast was decent, The Uninvited was okay, but I thought Lord of the Flies was terrible.

The premise for this one interested me for so long.

[zoodermin]

So my list for the B&N sale is:

Throne of Blood
The Hidden Fortress
Persona
All That Heaven Allows.

Now, I'm very intrigued by the "Essential Jacques Demy" set but I can either but those four films or just buy the Demy set. Which option would you recommend?

[jw007]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

By the time that Sydney show took place they were touring Zooropa.

(Completely right about Achtung being their best album)

Okay, true, it was part of the Zoomerang tour. http://u2station.com/tours/zoo-tv-to...zooland-japan/

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by jlk5844

The premise for this one interested me for so long.

If watching shipwrecked kids run around an island like savages does it for you, then by all means buy it. Unfortunately, I found it to be a pretty stupid premise.

Thankfully we were never forced to read it in high school like most students.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by iScottie

If watching shipwrecked kids run around an island like savages does it for you, then by all means buy it. Unfortunately, I found it to be a pretty stupid premise.

Thankfully we were never forced to read it in high school like most students.

It's a bit more than that though, it's an examination on the human condition and how quickly you can lose those features and become an animal.

Not only that but the film has such strong visuals and sound elements to defend the story, even if you hate the story or idea, surely you can appreciate those elements?

No worries if you don't like ^^

Lynne Ramsay - Swimmer - YouTube

Brilliant short film from Lynne Ramsay and lots of cinematic references, including Lord of the Flies.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

It's a bit more than that though, it's an examination on the human condition and how quickly you can lose those features and become an animal.

Not only that but the film has such strong visuals and sound elements to defend the story, even if you hate the story or idea, surely you can appreciate those elements?

No worries if you don't like ^^

[Show spoiler]Lynne Ramsay - Swimmer - YouTube

Brilliant short film from Lynne Ramsay and lots of cinematic references, including Lord of the Flies.

I understand. It's a film dealing with the theories of evolution, specifically the survival of the fittest. Chaos among the ranks is almost inevitably, especially in such a situation. I did think the film covered that thoroughly.

Overall, though, I just didn't care for the story (perhaps my number one evaluation for a film).

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I understand. It's a film dealing with the theories of evolution, specifically the survival of the fittest. Chaos among the ranks is almost inevitably, especially in such a situation. I did think the film covered that thoroughly.

Overall, though, I just didn't care for the story (perhaps my number one evaluation for a film).

Ah ok fair enough

[octagon]

Originally Posted by jlk5844

While I'm at it, could anyone shed some more light on these?:

Lord of the Flies, Beauty and the Beast, Revanche, The Uninvited

Lord of the Flies and Uninvited sound right up my alley, but I'm not sure about them. Beauty and the Beast seems like it's a classic. And Revanche I just haven't heard much about, but maybe that's a good thing?

Revanche is absolutely fantastic. It was one of my first Criterion BD purchases (and a blind buy) and I loved it. If you like slow-burn character studies then there's a lot to like here.

The Uninvited is really well made and if you like it you should like it a lot but while it gets compared to The Haunting and The Innocents I feel it's a lot lighter in tone. It's not a romcom but it's not really a dark thriller type ghost story either. That was my take, anyway.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by octagon

Revanche is absolutely fantastic. It was one of my first Criterion BD purchases (and a blind buy) and I loved it. If you like slow-burn character studies then there's a lot to like here.

The Uninvited is really well made and if you like it you should like it a lot but while it gets compared to The Haunting and The Innocents I feel it's a lot lighter in tone. It's not a romcom but it's not really a dark thriller type ghost story either. That was my take, anyway.

Yeah I agree, I was hoping for more dark tones and themes, it was good though.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Thankfully we were never forced to read it in high school like most students.

Yeah, you really dodged a bullet there.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I have major respect for anyone who can smile, chuckle, giggle, laugh, bust a gut, or anything similar in regards to Harold Lloyd and his humor.

I hate him and find him painful to watch.

In a college lecture on silent comedy, we had to sit through Harry Langdon, during his odd later "baby" phase. Now THAT'S where I set the bar at painful "comedy" that makes you sit there thinking homicidal thoughts, since you have to sit there and do something while you're not, y'know, laughing.

Lloyd, OTOH, is hysterical, since he's not a stage clown in odd clothes (except for the glasses), but us in our more embarrassing moments. It's go-getting optimism that has everything thrown at it to the pity point that it would be smarter to give up, rather like, to coin a frequent comparison, the early Mickey Mouse.
If you've ever seen BBC's Rowan Atkinson lecture on "Visual Humor"

[Show spoiler]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9fsn6lQBV4

, the silent comic is a character who has to find unique solutions to problems and frustrations in his world that occur with rather unlikely frequency. Yep, that would be Lloyd.

[Polaroid]

Thats another genre I won't touch - Silent Comedy, just doesn't do it for me.

Love Silent film though - was lucky enough to see screening of Metropolis with the new found footage - what a great night! surprised that isn't on Criterion, I know MoC has it but still...

Brand Upon The Brain was an interesting take on the Silent film genre, loved the option to have the different voice overs on Criterion release.

[jlk5844]

Just from visiting this thread the past week it seems like Polaroid is the polar opposite of iScottie. Polaroid loves too much and iScottie loves too little.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by jlk5844

Just from visiting this thread the past week it seems like Polaroid is the polar opposite of iScottie. Polaroid loves too much and iScottie loves too little.

Haha this made me laugh XD

[StLouisRibs]

I love how busy this thread gets during BN sales...

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by jlk5844

Just from visiting this thread the past week it seems like Polaroid is the polar opposite of iScottie. Polaroid loves too much and iScottie loves too little.

I'm not saying that all of the films that I dislike are necessarily bad, but I know what things I like and what things I dislike.

A film can be stylistically well-made, but if the plot or the pacing is not, it can be very difficult to sit through.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I'm not saying that all of the films that I dislike are necessarily bad, but I know what things I like and what things I dislike.

A film can be stylistically well-made, but if the plot or the pacing is not, it can be very difficult to sit through.

I agree with this, there are some films I find incredible to watch, but are boring for me - but I try focus on the positives and enjoy what there is to offer ^^

Nothing wrong with being critical of a film :P