The Criterion Collection

[*DrStrangelove*]

Originally Posted by Elvis

Just curious why that list? I will say that I personally think the best film on that list is Tokyo Story. L'eclisse and Pick Pocket are quite good as is The Life Aquatic (if you like Anderson films). I personally do not think Scanners or Tess are worthy of Criterion treatment...one I thought was laughable back when it came out and the other has always been overrated. Jules and Jim is a good film but I could not connect with the characters at all and I have never seen Ace in the Hole (yet)

Those are the newer releases I haven't got yet. Tokyo Story is almost for sure. I didn't even have Ace in the Hole on my list till I heard a lot of praise about it and Kirks performance. Jules in Jim I didn't like as much but feel I need to give it another view as it's considered one of Truffaut's best. I loved A Man Escaped so PickPocket was a no brainer. Just wanted to see if maybe the others were must haves.

[Tin Drum]

Originally Posted by ngower

Just watched White and, as seems to be the case with all of Kieslowski, I'm gonna need to re-watch. He's such a puzzling, yet simple filmmaker. Nothing about his plots demand re-watching—they're fairly straightforward—but there's always an element of curious confusion as the credits roll. Might try and squeeze Red in before going to bed and then start blowing through all the special features. Between these and the book on Kieslowski earlier, I'm pretty ****ing jazzed about this dude's work. To think it all started with a random watch of The Double Life of Veronique just a few weeks ago. He's starting to contest Malick's spot as my favorite director.

White is my favorite of the three because of the way it plays out as a dark comedy. It just really works for

[ngower]

Originally Posted by Tin Drum

White is my favorite of the three because of the way it plays out as a dark comedy. It just really works for me.


Just finished Judex. Loved most of it. Some random things going on such as the intro of one character towards the end but it all gels together. However, I wasn't in love with the last scene at all. Just did not fit the film.

Of his films I've watched, I'd rank them:

Veronique
Blue
White

Although this is just like ranking Malick films: it gets so very challenging to place one over the other. Really, White/Blue are tied—I like them in different ways. I think more than anything, I love the way Kieslowski leaves you at the end of one of his pictures—there's a certain emotion or feeling that just lingers and it's so hard to describe.

[oliver_67]

Originally Posted by ngower

Just watched White and, as seems to be the case with all of Kieslowski, I'm gonna need to re-watch. He's such a puzzling, yet simple filmmaker. Nothing about his plots demand re-watching—they're fairly straightforward—but there's always an element of curious confusion as the credits roll. Might try and squeeze Red in before going to bed and then start blowing through all the special features. Between these and the book on Kieslowski earlier, I'm pretty ****ing jazzed about this dude's work. To think it all started with a random watch of The Double Life of Veronique just a few weeks ago. He's starting to contest Malick's spot as my favorite director.

Have you watched a lot of Tarkovsky yet? He will give u a run for $ as your favorite director.

I still think Dekalogue is Kieslowski's magnum opus. Double life and Three colors are all master stroke and spellbinding. White is good but probably my least favorite Kieslowski. It does not get better with repeated viewings. My rankings of Kieslowski:

Dekalogue
Blue
Red
A short film about killing
Double life of Veronique
A short film about love
No end
White
Blind chance
Camera buff
Scar

[pro-bassoonist]

Insomnia Blu-ray REVIEW



Very beautiful release of this fantastic film. The best looking from Criterion this year

Also, I wanted to recommend another film with beautiful Maria Bonnevie, Christoffer Boe's thriller Reconstruction. I might have mentioned it before, but I can't remember now. If you can track down a copy of the DVD release, consider adding it to your collections. Or maybe encourage Criterion to bring it to Blu-ray It is every bit as atmospheric as Insomnia.

(Normal packaging shots are in the review). Have a great week everyone.







Pro-B

[oliver_67]

Originally Posted by *DrStrangelove*

I need help choosing 3 out of the following:

Tokyo Story
Jules and Jim
Ace in The Hole
The Life Aquatic
L'eclisse
Pick Pocket
Tess
Scanners
Or just The Cassavetes Set.

All blind buys except Jules and Jim.

First remove title 4 and 8.
Then, if made to choose, I have to leave out 3, 6 and 7.

1, 5, 9 and 2 are all absolutely essential.

http://www.criterion.com/my_criterio...rry/collection

[ngower]

Originally Posted by oliver_67

Have you watched a lot of Tarkovsky yet? He will give u a run for $ as your favorite director.

I still think Dekalogue is Kieslowski's magnum opus. Double life and Three colors are all master stroke and spellbinding. White is good but probably my least favorite Kieslowski. It does not get better with repeated viewings. My rankings of Kieslowski:

Dekalogue
Blue
Red
A short film about killing
Double life of Veronique
A short film about love
No end
White
Blind chance
Camera buff
Scar

Is Dekalog available on home media? It was referenced in the opening chapter of the book I'm reading, and I'd never heard of it, but it sounds fascinating.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by ngower

Is Dekalog available on home media? It was referenced in the opening chapter of the book I'm reading, and I'd never heard of it, but it sounds fascinating.

http://www.amazon.com/Decalogue-Artu...log+kieslowski

[SilentDawn]

Originally Posted by iScottie

It's one of the most unsettling films that I have ever seen.

I truly don't know what to think of it, but I can definitely say that it was unsettling.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by jayembee

http://www.amazon.com/Decalogue-Artu...log+kieslowski

There is also a 6 disc version for half that price on ebay that comes with a documentary. I do not know what the quality is like however.

[oliver_67]

Originally Posted by ngower

Is Dekalog available on home media? It was referenced in the opening chapter of the book I'm reading, and I'd never heard of it, but it sounds fascinating.

Check out dvdbeaver site for the DVD versions of Dekalogue. The Facet release has poor image quality. The Korean release is better, and the Polish version is the best.

Hope that it can come to Criterion on high definition soon.

http://www.criterion.com/my_criterio...rry/collection

[oliver_67]

Originally Posted by iScottie

L'Eclisse
John Cassavetes
Tokyo Story

Yes, but in reverse order.

[nondiatonic]

Watched Breaking the Waves this afternoon. Instantly became my (current) favorite von Trier. Based on this and Melancholia he is obviously a huge fan of Tarkovsky.

On a semi-criterion note, I've recently fallen in love with Kiarostami and noticed the Cohen Media release of The Wind Will Carry Us (releasing on the 22nd). $25 on bn.com.

[oliver_67]

Originally Posted by ngower

Alright all, I'm sure there will be a billion answers: I wanna blind-buy the biggest omission from my Collection, but I want your help. Judging by my collection (size doesn't matter!) where do you see a massive gap—either with a must-have film, or a director, or a genre...whatever!? Pick one!

http://www.criterion.com/my_criterio...wer/collection

Visconti, Tarkovsky, Bresson, Antonnioni, Melville, Pasolini, Fellini, Resnais, Rossellini, Mizoguchi should find room in your collection. And also maybe Rohmer and Malle. Definitely more Ozu.


http://www.criterion.com/my_criterio...rry/collection

[nondiatonic]

Originally Posted by *DrStrangelove*

I need help choosing 3 out of the following:

Tokyo Story
Jules and Jim
Ace in The Hole
The Life Aquatic
L'eclisse
Pick Pocket
Tess
Scanners
Or just The Cassavetes Set.

All blind buys except Jules and Jim.

I'm going to agree with the Tokyo Story suggestions. But where's the love for Tess? I believe it to be one of the most visually beautiful movies in existence. The acting is great (especially the two supporting men). The score is phenomenal and perfectly compliments the visuals. And I was thoroughly moved by the story and the depiction of the effect society's unwritten laws have on judgement (and prejudgement).

If any film deserved the audio and visual restoration treatment accompanying a Criterion release, Tess most certainly did.

[UncleBuckWild]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

[Show spoiler]Insomnia Blu-ray REVIEW



Very beautiful release of this fantastic film. The best looking from Criterion this year

Also, I wanted to recommend another film with beautiful Maria Bonnevie, Christoffer Boe's thriller Reconstruction. I might have mentioned it before, but I can't remember now. If you can track down a copy of the DVD release, consider adding it to your collections. Or maybe encourage Criterion to bring it to Blu-ray It is every bit as atmospheric as Insomnia.

(Normal packaging shots are in the review). Have a great week everyone.







Pro-B

Awesome! the extras in particular look quite promising... now waiting for The Big Chill BD review...

[Scottie]

I just watched Elevator to the Gallows. My favorite film-noir of all time? It sure is possible!

Wow!

It's funny because I watched Zazie Dans Le Metro earlier tonight and I consider it the worst Malle film from what I've seen (Atlantic City, Au Revoir, Black Moon, My Dinner With Andre, Pretty Baby), as well as one of the worst films that I've seen in recent memory. I could not tolerate the wacky story, the annoying characters, or the editing style. However, a little while later, I watched Elevator to the Gallows and I consider it his best and a personal favorite of mine now.

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by kuro_sawa

This film is all about atmosphere to me. It is something you have to be "sunk into" to get the full effect.

I don't know why it always comes up in discussions about a blu ray upgrade as I was pretty sure that the film elements just aren't there. If anyone has any info please share. The CC box set is one of their best packaging in my opinion,

Does this (Vampyr) seem like a movie where it would be a safe bet to buy the DVD? I was eyeing both it and "Carnival of Souls" at B&N the other day but I am always afraid that if I buy a DVD it will be announced for blu-ray next month and I'll regret it. I did buy one of the eclipse collections and "the red balloon" since they seemed like very unlikely candidates for bluray upgrades.

[jw007]

I made more purchases at B&N earlier today and bought 4 more Criterions.

Wise Blood (DVD)
Scanners
Pickpocket
Stagecoach

I used one of the 20% coupons and the $5/50 coupon as well.

I am really curious about Wise Blood. I don't recall anyone ever discussing this film in this thread. It's a John Huston film and I am quite intrigued by the premise of the story. Does anyone have any opinions about Wise Blood?

And all this recent talk on Westerns, compelled me to purchase Stagecoach! That will look nicely alongside Red River in my collection as 2 very classic Westerns.

Finally, I picked up the 2 new releases of Scanners and Pickpocket. Should be great to watch.

[Meek12345]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

It's a great film. I saw it theatrically last Winter (having seen it numerous times before) and now hold it to be one of the key theatrical experiences of my life. The temporality of the thing is really exemplified when seen that way, with the opportunity to pause the film taken away!

For some reason I kept thinking about Cleo from 5 to 7 as I watched Jeanne Dielman. Probably because one of the similarities between both films is that they examine the life of a female character over a short period of time. I don't know if I will ever have the opportunity to watch Jeanne Dielman at the theatre and I don't know if I am brave enough to try. 3 hours and 20 minutes with no breaks is quite daunting. I do hope that Cleo from 5 to 7 and Jeanne Dielman will receive blu-ray upgrades from Criterion soon. Have you seen Cleo from 5 to 7 yet?