The Criterion Collection

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Ive never read any of his reviews - I usually avoid reviews because they anger or annoy me! I tend to find a lot of reviewers try slate films to get attention which bugs me, or I disagree with their reviews, I don't want to be manipulated by a review before I see a film - I know this is not case for all reviewers but it just out me off - I might start reading his reviews because they seem really good :P

what do you mean by "slate films?"

I NEVER read anything more than a snippet prior to seeing a film.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Rich Pure Doom

Ebert raved about some pretty odd movies late in his career. He gave 4 stars to Hereafter for pete sake!

wasn't familiar with this title, so I searched it quickly...

someone in the comments wrote this:

"Roger apparently changed his mind in the week prior to his passing based on his messages to Chaz. The world was a more interesting place when he was it in. God Bless Roger."

that is hysterical!! like he had to get it off his conscience before he could take his last breath.. unfinished business.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

what do you mean by "slate films?"

I NEVER read anything more than a snippet prior to seeing a film.

Well, off top of my had I can't think of an example but Ive read some bad reviews where they bring up really stupid parts of a film and criticise it, but have no real understanding of the scene or why it is important, Actually an example is Tree of Life, a lot of peoples lated the dinosaurs and creation sequence and they cam dup with some pretty stupid things regarding it - but those scenes are incredibly important and I think they just missed the reason for it, but it bugged me.

Or when you get the press screening and you hear stories where people stand up and boo the film which to me is clearly attention seeking because even if a film is poor - standing up and booing... really?

Also with Melancholia a lot of reviews hated the first half and again missed the point of it, and said it was weakest part of film, but for me personally it was very important in setting up and showing us who these people were and how they deal with problems.

Meh - film are so personal, I don't see why people try and persuade or manipulate the reader into feeling different things for a film - a reviewer should give their opinions and give a good critique, not force emotions and ideas into peoples head before they see a film lol a person should go into a film with an unbiased view and take what they want from that film - not be influenced by someone else.

I dunno, im a ranting now haha

[minister_x]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Ive never read any of his reviews - I usually avoid reviews because they anger or annoy me! I tend to find a lot of reviewers try slate films to get attention which bugs me, or I disagree with their reviews, I don't want to be manipulated by a review before I see a film - I know this is not case for all reviewers but it just out me off - I might start reading his reviews because they seem really good :P

You're missing out! With few exceptions, Ebert's reviews are fantastic, even when I disagree with him. However do NOT read a Great Movie review before seeing the film as they often include multiple spoilers. If you don't want an Ebert review to cloud your appreciation before watching a film, read it afterwards. More often than not, I've found his reviews to further enhance my appreciation of the film I've just watched!

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by minister_x

You're missing out! With few exceptions, Ebert's reviews are fantastic, even when I disagree with him. However do NOT read a Great Movie review before seeing the film as they often include multiple spoilers. If you don't want an Ebert review to cloud your appreciation before watching a film, read it afterwards. More often than not, I've found his reviews to further enhance my appreciation of the film I've just watched!

Just read the Babel review and really enjoyed it, I'm going to have a dig around and have a little read and yeah I prefer reading reviews/opinions after seeing a film ^^

Just read his Tree of Life review and its such a good a read, I should be ashamed for not reading these sooner haha!

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Just read the Babel review and really enjoyed it, I'm going to have a dig around and have a little read and yeah I prefer reading reviews/opinions after seeing a film ^^

Just read his Tree of Life review and its such a good a read, I should be ashamed for not reading these sooner haha!

yes, you should be ashamed, P. he included it in his top 10 greatest films ever for the S&S poll a few years ago, so THERE!

re: your other thoughts about critics: calling attention to one's self by way of a film review or a personal opinion is (part of) what separates the great critics from the rest of the bunch. I, too, have read critique that I thought was essential for establishing a certain narrative point, mood, etc. IDK.. isn't it easier to dismiss those critiques as rubbish versus the ones where you think the person may actually be on to something?

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Ive never read any of his reviews - I usually avoid reviews because they anger or annoy me! I tend to find a lot of reviewers try slate films to get attention which bugs me, or I disagree with their reviews, I don't want to be manipulated by a review before I see a film - I know this is not case for all reviewers but it just out me off - I might start reading his reviews because they seem really good :P

"Reviewers" and "Critics" are two entirely different animals.

The entire French New Wave came from a bunch of critics who worked on Le Cahiers du Cinema. If it weren't for critics, we wouldn't have Godard, Truffaut, Demy, Resnais, etc. And we would not have the difference in film language that we now have.

Also, keep in mind that it was the Cahiers crowd that said to the world, "Forget this old crap! Accept people like John Ford and Alfred Hitchcock as SERIOUS filmmakers, because they are making the best films out there."

There's a HUGE difference between someone like A.O. Scott and some blogger who "reviews" movies.

Film criticism is as important a facet of film as film itself.

[SammyJankis]

It's easy to pinpoint Ebert's glaring flaws when it comes to reviews, but they hold no ground when trying to judge him as a critic. The man reviewed thousands of films - much more than a lot of critics, or any of those criticizing him, have. If he's going to be criticized, then take a shot at his writing and where he went wrong. Offer up an analytical response rather than say "Oh, Ebert gave The Mummy 3 a positive review!" It doesn't mean much.

[DionJits]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

Film criticism is as important a facet of film as film itself.

Unless you're going to get hung up on the word "facet," I disagree that film criticism is as important as films themselves.

If critics didn't exist, films still would; it films didn't exits, neither would their critics.

[Mansinthe]

Originally Posted by Rich Pure Doom

It has the same problem that Magnolia or most of Spielberg's late catalog have in common and that is heavy handed direction. It tries so incredibly hard to tug at the viewer's emotions, but in my case, I just thought it was pure cheese. None of the plots really amounted to much, despite the director's attempts at making it "deep" or "heartfelt". 21 Grams had the same problem and I'm afraid to watch Biutiful.

biutiful has that problem as well. i couldnt even stand to watch that movie in a single run.. i found babel OK. but i would revisit that one only for the japanese story in it.

Gravity had a similiar problem like biutiful for me. it was well shot and everything but kinda boring...

i cant stand most of spielbergs modern movies as well.

i got this artsi fartsy feeling from a few other movies as well.

Amelie and alot of stuff from the "french new wave"

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

biutiful has that problem as well. i couldnt even stand to watch that movie in a single run.. i found babel OK. but i would revisit that one only for the japanese story in it.

Gravity had a similiar problem like biutiful for me. it was well shot and everything but kinda boring...

i cant stand most of spielbergs modern movies as well.

i got this artsi fartsy feeling from a few other movies as well.

Amelie and alot of stuff from the "french new wave"

My only fault with Gravity was the focus on her daughter - yeah she can have a little sob story and weakness... but I did find the dead child a bit of a cliche... couldn't she have like dropped a laptop or lost a gerbil or something lol just to be refreshing XD oh and the wolf howling was bit.. odd?

and WHAT you didn't like Amelie!? Jean-Pierre Jeunet's films are incredible.

[Mansinthe]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

My only fault with Gravity was the focus on her daughter - yeah she can have a little sob story and weakness... but I did find the dead child a bit of a cliche... couldn't she have like dropped a laptop or lost a gerbil or something lol just to be refreshing XD oh and the wolf howling was bit.. odd?

dont forget that endless talk with the asian guy and his dogs....
... srsly.. some directors like kurosawa did say "more" with a single sentence than some of these movies do.

im only keeping movies like gravity since maybe friends or my gf might watch them. and its pretty pointless trying to sell movies anyway. most of them make not much money at all.

and WHAT you didn't like Amelie!? Jean-Pierre Jeunet's films are incredible.

i just hated the whole thing.
i liked a japense movie that is similar in style / theme (memories of matsuko)

but Amelie didnt do anything for me. like une femme marie and breathless i knew from the first moment i will not like these movies. (still did sit trough the whole thing.. )


400 blows is another movie that i just "liked". orpheus was a little more interessting. Pickpoket was decent enough but i wouldnt want to revisit that one either. maybe check out more of bressons work.

i will give A man escaped and Wages of Fear a shot soon...


but for me french movies (not all but alot) are just missing something that i "feel" while watching italian , german or japanese movies

double life of veronique on the other site was a awesome movie.
i think that one is kinda simliar to alot of french movies but better in every way.


other strange thing is i really like "modern" french movie while i absolutly hate modern german cinema and love german silent movies ^^

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

dont forget that endless talk with the asian guy and his dogs....
... srsly.. some directors like kurosawa did say "more" with a single sentence than some of these movies do.

im only keeping movies like gravity since maybe friends or my gf might watch them. and its pretty pointless trying to sell movies anyway. most of them make not much money at all.



i just hated the whole thing.
i liked a japense movie that is similar in style / theme (memories of matsuko)

but Amelie didnt do anything for me. like une femme marie and breathless i knew from the first moment i will not like these movies. (still did sit trough the whole thing.. )


400 blows is another movie that i just "liked". orpheus was a little more interessting. Pickpoket was decent enough but i wouldnt want to revisit that one either. maybe check out more of bressons work.

i will give A man escaped and Wages of Fear a shot soon...


but for me french movies (not all but alot) are just missing something that i "feel" while watching italian , german or japanese movies

double life of veronique on the other site was a awesome movie

Ah I'm disappointed in you! :P have you tried Delicatessen or City of Lost Children?

I guess we all like different things anyway - oh well :P At least you like The Double Life - I'd have to kill you if you didn't! :P

[Mansinthe]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Ah I'm disappointed in you! :P have you tried Delicatessen or City of Lost Children?

nope i have not

well we cant all like the same movies. and sometimes i think alot of people try to like/love movies that get a 4/5 star review over here. otherwise it would be incredible how many people have the same taste in movies (or just like everything)

i quess im more of a kurosawa , ozu , lang , murnau , pasollini person.
and i really like movies like "close up"

i just dont get into most "french" stuff and movies that try to hard to copy that style.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

nope i have not

well we cant all like the same movies. and sometimes i think alot of people try to like/love movies that get a 4/5 star review over here. otherwise it would be incredible how many people have the same taste in movies (or just like everything)

i quess im more of a kurosawa , ozu , lang , murnau , pasollini person.
and i really like movies like "close up"

i just dont get into most "french" stuff and movies that try to hard to copy that style.

Yeah thats fair enough - I just didn't think anyone could not like Amelie haha, the acting, the score, the visuals XD

also good call with Pasollini he needs more films in collection!

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Yeah thats fair enough - I just didn't think anyone could not like Amelie haha, the acting, the score, the visuals XD

also good call with Pasollini he needs more films in collection!

The problem with getting Pasolini films on blu-ray are the Italian rights holders. They typically ask for a King's ransom just to borrow the film to screen it at a cinematheque. I can't imagine what they would demand in licensing fees.

[Mansinthe]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

also good call with Pasollini he needs more films in collection!

he actually has many good releases if you are willing to buy from other labels as well ;D same for antonini.

that reminds me that my 2 Eureka DVDs still have not arrived xD

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

The problem with getting Pasolini films on blu-ray are the Italian rights holders. They typically ask for a King's ransom just to borrow the film to screen it at a cinematheque. I can't imagine what they would demand in licensing fees.

AH I always forget about the silly rights stuff with films >.< why can't they share! lol

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

he actually has many good releases if you are willing to buy from other labels as well ;D same for antonini.

that reminds me that my 2 Eureka DVDs still have not arrived xD

I have a lot of his releases from other companies, but I want them on my Criterion shelf as well in the collection + I want more/new features

Just checked Criterion and didn't realise they had quite a few of his films on DVD - they will be needing an upgrade :P

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Yeah thats fair enough - I just didn't think anyone could not like Amelie haha, the acting, the score, the visuals XD

also good call with Pasollini he needs more films in collection!

I watched Amelie (or tried to) ages ago. My feelings about Audrey Tautou are similar to the way I felt about the lead actress in The Cranes Are Flying only magnified like 5 times. "look at me. I'm so cute! oui, oui!" can't stand her.

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

wasn't familiar with this title, so I searched it quickly...

someone in the comments wrote this:

"Roger apparently changed his mind in the week prior to his passing based on his messages to Chaz. The world was a more interesting place when he was it in. God Bless Roger."

that is hysterical!! like he had to get it off his conscience before he could take his last breath.. unfinished business.

That is funny, although given the subject matter of the film and his current physical state at the time, it's not surprising if he might have had a different perspective on Hereafter.

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

It's easy to pinpoint Ebert's glaring flaws when it comes to reviews, but they hold no ground when trying to judge him as a critic. The man reviewed thousands of films - much more than a lot of critics, or any of those criticizing him, have. If he's going to be criticized, then take a shot at his writing and where he went wrong. Offer up an analytical response rather than say "Oh, Ebert gave The Mummy 3 a positive review!" It doesn't mean much.

If you want to amuse yourself for a few hours, somebody named Jack has a great blog picking apart what he considers Ebert's worst reviews. The guy is a big Ebert fan, but he's not afraid to call his hero to task if he thinks Roger whiffed on one. Agree with him or not, but he makes an intelligent case for his opinions, as did Roger.

RIP, Roger. You are already missed.