The Criterion Collection

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

I agree with half of these films being as good as Rear Window, although I never found it really that great, unlike Vertigo (true masterpiece). Rear Window is a fun film, but I revisit Upstream Color, Tree of Life or Amores Perros much more (I find these recent films more interesting)

I'd rank Rear Window somewhere between 5 - 8 as a Hitch film, so it isn't on my short list of anything, really. But, the manifestation of suspense and the single set... second to none!

I really liked Amores Perros when I saw it the first time. I bought the DVD a LONG time ago and never rewatched it. The Secret in Their Eyes is a wonderful film. It is hard for me, however, to think of anything other than the few I mentioned before as potentially enduring classics. Time will tell, though.

[Scottie]

While we're on the subject of Alfred Hitchcock, my favorite film by him is undoubtedly Vertigo.

I also consider Rear Window, Psycho, The Lady Vanishes, and Lifeboat / North by Northwest / Notorious (it's hard to decide) to be in my Top 5.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

I would agree that 'classic' is a very flexible term, but the point is that there are many, many good contemporary films that have the potential to be 'classics'.


Pro-B

ok, Pro-B.. don't leave us hanging. how about a short list of a few that you think could eventually be considered "classics." Adam put a few films on my radar. what have you loved from the past 5 to 7 years?

[octagon]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

...but the point is that there are many, many good contemporary films that have the potential to be 'classics'.

Pro-B

Absolutely. I wouldn't put Fincher in the same category as Kubrick or Hitchcock but I don't think it's an offense against cinema to mention them in the same breath either. Is The Town as good as The Asphalt Jungle? No, probably not. But it's not an absurd question.

Originally Posted by Helikaon

You can only call a film an "enduring classic" if it has, in fact, endured. Everything else is just speculation. Who knows which films will still be watched in 20-30 years.

Point to pretty much any movie made 20 or 30 years ago and you can not only find people who are still watching it, you'll almost certainly be able to find somebody who will be happy to tell you it's one of the best movies ever made.

We talk about the test of time a lot but I gotta say, I think time is a pretty easy grader

Originally Posted by blkhrt

It's actually on the Cronos release. The supplement is called "Welcome to the Bleak House," and it is a brief tour of the home he uses to house all of his stuff.

That's a great supplement. It reminds a lot of some of the Peter Jackson stuff on the King Kong (1933) disc. In both cases their enthusiasm is very infectious.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

UPSTREAM COLOR <333 YES YES YES, incredible film! I also love Primer - wish these were included collection haha XD Primer and Upstream Color are perfect!

I am almost certain that Interstellar will not be anywhere near as intelectually stimulating as Primer or Upstream Color. These films made me want to watch sci-fi again.

A lot of the sci-fi films of today are terrible, very mundane. A great example of the mundane sci-fi film is Gravity.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

I am almost certain that Interstellar will not be anywhere near as intelectually stimulating as Primer or Upstream Color. These films made me want to watch sci-fi again.

A lot of the sci-fi films of today are terrible, very mundane. A great example of the mundane sci-fi film is Gravity.

I just love how he did ALL the work on the films himself, writing, directing, acting, music etc, pretty incredible and he doesn't spoon feed the audience or make it obvious, he leaves it to us to decipher and truly understand the film which I really love, it stays with you longer and makes you wonder.

He is one of a kind though, he really cares about cinema and it shows.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by jw007

I watched My Darling Clementine last night and I loved this film. Honestly, its totally an anti-western which is even better, and so far its my favorite of John Ford's films and far more enjoyable than Stagecoach. I thought Victor Mature was just awesome playing Doc Holliday and of course Henry Fonda was amazing at playing Wyatt Earp. I liked how the actors were at times even unpredictable as usually you can sense what they might say next but this film seemed more real. Also the cinematography was insanely great and there were some amazing shots of Monument Valley and the set of Tombstone.

I'm going to watch all of the supplements tonight and post some more thoughts tomorrow about this film.

It's also interesting to see Walter Brennan in a role quite different than what we usually think of when his name is in the cast. I would love to see The Westerner, which I think has his best performance, come to the Collection.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

I am almost certain that Interstellar will not be anywhere near as intelectually stimulating as Primer or Upstream Color. These films made me want to watch sci-fi again.

A lot of the sci-fi films of today are terrible, very mundane. A great example of the mundane sci-fi film is Gravity.

Yes, I had just posted about Gravity last night: https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...stcount=114582

I still need to see Upstream Color but not sure if I should blind-buy the blu-ray or not.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Ahhh no wonder i missed it, I wasn't over the moon with that film, its worth having and did have some cool moments but it wasn't his best film and no where near level as TDB. Will check it out thanks

I thought the exact opposite. I watched The Devil's Backbone on Halloween night last year (and to be fair, that might have put a little more pressure on it) largely because I was so impressed with Cronos and was kind of let down.

Actually, thinking about it now, I think The Orphanage had at least as much to do with my high expectations for TDB as Cronos did. I think in the back (and probably not very far in the back) I was thinking 'he was the EP on The Orphanage and that was great...just think how good this must be).

Hmmm...

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by octagon

I thought the exact opposite. I watched The Devil's Backbone on Halloween night last year (and to be fair, that might have put a little more pressure on it) largely because I was so impressed with Cronos and was kind of let down.

Actually, thinking about it now, I think The Orphanage had at least as much to do with my high expectations for TDB as Cronos did. I think in the back (and probably not very far in the back) I was thinking 'he was the EP on The Orphanage and that was great...just think how good this must be).

Hmmm...

We all know how I feel about The Orphanage so won't get into that haha! But strange I did enjoy Cronos but there was something off about it for me, not sure what, I have only watched once so need to rewatch soon which may change my opinion. I hate TDB when I first saw years ago but now I adore it, not sure why I didn't like before lol.

Would like to see Pans Labyrinth added to collection as it ties in well with TDB and Cronos, in a way - beautiful yet tragic film. It was my fave Del Toro but TDB has taken its place :P

[Ray Jackson]

Anyone know when the next Barnes and Noble 50% off sale is going to start?

End of November/early December?

[StLouisRibs]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Anyone know when the next Barnes and Noble 50% off sale is going to start?

End of November/early December?

Nov. 11 - Dec. 2

[zoodermin]

It seems that Spartacus has received a new restoration! Could it be released through Criterion?

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/topi...festival-2015/

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by StLouisRibs

Nov. 11 - Dec. 2

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

ok, Pro-B.. don't leave us hanging. how about a short list of a few that you think could eventually be considered "classics." Adam put a few films on my radar. what have you loved from the past 5 to 7 years?

I actually only mined the last three years of best of lists for my tips, if we include the back end of the last decade that opens the field really nicely. There Will Be Blood is the one film which I'm really confident will be held up in the same way as 2001, Citizen Kane etc by future generations.

I see maybe 300 new releases every year, and have done since I turned professional with writing and started attending festivals on a full time basis in 2010. While classic cinema is my true love I do feel that there is a lot of great contemporary cinema out there too, with the biggest problem being that a lot of it isn't seen nearly widely enough.

[The Great Owl]

Nobody has mentioned Under the Skin when discussing contemporary science fiction films, so I'll throw it out there. I think that it's a magnificent film.

Nothing about the trailers or the reviews for Christopher Nolan's Interstellar quickens my pulse, sadly. I was underwhelmed by Inception when I saw it years ago, and the same red flags are up there for this new film.

[Polaroid]

Does anyone else work out how much you've spent on your collection and want to cry a little? I could have bought a car or a deposit for a house lmao

[mrjohnnyb]

Originally Posted by octagon

Just off the top of my head...

Cache/Hidden
Melancholia
both Dragon Tattoos
Zodiac
The Secret in Their Eyes
The Lives of Others
No Country for Old Men
Revanche
Carlos
...are all on par with Rear Window.

Great films, but none of them hold a candle to Rear Window.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Nobody has mentioned Under the Skin when discussing contemporary science fiction films, so I'll throw it out there. I think that it's a magnificent film.

Nothing about the trailers or the reviews for Christopher Nolan's Interstellar quickens my pulse, sadly. I was underwhelmed by Inception when I saw it years ago, and the same red flags are up there for this new film.

Under The Skin is a masterpiece (in my opinion) I can't fault it, SJ is mesmerising and she got so lost in that role, she felt alien, lost and alone. She didn't feel human. Such a sad film though.

Off topic:

That moment you are getting to know someone and they say their fave film is The Fault In Their Stars... :'(

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Does anyone else work out how much you've spent on your collection and want to cry a little? I could have bought a car or a deposit for a house lmao

I have an Excel spreadsheet so I know - to the penny, how much I've spent. I've got average cost per title, totals, monthly expenditures, formulas that indicate red font when I've spent more than I'd like, green for when it is in range.

I'm an accountant, so I had fun creating it and continue to have fun maintaining it. I've managed to scour out tons of great deals, so I'm content w/ what I've spent on my 97 blu-ray titles.