The Criterion Collection

[Namuhana]

Not really Criterion-related, but kind of: Max von Sydow will appear in the sixth season of Game of Thrones!

[jmclick]

After all the fascinating posts about Kubrick earlier today, I was motivated to sit down tonight and experience Barry Lyndon. What an incredible film; no wonder it has received almost universal praise. The production values were impeccable, and I can't believe Kubrick was able to pull such a nuanced ... and touching ... performance out of Ryan O'Neal. This definitely vaults into my Top Five Kubrick Films, bumping Eyes Wide Shut down to number six. I'll have to let it soak in before I'm able to give it a specific ranking.

That's why I love this thread and the people post here ... you continually expand my cinematic horizons and challenge my critical thinking. Were it not for you, who knows when I might finally have been moved to watch this incredible film? Thanks!

[Ray Jackson]

I'm watching The Bad Sleep Well tonight for the first time.

It's simply amazing how many classic films were made by Kurosawa.

Even attempting a Kurosawa top five is like trying to split the atom.

But here goes:

1. High and Low
2. Ikiru
3. Red Beard
4. Ran
5. Yojimbo

Yes that's right...Seven Samurai isn't even in my top five.

...how extraordinary.

[Edward J Grug III]

My one viewing of 2001 was years ago on what I am sure was a poor copy. Probably VHS. I didn't enjoy it.

So, today, I have very bravely bought a ticket to see it in the cinema in a couple of weeks. I am a bit scared of it, as, to be honest, I like one and a half Kubrick films (The Shining and the first half of Full Metal Jacket).

But, other than The Shining, I don't think I've seen any Kubrick films in the last ten years. Some of them closer to 20. So, I have an open mind and I hope to have it changed. If 2001 goes over well, I might try to revisit the rest of his work.

The other movies I bought tickets to in the festival:

The 39 Steps
I Know Where I'm Going (with my wife) *
Lawrence of Arabia *
The Third Man
Red Shoes
Kind Hearts & Coronets (with my wife) *

* means I haven't seen the film before.

I MAY go to one more film: Black Narcissus, which I have seen before, but it isn't screening at very convenient times for me...

[Will G]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I'm watching The Bad Sleep Well tonight for the first time.

It's simply amazing how many classic films were made by Kurosawa.

Even attempting a Kurosawa top five is like trying to split the atom.

But here goes:

1. High and Low
2. Ikiru
3. Red Beard
4. Ran
5. Yojimbo

Yes that's right...Seven Samurai isn't even in my top five.

...how extraordinary.

Red Beard definitely ranks right up there at the top on my list. It's a shame Dersu Uzala rarely get's mentioned, it's one of my favorites.

[darkness2918]

For my last trip I got these


I really wanted to grab Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion & 3 Women but they were out of those. So now my entire haul fro my 1st ever B&N sale was:

The Night Porter
he Vanishing
Naked Lunch
Videodrome
Scanners
Cronos
The Devils Backbone
Purple Noon
Le Samourai (DVD)
Don't Look Now (traded of)
The Friends of Eddie Coyle (traded off)
House
Tokyo Drifter
Thief
Kagemusha
Insomnia

The next sale in November may just bankrupt me lol. I saw The Vanishing tonight. While I liked it I didn't really love it. I had the ending so hyped up in my mind that when I saw it didn't really shock or impact me in a huge way. I may have to give it a second viewing.

[filmmusic]

OK, it seems I was veeeeery lucky and despite the capital controls we have here and not being able to purchase anything from abroad, my order went through and they have shipped 1 item already.

I got these (no blind buy):



I'm not very happy with how Paris Texas looks judging from the screenshots (I guess Arrow would do an exceptional work now), but anyway, I got it because I love the film (i've only seen it once).
And I'm very glad Five Easy pieces got an individual release, because I wouldn't buy the box.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by jmclick

After all the fascinating posts about Kubrick earlier today, I was motivated to sit down tonight and experience Barry Lyndon. What an incredible film; no wonder it has received almost universal praise. The production values were impeccable, and I can't believe Kubrick was able to pull such a nuanced ... and touching ... performance out of Ryan O'Neal. This definitely vaults into my Top Five Kubrick Films, bumping Eyes Wide Shut down to number six. I'll have to let it soak in before I'm able to give it a specific ranking.

That's why I love this thread and the people post here ... you continually expand my cinematic horizons and challenge my critical thinking. Were it not for you, who knows when I might finally have been moved to watch this incredible film? Thanks!

I remember the first time I watched Barry Lyndon, I was probably in my mid 20's way back in the day, and I was astounded by just how amazing the lighting and DP work was... Kubrick designed all these special lenses or at least modified them on top of using natural candle light in many of those scenes. It's not only well designed, visually and artistically, but the story is very engaging from beginning to end and the 3 1/2 hours kind of flies by. I'd still choose Eyes Wide Shut by just a hair over Barry Lyndon though for overall entertainment value.

[hoytereden]

Sad to hear that Coleen Gray has passed away at age 92. She's in the Collection with Red River and The Killing but I also loved the wonderfully bad The Leech Woman and The Phantom Planet that she also appeared in.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

Sad to hear that Coleen Gray has passed away at age 92. She's in the Collection with Red River and The Killing but I also loved the wonderfully bad The Leech Woman and The Phantom Planet that she also appeared in.

I'm really sorry to hear about Coleen Gray.

She was so good in The Killing, Kiss of Death, Nightmare Alley, Kansas City Confidential, and Red River.

I was just watching her the other day in Hell's Five Hours, which was recently released on Blu-ray by Olive Films.

[Fabs]

1. High and Low
2. Ran
3. Seven Samurai
4. Ikiru
5. Throne of Blood

[Bob Kramer]

Originally Posted by SkyAntoine

Whether anyone buys into the analysis or not, Room 237 on Kubrick and the meaning of The Shining is fascinating. It discusses that there are no accidents in Kubrick's films. Every shot, every background image, etc. is by design.

There are plenty of accidents in his films, and perhaps as much, if not more, improvisation than in the work of "spontaneous" directors like Altman or Leigh. He knew what to keep and how to use it, and what to throw away.

[Bob Kramer]

Originally Posted by jmclick

A Clockwork Orange, on the other hand, totally repulsed me. I found it sordid and degrading, as if Kubrick had tricked me into descending into a world of depravity. I consider myself a fairly open-minded and adventurous filmgoer, but I don't enjoy what I perceive to be assaults on my sensibilities. That's one of the reasons I have no desire to see Pasolini's Salò; I don't need to see it.

I agree about Clockwork Orange. It is bravura film making, but unfortunately the sort of thing that attracts fanboys and and film students (all male, of course.)

Salo is actually a very moral film, and more honest than Clockwork.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I'm really sorry to hear about Coleen Gray.

She was so good in The Killing, Kiss of Death, Nightmare Alley, Kansas City Confidential, and Red River.

I was just watching her the other day in Hell's Five Hours, which was recently released on Blu-ray by Olive Films.

I know, not many of the old timers left but Olivia de Havilland is still here at 99, Setsuko Hara is 95, and Lupita Tovar (Dracula '31 Spanish version) is 105!

[Bob Kramer]

Originally Posted by jw007

I remember the first time I watched Barry Lyndon, I was probably in my mid 20's way back in the day, and I was astounded by just how amazing the lighting and DP work was... Kubrick designed all these special lenses or at least modified them on top of using natural candle light in many of those scenes. It's not only well designed, visually and artistically, but the story is very engaging from beginning to end and the 3 1/2 hours kind of flies by. I'd still choose Eyes Wide Shut by just a hair over Barry Lyndon though for overall entertainment value.

Speaking of those lenses:

Vincent Gallo, the director of Buffalo 66 decided after completing Buffalo 66 that for his next film, The Brown Bunny, he would own all his equipment. He would not rent a thing. He would own everything he would need to make his next feature film. In putting this production package together, he spent a year of researching and testing equipment. Afterwards, he would spend 6 months designing the package and another 2 years purchasing, customizing, testing and tweaking the gear. The goals were as follows: to be lightweight, compact, versatile, reliable and cost effective. The package would have to include everything needed to make the film: 2 cameras, a high quality and comprehensive lens collection, mobile yet sufficient lighting, sound equipment that could integrate with the cameras so as to avoid slating, a mic assortment that would never need backup, and a ton of extras that would meet the needs of his flexible and spontaneous production style, and last but not least, an extremely secure transportation case system. 100 hours of case design alone was needed. The entire package was used to shoot 60,000 feet of film. Since Gallo owned and operated all the equipment, along with two extremely careful professional assistants, the equipment remains in better than new condition. The reason I say better than new is because not only is all the equipment in 100% mint cosmetic condition and mint mechanical condition, a lot of tweaking by the factories who produced the equipment was involved. For example, Gallo wanted his 2 Aatons to be the quietest in the world so after purchase, he fedexed them back to France and had the factory make them as quiet as they could possibly ever be. Well below their rated specs. In the case of his lenses, the vintage set of Super Baltars which were new old stock lenses purchased directly from the Mitchell Factory, had to be converted to PL type mounting. Many cameramen had dreamed of doing this since the Super Baltars are the finest lenses ever made. However, no one's been able to complete the conversion. Gallo found a designer for the conversion, a machinist and a lens expert and after 6 months of effort and $25,000 cash, he now owns a complete set of Super Baltar lenses converted to PL mount. Another thing to note in the lens area is that all his lenses were expertly re-built and calibrated including his Angenieux zoom which was purchased from the Stanley Kubrick estate. It is the famous super long throw lens that Kubrick had made for Barry Lyndon. No other like it exists. In the case of his Nagra, Gallo had the Nagra factory build him the last brand new Nagra 4 STC which he had made utilizing the Aaton time code so his cameras and sound recorder would always be in sync. All in all, Gallo put more effort into this production package than the whiny Wes Anderson, the sputtering Spike Jonze, the un-darling Darren Aronofsky have put into their whole lives. Because of the design and detailing of the package, a filmmaker could work with the most flexibililty, mobility, efficiency and reliability that could have ever been possible any other way. If you want to make a movie, this is the package to own. Everything is guaranteed working and in brand new cosmetic condition. Seller can not be responsible for shipping and would prefer pick up and inspection in Los Angeles. Payment must be made in full within 7 days of close of auction. No deadbeat bidders please. Again, no deadbeat bidders. Please call for questions 323 878 0100. DO NOT EMAIL QUESTIONS. If phone goes to voicemail, leave a return phone number and a technician will return your call. Please look through the list below very carefully and please do your own research.

From an ebay listing, circa 2004, from Gallo himself. It's even better if you read it in his voice.

[Namuhana]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

My one viewing of 2001 was years ago on what I am sure was a poor copy. Probably VHS. I didn't enjoy it.

So, today, I have very bravely bought a ticket to see it in the cinema in a couple of weeks. I am a bit scared of it, as, to be honest, I like one and a half Kubrick films (The Shining and the first half of Full Metal Jacket).

But, other than The Shining, I don't think I've seen any Kubrick films in the last ten years. Some of them closer to 20. So, I have an open mind and I hope to have it changed. If 2001 goes over well, I might try to revisit the rest of his work.

I'm skeptical of watching Kubrick films. There's some that I really enjoy (Spartacus and The Shining), some that I don't like at all (Dr. Strangelove and Lolita, that latter of which is a far cry from Nabokov's novel, though I understand the Hays Code was still in place), and some that are fine (2001, Paths of Glory, and The Killing). I don't know if I'm just missing something that so many other people see, but I'm never really that confident going into a Kubrick movie. I have A Clockwork Orange on my DVR and have started it several times, and stopping about 30 minutes in each time. I have Eyes Wide Shut on my DVR too, but I haven't had the courage enough to start it yet.

[mdonovan]

Originally Posted by jw007

I remember the first time I watched Barry Lyndon, I was probably in my mid 20's way back in the day, and I was astounded by just how amazing the lighting and DP work was... Kubrick designed all these special lenses or at least modified them on top of using natural candle light in many of those scenes. It's not only well designed, visually and artistically, but the story is very engaging from beginning to end and the 3 1/2 hours kind of flies by. I'd still choose Eyes Wide Shut by just a hair over Barry Lyndon though for overall entertainment value.

I'm glad you enjoy BL ... I am a massive Kubrick fan ... But this is one film I simply cannot watch. I've seen it all the way through in one sitting once. I've attempted repeat viewing maybe 4 times ... I find it incredibly boring.

[malakaheso]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

But here goes:

1. High and Low
2. Ikiru
3. Red Beard
4. Ran
5. Yojimbo

Yes that's right...Seven Samurai isn't even in my top five.

...how extraordinary.

High and Low is brilliant and gets better with repeated viewings. The last scene is devastating.

[malakaheso]

Originally Posted by jw007

I remember the first time I watched Barry Lyndon, I was probably in my mid 20's way back in the day, and I was astounded by just how amazing the lighting and DP work was... Kubrick designed all these special lenses or at least modified them on top of using natural candle light in many of those scenes. It's not only well designed, visually and artistically, but the story is very engaging from beginning to end and the 3 1/2 hours kind of flies by. I'd still choose Eyes Wide Shut by just a hair over Barry Lyndon though for overall entertainment value.

Strangely enough, the only issue I have with Barry Lyndon nowadays is the use of the zoom lens, which is largely what its known for.

Even Ryan O'Neil's performance doesn't bother me anymore, even if it's far from his best; and he was far from a great actor at the best of times.

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I'm watching The Bad Sleep Well tonight for the first time.

It's simply amazing how many classic films were made by Kurosawa.

Even attempting a Kurosawa top five is like trying to split the atom.

But here goes:

1. High and Low
2. Ikiru
3. Red Beard
4. Ran
5. Yojimbo

Yes that's right...Seven Samurai isn't even in my top five.

...how extraordinary.

It is impossible to just name 5.

Seven Samurai
Red Beard
Ikiru
Rashomon
Throne of Blood

Really think its about time Criterion release another Kurosawa. Stray Dog is one of my personal favorites, but hopefully Red Beard or Ikiru get a Blu release. Also would love to see a Bluray release of the double feature The Lower Depths by Kurosawa and Jean Renoir.

The Bad Sleep Well is a great film and while I understand the reason for the ending it left me flat at the end.

Hate the B&N sale is over. I wish they would just do like other retailers and not sell stuff for MSRP. I have a store 2 mins from me and would love to go up there week after week to pick up titles, but only someone bleeding money would pay 39.99 for a bluray. So I'm stuck with Amazon.