The Criterion Collection

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by llj

Ikiru was at one time considered Kurosawa's best film (circa 1990s I believe), but I tend to feel that time and more exposure has battered its rep down a little. It's still a heartfelt and sincere film, but some of the conversations between his coworkers could be cut down significantly and it wouldn't lose much. In contrast, High and Low's past rep as a "minor" Kurosawa has improved tremendously to the point that now many people consider it one of his best (including me).

I love Ikiru, but If I ranked all of Kurosawa's films from top to bottom, Ikiru would fall in the 11-20 range. High and Low is top 10 for me.

Edit: I actually ranked them quickly. Off the top of my head, High and Low came in at #9 and Ikiru was #15. I only ranked 1-28 as I shamefully have yet to watch Dersu Uzala or Dodesukaden.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by llj

I do not even know what a hipster actually is. I was born WAY too long ago to keep up with modern urban internet lingo like that, kid. However, a trend being called "a thing" has been around since at least the 80s, having lived through that gloriously tacky decade during my youth.

All I was saying was that there are trends in the film community not unlike most others. I'm not saying I personally follow or agree with them, I'm just saying that it's interesting to see how some movies gain or rise in reputation with various generations of critics.

I just find social trends interesting to mention because of my fascination with what people tend to hold up as a big "thing" at any given time.

However, I do stand by my comment that Kurosawa is not very subtle. I don't note that as a "bad" thing, nor does it depreciate my opinion of him one iota. But it's something that leaves Kurosawa open to criticism, I find. It would be wrong for me to not at least acknowledge this.

I know you're a Kurosawa fan so I'm not surprised you took "offense" at that post.

DO know that I actually consider Kurosawa the greatest film director of all time, though, so despite my seemingly lukewarm post above on him, he actually is on the highest echelon of film directors in my personal opinion. I don't know of any director who has mastered as many genres and as many film formats as Kurosawa has. Black and white, color, widescreen, he's done it all and not just done it well, but showed technical and artistic mastery in all of them.

Yeah we're not going to agree on this one son.

...to each his own.

*backs away slowly*

*cautiously puts knife back in sheath*

[llj]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Yeah we're not going to agree on this one son.

...to each his own.

*backs away slowly*

*cautiously puts knife back in sheath*

You wouldn't want to face me in a real knife fight, friend. I've unfortunately been through a couple in my time. It's no laughing matter.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Choice of favorite film for a director has nothing to do with hipsters. It concerns film snobs.

A film snob goes out of his/her way to give a "favorite" which shows other people he/she has seen more than the most popular, salient films.

For example:

Stanley Kubrick
Snob's favorite: Fear and Desire

Kuroasaw
Snob's favorite: Sanshiro Sugata

Hitchcock
Snob's favorite: Easy Virture

I don't think such a person exists who would actually quote these to be his/her favorites.

I like Ray's 'hipster' definition more - someone who will champion a lesser known, inferior film with the intentions of separating themselves from mass culture.

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by jw007

What should I, JW, watch on his birthday today?

Happy Birthday! , you need to give us a hint? how do we know which films from your collection you haven't seen?

Or post a short list of the one's you want to see more

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by llj

You wouldn't want to face me in a real knife fight, friend. I've unfortunately been through a couple in my time. It's no laughing matter.

You have no idea what I've done.

[llj]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I don't think such a person exists who would actually quote these to be his/her favorites.

I like Ray's 'hipster' definition more - someone who will champion a lesser known, inferior film with the intentions of separating themselves from mass culture.

If this *is* the definition, then 'hipsters' are actually quite numerous judging by how many people get accused of being one, ergo hipsters are actually today's mass culture, right?

Still waiting for a movement out there to extol the comedic genius of Adam Sandler. Not seeing one yet.

[Halation]

Kiyoshi Kurosawa > Akira Kurosawa

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by Halation

Kiyoshi Kurosawa > Akira Kurosawa

Reminds me of joie, don't know why

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

As long as you don't mind the French language writing on the cover art, the new region-free StudioCanal Blu-ray of the 4K restoration of The Third Man is a whole lot of fun.



This Blu-ray gives you a choice of three languages (French, German, English) as soon as the disc boots up in the player, and, from that moment onward, everything (movie, extras, subtitles), are in your chosen language.

If you want to avoid the French writing you can just buy the UK edition. They're the same discs and it's actually a bit cheaper (and even moreso if you ignore the deluxe 4-disc set in favour of the regular 1-disc release).

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by jw007

I really think its a certain kind of mental disorder to want to own so many movies and build such a vast collection...I probably suffer from the same thing he does but to a much lesser extent! Hey, I'm just being honest and not afraid to admit it!

He has the Collector Gene. People with the CG will obsessively collect whatever it is that interests them or strikes their fancy. Some people collect books, some collect DVDs, some collect Coke bottles, some collect stamps, some collect Hummel figures. The mantle over the fireplace at my mother's house is covered with figurines of snails. The mother of a friend of mine did the same thing with owls.

[Halation]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

Reminds me of joie, don't know why

cool

He must be some great guy

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by llj

But it seems like every decade or so a different Kurosawa film becomes the trendy one to pick as his best. During the 70s and 80s it was Seven Samurai.

So what you're saying is that eventually, everyone will catch up with me and decide that Drunken Angel is his best.

[Polaroid]

You may recognize Jason Polan’s drawings from the hints in our e-mail newsletters. His fantastic new book, Every Person in New York, is out today! http://www.amazon.com/Every-Person-Y...dp/1452128235/

Posted on Facebook if anyone is interested

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Posted on Facebook if anyone is interested

Does it have new hints ?

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by jw007

This is a major reason why I'm super selective of where and when I see a good or great film in theaters these days. If I was seeing 2001: A Space Odyssey for the first time and some ignorant and disrespectful patrons were chatting or even whispering behind or adjacent to me (within 20 feet), I would have been unable to focus on enjoying the film. Maybe audiences are more desensitized these days than they used to be but I know I'm not... I guess I'm a bit more desensitized than those people in the early 1900's who first witnessed a moving picture (ie. when the image of a moving train appeared on screen heading towards the camera, some people rushed towards the exits in momentary fright). People have certainly changed the way they behave while in theaters these days and I'm referring to the use of cellphones and/or smartphones, which are all too easily accessible at the reach of a hand. Education, location, maturity level and class level also factor in, in regard to the social behavior of movie audiences. I usually stick with small arthouse theaters or independent theaters or film societies (certain theaters in NYC such as the Film Forum and IFC Center are fantastic for seeing good movies around generally well-behaved audiences). On the other hand I've gone to some of those big, corporate cinema-plexes in suburban American sprawls and had just awful experiences with teens and ADHD-stricken young adults distracting me in their seats, munching on ADHD-inducing Skittles and synthetically sweetened soft drinks (the science has shown that artificial colors and dyes have contributed to hyperactivity in children - and probably adults too). In an increasingly toxic society we live in, its less and less of a pleasure going to see a movie with the general public, and so I find myself preferring watching at home on my home theater, as many others prefer too, as "control" and "immersion" are rather critical in one's overall enjoyment and appreciation of a film. Anyway I'm done with my rant...back to your regularly scheduled Criterion programming.

I think a lot of it has to do with learned behavior. People who are used to watching films on home video at home with friends don't think twice about talking to each other, or other such things, and they bring this same behavior to theaters.

Virtually all of my wife's and my "out-to-the-theatre" movie-watching is at a local cattleplex. But we generally go to a late morning bargain matinee, in which very few other people are in attendence. I literally can't recall the last time I encountered boorish behavior at the movies.

And by the by, when we go to the movies, we indulge in root beer and popcorn, and sometimes Skittles or Twizzlers or some such "fruity" snack. And neither of us are ADHD.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

If you want to avoid the French writing you can just buy the UK edition. They're the same discs and it's actually a bit cheaper (and even moreso if you ignore the deluxe 4-disc set in favour of the regular 1-disc release).

D'oh. I didn't realize that the UK StudioCanal Blu-ray of The Third Man was region free as well. I seem to have remembered reading about the UK disc being region B and the French disc being region free. I would have bought the UK digibook had I known.

No big difference with the disc itself, though, and I'm really happy with my purchase.

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

KLUTE is thru WB I keep hoping WB Archive would release the film. I know the transfer if done correctly should be great. It is a very darkly lit film intentionally for many scenes. The film score by Michael Small was released thru FilmScoreMonthly paired with All the President's Men music by David Shire.

The KLUTE score has some creepy cues for sure. It used to be my most sought after official film score. (many boots were out there)

I agree with everything you said except for one small point. I don't want the Warner Archive to release anything. I either want Warners to give the major films in their library full-blown, bona fide blu-ray releases, or to license them out to other specialized labels like Criterion who will treat them properly. I'm appalled that The World According to Garp, for instance, was siphoned off to the Archive and is being issued on MOD. That's ridiculous.

Now please, help me down from my soapbox. I'm getting dizzy up here.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by jayembee

And by the by, when we go to the movies, we indulge in root beer and popcorn, and sometimes Skittles or Twizzlers or some such "fruity" snack. And neither of us are ADHD.

yeah, that angle is a bunch of bulls**t. it isn't an argument I wish to have on this thread, so jw007, I kindly ask that you stop harping on this topic. one casual mention is fine, but we seem to get beat over the head regarding ADHD from you.

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by jayembee

He has the Collector Gene. People with the CG will obsessively collect whatever it is that interests them or strikes their fancy. Some people collect books, some collect DVDs, some collect Coke bottles, some collect stamps, some collect Hummel figures. The mantle over the fireplace at my mother's house is covered with figurines of snails. The mother of a friend of mine did the same thing with owls.

And some people with the Collector Gene collect Gene (Tierney). And Barbara Stanwyck and David Manners and Joan Bennett and stills and blu-rays and books and coins and Vaseline glass. Not that there's anything wrong with us ... uh, I mean *that*.