The Criterion Collection

[Page14]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I watched Dont Look Back this evening. Although I am not familiar with the work of Bob Dylan aside from a few songs, I found the documentary to be solid overall. I particularly enjoyed the music and the portrayal of Dylan as a man not seeking fame or glory but pouring his heart and soul into his music.

The thing that did bother me about the documentary, though, was that it felt incredibly disjointed at times. It was hard for me to understand the context of the film outside of Dylan being in London for part of his tour.

While I do not see myself purchasing the Blu-ray release, I will definitely listen to some of his albums in order to better familiarize myself with his catalogue and style.

I've been on a little bit of a Bob Dylan kick lately ... probably because I had a 4th row seat to see him in concert last May (Yay!). I already own the Docudrama blu-ray release, but will probably double dip for the Criterion release too. I wish Criterion could have somehow included a new, recent interview with Dylan in their supplements, as it seems that interviews with Dylan are rare (or maybe it's just me). Even at the concert I went to, the only words he said between songs during the entire show was something like "We'll be right back" just before the intermission between sets. That's it.

Here's a clip of Dylan performing on David Letterman's 2nd to last show last May. I find it special because it took place 5 days (or so) after the concert I went to. (There's something about his performance that I don't know how to put into words ... like there's some kind of a nervous energy about him. It was the same when I saw him. I find him fascinating).

[Show spoiler]

The Night We Called It a Day Bob Dylan chez David Letterman - YouTube

[Fabs]

Originally Posted by Yami

This guy would have been 110 today



Certainly up there with Ozu, Mizoguchi and Kurosawa in the discussion of greatest Japanese directors. Few films are as perfect as Floating Clouds, Yearning, When a Woman Ascends the Stairs, Repast, Lightning and Every-Night Dreams.

Highly agree with everything, except I'd go so far as to say he's the greatest Japanese director.

[Norbie]

Originally Posted by darkness2918

Literally all of my Criterion purchases are blind buys.....after I do some research into them of course to see if its something I think ill enjoy.

My position as well.

About the Apu Trilogy....

They say the negatives were burned in a fire (as opposed in a snow storm ), so what are they using for this Criterion release?

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by Page14

Even at the concert I went to, the only words he said between songs during the entire show was something like "We'll be right back" just before the intermission between sets. That's it.

He did the same when I saw him. I don't think anybody minded because it allows him to get more songs in.

Some artists will use their concerts to babble on about the song or even get their politics across (Here's looking at you, Bruce). Dylan is all about the music and I like that.

[Norbie]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I'm envisioning The Apu Trilogy in a package that is pretty much identical to the 3 Films by Roberto Rossellini Starring Ingrid Bergman set.
...which is pretty much identical to the The Complete Jacques Tati packaging, except with fewer movies.

I really wish they stay away from those sort of digipacks and release these multi-disc editions in a Berlin Alexanderplatz style digipak, obviously in a Blu-ray height and not DVD.

[Norbie]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

That's why I haven't gone after a copy of The Third Man. My wife would!

Why not get the DVD version for the special features and then the Region B edition for the actual film?

[Bob Kramer]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

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.

Or, they simply may have more film knowledge than you. Why do so many people take offense at that possibility? Often those people also have the broadest tastes as well. It is possible to like Spielberg, Roger Watkins, Stan Brakhage, Elem Klimov and many other varied directors simultaneously, and for different reasons. That knowledge also helps you see through trends, derivations and phonies. Most "hipsters" rarely have any deep knowledge of whatever subject it is they use for status.

As for Kurosawa:

1. Ran
2. Everything else a distant second

[Bob Kramer]

Originally Posted by darkness2918

Just finished watching Ace in the Hole for the first time, such a great film. The best part for me about starting my CC kind of late is discovering great films like this for the first time.

Ace In The Hole is okay, but I think the similarly themed A Face In The Crowd is much better, particularly as it features a ferociously out-of-character performance from Andy Griffith.

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by easydreamer

2 featurettes on the UK disc are in PAL, so the regular region A player cannot play them. One of these, "Shadowing the Third Man" is actually included in the Criterion disc, in NTSC and no PAL Speedup.

I was under the impression that the UK and French discs were identical in every way, with those features being in PAL on both the UK and French discs.

[Fabs]

Originally Posted by ijustblumyself

Taiwanese cinema might honestly be my favourite (a lot of it remains SO underseen as well). Make sure to check out The Terrorizers - watched it last night and it was pretty much perfect.

Thanks. I will be sure to. I'm trying to find the BD, but it sadly seems OOP. Any other films that come with a high recommendation? I've already seen A City of Sadness, Yi Yi, and King Hu's work.

[rezpekt]

Originally Posted by easydreamer

2 featurettes on the UK disc are in PAL, so the regular region A player cannot play them. One of these, "Shadowing the Third Man" is actually included in the Criterion disc, in NTSC and no PAL Speedup.

Why would an European TV production have "PAL speedup"? Surely it was produced in 25 frames per second and Criterion actuallly has "NTSC speedown", no?

[ijustblumyself]

Originally Posted by Fabs

Thanks. I will be sure to. I'm trying to find the BD, but it sadly seems OOP. Any other films that come with a high recommendation? I've already seen A City of Sadness, Yi Yi, and King Hu's work.

I think it may still be available on jsdvd if you're willing to pay a bit of money (although it is quite a bit for a blind-buy). Goodbye, Dragon Inn is an absolute masterpiece from Tsai Ming-liang, and really anything by Hou is fantastic.

[deepbreathsanddeath]

Originally Posted by Norbie

I really wish they stay away from those sort of digipacks and release these multi-disc editions in a Berlin Alexanderplatz style digipak, obviously in a Blu-ray height and not DVD.

Mhmm. If it's a 3-4 disc edition with a thick booklet, please give us a digipak like Les Blank: Always for Pleasure.

[obscurelabel]

Originally Posted by Norbie

My position as well.

About the Apu Trilogy....

They say the negatives were burned in a fire (as opposed in a snow storm ), so what are they using for this Criterion release?

There are several articles online about this, here is one:

http://www.avclub.com/article/how-fi...ck-life-218781

I can't find the link right now but I think they said that 40% of the negative for the first film was usable, 60% for the second. None was available for the third film so they used a fine grain print and a dupe negative.

I just saw these in a theater over the weekend and they all looked fantastic. The first film had a handful of shots that came from a much weaker print, which looked washed out, soft, and with lots of vertical scratches. However, this was less than, oh, three minutes of the total. (To tell the truth the footage didn't look that bad, it's just the rest of the film looked so good, it suffered in comparison). I couldn't tell much if any difference in the quality of the third film, it looked great as well.

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by Andrew1987

Finally saw Le Samourai on DVD tonight, what a fantastic film. Also blew through the supplements which featured outstanding archival interviews. Was trying to wait until Criterion upgraded it to Blu but the film still looked pretty good on DVD and I only paid $12 so I'll just resell it when it happens.

Not really Criterion related, but just a heads up for Melville fans incase they didn't see Cohen Films release of Two Men in Manhattan . Also suggest That Man from Rio if you want a funny, light, fast paced adventure film that inspired Indiana Jones.

Originally Posted by Vinyl

Congrats on finding such a great director. I would have to say that a lot of us found such films in the collection late in the game, but are now staunch proponents of them. I had no idea Wilder directed films I had heard of or watched before but never knew of him.

For me my lens of international films is through Criterion, besides a few exceptions such as German Expressionism, Brerathless, etc.

Billy Wilder is the man. I recommend all of his films on Blu. Especially Sunset Boulevard. Also The Apartment and Some like it Hot are great, but light fare. Double Indemnity is some great noir. I really liked The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes, but I could see where some people going into it thinking its a typical sherlock film being confused with it. Witness for the Prosecution is also good. Fedora is out on Blu, but I have never seen it.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Oh, there is, believe me. Have you ever discussed a director with someone and the conversation went like this:

Person A: What do you think of Vertigo?

Person B: It's an excellent film but hardly Hitchcock's best. I'd say it's probably in his top 20 of film's I've seen (and I've seen them all!) . He's done much better other films, believe me.

Person A: How about Psycho?

Person B: Again, good film but he's done better. I find myself watching Stage Fright more often.

yes, I have had discussions that have kinda gone like this. but outside of citing Stage Fright or Easy Virture, the person would say The Wrong Man which is a neat little film in the film noir style.. probably underseen and underappreciated, but nowhere near his best.

for me, that fits the 'hipster' definition a bit more, but not important.. for the most part I think we are agreeing.

[jvonl]

So, I was looking around on ebay for Peter Pan, found a nice copy at a reasonable price, then looked to see what else the seller had. A very good copy of Criterion's The Third Man for $35! Couldn't have paid any faster, still can't believe it.....

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Bob Kramer

Or, they simply may have more film knowledge than you. Why do so many people take offense at that possibility? Often those people also have the broadest tastes as well. It is possible to like Spielberg, Roger Watkins, Stan Brakhage, Elem Klimov and many other varied directors simultaneously, and for different reasons. That knowledge also helps you see through trends, derivations and phonies. Most "hipsters" rarely have any deep knowledge of whatever subject it is they use for status.

As for Kurosawa:

1. Ran
2. Everything else a distant second

Who is taking offense at the possibility? There is a definite distinction between those who might champion relatively obscure films because Ozu's filmography beyond Tokyo Story has long been yesterday's news to them and those who just like the way their bulls**t looks in writing.

We have both of those types on this forum.

As for me, I'd guess that most people here have more film knowledge than me. If I didn't accept that fact I wouldn't learn anything.

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by Bob Kramer

Ace In The Hole is okay, but I think the similarly themed A Face In The Crowd is much better, particularly as it features a ferociously out-of-character performance from Andy Griffith.

Patricia Neal is also terrific in it. Another similarly themed film that would make a nice trilogy is The Sweet Smell of Success.

[malakaheso]

....