The Criterion Collection

[Namuhana]

In the midst of this sale, it seems that we've forgotten that February's films will be announced very soon (hopefully Monday)!

I'm still hoping for some more Bergman and Powell & Pressburger, but we shall see.

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by Brad1963

Army of Shadows would be a good one to watch also.

I can't understand anyone who places ideology above human life. I just can't. I just watched Hitchcock's Sabotage and I'm no closer to understanding, but I know those people exist everywhere and they aren't a new phenomenon. Sabotage was loosely based on Conrad's "The Secret Agent" (1907), which was itself inspired by an actual event from the late 1800's. Hitchcock's film is a bit different for him, as it doesn't follow his usual dramatic arc, but there are still lots of Hitchcock touches. It would be a good one for the Collection.

My thoughts are with the Paris victims and their loved ones.

[Ray Jackson]

With the exception of Ikiru, I think this sale is over for me.

I just had to spend $180 to get my car fixed and I don't think I can afford any more non-essential spending this month.

It makes me sick when I think about the potential blind buys I could've used that money for.

-Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant
-Seconds
-The Ballad of Narayama
-The Qatsi trilogy
-The Human Condition
-Berlin Alexanderplatz

The possibilities were endless.

[Darth Marcus]

Only 4 for me today. Hoping and waiting for more coupons.



Considering picking up:

Persona, Eyes Without a Face, A Room with a View, L'Avventura, and In Cold Blood when that comes out next week.

[tallrichard]

Originally Posted by belcherman

I can't understand anyone who places ideology above human life. I just can't. I just watched Hitchcock's Sabotage and I'm no closer to understanding, but I know those people exist everywhere and they aren't a new phenomenon. Sabotage was loosely based on Conrad's "The Secret Agent" (1907), which was itself inspired by an actual event from the late 1800's. Hitchcock's film is a bit different for him, as it doesn't follow his usual dramatic arc, but there are still lots of Hitchcock touches. It would be a good one for the Collection.

My thoughts are with the Paris victims and their loved ones.

Of Hitchcock's movies...Saboteur is the one I like.

Sabotage is slow and I often find myself sleeping before it is over..

[The Great Owl]

I just reserved A Special Day and Mulholland Drive at the Barnes & Noble a few miles up the road.

After running my marathon this morning, I'm too tired to go back out again right now, but I'll make it out there either tonight or tomorrow while the 20% Off coupon is still in effect to use in conjunction with the sale.

[oildude]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I just reserved A Special Day and Mulholland Drive at the Barnes & Noble a few miles up the road.

After running my marathon this morning, I'm too tired to go back out again right now, but I'll make it out there either tonight or tomorrow while the 20% Off coupon is still in effect to use in conjunction with the sale.

So far I have picked up A Special Day, Mulholland Drive, and Kwaidan. Also the two recently released Eclipse sets Julien Duvivier in the Thirties and Agnes Varda in California. I still plan to get Dressed to Kill, Ikiru, and The Apu Trilogy and that is all I really want this go round.

This is looking like the lightest B&N sale for me in years. Mostly this is because I am up to date on all I want from several years of B&N and Criterion sales and the occasional Amazon buy. But the other truth for me is that although Criterion has released some stellar titles this last half of the year, only about 2/3 of their recent output has been in my wheelhouse, whereas in past years the ratio of what I wanted - even to just try out - was higher.

I am on the fence about The Honeymoon Killers. I have never seen it, but the description reminds me of the story that inspired films like Natural Born Killers which I don't care for.

[shadedpain4]

Amazing to me to see all the negative/lukewarm comments about Ozu around here lately. People are of course welcome and encouraged to like whatever they like, but for me Ozu's brilliance is undeniable and unavoidable.

[jayembee]

For budgetary reasons, this is a light sale for me as well. Plus I already spent a bunch on some titles from FoxConnect's flash sale, and I anticipate pre-ordering Mysterious Island and Nineteen Eighty-Four from Twilight Time next Friday.

So, today I picked up 3 Films by Roberto Rossellini Starring Ingrid Bergman. Next week, I'll pick up The Apu Trilogy. That might be it for this round.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I just reserved A Special Day and Mulholland Drive at the Barnes & Noble a few miles up the road.

After running my marathon this morning, I'm too tired to go back out again right now, but I'll make it out there either tonight or tomorrow while the 20% Off coupon is still in effect to use in conjunction with the sale.

You ran a marathon this morning?

...are you being serious?

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

Amazing to me to see all the negative/lukewarm comments about Ozu around here lately. People are of course welcome and encouraged to like whatever they like, but for me Ozu's brilliance is undeniable and unavoidable.

Well, for one thing he's not a director who can be dismissed after half of one film or even one film. He doesn't beat you over the head with his style. It (initially) requires some patience to understand what he's after.

I can't wait to read all of the "I don't see what all the fuss is about" comments regarding Pather Panchali. People enter new films w/ expectations - not so much about quality, but about style. When a film plays out differently than they imagined, they are disappointed.

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by tallrichard

Of Hitchcock's movies...Saboteur is the one I like.

Sabotage is slow and I often find myself sleeping before it is over..

Really? I didn't think it was slow. It starts slowly, but the tension builds quickly until the climactic moment. What makes Sabotage different from other Hitchcock films and from most other films of that era, is the relatively lengthy denouement. There's still about 20 minutes left; not all the bad guys get punished and not all the loose ends are tied up. In that sense, it's rather modernist. There are many Hitchcockian touches, including odd bits of humor. The one thing I didn't care for was the forced way they tried to build a love interest between the wife and the detective. Is it one of the top 10 Hitchcocks? Probably not, but it's still pretty good and, in view of current events, it seems less dated than some of his other works

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

Well, for one thing he's not a director who can be dismissed after half of one film or even one film. He doesn't beat you over the head with his style. It (initially) requires some patience to understand what he's after.

I can't wait to read all of the "I don't see what all the fuss is about" comments regarding Pather Panchali. People enter new films w/ expectations - not so much about quality, but about style. When a film plays out differently than they imagined, they are disappointed.

Everyone has critically acclaimed directors whose style they don't really connect with.

...doesn't mean they don't appreciate their work.

[jedidarrick]

Wishlist for next month:
Barton Fink
The Graduate
Before Trilogy
The Plague Dogs
Bicycle Thieves (Blu)
The Man Who Fell to Earth (re-release)

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

Amazing to me to see all the negative/lukewarm comments about Ozu around here lately. People are of course welcome and encouraged to like whatever they like, but for me Ozu's brilliance is undeniable and unavoidable.

Do you love ALL (without ANY exceptions) the critically acclaimed directors?

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Everyone has critically acclaimed directors whose style they don't really connect with.

Exactly. It's like sex.
You either have chemistry with someone or you don't.

Another director I'm definitely not into at all (especially as a person whose main interest is film music) after seeing 3 films, is Godard.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I haven't been impressed with a Del Toro film yet, and The Devil's Backbone certainly didn't change my mind.

I really only like the Hellboys. His other stuff is middling, although parts of Pan's Labryinth and Pacific Rim were cool... just not the whole thing.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

Exactly. It's like sex.
You either have chemistry with someone or you don't.

Another director I'm definitely not into at all (especially as a person whose main interest is film music) after seeing 3 films, is Godard.

You guys enjoy this conversation.. It says nothing to what SP4 said and it doesn't really speak to the point I made either.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

You guys enjoy this conversation.. It says nothing to what SP4 said and it doesn't really speak to the point I made either.

Then I'm not really sure I understand where you're coming from on this one.

But there's no reason to get salty about it.

You seem like a cool guy and I like your opinions, even if I don't always agree with them.

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

You guys enjoy this conversation.. It says nothing to what SP4 said and it doesn't really speak to the point I made either.

Ehmmmm..
I didn't comment on your point.
I commented on Ray Jackson's post.