The Criterion Collection

[theater dreamer]

Originally Posted by Martin_31

Well I finished watching Mulholland Drive about an hour ago. I don't know what to make of it.

David Lynch definitely gives the viewer a lot to think about. Given the majority of films released domestically within the last twenty years do not, I found it quite refreshing that not everything was spelled out for the viewer. I also tend to love decidedly non-linear narratives.

I fell in love with Mulholland Dr. the first time I saw it; but I definitely got more out of it with repeat viewings.

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

Do we obsess over this too much, and does it ultimately take away from our enjoyment of the films themselves?

Some might obsess over this while on the computer, but for me it doesn't take away from the film while watching, sure there are some releases I am not completely satisfied in terms of the colors, restoration, etc, but it is a different thing to be dissatisfied with the film than the release, if there is no other option I will take the current release, in this case we don't get to vote with our money since the restorations are not usually done by the labels putting them out, it is not their fault, also some people are more than happy that the film got restored in the first place.

As for Ran, I think what is more problematic for me even if the colors were right, is that the contrast and brightness seem to have taken a hit, I have been to some screenings where it appears the projector light bulb is not bright enough and it is a bit distracting, I guess if you project this you'll want to use the high lamp setting.

[theater dreamer]

Well, reading from the Caps-a-holic discussion, people who have seen this on 35 mm are saying it's much more accurate to the original look.

I guess I won't know what I truly think until I get it. It's ordered now. Unfortunately, it will have to sit until I have my region free Blu-ray player to really know. My first viewing will be on my laptop. LOL

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Martin_31

Well I finished watching Mulholland Drive about an hour ago. I don't know what to make of it.

Don't even attempt to deconstruct what you just watched.

There is nothing rational, nothing logical, nothing conventional about that film... which makes it simply brilliant.

Think of it as a dream captured on camera.

[WonderWeasel]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

Some might obsess over this while on the computer, but for me it doesn't take away from the film while watching, sure there are some releases I am not completely satisfied in terms of the colors, restoration, etc, but it is a different thing to be dissatisfied with the film than the release, if there is no other option I will take the current release, in this case we don't get to vote with our money since the restorations are not usually done by the labels putting them out, it is not their fault, also some people are more than happy that the film got restored in the first place.

As for Ran, I think what is more problematic for me even if the colors were right, is that the contrast and brightness seem to have taken a hit, I have been to some screenings where it appears the projector light bulb is not bright enough and it is a bit distracting, I guess if you project this you'll want to use the high lamp setting.

I saw the restoration in the theater last month, and the only color anomalies I noticed at the time seemed minute, especially compared to the blue hue I noticed on the Lady Snowblood restoration a few months prior to that (which actually wasn't that bad). I even commented on the Ran thread that I thought the color issue was overblown, and that any perceived problems were probably due to the lighting. In other words, it didn't affect my enjoyment of the film at all. I was still mesmerized by the scene of the shell-shocked Hidetora stumbling out of his burning castle, and I still chuckled when Kyoami jokingly suggested he jump off of the side of the road, and he took it literally. I didn't even know there was really a problem until I saw MifuneFan and theater dreamers' corrected screenshots lol.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by oildude

2016 Release of the Year will be arriving at my office desk in just 6 more days.....



Come to Papa.

Agreed. Except that I'm going to be stuck in an out-of-town training class at the beginning of next week, so I'll have to wait a couple of days to dive in.

[Cortiz]

Does anyone knows when is the next Barne's N Noble Criterion sale?

[bwdowiak]

I watched A Colt is My Passport last night. I still need to see Rusty Knife but this one will likely be my 3rd favorite from the Nikkatsu Noir set. Yes, the finale was pretty cool, but what lead up to it was a bit of a slog.

I Am Waiting has been my favorite thus far.

[Reddington]

Late to the Ran discussion, which interests me in general, and also because I've never seen the film and it is on my list. So, my question is: How is the PQ in the now-OOP Criterion DVD release?

[jordan-r]

Originally Posted by Cortiz

Does anyone knows when is the next Barne's N Noble Criterion sale?

July.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Reddington

Late to the Ran discussion, which interests me in general, and also because I've never seen the film and it is on my list. So, my question is: How is the PQ in the now-OOP Criterion DVD release?

It's very good in my opinion. Nice rich colors, and detail. Since it's probably a little pricy though, you may want to opt for the StudioCanal/Lionsgate BD release. It's really not very good as far as BD quality goes, but it still shows some improvement over the DVD, and color and fleshtones are very good.

The new 4K-restored disc is far and away the most detailed release to date. It's just the colors which I feel are a little off. I don't think they are so bothersome that it would impact your enjoyment of the film, so if you have a region free player then that's certainly a viable option too.

It's a masterpiece, but it probably wasn't until my third viewing that I felt that way. My first viewing was when I was a lot younger, and I thought it moved a little too slow. With my second viewing I started to really appreciate the world Kurosawa created. Now I consider it among his best works.

[Snicket]

I missed this, but is Criterion getting the rights to the Ran restoration?

[SkyAntoine]

I watched Tootsie last night for the first time. Very 80's, very Hollywood, very disappointing.
I was 6 when this came out so I've always seen the pics and clips of Hoffman in drag. Had this been an all-out comedy, then I could have gotten into it more. However, as a comedy-drama-romance-social statement film I thought it was severely lacking any real identity.
Mrs. Doubtfire >>> Tootsie
6/10

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by Snicket

I miss this, but is Criterion getting the rights to the Ran restoration?

While not impossible, I don't believe there have been any hints/rumors to indicate that it's likely or expected (aside from the fact that Lionsgate has yet to announce a US studio canal collection version of this, but that seems par for the course for Lionsgate these days).

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

Some might obsess over this while on the computer, but for me it doesn't take away from the film while watching, sure there are some releases I am not completely satisfied in terms of the colors, restoration, etc, but it is a different thing to be dissatisfied with the film than the release, if there is no other option I will take the current release, in this case we don't get to vote with our money since the restorations are not usually done by the labels putting them out, it is not their fault, also some people are more than happy that the film got restored in the first place.

i won't be obsessed about the colors of films that I didn't know before or don't love very much and don't care, but I will be obsessed for films that I love dearly and know very well and the revision (or not) in colors takes away from my enjoyment of the films.
I have not bought certain blurays due to this.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Snicket

I missed this, but is Criterion getting the rights to the Ran restoration?

In a perfect world, yes. Sadly we do not live in such a world.

[LuckyDragon]

Originally Posted by iScottie

In a perfect world, yes. Sadly we do not live in such a world.

A Perfect World would get a Criterion release, too.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

If the color timing is off, if there is less detail, and the remaster is less filmic in its presentation, where is the improvement?

There isn't less detail and it isn't less filmic, and the colors, while adjusted, look closer to the 35mm prints I've projected. Maybe try actually watch the disc first instead of basing assumptions off screenshots.

[JJJ225]

Originally Posted by SkyAntoine

I watched Tootsie last night for the first time. Very 80's, very Hollywood, very disappointing.
I was 6 when this came out so I've always seen the pics and clips of Hoffman in drag. Had this been an all-out comedy, then I could have gotten into it more. However, as a comedy-drama-romance-social statement film I thought it was severely lacking any real identity.
Mrs. Doubtfire >>> Tootsie
6/10

You watched a Hollywood film from the 80s are were upset that it was...very 80s and very Hollywood?

[jw007]

Originally Posted by SkyAntoine

I watched Tootsie last night for the first time. Very 80's, very Hollywood, very disappointing.
I was 6 when this came out so I've always seen the pics and clips of Hoffman in drag. Had this been an all-out comedy, then I could have gotten into it more. However, as a comedy-drama-romance-social statement film I thought it was severely lacking any real identity.
Mrs. Doubtfire >>> Tootsie
6/10

I knew what to expect going in, so I wasn't surprised... but if you happen to have the Criterion disc on you, do yourself a favor and watch the new Dustin Hoffman interview in the supplements. I got a lot out of watching that and it made me appreciate his fine performance in the film. I think you might find that interview to be moving too.