The Criterion Collection

[Namuhana]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

The Persona influence is pretty obvious.

I've seen Persona, Mulholland Dr., and 3 Women, and the first is definitely the greatest (and I'd rank the other two as I listed).

There's actually a fairly large gap between Persona and the other two. 3 Women especially confounded me; it's just not for me.

[pedromvu]

While I am a big Bergman fan, for me:

Mulholland Drive > Persona > 3 Women

Actually I am not very fond of 3 Women, but might revisit some time in the future.

I personally don't see these films all that comparable, maybe because the first one I watched was Mulholland , not sure.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by senseabove

I think knowing that

[Show spoiler]it was based on a dream Altman had helps some

with understanding how the logic works. The "this is a puzzle that I need to solve" interpretation would be

[Show spoiler]that the bulk of the movie is Willie's dream from which she wakes at the end, with Willie, Millie, and Pinky being mother daughter, and granddaughter in "real life," there presumably having been an abusive husband in one of their lives at some point, and the dream is a cycling through different roles/personalities/life stages that Willie experiences herself or sees the other two women go through.

The "this is fiction, it doesn't have to make sense" interpretation would be

[Show spoiler] that given the ease with which Pinky shifts identity and Millie's desire to find a solid relationship, the three women assume pseudo-familial roles in post-Edgar life.

But while you ponder interpretations, you can play this on a loop in the background for inspiration:

[Show spoiler]HELLO, I'M SHELLEY DUVALL ! - YouTube

I think we just found Ray's new favorite video.

thanks for sharing, most of them i have watched in computer and film.

[Sifox211]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

Despite having quite a few CC titles on my wish list, i just cant make it work with my 40% B&N coupon...

I managed to use mine to order The Road Trilogy, which got it down to the same price as in the 50% off sale. Normally I would wait for November but I ordered the DVD by mistake in the last sale and this was my penance

Slightly OT, but I've been trying to sell the DVD set on UK eBay and Amazon and despite listing it at £40 (which is pretty much 60% of what anyone else is asking) there are no takers. Does this indicate that European Criterion collectors are BD only?

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

Just ordered Kenji Mizoguchi's The Life of Oharu from Barnes & Noble. Used my 40% off coupon.

I'm really excited. I have some great films coming in the mail right now, all in advance of next month's Flash sale. Besides the aforementioned Mizoguchi masterpiece, I have these coming from various sources:

Life is Beautiful
Malena (uncut Korean digibook import)
Amelie
Darling (Studio Canal UK import)
Lifeboat (MoC import)
Rope
Shadow of a Doubt
La Môme (La Vie en Rose) (UK import)
Wild at Heart (UK import)
The Lost Weekend (MoC import)
Wings

With these, and the Criterions I still haven't watched from the B&N sale, I am going to be a very busy boy. I don't know how I'll keep my eyes open long enough to watch all these. Seeing a young Julie Christie and Laura Dern should help. Who knows, maybe I'll go all A Clockwork Orange for the rest.

As far as Japanese films I highly recommend Onibaba MoC release. Another great title that deserves a Region A release and more western exposure is A Sun-Tribe Myth from the Bakumatsu Era ( Bakumatsu taiyôden ). It was voted the fifth best Japanese film of all time in a poll of 140 Japanese critics and filmmakers conducted by the magazine Kinema Junpo and usually ranks in the top films in most Japanese lists. Sadly it is mostly unheard of in the west. If you can still find a copy of the MoC release its well worth it. Funny movie.

Also as long as we are talking region B The Fallen Idol is a great film. Its one of the titles being held hostage in Region A because of the StudioCanal/Lionsgate fiasco. And almost all of the StudioCanal Vintage Classics are worth owning. Especially the Ealing Studio films. Highly recommend: Dead of Night, The Belles of St Trinians, Darling ( <--Get this is you are a Julie Christie fan trust me), An Inspector Calls, School for Scoundrels, Passport to Pimlico, Lavender Hill Mob, The Man In the White Suit, Whiskey Galore, Hobson's Choice, Kind Hearts and Coronets and Brighton Rock. All amazing films that look like they may never see a Region A release.

Criterion really needs to work with StudioCanal and get most of these rights back. What good does it do sitting on so many great titles. Just makes no sense. pisses me off to no end.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by Banned User

Criterion really needs to work with StudioCanal and get most of these rights back. What good does it do sitting on so many great titles. Just makes no sense. pisses me off to no end.

StudioCanal isn't sitting on anything. They already got their money from Lionsgate.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by Sifox211

I managed to use mine to order The Road Trilogy, which got it down to the same price as in the 50% off sale. Normally I would wait for November but I ordered the DVD by mistake in the last sale and this was my penance

Slightly OT, but I've been trying to sell the DVD set on UK eBay and Amazon and despite listing it at £40 (which is pretty much 60% of what anyone else is asking) there are no takers. Does this indicate that European Criterion collectors are BD only?

Probably. I can't imagine any of the people I know who still buy dvd instead of blu, buying a region free player.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Is it just me or is Shelley Duvall one of the oddest human beings who ever walked the earth?

She's just so...odd.

[theater dreamer]

Thank you so much for the time you took to write all that out, Banned User. It is truly appreciated. I will look into all the films you've suggested, and check their availability. Even if I can't buy some of these right off the bat (ie they have to be imported, meaning I'll be putting in orders when I have several to import at once), I'm going to expand my want list, and these will all be on it.

I've greatly enjoyed what I've seen thus far, but I have a long way to go before I can intelligently discuss films from Asia. I know it's just a matter of time, as I'm committed to exposing myself to every part of the globe. There are a lot of great films that the average movie goer in the U.S. (myself included) has never heard of. I really want to incorporate these films into my collection, and my knowledge base. My ultimate goal is to encourage more Americans to venture out of their comfort zone when it comes to watching movies. I know there are more people like us, those who like a little more substance to the movies they watch. It's just a matter of writing in a manner that finds an audience, and attracts their interest. I'm bracing myself, as I'm going to start doing what Truffaut did when he was preparing to write critically about films. He was watching three movies a day, and reading three books a week. I don't think I can quite match that volume, as I never know what I will feel like from one day to the next, but a book a week, and two movies a day is doable.

By the way, if you re-check my post as you quoted it, you'll see I've got Darling coming from Amazon UK. It will be here by the beginning of next week. Truthfully, of the films I have coming in, that's one of the two I'm most excited to get, along with La Môme. I am dying to see Marion Cotillard play Edith Piaf. I am really fond of Miss Christie; I have been since first seeing Doctor Zhivago long ago (I think I was about 20). I will re-watch it when I get Darling in, and when McCabe & Mrs. Miller is released on the 11th, it will be an immediate buy for me. That should serve as a pretty good introduction to her body of work. She's that rarity in Hollywood-an absolute goddess who has serious acting chops.

I agree with you, also, about the titles that are sitting there waiting to be distributed. If they are incapable, financially, of releasing suitable high definition copies of their classic films, then they need to partner with a distributor who can. There's no reason for them to just sit on the films people want to own.

Originally Posted by Banned User

As far as Japanese films I highly recommend Onibaba MoC release. Another great title that deserves a Region A release and more western exposure is A Sun-Tribe Myth from the Bakumatsu Era ( Bakumatsu taiyôden ). It was voted the fifth best Japanese film of all time in a poll of 140 Japanese critics and filmmakers conducted by the magazine Kinema Junpo and usually ranks in the top films in most Japanese lists. Sadly it is mostly unheard of in the west. If you can still find a copy of the MoC release its well worth it. Funny movie.

Also as long as we are talking region B The Fallen Idol is a great film. Its one of the titles being held hostage in Region A because of the StudioCanal/Lionsgate fiasco. And almost all of the StudioCanal Vintage Classics are worth owning. Especially the Ealing Studio films. Highly recommend: Dead of Night, The Belles of St Trinians, Darling ( <--Get this is you are a Julie Christie fan trust me), An Inspector Calls, School for Scoundrels, Passport to Pimlico, Lavender Hill Mob, The Man In the White Suit, Whiskey Galore, Hobson's Choice, Kind Hearts and Coronets and Brighton Rock. All amazing films that look like they may never see a Region A release.

Criterion really needs to work with StudioCanal and get most of these rights back. What good does it do sitting on so many great titles. Just makes no sense. pisses me off to no end.

[SkyAntoine]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

While I am a big Bergman fan, for me:

Mulholland Drive > Persona > 3 Women

Actually I am not very fond of 3 Women, but might revisit some time in the future.

I personally don't see these films all that comparable, maybe because the first one I watched was Mulholland , not sure.

Persona is my #5 all-time film and Mulholland is #24. As much as I love those two 3 Women was not in the same league IMO. The other two blew my mind, but 3W left me very bewildered. More so because of the comparison to the other two films than anything.
Maybe I need to revisit to see what I'm missing.

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

By the way, if you re-check my post as you quoted it, you'll see I've got Darling coming from Amazon UK. It will be here by the beginning of next week. Truthfully, of the films I have coming in, that's one of the two I'm most excited to get.

I agree with you, also, about the titles that are sitting there waiting to be distributed. If they are incapable, financially, of releasing suitable high definition copies of their classic films, then they need to partner with a distributor who can. There's no reason for them to just sit on the films people want to own.

Darling is worth it. Great movie! Most of those titles I listed were British humor a category sorely missing in region A, but Onibaba is a Japanese horror film and is simply amazing IMO. If you've seen Criterion's Kuroneko you have an idea what to expect only I'd say Onibaba is a much better film.

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

StudioCanal isn't sitting on anything. They already got their money from Lionsgate.

I have no idea about the actual contracts involved in the deal. Studio Canal distributes for Lionsgate overseas so it may not be a clear cut case of Lionsgate paying for distribution rights, but some kind of mutual agreement.
Either way for the consumer the Lionsgate releases under the 'studiocanal collection' banner are dead. Many of these amazing classic titles are seeing 4k restorations and releases overseas, but North American consumers are left with no options, but to import.

Its been over 5 years now? and IMO its about time Criterion gets the rights back to RAN and other great films like Pierre Le Fou and a favorite of mine Le Corbeau or at the very least give it to a label willing to release these films on Bluray. Its criminal that so many great titles are just sitting in Region A Limbo.

[theater dreamer]

Warner Archive is doing another sale on or around the 23rd, not long before the Flash sale. $110 for 11 films with free shipping and no sales tax (for people in Texas) is a pretty good deal for those films. Lots of good musicals in the WAC, as well as a few other Hitchcock films I'm missing (I Confess and The Wrong Man).

With the Classic Hitchcock boxed set, that will give me 18 Hitchcock films on blu-ray.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

Warner Archive is doing another sale on or around the 23rd, not long before the Flash sale. $110 for 11 films with free shipping and no sales tax (for people in Texas) is a pretty good deal for those films. Lots of good musicals in the WAC, as well as a few other Hitchcock films I'm missing (I Confess and The Wrong Man).

With the Classic Hitchcock boxed set, that will give me 18 Hitchcock films on blu-ray.

any 11 for $110? is this at the Warner site? I didn't hear about the first sale.

I watched I Confess, btw, for the first time last night and was surprised at how entertaining it is considering it's reputation. can't go wrong w/ Montgomery Clift, though.

[Ray Jackson]

I watched Batman vs. Superman last night for the first time.

This has future Criterion release written all over it.

I haven't seen storytelling on this level since the first time I read The Illiad.

Zack Snyder just seems to understand the nuances of epic tragedy in a way that few directors ever have.

...Homer would be proud.

[thrillmygorilla]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I watched Batman vs. Superman last night for the first time.

This has future Criterion release written all over it.

I haven't seen storytelling on this level since the first time I read The Illiad.

Zack Snyder just seems to understand the nuances of epic tragedy in a way that few directors ever have.

...Homer would be proud.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I watched Batman vs. Superman last night for the first time.

This has future Criterion release written all over it.

I haven't seen storytelling on this level since the first time I read The Illiad.

Zack Snyder just seems to understand the nuances of epic tragedy in a way that few directors ever have.

...Homer would be proud.

[Show spoiler]

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

[Show spoiler]

I've heard rumors that Zack Snyder is interested in doing a remake of Out Of The Past.

...should be interesting.

[Lastyear]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I've heard rumors that Zack Snyder is interested in doing a remake of Out Of The Past.

...should be interesting.

It was already remade as Against All Odds.

[Abdrewes]

Disregard if you must as its not CC related (unless You Can Count on Me gets a release one day) but Margaret is OOP. Go grab your reasonably cheap used copies as soon as you can.

I just have a feeling that many art house oriented users on this site are going to regret not grabbing a copy once they see Lonnergan's latest, Manchester by the sea , as it has been garnering rapturous reviews.