The Criterion Collection

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by stobbart

And hoping that Enter The Void gets a US theatrical run later this year or next.

I am very curious about this one as well.

[SpiderBaby]

Off-topic:

Someone needs to make a Patti Smith film with Charlotte Gainsbourg. That would be f'n awesome. Charlotte is a singer herself. Plus with that Runaways crap that came out, time to show the world Patti Smith instead.

[BluPix]

Maybe this has been posted about already, but over the past week I've noticed prices for many Criterion Blus at Amazon.com have dropped. They're not extremely low (they only very rarely are below $20), but many that were recently priced above $30 are now $24 to $25, making them more attractive, a better value for the money. I don't know how long it will last since it doesn't seem connected to any larger sale. Who knows, maybe they'll drop even further.

In the meantime, acting on these prices I bought four Criterion titles that I've very much wanted for a long time but was waiting for just such a price drop:

Bigger than Life ($24.99)
M ($24.99)
Paris Texas ($24.49)
Che (a two-disc, two-film series at $29.49)

All of these had been over thirty dollars until recently. Che was around $40 before. All of these have been very well reviewed and are filled with intriguing extras, ensuring a very good value for the money.

Some other Criterion Blus that I considered, but still haven't bought yet (hey, I'm way over my budget for this month) are Hunger ($23.99) and Ride with the Devil ($24.99). I very much like both of those films, but decided to wait since I had to limit my expenses somewhat and the supplementary packages for those two films, while apparently of very good quality, are not as extensive, relatively-speaking, as the ones I bought. The classic film 8 1/2 has also seen a price drop to $24.49 but I already have Criterion's SD-DVD of that title, so it wasn't as big a value for me -- though I still do want the BD version at some point in the not-to-distant future.

I've noticed price drops on several other titles that intrigue me. Now seems to be a good time to shop around for Blu-ray discs on sale.

[fdm]

Originally Posted by BluPix

I've noticed price drops on several other titles that intrigue me. Now seems to be a good time to shop around for Blu-ray discs on sale.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

(If this year is any indication, more reasonable prices will be more frequent and/or the norm until about next February. A lot of their (Amazon's) prices could/should be lower, but yeah they've recently dropped some of the ridiculous prices.)

[fdm]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

I see many people like 500 Days of Summer. I found the film to be hipster-drivel. In its simplest form the film is about a simp (Tom) and a jerk (Summer). The film just tried so hard to be quirky and hip that it was nauseating.

Pot, meet kettle?

It was okay, had some good parts.

One I liked pretty well, but no one's mentioned, was The Time Traveller's Wife. I'm sure someone can come up with the appropriate venom for it too.

The other four I came up with are Zombieland, Up In The Air, Inglorious Basterds, and The International. Still have not seen several others. I'd go with Up In The Air for the best of the bunch.

[also]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

I see many people like 500 Days of Summer. I found the film to be hipster-drivel. In its simplest form the film is about a simp (Tom) and a jerk (Summer). The film just tried so hard to be quirky and hip that it was nauseating. Not to mention what a pretentious witch Summer was, also:

-Hey, we both like the same indy bands! We're destined to be together!

-Summer crying watching The Graduate

-Tom's song and dance number in the park

-"I was reading Dorian Gray when...."

-Ringo/Octopus' Garden are her favorite Beatle/Beatles' song (Ringo is the man but this is like saying Hitchcock is my favorite director and Under Capricorn is my favorite Hitchcock picture)
_______

This is one of those movies that even when the people who like it describe it to me it still makes my skin crawl. Zooey Deschanell may be pure eye candy, but I just can't bring myself to watch this. Also, JGL hosting SNL was one of the most painful viewing experiences of this last year. One of the rare films, like Figgis' Crash, that I can't stomach enough to bring myself to even see.

And I sat through Twilight.

[also]

Oh, it's only fair I post my favorite films from last year for someone to pick apart.

I didn't love a lot to be honest.

I think my favorite was A Serious Man. The first ten minutes of Up are extraordinary, and the rest of the film is really quite good. I really enjoyed Black Dynamite, which could have easily been one joke stretched too long, but is a much more sophisticatedly structured comedy than it pretends to be.

I liked Ingourious Basterds, but not enough to put it on a list really.

Not much else pops into my head for 2009 america town.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by also

Also, JGL hosting SNL was one of the most painful viewing experiences of this last year.

Yes it was. I like JGL, but I'm not going to play fanboy to any actor, liking everything he does.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by also

Oh, it's only fair I post my favorite films from last year for someone to pick apart.

I didn't love a lot to be honest.

I think my favorite was A Serious Man. The first ten minutes of Up are extraordinary, and the rest of the film is really quite good. I really enjoyed Black Dynamite, which could have easily been one joke stretched too long, but is a much more sophisticatedly structured comedy than it pretends to be.

I liked Ingourious Basterds, but not enough to put it on a list really.

Not much else pops into my head for 2009 america town.

Good point on Up. Animated family films are the one genre I believe Hollywood is producing at as high of a level as ever. And that is namely due to Pixar. Forget best animated film, Toy Story 3 might be the finest overall film to come out of Hollywood in 2010.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by jacobsever

Hmm...favorite 2009 movies?

(500) Days of Summer
Brothers
Hannah Montana : The Movie
Harry Potter & Half Blood Prince
A Single Man
Up!


There were a few others that I saw and enjoyed, but these were probably my favorite. (Hannah Montana is partially a joke. I mean, I DID see it 3 times in theaters and bought the blu ray, but it's only cuz of my crush on her).

Sin Nombre
The Stoning of Soraya M.
The Cove

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

I wouldn't get my hopes up with awards season. The awards nominees/winners were mediocre at best last year. The Hurt Locker for Best Picture? I mean really?

I agree but there are several films coming out this year that should be pretty incredible, such as Malick's Tree of Life, Weir's The Way Back, and Schnabel's Miral.

[Juiceboxjerry]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

They're making a movie off that mediocre TV show?

Wow. I could care less about the hype, Arrested Development is probably the funnies show ever to hit television imo. COME ON!!!

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by stobbart

And hoping that Enter The Void gets a US theatrical run later this year or next. And whatever Wong Kar Wai's next film is...

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

I am very curious about this one as well.

Out September 25 (NY/LA)

http://www.ifcfilms.com/films/enter-the-void



Note though, that Noe apparently intends that the film be seen at 25fps.

[also]

Originally Posted by Juiceboxjerry

Wow. I could care less about the hype, Arrested Development is probably the funnies show ever to hit television imo. COME ON!!!

Yeah, when the hype is just "hey this show is great but no one watches it because it's come out of nowhere, completely original and lacks a CSI or Law & Order prefix".

The fact that several of the incredibly talented cast have seen upswings in their careers is a good thing, and really the primary reason why a movie is still a possibility.

The only reason Arrested Development crawled to three seasons of ever dwindling episode counts, is because it was so good, a handful execs kept giving it a pass. It is an example of people on the internet crying for new, original programming, and then ignoring these shows when they dare show their faces.

Another completely different show with a similar fate is Friday Night Lights. Although, it was able to swing cable co financing. I wonder if Arrested Development hadn't paved the way if FNL would have gotten its last 3 short seasons.

I think Criterion should release the movie on Blu, with Godard interviewing the cast and crew in a series of featurettes. Surely a crowd pleaser!

[buffetfroid]

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

Yes it was. I like JGL, but I'm not going to play fanboy to any actor, liking everything he does.

[stobbart]

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

But anything with Spielberg's name on it will make the studio $ out the a** and alot of people will go see it (not me). Maybe if he sprinkles some tears in the movie, an Oscar as well. If he can get the unicorn to have a kid ride on it across the sky......BAM! CLASSIC!

God I hope so, but you left out the part where Daniel Craig wins the best actor oscar....who can resist his pouty face?

[bugsy_pal]

Originally Posted by also

Oh, it's only fair I post my favorite films from last year for someone to pick apart.

I didn't love a lot to be honest.

I think my favorite was A Serious Man. The first ten minutes of Up are extraordinary, and the rest of the film is really quite good. I really enjoyed Black Dynamite, which could have easily been one joke stretched too long, but is a much more sophisticatedly structured comedy than it pretends to be.

I liked Ingourious Basterds, but not enough to put it on a list really.

Not much else pops into my head for 2009 america town.

I've seen very few films at the cinema in the last year. But I did see "A Serious Man" and thought it was brilliant. I'll be getting it on bluray to show my wife. I've been surprised at how much some people have hated this movie - as posted by some folks at Mubi.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by buffetfroid

Half of the movies Hopper acted in are crap. I never said he was great in every movie he touched.

BTW, I praise his directed films. I don't go around sucking off Blue Velvet (even though it is good.).

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by stobbart

God I hope so, but you left out the part where Daniel Craig wins the best actor oscar....who can resist his pouty face?

He is in the Spielberg film?

[stobbart]

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

He is in the Spielberg film?

yes. And Peter Jackson is directing the second film in the planned trilogy. Im hoping he cleans up the mess Spielburg makes but then who knows how the third film will be with them both co-directing it. Meet the Feebles meets Jurassic Park 2