Being a fan of Kieslowski's Three Colors trilogy & The Double Life of Veronique, I recently picked up Dekalog and his earlier film, Blind Chance. I decided to watch BC first to get some further insight into KK's thought processes before wading into the Dekalog. Where I had grabbed at least a surface understanding of the later four films on initial viewings, BC threw me for a complete loop. Even after watching the supplements and reading the insert and many reviews of the film, I felt a little lost. I decided to let it sit on the shelf for a couple of months, and re-watch it before tackling the Dekalog. So, I watched it yesterday, and I think I finally got it. I bring this to the table for three reasons:
1. BC is a masterpiece in its own right, and deserves as much attention as his other films in the collection.
2. I really believe it must be seen more than once, as it sheds so much light on Kieslowski's political, religous, and moral thinking as it relates to his entire body of filmmaking. I'll probably watch it again in the near future.
3. I don't recall much discussion in this thread about Blind Chance, and would welcome any further insight about the film, and its wonderful intersecting story concept. There has been much discussion in another thread about Run Lola Run, and then there's also another film called Sliding Doors, each of which stole this unique concept from Kieslowski. He pretty much invented it, and deserves the credit he maybe hasn't received.
[Show spoiler]I saw Your Name on Sunday and really enjoyed it. It is a fantastic film! I'm still thinking about it and I am looking forward to watching it again.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CRASHLANDING
[Show spoiler]Caught this on a flight home from Europe earlier this year and was really impressed. Fans of the medium/genre won't be disappointed, and Shinkai is an incredibly gifted storyteller. Very excited it's finally reached the US.
Edit: but I'm not sure whether anime fits on Criterion.
Nice!! you guys are very lucky indeed, don't think our local arthouse would be showing it anytime soon.
As for whether anime fits in Criterion, they had previously released AKIRA on LaserDisc.
So it's unlikely about preferences and more to do with cumbersome rights issues and exorbitant fees charged by Japanese studios.
Anime is an artistic impression... and I'm sure Becker certainly values good art.
If Criterion chooses to reconsider it; they can introduce their core audience to a whole new world of animation and storytelling.
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Originally Posted by theater dreamer
[Show spoiler]To be fair, Ravenus, our own site equates anime as a genre, alongside science fiction, film-noir, drama, comedy, action, etc. Look at the profile for Akira. I certainly agree with your characterization of anime as a format. In my clearly uneducated opinion, where anime is concerned, I think it could almost be considered both, in a way. And here's why I say this. Yes, anime is the method by which the story is rendered. You can have an anime science fiction film; you could also do a drama, even a comedy. And, there's certainly no shortage of adult anime. But, I also see it as a genre. Why? Think of my favorite genre, film-noir. While there are certain character and narrative elements that help determine if a movie falls within that category (ie the femme fatale, the private dick, violence and a central crime, often a falsely accused protagonist, melodrama), there are also stylistic elements that are very clearly at play. Noir can, of course, be shot in color, but when I think of classic noir, it is black and white, and the lighting methods and cinematography angles employed tend to give film-noir a gritty, and, at times, a voyeuristic feel. When a suspect is being interrogated, the bright lights make the viewer sweat alongside the accused. Even the clothing worn by the principal characters are styled for the genre. The private eye in the long trench coat, the femme fatale with the dark lipstick, and (for the time) alluring dress, showing off their legs. The hair styles, the doe-eyed look. Well, there are stylistic flourishes in anime, too, that set it apart from regular animation, aren't there? These alone might not constitute a genre, but different genres, when coupled with these stylistic choices, could further categorize a film as being of the anime genre. Take two films like Bambi and Akira. Both fall within the animation format. Yet clearly, from a stylistic standpoint, they could not be more different. Disney has a distinctive style, and, to my knowledge, anime comes primarily from Japan; those artists have their own flair. I would humbly submit that there might be somewhat of a gray area where this is concerned. Ain't that life, though?
I will admit that I am not a fan of anime, really, but that's because I haven't been properly exposed to it. That's certainly not due to some predisposition against it. I don't want to appear ignorant, and I would never say something like "Criterion shouldn't have anime in their Collection." Criterion is, ultimately, about art in film, and that art can come in many different forms. So, maybe I should check some anime out. This is probably the worst comparison to make, and I will likely be shining a bright light on just how big a noob I am. But I loved watching Star Blazers as a kid. One of my favorite ever cartoons. Is that considered anime? Voltron, too.
I'm still a kid at heart, and probably always will be. I still watch Battlestar Galactica because it was my favorite show as a kid. I remember when I was visiting my Aunt and Uncle in San Francisco in about 1980. I saw Dirk Benedict on the street, and started yelling out, "Starbuck!!!!!!!" It took both my Uncle and my Dad to restrain my little 8 year old body from rushing the guy for an autograph! The reimagined series is great, and the 70s show is definitely long on the cheese. But I still get a kick out of it. Maybe I can recapture part of my childhood by going back to the cartoons I loved, and then go from there into more serious endeavors.
I'm open to suggestions.
You could perhaps begin with the more accessible films; Miyazaki would be a good start.
I'd personally recommend The Wind Rises.
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Originally Posted by ravenus
[Show spoiler]Anime is not a genre it's a format to tell a story. Both Hayao Miyazaki and Satoshi Kon are regarded as masters of the format, but their films are at opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to the ideas and style. It's like equating John Cassavettes with Cecil B De Mille because, well both made films with actors, didn't they? So, no offence intended but, what you're showing here is not age, but a narrowness of mindset, hardly the right attitude for the fan of a label that prides itself on its commitment to garnering the best of cinema from across the world, regardless of period and style.
When I was younger I took great pains to try to convince people to think of anime and animation in general on the same level as how they would view live action films--that is, not just for a specific demographic or style. And being in film clubs where I could program films, I'd juxtapose anime films with live action ones as part of series/retrospectives to show how they could absolutely measure up cinematically with some of the most well regarded live action films.
I still try to promote this idea when I can, but I feel like the mindset of most people regarding anime and animation has pretty much calcified into certain set categories now, which is unfortunate, and in a way it's becoming a losing battle.
And certain marketing trends in anime have also made it difficult too, as there is absolutely an intention to promote a uniform look and feel in many anime as well. So that makes it difficult to in convincing people that not all "look the same".
As for anime and Criterion, I'd always felt Wings of Honneamise would have been a great film for the Criterion collection. One of the most truly "arthouse" anime films that was also one of the most influential and important.
As for anime and Criterion, I'd always felt Wings of Honneamise would have been a great film for the Criterion collection. One of the most truly "arthouse" anime films that was also one of the most influential and important.
The rocket launch scene in Wings of Honneamise is stunningly beautiful and worth the price of admission alone.
As someone who loves the works of both Miyazaki and Satoshi Kon (RIP) I'd love to see the Criterion Collection include some anime, but I also have to be brutally honest: Most anime is crap! Self-indulgent angst-fueled teenage fantasies of one sort or the other. However, when it's good it is spectacularly good and the best anime is at least as good as the best live-action movies of your preferred genre.
What are you talking about? I'm pretty sure Sony isn't stopping anyone from adding new extras to their licensed titles. There are plenty of Sony licensed titles in the collection with newer extras produced by Criterion.
If you're correct, then my mistake. Maybe I'm thinking of the wrong company but I swore I heard a licensing company complaining about Sony for that reason.
But also if you're correct Sony should've given Real Genius to someone else to put out properly rather than their BD-R line.
If you're correct, then my mistake. Maybe I'm thinking of the wrong company but I swore I heard a licensing company complaining about Sony for that reason.
But also if you're correct Sony should've given Real Genius to someone else to put out properly rather than their BD-R line.
I do believe Shout! said something along those lines with their attempts at licensing from Sony, but that hasn't been the case with Criterion, or other labels too. That was many years ago as well, so perhaps things have changed. I don't know the extent to which Shout! has actively pursued deals with them in recent years.
Criterion might consider releasing "Beetle Juice." It goes with four ideas from "Carnival of Souls" and does so wholeheartedly, without the uncertainty and ambiguity of its predecessor -- "Beetle Juice" treats ghosts and the afterlife as natural parts of human existence. How it does that is an interesting question, too; is it the use of surrealism? That would be quite an ironic way to meld ghosts with reality.
Ok guys, give me your top five Criterion documentaries. These can be your favorites, or the ones you think represent the best, and most compelling. Let me know what the list represents. You can also do one for each option.
I'm looking to start buying some more documentaries. They are grossly underrepresented in my collection, and I want to branch out.
A little behind on my doc watching, but just watched Harlan County USA. Thought it was pretty amazing, sucked me right in. Burden Of Dreams. Grey Gardens has a pretty good reputation, can't say I disagree with it. Haven't watched the disc yet, but Crumb I remember as being really good too. (Edit: And I'll throw in Koko as number 5, something I'd heard about back in the day, and finally got a chance to see what that was all about.)
I probably will be getting to Hoop Dreams "next", whenever that happens.
I do believe Shout! said something along those lines with their attempts at licensing from Sony, but that hasn't been the case with Criterion, or other labels too. That was many years ago as well, so perhaps things have changed. I don't know the extent to which Shout! has actively pursued deals with them in recent years.
Interesting. You'd think Real Genius would be prime for a Shout! release. Oh well.
Getting through Hoop Dreams felt like an eternity.
I can see that being possible, but my Chicago area origins at least still has me curious. Back in the day, one of my high schools was Thornridge, around when they were state champions. I thought it was really cool when Quinn Buckner ended up going to the same college as I did. So even though Hoop Dreams takes place a couple decades later, I'm still curious (obviously not enough to have watched it ever, but I'm getting pretty close, I think. )
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