The Criterion Collection

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

I'm not prone to jealousy, but man. Color me jealous. Where did he find an Ashes of Time original cut? I always heard that didn't ready exist anymore.

I'm not sure, but he did comment on how rare the copy he, not the school, has. I'll ask him next week.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

I'm not prone to jealousy, but man. Color me jealous. Where did he find an Ashes of Time original cut? I always heard that didn't ready exist anymore.

I suppose it depends on what you mean by "didn't exist anymore".

I have a Mei Ah (Hong Kong) DVD of it. I've no idea how hard it is to acquire these days, but it certainly exists. Maybe the professor for this class has a copy.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by jayembee

I suppose it depends on what you mean by "didn't exist anymore".

I have a Mei Ah (Hong Kong) DVD of it. I've no idea how hard it is to acquire these days, but it certainly exists. Maybe the professor for this class has a copy.

That makes sense. I think it's a situation where the original elements are gone, but the released copies are still out there, though I don't think there's a ton in circulation.

[buffetfroid]

Originally Posted by Purplenoon

Maybe you had to be there "back in the day" to fully understand the cultural lmpact Blow Up had. I saw it a couple of times upon release in NYC. It was all we talked about for weeks. Endless speculation about the ending. I remember best the sound. The cinematography too, but above all the soundscape: the wind in the trees. Very subtle, but unforgettable. I watched it a few months ago, before this new release came out on bd, and it all came back. But whether it will have that same impact for first time viewers today, I really doubt it. Now it's just an old 60s movie. Then it was a phenomenon. Go figure. I still really love it, but just why, I can't quite put my finger on it.

The Usual Suspects of its day. That movie also created a lot of buzz about the ending, but if you look at it now it plays as a rather average crime film.

As for Blow Up, I think it's a good film, maybe not great, but influential on stuff such as The Conversation and, most obivously, Blow Out. It's been awhile since I've seen it and am looking forward to picking this up at some point.

[bwdowiak]

It would be awesome if a WWK box was released. I love Chungking and In The Mood For Love, but the 20 minutes or so that I saw of Fallen Angels felt, like the type of film that Nicolas Winding Refn gets criticized for making - stylish, but vapid.

I've really fallen in love w/ Asian cinema - every new Edward Yang release feels like the uncovering of some kind of beautiful hidden secret. But somehow I would feel less inclined to pick up the rest of the WWK films if they are released as individual releases.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

It would be awesome if a WWK box was released. I love Chungking and In The Mood For Love, but the 20 minutes or so that I saw of Fallen Angels felt, like the type of film that Nicolas Winding Refn gets criticized for making - stylish, but vapid.

I've really fallen in love w/ Asian cinema - every new Edward Yang release feels like the uncovering of some kind of beautiful hidden secret. But somehow I would feel less inclined to pick up the rest of the WWK films if they are released as individual releases.

Fallen Angels is the one WKW film I own that I don't necessary love.

Fallen Angels, as you may or may not know, was conceived as a third story for Chungking Express, but it ultimately became it's own film. Chungking Express is near perfect, in my opinion, and I often make the mistake of comparing Fallen Angels to it, even though there is such a difference in mood despite the similarities in style and the recurrence of motifs (former cops, pineapple, etc.).

I also find the film to be a bit scattered at times. I love the relationship between the hitman and his assistant, for example, but I find fault when the story diverges into the hitman and the prostitute he meets at McDonalds, even though this is essential to the plot and the way the film eventually plays out.

[bsend]

I really want to see the series Fishing with John. Is there any chance that Criterion with resurrect this with a Blu ray release? I want to check this out, but the DVD is pushing 2 decades old. Yikes!

Also as soon as I spring for a DVD, Criterion will announce the upgrade. Though honestly, I can't see them doing this anytime in the near future.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by Purplenoon

Maybe you had to be there "back in the day" to fully understand the cultural lmpact Blow Up had. I saw it a couple of times upon release in NYC. It was all we talked about for weeks. Endless speculation about the ending. I remember best the sound. The cinematography too, but above all the soundscape: the wind in the trees. Very subtle, but unforgettable. I watched it a few months ago, before this new release came out on bd, and it all came back. But whether it will have that same impact for first time viewers today, I really doubt it. Now it's just an old 60s movie. Then it was a phenomenon. Go figure. I still really love it, but just why, I can't quite put my finger on it.

The Yardbirds sequence.

[Gull Cottage]

Originally Posted by bsend

I really want to see the series Fishing with John. Is there any chance that Criterion with resurrect this with a Blu ray release? I want to check this out, but the DVD is pushing 2 decades old. Yikes!

Also as soon as I spring for a DVD, Criterion will announce the upgrade. Though honestly, I can't see them doing this anytime in the near future.

A few of the episodes are up on Youtube

[javi92]

Really hoping for some more Warner Antonioni this year. The Passenger and Zabriskie Point.

[Member-167298]

Originally Posted by javi92

Really hoping for some more Warner Antonioni this year. The Passenger and Zabriskie Point.

I am going to attempt to show The Passenger in my film class. The first Antonioni film I showed years ago was L'Eclisse and the kids actually loved it and got into pretty deep discussions about the meaning of the film. It will be interesting to see if they "get" The Passenger.

[MassiveMovieBuff]

This was mentioned on another thread but I think Strange Days would make a great Criterion candidate. This needs a US blu release desperately!

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by PrestonXI

I am going to attempt to show The Passenger in my film class. The first Antonioni film I showed years ago was L'Eclisse and the kids actually loved it and got into pretty deep discussions about the meaning of the film. It will be interesting to see if they "get" The Passenger.

I'm pretty sure one could make the argument that the ending of L'Eclisse is the most memorable thing about his entire alienation trilogy.

[Member-167298]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I'm pretty sure one could make the argument that the ending of L'Eclisse is the most memorable thing about his entire alienation trilogy.

My students really enjoyed discussing that. A lot of time was spent analyzing the meaning of the water in the barrel.

My new group of students barely say "boo" so I am not sure how much The Passenger will inspire discussion.

[malakaheso]

Originally Posted by javi92

Really hoping for some more Warner Antonioni this year. The Passenger and Zabriskie Point.

Isn't The Passenger a Sony/Columbia title?

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by malakaheso

Isn't The Passenger a Sony/Columbia title?

Either way, Criterion has a good relationship with both studios.

[malakaheso]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Either way, Criterion has a good relationship with both studios.

Then why didn't they get their hands on The Last Detail?

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by malakaheso

Then why didn't they get their hands on The Last Detail?

No idea. Maybe TT bought the rights before Criterion had a chance.

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by malakaheso

Then why didn't they get their hands on The Last Detail?

Maybe they were preoccupied putting out the complete woks of Wes Anderson.

[KyleW]

I'm sorry if this has been mentioned before. I haven't been on here in a while but has anyone else noticed this on the Mildred Pierce bluray? Seems like something they could have easily removed. Just to be clear I'm talking about the black cracks at the bottom of the screen.


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