The Criterion Collection

[trombone dixie]

Picking up the Three Colors Trilogy on the way home from work on Tuesday... Absolutely cannot wait to watch them.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by antimatter

This type of elitist attitude is what kept me from ever wanting to purchase a criterion title...

hilarious. Buying a company's releases depends on a forum's attitude towards said member.

[Oblivion138]

Originally Posted by antimatter

For christsake it was a simple question of a recommendation...

Technically, it was a question of a reckomendation.

[Wildcat47]

Originally Posted by AgentOrange

Just stop.

+1. Go back to the Barnes & Noble thread with the jibberish. I enjoy reading the various discussions on the films here, not list after list of what should I buy at the 50% off sale over and over. Read the whole thread about the sale in the deals section, damn near every movie has been recommended and broke down time after time. Do a little research and leave this thread for real discussions.

[oildude]

Originally Posted by antimatter

What do u mean by troll....are you refering to the ppl who come into forums to pick fights....I understand that it can help convey your feelings but attempting to quickly type something as i was in a rush....i had made some spelling mistakes....

This is not directly directed torwards u but rather in general....but we are all adults here and if you cannot comprehend or choose not to comprehend what i am say because i fail to use a proper gramatical structure then so be it....However that is just retarded that a simple question cannot or is refused to be answered b/c someone has a hard-on for gramatical structure...That to me is quite snobbish and elitist...For christsake it was a simple question of a recommendation and it turned in to this rubbish of how impromper a question was stated blah...blah use caps....whatever dude this is the way i write in a forum....I am not writing a novel...a paper...I am asking a question which was never answered anyway...

This is a period = . It ends a sentence.

This is not a period = ...

You basically write one long run-on sentence with no caps or other punctuation. Your posts are very difficult to read.

It is out of a desire to try and answer your questions here and in the sales thread that some people at least make the attempt to read your posts, including me. Just sayin'. No need to get pissy; we are all friends here.

You write like you have ADD and ask for advice on a film that will hold most people's attention. I find that kind of funny.

I would go with Pale Flower or one of the Melville or Clouzot films for foreign films with subtitles, if that is what you are after. They are definitely capable of keeping anyone's attention. You may already have some of these, I took a moment to look at your collection, but you have so many movies (congratulations on a fine collection), I decided I did not have the attention span to browse through them all to check.

Pale Flower
Diabolique
Wages of Fear
Army of Shadows
Le Cercle Rouge

I can also recommend Harakiri, which I would have chosen before Kagemusha, but I like Kagemusha too.

Other favorites of mine are:

Still Walking
The Secret of the Grain

Both of these are excellent family dramas that unfold at a measured pace, which means some people might call them slow. They hold my attention just fine. I have not heard of anyone on this thread hating on either one.

Another favorite of mine is Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence. It is a moving and often brutal portrayal of allied prisoners of the Japanese. It pulls no punches in showing the savage treatment of the prisoners at the hands of the guards, and the guards at the hands of their officers. But it is a deeper film, heavy with allegory, and is ultimately a tale of redemption with the prison camp used as a means of delivering the story.

I would strongly suggest signing up for a free week of hulu plus and taking some time to screen films you may have an interest in before buying. This will give you better answers than any member recommendation.

[SpiderBaby]

Don't..get..mad..at...the...forum...bro...it's..a. ...gr8...place..2..hang...

[antimatter]

Originally Posted by oildude

This is a period = . It ends a sentence.

This is not a period = ...

You basically write one long run-on sentence with no caps or other punctuation. Your posts are very difficult to read.

It is out of a desire to try and answer your questions here and in the sales thread that some people at least make the attempt to read your posts, including me. Just sayin'. No need to get pissy; we are all friends here.

You write like you have ADD and ask for advice on a film that will hold most people's attention. I find that kind of funny.

I would go with Pale Flower or one of the Melville or Clouzot films for foreign films with subtitles, if that is what you are after. They are definitely capable of keeping anyone's attention. You may already have some of these, I took a moment to look at your collection, but you have so many movies (congratulations on a fine collection), I decided I did not have the attention span to browse through them all to check.

Pale Flower
Diabolique
Wages of Fear
Army of Shadows
Le Cercle Rouge

I can also recommend Harakiri, which I would have chosen before Kagemusha, but I like Kagemusha too.

Other favorites of mine are:

Still Walking
The Secret of the Grain

Both of these are excellent family dramas that unfold at a measured pace, which means some people might call them slow. They hold my attention just fine. I have not heard of anyone on this thread hating on either one.

Another favorite of mine is Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence. It is a moving and often brutal portrayal of allied prisoners of the Japanese. It pulls no punches in showing the savage treatment of the prisoners at the hands of the guards, and the guards at the hands of their officers. But it is a deeper film, heavy with allegory, and is ultimately a tale of redemption with the prison camp used as a means of delivering the story.

I would strongly suggest signing up for a free week of hulu plus and taking some time to screen films you may have an interest in before buying. This will give you better answers than any member recommendation.

Cool...Thanks man...I apperciate it!

[georgec]

I know we already have a couple of Melville films on blu-ray (already own Army of Shadows), but once Le Samourai comes out I'm snatching that up immediately.

[antimatter]

Originally Posted by oildude

This is a period = . It ends a sentence.

This is not a period = ...

You basically write one long run-on sentence with no caps or other punctuation. Your posts are very difficult to read.

It is out of a desire to try and answer your questions here and in the sales thread that some people at least make the attempt to read your posts, including me. Just sayin'. No need to get pissy; we are all friends here.

You write like you have ADD and ask for advice on a film that will hold most people's attention. I find that kind of funny.

I would go with Pale Flower or one of the Melville or Clouzot films for foreign films with subtitles, if that is what you are after. They are definitely capable of keeping anyone's attention. You may already have some of these, I took a moment to look at your collection, but you have so many movies (congratulations on a fine collection), I decided I did not have the attention span to browse through them all to check.

Pale Flower
Diabolique
Wages of Fear
Army of Shadows
Le Cercle Rouge

I can also recommend Harakiri, which I would have chosen before Kagemusha, but I like Kagemusha too.

Other favorites of mine are:

Still Walking
The Secret of the Grain

Both of these are excellent family dramas that unfold at a measured pace, which means some people might call them slow. They hold my attention just fine. I have not heard of anyone on this thread hating on either one.

Another favorite of mine is Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence. It is a moving and often brutal portrayal of allied prisoners of the Japanese. It pulls no punches in showing the savage treatment of the prisoners at the hands of the guards, and the guards at the hands of their officers. But it is a deeper film, heavy with allegory, and is ultimately a tale of redemption with the prison camp used as a means of delivering the story.

I would strongly suggest signing up for a free week of hulu plus and taking some time to screen films you may have an interest in before buying. This will give you better answers than any member recommendation.

Sorry i don't know how to miniquote. I clicked the icon and highlighted but nothing happened i've tried a few different things. Thanks again i was on the fence about army of shadows. I think I am gonna have to get that and i was already planning on harakiri next weekend. Once again i apperciate the response and the rational explanation rather than just bi**in about what i write/how i write alittle explaination in a nice fashion goes a long way. BTW oildude sorry to make it difficult to read

[Zen_Amako]

I watched Hara-kiri and Kuroneko this weekend. I enjoyed them both.

However, I wish Criterion would use easier to read subtitles on their B&W films. Hara-kiri in particular had many scenes with the white subtitles on a white background. The white subtitles were actually easier to read on their DVDs.

Hara-kiri is a very good film but it's a slow burn. For most of the running time, it resembles a courtroom drama (a friend got impatient for some action). You do get some samurai action at the end, but in no way is it a standard chambara flick. It's much more of an anti-samurai film. I wasn't surprised to learn that the screenwriter also wrote Kurosawa's Rashomon. I was impressed with Tatsuya Nakadai's performance as the ronin.

Kuroneko is a film I first viewed several years ago via the Masters of Cinema DVD from the UK. I wasn't impressed with it at the time, but for some reason, I had a better opinion of it after watching the Criterion Blu-ray. It's a pretty standard kaidan (Japanese ghost story), with a pair of wronged women returning from the grave to exact vengeance on the hated samurai by luring them in and then drinking their blood (this happens to be another anti-samurai film). It's atmospheric and expressionistic, but the protagonist is a bit of a bonehead (I think this was the problem I had with the film before). Towards the end, he does something truly stupid and I was just shaking my head. I would still recommend it to people who enjoy classical ghost stories, however.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by SpiderBaby

Don't..get..mad..at...the...forum...bro...it's..a. ...gr8...place..2..hang...

Are you doing the tango again?

[Darkcritic]

Originally Posted by georgec

I know we already have a couple of Melville films on blu-ray (already own Army of Shadows), but once Le Samourai comes out I'm snatching that up immediately.

I was really happy with Criterion's output for Melville this year. In the span of a year (Which is a short one if we take into account they only release 5-7 titles per month), they released Army of Shadows, Le Cercle Rogue and Leon Morin, Priest (This last one made me particularily happy because it is "different" Melville, another side of this amazing director). Already got 2 of them and will get the other one with a future Amazon order. I am sure a Le Samourai release is pretty much imminent by this point, I tell you, 2012 will be the year . Also, have you seen MoC latest slate? Le Silence de la Mer is getting an upgrade, I almost fell off my chair when I read those news a month ago .

[Zen_Amako]

Originally Posted by trombone dixie

Picking up the Three Colors Trilogy on the way home from work on Tuesday... Absolutely cannot wait to watch them.

I canceled my online order (since I don't want to wait any longer) and I will try my luck at a store on Tuesday. I also can't wait -- The Double Life of Veronique is one of my top 5 favorite films of all time, and the only film in the Trilogy I've seen is Red. Many times I thought about picking up the Miramax DVDs, but I resisted. Now I can own them for the first time on Blu-ray.

Hopefully Blue and White don't suck...

[oildude]

Originally Posted by antimatter

Sorry i don't know how to miniquote. I clicked the icon and highlighted but nothing happened i've tried a few different things. Thanks again i was on the fence about army of shadows. I think I am gonna have to get that and i was already planning on harakiri next weekend. Once again i apperciate the response and the rational explanation rather than just bi**in about what i write/how i write alittle explaination in a nice fashion goes a long way. BTW oildude sorry to make it difficult to read

Have you picked up Ride With the Devil? I recall you saying you were buying mostly English language films, and this is a good one. It is a story about guerrilla warfare along the Missouri borderlands during the Civil War. I like it a lot, and it has moments of explosive action. There is an ominous buidlup of tension leading to the raid on Lawrence, Kansas, culminating in the attack and its aftermath. The film is well acted and directed.

Also try hulu plus free for a week. They have a lot of the Criterions available for online streaming, though not all of them. You can preview films that may interest you, and also some you may have already bought but not opened that you may find you don't like so much after watching them. These latter can be returned or exchanged unopened for something you like better.

[italy12]

Don't know what is worse: the people giving the new guy a problem with his laid back writing style or the Indianapolis Colts.

[antimatter]

Originally Posted by Zen_Amako

I watched Hara-kiri and Kuroneko this weekend. I enjoyed them both.

However, I wish Criterion would use easier to read subtitles on their B&W films. Hara-kiri in particular had many scenes with the white subtitles on a white background. The white subtitles were actually easier to read on their DVDs.

Hara-kiri is a very good film but it's a slow burn. For most of the running time, it resembles a courtroom drama (a friend got impatient for some action). You do get some samurai action at the end, but in no way is it a standard chambara flick. It's much more of an anti-samurai film. I wasn't surprised to learn that the screenwriter also wrote Kurosawa's Rashomon. I was impressed with Tatsuya Nakadai's performance as the ronin.

Kuroneko is a film I first viewed several years ago via the Masters of Cinema DVD from the UK. I wasn't impressed with it at the time, but for some reason, I had a better opinion of it after watching the Criterion Blu-ray. It's a pretty standard kaidan (Japanese ghost story), with a pair of wronged women returning from the grave to exact vengeance on the hated samurai by luring them in and then drinking their blood (this happens to be another anti-samurai film). It's atmospheric and expressionistic, but the protagonist is a bit of a bonehead (I think this was the problem I had with the film before). Towards the end, he does something truly stupid and I was just shaking my head. I would still recommend it to people who enjoy classical ghost stories, however.

Kuroneko is the first japanese film I have watched. I had a bit of trouble with the subtitles on that one. I thought it was a pretty good movie overall. Although I do not know how the other movies are I kind of feel this may be one of the weaker Japanese films. So I am very much looking forward to checking out many of the other titles. I'm not quite sure when i will get around to seven samurai as it is 3+ hours but i hope to have watched pale flower and yojimbo in the next couple of days. Even though Hara-kiri you said is a bit slow. It definatly interests me. Especially how the reviewer said it was almost like the lead character was play three seperate rolls as how vastly different each part of his life was when he was telling his story.

[Zen_Amako]

Originally Posted by scottpcusa

I just finished watching Belle de jour, which I received from Netflix this weekend. Great film...but definitely not my favorite Bunuel. I'm still looking forward to two of Bunuel's other films...The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (with Delphine Seyrig, of Last Year at Marienbad fame) and The Exterminating Angel...receiving an upgrade by Criterion.

I like Belle de jour enough to get the Criterion Blu-ray even though I already own the Studio Canal release. Of course, the sale made the choice easier. And I love the cover art.

However, I'm wondering if Tristana will get a release anytime soon. I'd rather see that than an upgrade for a film already on DVD. I know it has been released on DVD before, but evidently those DVDs were pretty bad.

[italy12]

Originally Posted by oildude

Have you picked up Ride With the Devil? I recall you saying you were buying mostly English language films, and this is a good one. It is a story about guerrilla warfare along the Missouri borderlands during the Civil War. I like it a lot, and it has moments of explosive action. There is an ominous buidlup of tension leading to the raid on Lawrence, Kansas, culminating in the attack and its aftermath. The film is well acted and directed.

I agree, although that movie does not get as much love as some of the better foreign films, I still think it is a good film for the collection.

How about another English-language film, Carlos? (for the new guy)

[antimatter]

Originally Posted by oildude

Have you picked up Ride With the Devil? I recall you saying you were buying mostly English language films, and this is a good one. It is a story about guerrilla warfare along the Missouri borderlands during the Civil War. I like it a lot, and it has moments of explosive action. There is an ominous buidlup of tension leading to the raid on Lawrence, Kansas, culminating in the attack and its aftermath. The film is well acted and directed.

Also try hulu plus free for a week. They have a lot of the Criterions available for online streaming, though not all of them. You can preview films that may interest you, and maybe return some unopened you already bought that you may find you don't like so much.

I did indeed pick that one up. It was interesting that it is a film that takes a look at the civil war from a southern perspect. Not taking any sides but rather showing you a different angle of the war. The story does seem to be very different than many civil war films.
It may sound sick but i rather enjoyed antichrist. Although i may not have fully understood it, but i would like to believe I did. So i picked up Salo which i am very much looking forward to viewing. I am also looking forward to the new hitchcock and 12 angry men. I also order Rushmore although i am not a huge fan but i got it anyway.

Originally Posted by italy12

Don't know what is worse: the people giving the new guy a problem with his laid back writing style or the Indianapolis Colts.

Idk if you were actually kind of defending me or ridiculing me. If it was the latter than nevermind. If not thanks i apperciate it


Oh and the other one if you could give me your opinion on. I picked up Carlos was intially very interested then i read it was in french which was a bit of a turn off. However i was told for a what 6hr movie it actually flows pretty quickly

[Zen_Amako]

Originally Posted by antimatter

Kuroneko is the first japanese film I have watched. I had a bit of trouble with the subtitles on that one. I thought it was a pretty good movie overall. Although I do not know how the other movies are I kind of feel this may be one of the weaker Japanese films.

Kuroneko is probably one of the weaker Japanese films in the Criterion Collection. It's not bad -- in fact, it's pretty good -- but I wouldn't call it essential Japanese cinema or anything.

Hara-kiri is the better film, although it is a completely different type of film. Just don't go into it expecting a hack 'n slash samurai flick.

Rashomon is an excellent Japanese film, but unfortunately, it's only available on DVD for the time being.