The Criterion Collection

[italy12]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Yeah, like I said, I'm probably being paranoid about the whole thing, or Canadian.



I think Animal Farm and Brave New World are about equal. I actually prefer Harrison Bergeron (the short story), Cat's Cradle, Slaughterhouse-Five, and A Clockwork Orange (the novel is better than the film, especially since Kubrick adapted the butchered version). Actually, I prefer everything Vonnegut has ever written to Orwell and Huxley. Yes, even Slapstick, which he considered to be one of his worst novels, and which was made into a horrific abortion of a film with Jerry Lewis, Marty Feldman, and Madeleine Kahn (among many other well known names).

The only Gilliam film that I wasn't exactly enamoured with was Parnassus, but then, I haven't watched Tideland yet. I fail as a Gilliam fan.

Harrison Bergeron is one of my all-time favorite short stories! I used to teach that when I taught English!

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

Sometimes I think I'm the only person in the world who liked Parnassus. I only saw it the one time, though, so maybe I was just in the right mood for it.

These days I see Gilliam pictures for the art direction more than anything else.

I saw it in theatres, and while it was beautiful to look at, the plot felt a bit flat to me. Of course, I could just have poor taste, because I enjoyed The Brothers Grimm, and "true" Gilliam fans absolutely hate the film.

Originally Posted by italy12

Harrison Bergeron is one of my all-time favorite short stories! I used to teach that when I taught English!

The film with Sean Astin is horrible, at least in my opinion. Vonnegut is my favourite author.

[Darkcritic]

Originally Posted by Barrysupreme

Now can I have my answer?

Is it just the picture or is the Branded to Kill cover actually orange? I always thought it was pink .

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by Darkcritic

Is it just the picture or is the Branded to Kill cover actually orange? I always thought it was pink .

Was just thinking the same thing!

[italy12]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

The film with Sean Astin is horrible, at least in my opinion. Vonnegut is my favourite author.

I did see that because of the story, but yes, it was bad. BUT, there is a fan made film which was released on DVD a few years ago, 2081. I showed it to a class and it is very close to the story...minor differences.

The chic from the original Airplane is in it, Julie Hagerty. http://www.finallyequal.com/

Check it out!

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by Barrysupreme

Received my copies of Tokyo Drifter and Branded To Kill blus today, which should I watch first? I haven't seen either of them?

I've asked some people to get these for me for Xmas. Man its going to be impossible to wait. Maybe I should order them then return the ones I receive for Xmas. Hmmm

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

I saw it in theatres, and while it was beautiful to look at, the plot felt a bit flat to me. Of course, I could just have poor taste, because I enjoyed The Brothers Grimm, and "true" Gilliam fans absolutely hate the film.



The film with Sean Astin is horrible, at least in my opinion. Vonnegut is my favourite author.

I'm a huge Gilliam fan and cannot stand Brothers Grimm. Maybe I should give it another shot. Also never got around to seeing his last film. Not the short he recently won an award with although I have not seen it either.

[Barrysupreme]

Originally Posted by Darkcritic

Is it just the picture or is the Branded to Kill cover actually orange? I always thought it was pink .

It's just the picture, crappy ipod camera I'm affraid

Just finished watching TD, very much enjoyed it plus it looked superb!

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

The only Gilliam film that I wasn't exactly enamoured with was Parnassus, but then, I haven't watched Tideland yet. I fail as a Gilliam fan.

I fail as well! I gave up years ago trying to watch his movies, he is just not for me at all

[SpiderBaby]

It's not for Brazil. Go to Criterion's site and look at the top around your account. There should be a "My Criterion" now and it's like a Mubi type profile where you share your Criterion Collection, fav film released by them, and what 1 title you would most like for them to release.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by SpiderBaby

It's not for Brazil. Go to Criterion's site and look at the top around your account. There should be a "My Criterion" now and it's like a Mubi type profile where you share your Criterion Collection, fav film released by them, and what 1 title you would most like for them to release.

Sweet. I may have to invest into that.

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

I fail as well! I gave up years ago trying to watch his movies, he is just not for me at all

That's too bad, I do agree that his films aren't for everyone.

Originally Posted by Banned User

I'm a huge Gilliam fan and cannot stand Brothers Grimm. Maybe I should give it another shot. Also never got around to seeing his last film. Not the short he recently won an award with although I have not seen it either.

It's not his best, but it's not as horrid as people make it out to be. It's ridiculously silly and fun. Heath Ledger makes the film, as does Peter Stormare. It's probably the closest thing Gilliam will make to a "blockbuster" popcorn film.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

It's not his best, but it's not as horrid as people make it out to be. It's ridiculously silly and fun. Heath Ledger makes the film, as does Peter Stormare. It's probably the closest thing Gilliam will make to a "blockbuster" popcorn film.

12 Monkeys was pretty mainstream, no? Granted, in a somewhat weird way but still pretty straight-forward.

(And quite good, as well. I didn't really warm up to it immediately but once I did...)

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by zui

Oh, that reminds me... I still haven't read Harrison Bergeron, although I actually planned on doing so two years ago when I read Brave New World in my English class. Our teacher gave us the first two or so pages of it, so that we could compare the setting and atmosphere to BNW's. I know I felt intrigued by it, but seemingly not intrigued enough to remember getting a copy afterwards.
So, thanks for reminding me, BohemianGraham!

I'm off to watch Branded to kill now (on DVD).

After you finish, hunt down any Kurt Vonnegut you can get your hands on as well. Don't just stop with Harrison Bergeron. Glad I could use some of my librarian-fu to help you remember.

Originally Posted by octagon

12 Monkeys was pretty mainstream, no? Granted, in a somewhat weird way but still pretty straight-forward.

(And quite good, as well. I didn't really warm up to it immediately but once I did...)

It is mainstream, but it's a bit more "deep" than Brothers Grimm. You could argue that Fear and Loathing, Holy Grail (he co-directed), and Time Bandits are pretty mainstream as well. I guess I should have phrased it as "the closest to a Transformers type film Gilliam will ever make," although that's insulting to Gilliam. Brothers Grimm is a bit of silly fluff, but highly enjoyable fluff. Like I said, not his best, but I get the most enjoyment out of it after Fear and Loathing.

Originally Posted by italy12

I did see that because of the story, but yes, it was bad. BUT, there is a fan made film which was released on DVD a few years ago, 2081. I showed it to a class and it is very close to the story...minor differences.

The chic from the original Airplane is in it, Julie Hagerty. http://www.finallyequal.com/

Check it out!

I should like the bad one more, because it is a Canadian film. I totally forgot Eugene Levy was in it, along with Andrea Martin, Christopher Plummer, Jayne Eastwood, Howie Mandel, and Hayden Christensen, aka Dath Emo*****. I guess it was that bad that I chose to forget that. I knew the chick who played "Phillipa" was Josie Pye from the Anne of Green Gables mini-series though. I will check out the fan-made one.

[BohemianGraham]

I kinda want Criterion to add this to the collection. It does fit somewhat with what their goal is, and it is considered to be a highly influential film in Canada. I've been meaning to watch it for awhile now, because I love the SCTV parody so much:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goin%27_Down_the_Road

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

My friends and I loved that SCTV bit growing up! Had no idea it was a spoof of a film.

Oh it is, and what makes it even more hilarious is that Jayne Eastwood spoofs her own role from the film in the SCTV sketch. She did the role because she was Joe Flaherty's sister-in-law.

That whole episode was golden, taking the piss out of the CBC and the NFB.

Edit: Forgot to mention I learned all that watching the special features on my SCTV DVD sets.

[Cookson]

A new store called "V-Stock" replaced our local Borders. Actually have a nice selection of everything..... a cross between Slackers, Borders and Best Buy. Anyway, noticed they had Island of Lost Souls, so I helped out the new store and picked it up. Been wanting it anyway.. will watch in a few days!

[oildude]

Originally Posted by drbikeshorts

I've watched 3 of the Oshima's and Japanese Summer: Double Suicide (one of SpiderBaby's picks) is next in line. I'm looking forward to it...
I haven't really thought about the Fuller set - did you like it?

Yes, I bought it mainly for The Steel Helmet, which is worth the price of the set. The other two films are not as good, in my opinion, but still enjoyable. I Shot Jesse James is pure western melodrama, but it has an edge to it that makes it darker than a lot of these types of films from the 1940s-1950s, and it was Fuller's first film. And to watch Vincent Price in The Baron of Arizona is great fun - I cannot recall ever seeing him in anything except horror movies.

[oildude]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

Those of you discovering the Oshima set, or interested in the Nikkatsu Noir set and/or the Suzuki upgrades should also check out the great Koreyoshi Kurahara set.

I bought it. Have not gotten to it yet, but good to know it is "Joe Approved" . I bought every Japanese Eclipse set except Late Ozu and First Films of Akira Kurosawa. After blowing past my Criterion sale budget by a large amount due to picking up more Eclipse sets than I originally intended, I decided to choose between the Kurosawa and Shimizu. I chose Shimizu.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by oildude

Yes, I bought it mainly for The Steel Helmet, which is worth the price of the set. The other two films are not as good, in my opinion, but still enjoyable. I Shot Jesse James is pure western melodrama, but it has an edge to it that makes it darker than a lot of these types of films from the 1940s-1950s, and it was Fuller's first film. And to watch Vincent Price in The Baron of Arizona is great fun - I cannot recall ever seeing him in anything except horror movies.

What? You never saw any of the following?:
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
Brigham Young
The House of the Seven Gables
Hudson's Bay
The Song of Bernadette
Laura
The Keys of the Kingdom
Leaver Her to Heaven
A Royal Scandal
The Three Musketeers
Bagdad
Son of Sinbad
The Ten Commandments
Nefertiti, Queen of the Nile
Beach Party
The Trouble with Girls
Here Comes Peter Cottontail
The Great Mouse Detective

Bolded are ones I am assuming you must have watched at some point.

[oildude]

Originally Posted by italy12

Probably another indicator that Jon Mulvaney is more than one person.

I suspect the same. Someone steps into the character every few years. Like Bond.

[ShellOilJunior]

The My Criterion feature is nice.

I like how we can put in a "request" for an addition to the collection.