The Criterion Collection

[jw007]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

Me too. It was the first film of his I'd watched, and I remember looking through and reading about his other work right after and being surprised at just how different it all seemed. I myself like Lars Von Trier though I wouldn't compare them too far, considering how far less realistic his work is.

That's true, Von Trier is a poor analogy. I honestly cannot think of another film that reminds me of Naked. It's such an improvisational film. Some of the conversations and dialogue that place in the movie weren't scripted but performed in a stream of consciousness, much like a brilliant poem. Some actors obtain the rare gift of seizing a role and making a character define who they are. David Thewlis pretty much became another character (and I read somewhere that he had a hard time coming out of character long after the film wrapped).

I would go on to say that "Johnny" is probably one of the ten or twelve greatest original characters in any film ever made, and probably the most haunting/original character in the history of British film, period.

[CoenP]

Originally Posted by octagon

Here you go...just mix, match and repeat. And repeat and repeat and repeat.

• We need more Wes Anderson.
• Good lord, not more Wes Anderson.
• More Kurosawa, please.
• Oh for the love of...more Kurosawa???
• Woohoo, Rashomon. But we still need more Kurosawa.
• Wooooooot, Rosemary's Godzilla Blob!!!
• TinyFurnitureblablahblah
• Announcement predictions
• WTF is talking the announcements so long
• This is best/worst month in years.
• These are the best/worst covers evrah
• Badlands!!!!
• TinyFurnitureblablahblah
• South America is part of the world, you know...a rather big part, actually
• B&N sale!!!
• B&N haul
• B&N haul
• B&N haul
• B&N haul
• When's the next B&N sale
• Is there going to be another B&N sale
• When's the next B&N sale
• WTF is up with Wild Strawberries and Y Tu Mama Tambien???
• TinyFurnitureblablahblah
• The Nez is the r0x0rz!!!
• Seriously, look at a map...it's there, I swear...just south of North America...you can't miss it
• Is this a good blind buy?
• Blind buys are stupid
• What a bunch of pretentious douchebags
• Pretentious? Moi?
• More Kurosawa!
• No, really, will there be another B&N sale?

[Homer Simpson] It's funny 'cause it's true [/Homer Simpson]

[Kevin Holly]

Originally Posted by jw007

You know, Tree of Life still has yet to grow on me. I remember after walking out of the theater after seeing it I was very disappointed. It was "too big" and too ambitious and for me it ended up being ponderous, lugubrious, laborious and exhausting. I felt the same way recently with Cloud Atlas, which I was really looking forward to, but in the end, it didn't connect.

And though its highly unlikely, but if Criterion ever picks up and distributes Cloud Atlas, I will seriously stop buying their releases. I was actually offended by the sheer audacity of that movie. Pretentious is an understatement. Anyway, thumbs down to films like Tree of Life and Cloud Atlas that go way too far.

Not sure if you're serious, but if so, then I agree. Although I think I liked The Tree of Life less and Cloud Atlas more than you.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by greekak229

I'm rarely baffled when it comes to viewing films, but Godard's Weekend really has me somewhat speechless. Like, what did I just watch? I understand it's a critique on society, but man, what an interesting way to show it.

It's pretty much seething in contempt for society. Godard's films in the sixties went from having characters that were playful and naive to lost to completely hopeless and despicable in somewhat of a post-apocalyptic, completely Brechtian world. If Godard would have retired after Weekend, it would have been very fitting. He would have even more acclaim for going out on top (not unlike Nirvana (yikes) or the Beatles). Where is there left to go?

[Cinemach]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

I feel like an ignoramus because I don't enjoy Malick. His films are very beautiful to look at, but I always seem to have a meh reaction to them. I'm sorry.

You shouldn't feel like an ignoramus or 'sorry' due to this personal preference, although particularly with Malick I've found if you have a less-than-orgasmic response to his films his fans tend to attack with this such disdain, along with numerous accusations of reprobate intelligence.

Outside of Days of Heaven I feel the same way about his films, although I haven't seen Badlands yet. I think that one would be slightly more palatable to me than his later films based on what I've heard and read.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by Cinemach

You shouldn't feel like an ignoramus or 'sorry' due to this personal preference, although particularly with Malick I've found if you have a less-than-orgasmic response to his films his fans tend to attack with this such disdain, along with numerous accusations of reprobate intelligence.

Outside of Days of Heaven I feel the same way about his films, although I haven't seen Badlands yet. I think that one would be slightly more palatable to me than his later films based on what I've heard and read.

Even Badlands underwhelmed me. I'm so going to get jumped for saying this but Malick films are like Apple products, pretty look at, but are somewhat lacking. At least that's my experience with both as of late (at least As far as computers and cell phones are concerned, iPod Nanos are still awesome ATM). I can appreciate that others enjoy those things, but I just don't.

[Member-222782]

Anyone know how long these incredible sale prices for Criterion Blurays are supposed to last at Best Buy? I'd love to snap up a couple of titles I was on the fence about but I don't get paid until Tuesday. $17.99 for Godzilla is really cheap! Anybody grabbing these by the armfuls at BB?

[jcs913]

Originally Posted by greekak229

I'm rarely baffled when it comes to viewing films, but Godard's Weekend really has me somewhat speechless. Like, what did I just watch? I understand it's a critique on society, but man, what an interesting way to show it.

It's like watching Dennis Miller do standup....

Anyways, I finally got to my copy of Heaven's Gate yesterday. I have seen the film twice before and was not impressed. This viewing confirms that the film is still a whirling mess in my mind. The theme of the film is very significant and holds up well, but the films construction is flawed. I did see what Beta was talking about a few pages back about the blue digital noise at about the 1:28 mark. Besides the Criterion error, I noticed another error from Cimino that I never noticed before.

[Show spoiler] Jim is told by Nate that Nate asked Ella to marry him. About 30-40 minutes later in the film, Ella tells Jim that Nate asked him to marry her and Jim goes bananas kicking a chair?? Why does he seem surprised by this, considering he learned about it earlier and was not freaking out?? Doesn't make sense..

Anyways, I was very underwhelmed by the PQ of the film, as it was very soft in many daytime scenes, on the contrary, seconds later, the same scene looks great. Way to much fluctuation in the quality. The audio is fantastic though. Overall, I may revisit it again, but besides for the strong historical theme of the film, its story is a mess...

[runnersdialzero]

Sell/trade it to me

[jcs913]

Originally Posted by runnersdialzero

Sell/trade it to me

I would trade it, but you would probably offer me one of those .99 Monterey Pop blus you got from Best Buy in exchange...

Its $27 at Best Buy and Amazon is $37, I have a fair price in mind. If interested, send me a pm...

[runnersdialzero]

Outrageous!! I would never! . Pm sent

[jmbenesh]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

I feel like an ignoramus because I don't enjoy Malick. His films are very beautiful to look at, but I always seem to have a meh reaction to them. I'm sorry.

I tried watching Days of Heaven on 4 separate occasions and could never get into it. Finally was able to watch it all and thought, "So that's it, huh?"

As for Thin Red Line and Tree Of Life, I liked both, and thought hard about both, and both are gorgeous films, but I don't think they're the masterpieces that everyone else says they are.

[zafisher94]

I watched a couple Criterion titles for the first time.

Samurai Trilogy - great movies. Mifune was fantastic as always.

Paris, Texas - I enjoyed this very much. While nothing exciting really happened, it was successful at holding my interest. Ending was a little lackluster, but an enjoyable film none the less.

Repulsion - a little duller than I expected, but the last act of the film was really interesting. Certainly some amazing imagery.

[Rizor]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

And that $30 mil was probably completely on the strength of Clooney as a lead. I liked it too, though. And I'd pay to watch Natascha McElhone make sandwiches, frankly.

I personally prefer the Soderbergh remake over the Tarkovsky film, which I appreciate but can't really wrap my head around.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by jcs913

I noticed another error from Cimino that I never noticed before.

[Show spoiler] Jim is told by Nate that Nate asked Ella to marry him. About 30-40 minutes later in the film, Ella tells Jim that Nate asked him to marry her and Jim goes bananas kicking a chair?? Why does he seem surprised by this, considering he learned about it earlier and was not freaking out?? Doesn't make sense..

I saw the same thing, but I would have to watch it again and see the reaction again, because I think.....

[Show spoiler]It wasn't a bunch of chair kicking out of surprise, it was more because she was saying it in a "Well, he asked me to marry him, something you never did" kind of way, so although it was said before, she's sort of pushing the issue of "This is why I can't go with you, because you're not offering any commitment"

I've been wrong before though, and again, I need to re-watch that particular part to see the context.

[Kevin Holly]

Originally Posted by jmbenesh

I tried watching Days of Heaven on 4 separate occasions and could never get into it. Finally was able to watch it all and thought, "So that's it, huh?"

As for Thin Red Line and Tree Of Life, I liked both, and thought hard about both, and both are gorgeous films, but I don't think they're the masterpieces that everyone else says they are.

I liked Badlands a lot and The Thin Red Line as well. Tree of Life I hated. Days of Heaven was mercifully "short" (it felt like hours), I think if it went on as long as Tree of Light I might like it even less. Honestly, I have seen a lot of movies from the 1970s (my favorite decade for film), and I think Days of Heaven is my least of them all.

And I don't even feel like an idiot.

[Louisville Slugger]

Belle de jour was pretty sweet. Watched it last night. The transfer is amazing!

[jmbenesh]

Originally Posted by Kevin Holly

I liked Badlands a lot and The Thin Red Line as well. Tree of Life I hated. Days of Heaven was mercifully "short" (it felt like hours), I think if it went on as long as Tree of Light I might like it even less. Honestly, I have seen a lot of movies from the 1970s (my favorite decade for film), and I think Days of Heaven is my least of them all.

And I don't even feel like an idiot.

I agree about Days of Heaven. Like I said, it took me until my 5th try to finally watch the whole thing, and at 94 minutes, it feels like an eternity.

[jcs913]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

I saw the same thing, but I would have to watch it again and see the reaction again, because I think.....

[Show spoiler]It wasn't a bunch of chair kicking out of surprise, it was more because she was saying it in a "Well, he asked me to marry him, something you never did" kind of way, so although it was said before, she's sort of pushing the issue of "This is why I can't go with you, because you're not offering any commitment"

I've been wrong before though, and again, I need to re-watch that particular part to see the context.

That could be right Beta, as I never thought of it that way.

[Show spoiler]I would need to also watch it again and listen to Ella's tone more. It just seemed 'over the top' considering he knew already...

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Even Badlands underwhelmed me. I'm so going to get jumped for saying this but Malick films are like Apple products, pretty look at, but are somewhat lacking. At least that's my experience with both as of late (at least As far as computers and cell phones are concerned, iPod Nanos are still awesome ATM). I can appreciate that others enjoy those things, but I just don't.

How much is tuition at the Armond White School of Arts?