The Criterion Collection

[rkish]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

It would be near the top, but I'm not sure if it would be my top. I'm probably going to go with the popular vote and put Dr. Strangelove at the top. I know plenty of others love A Clockwork Orange, but I read the unedited edition of the book, and feel like Kubrick missed the point a little. He seemed to focus more on the ultra-violence, and because he adapted the edited copy, he's missing the last chapter in the film adaptation, which kills some of the symbolism Burgess was going for. I know a lot of people hated that last chapter, but it honestly does make sense. I think most people who rank ACO high haven't read the book to be honest.

No argument on Strangelove...there are military insiders that were truly scared, as the cockpit of the plane was scarily close to what the US Military was rolling out. And the War Room...don't we all wish that it really existed?

[The Great Owl]

When it comes to my appreciation of Stanley Kubrick, there's 2001: A Space Odyssey and The Shining, and then there's everything else.

Those are the only two films of his that I revisit with any semblance of frequency, and I believe that they are both brilliant.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

When it comes to my appreciation of Stanley Kubrick, there's 2001: A Space Odyssey and The Shining, and then there's everything else.

Those are the only two films of his that I revisit with any semblance of frequency, and I believe that they are both brilliant.

I say there's 2001 and Barry Lyndon, and then there's everything else.

[rkish]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Underappreciated? I thought this was considered one of the top Kubrick films? It's certainly near the top in my rankings.

I don't think it got as much appreciation as some of his other films...and people only seem to laud the first half of the film (brilliant as it is) and forget about the second half of the film. I've heard the second half called "slower", etc.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by rkish

I don't think it got as much appreciation as some of his other films...and people only seem to laud the first half of the film (brilliant as it is) and forget about the second half of the film. I've heard the second half called "slower", etc.

Ah, yes, I'm inclined to agree with that. However, I don't agree that the second half is slower, the second half is where it gets more interesting. Gunnery Sergeant Hartman is entertaining, but he's not the only thing good about the film.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by rkish

I don't think it got as much appreciation as some of his other films...and people only seem to laud the first half of the film (brilliant as it is) and forget about the second half of the film. I've heard the second half called "slower", etc.

As of right now, Full Metal Jacket sits at spot #81 on imdb's top 250. If that's not popular, then I don't know what is.

I feel Barry Lyndon is his most underappreciated.

[rkish]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Ah, yes, I'm inclined to agree with that. However, I don't agree that the second half is slower, the second half is where it gets more interesting. Gunnery Sergeant Hartman is entertaining, but he's not the only thing good about the film.

Agreed! If anything, the first half of the film is a "warm up" for the second half of the film. The characters have a chance to develop more and get even more interesting.

[COLD_COBRA_]

Originally Posted by billzfan

I'll start a conversation topic

What are your 3 favorite Criterions in your collection and why?

Not in order. These 5 I just read a couple sentences about and knew I would love them. I was right

1. Wings of Desire
2. Paris, Texas
3. Wages of Fear
4. Days of Heaven
5. Belle de Jour

6. Chungking Express. Really liked it, especially the 2nd story.

7. The game. Was good, but indifferent about it really.

Least favorite.

1. Blow out
2. Cronos

I didn't hate them, but I wished I had chosen something else.

Who is doing the Criterion ranking thread for 2013?

[rkish]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

As of right now, Full Metal Jacket sits at spot #81 on imdb's top 250. If that's not popular, then I don't know what is.

I feel Barry Lyndon is his most underappreciated.

No argument there either...he practically "stole" the cameras and lenses that he was able to use it that film to shoot indoor scenes by candlelight. He was told that if these lenses were affixed to the cameras, that it was a permanent thing...he was good with that.

There are also some that saw 'ONeill in the same light as Cruise...though I think 'ONeill did a great job in that film.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

It would be near the top, but I'm not sure if it would be my top. I'm probably going to go with the popular vote and put Dr. Strangelove at the top. I know plenty of others love A Clockwork Orange, but I read the unedited edition of the book, and feel like Kubrick missed the point a little. He seemed to focus more on the ultra-violence, and because he adapted the edited copy, he's missing the last chapter in the film adaptation, which kills some of the symbolism Burgess was going for. I know a lot of people hated that last chapter, but it honestly does make sense. I think most people who rank ACO high haven't read the book to be honest.

I've read the book and think the film is substantially better. I'm one of those that thinks the last chapter is so mind-numblingly out-of-place idiotic. It's my favorite Kubrick (and one of my favorite films ever), and I think it's his most visceral work.

[COLD_COBRA_]

Originally Posted by rkish

Such an underappreciated film! How can you not love R Lee? And the ironic thing is, that he was originally only an adviser on the film. He didn't like the way the writing was going for the boot camp scenes and would up rewriting most of the screenplay. Kubrick liked him so much, that he was given the part of the drill sergeant, that was originally given to the "maniac" firing off the machine gun in the helicopter. This is also the film that secured the career of Matthew Modine and started the career of Vincent D'Onofrio (who praises Kubrick in interviews and gives him credit for launching his career).

favorite line. You look like the kinda guy that could **** another guy in the ***, and not even have the god **** common courtesy to give him a reach around.

laugh every time.

[The Great Owl]

My Criterion collection at present, Blu-rays and DVDs alike. I cannot sort them into likes, dislikes, and such, because I love all of them enough to keep them in my collection.

Off the top of my head, though, I'll pick my Top Ten in bold font...

12 Angry Men
The 39 Steps
8 1/2
Army of Shadows
Badlands
The Battle of Algiers
The Blob
Bob Le Flambeur (DVD)
Breathless
Carnival of Souls (DVD)
Le Cercle Rouge
Classe Tous Risques (DVD)
Days of Heaven
Dazed and Confused
Le Deuxième Souffle (DVD)
Le Doulos
Elevator to the Gallows (DVD)
Les Enfants Terribles (DVD)
Equinox (DVD)
Eyes Without a Face (DVD)
Fanny and Alexander
Fiend Without a Face (DVD)
The Game
Godzilla
Insomnia (DVD)
Ivan's Childhood
The Lady Vanishes
Last Year at Marienbad
Léon Morin, Priest
Letter Never Sent
A Man Escaped
The Man Who Knew Too Much
The Naked Prey (DVD)
The Night of the Hunter
On the Waterfront
Overlord (DVD)
Paddle to the Sea (DVD)
Paris, Texas
Pépé Le Moko (DVD)
Pierrot Le Fou
Purple Noon
The Red Balloon (DVD)
Red Desert
Rififi (DVD)
Rosemary's Baby
Le Samouraï (DVD)
Seven Samurai
The Seventh Seal
Solaris
Stray Dog (DVD)
The Thin Red Line
The Third Man (DVD)
Touchez Pas Au Grisbi (DVD)
Le Trou (DVD)
Two-Lane Blacktop
Vampyr (DVD)
The Vanishing (DVD)
Videodrome
Vivre Sa Vie
The Wages of Fear
Walkabout
White Mane (DVD)
Wings of Desire
Eclipse Series 7: Postwar Kurosawa (DVD)
Eclipse Series 23: The First Films of Akira Kurosawa (DVD)
Eclipse Series 37: When Horror Came to Shochiku (DVD)

It was easy for me to pick the first five selections or so. After that, I had difficulty narrowing down the others into the Top Ten. These are all so good.

I had a multitude of other Criterion Collection DVDs, but sold them off recently when I did a massive streamlining, because many are already available on Blu-ray (Akira Kurosawa films) or soon-to-be-released on Blu-ray (Band of Outsiders, Wild Strawberries, etc.). I've kept all of the DVDs with which I absolutely did not want to part.

[bluesilo]

Ill probably join in the discussion as well.

[rkish]

Originally Posted by COLD_COBRA_

favorite line. You look like the kinda guy that could **** another guy in the ***, and not even have the god **** common courtesy to give him a reach around.

laugh every time.

I don't known if R Lee wrote those lines, but I'd like to think that he did. That was a topper of a line! There are so many gems in that film!

[bluesilo]

@GreatOwl

No Chungking Express or In the mood for love? Those are two of my favorites in the collection and highly recommended.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by bluesilo

@GreatOwl

No Chungking Express or In the mood for love? Those are two of my favorites in the collection and highly recommended.

Nope. I'm sure that I'd like 'em, but they just haven't landed on my spider web yet.

I'm actually content with my current collection.
There are obviously a lot of titles that I will add during upcoming sales and such, and I really want my current Criterion DVDs to be available on Blu-ray at some point, but there is nothing in my current collection that does not demand frequent revisits. I do not have any "meh..." Criterions in my collection right now at all.

[oildude]

Originally Posted by rkish

And the War Room...don't we all wish that it really existed?

Yes, but you can't fight in there.

[the sordid sentinel]

Got a ship notice on Army of Shadows from Amazon today. Still no Le Cercle Rogue which was part of the same order. Looking fwd. to checking out some Melville in a few days.

[Nighteyes]

Originally Posted by oildude

Yes, but you can't fight in there.

[rkish]

Originally Posted by oildude

Yes, but you can't fight in there.

No...but you can get a hell of a pastrami sandwich.