I just realized with the Fantastic Mr. Fox announcement, Criterion has covered every single one of Wes Anderson's films except for Moonrise Kingdom. No doubt that and Life Aquatic will eventually get blu-ray treatment as well.
Well I just finished watching City Lights on Criterion Blu-Ray:
It was marvelous, an excellent piece of work. Simply put, it's now in my top 5 silent films of all time and my favorite Chaplin film.
The energy and the smoothness Chaplin brings to this performance is astounding and it's the greatest performance I have seen him in. The film was also really funny, with the boxing and nightclub sequences being the highlights.
I also found the film deeply moving with one of the greatest endings I have ever seen. Basically, I am really glad I picked up City Lights.
The PQ and AQ is amazing for it's time and I found the supplements to be extremely interesting. Overall, I highly recommend the purchase!
Frances Ha came out? Didn't realize that.
I picked up Lord of the Flies, Seven Samurais, and On the Waterfront. All blind buys. Can't wait to watch them.
You haven't seen Seven Samurai or On The Waterfront?
You are in for a treat my friend! Two mesmerizing films!
Well I just finished watching City Lights on Criterion Blu-Ray:
It was marvelous, an excellent piece of work. Simply put, it's now in my top 5 silent films of all time and my favorite Chaplin film.
The energy and the smoothness Chaplin brings to this performance is astounding and it's the greatest performance I have seen him in. The film was also really funny, with the boxing and nightclub sequences being the highlights.
I also found the film deeply moving with one of the greatest endings I have ever seen. Basically, I am really glad I picked up City Lights.
The PQ and AQ is amazing for it's time and I found the supplements to be extremely interesting. Overall, I highly recommend the purchase!
Frances Ha came out? Didn't realize that.
I picked up Lord of the Flies, Seven Samurais, and On the Waterfront. All blind buys. Can't wait to watch them.
He just said they've been on his list for a long time, presumably meaning that he's been wanting to check them out for a while. If he hasn't actually seen them yet, then they are blind buys.
Just wanted to mention that if anyone hasn't seen Soderbergh's King of the Hill (just announced for February) and has Netflix, it's available for streaming from them.
Other Criterion titles currently streaming on Netflix include:
The Housemaid (from the upcoming World Cinema Project release) Secret Sunshine Francis Ha Mafioso Gomorrah Fish Tank White Material Metropolian Rosemary's Baby The Last Temptation of Christ Antichrist Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence Monsoon Wedding Solo con Tu Pareja Traffic Che
and Carlos (both the complete 340-minute version, and the cut-down 165-minute version)
This list is by no means complete. These are just the ones that are either in my queue to watch, or I've seen listed in passing.
Since we're mid-B&N sale this month, I decided to put together a list of what I feel are the five best Criterion blu-ray packages. In the past, I've used others' lists to influence my own purchases, including some of the entries below; as such, I thought I would pass my list onto others.
*The film itself is not the only criteria here, it's the package as a whole.
**OOP entries are excluded
Almost made the cut: On the Waterfront, Brazil, City Lights, Paris Texas, and The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp.
5) The Killing
Some may not know this early Kubrick, but it's a crime caper that no one should miss. Time-lapse films like Pulp Fiction draw inspiration here, as Kubrick effectively tells the story of a heist from multiple perspectives. What's unique here is that they're robbing a horse racing track, and each man is assigned a duty. Criterion presents a great transfer here for such an old film, and they even include an earlier Kubrick - Killer's Kiss. Two films for the price of one, along with a great set of additional features. This is an excellent package, and I'm a huge fan of the clown mask cover art.
4) Fanny and Alexander
This film was an easy blind-buy for me, as the story sounded quite magical and, well, it's a Bergman. The film follows the ups and downs of an eccentric Swedish family over time in period-influenced Uppsula. I was extremely impressed with the thorough package, which includes not only the film, but the 5-hour television version as well (which I have yet to watch). Special features are abundant here, as is a fabulous booklet showcasing some essays about the film. The amount of enjoyment packed into just one blu-ray case is near maximized here, and this film is certainly one you're bound to re-watch. As others have mentioned, it's a GREAT Christmas film that deals with family and coziness.
3) Seven Samurai
Another superb package, and perhaps the poster child of the Criterion Collection in general, Kurosawa's most popular film is given the deluxe digi-pack treatment. Seven unique samurai are collected and hired to defend a village from bandits; however, this isn't any ordinary action film. First lauded for their original DVD transfer, Criterion then one upped themselves and completely restored the print yet again for the blu-ray release. A top notch package - including a very gorgeous black/white spine, a detailed book on the film, and an abundance of documentaries make this one of the very best packages available for any film, let alone a masterpiece from 1954.
2) The Thin Red Line
Malick's The Thin Red Line is one of those films I didn't enjoy after a first viewing, but I ended up purchasing the Criterion blu-ray several years later for a re-watch. This is a gut-wrenching war epic that focuses on the psychological aspect of war during the Guadalcanal campaign of 1943, and the toll that death and violence takes on the mind. Simply put, the transfer of this film is the best looking blu-ray (IMO) that I own. The sound, the visuals, the cover artwork - Criterion packed a huge punch when releasing this package, and it's a crown jewel of the collection. Also, this film jumped into my list of favorite films of all time after a second screening.
1) Dazed and Confused
This package has it all. A fabulous transfer of a nostalgic film, a handsome packed-to-the-brim booklet, a unique digi-book cover with clever gaps for the characters faces, and they even included a film poster. From the second the company logos come up with Aerosmith's "Sweet Emotion" lingering in the background, followed by the vibrant image of a GTO Judge circling a school parking lot, you know you're in for a treat. The film depicts the last day of high school in 1976 for a colorful cast of characters (Matthew McConaughey is excellent here), and is reminiscent of the 'good old days.' This is an excellent Criterion treatment, and I hope they do the same with American Graffiti!
I resent the idea that the people who like this movie are unfamiliar with the films that inspired it.
Why? People need an introduction somehow. I wasn't born with a copy of Band of Outsiders or 400 Blows. Most of my favorite bands were before my time...I learned about them through popular bands of my day who said they were influenced by them.
Why? People need an introduction somehow. I wasn't born with a copy of Band of Outsiders or 400 Blows. Most of my favorite bands were before my time...I learned about them through popular bands of my day who said they were influenced by them.
The review suggests if you like the movie it's because you don't know the films that inspired it. Not that people could enjoy it in its own right.
The review suggests if you like the movie it's because you don't know the films that inspired it. Not that people could enjoy it in its own right.
Yeah, the review is pretty lame IMO...there any many reasons why someone might enjoy the film. I have seen many of the new wave films he mentions, and I thought it was enjoyable.
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