The Criterion Collection

[fahrenheit290]

I caught two Criterion releases yesterday on TCM (the latter is unfortunately not available in blu-ray yet). I thought The Battle of Algiers was an extraordinary movie. It feels like it was just shot yesterday....absolutely incredible editing, camerawork, and of course the staging of a revolution. No documentary footage was used...the bombs seemed so real...I highly recommend this one. I could see so many directors today who have probably looked back on this film through their recent output. In fact, the Criterion feature with five directors speaking about the film (Lee, Nair, Schnabel, Soderbergh, Stone) is available on YouTube and was great to listen to.

The Virgin Spring was also fantastic. A deeply religious film that touches on man's relationship with God, whether he exists, and succeeds where many other films come short. I really enjoyed it.

[Show spoiler]That final scene, as Karin's body is picked up and the water flows, was stunning, as was the long shot of Max von Sydow's praying.

This was a great companion piece to Seventh Seal, which I purchased and saw recently.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by fahrenheit290

I caught two Criterion releases yesterday on TCM (the latter is unfortunately not available in blu-ray yet). I thought The Battle of Algiers was an extraordinary movie. It feels like it was just shot yesterday....absolutely incredible editing, camerawork, and of course the staging of a revolution. No documentary footage was used...the bombs seemed so real...I highly recommend this one. I could see so many directors today who have probably looked back on this film through their recent output. In fact, the Criterion feature with five directors speaking about the film (Lee, Nair, Schnabel, Soderbergh, Stone) is available on YouTube and was great to listen to.

The Virgin Spring was also fantastic. A deeply religious film that touches on man's relationship with God, whether he exists, and succeeds where many other films come short. I really enjoyed it.

[Show spoiler]That final scene, as Karin's body is picked up and the water flows, was stunning, as was the long shot of Max von Sydow's praying

. This was a great companion piece to Seventh Seal, which I purchased and saw recently.

might wanna slap some spoiler tags in the second paragraph there, my friend.

thanks,

Criterion thread police

[Judex]

Originally Posted by fahrenheit290

The Virgin Spring

[Show spoiler]was also fantastic. A deeply religious film that touches on man's relationship with God, whether he exists, and succeeds where many other films come short. I really enjoyed it. That final scene, as Karin's body is picked up and the water flows, was stunning, as was the long shot of Max von Sydow's praying. This was a great companion piece to Seventh Seal, which I purchased and saw recently.

Germany, Spain, already have this. With a French release coming at the end of this month, I don't think any have English subtitles sadly.

Hopefully it'll be coming from Criterion soon.

[The Great Owl]

I changed the pace somewhat last night by watching Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, since I purchased the Blu-ray a couple months back. I'm astounded at how immaculate this movie looks, despite its age. The extras and the commentary are almost as entertaining as the film itself. It's amazing how innovative this movie was upon its release, although we take a lot of these things for granted now. I imagine that the early scene with Snow White looking down into the rippling well water was to audience at the time what Jurassic Park or Gravity was to modern audiences.

I only own three animated films on Blu-ray, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and The Secret of NIMH (where my username comes from). My preferences lean heavily toward live-action films, but these three are always good for a fun movie night.

On the Criterion front, I'm curious as to what animated films, if any, will be picked up by Criterion after Fantastic Mr. Fox. I have no interest in that particular title, but I'd be intrigued to see some interesting and underrated animation choices.

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by Judex

Germany, Spain, already have this. With a French release coming at the end of this month, I don't think any have English subtitles sadly.

Hopefully it'll be coming from Criterion soon.

I hope so too. The Virgin Spring is one of my most anticipated titles.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

would "the great dictator" make a good first chaplin movie?

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Go with Modern Times.

I dunno. I love Modern Times, but it doesn't scream "Chaplin" to me as much as The Gold Rush or City Lights do.

[Meek12345]

Is Au Hasard Balthazar really depressing? I have it on my DVR to watch, but I keep on skipping over it to watch other recordings. Animal cruelty is one of my sore spots. I have been enjoying Bresson's films lately though. I have seen Pickpocket, A Man Escaped, and Diary of a Country Priest recently. I'm afraid that I might be an emotional mess at the end of Au Hasard Balthazar though. I cried after watching the ending of Blow Out last night, which is probably unusual.

[Rich Pure Doom]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I changed the pace somewhat last night by watching Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, since I purchased the Blu-ray a couple months back. I'm astounded at how immaculate this movie looks, despite its age. The extras and the commentary are almost as entertaining as the film itself. It's amazing how innovative this movie was upon its release, although we take a lot of these things for granted now. I imagine that the early scene with Snow White looking down into the rippling well water was to audience at the time what Jurassic Park or Gravity was to modern audiences.

I only own three animated films on Blu-ray, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and The Secret of NIMH (where my username comes from). My preferences lean heavily toward live-action films, but these three are always good for a fun movie night.

On the Criterion front, I'm curious as to what animated films, if any, will be picked up by Criterion after Fantastic Mr. Fox. I have no interest in that particular title, but I'd be intrigued to see some interesting and underrated animation choices.

You need to get some Studio Ghibli in your collection ASAP. For a serious film collector, they blow Disney out of the water. Watch Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, Grave of the Fireflies, Only Yesterday, Spirited Away, and Porco Rosso, to start. Miyazaki's films play out more like Ozu's films than a Walt Disney film. I could never get into animated films the way I do live action until I got into Ghibli, and now I put them on the same level as Kane, 8 1/2, or Rio Bravo! They are that good!

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Rich Pure Doom

You need to get some Studio Ghibli in your collection ASAP. For a serious film film collector, they blow Disney out of the water. Watch Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, Grave of the Fireflies, Only Yesterday, Spirited Away, and Porco Rosso, to start. Miyazaki's films play out more like Ozu's films than a Walt Disney film.

What he said. Of course, not all of the above are available on Blu-ray. The three best (the first three RPD lists) are all on Blu, though. Do not start with Ponyo, though. It's a perfectly fine movie, but somewhat atypical of Miyazaki.

That said, I'm also a fan of the classic Disney (and several of the Disney Renaissance -- i.e. starting with The Little Mermaid). Seeing Sleeping Beauty back in the late 50s when I was just a little squirt is one of my fondest movie-going memories. Nice to have it on Blu-ray.

And there's also Pixar. Pretty much any Pixar movie is worth owning (the notable exceptions being the two Cars films and Monsters University). And the Dark Knight Trilogy and the Marvel Cinematic Universe be damned, I still think The Incredibles is the best superhero movie ever.

And I loved both of the Despicable Me films.

[bwdowiak]

I think that I'll give Grave of the Fireflies a try next week when I have to return my current titles to the library. 2 votes for it here and 1 loud obnoxious vote for it on the best of the 1980's thread.. curiosity has piqued. I have never liked anything animated (feature length films, that is) but looking forward to giving this a spin.

[SilentDawn]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I think that I'll give Grave of the Fireflies a try next week when I have to return my current titles to the library. 2 votes for it here and 1 loud obnoxious vote for it on the best of the 1980's thread.. curiosity has piqued. I have never liked anything animated (feature length films, that is) but looking forward to giving this a spin.

It's an absolute marvel Bwdowiak, I think you will be impressed.

Be warned though; I was a wreck after watching it for the first time.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by SilentDawn

It's an absolute marvel Bwdowiak, I think you will be impressed.

Be warned though; I was a wreck after watching it for the first time.

I absolutely love weepy stuff. Can't wait!

[SilentDawn]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I absolutely love weepy stuff. Can't wait!

I would really love this to come to The Criterion Collection one day, I think it would fit right in.

[BLOFELD]

just screened "night of the hunter" on dvd.

i elected to go with the dvd over the blu ray as the aspect ratios are the same and the dvd is much more reasonably priced.

fantastic transfer and certainly money well spent!

[SilentDawn]

Originally Posted by BLOFELD

just screened "night of the hunter" on dvd.

i elected to go with the dvd over the blu ray as the aspect ratios are the same and the dvd is much more reasonably priced.

fantastic transfer and certainly money well spent!

I love, love, love, LOVE that film!

The river sequence is in my top five scenes in all of cinema, Chills man the chills.....

[jetthead]

Originally Posted by jayembee

I dunno. I love Modern Times, but it doesn't scream "Chaplin" to me as much as The Gold Rush or City Lights do.

I'd suggest The Gold Rush or City Lights as well.

[momaw]

Just received my copy of Marketa Lazarova based on all the great feedback from you guys. For some reason I was expecting cardboard packaging for this and was a little disappointed it was just a plain amaray. I don't know why I expected that. Perhaps it's the cover art that just seems like it belongs on a card cover rather than behind glossy plastic.

Anyway, I have a huge pile of films to watch after getting a few more over the last week (Chinatown, Black Rain, Robocop and the Riddick boxset). I need more free time.

[mrjohnnyb]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I changed the pace somewhat last night by watching Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, since I purchased the Blu-ray a couple months back. I'm astounded at how immaculate this movie looks, despite its age. The extras and the commentary are almost as entertaining as the film itself. It's amazing how innovative this movie was upon its release, although we take a lot of these things for granted now. I imagine that the early scene with Snow White looking down into the rippling well water was to audience at the time what Jurassic Park or Gravity was to modern audiences.

I only own three animated films on Blu-ray, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and The Secret of NIMH (where my username comes from). My preferences lean heavily toward live-action films, but these three are always good for a fun movie night.

On the Criterion front, I'm curious as to what animated films, if any, will be picked up by Criterion after Fantastic Mr. Fox. I have no interest in that particular title, but I'd be intrigued to see some interesting and underrated animation choices.

I don't own The Secret of NIMH, but I do own the other two. As far as animation is concerned, I highly recommend Fantasia, Dumbo, Pinnochio, Grave of the Fireflies, and My Neighbor Totoro. I have not seen Spirited Away, but I have been told that it is a "must-own" once it comes to blu.

Owl, I thought I read here that you owned Mary Poppins. Do you not count that as an animated film?

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I think that I'll give Grave of the Fireflies a try next week when I have to return my current titles to the library. 2 votes for it here and 1 loud obnoxious vote for it on the best of the 1980's thread.. curiosity has piqued. I have never liked anything animated (feature length films, that is) but looking forward to giving this a spin.

I don't know if you have children, but if you do, be prepared for Grave of the Fireflies to completely gut you. I had seen it several times before and always found it be sad, but the first time I watched it after my son was born I was completely destroyed. I have never had a movie affect me like that. Of course, I still love it

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

would "the great dictator" make a good first chaplin movie?

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Go with Modern Times.

Originally Posted by jayembee

I dunno. I love Modern Times, but it doesn't scream "Chaplin" to me as much as The Gold Rush or City Lights do.

Originally Posted by jetthead

I'd suggest The Gold Rush or City Lights as well.

I'm not a huge Chaplin guy so in a 'what did I warm up to most easily' vein I would throw a vote toward City Lights.

The Gold Rush was probably the hardest slog. I had a bit of a hard time getting into Modern Times (I had a much better time with it once it moved out of the factory) but that was nothing compared to The Gold Rush. I've only watched the 1925 version but it really dragged for me.

City Lights was pretty engaging right from the start. I wouldn't say I was bowled over by it but - and I know how left-handed this sounds - it was the closest I've come to really liking a Chaplin film.

So, for whatever that's all worth...