The Criterion Collection

[wilky61]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

I enjoy Criterion since it's one of the rare collection that will releases movies from Sergei Eisenstein, Akira Kurosawa, Yasurijo Ozu....Movies that just won't really get a wide releases like Avatar cause they will not be liked by a very large public So I am always happy for Criterion or Studio Canal and Kino for this, otherwise I would not be able to buy these movies. I don't buy every Criterion movies. Yes I guess some of the regulars in the main Criterion thread do buy all of them and I can't comment on their choices, it's up to them. I go and buy those that truly interest me but I will rent as many of the others I can manage. I am curious and a fan of cinema and so I will want to see them at least once. As for the snobs, well yes I suppose that certain people who enjoy Criterion may sound snobs at time but it's not exclusive to them let me tell you

As for what are the best movies to start to enjoy Criterion. Certain directors are a bit easier to get into then others and the movies of AKira Kurosawa do fall into that. You may want to rent Seven Samurai (DVD only for now) or catch on Blu-ray the movies Kagemusha, Ran, Yojimbo & Sanjuro. I think he is a fairly easy director to introduce yourself to Criterion. After that as per your taste there is so much but it's hard to recommend something. I would suggest to rent them one at a time and get introduce to them. There are so many excellent directors in Criterion Jean Renoir, Fredirico Fellini, François Truffaut, Ingmar Bergman.....just go into them with an open mind and of course don't approach them like a general Hollywood releases but give them time and they might surprise you.

I agree with the bolded statement and almost said it directly myself when I listed those two Kurosawa films in my earlier post.

Originally Posted by TravmacDaddy

I don't like Wes Anderson, but I love Rushmore, I only buy Blu-Rays, is Rushmore supposed to be making a Criterion appearance on Blu-Ray any time soon, cuz I may pick that one up.

And in regards to my collection, I only buy movies my wife likes, I like alot of cinema, but she likes mainstreem crap, so I buy what she both enjoys as well as myself.

I agree with your first paragraph. I like Anderson alright, but IMO Rushmore is by far the best film he ever made. Like you, I am very eager to purchase it on Blu, but it's one of 400+ films waiting in the vault for a BR release. We may be waiting for awhile.

In my experience (and I don't mean to stereotype or make hegemonic sexist insinuations), women aren't so interested in the story/meaning/message of the film but more interested in its main actors and actresses. That's not to say that my girlfriend doesn't like quality movies with good stories. Rather, I'm saying that she doesn't mind watching something 'artistic' if it has actors with whom she's familiar and enamored. She might put up with watching the occasional CC film to make me happy, and she might even admit that she liked it after the closing credits roll. But she wouldn't remember the name of the film or the fact that she'd watched three months later because she's not interested in cinema history as I am. As such, I would hesitate to watch a subtitled Criterion film from the 1940s with her... And these days, I just don't find myself that interested in watching films without her for my own personal benefit (and I'm not even married ).

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by italy12

One of the easiest films for me to digest upon a first viewing was "Bigger Than Life." I thouroughly enjoyed James Mason's portrayal of a teacher who becomes addicted to this new drug, cortisone, and how it effects him, his family, and his job.

-Dave

Yes that is true, that is another Criterion that make's for a good introduction for those not use to it

[jimonee78]

Who cares why people purchase Criterion DVDs and Blu-rays, whether it is because they like collecting them or they are actually into the films themselves. Hell, use them as coasters for all I care. As long as people are buying Criterions and helping to fund future releases I am happy.

[jcs913]

Originally Posted by buffetfroid

While it is hard to compare Criterion releases to quality flicks like I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, it seems that Criterion is popular on these forums with some people who simply have a collector's mentality. Kind of like the fixation people have with steelcases. It's less about the film than the spine number or the packaging.

I love this question/comment, as it has been asked and discussed many times in this forum. My belief is that if someone spends money to buy something to have, so be it. Whether it is for the love of the film itself, or to have a 'collection' of them, who cares. People burn ridiculous amounts of money on many stupid things in life. If they can gain a little culture from it, then that is good. Criterion also makes money from it, hence being able to purchase further great films in the future. Simple economics to me...

[neo_reloaded]

Originally Posted by wilky61

In my experience (and I don't mean to stereotype or make hegemonic sexist insinuations), women aren't so interested in the story/meaning/message of the film but more interested in its main actors and actresses. That's not to say that my girlfriend doesn't like quality movies with good stories. Rather, I'm saying that she doesn't mind watching something 'artistic' if it has actors with whom she's familiar and enamored. She might put up with watching the occasional CC film to make me happy, and she might even admit that she liked it after the closing credits roll. But she wouldn't remember the name of the film or the fact that she'd watched three months later because she's not interested in cinema history as I am. As such, I would hesitate to watch a subtitled Criterion film from the 1940s with her... And these days, I just don't find myself that interested in watching films without her for my own personal benefit (and I'm not even married ).

How long have you two been together? If it's only a relatively short while, then I understand. But if you've been together awhile, I suggest you find a little "me-time" for things like Criterion films or books or hobbies - it's good to have one's own interests and indulge in them from time to time! If I only watched the films that interested my various girlfriends over the years, I feel I'd have missed out on quite a many things!

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by wilky61

Criterion Collection releases the films for the film snobs.

if a "film snob" watches Criterion, what do we call those who claim to have transcended Criterion?

[neo_reloaded]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

if a "film snob" watches Criterion, what do we call those who claim to have transcended Criterion?

I have an answer to this question, but I dare not say it aloud for fear of a 2-page derail.

[mcdaking84]

I thought pierot le fou was going out of stock? did they start to reprint it?

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Wow you do have me beat and me who try so hard to follow the good Canadian guy tradition Did I fail?

See, bad guys get attention.

But anyways, thanks alot you guys who gave me some rep, and I'll try to return the favor when this 24 hours is up when I can give some more. I'll give some to the guys I listed awhile ago too.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by neo_reloaded

I have an answer to this question, but I dare not say it aloud for fear of a 2-page derail.

Don't worry, I'm good now.

[Volume11]

Originally Posted by neo_reloaded

I have an answer to this question, but I dare not say it aloud for fear of a 2-page derail.

Criterionforum.org members?

[Volume11]

Originally Posted by wilky61

Anyway, I've seen like ten CC films that I would ever want to watch again and even fewer that anybody I know would ever want to watch again (e.g., my girlfriend, who is my primary film-watching partner).
l[/i]...

But maybe I'm just a cynical a-hole. I went through my CC phase, but now I don't see the point.

1. So out of 500 plus DVDs you only think 10 are worth watching again? I mean, Im not the CC collector nerd that has to have every release like others in this thread but I can easily pick at least 100 or so that are 100% worth watching again and have had a huge influence on cinema, even mainstream titles that you might prefer as more palatable.

2. CC are a third party who simply release films from other production companies. Saying you are "through" with the company as a whole seems ill informed. For as many "art house" films as they release they also have many titles that at one point in history were widely popular, especially foreign titles that may not have been released in the states but were huge titles in their native lands...meaning its not all generic art house films.

3. Who cares what your girlfriend thinks. If I only watched or bought films my wife liked I'd have a terrible collection consisting only of Working Girl, Zoolander, and Sex and in the City. To each his own, but using another person as a barometer for ANYTHING that elicits a personal response is an unfair treatment to any form of art, expression, or even mere entertainment.

[fdm]

Seems my shipment from last week, the one without a tracking number, was put on hold. For some reason this time around they decided that "Box", rather than "P.O. Box", was a bad address, and they were apparently just going to let it sit in limbo until I asked about it.

Funny, none of my previous orders, each using the very same address, had that "issue"...

[wilky61]

Originally Posted by Volume11

1. So out of 500 plus DVDs you only think 10 are worth watching again?

2. For as many "art house" films as they release they also have many titles that at one point in history were widely popular, especially foreign titles that may not have been released in the states but were huge titles in their native lands...meaning its not all generic art house films.

3. Who cares what your girlfriend thinks. If I only watched or bought films my wife liked I'd have a terrible collection consisting only of Working Girl, Zoolander, and Sex and in the City. To each his own, but using another person as a barometer for ANYTHING that elicits a personal response is an unfair treatment to any form of art, expression, or even mere entertainment.

1. I obviously haven't seen all 500, but yes that's what I said.

2. I took a Global Cinema class this past semester as the capstone to my film minor, and quite frankly it was the most boring film class out of the seven I took in college. I really don't care about national cinemas outside of the French (e.g., Abbas Kiarostami in Iran or the Dogma 95 movement in Denmark). Note that this is not the same as saying "I don't like foreign films."

3. To put it succinctly, I'm not too fond of watching films by myself. I originally typed this in a private message to Neo Reloaded but I guess I'll paste it here. This is mostly in response to his saying "I was in a 5-year relationship until pretty recently and I probably spent 3 of those years trying to get her to watch foreign or cerebral films and it was always a struggle."

"Haha, my girlfriend would never be interested in foreign/cerebral films, and it would be detrimental to try to force them on her. Still, we tend to watch a lot of "my" movies and hardly any of hers. This is partly because I have the power of Blu on my side and a fairly decent HDTV, but this is also because she generally isn't opposed to the films I show her while I'd be miserable watching hers (mostly Disney films and chick-flicks). As I mentioned in the CC thread, though, she's fine watching something like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, North by Northwest, Inglourious Basterds, Eastern Promises, Children of Men, Bonnie & Clyde, Cool Hand Luke, etc. because the entertainment value in the stories is fairly high and she knows most of the main players. Most people would consider the likes of these to be fairly quality and enriching films, and yet I only own a couple Criterions."

[Volume11]

Originally Posted by wilky61

1. I obviously haven't seen all 500, but yes that's what I said.

2. I took a Global Cinema class this past semester as the capstone to my film minor, and quite frankly it was the most boring film class out of the seven I took in college. I really don't care about national cinemas outside of the French (e.g., Abbas Kiarostami in Iran or the Dogma 95 movement in Denmark). Note that this is not the same as saying "I don't like foreign films."

3. To put it succinctly, I'm not too fond of watching films by myself. I originally typed this in a private message to Neo Reloaded but I guess I'll paste it here. This is mostly in response to his saying "I was in a 5-year relationship until pretty recently and I probably spent 3 of those years trying to get her to watch foreign or cerebral films and it was always a struggle."

"Haha, my girlfriend would never be interested in foreign/cerebral films, and it would be detrimental to try to force them on her. Still, we tend to watch a lot of "my" movies and hardly any of hers. This is partly because I have the power of Blu on my side and a fairly decent HDTV, but this is also because she generally isn't opposed to the films I show her while I'd be miserable watching hers (mostly Disney films and chick-flicks). As I mentioned in the CC thread, though, she's fine watching something like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, North by Northwest, Inglourious Basterds, Eastern Promises, Children of Men, Bonnie & Clyde, Cool Hand Luke, etc. because the entertainment value in the stories is fairly high and she knows most of the main players. Most people would consider the likes of these to be fairly quality and enriching films, and yet I only own a couple Criterions."

I've also taken boring film classes and it never persuaded me to paint the entire history of foreign cinema, save two niches, with such a broad stroke. That stance, while well within your rights, seems incredibly narrow and reverse film snobbish. You should judge each and every film on its owns merits and nothing else. Sure, we all have bias and preferences but to just say CC or foreign cinema in the broad manner you are seems unfair.

And again, you should watch what you want and never let anyone influence a purchase or rental. Sure, if you have a movie date should you meet halfway or take turns with picks? Of course. But as far as personal collections and such I don't see your PM response to Neo as valid or pertaining to my point.

[aox]

I generally don't like Ugandan cinema, but I am open to any film someone thinks I should check out from our African neighbor.

[Nick At Now]

are there pics of the By Brakhage Anthology packaging anywhere?

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by NiCK Crush

are there pics of the By Brakhage Anthology packaging anywhere?

that's the what I saw in the store Tuesday

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by NiCK Crush

are there pics of the By Brakhage Anthology packaging anywhere?

Yes, go over to criterionforum.org for the photos. Here's the link.

CC

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

that's the what I saw in the store Tuesday

That's the original Vol. 1 DVD set.