The Criterion Collection

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by tisdivine

Speaking of House is it a better "watch before you buy" title? It looks awesome but rarely do I want to see horror movies twice. Is it horror? It just looks crazy to me lol

Its not exactly horror - it is ou to this world.

I believe the story was written by the directors daughter? and the director wanted to experiment with different special effects avoiding CGI.

The first half is cheesey, corny and over the top but it sets the second half of the film up perfectly, and then second half is more ghost story whacky out of this world. Although it does have clear themes and a point to it all, its not just whacky for the sake of being whacky, it explores a girl turning into a woman, it is essentially a coming of age story which ghosts and whacky haunting.

Its a weird film, its very comical and experimental - I LOVE it, I hate corny/cheesey/tacky films but this is incredible haha.

Not sure if I would recommend as you need to be in mood and try forget rules of filmmaking in a way haha.

I blind bought, double dipped and upgrade to bluray, got posters of it printed - I'm mad about it haha, its a brilliant cult film and really unique. The characters are so amazing in this and no idea is too out there for the film.

Criterion sum it up perfectly:

How to describe Nobuhiko Obayashi’s indescribable 1977 movie House (Hausu)? As a psychedelic ghost tale? A stream-of-consciousness bedtime story? An episode of Scooby-Doo as directed by Mario Bava? Any of the above will do for this hallucinatory head trip about a schoolgirl who travels with six classmates to her ailing aunt’s creaky country home and comes face-to-face with evil spirits, a demonic house cat, a bloodthirsty piano, and other ghoulish visions, all realized by Obayashi via mattes, animation, and collage effects. Equally absurd and nightmarish, House might have been beamed to Earth from some other planet. Never before available on home video in the United States, it’s one of the most exciting cult discoveries in years.

Oh also the soundtrack is just great

House (Hausu, 1977) - Main Theme - YouTube

[JeffTheMovieGuy]

Originally Posted by tisdivine

Speaking of House is it a better "watch before you buy" title? It looks awesome but rarely do I want to see horror movies twice. Is it horror? It just looks crazy to me lol

That is apart of the charm of it. Its a zany horror comedy steeped in Japanese demon mythology. I proudly own it and it was actually the first Criterion movie other than Ben Button that I own on blu-ray. I stand behind this product and give it a blind buy seal of approval.



Wait till you hear that theme song played for the billionth time and it sinks into your brain. I hum it when cleaning my house.

[JeffTheMovieGuy]

I'm currently waiting on Repo Man and Dazed and Confused to arrive. Seems to be stuck in Atlanta because they haven't updated the shipping info yet.

Jul 10 2014 Package transferred to Post Office ATLANTA, GA

I'm just going to expect it today.

[dsman71]

Originally Posted by JeffTheMovieGuy

That is apart of the charm of it. Its a zany horror comedy steeped in Japanese demon mythology. I proudly own it and it was actually the first Criterion movie other than Ben Button that I own on blu-ray. I stand behind this product and give it a blind buy seal of approval.



Wait till you hear that theme song played for the billionth time and it sinks into your brain. I hum it when cleaning my house.

Hausu / House is literally indescribable/there is no film like this that Im aware of, its like horror, cult, family, comedy, and the sleeve rocks

[Kevin Ridge]

Just finished The Hidden Fortress this morning. It has more humor than I would have thought going in but thought it was refreshing and made the movie a lot of fun. Mifune is just awesome though. Love seeing this guy on the screen and even with the comedy elements from other characters he brings an intensity like no other.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Kevin Ridge

Just finished The Hidden Fortress this morning. It has more humor than I would have thought going in but thought it was refreshing and made the movie a lot of fun. Mifune is just awesome though. Love seeing this guy on the screen and even with the comedy elements from other characters he brings an intensity like no other.

Glad to hear you liked it!

I watched it for the first time a few months ago and I had a blast with it.

[JeffTheMovieGuy]

Originally Posted by dsman71

Hausu / House is literally indescribable/there is no film like this that Im aware of, its like horror, cult, family, comedy, and the sleeve rocks

There has been no other movie that I have suggested more to people than House.

[Chaotic]

Originally Posted by JeffTheMovieGuy

There has been no other movie that I have suggested more to people than House.

I really want to see that. B&N didnt have it yesterday so ill order it.

[Mansinthe]

Originally Posted by Roninblues

+1
Wouldn't mind upgrading my Point Break, The Loveless, The Hurt Locker, Near Dark or Zero Dark Thirty

i found 2 of these movies to be "OK" , and 2 so boring i wouldnt want to own them on bluray.



Did Pro-B ever post a list of his top 10 (or more) criterion releases?

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Roninblues

+1
Wouldn't mind upgrading my Point Break, The Loveless, The Hurt Locker, Near Dark or Zero Dark Thirty

Point Break was one of the first Blu-rays that I upgraded from DVD. Near Dark followed a couple of months later.

[Herry Dunston]

Saw and enjoyed The Umbrellas of Cherbourg at a local small theater. Kinda surprised that people call this a tragedy, when it is barely bittersweet at best. Not to say that as a bad thing, but this film took the ultimate conclusion pretty darn well compared to romances of its kind.

[Mansinthe]

watched " I Married a witch " today. really good comedy. did enjoy that one alot and im probably gonna revisit it as well.

and the actress that played the witch looked so amazing. ! did enjoy here alot in Sullivans Travels as well.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

watched " I Married a witch " today. really good comedy. did enjoy that one alot and im probably gonna revisit it as well.

and the actress that played the witch looked so amazing. ! did enjoy here alot in Sullivans Travels as well.

Veronica Lake is an incredibly beautiful and marvelous actress. I've seen her in several films at this point and I've enjoyed her in all of them.

Here's to hoping that Sullivan's Travels is around the corner for an upgrade.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Veronica Lake is an incredibly beautiful and marvelous actress. I've seen her in several films at this point and I've enjoyed her in all of them.

I wish that Criterion would release This Gun for Hire.

[Mansinthe]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Here's to hoping that Sullivan's Travels is around the corner for an upgrade.

the Arrow Release is really good. if you are region free , grab it. there is a documentary about preston sturges... about a hour long.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I wish that Criterion would release This Gun for Hire.

I need to track that film down. It sounds awesome!

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

the Arrow Release is really good. if you are region free , grab it. there is a documentary about preston sturges... about a hour long.

I'm not.

It seems like it is for the best, though. I would be importing way too many films.

[Mansinthe]

Originally Posted by iScottie

It seems like it is for the best, though. I would be importing way too many films.

yes thats true. i at least do... ;P

[ParticleDan]

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

watched " I Married a witch " today. really good comedy. did enjoy that one alot and im probably gonna revisit it as well.

and the actress that played the witch looked so amazing. ! did enjoy here alot in Sullivans Travels as well.

There's some pretty funny behind-the-scenes trivia about this film (specifically Lake and March's on set relationship) on Wikipedia:

Joel McCrea was originally slated to play the male lead, but declined because he did not want to work with Veronica Lake again, after not getting along with her on Sullivan's Travels.[1] March and Lake also had problems, beginning with March's pre-production comment that Lake was "a brainless little blonde sexpot, void of any acting ability", to which Lake retaliated by calling March a "pompous poseur". Things did not get much better during filming, as Lake was prone to playing practical jokes on March, like hiding a 40-pound weight under her dress for a scene in which March had to carry her, or pushing her foot repeatedly into his groin during the filming of a from-the-waist-up shot

[Mansinthe]

Originally Posted by ParticleDan

like hiding a 40-pound weight under her dress for a scene

even with these 40 pounds she must have been pretty easy to carry around. shes only 150cm



is there a real chance Criterion might release these 2?

The Lady Without Camelias & Le Amiche
both a mid 50s movies from Michelangolo Antonioni

since criterion released a few of his movies i wonder if they will release these two as well. i really liked La Notte alot.
the MoC releases look fine but are not really loaded with bonus features

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by fahrenheit290

As people have mentioned a few titles they'd like to see in the collection, I wanted to mention one director: Kathryn Bigelow. I'm a huge fan. Her early work like Near Dark is fascinating. Her audio commentaries are very well thought out and articulated. She's also probably the best educated and most academic of her peers, someone who knows the history of the artform and seeks to push boundaries and establish her own unique niche. Her films take interesting positions and mash genres. And Zero Dark Thirty sets her as one of the greatest working directors now at the peak of her powers. I don't know what title I would choose...maybe Near Dark, maybe Zero Dark Thirty since that BD was very sparse without a commentary. I know some much lesser directors have their entire oeuvres presented in the best possible way...about time for Bigelow, someone who hasn't found the same Internet love and attention as other, cooler directors.

I'm a huge fan aswell. We desperately need Strange Days on BluRay!

Random Terrence Malick related aside: I never knew Q'orianka Kilcher was Jewel's cousin.