The Criterion Collection

[R o d]

Originally Posted by bstv69

What would you guys say are the best, English films shot in color? (Not Wes Anderson. I have paris, Texas and all of the pressburger/Powell films, I habe already seen all that heaven allows and liked it just would not purchase it). Thank you

The Malick films are the obvious ones, as iScottie has already mentioned. I would just add Bigger Than Life, Rosemary's Baby and This Happy Breed.

[Ausjdm]

Originally Posted by jw007

I just finished watching Breaking the Waves for the first time.

This was a HEAVY movie. That's the only word I can think of that I'm feeling right now. It's damn intense, its damn disturbing and its damn haunting. I think Lars Von Trier pushed this one as far to the limit as one could push and he succeeded by all means. Wow, I am not even sure what to think right now but this is basically a story of religion, sex and death that is unsurprisingly a pattern in his films. His films make me damn uncomfortable though. I didn't buy this movie. I borrowed it from the library. But now I cannot decide if I want to buy this now. I'm never in the mood to watch a film like this and if I buy this, I can see this sitting on my shelf for years without being viewed. Yet, its so damn good in some crazy way. I've used the word "damn" several times in this paragraph. This was a story about catharsis and redemption to me, and I have not seen a movie on this level of intensity in some time. The story is so terribly sad and yet is so fittingly alive and refreshing all the same. I could see this being a true story back in the 19th century as the men went out to sea while their wives lived alone back on land waiting for them to return. And maybe there was this unlucky, innocent woman who waited until marriage to lose her virginity and then the man suffers a debilitating accident out at sea and comes back paralyzed. And then the woman cannot live with this reality and tries to lose herself and redeem herself

[Show spoiler]and ultimately destroy herself

while all around her a highly close-minded Anglo Saxon community of devout religious people shun her from their lives and she is forced to deal with this suffering and tragedy on her own. And I bet this happened quite a bit, which makes this film all the more insanely realistic and horrific. Wow, if you want a horror film for Halloween, this is the one to see. But man, I'm just reeling still from this one.

Has anyone else felt the same way about Breaking the Waves too?

JW, Great review sir, well done!

[Ausjdm]

Here's a good criterion question from the sight and sound folks, better movie...Bicycle Thieves or Tokyo Story?

[ijustblumyself]

So I'm considering blind-buying the BBS set during this sale. What are some comparable films that I can use to gauge whether I'd enjoy it? Seems like a really interesting collection of films.

[ngower]

Originally Posted by jw007

Fair enough.

A Days of Heaven tattoo? I've never seen this before! Can you take a pic of it and post it on this thread? I'm sure other people would like to see this too (as long as, ummm, the tattoo isn't on any provocative part of your body, that is. lol).

I'm at work, so it's not the best, but...



It didn't come out exactly as I'd hoped—wanted a bit more of a painterly quality too it, but it's still fine. My frustration is that I've got other film-related tattoos and you can tell what it is immediately, whereas this one requires a bit of explanation. Probably my least favorite of the tattoos I've got, but it's here forever, so...

[EDIT] While I'm at it...




I've also got the Imperial insignia from Star Wars on my leg, but y'all know what that looks like. One day I hope to get a bad-ass Blade Runner something-or-other, but I want it to be HUGE.

[Clare2904]

Originally Posted by ngower

I'm at work, so it's not the best, but...



It didn't come out exactly as I'd hoped—wanted a bit more of a painterly quality too it, but it's still fine. My frustration is that I've got other film-related tattoos and you can tell what it is immediately, whereas this one requires a bit of explanation. Probably my least favorite of the tattoos I've got, but it's here forever, so...

Can you reveal the other tattoos? Please don't get yourself fired if you are at work

[ngower]

Originally Posted by Clare2904

Can you reveal the other tattoos? Please don't get yourself fired if you are at work

I edited in the other two Criterion-related tattoos I've got. I'd love to get something alluding to Malick, but how in the hell I'd pull that off, I don't know.

[BladeRunner2007]

Originally Posted by minister_x

Yes, for some Panasonic players, and a selection of Region A titles (not just Criterions). However I don't know if there's a list of all the models or even if all the models work the same for all titles.



It's a workaround for those with certain Region B players - some Criterion titles (obviously locked to 'A') can be 'tricked' into playing after getting the region incompatibility message by stopping the disc (with Stop), then pressing Top Menu, which bypasses the coding. It was for some of the older Panasonic players, but newer ones may have closed the loophole...

Thanks, I only have a Sony player, so that probably won't work.

[blu-bry]

Originally Posted by ngower

It was made by a 23-year old with his friends from film school. How many 23 year olds do you know with this masterful vision? And Tim Orr, cinematographer, was just over 30 at the time. Budget was like $40,000 which David Gordon Green got mostly from working/saving for a year. Most of the actors were first-time/kids. It's really an incredible accomplishment from a production standpoint. I find it inspiring.

For me a film needs to stand on it's own merits. I don't consider the age of the people involved in making it except maybe in the case of a child actor that just blows me away. If I like a film I will look into some of the trivia about the making of it, but younger directors don't get extra credit from me due to their age. But, then again, who am I?

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by geekesmind

is Down by Law Blu-ray



a good one to buy?

Absolutely!

It was the first Jarmusch film that I saw and I loved it from start to finish.

[Jakamarak]

Originally Posted by ngower

I'm at work, so it's not the best, but...



It didn't come out exactly as I'd hoped—wanted a bit more of a painterly quality too it, but it's still fine. My frustration is that I've got other film-related tattoos and you can tell what it is immediately, whereas this one requires a bit of explanation. Probably my least favorite of the tattoos I've got, but it's here forever, so...

[EDIT] While I'm at it...




I've also got the Imperial insignia from Star Wars on my leg, but y'all know what that looks like. One day I hope to get a bad-ass Blade Runner something-or-other, but I want it to be HUGE.

Your movie related tattoos remind me of ZEROVILLE by Steve Erickson. The protagonist has a tattoo from A PLACE IN THE SUN (which would be a great Criterion release, btw). Also, Dreyer's THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC figures prominently in it as well.

[ngower]

Originally Posted by blu-bry

For me a film needs to stand on it's own merits. I don't consider the age of the people involved in making it except maybe in the case of a child actor that just blows me away. If I like a film I will look into some of the trivia about the making of it, but younger directors don't get extra credit from me due to their age. But, then again, who am I?

I think the film does stand on its own merits, though. Let me begin by saying that I don't think this is one of the premier films of all time, but I do certainly think it's a great film and given the 700-odd titles in the Collection, I don't think it's out of place.

Further, with respect to the Malick criticisms, Malick is very good at capturing his subjects with a certain innocence—there's no judgement of his characters (think about it: half his protagonists killed someone!). DGG does the same thing with children: there's something relatable about the way the children interact with their settings/surroundings. Hell, even the adults have a child-like quality to them. Everything just feels like somewhere I've been, something I've experienced, some part of my life that was extracted from my brain and put on screen. There's a tactile nature to George Washington that I don't find from most high-brow art house cinema. When I said proletarian means of filmmaking in a previous post, I meant exactly that: this is a grounded, surface-level film that doesn't operate in higher planes of consciousness or meaning—this isn't the Tree of Life and it doesn't want to be!

That was all Kerouac'd out of me and I don't feel like editing so hopefully it makes sense.

[Nielsb90]

I usually don't watch many special features, but the 45 minute interview on Hausu was amazing! So much information, cool stories and insight to the Japanese movie industry of that era. I think this is one of the few releases on which I'll devour all of the features!

[tisdivine]

[/quote][EDIT] While I'm at it...

[/quote]

OMG Little Edie is my Hero!!! Every 4th of July I always do the sparkler/american flag dance for my family. Its a tradition now. High fives bro.

[oliver_67]

Originally Posted by Ausjdm

Here's a good criterion question from the sight and sound folks, better movie...Bicycle Thieves or Tokyo Story?

Sophie's choice here. They are equal as far as artistic achievement and influence are concerned.

That said, the Passion of Joan Arc is a superior movie. All u need to know are two words: Mario Falconetti.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Bad Sandwich

I would say that's a different context than what I meant and what jayembee seemed to be suggesting. Did you see where I mentioned familiarity earlier? Sure, if some random person is browsing Criterions in B&N and starts buzzing on and on to you about his love for Criterion and "Criterion movies" (lol!) then there's an establishment of (vague) familiarity, thus expectation, thus reasonable grounds for surprise upon learning none of the latest announced titles do it for him. Personally I wouldn't be surprised in that scenario, since we're talking about a tiny swath of a collection of hundreds of films of different genres, but I get the rationale.

But jayembee seemed to be talking about "surprise" at the mere prospect of random stranger feeling differently about something than you do, which yes, I would have to maintain IS "kooky". This is of course ignoring he answered/contradicted himself in his own comment by acknowleding diversity of taste right before questioning why it would be odd to be surprised at someone not liking something that you do, but hey. Like I said previously I think it's semantic and he didnt mean actual "surprise" - more like kneejerk vehemence toward an opposing view about something you're passionate about.

I'm only half following this conversation... a bit too much philosophy on a topic that doesn't quite merit the attention, but (see the highlighted part) isn't that EXACTLY what is going on here? an establishment of familiarity? not to mention the fact that many posters post so regularly here that it is more than just a vague familiarity.

I remember Jay's fav western, the one film in the CC that he doesn't like that everyone else is gaga about, he likes Tati, etc.. not sure if I am digressing from the topic. maybe I'm just saying I appreciate his contributions to the forum. but when a fellow CC enthusiast says, "nothing for me this month," I don't think its too far fetched to be surprised... the poster this month who acted "surprised" (if you will) said "really?" and nothing more than that. that's only sarcastic if you read into it.

[ngower]

Originally Posted by tisdivine

OMG Little Edie is my Hero!!! Every 4th of July I always do the sparkler/american flag dance for my family. Its a tradition now. High fives bro.

You're either a rad woman or a gay male. No in-between. Am I wrong?!

And before anyone claims I'm being insensitive: click here

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by ngower

I think the film does stand on its own merits, though. Let me begin by saying that I don't think this is one of the premier films of all time, but I do certainly think it's a great film and given the 700-odd titles in the Collection, I don't think it's out of place.

Further, with respect to the Malick criticisms, Malick is very good at capturing his subjects with a certain innocence—there's no judgement of his characters (think about it: half his protagonists killed someone!). DGG does the same thing with children: there's something relatable about the way the children interact with their settings/surroundings. Hell, even the adults have a child-like quality to them. Everything just feels like somewhere I've been, something I've experienced, some part of my life that was extracted from my brain and put on screen. There's a tactile nature to George Washington that I don't find from most high-brow art house cinema. When I said proletarian means of filmmaking in a previous post, I meant exactly that: this is a grounded, surface-level film that doesn't operate in higher planes of consciousness or meaning—this isn't the Tree of Life and it doesn't want to be!

That was all Kerouac'd out of me and I don't feel like editing so hopefully it makes sense.

It has been years since I last saw George Washington, but I really liked it - so much so that I couldn't wait to see what he would do next. So, I saw his next 4 films during their theatrical run - All The Real Girls, Undertow, Snow Angels, and Pineapple Express. He lost me at Pineapple Express.

All The Real Girls has the same kind of understated whimsy, the Malick-like cinematography, but a much better story. It tore my up when I saw it. Who knows how it would hold up now, but I'd recommend that before anyone completely dismisses David Gordon Green. It is a good relationship/romance flick made for guys. I guess that is how I would put it.

On a side note, once again, I am somewhat against the grain here in liking DGG. I'm beginning to feel like the Armond White of bluray.com.

[ngower]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

It has been years since I last saw George Washington, but I really liked it - so much so that I couldn't wait to see what he would do next. So, I saw his next 4 films during their theatrical run - All The Real Girls, Undertow, Snow Angels, and Pineapple Express. He lost me at Pineapple Express.

All The Real Girls has the same kind of understated whimsy, the Malick-like cinematography, but a much better story. It tore my up when I saw it. Who knows how it would hold up now, but I'd recommend that before anyone completely dismisses David Gordon Green. It is a good relationship/romance flick made for guys. I guess that is how I would put it.

On a side note, once again, I am somewhat against the grain here in liking DGG. I'm beginning to feel like the Armond White of bluray.com.

I've been meaning to rent All The Real Girls this week. I just found out the other day that it was filmed primarily in Asheville and the surrounding areas (where I currently live) and so I want to check it out to see what this town looked like a decade or so ago.

I encourage people to watch interviews and things of that sort with DGG. He definitely knows what he's talking about and has the same enthusiasm as someone like Tarantino or Smith where he can just nerd out about shit and have no qualms about it.

[soarinsteven]

I watched Almodóvar's Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! for the first time. It's on netflix instant for those curious before its release next month. I liked it, but I was a little taken aback about him playing the Stockholm syndrome seriously considering how progressive, and complex his portrayal of female characters tend to be. Still, very funny, and his use of bold colors is always wonderful to behold. Shocked this got an NC-17 rating. Ridiculous. Felt the same way when I sae Blue Valentine, and that got a NC-17 rating originally before Weinstein thankfully repealed and succeeded. The MPAA's bias towards sex and nudity is beyond aggravating. This is the 14th Almodóvar I've seen. I've liked/loved them all except his most recent I'm So Excited! Very cool to see Criterion get a title of his in their collection. Hopefully it won't be the last one.


Also watched Y tu mamá también. It had been years since I've last seen. It's also on netflix instant btw. I always remember how funny and sexy it is, but forget how sad it is. The way the narrator cuts in talking about the economic and social changes happening in turn of the 21st century Mexico, and of course the devolution of the boys' friendship. :/