The Criterion Collection

[*DrStrangelove*]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I watched the shorter one (1978) and it's my favorite of his films.

Originally Posted by GenPion

Watch the shorter version. At least first.

Originally Posted by oildude

I watched the longer version first. The shorter re-release removed a large portion of the nightclub acts present in the original, plus has some different takes of the same scene and scene rearrangements. I actually greatly prefer the longer version. This was Cassavetes' original vision as released in 1976, but was pulled from limited release after only a week. Cassavetes decided to re-edit and release the shorter version two years later.

Thanks everyone. I'll probably start with the shorter version then watch the longer one

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by The Bronx Bull

Gentlemen,

I'm thinking about doing a trip out to the Los Angeles/San Francisco area in a few months - coming from New York, fly into LA and ride (a motorcycle) up to SF via Route 1. I'm trying to compile a list of things I would like to see along the way that are film related. In addition to some sight-seeing, I have a special interest in seeing famous and/or old filming locations - with a special interest in film noir. Places where a pivotal scene took place in a movie, or an authentic location where an old-school Hollywood type would hang out are fascinating to me, just to stand there.

Here's what I have so far:

Los Angeles
Bogart/Bacall "Rat Pack" house
Universal Studios - Psycho filming location
Pacino/DeNiro "Heat" diner scene location - I was informed that this was closed.
Dietrichson Home from Double Indemnity
Possible locations for: The Big Sleep, Kiss Me Deadly, etc
Griffith Observatory from Rebel Without a Cause

Along Route 1
Heart Castle (from Citizen Kane)
James Dean's crash location

San Francisco
Bodega Bay - The Birds filming locations
Santa Rosa - Shadow of a Doubt filming locations
Alcatraz Island

Can anyone from the Golden State make any recommendations?

Hearst castle is definitely worth the visit. I've only done a day time tour, but I hear the night ones are where its at.

[joie]

Originally Posted by The Bronx Bull

Gentlemen,

I'm thinking about doing a trip out to the Los Angeles/San Francisco area in a few months - coming from New York, fly into LA and ride (a motorcycle) up to SF via Route 1. I'm trying to compile a list of things I would like to see along the way that are film related. In addition to some sight-seeing, I have a special interest in seeing famous and/or old filming locations - with a special interest in film noir. Places where a pivotal scene took place in a movie, or an authentic location where an old-school Hollywood type would hang out are fascinating to me, just to stand there.

Here's what I have so far:

Los Angeles
Bogart/Bacall "Rat Pack" house
Universal Studios - Psycho filming location
Pacino/DeNiro "Heat" diner scene location - I was informed that this was closed.
Dietrichson Home from Double Indemnity
Possible locations for: The Big Sleep, Kiss Me Deadly, etc
Griffith Observatory from Rebel Without a Cause

Along Route 1
Heart Castle (from Citizen Kane)
James Dean's crash location

San Francisco
Bodega Bay - The Birds filming locations
Santa Rosa - Shadow of a Doubt filming locations
Alcatraz Island

Can anyone from the Golden State make any recommendations?

James Dean crash site is on highway 152, between I5 and US 101. In San Francisco, they probably still have a "Vertigo" tour.

[Vinyl]

Originally Posted by Hintermann

Thinking about The Phantom Carriage (It'll be a blind buy) and Design For Living after X-mas. Normally, I would not spend Criterion dough on a romantic comedy like DFL but the fact that it is Ernst Lubitsch makes the difference.

Phantom Carriage was a blind buy for me also, but I knew I would like it because I love films from that era. I also heard that the director was the lead in Wild Strawberries so that was another positive. It is wonderful even if it is a bit of a "downer".

I Was thinking of pairing it with weary death aka destiny by Lang. If only we could get Kino to give us this and Spoine in blu.

[RojD]

Originally Posted by Hintermann

Thinking about The Phantom Carriage (It'll be a blind buy) and Design For Living after X-mas. Normally, I would not spend Criterion dough on a romantic comedy like DFL but the fact that it is Ernst Lubitsch makes the difference.

Design for Living is on par with Trouble in Paradise as my favorite Lubitsch, and maybe a step ahead. It is way smarter (and funnier) than most romcoms. You won't regret the money.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by The Bronx Bull

San Francisco
Bodega Bay - The Birds filming locations
Santa Rosa - Shadow of a Doubt filming locations
Alcatraz Island

I've heard that there's a company in San Francisco that actually gives tours to all of the filming locations in Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo. I'd love to check that out.

[StLouisRibs]

Originally Posted by Vinyl

Phantom Carriage was a blind buy for me also, but I knew I would like it because I love films from that era. I also heard that the director was the lead in Wild Strawberries so that was another positive. It is wonderful even if it is a bit of a "downer".

I Was thinking of pairing it with weary death aka destiny by Lang. If only we could get Kino to give us this and Spoine in blu.

A downer? Hm?

[Show spoiler]
It's an incredibly hopeful film that ends with a lovely scene of a family reunited!

It is mildly more funny when the intertitle saying "Slut" comes on, as it gives a hilarious unintended final punchline.

[Vinyl]

Originally Posted by StLouisRibs

A downer? Hm?

[Show spoiler]
It's an incredibly hopeful film that ends with a lovely scene of a family reunited!

It is mildly more funny when the intertitle saying "Slut" comes on, as it gives a hilarious unintended final punchline.

while I agree about

[Show spoiler]the hopefulness of the ending

, It felt a bit depressing to me through the middle of the film

[Show spoiler] or up to a certain point.

[Sommerswerd]

Originally Posted by The Bronx Bull

Gentlemen,

I'm thinking about doing a trip out to the Los Angeles/San Francisco area in a few months - coming from New York, fly into LA and ride (a motorcycle) up to SF via Route 1. I'm trying to compile a list of things I would like to see along the way that are film related. In addition to some sight-seeing, I have a special interest in seeing famous and/or old filming locations - with a special interest in film noir. Places where a pivotal scene took place in a movie, or an authentic location where an old-school Hollywood type would hang out are fascinating to me, just to stand there.

Here's what I have so far:

Los Angeles
Bogart/Bacall "Rat Pack" house
Universal Studios - Psycho filming location
Pacino/DeNiro "Heat" diner scene location - I was informed that this was closed.
Dietrichson Home from Double Indemnity
Possible locations for: The Big Sleep, Kiss Me Deadly, etc
Griffith Observatory from Rebel Without a Cause

Along Route 1
Heart Castle (from Citizen Kane)
James Dean's crash location

San Francisco
Bodega Bay - The Birds filming locations
Santa Rosa - Shadow of a Doubt filming locations
Alcatraz Island

Can anyone from the Golden State make any recommendations?

Here is a great website showcasing San Francisco movie locations from classic films: http://reelsf.com/

[Sommerswerd]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I've heard that there's a company in San Francisco that actually gives tours to all of the filming locations in Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo. I'd love to check that out.

There is a Alfred Hitchcock's San Francisco walking tour given a couple of times a month and is absolutely free: http://www.sfcityguides.org/desc.html?tour=120

There is also a Dashiell Hammett tour: http://www.donherron.com/?page_id=51

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Sommerswerd

There is a Alfred Hitchcock's San Francisco walking tour given a couple of times a month and is absolutely free: http://www.sfcityguides.org/desc.html?tour=120

There is also a Dashiell Hammett tour: http://www.donherron.com/?page_id=51

Thanks for the information. I'm definitely up for both of these if I'm out that way anytime soon.

[The Great Owl]

I just finished watching my UK Blu-ray of John Ford's The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is a fun and emotionally-charged story that manages to pack a wealth of insight about American politics and mythology without coming across as a chore. James Stewart, John Wayne, Vera Miles, and Lee Marvin are all perfect onscreen, and the bulk of the movie depends on their character interactions. This movie really knocks it out of the park, however, with its impressive cast of supporting actors, including film noir veteran Edmond O'Brien as a newspaper editor, Andy Devine as a town marshal, and the brilliant Woody Strode as a farmhand.

I'd love for Criterion to pick this Ford film up as a title, because the UK disc, while sporting an impressive transfer, lacks any special features.

John Ford's works have never let me down, and I'm glad that the recent discussions in this thread compelled me to move some of my Blu-ray purchases to the top of the unwatched stack.

Next up... Rio Grande.

[jw007]

I watched another Werner Herzog movie last night: Into the Abyss. It was a powerful documentary and absolutely honest right down to every interview. It was chilling looking into the face of a murderer who was set to be executed in a week's time and also heartbreaking watching the one remaining family member speak about her brother and mother's murders. Additionally there were also eye-opening interviews from various other people who were formerly involved in capital punishment in Texas and how after 125 executions, one man couldn't do it anymore and resigned from being the captain of the death house. This is an amazing film and Herzog does not disappoint.

[Roninblues]

Originally Posted by jw007

I never really bought into the whole 3D comeback thing and I don't feel like upgrading my TV to 3D or have to buy 3D glasses or get a new blu-ray player to play 3D movies. Yes, Herzog's Cave of Forgotten Dreams was shot in 3D and sure, Wenders' Pina was as well, but a movie is a movie and if its good, I don't need more advanced technology to appreciate it. I'm sure I'll have a different perspective, but that's about it.

So, you're still watching VHS tapes, not Betamax, DVD, Laser Disc or Blu-rays.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Roninblues

So, you're still watching VHS tapes, not Betamax, DVD, Laser Disc or Blu-rays.

Didn't say that...I just don't really need 3D to appreciate a film that I can in 2D.

[Roninblues]

Originally Posted by Meek12345

Zatiochi is definitely my favorite blind buy of all time. The content and packaging make it the best title Criterion has ever released in my humble opinion. I still haven't seen at least 33% of Criterion's titles though.



I agree with you about the first Zatoichi film. The series doesn't really find its footing until #3 with the switch from b&w to color. The balance between plot development and action scenes is much better by the third film. The series gets better with each film until #16 Zatoichi the Outlaw with the exception of #13 Zatoichi's Vengeance. With #16 the violence starts to become more over-the-top and occasionally gruesome as you will see in #24 Zatoichi in Desperation, which is a bleak grindhouse entry directed by Katsu. Even though I believe there is a small dip in quality starting with #16, one of my favorite Zatoichi films is #21 Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival. #21 is considered a fan favorite, and the main villain is an interesting foil for Zatoichi as he is also blind.

Although I don't think that all 25 films are great, I don't think any of them are bad or unwatchable. Here is my top 10 list for the series in no particular order:

Zatoichi #1-4
Zatoichi's Flashing Sword #7
Adventures of Zatoichi #9
Zatoichi and the Chess Expert #12
Zatoichi's Cane Sword #15
Zatoichi Challenged #17
Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival #21

Zatoichi #15 is also considered a fan favorite. Zatoichi is told that his sword can only hit or be hit a few more times before it shatters. So, he spends the whole film avoiding confrontation more than usual because he loves and needs that sword.

I was just thinking the other day that I love this series more than the Bond series. I have a soft spot for Bond films because I grew up with them like most people here probably did. Bond is a good character, but I find Zatoichi more likeable. There is a slight similarity in the formulas between both series: There is a main bad guy that has to be defeated and usually two "girls" to represent all that is good or bad in the world. The bad guy is usually defeated. Zatoichi rarely sleeps with or is romantically interested in the girls though.

One last note: I like Beat Takeshi, but the 2003 Zatoichi film is horrible. Well, if you look at it as a Zatoichi film it is horrible. Zatoichi is nothing like himself in that film from what I recall. Maybe I should give it another try some day.

Hopefully, The Great Owl and Polaroid will also give you their two cents. I think blu-bry may chime in also. I hope my longwinded post helps you somewhat.

There is only one Zatoichi which allows you to have a better sense of the character unlike the many Bonds.

[Roninblues]

Originally Posted by jw007

I'm not in California, but if you're driving up the Pacific Coast Highway, make sure you stop in Monterey, CA, one of the most scenic seaside towns I've ever been to, and drive by the Monterey Bay Aquarium at 886 Cannery Row, because in 1986, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home was filmed there (but keep in mind, there aren't any humpback whales there).

As well as several scenes from Eastwoods "Play Misty For Me" Also in the area is the Mission in Vertigo. You could spend all you time flying into San Francisco and seeing scenes from many movies. (goggle can be a friend).

[The Great Owl]

Rio Grande is another great John Ford film, and I am now caught up on my Ford Blu-rays until my order arrives from Barnes & Noble (The Horse Soldiers, Fort Apache, The Sun Shines Bright).

Maureen O'Hara is a true beauty in this movie, and she looks rather amazing on this high definition transfer (impressive video quality for one of the Republic movies released by Olive Films). John Wayne has a good mature role here, and I cannot help wondering if Clint Eastwood drew influence from this film when he made Heartbreak Ridge. Ben Johnson starred in a lot of great flicks in my collection (The Last Picture Show, Terror Train, The Town That Dreaded Sundown, Shane, Red Dawn, Breakheart Pass), and Rio Grande showcases one of his early roles.

This post is probably better suited for the Olive Films thread, but it caps off the great John Ford discussions that have been going on here over recent days.

It's time for me to get into Christmas mode with Remember the Night, but I'll reserve that discussion for the dedicated thread of that movie. (Except to say that I wonder if Remember the Night would make a good double feature with A Night to Remember)

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Rio Grande is another great John Ford film, and I am now caught up on my Ford Blu-rays until my order arrives from Barnes & Noble (The Horse Soldiers, Fort Apache, The Sun Shines Bright).

Maureen O'Hara is a true beauty in this movie, and she looks rather amazing on this high definition transfer (impressive video quality for one of the Republic movies released by Olive Films). John Wayne has a good mature role here, and I cannot help wondering if Clint Eastwood drew influence from this film when he made Heartbreak Ridge. Ben Johnson starred in a lot of great flicks in my collection (The Last Picture Show, Terror Train, The Town That Dreaded Sundown, Shane, Red Dawn, Breakheart Pass), and Rio Grande showcases one of his early roles.

This post is probably better suited for the Olive Films thread, but it caps off the great John Ford discussions that have been going on here over recent days.

It's time for me to get into Christmas mode with Remember the Night, but I'll reserve that discussion for the dedicated thread of that movie. (Except to say that I wonder if Remember the Night would make a good double feature with A Night to Remember)

I couldn't agree with you more about Maureen O'Hara's beauty. I'm so glad she was awarded an honorary Oscar this year ... not only was she gorgeous, the lady was talented as well.

As far as your proposed double feature goes, if you're talking about the 1942 romantic comedy titled A Night to Remember, then I'm thinking, yes ... it might play well with Remember the Night. But if you're talking about the 1958 depiction of the Titanic disaster available from the Criterion Collection, then no, I think you should pair that with the 1940 Claudette Colbert film, Remember the Day, which is also set during the 1910's.

On a serious note, Remember the Night has long been one of my favorite Christmas films, and I'm so grateful to have it on blu-ray, even if I would rather have it part of the CC. Another Christmas film that I would love to see restored and issued on blu-ray is the little-known gem from 1945, The Cheaters with Joseph Schildkraut, Ona Munson, Billie Burke and Eugene Pallette. I doubt it would ever be picked up by Criterion, but then again, you never know ...

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by jw007

Didn't say that...I just don't really need 3D to appreciate a film that I can in 2D.

I think what Roninblues is getting at is your comment (that he bolded) "Yes, Herzog's Cave of Forgotten Dreams was shot in 3D and sure, Wenders' Pina was as well, but a movie is a movie and if its good, I don't need more advanced technology to appreciate it." It's completely fair to argue that if Herzog shot Cave of Forgotten Dreams in 3D, then he meant you to see it in 3D, and seeing it in 2D can be argued to be the same as watching Lawrence of Arabia in pan-&-scan or The Red Shoes in black-&-white.

The thing about most 3D movies is that they aren't shot in 3D, but in 2D, with the 3D effects post-processed. And while I will try to see a film released in 3D at the theater in 3D, I don't mind watching it at home in 2D. But seeing Avatar or Gravity in 2D...well, they just lose something, and it's like seeing them in a substandard video format.

To this day, I regret not having gotten to the theater to see Life of Pi in 3D.

That said, I'm more on your side than Roninblues, because each of us has a threshold for what is acceptable and what isn't when it comes to watching film. But I still think his point was fair.