The Criterion Collection

[Ray Jackson]

Been doing some research and this Three Colors trilogy has a lot of glowing reviews.

$40 is a heck of a lot for a blind buy, but I must admit...I'm intrigued.

Already spent too much during this sale.

May have to decide between getting this or keeping Hiroshima Mon Amour (which I still haven't unwrapped yet.)

...how do you feel about that AaronJ?

[Feiereisel]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

[...]

The high definition presentation of this made-for-TV Siegel film accentuates what the leaflet essay refers to as the "tackiness" of the 1960s aesthetics in terms of automobiles, interior decorating, and construction, almost to the point where certain objects, while real, have the look of Thunderbirds-esque models and certain scenes look blatantly like sound-stages that were built within minutes. It doesn't look bad, by any stretch, and, in fact, the movie looks downright wonderful on Blu-ray, but it does have a fun "ultra-real" appearance to it.

[...]

I liked the in-your-face artifice of it as well, especially in relation to the pure velocity of the editing...appropriately, it's as though the film is falling apart and the plot is trying to outpace the collapse.

With the bright colors and "flatness" of the sets, I thought it looked like a live-action comic book. Tokyo Drifter has a similarly delirious vibe. Great stuff.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Been doing some research and this Three Colors trilogy has a lot of glowing reviews.

$40 is a heck of a lot for a blind buy, but I must admit...I'm intrigued.

Already spent too much during this sale.

May have to decide between getting this or keeping Hiroshima Mon Amour (which I still haven't unwrapped yet.)

...how do you feel about that AaronJ?

Both of them are very rewarding, but in extremely different ways. Not to mention that Three Colors is, well, three movies.

I still go back and forth on whether Red or Contempt is my favorite film of all time. I really think Red says a great deal about what it means to be a human being, and that's why it's provocative.

[silverlakephil]

I didn't see it mentioned here, but Alex Rocco(Friends of Eddie Coyle, The Godfather) passed away yesterday.

http://time.com/3963808/godfather-alex-rocco-dies/

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Question for you guys:

If you had to make a short list of the headiest films you've ever bought from Criterion, what would they be?

By headiest, I mean films that made you think about something--big ideas, scientific ideas, philosophical ideas, abstract narratives, esoteric stories etc.

Which films challenged your mind the most in some way?

Here's a list of great Criterion films that really made me put on my thinking cap.

Last Year at Marienbad
Marketa Lazarova
L'Aaventura
La Notte
L'Eclisse
Red Desert
Identification of a Woman
3 Films by Roberto Rossellini Starring Ingrid Bergman (Stromboli / Europe '51 / Journey to Italy)
8½
The Great Beauty
Persona
Solaris

[popcorntreect]

For so many that are asking for movie recommendations, I implore you to consult with Sight & Sounds' top 250 greatest films of all-time list.

I've used it as a guide to navigate through film history. There are, of course, many movies on the list released by Criterion. However, Criterion has released so many more that would never make such a list of even 1000.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by popcorntreect

For so many that are asking for movie recommendations, I implore you to consult with Sight & Sounds' top 250 greatest films of all-time list.

I've used it as a guide to navigate through film history. There are, of course, many movies on the list released by Criterion. However, Criterion has released so many more that would never make such a list of even 1000.

I know it's supposed to be highly subjective and therefor divisive by nature.

But I have a real issue with some of the choices on that list.

...two Ozu films in the top 15 and not one Kurosawa?

...The Godfather doesn't even crack the top 20?

...Godfather II isn't even top 30?

...Sunset Boulevard not even top 50?

...Ikiru at 127?!!

I don't even think Kobayashi made the list.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I know it's supposed to be highly subjective and therefor divisive by nature.

But I have a real issue with some of the choices on that list.

...two Ozu films in the top 15 and not one Kurosawa?

Why should this be an issue? He's in the top 20. The fact that they differ by a few numbers shouldn't matter.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

Why should this be an issue? He's in the top 20. The fact that they differ by a few numbers shouldn't matter.

It matters to me.

They're saying that Ozu has two films that are better than Kurosawa's best.

...that's poppycock.

[Scottie]

As much as I love Kurosawa, I prefer Ozu for his simplicity, relatable stories, and gut-wrenching emotion.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I know it's supposed to be highly subjective and therefor divisive by nature.

But I have a real issue with some of the choices on that list.

...two Ozu films in the top 15 and not one Kurosawa?

...The Godfather doesn't even crack the top 20?

...Godfather II isn't even top 30?

...Sunset Boulevard not even top 50?

...Ikiru at 127?!!

I don't even think Kobayashi made the list.

Let's say for the sake of argument that placement on a list like the S&S 250 represents a very clear, very linear 'this is better than that' ranking system.

Given how many thousands of movies have been made all over the world over the past 100 or so years is it really that hard to imagine there are twenty movies 'better' than The Godfather?

I mean I like The Godfather and Sunset Boulevard just fine but when you're distilling an entire art form down a few hundred titles does it really matter where one lands on that list?

[popcorntreect]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I know it's supposed to be highly subjective and therefor divisive by nature.

But I have a real issue with some of the choices on that list.

...two Ozu films in the top 15 and not one Kurosawa?

...The Godfather doesn't even crack the top 20?

...Godfather II isn't even top 30?

...Sunset Boulevard not even top 50?

...Ikiru at 127?!!

I don't even think Kobayashi made the list.

I think you're missing the point. Instead of angrily reacting to some of the choices, you should consider the movies you've never seen, and seek out those that seem interesting.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by octagon

Let's say for the sake of argument that placement on a list like the S&S 250 represents a very clear, very linear 'this is better than that' ranking system.

Given how many thousands of movies have been made all over the world over the past 100 or so years is it really that hard to imagine there are twenty movies 'better' than The Godfather?

I mean I like The Godfather and Sunset Boulevard just fine but when you're distilling an entire art form down a few hundred titles does it really matter where one lands on that list?

"but when you're distilling an entire art form down a few hundred titles does it really matter where one lands on that list?"


Why even make the list then?

[Vinyl]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

It matters to me.

They're saying that Ozu has two films that are better than Kurosawa's best.

...that's poppycock.

... And that's an opinion as is the list

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

It matters to me.

They're saying that Ozu has two films that are better than Kurosawa's best.

...that's poppycock.

Have you seen those two Ozu films?

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by popcorntreect

I think you're missing the point. Instead of angrily reacting to some of the choices, you should consider the movies you've never seen, and seek out those that seem interesting.

I'm not angry...that's pure hyperbole on your part.

I do have an opinion on the list though.

...which is what the list is there for.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Have you seen those two Ozu films?

Yes...they're both great.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

"but when you're distilling an entire art form down a few hundred titles does it really matter where one lands on that list?"


Why even make the list then?

Because it's interesting.

A poll of sportswriters about the best pitchers in the history of baseball could be an interesting read but getting too worked up about whether this guy was two slots higher - and thus 'better' - than this other guy would be kind of silly.

[nondiatonic]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

It matters to me.

They're saying that Ozu has two films that are better than Kurosawa's best.

...that's poppycock.

It's all subjective.

I like these kind of lists because they introduce me to new directors/movies.

I love to read articles/posts that are sympathetic to my own opinions, but if all the lists I looked at simply reinforced my beliefs, what would I get from them?

This is another list I enjoy: 100 Essential Directors - popmatters/

Although maybe I'm biased. My viewing is very limited, but for my money, Ozu may be the best that ever lived.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by nondiatonic

It's all subjective.

I like these kind of lists because they introduce me to new directors/movies.

I love to read articles/posts that are sympathetic to my own opinions, but if all the lists I looked at simply reinforced my beliefs, what would I get from them?

This is another list I enjoy (and one which will obviously create controversy when certain people are omitted/included): 100 Essential Directors - popmatters/

Although maybe I'm biased. My viewing is very limited, but for my money, Ozu may be the best that ever lived.

You make some interesting points.