The Criterion Collection

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by soarinsteven

God what a terrible and condescending thing to say.

Eh, the guy who posted it is probably just a college student. That kind of statement is incredibly common in any college campus, especially undergraduate film classes. Many kids got into movies through Spielberg, and then Kubrick is like Intro to Films 101, so they all then are like "oh I read about how this was really important and about how Spielberg is populist" and it creates a silly backlash where they are trying to prove how much they've distanced themselves from their silly young high school self [aka, themselves 1 year earlier]. Most people tend to simmer down with age and give up on that kind of grandstanding.

Reminds me of when I was getting into extreme metal in high school and the message boards for poppy gateway bands like In Flames or whatever were just loaded with 15 year olds that just wanted to talk about how "Metallica Sux, I can't believe how dum I was when I was 13, Im way smarter now" or whatever.

[RojD]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

My feelings concerning Spielberg are really mixed. A huge swath of his films I consider either just sort of fun (nothing wrong with that, trust me), or not at all that good.

However, those of his films which I really do like (Schindler's List, Munich, Jaws, a couple of others) I REALLY like.

Agreed. When I like a Spielberg film, I really like it. Shoah has pretty much made it impossible for me to respect other Holocaust films, but I enjoy Jaws the way I enjoy a lot of Hitchcock thrillers.

My favorite Spielberg is Munich. I couldn't even believe it was Spielberg when I first saw it with its complexity around the costs of fighting terrorism. To me, this film captures its moment in a way very few films do. People talk about movies like Social Network doing that, but if you want a sense of the psychology and risk of the barely post-9/11 moment (and into now) I'd send you off to Munich before any other film I know.

And there aren't even any kids in it.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Guarantee you he would've loved them both.

...I've never been so certain of anything in my life.

White Man Can't Jump is the one that I can't get over.

Just the thought of Stanley Kubrick watching that movie makes me laugh out loud.

White Men is a guilty pleasure of mine too. It's just a very fun movie.

[repulsed]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

White Men is a guilty pleasure of mine too. It's just a very fun movie.

Anyone see it in theaters?
I did

[Namuhana]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

For anyone curious like me , here are the Top 15 most-owned Criterion titles among members here

1. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2. Seven Samurai
3. The Thin Red Line
4. The Game
5. 12 Angry Men
6. Godzilla / Gojira
7. The Royal Tenenbaums
8. Rosemary's Baby
9. Rushmore
10. Paths of Glory
11. Videodrome
12. The Seventh Seal
13. Bottle Rocket
14. Days of Heaven
15. Brazil

Personally, I don't really consider Benjamin Button a true Criterion release, but rather a Paramount wide release with Criterion branding. So if you feel that way too, then Seven Samurai is tops, and the 15th would be The Darjeeling Limited (making 4 /15 Wes Anderson titles).

Interesting. I only have 6 of those (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Seven Samurai, The Thin Red Line, The Royal Tenenbaums, Rushmore, and The Seventh Seal). I have 7 if we're counting The Darjeeling Limited.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by RojD

Agreed. When I like a Spielberg film, I really like it. Shoah has pretty much made it impossible for me to respect other Holocaust films, but I enjoy Jaws the way I enjoy a lot of Hitchcock thrillers.

My favorite Spielberg is Munich. I couldn't even believe it was Spielberg when I first saw it with its complexity around the costs of fighting terrorism. To me, this film captures its moment in a way very few films do. People talk about movies like Social Network doing that, but if you want a sense of the psychology and risk of the barely post-9/11 moment (and into now) I'd send you off to Munich before any other film I know.

And there aren't even any kids in it.

Munich is incredibly intense and powerful. Might have to watch it tonight, now that we've been talking about it.

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

White Men is a guilty pleasure of mine too. It's just a very fun movie.

It is totally fun. And it's worth seeing just for Rosie's performance, if nothing else!

[Martin_31]

Just got back from B&N. I had sworn to myself that I was not going to participate in this sale to save for the November sale. I failed! I bought two DVD's: White Dog and The Red Ballon. White Dog will be the first Samuel Fuller film I've seen. I saw The Red Ballon about three years ago when it was streaming on Netflix. I absolutely loved it. It was $7. Great deal, too. The child actor reminds me of my older brother when he was a child, in the photos my mother has.

[waxHead]

Originally Posted by RojD

Agreed. When I like a Spielberg film, I really like it. Shoah has pretty much made it impossible for me to respect other Holocaust films, but I enjoy Jaws the way I enjoy a lot of Hitchcock thrillers.

My favorite Spielberg is Munich. I couldn't even believe it was Spielberg when I first saw it with its complexity around the costs of fighting terrorism. To me, this film captures its moment in a way very few films do. People talk about movies like Social Network doing that, but if you want a sense of the psychology and risk of the barely post-9/11 moment (and into now) I'd send you off to Munich before any other film I know.

And there aren't even any kids in it.

Thanks for bringing up Munich. I read about it a few years ago but didn't realize Spielberg directed it. Sounds like a powerful, moving film, I'll have to check it out.

Out of Spielberg's movies, I've seen and liked Close Encounters, at least the first three Indiana Jones films, Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, Catch Me If You Can, and The Adventures of Tintin. Well... the last time I watched them I enjoyed them I've never seen Jaws all the way through, though I own the Blu-ray so I'll remedy that one of these days. I still don't get the love for E.T., Blade Runner deserved some of those Oscars.

[Fabs]

Originally Posted by waxHead

Blade Runner deserved some of those Oscars.

For direction, at least. But the Oscars are mostly meaningless, as the greatest films of each year never even get a single nomination.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by waxHead

Thanks for bringing up Munich. I read about it a few years ago but didn't realize Spielberg directed it. Sounds like a powerful, moving film, I'll have to check it out.

Out of Spielberg's movies, I've seen and liked Close Encounters, at least the first three Indiana Jones films, Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, Catch Me If You Can, and The Adventures of Tintin. Well... the last time I watched them I enjoyed them I've never seen Jaws all the way through, though I own the Blu-ray so I'll remedy that one of these days. I still don't get the love for E.T., Blade Runner deserved some of those Oscars.

I was 7 or 8 when I saw Jaws for the first time on the big screen.

Terrified.

[waxHead]

Originally Posted by Fabs

For direction, at least. But the Oscars are mostly meaningless, as the greatest films of each year never even get a single nomination.

True... now I almost wish E.T. had won more of them.

Originally Posted by AaronJ

I was 7 or 8 when I saw Jaws for the first time on the big screen.

Terrified.

Excellent I'm a horror nut, so I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully it doesn't disappoint!

[SlickDamian]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

For anyone curious like me , here are the Top 15 most-owned Criterion titles among members here

1. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2. Seven Samurai
3. The Thin Red Line
4. The Game
5. 12 Angry Men
6. Godzilla / Gojira
7. The Royal Tenenbaums
8. Rosemary's Baby
9. Rushmore
10. Paths of Glory
11. Videodrome
12. The Seventh Seal
13. Bottle Rocket
14. Days of Heaven
15. Brazil

Personally, I don't really consider Benjamin Button a true Criterion release, but rather a Paramount wide release with Criterion branding. So if you feel that way too, then Seven Samurai is tops, and the 15th would be The Darjeeling Limited (making 4 /15 Wes Anderson titles).

I own them all except Seven Samurai and Paths of Glory.

I know that it isn't a popular opinion here, but I really like Benjamin Button.

[D.I.T.C.]

Is Earrings of Madame De... worth picking up despite the transfer issues?

Would Lola Montes be a better choice for my first Ophuls?

[Namuhana]

I watched The Bridge last night and was floored by it. It's surely one of the most powerful things I've seen, and the ending is devastating. I watched the interview with Gregor Dorfmeister and thought it was extremely interesting to get his memories of that day. What a truly great film.

This afternoon I watched The Brood for the first time. Now, I'm not really a fan of Cronenberg. I've seen Naked Lunch (which I loathe, but I guess it's just as much Cronenberg's fault as it is Burroughs's) and Scanners (which was tolerable), so I really wasn't expecting much with The Brood. I was actually surprised by how much I liked it, to a certain point. The ending, and specifically the birthing sequence, was flat-out weird (which is more in line with Naked Lunch and Scanners), so I didn't really care much for that, but I generally enjoyed everything before that. I thought Eggar and Hindle did quite well in their roles. It's definitely my favorite of the three I've seen, but it's definitely something that I feel I don't need to own, especially since it's on Hulu.

[SlickDamian]

Originally Posted by RojD

Agreed. When I like a Spielberg film, I really like it. Shoah has pretty much made it impossible for me to respect other Holocaust films, but I enjoy Jaws the way I enjoy a lot of Hitchcock thrillers.

My favorite Spielberg is Munich. I couldn't even believe it was Spielberg when I first saw it with its complexity around the costs of fighting terrorism. To me, this film captures its moment in a way very few films do. People talk about movies like Social Network doing that, but if you want a sense of the psychology and risk of the barely post-9/11 moment (and into now) I'd send you off to Munich before any other film I know.

And there aren't even any kids in it.

I've never seen Munich, but I really enjoy most Spielberg. I should purchase the blu ray.

[jmclick]

I just finished watching the Oscar winner for Best Foreign Language Film of 2010, El Secreto de Sus Ojos, and was floored by how powerful it is, both as a romance and a mystery. How I wish Criterion had released this one instead of Sony Pictures Classics! I can only imagine the tantalizing extras that Criterion might have included ...

It will be interesting to see how the American remake, Secret in Their Eyes, will compares when it hits theatres later this year. Certainly the casting is promising, with Chiwetel Ejiofor, Nicole Kidman, and Julia Roberts in the leading roles, and the trailer indicates that the story has been massaged in some unique and intriguing ways that hopefully will work on screen. The remake has big shoes to fill ... the original is fascinating.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I haven't read the book, but I got the impression off the film sequel (if this is even relevant) that it was

[Show spoiler]a higher being rather than aliens

.

I believe the book makes it more clear that

[Show spoiler]it's aliens. In earlier drafts, the aliens were actually in the script, sort of Close Encounters-like at the end. There's a lot of concept art as well of aliens that were ultimately scrapped.

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by D.I.T.C.

Is Earrings of Madame De... worth picking up despite the transfer issues?

Would Lola Montes be a better choice for my first Ophuls?

In my opinion Earrings issues aren't as bad as they are made out to be. It's a great movie and it is well worth owning.

Lola Montes is a good movie, but not even close to Earrings. It's a nice looking transfer though.

Earrings would be my choice.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Fabs

Wow, really? You speak so highly of Stanley Kubrick, but I guess he had the mind of a child as well because it's known that he liked Spielberg and some of his films.

I could say the same thing about Quentin Tarantino or Wes Anderson, directors who you seem to like based upon your blu ray collection.

Originally Posted by soarinsteven

God what a terrible and condescending thing to say.

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I just knew when I read it, that JW's Spielberg comment was not going to get passed anyone here.

Originally Posted by cakefactory

Eh, the guy who posted it is probably just a college student. That kind of statement is incredibly common in any college campus, especially undergraduate film classes. Many kids got into movies through Spielberg, and then Kubrick is like Intro to Films 101, so they all then are like "oh I read about how this was really important and about how Spielberg is populist" and it creates a silly backlash where they are trying to prove how much they've distanced themselves from their silly young high school self [aka, themselves 1 year earlier]. Most people tend to simmer down with age and give up on that kind of grandstanding.

Reminds me of when I was getting into extreme metal in high school and the message boards for poppy gateway bands like In Flames or whatever were just loaded with 15 year olds that just wanted to talk about how "Metallica Sux, I can't believe how dum I was when I was 13, Im way smarter now" or whatever.

I admit I was being a bit brazen and brash earlier with my comment on Spielberg. I suppose certain films of his I see as predictable and thus I find his work to no longer challenge my intellect nowadays. Sorry folks, if I'm coming across as a pompous, arrogant snob, but I don't mean to make you feel that way. I met Spielberg's mother in Los Angeles when I went to eat at her restaurant and thought she was a totally nice and friendly person, so no hard feelings whatsoever for him. I grew up as a big fan of his, but I suppose as I get older, I'm no longer as challenged and excited by his films now. I find him to be arduous, melodramatic and quite shallow in fact, lacking a certain depth, who resorts to making important biopics as opposed to original material. Granted, he's never been a true screenwriter, as he's only been a writer on 5 films since 1974's Sugarland Express, but that's just it... his greatest gift was to direct, not write.

@Fabs, though I do own blu-rays by Anderson and Tarantino, I don't watch their films much anymore either. I bought Tarantino's films on blu-ray over 5 or 6 years ago. Is it quite possible I'm growing out of directors I once adored as an adolescent?

@soarinsteven, my view of Spielberg was taken out of context. I invoke nothing negative when I refer to Spielberg's mind of that of a child's. It's a positive trait to have. Spielberg's imagination is stunning even to this day, but he's not for me any longer. Perhaps I can no longer appreciate this director's sense of awe and imagination anymore.

@cakefactory, I'm turning 37 years old next month. I'm far beyond the college student phase. I graduated with a B.A. in film studies and also worked on several independent films myself. I am what you would call a film critic, and a strongly opinionated one at that, lacking tact at times, but never pretending to go with popular opinion.

[CriterionBlues]

Originally Posted by D.I.T.C.

Is Earrings of Madame De... worth picking up despite the transfer issues?

Would Lola Montes be a better choice for my first Ophuls?

Earrings is still sitting on the shelf for me, but knowing the film, I think it is probably still worth picking up. Sort of like Children of Paradise and its transfer issues, but it is still a gem of a movie in the best media format. I forgot about the transfer and just enjoyed the film after awhile.

Lola Montes is a good film, not the best Ophuls, but I would still recommend the Blu-Ray. Like all good Criterions, it tells a story about the film and specifically how it was taken away from Ophuls and cut incorrectly.