The Criterion Collection

[malakaheso]

Russian Ark isn't even in Sokurov's top 5 most beautiful films let alone in an all time top ten.

[Eny-]

Just watched "Close-up" after owning the disc for a few years. What a fabulous movie.

Had to watch "The Traveler" as well. Loved it too.

[Sylv.McCoy]

Hello,

i'm a bit confused with the versions of Breaking the Waves released in the US, maybe someone can put some light on this. In the past only the Criterion Laser Disc featured the uncut version and now the Criterion BD followed.

The Hallmark Home Entertainment VHS released in the states has a running time of 159min. Does it mean it's also the uncensored version?

At Imdb it says: "The director's cut of the film, featuring explicit shots removed from the U.S. version for ratings purposes, is available on Criterion laserdisc." and "Runtime: 159 min | 153 min (director's cut)"

This is kinda contradictory because it implies the the shorter version features more explicit scenes, but in fact the LD has a running time of 159min (source: lddb.com)

Thanks.

best regards

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by Namuhana

Well, now that the sale might be extended, I may just have to pull the trigger on the David Lean Directs Noël Coward set.

That's a great set. I need to upgrade as I had yet to switch to BD when I bought it on release.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by Sylv.McCoy

Hello,

i'm a bit confused with the versions of Breaking the Waves released in the US, maybe someone can put some light on this. In the past only the Criterion Laser Disc featured the uncut version and now the Criterion BD followed.

The Hallmark Home Entertainment VHS released in the states has a running time of 159min. Does it mean it's also the uncensored version?

At Imdb it says: "The director's cut of the film, featuring explicit shots removed from the U.S. version for ratings purposes, is available on Criterion laserdisc." and "Runtime: 159 min | 153 min (director's cut)"

This is kinda contradictory because it implies the the shorter version features more explicit scenes, but in fact the LD has a running time of 159min (source: lddb.com)

Thanks.

best regards

Pretty sure its the full version of the film

[Alfredlynch]

Will Criterion release The Last Wave on Blu-ray?

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Alfredlynch

Will Criterion release The Last Wave on Blu-ray?

Is there any news of a new restoration of the film? CC's DVD was in 2001 and that master will certainly be not suitable for a HD release.

[Vinyl]

Here's a good question for you all. What genre of movies do you blind buy and what makes you decide to just go for a random title?

I usually bring my wife with me and she chooses a random title that I would not have chosen otherwise. So far, she has been pretty spot on.

[waxHead]

Originally Posted by Vinyl

Here's a good question for you all. What genre of movies do you blind buy and what makes you decide to just go for a random title?

I usually bring my wife with me and she chooses a random title that I would not have chosen otherwise. So far, she has been pretty spot on.

I've blind-bought most of my Criterions (at least 150), and I have yet to be disappointed. I always check out the film reviews on both Rotten Tomatoes and IMDB, and briefly scan the initial section, A/V quality and extras of the Blu-ray.com review if it's available. It definitely helps to know your "comfort zone" for films -- I don't have any desire to see Salo, Antichrist or Fellini's Satyricon, but based on other films I've seen, I'm pretty sure I'm going to enjoy Videodrome, Repulsion and House (Hausu).

In the end, it's an educated guess. I don't like to know much about a film's plot before I see it, but I don't want to waste time and money on Criterions (and films in general) I'm not going to enjoy. There have been a few I wasn't completely impressed with on initial viewing (Solaris, Marketa Lazarova and Orpheus, I'm looking at you), but I see the value in all of them and plan to re-watch them in the future. Then there's the ones which blow you away the first time you watch them, like Thief, Ivan's Childhood and The Great Beauty. Use your "comfort zone" and go from there - it's hard to be truly disappointed by any of the films in this collection.

[monorail91]

Earlier this week I watched Brian de Palma's Blow Out for the first time! Really loved it - I was almost worried because I loved Dressed to Kill (which I think I still prefer) so much I thought I wouldn't enjoy it. Eager to revisit this and will definitely pick up this 50% off sale or the next. Wrote a thing here if anyone's interested: https://popculturepundit.wordpress.c...blow-out-1981/.

In other news, watched Ride the Pink Horse which I wasn't really feeling. I appreciated how it deviated from typical film noir tropes, but the storyline wasn't compelling enough to really maintain my interest.

[dsman71]

I blind buy certain genres IF they sound interesting enough and it depends on who's in it. Ive really cut down on blind buying because I wasnt into the movies after all.

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by waxHead

I've blind-bought most of my Criterions (at least 150), and I have yet to be disappointed. I always check out the film reviews on both Rotten Tomatoes and IMDB, and briefly scan the initial section, A/V quality and extras of the Blu-ray.com review if it's available. It definitely helps to know your "comfort zone" for films -- I don't have any desire to see Salo, Antichrist or Fellini's Satyricon, but based on other films I've seen, I'm pretty sure I'm going to enjoy Videodrome, Repulsion and House (Hausu).

In the end, it's an educated guess. I don't like to know much about a film's plot before I see it, but I don't want to waste time and money on Criterions (and films in general) I'm not going to enjoy. There have been a few I wasn't completely impressed with on initial viewing (Solaris, Marketa Lazarova and Orpheus, I'm looking at you), but I see the value in all of them and plan to re-watch them in the future. Then there's the ones which blow you away the first time you watch them, like Thief, Ivan's Childhood and The Great Beauty. Use your "comfort zone" and go from there - it's hard to be truly disappointed by any of the films in this collection.

I blind buy pretty much all my Criterions. Have no desire to see Salo, Antichrist or Fellini's Satyricon. Made the mistake of watching In The Realm of the Senses and found nothing redeemable about it.

Also not a fan of films that go nowhere and are preachy. Films that are pretentious or try to heavy handily hammer philosophical points through over and over. A lot of movies tend to over do explanations via exhibition, narration or flashback. I'm not saying I don't want a movie to stand for something or make a point, but a lot of times its insulting how heavy handed they are trying to make that point. It should come natural through the progression of the characters, story or imagery.

I will skim reviews and most of the time I will usually read the reviews of people who hated a film over positive ones. Give's me a better idea if the film will include stuff that would be a turn off for me. I'm more interested in the mood, style of the film and type of film before buying it and not so much the story elements. I don't do Hulu because IMO you can only experience a movie the 1st time once and I want that one time to be the best experience possible via audio/video.

I'm a big fan of Japanese films, Film Noirs, and expressionistic films. That being said Ivan's Childhood, Marketa Lazarova are two of my favorites. Though Marketa Lazarova seems to be a mixed bag on this forum. It is difficult to get into it simply because so much is introduced it takes awhile to make heads or tails of the story, but on subsequent viewings there is nothing else like it.

I'd also put The Music Room and The Phantom Carriage in there as amazing films I would have never seen had it not been for Criterion. I feel like Bergman when it comes to the Phantom Carriage. Such a amazing film.

Overall the majority of my Blind buys have been great successes with me with only a few duds here and there.

[Moe Szyslak]

Horror blind buys, all day. I'll be getting two from Criterion in November.

[waxHead]

Originally Posted by Banned User

I blind buy pretty much all my Criterions. Have no desire to see Salo, Antichrist or Fellini's Satyricon. Made the mistake of watching In The Realm of the Senses and found nothing redeemable about it.

Also not a fan of films that go nowhere and are preachy. Films that are pretentious or try to heavy handily hammer philosophical points through over and over. A lot of movies tend to over do explanations via exhibition, narration or flashback. I'm not saying I don't want a movie to stand for something or make a point, but a lot of times its insulting how heavy handed they are trying to make that point. It should come natural through the progression of the characters, story or imagery.

I will skim reviews and most of the time I will usually read the reviews of people who hated a film over positive ones. Give's me a better idea if the film will include stuff that would be a turn off for me. I'm more interested in the mood, style of the film and type of film before buying it and not so much the story elements. I don't do Hulu because IMO you can only experience a movie the 1st time once and I want that one time to be the best experience possible via audio/video.

I'm a big fan of Japanese films, Film Noirs, and expressionistic films. That being said Ivan's Childhood, Marketa Lazarova are two of my favorites. Though Marketa Lazarova seems to be a mixed bag on this forum. It is difficult to get into it simply because so much is introduced it takes awhile to make heads or tails of the story, but on subsequent viewings there is nothing else like it.

I'd also put The Music Room and The Phantom Carriage in there as amazing films I would have never seen had it not been for Criterion. I feel like Bergman when it comes to the Phantom Carriage. Such a amazing film.

Overall the majority of my Blind buys have been great successes with me with only a few duds here and there.

This is extremely similar to the way I determine what films to blind-buy. Negative reviews, or negative comments in reviews, are very helpful.

Regarding preachy filmes, I do love The Thin Red Line, which many people consider too heavy-handed with it's themes. I enjoy the atmosphere and cinematography so much, the narration doesn't bother me at all. I won't watch Hearts and Minds due to comments about it's biased nature.

I loved The Phantom Carriage as well, still need to check out The Music Room. I haven't seen any of Satyajit Ray's films, but I own all his Criterions and plan to buy The Apu Trilogy once it's released.

[Clare2904]

I'll add to the Blind Buy debate.

I am fussy, know what I like and dislike. Know what subjects I can watch and can't (animal cruelty etc). But, as I continue to watch films and ideas/opinions/tastes come and go I find myself revisiting the full Criterion catalogue every 6 months or so just to see if that film i dismissed (yes I think Criterion releases films not worthy of my hard earned money ) last time could maybe worth a look.

[bwdowiak]

I mostly blind buy films that are from genres that I like and am comfortable with – highly regarded American classics, the French New Wave, noir… I am more likely to take a chance on a film that is supposed to feature great cinematography (e.g. The River, Kwaidan) or on a blu-ray of an older film that has maybe undergone a restoration and/or has received top marks in the PQ department (e.g. How Green Was My Valley.) I remember the first time I tried to watch The Third Man on an old VHS tape close to 20 years ago. I couldn’t understand a single word of the spoken dialogue it was so bad. So, I still marvel when I am able to see (and hear) an old film in marvelous healthy condition.

Kwaidan will be my first Japanese blind buy, so wish me luck. As I mentioned earlier this week, I know next to nothing about Japanese film and I’d like to change that. Sometimes you just get the sense that you have evolved as a film lover and are ready to explore and love something different. Roger Ebert spoke very highly of Kwaidan. His reviews are another blind buy selling point for me.

[waxHead]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

Kwaidan will be my first Japanese blind buy, so wish me luck. As I mentioned earlier this week, I know next to nothing about Japanese film and I’d like to change that. Sometimes you just get the sense that you have evolved as a film lover and are ready to explore and love something different. Roger Ebert spoke very highly of Kwaidan. His reviews are another blind buy selling point for me.

If you like noir, check out Pale Flower

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by waxHead

If you like noir, check out Pale Flower

I saw and really liked Pale Flower based on Ebert's Great Movies review of the film. I have kind of forgotten about it, although from time to time I have considered picking it up.

Definitely a good call, though.

[waxHead]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I saw and really liked Pale Flower based on Ebert's Great Movies review of the film. I have kind of forgotten about it, although from time to time I have considered picking it up.

Definitely a good call, though.

If you haven't seen it, you might also try Kurosawa's High and Low. It's more police procedural than noir, but it's still a pretty "dark" film.

[filmmusic]

Malick's Voyage of time delayed again??

According to this article, Knight of Cups wil be released in 2016. Then after that his next movie about the Texas music scene followed by Voyage of time!
So, since I don't believe there will be released 3 Malick films in 2016, I assume the latter will be released in 2017-2018??
http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplayli...tless-20150627

Still, haven't brought myself watching To The Wonder.
I think I will be disappointed.