The Criterion Collection

[JJJ225]

I'll take Resnais over Truffaut or Godard any day of the week.

[SkyAntoine]

Kept up my French new wave viewing by seeing Breathless for the first time last night. It was my first Godard film and I understand it is more accessible than many of his other films.

Compared to Jules & Jim (viewed Monday night) I enjoyed it much, much more. I attribute much of that to the coolness factor and flow of the film. Michel's dialogue was very fabulous and Jean Seberg....wow. Not sure it is #13 on Sight & Sound worthy, but definitely a classic.

I noticed a considerable lag in the disc loading menus and starting the film. It was the first time I have experienced that on one of my Criterions. Not sure what that was about...

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by SkyAntoine

I noticed a considerable lag in the disc loading menus and starting the film. It was the first time I have experienced that on one of my Criterions. Not sure what that was about...

Hmm I don't remember any lag on mine. I've always enjoyed Godard, but I'm also one of those that doesn't really get Truffaut. His movies aren't bad by any stretch, but they seem too safe to me and frankly just don't do that much for me.

[Lutz]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

Yeah. It seems to me that at the time Resnais was fascinated with the concepts of memory and linearity. I haven't, sadly, seen enough of his later work to really comment on what he was going for then. But I found the investigations of how we remember, what we remember, in what order and structure do we remember, and all the rest fascinating.

I will say this though: Almost no matter how one feels about the actual film, Hiroshima is one my all-time favorite releases from Criterion. It's just loaded with terrifically interesting items. It's almost worth having even if you don't like the movie!

If you're interested in MARIENBAD from a narrative standpoint you would be better checking out Alain Robbe-Grillet. The collapsed narrative style he wrote for Resnais is used again and again in his work. So to with Marguerite Duras who wrote HIROSHIMA; maybe watch INDIA SONG (which again ties back to MARIENBAD with another great turn by star Delphine Seyrig).

[llj]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

I like the New Wave a fair bit. This is how I'd rank the main players.

Godard at the top.
Rivette
Varda
Rohmer
Resnais
Truffaut
Demy
Chris Marker
Chabrol

Rohmer's an odd one for me in that I just love his work but I'm hard pressed to pick any one film being representative of his "best work". He's like Ozu for me in that all his films are similar but are sort of individual pieces to a larger puzzle

Your post reminded me that Jean Eustache has been sorely overlooked on DVD, let alone blu-ray. He really only had about 2 feature films (and many more short films) but they were so important to the French New Wave. It's criminal that The Mother and the ***** hasn't seen an R1 release yet. I'm not even sure it had a DVD release in France, although I think it was released on DVD in Japan.

(Edit: What? This forum censors the word w-h-o-r-e? LOL.)

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by Lutz

If you're interested in MARIENBAD from a narrative standpoint you would be better checking out Alain Robbe-Grillet. The collapsed narrative style he wrote for Resnais is used again and again in his work. So to with Marguerite Duras who wrote HIROSHIMA; maybe watch INDIA SONG (which again ties back to MARIENBAD with another great turn by star Delphine Seyrig).

I'm out of "Thanks" but I thank you for the suggestions.

Just what I need: Even more stuff to watch!

[willieconway]

Originally Posted by billzfan

I currently have the German David Lynch blu Ray set that includes Mulholland Drive. The transfer is solid, it has some decent extras, and it had HD audio. Don't see anything new except for the booklet and a new 4K transfer. Anyone else thinking the same? I love Lynch but I hate double dipping, lol.

Originally Posted by ravenus

I guess it depends on how much difference the new transfer makes, so wait for the reviews and screenshots. I mostly won't be upgrading from my Studio Canal UK blu-ray. This release is mainly relevant for region A locked audiences...and spine number collectors

I also have the German set. I don't give a rodent's behind about extras but I'll get the Criterion if it's a significant and obvious upgrade in PQ and/or AQ.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by ravenus

I guess it depends on how much difference the new transfer makes, so wait for the reviews and screenshots. I mostly won't be upgrading from my Studio Canal UK blu-ray. This release is mainly relevant for region A locked audiences...and spine number collectors

I'm pretty sure the set being referred to is Region Free so it's fine for A locked folks. It's also super cheap. I got mine for like $18 shipped. It's the reason I was always confused why the voice screaming for Mulholland Drive was so fervent.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

I'm pretty sure the set being referred to is Region Free so it's fine for A locked folks. It's also super cheap. I got mine for like $18 shipped. It's the reason I was always confused why the voice screaming for Mulholland Drive was so fervent.

I think some people don't have faith in the quality of imports. So when they hear a film is out in Lichtenstein or Denmark (Blatant hyperbole ) they question it and ultimately pass.

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by llj

Rohmer's an odd one for me in that I just love his work but I'm hard pressed to pick any one film being representative of his "best work". He's like Ozu for me in that all his films are similar but are sort of individual pieces to a larger puzzle

I'd agree with this in the sense that I think the complete Rohmer oeuvre is awe-inspiring in it's consistency. He maintained a very particular vision across decades, like Ozu. I do think there are a couple of films that stand out tho, with The Green Ray perhaps the biggest. Love In The Afternoon too.

Originally Posted by llj

Your post reminded me that Jean Eustache has been sorely overlooked on DVD, let alone blu-ray. He really only had about 2 feature films (and many more short films) but they were so important to the French New Wave. It's criminal that The Mother and the ***** hasn't seen an R1 release yet. I'm not even sure it had a DVD release in France, although I think it was released on DVD in Japan.

(Edit: What? This forum censors the word w-h-o-r-e? LOL.)

Eustache's work is tied up in rights problems. It's not in print anywhere over here in Europe, as far as I'm aware. I was employed to work on a release of MOTHER over a year ago now, but the project stalled.

Traditionally I've always been pretty strict about how I categorise the New Wave, and wouldn't ordinarily call Resnais or Varda or any of other Left Bank filmmakers "New Wave". I stick quite strictly to the New Wave being the Cahiers five. Eustache, whose work I love dearly, I would categorise alongside other outsiders to either faction like Maurice Pialat or Jacques Rozier. The latter is a ripe candidate for Criterion, with his Maine-Ocean one of my favourite French movies of the 80s. A Eustache collection would be a dream come true too, tho in the meantime at least we have his Weekend performance to turn to in the collection!

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by Lutz

If you're interested in MARIENBAD from a narrative standpoint you would be better checking out Alain Robbe-Grillet. The collapsed narrative style he wrote for Resnais is used again and again in his work. So to with Marguerite Duras who wrote HIROSHIMA; maybe watch INDIA SONG (which again ties back to MARIENBAD with another great turn by star Delphine Seyrig).

I'd go as far as to recommend Robbe-Grillet's own directorial work. Trans-Europ-Express is my personal favourite. There's some speculation (admittedly, started by me) that decent English-friendly releases of Duras' work may be forthcoming, as Arrow seem to have struck a deal with her regular producer Stéphane Tchalgadjieff in putting together their upcoming Jacques Rivette box-set.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

I think some people don't have faith in the quality of imports. So when they hear a film is out in Lichtenstein or Denmark (Blatant hyperbole ) they question it and ultimately pass.

I made my first imports this year, with a Japanese import of an Ozu film and two German imports of American movies (Sliding Doors and Ghost World) that were not available here.

But I have to say, I was questionable about how they would work out. So, it's that reason why it took me to 2015 to actually import anything. I didn't know what I was doing.

I'm happy I did, now, though.

[jmclick]

I've been bad. Very, very, very bad. Deepdiscount.com is having a huge blu-ray sale, and I couldn't resist. First of all, many Criterion titles are being offered at about 43% off. But, when you buy any 3 blu-rays, you get another 10% off your order; if you buy 4, you get an additional 12% off, and if you buy 5 or more, you get an extra 15% off. Plus, of course, you get free shipping on orders over $25.00. And if your order totals $99 or more and you pay with PayPal Credit, you get 0% financing for six months.

I ordered 20 titles.

Among my bargains: The Public Enemy (1931) for $4.80; the newly restored and highly praised release of Hitchcock's Jamaica Inn for $13.69; Saboteur, Rope, The Trouble With Harry and Family Plot for $9.71 each; Rene Clements' The Damned for $12.12; The Osterman Weekend for $9.15; A Better Life for $7.85; Rope of Sand for $12.62.

I'll probably place another order (Heaven help me!) and pick up some Criterion titles (about $19.00 for a $40 titles) and a few Olive Films releases (they're already half price before any discount). Anyway ... I wanted to give everyone a head's up. Hopefully you'll find some great bargains and place big orders so I won't feel so alone.

[SilentDawn]

Originally Posted by jmclick

I've been bad. Very, very, very bad. Deepdiscount.com is having a huge blu-ray sale, and I couldn't resist. First of all, many Criterion titles are being offered at about 43% off. But, when you buy any 3 blu-rays, you get another 10% off your order; if you buy 4, you get an additional 12% off, and if you buy 5 or more, you get an extra 15% off. Plus, of course, you get free shipping on orders over $25.00. And if your order totals $99 or more and you pay with PayPal Credit, you get 0% financing for six months.

I ordered 20 titles.

Among my bargains: The Public Enemy (1931) for $4.80; the newly restored and highly praised release of Hitchcock's Jamaica Inn for $13.69; Saboteur, Rope, The Trouble With Harry and Family Plot for $9.71 each; Rene Clements' The Damned for $12.12; The Osterman Weekend for $9.15; A Better Life for $7.85; Rope of Sand for $12.62.

I'll probably place another order (Heaven help me!) and pick up some Criterion titles (about $19.00 for a $40 titles) and a few Olive Films releases (they're already half price before any discount). Anyway ... I wanted to give everyone a head's up. Hopefully you'll find some great bargains and place big orders so I won't feel so alone.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by jmclick

The Osterman Weekend for $9.15

The new Blu-ray of The Osterman Weekend has been dragged through the coals here on this site because of the picture quality of the transfer. In the dedicated thread for the movie, most of the people are really up in arms about how the disc is so bad.

I myself had an awesome time revisiting The Osterman Weekend by way of the Blu-ray, though, and the picture quality did not upset me in the slightest.

(It's probably obvious by now to anyone who has read my User reviews that I simply love movies, and that I'm not a videophile or an audiophile in the slightest. I cheerfully offer this disclaimer at the drop of a hat, so that you can take everything from me with a healthy grain of salt. I can count on one hand, with fingers left to spare, how many times I've been disappointed by the picture quality on a Blu-ray.)

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

I made my first imports this year, with a Japanese import of an Ozu film and two German imports of American movies (Sliding Doors and Ghost World) that were not available here.

But I have to say, I was questionable about how they would work out. So, it's that reason why it took me to 2015 to actually import anything. I didn't know what I was doing.

I'm happy I did, now, though.

Which Ozu title? Have you had a chance to check out the PQ? Something clicked for me recently in a big way and I'm setting out now to buy everything from him. I hope that Late Spring 4K gets a domestic re-release or that the Japanese release isn't too difficult to get a hold of.

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

The new Blu-ray of The Osterman Weekend has been dragged through the coals here on this site because of the picture quality of the transfer. In the dedicated thread for the movie, most of the people are really up in arms about how the disc is so bad.

I myself had an awesome time revisiting The Osterman Weekend by way of the Blu-ray, though, and the picture quality did not upset me in the slightest.

(It's probably obvious by now to anyone who has read my User reviews that I simply love movies, and that I'm not a videophile or an audiophile in the slightest. I cheerfully offer this disclaimer at the drop of a hat, so that you can take everything from me with a healthy grain of salt. I can count on one hand, with fingers left to spare, how many times I've been disappointed by the picture quality on a Blu-ray.)

Well, shoot! I added the film to my Price Tracker when it first became available for pre-order, and never bothered to follow up and read the review. I guess I won't be dumping my DVD copy after all. Since I'm a huge Burt Lancaster fan, I might have ended up purchasing the blu-ray after all somewhere down the line; at least I got it at a greatly reduced price.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

Which Ozu title? Have you had a chance to check out the PQ? Something clicked for me recently in a big way and I'm setting out now to buy everything from him. I hope that Late Spring 4K gets a domestic re-release or that the Japanese release isn't too difficult to get a hold of.

That is, of course, an excellent idea

[Show spoiler]

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by llj

Rohmer's an odd one for me in that I just love his work but I'm hard pressed to pick any one film being representative of his "best work". He's like Ozu for me in that all his films are similar but are sort of individual pieces to a larger puzzle

Rohmer is one of my favorites, after Bergman and Kieslowski. To me, he's like Woody Allen in a sense, where most of the films are similar but I think certain ones do stand out, like Claire's Knee, Green Ray and Autumn Tale.

But it's interesting because, depending on what a viewer identifies with, everyone can have different favorites, and really no one would be wrong. I suppose its that way with any director, but its a bit different since most of Rohmer's films are interchangable.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

I'd go as far as to recommend Robbe-Grillet's own directorial work. Trans-Europ-Express is my personal favourite.

It's the only Grillet directed film I've seen, because it sounded the most promising from synopses, and I loved it. It was like Marienbad, but with more racy, taboo elements.