The Criterion Collection

[joie]

Does anyone find "A Brighter Summer Day" to be a political film?

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by joie

Does anyone find "A Brighter Summer Day" to be a political film?

I would assume that many might because there's a political aspect to it.

Among the most praised and sought-after titles in all contemporary film, this singular masterpiece of Taiwanese cinema, directed by Edward Yang, finally comes to home video in the United States. Set in the early sixties in Taiwan, A Brighter Summer Day is based on the true story of a crime that rocked the nation. A film of both sprawling scope and tender intimacy, this novelistic, patiently observed epic centers on the gradual, inexorable fall of a young teenager (Chen Chang, in his first role) from innocence to juvenile delinquency, and is set against a simmering backdrop of restless youth, rock and roll, and political turmoil.

[NoUse4AName68]

Chungking express in stock at Amazon for 40!!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...G3KVRCS35PGKY2

[the sordid sentinel]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Yes, the improvement in detail is huge. A good deal of the film is outdoors , but you're right it's not as noticeble indoors. I just think it's unfortunate that so many new restorations are getting this yellow/greenish tint these days. It's become a fad almost. I'm going to get it regardless, but I was hoping it would be a "perfect" release

I am slightly disappointed in the teal push as well. However, detail is definitely a marked improvement and I hope the insane black crush of the previous release has been corrected. Get those things right and I am sure when I start watching the minor gripes will go out the window.

BTW, didn't the original cinematographer work on this restoration?

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by NoUse4AName68

Chungking express in stock at Amazon for 40!!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...G3KVRCS35PGKY2

I believe that's happened before and no copies were known to have shipped. Doesn't hurt to try, especially since Amazon only charges when/if it ships.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by NoUse4AName68

Chungking express in stock at Amazon for 40!!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...G3KVRCS35PGKY2

I'm giving this a try, although I'm skeptical for reasons that shadedpain4 mentioned above. Thanks for the heads up.

Because of the new $49 requirement for free shipping from Amazon, I ordered this in conjunction with the VCI Blu-ray of The City of the Dead.

[octagon]

Worst case you'll get the VCI disc shipped free.

Why not indeed.

In fact, I'm half-tempted to abuse that

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by octagon

Worst case you'll get the VCI disc shipped free.

Why not indeed.

In fact, I'm half-tempted to abuse that

That was part of my motivation, in all honesty. The City of the Dead was the last of the late March/early April discs that I want and have not already ordered, so this was a good, albeit underhanded, way to get it shipped free.

[tisdivine]

Hey Guys!

Weird question but I wanted some opinions. I had Criterion (actually our mutual buddy Jon) send me the plastic case blu packaging for Tokyo Story. Yes thats how bad I hate digipacks lol

My TS digpack, booklet & DVDs are of no use to me. Is that something I could sell and just state No Blu included? I just cant imagine people still wanting DVD only and it just seems weird to sell when its not a complete set. Or am I just being weird lol

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by tisdivine

Hey Guys!

Weird question but I wanted some opinions. I had Criterion (actually our mutual buddy Jon) send me the plastic case blu packaging for Tokyo Story. Yes thats how bad I hate digipacks lol

My TS digpack, booklet & DVDs are of no use to me. Is that something I could sell and just state No Blu included? I just cant imagine people still wanting DVD only and it just seems weird to sell when its not a complete set. Or am I just being weird lol

Yes you can, at least on eBay, I have sold the DVD discs alone so I think you could sell that for a better price since it includes the packaging and booklet (not sure if I got it right that you don't want the booklet), after all it is basically the complete set since the only way to buy it now is via separate blu-ray or DVD only editions.

[tisdivine]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

Yes you can, at least on eBay, I have sold the DVD discs alone so I think you could sell that for a better price since it includes the packaging and booklet (not sure if I got it right that you don't want the booklet), after all it is basically the complete set since the only way to buy it now is via separate blu-ray or DVD only editions.

Thanks Pedro! So you have sold DVDs by themselves...Cool. Ill try eBay. Ive sold a few things on there in the past and always had great luck. Criterion had to send me the book that fit in the plastic case the digi booklet was too tall lol so it is essentially a complete set without the blu.

[mja345]

Re-watched "Letter Never Sent" last night. Saw it a few years ago when I purchased the Blu-ray and man is it a brilliant, powerful film. It's even more remarkable given that it was made in 1959 when movies simply were not shot in that way. I have to imagine Alejandro Inarritu has seen it multiple times because there are many instances where "The Revenant" borrows heavily from it. There's a shot early in the film where two characters are having a confrontation and one throws the other to the ground as the camera moves in sync with the movement of the confrontation. It's so damn similar to many of the sequences in "The Revenant". I'd also be shocked if Terrence Malick hasn't seen it because there are many aesthetic similarities to a Malick film. "Letter Never Sent" is really a landmark film because it's one of the first to shape both modern action/adventure movies and survival films. Really recommend checking it out if you haven't already.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by mja345

Re-watched "Letter Never Sent" last night. Saw it a few years ago when I purchased the Blu-ray and man is it a brilliant, powerful film. It's even more remarkable given that it was made in 1959 when movies simply were not shot in that way. I have to imagine Alejandro Inarritu has seen it multiple times because there are many instances where "The Revenant" borrows heavily from it. There's a shot early in the film where two characters are having a confrontation and one throws the other to the ground as the camera moves in sync with the movement of the confrontation. It's so damn similar to many of the sequences in "The Revenant". I'd also be shocked if Terrence Malick hasn't seen it because there are many aesthetic similarities to a Malick film. "Letter Never Sent" is really a landmark film because it's one of the first to shape both modern action/adventure movies and survival films. Really recommend checking it out if you haven't already.

Letter Never Sent is one of the most underrated Criterion titles. I've revisited my disc several times, and I'm always astounded at the forest fire scene, which was done long before the days of digital effects. It looks as though they darn near burned down all of Russia just to make this film.

The snow sequences figuratively and literally put a chill in my blood, though. I don't think that any other film has made me actually feel the coldness in the way that this one does, although the 2012 film, The Grey, comes close.

[Sifox211]

Originally Posted by tisdivine

Thanks Pedro! So you have sold DVDs by themselves...Cool. Ill try eBay. Ive sold a few things on there in the past and always had great luck. Criterion had to send me the book that fit in the plastic case the digi booklet was too tall lol so it is essentially a complete set without the blu.

There are probably people here who would take the digipack off your hands - I think there are as many who prefer digis over plastic as the other way round

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Letter Never Sent is one of the most underrated Criterion titles. I've revisited my disc several times, and I'm always astounded at the forest fire scene, which was done long before the days of digital effects. It looks as though they darn near burned down all of Russia just to make this film.

The snow sequences figuratively and literally put a chill in my blood, though. I don't think that any other film has made me actually feel the coldness in the way that this one does, although the 2012 film, The Grey, comes close.

All this talk about a film makes me want to revisit it.. Last week I went through my 7 ft bookcase of Criterions and pulled everything to the front that I want to revisit. Could take me a few months.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

All this talk about a film makes me want to revisit it.. Last week I went through my 7 ft bookcase of Criterions and pulled everything to the front that I want to revisit. Could take me a few months.

Once I get through my massive list of still-unwatched Blu-rays, I'm going to revisit all of my movies. This is probably what I'll look like by the time I'm finished...

[Show spoiler]

Actually, I do revisit certain Blu-rays quite frequently, even at the expense of delaying my unwatched films. I have several film noir Blu-rays and favorite Criterions that I've rewatched at least 10 times, unwatched stack be damned. Don't even get me started on how many times I've revisited my James Bond Blu-rays.

[ShellOilJunior]

The Koker Trilogy is playing this weekend in Toronto:

https://www.agakhanmuseum.org/perfor...-koker-trilogy

I tried to dig up some facts about the format of the screenings and where they're coming from but I'm not finding much. I hope this means these films will continue to tour with a blu-ray release before the end of the year.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

The Koker Trilogy is playing this weekend in Toronto:

https://www.agakhanmuseum.org/perfor...-koker-trilogy

I tried to dig up some facts about the format of the screenings and where they're coming from but I'm not finding much. I hope this means these films will continue to tour with a blu-ray release before the end of the year.

Man, I know right where that museum is, it's right by one of my favorite places, The Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre!

That is tempting, although Easter Sunday seems a weird day to do it.

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

I believe that's happened before and no copies were known to have shipped. Doesn't hurt to try, especially since Amazon only charges when/if it ships.

Yes, last year with The Third Man. I already had a copy but placed an order anyway. Amazon bumped the date out a couple times and then cancelled the order.

[Knaldskalle]

Originally Posted by mja345

Re-watched "Letter Never Sent" last night. Saw it a few years ago when I purchased the Blu-ray and man is it a brilliant, powerful film. It's even more remarkable given that it was made in 1959 when movies simply were not shot in that way. I have to imagine Alejandro Inarritu has seen it multiple times because there are many instances where "The Revenant" borrows heavily from it. There's a shot early in the film where two characters are having a confrontation and one throws the other to the ground as the camera moves in sync with the movement of the confrontation. It's so damn similar to many of the sequences in "The Revenant". I'd also be shocked if Terrence Malick hasn't seen it because there are many aesthetic similarities to a Malick film. "Letter Never Sent" is really a landmark film because it's one of the first to shape both modern action/adventure movies and survival films. Really recommend checking it out if you haven't already.

Letter Never Sent, The Cranes are Flying and I Am Cuba are all dazzling in their visuals (it's quite obvious that Tarkovsky lifted, ahem, was inspired by, part of a forest scene in Letter Never Sent to put it in Ivan's Childhood).

Those three would make a killer box set.