The Criterion Collection

[monorail91]

Originally Posted by mja345

I thought the actors Chris Eigeman and Taylor Nichols were huge keys to the success of Stillman's first two films. I think the reason why "The Last Days of Disco" doesn't work as well for me is that Chloe Sevigny and Kate Beckinsale, even though I like both as actresses overall, annoy the shit out of me delivering Stillman's particular kind of dialogue. I also thought Eigeman was a huge key to the success of Baumbach's first and best film IMO, "Kicking and Screaming".

Lol! I just saw Disco for the first time this weekend - didn't like the movie overall, but I did like Beckinsale (who I'm normally not a fan of). Her cold, oblivious portrayal was pretty fun to watch.

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by RalphoR

Ray Harryhausen opened up the world of fantasy for me. I pretty much owe it to him my love of movies. I wish Criterion could release some of his BDs like they used to on Laser Disc. Perhaps they could persuede Warners to let them do a special disc of The Valley of Gwangi since pretty soon it will be the last Harryhausen movie standing not out on bd.

I'd say the odds are virtually nil, they haven't made a habit of putting out cheesy flicks like that on blu-ray. DVD had that line with the likes of Equinox and Fiend Without a Face, but they seem to have abandoned that. The only "mid-tier" genre flicks they have released are that one staff member's pet project (Robinson Crusoe on Mars) and ones that can have a serious case made to be historically important or artistically adventurous (Hausu, Carnival of Souls, Eating Raoul, Cronenberg flicks).

However, I think Gwangi is a safe bet for inclusion if/when Warner does Vol 2 of their special effects collection.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

well, at this point I can say that I don't think ANY film changed or would change my life!
Even my most favourite ones.
I treasure them, I enjoy watching them, I'm moved, I cry, but life changing? No.
People and situations are life changing.

It depends on what factors you believe the phrase "life changing" encompasses. It can literally be "life changing" if seeing a movie makes you quit your office job to become a environmental activist, or even to go to film school to become a filmmaker.

I've post this before, but as a kid in the 60s, I liked movies. But for me they were just another way of telling stories. Because I was a sf/fantasy reader, I was largely interested in SF, fantasy, and monster movies. But I also liked action/adventure, war, and western films. In 1968, at the age of 14½, I went to see 2001: A Space Odyssey. On two separate occasions, I rode the bus from the suburbs to Boston to see it at the Cinerama Theater, ultimately spending a week's pay (paper route) for each excursion. Now, I went to it the first time because it was a big-deal science fiction movie. The second time was because after the first time, I no longer saw it as just a story, but as a magnificent work of art.

From that point on, I started watching just about every movie I could find on TV, and went to all sorts of movies in the theater that I would never have thought to see before. I became a hard core fan of films, and 45+ years on, I'm still that. It's hard to say that that wouldn't have eventually been the case without my seeing 2001 at that particular point in my life, but still, I do think that seeing that film at that time was a transcendental -- and life changing -- experience.

[The Great Owl]

Double posting this review, since we have a few Malick fans in the midst here...

I just finished watching my Blu-ray of Terrence Malick's Knight of Cups.

Part of me is inclined to say that Terrence Malick has finally made the movie that his detractors have accused him of making all along, in that it could just be a series of beautiful images and random voiceovers with no substance. I would say that Knight of Cups is a film that must be seen multiple times in order to process the story, but I don't know if there's anything to process, because this is a truly improvisational film where every viewer is free to draw different interpretations.

That said, I like the movie. I somehow related to every "major" character in the film, and I have to give a tip of the hat to Malick for using images without tangible context to evoke my empathy. I could relate to Christian Bale's midlife crisis of sorts, because I often get the feeling that, like the knight of the story referenced by the title, I've lost focus of my fundamental character because of so many diversions around me. Although I'm not a parent, I also get Brian Dennehy's wish for his sons to have a better existence. I identified with Natalie Portman's sense of guilt and responsibility. I also identified with the seemingly carefree wistfulness of a few of the other women in the film.

This movie is basically a reflecting pool from which viewers draw parallels to themselves and their own lives. I guess that all movies are reflecting pools in the same sense, but both the good thing and the bad thing about Knight of Cups is that it makes this so obvious.

If you want to look at beautiful women for two hours, then you're in the right place. We've got Natalie Portman, Freida Pinto, Cate Blanchett, Teresa Palmer, Isabel Lucas, and my favorite, Imogen Poots. They all have this fantastic glow to them as they do interpretive dances around the screen while Bale's character wanders in and out of the frame. Like Malick's To the Wonder, characters are not so much acting here as they are dancing in a ballet, and it's an oddly wondrous thing to watch.

I'm reminded of Michelangelo Antonioni's films starring Monica Vitti, Alain Delon, Jeanne Moreau, and Marcello Mastroianni, where I'm expected to empathize with beautiful people who all won the genetic lottery and who all dress to the nines. The surprising thing is that I actually end up doing so.

Knight of Cups is basically a sensory overload of sunlight Los Angeles buildings, nighttime cityscapes, expensive suits, and gorgeous legs in strappy high heels. I don't love the movie in any concrete sense, but I enjoyed the eye candy.

The Blu-ray looks great on my 4K television screen. How could a movie like this not look great? I have no complaints about the audio quality of the Blu-ray, but, then again, it's not like I was particularly worried about missing any dialogue. Like the documentaries on other Malick Blu-rays, the "Making Of" extra on this Blu-ray does an admirable job of confusing me even more than I already am.

This is not Terrence Malick firing on all cylinders, but I don't think that it's a shallow film either. I recommend, as long as you know what you're getting into.

[Page14]

Originally Posted by RalphoR

Ray Harryhausen opened up the world of fantasy for me. I pretty much owe it to him my love of movies. I wish Criterion could release some of his BDs like they used to on Laser Disc. Perhaps they could persuede Warners to let them do a special disc of The Valley of Gwangi since pretty soon it will be the last Harryhausen movie standing not out on bd.

I might be in the same boat as you. I chose Talos as my avatar because Jason and the Argonauts made such a strong (and happy) impression on me as an 8 to 10 year old seeing it at the local movie theater. I loved it!!! It might be the first movie memory I ever had. For the longest time, I seriously wanted to be a stop-motion animator (even into my 30s), solely as a result of watching so many Ray Harryhausen movies (and so many others of that ilk) in the theater (and on TV) as a young boy. I'm sure I'm not the only kid from that era to have that dream ... mostly because of Ray.

I put Robinson Crusoe on Mars in the same category. My memories of seeing that movie in the theater are every bit as strong and good as seeing Jason. Just a thrill!!! Those were the days when you could stay in your seat in the movie theater and watch repeat showings for as long as you wanted to or were allowed to ... and I did! I'm sure I've said it before, but Robinson Crusoe on Mars was the first Criterion title I ever bought (in DVD form). I didn't have a clue what Criterion was about at the time ... I just knew I had to own that movie. So, in a roundabout way, thanks to Robinson Crusoe (and especially to whichever Criterion "bigwig" wanted it in the Criterion Collection) that I'm here in these forums.

[RalphoR]

It's very cool hearing your story about Jason and the Argonauts. My first ever coloring book was of The Valley of Gwangi. I'm not quite sure what my parents were thinking but it was probably the one gift that really impacted my young life. I'm sure I saw the dinosaur on the cover and wanted it but it's the things like that that really shape our lives in some fashion and I love hearing people's stories on this forum.

[Page14]

Originally Posted by RalphoR

It's very cool hearing your story about Jason and the Argonauts. My first ever coloring book was of The Valley of Gwangi. I'm not quite sure what my parents were thinking but it was probably the one gift that really impacted my young life. I'm sure I saw the dinosaur on the cover and wanted it but it's the things like that that really shape our lives in some fashion and I love hearing people's stories on this forum.

Thank you. I would think today's kids will have their special memories too, although maybe with something more along the lines of Transformers instead.

[Machine Elf]

Criterion gurus of the thread I come to you seeking wisdom. I have been waiting for years to have the Dekalog on blu-ray and it is finally set to be released in September. Will they take preorders during the b&n 50% off sale? Is there any reason to preorder otherwise? Usually, I wait, but i'm very excited about this one.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Machine Elf

Criterion gurus of the thread I come to you seeking wisdom. I have been waiting for years to have the Dekalog on blu-ray and it is finally set to be released in September. Will they take preorders during the b&n 50% off sale? Is there any reason to preorder otherwise? Usually, I wait, but i'm very excited about this one.

Pre-orders are not eligible during the sale.

[Knaldskalle]

Originally Posted by Machine Elf

Criterion gurus of the thread I come to you seeking wisdom. I have been waiting for years to have the Dekalog on blu-ray and it is finally set to be released in September. Will they take preorders during the b&n 50% off sale? Is there any reason to preorder otherwise? Usually, I wait, but i'm very excited about this one.

There will be another B&N sale in November, only 2 months after Dekalog comes out.

[mrjohnnyb]

Originally Posted by Machine Elf

Criterion gurus of the thread I come to you seeking wisdom. I have been waiting for years to have the Dekalog on blu-ray and it is finally set to be released in September. Will they take preorders during the b&n 50% off sale? Is there any reason to preorder otherwise? Usually, I wait, but i'm very excited about this one.

My recommendation: Wait until the November sale and buy it with the annual 35% off Black Friday coupon. If you are a B&N member using a B&N master card, your final price will be $27.79 before sales tax.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by Knaldskalle

There will be another B&N sale in November, only 2 months after Dekalog comes out.

There will also be that 24-hour October sale on Criterion's site.

[Machine Elf]

Wow. Thanks everyone. Despite the already torturous wait, I'll definitely continue waiting until (at least) that 24 hour October sale. This is the release of the year for me.

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by mrjohnnyb

My recommendation: Wait until the November sale and buy it with the annual 35% off Black Friday coupon. If you are a B&N member using a B&N master card, your final price will be $27.79 before sales tax.

You could also get it online with the 30% Black Friday coupon, $35 shipped before tax if you don't have a B&N close.

[theater dreamer]

For some of the bigger ticket items, the B&N and Criterion 24 hour flash sales are really the way to go. Both have big advantages. B&N you can reduce the price down to next to nothing with the 50% off, a membership, and a good 30% off coupon, especially if you live in one of those states with no sales tax.

For example:

John Cassavetes Five Film collection has a $124.99 MSRP
50% off brings it to $62.50
10% off in store from membership brings it down to $56.25
30% off coupon brings it to $39.38.

I don't know about you guys, but getting better than 2/3 of the price knocked off of a master filmmaker's collection makes me giddy. I'll have to pay a few bucks more, as I live in Texas, and have an 8.25% sales tax, but still. I can't wait for the first week of July.

Originally Posted by Machine Elf

Wow. Thanks everyone. Despite the already torturous wait, I'll definitely continue waiting until (at least) that 24 hour October sale. This is the release of the year for me.

[Namuhana]

Since my B&N doesn't have a media department, I ordered in some titles in anticipation for the sale. So far, I've got copies of David Lean Directs Noël Coward (which I've ordered in a few times, but I think I'm finally going to get it this time around), Rosemary's Baby, and Bicycle Thieves. I've several more coming, too. I should probably make a budget, but I doubt that'll happen.

I also checked on several titles that we're out of stock during the last bit of the 40% off sale (The Graduate, In a Lonely Place, etc.) and there are now hundreds in our warehouses, so I think we'll all be safe in securing copies.

[Ray Jackson]

In preparation for the July sale, I've decided to finally take advantage of the free one-week Hulu trail offer to do some potential blind-buying reconnaissance work.

I've made the following list of films I hope to get through in a seven-day period. Whether or not that's humanly possible remains to be seen. It's disappointing how many in print Criterions aren't available on Hulu.

But here's what I have so far:

-The Marriage of Maria Braun
-Veronika Voss
-The Merchant of Four Seasons
-The Wages of Fear
-Charulata
-Revanche
-Alice In the Cities
-Wings of Desire
-Breaker Morant
-Children of Paradise
-In The Realm of the Senses
-The Kid
-The Great Beauty
-The Naked Island
-The Naked Kiss
-Shock Corridor
-Purple Noon
-Le Silence de la Mer
-Things to Come
-Woman In The Dunes

Now can it be done?

More importantly, can it be done without popping bennies and consuming large quantities of Walter White's blue magic?

...it begins.

[RojD]

Originally Posted by Namuhana

Since my B&N doesn't have a media department, I ordered in some titles in anticipation for the sale. So far, I've got copies of David Lean Directs Noël Coward (which I've ordered in a few times, but I think I'm finally going to get it this time around), Rosemary's Baby, and Bicycle Thieves. I've several more coming, too. I should probably make a budget, but I doubt that'll happen.

I also checked on several titles that we're out of stock during the last bit of the 40% off sale (The Graduate, In a Lonely Place, etc.) and there are now hundreds in our warehouses, so I think we'll all be safe in securing copies.

I learned two big things from BN's last 40% sale that I'm sure I'll use next month.

First, you can go to a store, order a disc for home delivery, and the store will apply whatever coupon you've got. I ordered several BD's at 40% off, plus a membership discount, plus 20% off coupons. Those BDs are on their way to my house now, and they didn't have to be in stock at the store. I'm so doing this in July for the Crits.

Second, BN had some new coupons during the 40% sale that took up to 30% off the price of an online order if you bought over $150. And the 30% applied to whatever preorders you included after the $150 order. So I got several Crits for about $16.50 to run up to $150 and was able to peel 30% off the pre-order price for others I wanted, mostly non-Criterions. So, Machine Elf, this might be a way to order Dekalog for 30% off the preorder price. Of course, only if BN offers one of those entire-purchase discount coupons.

The 30% off $150 or more online might be my new favorite coupon.

[nitin]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

In preparation for the July sale, I've decided to finally take advantage of the free one-week Hulu trail offer to do some potential blind-buying reconnaissance work.

I've made the following list of films I hope to get through in a seven-day period. Whether or not that's humanly possible remains to be seen. It's disappointing how many in print Criterions aren't available on Hulu.

But here's what I have so far:

-The Marriage of Maria Braun
-Veronika Voss
-The Merchant of Four Seasons
-The Wages of Fear
-Charulata
-Revanche
-Alice In the Cities
-Wings of Desire
-Breaker Morant
-Children of Paradise
-In The Realm of the Senses
-The Kid
-The Great Beauty
-The Naked Island
-The Naked Kiss
-Shock Corridor
-Purple Noon
-Le Silence de la Mer
-Things to Come
-Woman In The Dunes

Now can it be done?

More importantly, can it be done without popping bennies and consuming large quantities of Walter White's blue magic?

...it begins.

It is possible....with Inception. The seed has been planted. Now it will gnaw at you Ray, slowly but surely it will eat at you. Either you will will come out of it whole and see your loved ones again or forever be lost in a Hulu stream somewhere where hours will turn into years.

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

In preparation for the July sale, I've decided to finally take advantage of the free one-week Hulu trail offer to do some potential blind-buying reconnaissance work.

I've made the following list of films I hope to get through in a seven-day period. Whether or not that's humanly possible remains to be seen. It's disappointing how many in print Criterions aren't available on Hulu.

But here's what I have so far:

-The Marriage of Maria Braun
-Veronika Voss
-The Merchant of Four Seasons
-The Wages of Fear
-Charulata
-Revanche
-Alice In the Cities
-Wings of Desire
-Breaker Morant
-Children of Paradise
-In The Realm of the Senses
-The Kid
-The Great Beauty
-The Naked Island
-The Naked Kiss
-Shock Corridor
-Purple Noon
-Le Silence de la Mer
-Things to Come
-Woman In The Dunes

Now can it be done?

More importantly, can it be done without popping bennies and consuming large quantities of Walter White's blue magic?

...it begins.

I can save you a couple of hours. Just buy Wages of Fear.