The Criterion Collection

[GentleGiant]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

I agree with Cert. Copy, such an awesome film its more driven by the narrative but if you can go for that then you will enjoy a lot, I loved the acting it felt so natural and real - I also loved the conversation they had throughout the film .

It stays with you and leaves you wondering but I won't spoil !

I really liked Certified Copy a lot. It's based on a very interesting premise that demands no less than a perfect directorial job to make it work without sliding off into snoozefest territory. I thought Kiarostami pulled it off masterfully. I love these "hard-to-pin-down" kind of films that make me feel like a babe in the woods barely scratching the surface of what it's trying to say in the subtext (Inland Empire, anyone?). In the case of Certified Copy that's part of the charm as well - and loads of replay value, to boot.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Alex DeLarge

You are in for a treat! I too "discovered" Satyajit Ray this year though I've been reading about his films for many years, well, since I discovered a love of cinema! I cannot recommend W. Andrew Robinson's book on ray enough as it helped me understand the cultural nuances within the families and relationships Ray examines. My personal favorite is CHARULATA (THE LONELY WIFE) as it's very sad and touching and beautiful. DEVI is another great film and one I'd like to see on blu in the Criterion collection. Read Robinson's book as you watch the films and you will discover a higher level of cinematic enlightenment! I promise.

cool! I will keep my eye out for that book. my wife is Indian (born there,) so when I watched PP with her, she gave me some insight into a few things I was not aware of. for a while, I did not know which Ray film (of the CC titles) to see, but now (even before you mentioned it) Charulata has really piqued my interest so I'll try to get my hands on that before the others, although I might just buy all 3 at once.

I'm actually flying to India on Saturday! My son and wife are already there. We'll be visiting with family in and around Delhi.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

late reply here...

thanks for replying, Pedro! now I have only seen his first film (Pather Panchali), his last (The Stranger), and The Home and the World... so open the flood gates! I've discovered a new great director! nice to know there are several titles out there available to pick up. and of course, we've got Apu coming in 2015.

Pedro: read this about The Stranger if you have a chance. fantastically written film analysis. it'll only take you 10 minutes to read it. such a light film that is thematically as deep as Solaris or 2001. ah see?? now I'm guilty of making that comparison!! good stuff, though.

http://www.letstalkaboutbollywood.co...-22320498.html

I just finished watching Darjeeling Limited, and it was pretty neat to pick out the themes from various Ray films (as well as Merchant Ivory).

The three titles (well, technically 4) we have from Criterion on Blu-ray are fantastic films. I'm conflicted between Charulata and The Music Room as my favourite. I've watched some of Apu, and Teen Kanya. I really need to get to reading Rabindranath Tagore, as Ray's adapted so much of his literary output.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by GentleGiant

I really liked Certified Copy a lot. It's based on a very interesting premise that demands no less than a perfect directorial job to make it work without sliding off into snoozefest territory. I thought Kiarostami pulled it off masterfully. I love these "hard-to-pin-down" kind of films that make me feel like a babe in the woods barely scratching the surface of what it's trying to say in the subtext (Inland Empire, anyone?). In the case of Certified Copy that's part of the charm as well - and loads of replay value, to boot.

Exactly! I was so worried it may be a bore or not have any importance to me. But it was the opposite, it worked so well and I didn't find any of it boring or hard to sit through. Its a bizarre film but I am so glad he chose not to reveal anything or manipulate the audience into believing one thing - he give sis to much to explore and lets us figure out what happens in the film which I really appreciate.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

I just finished watching Darjeeling Limited, and it was pretty neat to pick out the themes from various Ray films (as well as Merchant Ivory).

The three titles (well, technically 4) we have from Criterion on Blu-ray are fantastic films. I'm conflicted between Charulata and The Music Room as my favourite. I've watched some of Apu, and Teen Kanya. I really need to get to reading Rabindranath Tagore, as Ray's adapted so much of his literary output.

Never seen this guys films and not sure if I will enjoy them - just don't seem my sort of film, however Marian Bantjes did the artwork for two of the films and I am a huge admirer of her work (the cover design).

I really want to buy them just for the artwork and have the films as a bonus lol but I can't justify it XD

[Trace17]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Exactly! I was so worried it may be a bore or not have any importance to me. But it was the opposite, it worked so well and I didn't find any of it boring or hard to sit through. Its a bizarre film but I am so glad he chose not to reveal anything or manipulate the audience into believing one thing - he give sis to much to explore and lets us figure out what happens in the film which I really appreciate.

Certified Copy is one of my favorite films in the collection. What makes it and Close Up even better purchases is that they both have a bonus film packaged in. I finally got around to watching The Report this weekend, a very good watch. I also really enjoyed The Traveler, a bonus with Close Up. All are recommended.

Swung by BN this morning and picked up the Tati set and La Dolce Vita. I'm good for awhile...

[Show spoiler]Though I'll be back for L'avventura haha

[mande2013]

Now all Criterion needs to do is release Kiarostami's And Life Goes On, in many ways his masterpiece along with Close-Up.

[Namuhana]

Originally Posted by jw007

Yes, but most of my experience of the coupon being scanned does not work in favor for the consumer. Yet, somehow, magically, if the the code is entered manually, the coupon somehow magically works. Why is this the case? Who knows! All I know is that scanning the barcode means most of the time the coupon is invalid yet when I had that same csr input it manually, it worked. Was it magic? I doubt it.

In my opinion, the message from B&N is: don't use coupons cause we're going to make sure you don't get any more savings than the 50% off, because well, that's enough and we'll go out of business otherwise if you get more discounts. So accept it and be a well behaved consumer.

Since we only carry a small selection of BDs/DVDs (and none of them being Criterion), I can't really say how the coupons work in this specific situation. I can say, however, that a 20% off coupon is supposed to work on the most expensive item you purchase (even if the coupon is scanned or put in manually). There are ways in which you can override the coupon not going through, though; And, at least in my store, I know we try to do the best we can to let the consumer use their coupons ('cause that's what they're there for). Standard practices should be nation-wide, so I'm not sure why you've been having a not so great experience in using coupons.

[Vinyl]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Never seen this guys films and not sure if I will enjoy them - just don't seem my sort of film, however Marian Bantjes did the artwork for two of the films and I am a huge admirer of her work (the cover design).

I really want to buy them just for the artwork and have the films as a bonus lol but I can't justify it XD

check out Charulata, its on youtube as Charulata 1964. You just have to Search for it and walla!

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Never seen this guys films and not sure if I will enjoy them - just don't seem my sort of film, however Marian Bantjes did the artwork for two of the films and I am a huge admirer of her work (the cover design).

I really want to buy them just for the artwork and have the films as a bonus lol but I can't justify it XD

See the post above me, and also, The Music Room is available on there

[Rich Pure Doom]

Today's haul:

The Great Beauty
Polanski's Macbeth
Five Films with John Cassavetes
Love Streams
My Darling Clementine
The Complete Jacques Tati

[Scottie]

I hope some people purchase The Big City. It's an incredibly remarkable film about older generations, newer generations, and an overall changing India.

[Vinyl]

I finally had time to sit and watch Persona By Bergman. First time I attempted I couldn't get past the opening "montage". I read that the montage is overly long and then it gets to the body of the movie.

Very Good, it really sticks with you; but I do not see myself wanting to purchase and watch repeatedly.

[Vinyl]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I hope some people purchase The Big City. It's an incredibly remarkable film about older generations, newer generations, and an overall changing India.

My first Ray purchase. After watching and enjoying the next B&N sale went to buy Charulata.

[soarinsteven]

Ahhhh so tempted to go to B&N today, but must wait for coupons!

Good to see people discussing Satyajit Ray. Watched The Big City a few months ago, and it's still on my mind. Definitely one of the greatest films I've seen in the collection.

I'm thinking of finally seeing Chris Nolan's Following. Saw Interstellar over the weekend, and it's another film I can't stop thinking about. I'm not sure I understood everything that happened, or how I feel about it, but damn if I wasn't moved by it all. Haven't seen a single 2014 release more than once in the theater, but I'm thinking Interstellar will be the first one.

I also need to make the original Insomnia a priority, and then we revisit the Nolan version. I haven't seen that since I rented the dvd, and remains the only Nolan film I don't have a high opinion of.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Never seen this guys films and not sure if I will enjoy them - just don't seem my sort of film, however Marian Bantjes did the artwork for two of the films and I am a huge admirer of her work (the cover design).

I really want to buy them just for the artwork and have the films as a bonus lol but I can't justify it XD

how about buying them on the premise that you might actually enjoy the films?

I don't see why they wouldn't potentially resonate with you based on other things you have expressed interest in.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

See the post above me, and also, The Music Room is available on there

Originally Posted by Vinyl

check out Charulata, its on youtube as Charulata 1964. You just have to Search for it and walla!

Thanks will check them out - I want to try and find some appreciation, I just don't know what puts me off his films?

Just watched 3 reasons video for The Music Room and I must say the transfer looks gorgeous and the black and white is beautiful. I'll also add the sets they used are divine. Maybe I will check it out

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

how about buying them on the premise that you might actually enjoy the films?

I don't see why they wouldn't potentially resonate with you based on other things you have expressed interest in.

I think it may just be not knowing the director and his work, and I know nothing about the genre or the culture - Might do some reading and watch some videos.

I always get put off by some films for no reason and go years without watching and when I do watch I regret waiting. Happens all the time! I should have more faith and trust my judgement lol

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I hope some people purchase The Big City. It's an incredibly remarkable film about older generations, newer generations, and an overall changing India.

I have watched it before, but I finally picked it up back in the September B2G1 sale at B&N. It was the last Ray title for me to pick up on Blu-ray. I had to do a toss up between it and Charulata last November, as I could only get so many Criterions last year.

And, in case folks forgot, The Big City also has The Coward, another film, as a bonus feature.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Thanks will check them out - I want to try and find some appreciation, I just don't know what puts me off his films?

Just watched 3 reasons video for The Music Room and I must say the transfer looks gorgeous and the black and white is beautiful. I'll also add the sets they used are divine. Maybe I will check it out



I think it may just be not knowing the director and his work, and I know nothing about the genre or the culture - Might do some reading and watch some videos.

I always get put off by some films for no reason and go years without watching and when I do watch I regret waiting. Happens all the time! I should have more faith and trust my judgement lol

Well, if you've watched Anderson's The Darjeeling Limited, you've had some slight exposure to Ray, as a large chunk of the soundtrack is composed of music from various Ray films/composed by him: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0838221/...ef_=tt_trv_snd

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Well, if you've watched Anderson's The Darjeeling Limited, you've had some slight exposure to Ray, as a large chunk of the soundtrack is composed of music from various Ray films/composed by him: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0838221/...ef_=tt_trv_snd

I think thats the only film of his I have only seen once and was so long ago - might make that my next viewing