The Criterion Collection

[Clare2904]

I've just watched ¡Alambrista!

Wow, I know from supporting various charities that life is tough out in the fields but man, all these people want is to work and earn a bit of money

As it was my film (for my club) I had to do an Intro, my research was very interesting and somewhat more relevant today (the film is from 1977) in light of the Executive Order Obama made last year.

The Extras were pretty good too, though I have not watched the film again with the Audio Commentary.

Check it out

[CriterionBlues]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

Kwaidan and Onibaba are probably in my top 5 that I wish would get bluray upgrades. I finally got around to watching Kuroneko last night (bought it during that Amazon halloween sale) and didn't really like it apart from the dreamy first 20 minutes, but everything I've read suggests I'd like Onibaba much more. I've seen Kwaidan and loved it.

100% with you on those, especially Kwaidan which would benefit the most from the BD format. I guess it all depends on what restores are out there.

I'm encouraged with their attention to Japanese genre films with the rumors of Cure and the recent (semi) confirmation of Lady Snowblood.

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by Ray_Rogers

For Kwaidan I'd prefer if the longer cut made it onto Blu-ray.

http://dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=3891

Hmm, I might have to get that R2 DVD. Though as soon as I do, Criterion will release it on bluray.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

Kwaidan and Onibaba are probably in my top 5 that I wish would get bluray upgrades. I finally got around to watching Kuroneko last night (bought it during that Amazon halloween sale) and didn't really like it apart from the dreamy first 20 minutes, but everything I've read suggests I'd like Onibaba much more. I've seen Kwaidan and loved it.

I'm really surprised Onibaba hasn't been upgraded yet. I'm sure it'd be a good seller on blu-ray. Also, I think at some point Shindo's The Naked Island will be released on blu-ray. More people need to see the film. It's like a filmed poem. Once you see it you never forget it.

[myka22]

Kwaiden was strongly rumored to be getting an upgrade a year or two ago, not sure what happened with that or if it is still in the works. Sometimes it takes a year or five for Criterion to finally release something. Maybe there was an issue with getting a quality copy of the longer cut of the film.

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

I'm really surprised Onibaba hasn't been upgraded yet. I'm sure it'd be a good seller on blu-ray. Also, I think at some point Shindo's The Naked Island will be released on blu-ray. More people need to see the film. It's like a filmed poem. Once you see it you never forget it.

Yeah, I watched the lengthy interview on the Kuroneko disc last night and it made me very curious to see The Naked Island.

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by Clare2904

I've just watched ¡Alambrista!

Wow, I know from supporting various charities that life is tough out in the fields but man, all these people want is to work and earn a bit of money

As it was my film (for my club) I had to do an Intro, my research was very interesting and somewhat more relevant today (the film is from 1977) in light of the Executive Order Obama made last year.

The Extras were pretty good too, though I have not watched the film again with the Audio Commentary.

Check it out

It's in my "To Be Watched" stack, along with El Norte. Both came highly recommended to me, and I'm looking forward to experiencing them.

This weekend I immersed myself in Lars von Trier's Antichrist, which was included in a 10-film lot of Criterion blu-rays that I picked up at eBay last month. It's the first of his movies that I've watched, and I'm still trying to sort out my emotional and critical responses to it.

I think if I had seen it when I was younger, I might have been offended and morally outraged by it, maybe even disgusted; certainly, I think those would be valid reactions for some viewers. But I think at this point in my life, my main attitude toward the film is one of overwhelming disappointment. I found so much to admire in the first two-thirds of the film

[Show spoiler](although I found the shot of the thrusting penis to be laughably unnecessary and even childishly silly)

; the cinematography, special effects, sound design and performances all intrigued me. And then, the film seemed to go completely off the rails in the last few frames of the second act, and it never recovered, descending into an incoherent mishmash.

Throughout the supplemental materials, we're told that the project was a deeply personal one for von Triers, who was in a poor mental, emotional and physical state during production. A couple of participants, including the very articulate and personable Willem Dafoe, seemed to be defending the film by explaining that it is, after all, Art (as in "Art with a capital A"). Maybe it is ... art, like beauty, may be said to be in the eye of the beholder ... but I'm of the opinion that really great Art does more than just call attention to itself and the artist who created it.

[Angel Eyes]

Can anyone recommend "The Red Shoes" on a blind buy?

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by Angel Eyes

Can anyone recommend "The Red Shoes" on a blind buy?

WONDERFEUL film. As I have said before, Powell & Pressburger films are probably my favourite discovery since starting with the Criterion Collection.

Is it for everyone - I don't know?

[atlantajoseph]

Originally Posted by jmclick

This weekend I immersed myself in Lars von Trier's Antichrist,

[Show spoiler]which was included in a 10-film lot of Criterion blu-rays that I picked up at eBay last month. It's the first of his movies that I've watched, and I'm still trying to sort out my emotional and critical responses to it.

I think if I had seen it when I was younger, I might have been offended and morally outraged by it, maybe even disgusted; certainly, I think those would be valid reactions for some viewers. But I think at this point in my life, my main attitude toward the film is one of overwhelming disappointment. I found so much to admire in the first two-thirds of the film

[Show spoiler](although I found the shot of the thrusting penis to be laughably unnecessary and even childishly silly)

; the cinematography, special effects, sound design and performances all intrigued me. And then, the film seemed to go completely off the rails in the last few frames of the second act, and it never recovered, descending into an incoherent mishmash.

Throughout the supplemental materials, we're told that the project was a deeply personal one for von Triers, who was in a poor mental, emotional and physical state during production. A couple of participants, including the very articulate and personable Willem Dafoe, seemed to be defending the film by explaining that it is, after all, Art (as in "Art with a capital A"). Maybe it is ... art, like beauty, may be said to be in the eye of the beholder ... but I'm of the opinion that really great Art does more than just call attention to itself and the artist who created it.

I am a big fan of LVT (Melancholia and Dogville are two of my favorite movies), but you have pretty well summed up my thoughts on Antichrist. :/

[Namuhana]

Originally Posted by Angel Eyes

Can anyone recommend "The Red Shoes" on a blind buy?

The Red Shoes gets my highest recommendation. It was my introduction into the Criterion Collection as well as the films of Powell and Pressburger. If you loved Black Swan, then you'll definitely love this. Cardiff's cinematography is breathtaking and the acting is quite well done. The focus is on ballet, and having to choose between one's profession and one's life. I absolutely love the film. It may not be for everyone, but I think everyone should at least check it out.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Angel Eyes

Can anyone recommend "The Red Shoes" on a blind buy?

It's very safe in a 'what you see is what you get' sort of way.

If you're at all intrigued by a review or a trailer than you very likely won't be disappointed.

One minor caveat: don't read too much into all the talk of the lush Technicolor. The transfer in general and the colors in particular are gorgeous but as a rule the Technicolor isn't of that overly lush, overly saturated, Hitchock type Technicolor.

It's generally more subtle than that.

(on a related note, definitely check out the short Scorsese feature about the restoration...it's pretty interesting)

[Rizor]

Originally Posted by Angel Eyes

Can anyone recommend "The Red Shoes" on a blind buy?

You can't go wrong with Powell/Pressburger.

[CriterionBlues]

Originally Posted by Angel Eyes

Can anyone recommend "The Red Shoes" on a blind buy?

Absolutely. It's pretty safe to blind buy all the P&P's, especially that one.

[CriterionBlues]

Originally Posted by Ray_Rogers

For Kwaidan I'd prefer if the longer cut made it onto Blu-ray.

http://dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=3891

Criterion likes to put multiple versions on Blu, so my fingers are crossed that the long and short versions get included. I have a feeling Kwaidan will be a reissue rather than upgrade since it is popular. Hopefully that's why it is taking longer.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Angel Eyes

Can anyone recommend "The Red Shoes" on a blind buy?

Absolutely fantastic.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by Angel Eyes

Can anyone recommend "The Red Shoes" on a blind buy?

I personally was indifferent about it.

[cakefactory]

I was indifferent about it until the actual ballet sequence, which really is as good as everyone says, and totally justified the blind buy for me. It's not a slam-dunk if you like black swan, that's for sure. I didn't like it even close to as much as some other Powells I've seen (ex Black Narcissus or especially Colonel Blimp). I wouldn't say it's for everyone but it's probably still one of the more accessible movies in the collection.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by Vinyl

Devils advocate:
What about Kuroneko, House, the Oshima movies, and Godzilla?

I wouldn't class Godzilla as horror, don't get me wrong I'm not saying criterion doesn't have any decent Asian horrors because the ones they have are incredible - I'm just greedy and want more lol

[JoeBuck]

Originally Posted by Ray_Rogers

For Kwaidan I'd prefer if the longer cut made it onto Blu-ray.

http://dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=3891

Not if it means getting rid of the better international cut thats currently available though.
Both is best.