The Criterion Collection

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

Give it another chance. There's some real comic gems in that film like

[Show spoiler]the wet tire that becomes a funeral wreath

That's actually one of 2 times I laughed.
Also that

[Show spoiler]swinging door

got on my nerves

Another thing:
The music piece was quite good, but after the 12th time I heard it, I couldn't stand it any more!!
Couldn't they use various music pieces?
It wasn't even variated!
(eg. in The Long Goodbye that John Williams scored, you hear the same melody over and over and over and over (actually the whole score is just that melody), but you never get bored because it's variated in numerous ways)

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

I wanted to ask:
Do you ALWAYS give a 2nd chance to highly acclaimed films that you didn't like?
I watched yesterday Mr. Hulot's holiday (it was my first Tati) and honestly it was quite a chore to sit through it.
I thought I was a bit prepared by having seen the animation film The Illusionist.
But I feel I may be missing something.

I did see M. Hulot twice to give it a second chance. I was left as cold as on the first viewing, didn't care to watch any more Tati. And yes, I loved Chomet film, it worked a LOT better for me in terms of humor and emotion than anything in the Tati film. He seemed to me like someone that had seen Chaplin movies and wanted to something in that line, but did not have the rhythm and that "lightning in a bottle" charisma that Chaplin had to carry it off. I suspect that some of the praise about the subtlety and depth of the comedy in his films is because he's French and lah-di-dah

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Some of these things are contractual, the wording may be insisted upon by the rights-holders.

I actually thought it was odd that Anderson's name was missing from the cover art on the original version, as Criterion pretty much always have the name of the filmmaker on the cover. Not only is it often contractual, but Criterion are clearly auteurists, so it's understandable that they'd recognise the director.

Strangely, The Royal Tenenbnums and The Life Aquatic are the only Criterions in my collection that don't feature the director's name on the cover. I wonder if this is because they originally shipped with slipcases (that did feature Anderson's name) and Criterion simply forgot to add them to the artwork when they were upgraded to Blu-ray?

[Sifox211]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

That's actually one of 2 times I laughed.
Also that

[Show spoiler]swinging door

got on my nerves ... The music piece was quite good, but after the 12th time I heard it, I couldn't stand it any more!!

They're two of my favourite elements so I think this means Tati isn't for you!

Good shout hoytereden about the slamming door in Playtime - I love that bit. And also all the Paris landmarks that you only see in reflections. Ever since I got into Playtime, I find myself looking at so many modern developments around Aberdeen and thinking "There's Tativille!"

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by BuckNaked2k

The artist's name is Michael Gaskell. I was partial to the iconic Eric Anderson artwork on his brother's previous home video releases.

Eric Anderson didn't do the artwork for Fantastic Mr. Fox or Bottle Rocket either. It's a shame, as it breaks the continuity of the series, though I do like the artwork that has been used on all of these releases.

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

I wanted to ask:
Do you ALWAYS give a 2nd chance to highly acclaimed films that you didn't like?
I watched yesterday Mr. Hulot's holiday (it was my first Tati) and honestly it was quite a chore to sit through it.
I thought I was a bit prepared by having seen the animation film The Illusionist.
But I feel I may be missing something.

Especially, when I remember other times that I changed my mind completely on 2nd viewing of films that I didn't like the first time and I was bored with them.

I actually think Tati is quite a difficult filmmaker, and I'm surprised it doesn't come up more. The most divisive film I've ever screened in class was Mon Oncle. My students were split straight down the middle by it, with some falling hard and others crawling up the walls. It can't even be written off to age either, as there's a broad range of people in these class (early-20s thru 70s).

[ShellOilJunior]

I didn't appreciate M.Hulot's Holiday until I saw it on the big screen (2nd viewing). I think Ebert explains the film's appeal best:

The first time I saw Jacques Tati's “Mr. Hulot's Holiday,” I didn't laugh as much as I thought I was supposed to. But I didn't forget the film, and I saw it again in a film class, and then bought the laserdisc and saw it a third and fourth time, and by then it had become part of my treasure. But I still didn't laugh as much as I thought I was supposed to, and now I think I understand why.

It is not a comedy of hilarity but a comedy of memory, nostalgia, fondness and good cheer. There are some real laughs in it, but “Mr. Hulot's Holiday” gives us something rarer, an amused affection for human nature--so odd, so valuable, so particular.

[filmmusic]

By the way, I have to say that I didn't see the film with the perspective to laugh!
i rarely laugh in films.
I just watched it with the perspective to enjoy it.

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by prior

If someone needs an explanation on how to watch a comedy, I'd say it's just not for them. Nothing wrong with not liking it but I'd say no amount of special features will change the fact that something just works for you or just doesn't.

I'd say this is true for any art form, genre, or entertainment. Maybe a cliche, but that first reaction (the gut reaction, if you like) is usually a pretty accurate indicator. While one can have or develop an appreciation of something that is not immediately enjoyable, I don't think one can learn to like it.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

By the way, I have to say that I didn't see the film with the perspective to laugh!
i rarely laugh in films.
I just watched it with the perspective to enjoy it.

I'm the same way in I usually don't laugh out loud. It's probably because I prefer witty dry humor.

One of the few films I laugh out loud to is The Room. When seen with an audience it's impossible not to laugh. At one screening I recall a middle-aged guy laughing so hard he was begging the laughs to stop.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Sifox211

If I may quote a post from the MK thread, thanks to tehdudee:



That is just so nice - I'd rather have that than the one that's on offer!

That's not from Eric Anderson though

[jmclick]

Totally off-topic, but FoxConnect is having a one-day-only 50% off flash sale today. The Promo code is HALF OFF

[LPMA]

Originally Posted by jmclick

Totally off-topic, but FoxConnect is having a one-day-only 50% off flash sale today. The Promo code is HALF OFF

I would've contemplated the Kazan at Fox sets but it seems they've taken them down. Bummer.

[Clare2904]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

I wanted to ask:
Do you ALWAYS give a 2nd chance to highly acclaimed films that you didn't like?
I watched yesterday Mr. Hulot's holiday (it was my first Tati) and honestly it was quite a chore to sit through it.
I thought I was a bit prepared by having seen the animation film The Illusionist.
But I feel I may be missing something.

Especially, when I remember other times that I changed my mind completely on 2nd viewing of films that I didn't like the first time and I was bored with them.

I've sadly watched 1 1/2 Tati so I did give him another go, awful and I know to stay well away from anything he touched.

I tend to find that if I dislike a so called "classic" (Blade Runner/ Spirited Away are two that come to mind) it is solely my prerogative to not think the same as others. In regards to rewatching, that too is a personal choice. Have a think about why you did not enjoy, what was your mood like, had you had a busy day, fight with the other half etc then decide. Always better to form your own opinion than follow the herd and find a reason to like a film just to fit in.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Very strange. That AMAZON.CA fiasco resulted in 2 of my 6 items being cancelled. That was after 3 of them had already entered the "shipping" phase. Those that entered shipping all showed tracking details which stated they were being delivered to the "pickup location." One would think that means the place from which they had initially been sent from. Yet, all 3 have showed up at my door AND the 4th entered shipping today.

[Namuhana]

Originally Posted by jmclick

Totally off-topic, but FoxConnect is having a one-day-only 50% off flash sale today. The Promo code is HALF OFF

I ended up getting Fargo with the Faceplate for $10

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by LPMA

I would've contemplated the Kazan at Fox sets but it seems they've taken them down. Bummer.

That's a shame. That how I acquired those sets. Are they sold in stores?

[Sifox211]

Originally Posted by Reddington

I'd say this is true for any art form, genre, or entertainment. Maybe a cliche, but that first reaction (the gut reaction, if you like) is usually a pretty accurate indicator. While one can have or develop an appreciation of something that is not immediately enjoyable, I don't think one can learn to like it.

Two things:

• With Tati, it is more observational humour; I found that Criterion video valuable because it helped me see things that I was missing. But of course, I already liked Tati's work and was so disposed to follow that advice.
• While I understand what you're saying, I don't think it is necessarily so clear cut. Think of a music album that you love but hated on the first listen - I know for me there are plenty of those!

[14728]

Does this film deserve to be in the criterion collection?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmPJ8yx_7c4

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by 14728

Does this film deserve to be in the criterion collection? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmPJ8yx_7c4

Without question. The perfect companion film to Make Way for Tomorrow.