The Criterion Collection

[mja345]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

While I do agree on IMDB, I think Rotten Tomatoes is a bit more helpful, at least based on the overall reviews score instead of just the percentage of who liked it, specially if you have a group of reviewers you tend to agree, but yeah, sometimes I feel the critics also get into the Hype train for certain movies in which I cannot understand why they went all negative, or all positive.

Also for older films RT there are fewer reviews so the percentages doesn't mean that much.

I agree. RT is somewhat useful for newer movies. I just think people have become slaves to IMDB and RT. I know plenty of people who judge movies before they've even seen them based on IMDB or RT ratings. The concept of going into a movie blind without any preconceived notions is virtually non-existent now. IMO many people's opinions of movies is shaped by what they read before hand. Not speaking of film buffs, like most on this board, but more of the average moviegoer.

[mja345]

Originally Posted by jayembee

I disagree. Certainly with RT, and to a lesser degree with IMDb.

On RT, the scores are an averaging out of a couple of hundred critics reviews. Granted, not all of the critics are equal: some are terrific, and some are awful. But that's the advantage of averaging out over a relatively large sample: outliers aren't going to affect the bottom line that much.

IMDb is an average across however many registered users choose to vote. These aren't professional critics, and they most likely serve their own personal agendas, so the results are questionable. But if there is a large enough sample (like tens of thousands), it can still be useful in many respects.

Now, whether you as an individual agree with the rating scores on one or the other site is a completely different question. Not everyone sees any given film the same way. No matter how well-praised one film might be, there will be detractors. No matter how panned another film might be, there will be fans.

I don't fuss about the specifics of any score on Rotten Tomatoes...whether a film has a score of 93% or 73% doesn't much matter to me. But I do use the score to gauge my desire to see something. If something that looks interesting gets a score below 50%, I tend to lose interest.

I disagree a bit. "Oscar bait" kind of films, most of which are complete shit, are going to get much higher RT scores than, for example, the kind of stuff Scream Factory or Blue Underground releases. I love Criterion films and most of them get great ratings critically. But there are plenty of films that get savaged by critics that are enjoyable in non-traditional ways. IMO, in the 70s and 80s in particular, it was difficult to be a critic and have opinions that went against the grain. If a film was considered dark or offensive, then it was savaged by a lot of mainstream critics.

[ShellOilJunior]

A husband, a father or a soldier

Gabriele (Marcello Mastroianni) is a homosexual and antifascist (or rather, "fascism is against him"). In Mussolini's Italy he has no worth to the state and must be deported.

Antonietta (Sophia Loren) is the mother of 6 children and wife to a husband who no longer laughs with her and cavorts with other women. If she has one more child their family will receive a bonus from the government. For her it would be one more child to feed, to raise and wake up each morning. She is a wife, governess and child-bearer. According to the state women must be "the hearth" but they are incapable of being geniuses.

Antoinetta conforms to the changing times and her family seems to have bought in as well. Gabriele despises the fascists and the fact they've tried to make him feel ashamed of his identity. The two find kindred souls in each other and a relationship forms very quickly. Loren and Mastroianni are exceptional. There's an overwhelming sense of hopelessness that permeates the film and each are quite convincing.

The sepia look of the film is quite beautiful despite the gloom of the situation. For me Scola has done it again. He's 2 for 2 in my book.

[Dr_Bedlo]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Kind of surprised that Ace In The Hole only has an 89% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Thought it would be closer to 100%.

I've only heard great things about it.

And hey, what do you know, Bosley Crowther was one of only three negative reviews.

...shocking.

...what a putz.

I remember thinking the same thing about Mr. Crowther when I first had read many of his reviews, in hindsight, I think he was just a product of his time. Don't get me wrong...he's definitely not my go-to voice for older films that I have questions about, but then again, he wasn't writing for Cahiers du cinema.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Alright which one of you buttheads stole the last copy of Ali: Fear Eats the Soul in Eugene, Oregon?!!!!

When I find out who it was...it will not end well.

If I was in Eugene Oregon, I wouldn't be shopping, I'd be eating at Papa's Soulfood Kitchen and BBQ. That place is tasty.

[diskspinner]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

If I was in Eugene Oregon, I wouldn't be shopping, I'd be eating at Papa's Soulfood Kitchen and BBQ. That place is tasty.

May be he went shopping after eating there...
May be he stopped eating because his stomach hurt...

[SkyAntoine]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Oh yeah my bad, I remember now.



Which one did you like better?



...Ali or Bitter Tears?

I would give the edge to Petra based on style and quality of acting. As others have noted I wasn't too sold on the Ali character's acting. Petra was a pleasant surprise with the 3rd act whereas Ali was a little of a letdown because I had very high expectations going in.

[Purplenoon]

Originally Posted by Dr_Bedlo

I remember thinking the same thing about Mr. Crowther when I first had read many of his reviews, in hindsight, I think he was just a product of his time. Don't get me wrong...he's definitely not my go-to voice for older films that I have questions about, but then again, he wasn't writing for Cahiers du cinema.

I read the NYT every day in the 50s & 60s, and so was raised on Bowsley. You had to take him "cum grana sala". When he was good he was good, when he was bad he was really bad. I still think he was a good writer. Sometimes, when he hated a flick, I ran to see it. And vv, when he loved one, I avoided it. Maybe you had to be a New Yorker to get him. He WAS part of our culture way back when....

[The Great Owl]

I just finished watching Pather Panchali and going through the extras on the disc.

This was my first experience with a Satyajit Ray film, and I'm quite taken with it. Pather Panchali really transported me to rural Bengal by way of showing seemingly mundane sights from the viewpoint of a child's innocence. My family and I thankfully never had to struggle with extreme poverty in the way that Apu's family did, but I still recall my childhood wanderings back in the day when the economic status of my parents did not register with me and when I used to love being around railroad tracks in hopes of watching a big train go by.

Although the cinematography is quite different, I was reminded of Ozu's Late Spring and Tokyo Story, in that Pather Panchali depicts lifestyles and traditions far different than my own while also conveying emotions with which I related. I think that we all have memories from our childhoods where we sensed tension and unease from our parents due to their adults problems, but nonetheless carried on with our day-to-day carefree activities. This movie is full of sequences that evoke universal feelings in such ways.

I'm really looking forward to delving into the other two films tomorrow.

[RojD]

Originally Posted by Namuhana

I just finished watching the Jacques Demy set, and I realized that I haven't seen anything by Agnes Varda. Which of her films would be a good starting point?

I'll just echo here: Cleo from 5 to 7 is an outstanding film. It seems very simple but really hits.

[mja345]

Originally Posted by SkyAntoine

I would give the edge to Petra based on style and quality of acting. As others have noted I wasn't too sold on the Ali character's acting. Petra was a pleasant surprise with the 3rd act whereas Ali was a little of a letdown because I had very high expectations going in.

I think the dude who played Ali and Fassbinder were actually lovers. If I remember correctly, they had quite a tumultuous relationship. I think the actor who played Ali committed suicide after he and Fassbinder broke up and Fassbinder didn't know about it for several years.

[AaronJ]

Here's the thing:

1) Forget about IMDB. Those ratings aren't surveys, they are ranking based on who chooses to rate films. The people doing the rating are self-chosen. That alone makes it completely irrelevant.

2) It's been discussed a number of times here, but there are numerous problems with RT. The biggest of which, as has been discussed by critics themselves such as A.O. Scott and others, is that whether the review is considered "Fresh" or "Rotten" doesn't always truly represent the review itself.

3) Crowther was a very good writer and an insightful critic -- whose reviews I often disagree with. He knew what he was talking about and was entertaining, it's just that he and I don't necessarily share the same views on a lot of stuff.

[fdm]

Originally Posted by thompsonjohn

So yeah, I don't know what's going on here, but once again for like the 3rd time, can anyone provide any solid information on if Criterion is actually releasing "Shampoo"?

You know, just be nice to have that reliable source of information instead of blindly accepting rumor as official news.

Just rumors that I've seen. Maybe one or two that led me to believe it's not off the table at least. Just have to wait and see.

Ok, stole this from criterionforum (per dwk), it was posted a couple months ago (actually listening to the podcast is an exercise left to the reader); probably as close as you're going to get:

Podcast interview with Jonathan Turell where he confirms they are working on The In-Laws and Here Comes Mr. Jordan and maybe confirms Shampoo, says they want to do The Princess Bride but haven't been able to figure out what they could add to the current release, and hints that they are working on expanding to other regions/markets.

[Polaroid]

Just received one of my B&N packages.

Was 2 items.. and they sent it in a box that would fit about 20 blurays... with NO filling so just on massive empty box haha.

Came perfect condition though

[EricTheDerek]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Just received one of my B&N packages.

Was 2 items.. and they sent it in a box that would fit about 20 blurays... with NO filling so just on massive empty box haha.

Came perfect condition though

This is exactly how 2 of my 3 orders arrived. I couldn't believe all that wasted space

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by EricTheDerek

This is exactly how 2 of my 3 orders arrived. I couldn't believe all that wasted space

Weirdly enough I just got a customs charge letter through post for an item... (second post delivery this morning..)

My other B&N item is still in USA according the the tracking.... and they delivered this one....

Wonder if they delivered it by accident :O?

[Ray Jackson]

Watched Seconds last night after the blind buy and, quite frankly, was blown away by it.

Freak man...what a movie.

Has to rank right up there with Picnic At Hanging Rock, Hiroshima Mon Amour and Sans Soleil as my greatest Criterion blind buy to date.

...big thanks to anyone here who recommended it!

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

If I was in Eugene Oregon, I wouldn't be shopping, I'd be eating at Papa's Soulfood Kitchen and BBQ. That place is tasty.

You know E-Town?

...where do you live?

[Vinyl]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

Anybody knows what's up with Do the Right Thing? I was thinking on getting it since it is pretty cheap and has a good review on the site, but the screenshots don't look that great, also not sure if it has all the extras from the Criterion version, and it appears the Criterion is not OOP, so could that still be released from a new restoration in the near future?

For awhile it was in the collection, and for good reason. I am really interested in getting it myself.

I would say it's Spike Lee's best. The social commentary is right up there with Billy Wilder, who he got a lot of inspiration from and discusses in depth his thoughts on the Ace in a Hole Blu.

[Superted]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Watched Seconds last night after the blind buy and, quite frankly, was blown away by it.

Freak man...what a movie.

Has to rank right up there with Picnic At Hanging Rock, Hiroshima Mon Amour and Sans Soleil as my greatest Criterion blind buy to date.

...big thanks to anyone here who recommended it!

Snap.
Same here, watched Seconds last night, again blind buy. Fantastic film