The Criterion Collection

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Actually it appears as though the salient point of the matter is sailing over your head sir.

The case had CLEARLY been opened and re-wrapped and then put on shelves in far less than mint condition. You may not believe that to be the case and you're entitled to your opinion on that. But unlike you, I actually know what I saw and thus I feel completely confident in my opinion.

It was sitting on the shelf at Barnes and Noble...they were the ones selling it and therefor I have no problem holding them accountable for it.

If it's true that Criterion will eat the cost of mailing out replacement cases and I don't have to pay anything to send them the damaged case, then I'll remember that if this ever happens again.

And again, because you seem to be suggesting otherwise...I did NOT want to return the movie.

I wanted a copy that could accurately be described as being in "like new" condition.

...and this was not even close.

Luckily you liked the movie and suspect you may end up buying it again right?

Not to be the moral police here but I could see how buying a movie, watching it and not liking it then returning it would be wrong in many ways, but doesn't seem the case here, still would be better if you hadn't watched it before returning, but then if you opened it, there is no way to know if you saw it or not.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

Luckily you liked the movie and suspect you may end up buying it again right?

Not to be the moral police here but I could see how buying a movie, watching it and not liking it then returning it would be wrong in many ways, but doesn't seem the case here, still would be better if you hadn't watched it before returning, but then if you opened it, there is no way to know if you saw it or not.

I liked it a lot actually and tried to order a new copy before returning it, but they were out of stock at all of their warehouses.

...that's what I was told anyway.

[Fabs]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Watching The Big City last night, I realized why Ray's films seem to resonate with me more than Ozu films...and I think a lot of it has to do with the acting.

Many of the actors in Tokyo Story and Late Spring employ this kind of bland, monotone style of acting that I find somewhat difficult to connect with. The old man and his wife in Tokyo Story, as well as the daughter-in-law, have these fixed, awkward smiles on their faces in almost every scene and they speak with these monotone voices.

I think it's a Japanese cultural thing where the idea is to put forward a persona of grace, dignity and acceptance, regardless of what you're actually feeling inside. And I get that. I'm not saying one style is better than another.

But I feel as though the acting in the Ray films I've seen is more expressive, dynamic and emotive.

Ozu's films are great and I completely understand why he's so revered.

Perhaps if I actually buy one of his movies and watch it multiple times I'll begin to absorb the power that has thus far eluded me on my initial viewings.

I'm just having trouble deciding whether I should start with Tokyo Story or Late Spring.

...I love the Tokyo Story digibook and packaging is important to me.

The Criterion cases themselves are great works of art.

Setsuko Hara is one of the most emotive and dynamic actresses of all time.

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by Fabs

Setsuko Hara is one of the most emotive and dynamic actresses of all time.

Yeah, for me the Ozu movies were she isn't in the cast suffer a bit for that , although Chishû Ryû is almost in everything and he is great too.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by jmclick

So what did you think of the performances?

Everybody was fantastic. I don't think The Manchurian Candidate is on par with truly great classics like The Maltese Falcon or Casablanca but it definitely has one thing in common with them: everybody from top to bottom is very well-cast and does a great job.

Okay, well, Henry Silva might be a bit of a stretch as a Chinese agent but other than that even the smallest parts like the bartender or the DoD personnel or the rest of Raymond's platoon really nail their parts.

And the intermediate roles (Senator Jordan, Dr. Lo, Zilkov) really sell the film. The bantering between Lo and Zilkov are some of my favorite scenes.

[theater dreamer]

Hey guys, do we know for a fact that the new 4k digital restoration StudioCanal released of The Third Man is region free? I ask because I was told the same thing about ITV's Hamlet, and it ended up being region B locked. No biggie, as I can watch it on my laptop. But I'd prefer to watch my imports on my flat screen until I get my new hardware modified Blu-ray player. The review for The Third Man says region free, but the slip shows region B locked.

Thanks in advance!

[baheidstu]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

Hey guys, do we know for a fact that the new 4k digital restoration StudioCanal released of The Third Man is region free? I ask because I was told the same thing about ITV's Hamlet, and it ended up being region B locked. No biggie, as I can watch it on my laptop. But I'd prefer to watch my imports on my flat screen until I get my new hardware modified Blu-ray player. The review for The Third Man says region free, but the slip shows region B locked.

Thanks in advance!

I have the UK release and it is region free.

[theater dreamer]

Originally Posted by baheidstu

I have the UK release and it is region free.

Awesome, thank you!

[SkyAntoine]

Just finished Au Hasard Balthazar. This may be the most disappointed I've been in a Criterion title. I really don't get how this is #16 on the Sight and Sound poll. Are all of Bresson's films similar?

Watching movie #4 of the day: The River. Thought I needed to see this after it got such high marks on the "Best of 2015" Criterion Cast podcast. So far it is gorgeous.

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by SkyAntoine

Just finished Au Hasard Balthazar. This may be the most disappointed I've been in a Criterion title. I really don't get how this is #16 on the Sight and Sound poll. Are all of Bresson's films similar?

I haven't seen that one, but I would call the Bresson films I have seen to be quite cold and distant. But that hasn't stopped me enjoying them. I could see why he isn't for everyone.

What didn't you like about it?

[Scottie]

Au Hasard Balthazar is one of the most depressing films ever made. I don't think I could put myself through seeing it again.

[mja345]

Originally Posted by SkyAntoine

Just finished Au Hasard Balthazar. This may be the most disappointed I've been in a Criterion title. I really don't get how this is #16 on the Sight and Sound poll. Are all of Bresson's films similar?

Watching movie #4 of the day: The River. Thought I needed to see this after it got such high marks on the "Best of 2015" Criterion Cast podcast. So far it is gorgeous.

I've seen three Bresson films. I like "A Man Escaped", but didn't really enjoy "Pickpocket" or "Au Hasard Balthazar".

[diskspinner]

Originally Posted by mja345

I've seen three Bresson films. I like "A Man Escaped", but didn't really enjoy "Pickpocket" or "Au Hasard Balthazar".

I have watched only Pickpocket & A Man Escaped by Bresson...I was quite indifferent & unimpressed with both...liked 'A Man Escaped' better out of these two...

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by SkyAntoine

Just finished Au Hasard Balthazar. This may be the most disappointed I've been in a Criterion title. I really don't get how this is #16 on the Sight and Sound poll. Are all of Bresson's films similar?

Watching movie #4 of the day: The River. Thought I needed to see this after it got such high marks on the "Best of 2015" Criterion Cast podcast. So far it is gorgeous.

I have watched A Man Escaped, Pickpocket, Au Hasard Balthazar and Mouchete.

Balthazar has to be the best, followed by A Man Escaped, usually his style is too detached and cold for me, but I found this inexplicably moving, and that last shot was something special.

Maybe after you watch some other films of him it might be worth a revisit.

[theater dreamer]

Placed my weekend order. Picked up:

The Third Man (StudioCanal 4k digital restoration)

Persona
The Killers
Tokyo Story

I wanted to pick up a Fritz Lang movie, but couldn't decide between M and Metropolis. I'm going to watch M either tonight or tomorrow.

[pedromvu]

I wasn't aware that there is a Wim Wenders sequel of Wings of Desire: Faraway, So Close, just caught it today and unfortunately doesn't live up to the original, it's narrative is too unfocused, that's not that different from the original, but here the plot doesn't make much sense most of the time and it is too long.

[Knaldskalle]

Originally Posted by SkyAntoine

Just finished Au Hasard Balthazar. This may be the most disappointed I've been in a Criterion title. I really don't get how this is #16 on the Sight and Sound poll. Are all of Bresson's films similar?

His first movie, Les Dames du Bois de Boulogne, is fairly conventional and uses professional actors.

I really like his black & white movies, but once he started using color some of the magic went away for me. It may take a bit to get used to his extreme minimalism and the awkard acting (he used non-actors almost exclusively and endless repetition of the same scene, to "strip away" any sign of pretense); but I find his films very rewarding, even if some of them are very depressing.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

I wasn't aware that there is a Wim Wenders sequel of Wings of Desire: Faraway, So Close, just caught it today and unfortunately doesn't live up to the original, it's narrative is too unfocused, that's not that different from the original, but here the plot doesn't make much sense most of the time and it is too long.

I can't disagree. Wings of Desire was so remarkable and different, and it's sequel starts off as almost a remake, and ends up a caper film. On the other hand, I loved the performances by all of the principals: Nastassia Kinski was gorgeous, and Otto Sander has an astonishingly expressive face.

I have to watch it again sometime, because I think its difference from WoD is rather the point. The first film was about Berlin as a divided city, and this one uses its differences as a way of expressing how the city changed once the Wall came down.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by SkyAntoine

Just finished Au Hasard Balthazar. This may be the most disappointed I've been in a Criterion title. I really don't get how this is #16 on the Sight and Sound poll. Are all of Bresson's films similar?

Watching movie #4 of the day: The River. Thought I needed to see this after it got such high marks on the "Best of 2015" Criterion Cast podcast. So far it is gorgeous.

Au Hasard Balthazar was a difficult viewing for me, and I've only seen 5 films by Robert Bresson:

Diary of a Country Priest
A Man Escaped
Pickpocket
Au Hasard Balthazar
Mouchette

My favorite of all his films actually was Diary of a Country Priest, and this is mainly because the film was so depressing and emotional regarding the main character. The feelings I gained from watching this movie are indescribable. I felt so much pity for the priest there are no words to explain it. It doesn't matter if the viewer is Catholic or Christian or religious or not, the film is so sincere and moving and I have never seen a movie quite like this since. The Criterion DVD has been out of print for some time but if anyone has seen this or wants to, you'll know what I mean here.

[jdw89]

Does anyone just collect Criterions because they are Criterions, or more so on the basis of the film?