The Criterion Collection

[RickDee]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Several years ago, a local radio station was taking to a caller, and the DJs were amazed to find that the caller was an adult male who had never seen The Godfather. This radio station subsequently rented out a theater for a day, and invited all males who had never seen the movie before to come watch it on the big screen for free. The rules were that only males were invited, and that they had to admit that they had never seen the movie before. The radio station pledged that they were making the world a better place.

The Godfather is a great movie, and, although I have my issues with the idea of only inviting males to a showing, I think that it's the ultimate "dude flick."

I'd like to think that the reason why many people find the movie to be different than what they were expecting is because, well, it is. Most people probably expect Marlon Brando to be featured prominently throughout the entire film, and, while he is featured prominently, he is not the focal point.

Similarly, I attended a big screen showing of Gone with the Wind at Fox Theatre here in Atlanta a couple of years ago, and, as I was walking out after the movie, I overheard one thirty-something woman say, "I didn't realize that there was so much to it. I thought that it was just about Scarlett O'Hara during the Civil War, but the movie goes on for two hours after that." Gone with the Wind is a great movie, and it's one of the ultimate antihero movies, but, yeah, there's a lot more to it than most new viewers expect.

I agree. I would say the Godfather and Cool Hand Luke are the two ultimate dude flicks.

[jbieste]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Sounds like you need to mix in a few stinkers here and there. Rob Schneider, Tommy Wiseau, Top Gun, etc.

You know very well Ray is going through some issues with Mulvaney, NOW is when you want to crap all over Top Gun. Mr. Ray Jackson can only be expected to deal with so much before having a complete break. I suggest now is not the time to push Mr. J.

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by RickDee

I agree. I would say the Godfather and Cool Hand Luke are the two ultimate dude flicks.

This comment made me think of films in the Criterion Collection that might be described as "dude" flicks. I chose movies that deal with male bonding and that don't feature a romantic plot element as a major part of the story. My nominations:

Easy Rider
Il Sorpasso
Kings of the Road

I'm sure there are others, but those three came quickly to mind.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by belcherman

This comment made me think of films in the Criterion Collection that might be described as "dude" flicks. I chose movies that deal with male bonding and that don't feature a romantic plot element as a major part of the story. My nominations:

Easy Rider
Il Sorpasso
Kings of the Road

I'm sure there are others, but those three came quickly to mind.

Off the top of my head...

Seven Samurai
3:10 to Yuma
The Friends of Eddie Coyle
The Wages of Fear
Two-Lane Blacktop
Thief
Rififi
A Man Escaped
Le Cercle Rouge

[MifuneFan]

I watched Jour de Fete today, my first Tati (and his too ). I loved it, very entertaining film. I can't wait to see more of his stuff. I'm watching via Hulu, but I can see myself picking up the BD set one day.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I watched Jour de Fete today, my first Tati (and his too ). I loved it, very entertaining film. I can't wait to see more of his stuff. I'm watching via Hulu, but I can see myself picking up the BD set one day.

I'm pretty sure Jour de fête is my favorite Tati film.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by silverlakephil

4 years ago:


https://www.criterion.com/current/po...ndergarten-cop

Still in my wish list at Criterion.Com

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I'm pretty sure Jour de fête is my favorite Tati film.

Cool. I was going to stsrt with the Hulot ones but figured I shiuld start with his first. Plus thepremise ounded funny. Tati is a great physical comedic actor

[oildude]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Cool. I was going to stsrt with the Hulot ones but figured I shiuld start with his first. Plus thepremise ounded funny. Tati is a great physical comedic actor

Really glad to hear you liked your first Tati film. My advice is to watch them in order of year of release, that way you see the evolution of Mr. Hulot so that by the time you get to PlayTime you understand the character better, how he fits into that film, and will gain more insight into just how marvelous and technically astounding PlayTime is. After I finished the Hulot arc with Trafic, I was a bit sad knowing there were no more Hulot films to look forward to.

However, while I rate PlayTime as one of the greatest films ever made and enjoy the character of Hulot in it, my favorite Hulot films are the first two: Mr. Hulot's Vacation and Mon Oncle. Especially Mon Oncle. That movie is side splittingly funny while delivering a heartwarming message about the joys of life and family.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

14 years old?
OMG, when I was 14 years old I just recorded VHS from TV.
We didn't have even DVDs yet..
and you didn't have a wide range of films to choose from either since I grew up with Greek TV. Just the ones that were subtitled!

When I was 14, Betamax and VHS were still a decade in the future.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

I can't imagine the type of person that finds the Godfather boring. Then again, I'm the type of guy that finds a Sopranos episode to be the fastest hour possible.

I didn't find The Godfather boring, but I never liked it overmuch. Now, the Godfather Part II...that was excellent (though I've never watched it since its original release). Never saw the third film.

I did pick up the 3-film collection on BD when I saw it wicked cheap, and I keep meaning to watch them to see if my feelings about the first two have changed any. Haven't managed to find the time, though.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I watched Jour de Fete today, my first Tati (and his too ). I loved it, very entertaining film. I can't wait to see more of his stuff. I'm watching via Hulu, but I can see myself picking up the BD set one day.

Originally Posted by iScottie

I'm pretty sure Jour de fête is my favorite Tati film.

Monsieur Hulot's Holiday is my favorite overall, but my favorite scenes are any scene with that ridiculous fish fountain in Mon Oncle.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by oildude

Really glad to hear you liked your first Tati film. My advice is to watch them in order of year of release, that way you see the evolution of Mr. Hulot so that by the time you get to PlayTime you understand the character better, how he fits into that film, and will gain more insight into just how marvelous and technically astounding PlayTime is. After I finished the Hulot arc with Trafic, I was a bit sad knowing there were no more Hulot films to look forward to.

However, while I rate PlayTime as one of the greatest films ever made and enjoy the character of Hulot in it, my favorite Hulot films are the first two: Mr. Hulot's Vacation and Mon Oncle. Especially Mon Oncle. That movie is side splittingly funny while delivering a heartwarming message about the joys of life and family.

Thanks, looking forward to seeing them!

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by malakaheso

I agree with your point in a more general sense, but The Godfather is an interesting case though because stylistically it hasn't been imitated to the same degree that Goodfellas has. That's partially because it's very difficult to pull that kind of look off, but also because the whole approach to narrative cinema has changed over the years. We live in the get-to-the-point-already era, which is deeply unfortunate. A movie that's paced like The Godfather would never have a hope of becoming one of the biggest films of all time if it was released today.

Without being too presumptuous, I suspect that a large percentage of the 'Godfather is boring' crowd have not watched it too closely. That has certainly been my experience anyway. Although that's obviously different from arguing that the film is overrated.

As for classic films, it's perhaps not advisable to go in expecting them to blow you away instantly. Some great films take time to work their magic.

I agree with all of this, including Goodfellas being more of a source of so many imitators.

About The Godfather... I asked a few co-workers of mine which film they preferred - Goodfellas or The Godfather? It was only like 3 people, but all were under 30 and all said Goodfellas. One girl told me that she tried to watch The Godfather, but she was bored with it and turned it off.

I can, at least, understand why she'd be bored, but let me talk about that... The first 30 minutes or so is the wedding and that is all character set-up. To members of the (I'll borrow your phrase) "get to the point already" era, it feels like a "slow" film in which "not much happens."

That's a darn shame because as far as character set-ups go, the wedding makes for an unforced and perfectly executed character intro from which we come to know all the members of the family, where they stand ("That's my family, Kate. That's not me.") and the level to which they are respected. (can't think of the character's name (is it Luca Brazzi?) but the guy rehearsing what he's going to say to Brando...) That's just pure brilliance! Too bad for those who aren't patient enough to be rewarded by this film.

[TheLaughingMann]

Got my re-release of The Hidden Fortress this week. Blu-only edition. And thanks to Amazon and their ordering snafu with the prior edition, got it for $17 off its listed price instead of for $17...so paid $11 OOP!

[mja345]

You'd be surprised how many people haven't seen "The Godfather". I'm in my late twenties and the vast majority of people I know haven't actually seen "The Godfather". They know Brando doing his thing in it, they know Pacino is in it, but very few have actually sat down and watched it. "The Godfather" is the type of film that many people say they have seen because it's become so ingrained in popular culture, but some of those people haven't actually watched the whole thing. If you asked many people about Luca Brasi or Virgil Sollozzo, most would have no idea what you're talking about. I think so many people who are, say, ages 50-75 now saw "The Godfather" that it remains a huge part of popular culture.

People are weird with their viewing habits now. I know plenty of people who are completely turned off by watching a three hour movie, but will gladly binge watch a mediocre TV show. I think a lot of people fire up Netflix and don't even consider the vast majority of content on there, particularly if it's older. It goes back to people staying in their comfort zone, which we've discussed before.

[imsounoriginal]

Random question, but I was at a DVD/Blu store earlier today and they had two copies of Rififi, but the word "Rififi" on the spines were a little different, one was clearly yellow and the other was more orange. Both had the same spine number and said First Pressing, so I'm just wondering if I need to be wary of pirated copies? Is it supposed to be yellow or orange?

Forgot to take a picture of it, that'd probably help.

[mja345]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

Random question, but I was at a DVD/Blu store earlier today and they had two copies of Rififi, but the word "Rififi" on the spines were a little different, one was clearly yellow and the other was more orange. Both had the same spine number and said First Pressing, so I'm just wondering if I need to be wary of pirated copies? Is it supposed to be yellow or orange?

Forgot to take a picture of it, that'd probably help.

It's definitely a mustard yellow. I don't have my copy in front of me because I'm still at work, but it's definitely not orange.

[imsounoriginal]

Originally Posted by mja345

It's definitely a mustard yellow. I don't have my copy in front of me because I'm still at work, but it's definitely not orange.

Thanks. I don't think I'll be buying it anyway (it was $20 used) but was curious to know cuz I've never seen that kinda discrepancy before.

[MifuneFan]

I would say the color is like cheddar cheese, so it is orangey yellow.

[Show spoiler]

(Image source)

The background color of the DVD release is closer to mustard yellow

[Show spoiler]