The Criterion Collection

[Martin_31]

Watched Charlie Chaplin's The Kid last night; I loved it. I had already seen it awhile back ago because it was included in one of those 100 movie packs from Mill Creek. The restoration was jaw dropping. It looked pristine, "new." Jackie Coogan is very funny and cute. The scene where he's throwing rocks and runs is very funny. Definitely need to see more of Charlie Chaplin's films.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by Martin_31

Watched Charlie Chaplin's The Kid last night; I loved it. I had already seen it awhile back ago because it was included in one of those 100 movie packs from Mill Creek. The restoration was jaw dropping. It looked pristine, "new." Jackie Coogan is very funny and cute. The scene where he's throwing rocks and runs is very funny. Definitely need to see more of Charlie Chaplin's films.

Chaplin is one of those filmmakers whose work I really respect but will never be able to appreciate.

It's a pity.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

Chaplin is one of those filmmakers whose work I really respect but will never be able to appreciate.

It's a pity.

Are you more of a Keaton guy?

[Martin_31]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

Chaplin is one of those filmmakers whose work I really respect but will never be able to appreciate.

It's a pity.

Why?

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Are you more of a Keaton guy?

Neither. It's just a "genre" of film that I don't get or appreciate. For whatever reason.

Originally Posted by Martin_31

Why?

Why don't I appreciate him or why is it a pity?

If the former, like I said it's a sort of film that I can't enjoy. I can't really appreciate it. As to the latter, like I said I really respect Chaplin's work so it's too bad that I can't enjoy it.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

Neither. It's just a "genre" of film that I don't get or appreciate. For whatever reason.



Why don't I appreciate him or why is it a pity?

If the former, like I said it's a sort of film that I can't enjoy. I can't really appreciate it. As to the latter, like I said I really respect Chaplin's work so it's too bad that I can't enjoy it.

Give Keaton's "One Week" a chance. At 19 minutes, it's pound for pound his best! If that doesn't sway you nothing else will.

...well, maybe WC Fields (especially "It's a Gift")

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Give Keaton's "One Week" a chance. At 19 minutes, it's pound for pound his best! If that doesn't sway you nothing else will.

OK, I will give it a chance. But don't get your hopes up.

Plus -- and don't get me wrong, I know there's a lot more to Chaplin than comedy -- but I'm not a big comedy guy in the first place. I typically like comedy when it's mixed into something else, like how Scream is really funny but isn't a straight up a comedy.

[JoeBuck]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Have you seen The Human Condition yet?

I recently saw it for the first time.

...it took my breath away.

Have absolutely seen it! An emotional experience for sure.
Hoping Criterion will do a good upgrade of it soon now that Arrow has it on the horizon.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

OK, I will give it a chance. But don't get your hopes up.

Plus -- and don't get me wrong, I know there's a lot more to Chaplin than comedy -- but I'm not a big comedy guy in the first place. I typically like comedy when it's mixed into something else, like how Scream is really funny but isn't a straight up a comedy.

Those were the two silent comedies that I fell in love with first. The best I can hope for is that you give em a chance.

I can understand that. And I guess that's my criteria for a great film that happens to be a comedy. I take off (and probably shouldn't) points for only having the ambition to get a laugh.

...I think I'm coming around though.

[Martin_31]

I think silent cinema is an acquired taste in the mainstream audience. I think I'm the only one in my family who watches silent films. I absolutely loved Metroplis, Faust, The Kid, and The Crowd. Speaking of King Vidor's The Crowd, I wish someone would release it on Blu-ray. I didn't really like Nosferatu. That's the reason why I want to go region free because I hear that the MoC releases of silent films are amazing.

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by Martin_31

I think silent cinema is an acquired taste in the mainstream audience. I think I'm the only one in my family who watches silent films. I absolutely loved Metroplis, Faust, The Kid, and The Crowd. Speaking of King Vidor's The Crowd, I wish someone would release it on Blu-ray. I didn't really like Nosferatu. That's the reason why I want to go region free because I hear that the MoC releases of silent films are amazing.

I agree that silent cinema is a harder sell overall, but I have never had issues getting my family to watch a Chaplin\Keaton\Lloyd silent comedy, those are the easiest way to get into silent cinema.

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by Martin_31

I think silent cinema is an acquired taste in the mainstream audience. I think I'm the only one in my family who watches silent films. I absolutely loved Metroplis, Faust, The Kid, and The Crowd. Speaking of King Vidor's The Crowd, I wish someone would release it on Blu-ray. I didn't really like Nosferatu. That's the reason why I want to go region free because I hear that the MoC releases of silent films are amazing.

Yeah, the MOC releases are great. I would definitely get their version of Nosferatu over the Kino (which has a framerate error that affects the whole film). Though I guess you just said you didn't really like it I dunno if other Kino silent films had the same framerate conversion error, but I've decided to get the MOC version of anything that came out from both labels anyway :P

Here's hoping someone releases "The Last Laugh." Seems like a pretty glaring omission.

[Marlow27]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

Here's hoping someone releases "The Last Laugh." Seems like a pretty glaring omission.

August 22, Murnau boxset. MoC.


Enjoy

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by Marlow27

August 22, Murnau boxset. MoC.


Enjoy

Nice, I searched for Last Laugh in the search box on the site with UK selected, but since it came up as a single with no release date I didn't realize it was announced. I am not familiar with the other four films, so I'll have to read up and see if it's worth the cost.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

Nice, I searched for Last Laugh in the search box on the site with UK selected, but since it came up as a single with no release date I didn't realize it was announced. I am not familiar with the other four films, so I'll have to read up and see if it's worth the cost.

That's because the MoC box set lists the original German titles and for some reason, members do not want the translated titles in the entry.

[AaronJ]

I believe that silent film and sound film are two different art forms.

There are definitely silent films I appreciate like the work of Griffith, Cabiria is also a great film, and of course The Passion of Joan of Arc is one of the greatest films ever made, sound or silent. And when I finally went region free I was able to get the Eureka blu-ray of Joan. What a beautiful set.

I had owned Joan on DVD for years, and been waiting for Criterion to upgrade it, but when it never happened, and I got a new player I was to upgrade myself.

But yeah, silent film is definitely not for everyone. Heck, B&W film doesn't seem to be for everyone!

[theater dreamer]

It was City Lights for me. Chaplin was a brilliant physical comedian, no doubt, but there is so much more to his films than slapstick. There are some incredibly poignant scenes, and no shortage of biting social commentary. Chaplin (and Keaton) are the progenitors of modern day comedy.

It's cool if Aaron J doesn't go for Chaplin, or silent films in general. If he's given a few movies from the genre a try, and they just haven't resonated, he's at least given them a fair chance, and he's made an informed decision. I respect that. Different strokes for different folks.

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Those were the two silent comedies that I fell in love with first. The best I can hope for is that you give em a chance.

I can understand that. And I guess that's my criteria for a great film that happens to be a comedy. I take off (and probably shouldn't) points for only having the ambition to get a laugh.

...I think I'm coming around though.

[jw007]

I mentioned silent film directors in a post a few days ago..

but I'm wondering why there's no Buster Keaton in the Criterion Collection?

(I know he did an extended cameo in Limelight... but that's not much).

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by iScottie

How can anyone dislike It's a Wonderful Life?

Originally Posted by mja345

I'd counter that, sir, with how can anyone dislike "The Wages of Fear"?

Originally Posted by AaronJ

There aren't people who dislike it.

Are there?

I doubt that there's any film in the entire history of cinema that isn't disliked by at least one person.

[ThisKid]

Originally Posted by iScottie

How can anyone dislike It's a Wonderful Life?

Originally Posted by mja345

I'd counter that, sir, with how can anyone dislike "The Wages of Fear"?

I've got better films to challenge. How can anyone dislike-
-The Shawshank Redemption, or
-Good Will Hunting?
No-one would be able to understand the mind-set of a person who doesn't like these two films.