The Criterion Collection

[Knaldskalle]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I just blind bought that during the 40% off sale.

...it's good?

It's a feast for the eyes!

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I just blind bought that during the 40% off sale.

...it's good?

There's only one way to find out. Put that bad boy into your Blu-ray player right now, and watch it!

I think that Letter Never Sent is an incredible movie. It's one of the best wilderness survival movies ever made.

There's a magnificent forest fire in Letter Never Sent. Seriously, it looks as though they darn near burned all of Russia down to film the forest fire scenes. The best thing is that these scenes were filmed before the days of computer-generated effects, so flaming trees falling right next to the characters are real flaming tress falling right next to real actors.

The scenes of extreme coldness are even more harsh than the forest fire scenes, though, and they make for one intense film.

You'll never want to step outdoors again after watching this movie. Not even to walk across a Barnes & Noble parking lot.

[Knaldskalle]

I still hold out hope for a box set of Kalatazov movies. I Am Cuba, The Cranes are Flying and Letter Never Sent would make an excellent package.

[Ray Jackson]

For my final film of the free Hulu trial, I chose Stolen Kisses...which I just finished.

I've never been a big Truffaut fan, but that is one of the best French films I've ever seen. Antoine Doinel has to be one of the most deliciously awkward characters in the history of cinema.

Although I appreciate The 400 Blows for being a seminal work of the French New Wave, I've never really enjoyed watching it that much.

Stolen Kisses on the other hand...is simply delightful.

Really wish Criterion would upgrade it to a stand-alone blu-ray release.

...it deserves it.

[fdm]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

Here is the film I was talking about. If this slipped under your radar the past couple years, now's your chance to fix that.

Watched that not too long ago myself. I was surprised when checking out the cast (via the dvr it was recorded on) that the lead actress was on American tv, on a show that I just happened to be following, season 2 of Wayward Pines (which I subsequently abandoned after the second or third episode, as it just wasn't doing anything of interest for me to want to keep watching.)

I really enjoyed The Lunchbox, glad I hadn't deleted it to make room for something else.

[theater dreamer]

Warner Archive is releasing To Have and Have Not, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

If you're a fan of Bogie, Bacall or Liz, right now is like Christmas.

I'm adding one more film to my Criterion buy list. Rififi will be mine. Absolutely loved that movie (yet another thank you to TCM for helping me knock one off my to watch list).

[castor]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I watched The Great Beauty Last night on Hulu.

Wow...that's a freaking gorgeous film.

It might be better than La Dolce Vita.

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

Now you should watch Youth as well.

Both of these are great. These 2 early Sorrentino films-The Consequences of Love and The Family Friend-aren't as "grand", but they're almost as good.

[nitin]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Some detective work reveals it's also showing in LA early August.

Nuart is billing it as a new restoration (2K restoration presented by Gaumont. Image work by Eclair...):

[Show spoiler]

Rialto's page has this poster:

[Show spoiler]

Gaumont already have a blu ray out of the restoration but apparently they have botched the transfer to disc so hopefully Criterion or Artificial Eye (UK) come through for this great film.

[Sifox211]

Originally Posted by castor

Both of these are great. These 2 early Sorrentino films-The Consequences of Love and The Family Friend-aren't as "grand", but they're almost as good.

I can also recommended This must be the place which is a beautifully filmed road movie along with a study on the life of an ageing rock star.

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

For my final film of the free Hulu trial, I chose Stolen Kisses...

[Show spoiler]which I just finished.

I've never been a big Truffaut fan, but that is one of the best French films I've ever seen. Antoine Doinel has to be one of the most deliciously awkward characters in the history of cinema.

Although I appreciate The 400 Blows for being a seminal work of the French New Wave, I've never really enjoyed watching it that much.

Stolen Kisses on the other hand...is simply delightful.

Really wish Criterion would upgrade it to a stand-alone blu-ray release.

...it deserves it.

I almost love the later Antoine Doinel movies more than 400 Blows - they are really completely different to that first one. I think a lot of people have trouble liking them because of their witty and playful tone, expecting something more serious.

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

I thought The Neon Demon was much more straightforward and easier to follow than OGF, but the styles are similar and there's still a lot of expressionistic imagery/scenes that won't make sense.

I'd recommend trying before buying.

The review here mentions

[Show spoiler]"Sampling sliced skin, necrophilia"

[theater dreamer]

If you catch this woman making googly eyes at you, run.....

I finished watching Black Narcissus yesterday morning, and if this is indicative of the quality of other Powell & Pressburger films, then I'm all in. I have The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp already, so it looks like I'll be stretching my Barnes & Noble budget a little more to pick up Black Narcissus and The Red Shoes both come next week. That should satiate my Archers need for a while, and then I'll explore from there.

Where to begin? First off, Jack Cardiff's cinematography is absolutely spectacular. When you consider that the film was not shot amongst the Himalayas of India, but at Pinewood Studios just outside of London, his visual accomplishment is simply unfathomable. That is how Technicolor was meant to look! But, the beauty of that cinematography belies the undercurrent of anguish, lust, and self-loathing that subtly permeates the characters of the film. Then, there are some really fine performances-as always, Deborah Kerr is exceptional as the Sister Superior, Sister Clodagh. And Kathleen Byron is the very embodiment of madness as the unhinged, lovesick Sister Ruth. And then there is the young dancing Jean Simmons, writhing around like ripe fruit begging to be picked from a tree. Some of the secondary characters were a little over the top, especially Angu Ayah, but fortunately she doesn't detract from an otherwise fine movie.


That first step is a doozy...

[Sifox211]

Welcome to a wonderful new world, theater dreamer! I love the three films you mention (though I have the UK editions... I should probably upgrade to the Criterions for the extras) and can't wait for a decent Matter of life and death to come out, but the one I am really waiting for is A Canterbury Tale, my all time favourite movie (along with My neighbour Totoro).

Someone asked a while back about what director the CC opened up for you. For me it was not The Archers, because I already discovered them. How that happened I think is moderately interesting. I saw Matter of life and death and A Canterbury Tale on UK broadcast TV when I was an early teen. At that time I did not know who P&P were and was probably barely aware that there was such as thing as a film director; I didn't even connect that the two films came from the same team, but they remained two striking viewings that certainly started my love of movies. Imagine my delight when I discovered years later (remember, this was the early '70s... no Internet, DVDs or even VHS!) that the same team had made both movies!

As to the original question, and since it needs to be a director of whom I was not aware before I came across the collection (in 2000), I think it would be Wes Anderson! Or maybe Ozu... not sure if I came across Anderson before I bought my DVD of Rushmore.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

If you catch this woman making googly eyes at you, run.....

I finished watching Black Narcissus yesterday morning, and if this is indicative of the quality of other Powell & Pressburger films, then I'm all in. I have The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp already, so it looks like I'll be stretching my Barnes & Noble budget a little more to pick up Black Narcissus and The Red Shoes both come next week. That should satiate my Archers need for a while, and then I'll explore from there.

Where to begin? First off, Jack Cardiff's cinematography is absolutely spectacular. When you consider that the film was not shot amongst the Himalayas of India, but at Pinewood Studios just outside of London, his visual accomplishment is simply unfathomable. That is how Technicolor was meant to look! But, the beauty of that cinematography belies the undercurrent of anguish, lust, and self-loathing that subtly permeates the characters of the film. Then, there are some really fine performances-as always, Deborah Kerr is exceptional as the Sister Superior, Sister Clodagh. And Kathleen Byron is the very embodiment of madness as the unhinged, lovesick Sister Ruth. And then there is the young dancing Jean Simmons, writhing around like ripe fruit begging to be picked from a tree. Some of the secondary characters were a little over the top, especially Angu Ayah, but fortunately she doesn't detract from an otherwise fine movie.


That first step is a doozy...

I had watched the film 6 or 7 times before finally reading Godden's novel last year. David Farrar's portrayal of Mr. Dean is spot on.

[SammyJankis]

Malick's latest gets a trailer.

Voyage of Time - Trailer - YouTube

[Akijama]

Hmmm, they sent a newsletter earlier than usual this time. Any guesses?

[Show spoiler]Just kidding!

[biglou114]

Originally Posted by Akijama

Hmmm, they sent a newsletter earlier than usual this time. Any guesses?

[Show spoiler]Just kidding!

Yes!!!!!!

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by Akijama

Hmmm, they sent a newsletter earlier than usual this time. Any guesses?

[Show spoiler]Just kidding!

If only this were true. One of my favorites, and now that In a Lonely Place is out, this is probably my most wanted new title.

[Donnie D]

Originally Posted by Akijama

Hmmm, they sent a newsletter earlier than usual this time. Any guesses?

[Show spoiler]Just kidding!

Hmmm...lets see. His hand is holding picture of a Girl name Friday.....and Tuesday is Ruby....

I give up...could be anything.

[llj]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

It's still the king (or queen) of the half dozen Oshima films I've seen! And the others are no slouches either.

...It's also my most watched Criterion Bluray

Not surprising judging by your avatar

But seriously, I've got no problems with graphic sex in non-porn, although I don't have anything against "official" porn either. Since I watch most movies alone, there's no awkwardness between me and someone else when watching such scenes. And I've got no problem with artists trying to find ways to incorporate graphic sex into a "real" narrative. Many aren't successful, but I applaud the attempt to try. I still think Radley Metzger came the closest to uniting the two elements. The Image is one of the best movies ever made on its particular subject. Great dialogue and acting, and the graphic sexual stuff has narrative meaning too.

Anyway, I've been watching some Hong Kong stuff from the New Wave lately. It's an era sadly underrepresented on North American DVD and BD.

City on Fire: This film by Ringo Lam is considered one of the classic crime genre films, of which there are a metric ton from Hong Kong during this era. Lam is an action director, but grittier and less over the top than John Woo. Still melodramatic as HK films tend to be, but Lam most resembles a Hong Kong Michael Mann in his subject matter and attention to 'realistic' detail. Although there are still scenes of cars overturning after a few gunshots and blowing up in classic Hollywood fashion.

Bullet in the Head: SUPER melodramatic John Woo. I'd never seen this before and this has got to be one of the most ambitious films of Woo's prime HK period, with its flashback structure and wide ranging scope. The action is typically ridiculous and fun, but it's a super somber film.

In the Line of Duty III and IV: These two films in this popular "Girls with Guns" franchise star Cynthia Khan, a taiwanese martial artist who took on this stage name (inspired by Cynthia Rothrock) to launch her career. This series is mostly about cops and robbers but it's all just an excuse for action scenes. And EVERYONE seems to know martial arts in these films, right down to even the local grocer. In the Line of Duty III is no great shakes but it displays Khan's abilities quite well. It's let down by some truly dumb slapstick. In the Line of Duty IV is the high point of the series imo, with Donnie Yen as a co-star and directed by Yuen Wo Ping. Cynthia Khan looks quite stylish in her late 80s tight jeans and jean jacket, and Yen looked very much like the cocky hothead he used to be known for in real life (he seems a lot wiser and more humble now though). There's an elaborate action scene almost every 5 minutes and the stunts and fight scenes are incredible! Truly a must have for HK action fans.

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by Akijama

Hmmm, they sent a newsletter earlier than usual this time. Any guesses?

[Show spoiler]Just kidding!

You don't kid about things like that. You ... just ... don't.

[Akijama]

Originally Posted by belcherman

You don't kid about things like that. You ... just ... don't.

(evil laugh)