The Criterion Collection

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by iScottie

What are the chances of Criterion or another studio releasing Memories of Murder or A Tale of Two Sisters?

Originally Posted by Gacivory

I would love those, and A bittersweet Life!

These would make my day. Never seen A Tale of Two Sisters, but Memories of Murder and A Bittersweet Life are must-haves for me.

I recently got the Nova Media edition of A Bittersweet Life. It's serviceable for now, but it does look DNRed quite a bit and none of the extras are English-friendly.

[kuro_sawa]

Originally Posted by iScottie

What are the chances of Criterion or another studio releasing Memories of Murder or A Tale of Two Sisters?

I don't know about the rights, but Memories of Murder would make for an excellent (and much needed) release. The extras on the existing blu ray aren't English friendly, and I imagine a lot of Criterion fans who haven't seen it would be blown away. Great, great flick. A+ dropkicks.

[ShellOilJunior]

It seems like every time I revisit this film it always seems so fresh. I get the sense Wong Kar-wai knew exactly what he wanted to accomplish with the film and he did it. The elegance, the wonderful score, the subtlety and restraint and two exceptional leads.

Truly a great film. I think one of the hallmarks of a great film is re-watchability. In the Mood for Love has it in spades.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

It seems like every time I revisit this film it always seems so fresh. I get the sense Wong Kar-wai knew exactly what he wanted to accomplish with the film and he did it. The elegance, the wonderful score, the subtlety and restraint and two exceptional leads.

Truly a great film. I think one of the hallmarks of a great film is re-watchability. In the Mood for Love has it in spades.

What's so amazing about the film is every indication is that WKW *didn't* know what he wanted to accomplish with the film (which is why filming took so long, required two cinematographers, and has deleted scenes that show some of the things filmed had a very different feel from what ended up in the finished product). The fact that it ended up so cohesive is part of what makes it so impressive to me.

[GentleGiant]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

It seems like every time I revisit this film it always seems so fresh. I get the sense Wong Kar-wai knew exactly what he wanted to accomplish with the film and he did it. The elegance, the wonderful score, the subtlety and restraint and two exceptional leads.

Truly a great film. I think one of the hallmarks of a great film is re-watchability. In the Mood for Love has it in spades.

The dresses looked quite nice too..

[Scottie]

Not Criterion-related, but can we talk about Tetsuya Nakashima's Confessions?

I'm pretty sure this is the most disturbing movie I've ever seen.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

What's so amazing about the film is every indication is that WKW *didn't* know what he wanted to accomplish with the film (which is why filming took so long, required two cinematographers, and has deleted scenes that show some of the things filmed had a very different feel from what ended up in the finished product). The fact that it ended up so cohesive is part of what makes it so impressive to me.

Tony Rayns said it took about 15 months. By comparison, Lawrence of Arabia took 16 months.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

It seems like every time I revisit this film it always seems so fresh. I get the sense Wong Kar-wai knew exactly what he wanted to accomplish with the film and he did it. The elegance, the wonderful score, the subtlety and restraint and two exceptional leads.

Truly a great film. I think one of the hallmarks of a great film is re-watchability. In the Mood for Love has it in spades.

Great film, to be sure, but through 2 viewings, I’m not sure about the music chosen for the film. The piece of music that is used repetitively is kind of cold; it just seems to barge in again and again during the film. …and Aquellos Ojos Verdes? I didn’t see anyone in the film with green eyes. Quizas, Quizas, Quizas (Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps) is fine, I guess. I just don’t feel that any of that music really inspires feelings of nostalgia or romance.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Not Criterion-related, but can we talk about Tetsuya Nakashima's Confessions?

I'm pretty sure this is the most disturbing movie I've ever seen.

Love this film! Surprised it's not talked about more!

[malakaheso]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

Great film, to be sure, but through 2 viewings, I’m not sure about the music chosen for the film. The piece of music that is used repetitively is kind of cold; it just seems to barge in again and again during the film. …and Aquellos Ojos Verdes? I didn’t see anyone in the film with green eyes. Quizas, Quizas, Quizas (Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps) is fine, I guess. I just don’t feel that any of that music really inspires feelings of nostalgia or romance.

It is meant to inspire longing rather than 'romance' per se. The longing for romance and connection etc.

It's a good film, but I feel it has been extremely overpraised. I actually prefer 2046, but I know I'm in a minority on that.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

Great film, to be sure, but through 2 viewings, I’m not sure about the music chosen for the film. The piece of music that is used repetitively is kind of cold; it just seems to barge in again and again during the film. …and Aquellos Ojos Verdes? I didn’t see anyone in the film with green eyes. Quizas, Quizas, Quizas (Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps) is fine, I guess. I just don’t feel that any of that music really inspires feelings of nostalgia or romance.

I agree with this. I can understand what notes it's trying to hit, but it doesn't affect me in the way it intends.

I'm sure i'd consider this a masterpiece if Happy Together was never made though. I consider it the superior treatment of similar themes. Not to mention it may just be his most visually magestic

That said, maybe I'll warm to it more that I'm not as nitpicky about directors repeating themselves.

----

I finally sat down to watch my Cc copy of The New World. WOW! It blows the first bluray (which I've seen several times) out if the water. The audio mix is as immersive as they come. I got chills listening to each natural effect such as wind whirring against the grain, chirps, etc.

The film really does grow into a more cohesive vision each time I see it. Malick tells a complete story to be sure, but his impressionistic editing does exactly that to the story: renders it impressionistic. Which I believe is the best way to portray history on screen. Fragmented. Slightly ambiguous. An emphasis on feeling over clear A-B narrative. Your mind takes the images and sounds and paints the rest of the picture.

I have a feeling I'll be going back to watch another cut tonight.

[imnotready]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I finally sat down to watch my Cc copy of The New World. WOW! It blows the first bluray (which I've seen several times) out if the water. The audio mix is as immersive as they come. I got chills listening to each natural effect such as wind whirring against the grain, chirps, etc.

The film really does grow into a more cohesive vision each time I see it. Malick tells a complete story to be sure, but his impressionistic editing does exactly that to the story: renders it impressionistic. Which I believe is the best way to portray history on screen. Fragmented. Slightly ambiguous. An emphasis on feeling over clear A-B narrative. Your mind takes the images and sounds and paints the rest of the picture.

I have a feeling I'll be going back to watch another cut tonight.

Which cut did you watch?

[dig311dug]

is there a criterion sale going on at amazon?
random price droppings

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by imnotready

Which cut did you watch?

The extended cut. All my previous viewings have been of the extended aswell.

Ive held off on seeing the other two cuts for far too long. I'm a tad apprehensive about seeing some of my favorite edits and moments taken away.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

The extended cut. All my previous viewings have been of the extended aswell.

Ive held off on seeing the other two cuts for far too long. I'm a tad apprehensive about seeing some of my favorite edits and moments taken away.

I very recently watched Touch of Evil (2nd watch) and kind of feel the same way. I’m curious to know how the different cuts play out, but 1) I don’t want my feelings towards the film to be diminished by spending 90 minutes on the studio’s ill-advised cut and 2) I’m not sure how I’d settle into the rhythms of one of the other two cuts, anyway, being that I know what happens and how it happens from my experience watching the ‘preferred’ cut.

I did read a little bit about what some of the changes were. For now, anyway, that is enough for me.

[Pequod]

Snagged for $88 from eBay; very happy to add it to my collection

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I very recently watched Touch of Evil (2nd watch) and kind of feel the same way. I’m curious to know how the different cuts play out, but 1) I don’t want my feelings towards the film to be diminished by spending 90 minutes on the studio’s ill-advised cut and 2) I’m not sure how I’d settle into the rhythms of one of the other two cuts, anyway, being that I know what happens and how it happens from my experience watching the ‘preferred’ cut.

I did read a little bit about what some of the changes were. For now, anyway, that is enough for me.

Yeah. Seeing "truncated" cuts of great films can be frustrating because we want to familiarize ourselves with variations, but we still demand just as great an experience. When the new (to us) cuts don't live up to the real thing it feels like it diminishes the real thing too. Sometimes it takes a viewing or two to wash out the bad taste.

Actually, just last night I took Apocalypse Now Redux out of the player in favor of The New World Extended. I wanted a great epic, but couldn't bare to see one that may not live up to the one I'm already familiar with.

I do however appreciate it when very different cuts offer me equally great experiences. Miami Vice, Blade Runner (I know. Shoot me for liking the voice over too), That Thing You Do, Almost Famous. It's just bracing myself for possible disappoint that keeps me from discovering more.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I finally sat down to watch my Cc copy of The New World. WOW! It blows the first bluray (which I've seen several times) out if the water. The audio mix is as immersive as they come. I got chills listening to each natural effect such as wind whirring against the grain, chirps, etc.

The film really does grow into a more cohesive vision each time I see it. Malick tells a complete story to be sure, but his impressionistic editing does exactly that to the story: renders it impressionistic. Which I believe is the best way to portray history on screen. Fragmented. Slightly ambiguous. An emphasis on feeling over clear A-B narrative. Your mind takes the images and sounds and paints the rest of the picture.

I have a feeling I'll be going back to watch another cut tonight.

I can't wait to watch this Criterion blu-ray myself soon.

By the way last night I had a weird dream about The Thin Red Line. In my dream, I recall knowing the film was split into two volumes (Volume 1 and Volume 2). While watching the first part of the film, it was very different and went into the life of Jim Caviezel's character, showing him in his house with his family before he went off for war. It also showed him fighting in a previous war before WW2, as a special ops soldier, and how he dealt with the trauma there. Then around the 100 minute mark, the DVD ended abruptly and I was with a bunch of friends and I told them that we should continue the film (part 2) in a few nights. I remember it was a perfect moment to take a break too and it was already late at night. Anyway, there's my The Thin Red Line dream story for today.

[blu-bry]

Has anyone heard rumors of Samurai Rebellion ever coming to Blu-ray? I saw it for the first time last night and loved it! I already own Harakiri, but I can't believe I've never seen this one before.
I'm very impressed with the way Kobayashi films play out - developing a great story supplemented with swordplay, rather than the other way around. Mifune was great, and very likeable in "Rebellion".

[mande2013]

Originally Posted by hariseldon

Some OK prices -- looks like one their third party sellers is having a sale and I guess that forced the Amazon-bot program to lower some of the prices on hte main site. It's such a weird random pricing it's obviously not a designed sale, but it's so hard to sort by price I can't really tell if there is any real pattern.

A couple dozen items a little over 50% off or bit less than 50% off. Most of the 39.99 items still seem to be in the $25-28 area.

Why is Breathless not being sold directly by the site. It didn't go out of print, did it? I'm guessing it's just out of stock. As for Amazon pricing, I'm guessing it's a supply and demand factor. Releases are priced according to what Amazon personally feels consumers will pay. White Material is $12.99 on blu-ray on Amazon despite still having a listed $39.99 MSRP on Criterion's site. Oh wait, never mind. That's a non-CC blu-ray