The Criterion Collection

[The Theory]

Originally Posted by Yami

I did this with the Studio Ghibli titles, I really wasn't interested in Only Yesterday or *gasp* My Neighbour Totoro but I bought them anyway.

Oh man, both of those Ghibli titles are excellent. Actually, Only Yesterday (which is a brilliant film, imo) and a few other Ghibli titles not out on R1 were the sole reason I got a region-free DVD player. And probably years down the line they'll be the reason I get a region-free blu-ray player.

[italy12]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Sounds like you have some setting on your AVR wrong..... Mono should just be the center channel.

My Onkyo will not output mono the way it was intended, unless I use the Music setting's "Direct"...er...setting. I have been using one called "Mono Movie" which has a slight something coming out of the front L and R, but the majority of everything else is loud and clear out of the front center only.

I tried a few comparisons, and I liked the sound of the Mono Movie setting better.

[keldons]

Originally Posted by GunRanger

Bingo. Malick has this illogical hold on people's opinions it's ridiculous. I've seen people overanalyze the trailer to nauseating ends already.

Not really. When you make films that people like (beyond all mentally sound boundaries) and have only put out 4 other ones since the early 70s, people get excited. It makes sense, even if you don't like Malick. Especially since this script has been hanging around since the 70s.

Also the point about Mubi is a waste of time, since that happens to every high-profile filmmaker's movie that gets put on there before its premiere. Happened with Film Socialisme before that was shown at Cannes, and The Turin Horse before that was shown at Berlin. Are we going to point fingers at Godard and Tarr for brainwashing their fans as well?

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by keldons

Not really. When you make films that people like (beyond all mentally sound boundaries) and have only put out 4 other ones since the early 70s, people get excited. It makes sense, even if you don't like Malick. Especially since this script has been hanging around since the 70s.

Also the point about Mubi is a waste of time, since that happens to every high-profile filmmaker's movie that gets put on there before its premiere. Happened with Film Socialisme before that was shown at Cannes, and The Turin Horse before that was shown at Berlin. Are we going to point fingers at Godard and Tarr for brainwashing their fans as well?

Fair, but I never said we wasn't, as the topic was Malick. Though to be fair, there are also "haters" of Film Socialisme that hasn't even seen it either.

[GunRanger]

Originally Posted by keldons

Not really. When you make films that people like (beyond all mentally sound boundaries) and have only put out 4 other ones since the early 70s, people get excited. It makes sense, even if you don't like Malick. Especially since this script has been hanging around since the 70s.

I'm not talking about excitement. Everyone gets excited when one of their favorite directors is coming out with a new and interesting movie. I'm talking about people already talking like the movie is a masterpiece, when no one has seen it and not one review has come out. They've already convinced themselves they will like it. It's silly.

[ShellOilJunior]

SB/CG,

I thought you'd like Malick. Days of Heaven was practically filmed like a silent movie and has sparse dialog (that and it's masterful, imo). Plus, I know you love silents.

I'm not understanding the indifference towards Malick.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by SpiderBaby

It's already rated high on Mubi with alot of fans, and no one has seen it yet, so I have my doubts about it not having alot of love for it (since it's obivious alot of people have made their minds up before even watching it. Masterpiece right?. I'd say.).

I must be the only one on the entire internet not really high on seeing it. Can't wait though to hear the love of CGI Dinosaurs by Criterion and "arthouse" fans when this comes out though.

I hope Sean Penn and Pitt ride Dinosaurs in a big battle. That I will watch, and serious. I also hope Godard wasn't playing around when he announced his 3D talking dog film.

Might be because he created two of the best films of the 70s and one of the best films of the 90s, which were his first three films. Might give him just a little bit of credibility as a director.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by rkish

I streamed this Kino DVD yesterday on NetFLix and really liked it: "Scarlet Street". Interesting Lang noir...don't know if this will ever make it to the CC blus, but it would be a good addition.

If you liked Scarlet Street you should look around for The Woman in the Window. It's a little bit more of a straight crime drama but it's another very good Lang/Robinson combo (made the year before).

I'd love to see somebody give these a really high quality restoration but I'm pretty sure they're both public domain. I know that's not an automatic dealbreaker but it doesn't usually help.

[Hartley]

Originally Posted by rkish

I streamed this Kino DVD yesterday on NetFLix and really liked it: "Scarlet Street". Interesting Lang noir...don't know if this will ever make it to the CC blus, but it would be a good addition.

I absolutely LOVE "Scarlet Street". I caved recently and bought the DVD for the David Kalat commentary and it was completely worth it, his commentary on this disc (and all of his other commentaries that I've listened to for that matter) are fantastic. Practically little film history courses in and of themselves!

I'd love to see it come out on Blu!

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

Might be because he created two of the best films of the 70s and one of the best films of the 90s, which were his first three films. Might give him just a little bit of credibility as a director.

Yeah, that must be it.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by SpiderBaby

Yeah, that must be it.

Must be.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

SB/CG,

I thought you'd like Malick. Days of Heaven was practically filmed like a silent movie and has sparse dialog (that and it's masterful, imo). Plus, I know you love silents.

I'm not understanding the indifference towards Malick.

I was never a huge nerd for Malick, no. I LIKE his films, don't LOVE them. It's kind of like a Barry Lyndon thing for me. Love the cinematography (best of any Kubrick's films), but come on now.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by keldons

Not really. When you make films that people like (beyond all mentally sound boundaries) and have only put out 4 other ones since the early 70s, people get excited. It makes sense, even if you don't like Malick. Especially since this script has been hanging around since the 70s.

Also the point about Mubi is a waste of time, since that happens to every high-profile filmmaker's movie that gets put on there before its premiere. Happened with Film Socialisme before that was shown at Cannes, and The Turin Horse before that was shown at Berlin. Are we going to point fingers at Godard and Tarr for brainwashing their fans as well?

Speaking of Tarr, he needs to get a Criterion release immediately. The 9 hour Satantango? I'd prefer Werckmeister Harmonies myself, as it's still the most moving picture I've seen.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

Must be.

When you say "Two of the best films of the 70's" and "one of the best of the 90's", how many films are in the "best" list? Like, are they #1 or #2,345 of the best? And what about his last film? It's not a "best"? Now we are giving ratings to movies that is not out yet, based off of director's past works?

[repete66211]

Originally Posted by GunRanger

I'm not talking about excitement. Everyone gets excited when one of their favorite directors is coming out with a new and interesting movie. I'm talking about people already talking like the movie is a masterpiece, when no one has seen it and not one review has come out. They've already convinced themselves they will like it. It's silly.

The very definition of ideologue (and a reminder that the word "fan" is short for "fanatical"). Such bias gets my hackles up too but I admit I fall victim from time to time. The Criterion label has influenced me, leading me to watch movies I normally wouldn't have and giving those I didn't particularly care for the benefit of the doubt just because they're Criterions. That seems to be the case with a lot of Criterion fans. I can think of more than one example of someone saying a Criterion title was great--not OK, good or pretty good but "great"--that (IMO) just plain sucked.

[repete66211]

Originally Posted by Hartley

I absolutely LOVE "Scarlet Street". I caved recently and bought the DVD for the David Kalat commentary and it was completely worth it, his commentary on this disc (and all of his other commentaries that I've listened to for that matter) are fantastic. Practically little film history courses in and of themselves!

I'd love to see it come out on Blu!

I like Scarlet Street too. I received the "5 Film Noir Killer Classics" DVD collection as a gift. Usually those public domain collections suck so I wasn't too excited. However, in addition to Scarlet Street this one has D.O.A., Detour, The Stranger and Killer Bait so it's actually a pretty solid collection.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

Might be because he created two of the best films of the 70s and one of the best films of the 90s, which were his first three films. Might give him just a little bit of credibility as a director.

I'm not taking sides on Malick but George Lucas' first three features were THX 1138, American Graffiti and Star Wars and he has zero credibility as a director.

I'm just saying...

[Monty70]

Shelloiljunior' s top 10

New
The Magnificent Ambersons (1942)
Blue Velvet (1986)
Long Day's Journey Into Night (1962)
Wuthering Heights (1939)
Barton Fink (1991)

Blu Upgrades
The Fire Within
The Spirit of the Beehive
Ace in the Hole
Viridiana
Juliet of the Spirits

[rkish]

Originally Posted by octagon

If you liked Scarlet Street you should look around for The Woman in the Window. It's a little bit more of a straight crime drama but it's another very good Lang/Robinson combo (made the year before).

I'd love to see somebody give these a really high quality restoration but I'm pretty sure they're both public domain. I know that's not an automatic dealbreaker but it doesn't usually help.

Thanks Octagon! I checked and saw that I added "The Woman in the Window" to my queue recently. I must have heard about Scarlet Street from one of you guys.

[Show spoiler]From the way that the Robinson character developed, I'm still shocked that he lost it and ice-picked the girl (happy that he did it...but surprised that he did! )

I look forward to The Woman in the Window.

[rkish]

Originally Posted by Hartley

I absolutely LOVE "Scarlet Street". I caved recently and bought the DVD for the David Kalat commentary and it was completely worth it, his commentary on this disc (and all of his other commentaries that I've listened to for that matter) are fantastic. Practically little film history courses in and of themselves!

I'd love to see it come out on Blu!

It's a Kino DVD, so I hope they eventually release it on blu...who knows...maybe they will release all of the noir films in that Lang noir collection.