The Criterion Collection

[keldons]

I don't know why people are so upset by this, Criterion makes stupid moves sometimes. I mean, passing up one of the most radical and ambitious films from a well-known filmmaker in Enter the Void, for some decent but not especially interesting alternatives from IFC (Fish Tank, Antichrist) was a pretty dumb move too. Noe's film will be more influential than either of those in the long run.

[Hendershot737]

I wasn't able to make the B&N sale, but a buddy of mine did pick up the Sanjuro/Yojimbo pack for me

And just watched The Vanishing last night (again)...love the film, but the 80s soundtrack can be a bit distracting at times

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by keldons

I don't know why people are so upset by this, Criterion makes stupid moves sometimes. I mean, passing up one of the most radical and ambitious films from a well-known filmmaker in Enter the Void, for some decent but not especially interesting alternatives from IFC (Fish Tank, Antichrist) was a pretty dumb move too. Noe's film will be more influential than either of those in the long run.

Enter the Void has its moments but is very, very flawed in my estimation. The film (director's cut anyways) could've been trimmed considerably. The last 30 minutes was totally superfluous. Criterion did well in passing on that film, imo.

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by keldons

I don't know why people are so upset by this, Criterion makes stupid moves sometimes. I mean, passing up one of the most radical and ambitious films from a well-known filmmaker in Enter the Void, for some decent but not especially interesting alternatives from IFC (Fish Tank, Antichrist) was a pretty dumb move too. Noe's film will be more influential than either of those in the long run.

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Enter the Void has its moments but is very, very flawed in my estimation. The film (director's cut anyways) could've been trimmed considerably. The last 30 minutes was totally superfluous. Criterion did well in passing on that film, imo.

Putting aside the fact that it is impossible to know now what will be influential in the future, this exchange explains exactly how difficult it is to predict what will be in the collection. It is rare that people agree, especially about contemporary films, which are harder to gauge (because of less time to reflect on them).

[rkish]

Originally Posted by Roninblues

My Silent Naruse is on the way but all were of the time when the story and characters counted not a "star" or special effects. I'm the only one in my family/friends that will sit through one. I feel lucky that any of these films are available.

Agreed!

While checking out streaming on NetFlix, I watched Tokyo Story one day and was attracted to it. I then began to watch as many Ozu films as I could and I continued to walk away from each one with the same feeling as you. They tend to leave you feeling tranquil and serene.

As Ozu was friends with Naruse, I rented what I could from NetFlix and drew a similar conclusion with Naruse. He and Ozu looked at the trials and tribulations of the "middle class" Japanese family. Their approaches were similar, but unique. The main difference being that Ozu always tried to take an optimistic view, even if the story ended tragically. Naruse was more about "life is about constantly walking into the wall...that is just how it is."

I've already asked in the other forums and as happy as I am that it looks like there will be a large output of Ozu films on blu-ray, Naruse DVD sets are not selling very well, so the feeling is that they probably won't get the blu treatment.

I know that CC is rolling his eyes right about now.

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by rkish

I know that CC is rolling his eyes right about now.

Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse.
Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse.
Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse.
Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse.
Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse.
Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse.
Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse. Ozu. Naruse.

All work and no Ozu & Naruse make Rich a dull boy.

[rkish]

You never fail me!

I won't ask you how you pulled off that bit with the "quote". Very funny!

EDIT: I must have caught you when you were editing your first post...I wondered how the hell you encapsulated that text.

BTW...I was a "dull boy" long before my discovery of OZU & NARUSE!!!!!!!!

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by blkhrt

Putting aside the fact that it is impossible to know now what will be influential in the future, this exchange explains exactly how difficult it is to predict what will be in the collection. It is rare that people agree, especially about contemporary films, which are harder to gauge (because of less time to reflect on them).

Exactly. Imo, Enter the Void has absolutely no business being in the Collection. It's an extremely flawed film that has little redeeming value imo, other than its imagery. Its themes aren't particularly deep. It's shocking for the sake of being shocking, without a greater purpose. At least Antichrist, which I dislike, had something to say. There's no way to know what will be influential in the future, but I would be shocked if Enter the Void has any lasting significance.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by Hendershot737

I wasn't able to make the B&N sale, but a buddy of mine did pick up the Sanjuro/Yojimbo pack for me

And just watched The Vanishing last night (again)...love the film, but the 80s soundtrack can be a bit distracting at times

I agree. The Vanishing was a good film but it underwhelmed me. Of course, the ending is shocking and effective. I liked the flawed nature of the "bad guy," but I didn't think the acting was particularly good. Overall, I thought it was a pretty good film but not particularly special. The soundtrack, as you point out, affects its ability to age well.

[Der Spieler]

Goy my copy of Sweet Smell of Success today! Marvelous package!

[aggienader08]

Did I miss a 50% off coupon for B&N?!

[greekak229]

Originally Posted by aggienader08

Did I miss a 50% off coupon for B&N?!

Yessir. You and me both.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by aggienader08

Did I miss a 50% off coupon for B&N?!

I missed it as well but it's because there is no B&N in my city

[keldons]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

Exactly. Imo, Enter the Void has absolutely no business being in the Collection. It's an extremely flawed film that has little redeeming value imo, other than its imagery. Its themes aren't particularly deep. It's shocking for the sake of being shocking, without a greater purpose. At least Antichrist, which I dislike, had something to say. There's no way to know what will be influential in the future, but I would be shocked if Enter the Void has any lasting significance.

I'm not arguing for Noe as a philosopher (his films are shallow in this regard) but anyone with any sort of technical appreciation of cinema can see how big of an achievement Enter the Void is. Not to mention: when was the last time you've seen a modern film this ballsy and completely audacious? Whether or not you like it is irrelevant, this is a film people will remember way longer than Fish Tank, a middle of the road coming of age story (that brought nothing interesting to the table), and Antichrist, Von Trier's worst film. Also funny that we are talking about shock value in Enter the Void.....since when was sex and drug use more exploitative than testicle smashing and clit-cutting? Antichrist is not exactly any more philosophically insightful than anything Noe's done.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Criterion is going to get slammed for those remarks by Becker.

Interesting to see if they cave.

Ironically, they allegedly caved when people made a big stink about no blu release for Everlasting Moments and Close-up. The next day they announced those would hit blu.

Even if Criterion comes out today and talks about this, you just know they will go back on what he said. There is so much of a backlash over this (I'm just upset about the word "minor", not the film, could care less), that I just know they will post something like "Look for Cert Copy soon!" to make up for it.

[ccfixx]

Not Criterion-related...

CG, are you planning on picking up the Echo Bridge release of "The Yards"? Apparently, Best Buy has an exclusive on it, and a few others, until May 3rd. The SRP is only $9.99, but who knows how good the actual quality will be for the disc. From what I've been reading, Echo Bridge's release of "From Dusk Til Dawn" doesn't sound like it's up to par.

CC

[SlickDamian]

How well does the cardboard packaging for Breathless hold up?

And which do you guys think is better, maybe based somewhat on my collection (CC, don't flame me, I'm just looking for advice): Breathless or Modern Times? I am definately going to pick up one of these today.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

Not Criterion-related...

CG, are you planning on picking up the Echo Bridge release of "The Yards"? Apparently, Best Buy has an exclusive on it, and a few others, until May 3rd. The SRP is only $9.99, but who knows how good the actual quality will be for the disc. From what I've been reading, Echo Bridge's release of "From Dusk Til Dawn" doesn't sound like it's up to par.

CC

I didn't even know that a blu-ray was coming (shows you how much I read the front page). Thanks for the info, as a James Gray fan myself (been said already), I will pick this up based on a review.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by SlickDamian

How well does the cardboard packaging for Breathless hold up?

And which do you guys think is better, maybe based somewhat on my collection (CC, don't flame me, I'm just looking for advice): Breathless or Modern Times? I am definately going to pick up one of these today.

Breathless package is prob the strongest cardboard package they have done on blu-ray (thinner than Night of the Hunter and Seven Samurai, so it's less flimsy.).

GET IT! Do it now. 1, 2, 3. Now. Do it!

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by SpiderBaby

GET IT! Do it now. 1, 2, 3. Now. Do it!

Dwight?