The Criterion Collection

[Darkcritic]

Originally Posted by oildude

I agree totally. The Secret of the Grain is one of my favorites, and like Still Walking, it was a huge surprise for me to discover this little gem. I have written about a few times in the past few months.

I really appreciate its textures. On the surface, it is about an older first generation immigrant man who, having become "unprofitable" at a struggling shipyard, is let go after many years and has to find a new purpose for his life so late in the game.

But beneath the surface are multiple story threads revealing a range of overt and subtle themes. To me, the main underlying theme concerns the decay and loss of traditional community values of second and third generation immigrant youth as told through the family dynamic of the older man. It is the love of his girlfriend's daughter that gives the film its hope and promise of redemption. The last half hour is mesmerizing and suspenseful in a way that I did not expect.

Intertwined with this theme is a damning look at the elitism of French civil servants and the condescending bureaucracy to which the man must subject himself in order to realize his dream for a new start.

I have rewatched it several times. Along with a powerful story and terrific acting, I think it is one of the most strikingly colorful and beautifully shot movies in the Criterion Collection. This film was made to be seen on blu-ray.

The more you talk about it the more I think I should get this film during the next sale. Apart from getting what appears to be an amazing piece of contemporary cinema, I support Criterion releasing lesser known films and including them in the collection. Not everything has to be a Kurosawa or a Fellini.

[oildude]

Originally Posted by Darkcritic

The more you talk about it the more I think I should get this film during the next sale. Apart from getting what appears to be an amazing piece of contemporary cinema, I support Criterion releasing lesser known films and including them in the collection. Not everything has to be a Kurosawa or a Fellini.

[cdnchris]

Originally Posted by Indyjones

That's what my concern was. I'm thinking about getting The Man Who Fell To Earth from someone in Canada, just wasn't sure if the Criterions over there get bilingual covers or not.

Other than Benjamin Button (which is manufactured and distributed by Paramount) no Criterion title in Canada has a bilingual cover. Just about all are imported from the States and distributed by another company in Canada.

Though not Blu-ray related I'll note some DVD titles that have some differences in Canada with their packaging:

Life Aquatic and Royal Tenenbaums (both distributed by Disney) have small Canadian flags located on the back of the box, have Canadian ratings on them, and present Canadian spelling ("Colour" instead of "Color" for example.)

Chasing Amy and Traffic both have Alliance logos on them and then also have Canadian ratings and Canadian spelling on the packages. Early printings of Traffic are missing the spine number but this was corrected.

But again other than Benjamin Button no Criterion Blu-ray has bilingual packaging, not even the French titles.

[exolstice]

I have several Criterions I purchased in Canada in various stores and only Benjamin Button has bilingual packaging, like I mentioned two pages ago.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by oildude

I agree totally. The Secret of the Grain is one of my favorites, and like Still Walking, it was a huge surprise for me to discover this little gem. I have written about a few times in the past few months.

I really appreciate its textures. On the surface, it is about an older first generation immigrant man who, having become "unprofitable" at a struggling shipyard, is let go after many years and has to find a new purpose for his life so late in the game.

But beneath the surface are multiple story threads revealing a range of overt and subtle themes. To me, the main underlying theme concerns the decay and loss of traditional community values of second and third generation immigrant youth as told through the family dynamic of the older man. It is the love of his girlfriend's daughter that gives the film its hope and promise of redemption. The last half hour is mesmerizing and suspenseful in a way that I did not expect.

Intertwined with this theme is a damning look at the elitism of French civil servants and the condescending bureaucracy to which the man must subject himself in order to realize his dream for a new start.

I have rewatched it several times. Along with a powerful story and terrific acting, I think it is one of the most strikingly colorful and beautifully shot movies in the Criterion Collection. This film was made to be seen on blu-ray.

I know some aren't crazy about the title change from COUSCOUS but I like SECRET OF THE GRAIN better. It'd be like calling a movie "Hamburger" or "SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS". Just don't sound right.

[charlieray1]

I know that this has been mentioned already in the Criterion thread, but it's easy to miss there, so here it is again.

This horror classic with Charles Laughton and Bela Lugosi is sooo high on my must have for Halloween list! There's a glowing review up at DVD Beaver:

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film3/blu-r...ls_blu-ray.htm

[Monty70]

Originally Posted by drbikeshorts

I've never seen this.
Wondering if I should blind-buy this in November...

Island of Lost Souls is a must own IMO. If you would like to watch it for free it is over at youtube in serval chapters.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by Monty70

Island of Lost Souls is a must own IMO. If you would like to watch it for free it is over at youtube in serval chapters.

Thanks for the suggestion
I sample a few chapters - I think I'll probably add it...

[DetroitSportsFan]

I look forward to picking this up during Barnes & Noble's 50% off Criterion sale in a few weeks (there will be one, right?)

[trombone dixie]

I'm going to go crazy on the (hopeful) November B&N sale. I'm completing a medical study for a new pain killer and my compensation is $10,550. Looking to get: 3 Women, Dazed and Confused, Orpheus, Rushmore, Island of Lost Souls, For All Mankind, Days of Heaven, The 400 Blows, 8 1/2, The Great Dictator and Colors Trilogy. I also want to finally get a proper HD TV tisk watch them on.

[StoogeFan1118]

Originally Posted by DetroitSportsFan

I look forward to picking this up during Barnes & Noble's 50% off Criterion sale in a few weeks (there will be one, right?)

I sure hope so because that is when I planned on picking this and a few other Criterion releases up as well.

[oildude]

Originally Posted by trombone dixie

I'm going to go crazy on the (hopeful) November B&N sale. I'm completing a medical study for a new pain killer and my compensation is $10,550. Looking to get: 3 Women, Dazed and Confused, Orpheus, Rushmore, Island of Lost Souls, For All Mankind, Days of Heaven, The 400 Blows, 8 1/2, The Great Dictator and Colors Trilogy.

I can't think of a better title as a reward for your drug study

[Jr7936]

so i might be trading a few criterions for the bbs story box set and I want opions if you think its fair, since i think so but I am not 100% sure. 1. house which I got for 12 during a b&n sale, 2. marienbad, which i got for 7.96 shipped. 3. beauty and the beast 4. pale flower, both which I got during a trade here, 5.still walking which i got from a gift card from amazon, i want to say it was 18 dollars
The bbs set was only watched once since he didn't like it.

does that sound fair or not to most people.

[Yojimbo]

Originally Posted by oildude

I can't think of a better title as a reward for your drug study

Bigger than Life would fit pretty nicely as well.

[Banned User]

Not sure if this has been posted or not..

http://www.wexarts.org/fv/index.php?eventid=5847

Join Criterion producers Kim Hendrickson and Susan Arosteguy for a behind-the-scenes look at Criterion's operation, focusing on recent releases such as Olivier Assayas’s Carlos (2010), Pier Paolo Pasolini’s Salò (1975), and Island of Lost Souls (1932), among others

[trombone dixie]

Originally Posted by oildude

I can't think of a better title as a reward for your drug study

Haha, Dazed and Confused are probably the two words I would use to describe this experience.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by Yojimbo

Bigger than Life would fit pretty nicely as well.

Can anything top an out-of-his mind James Mason at a PTA meeting?

[Indyjones]

Originally Posted by DetroitSportsFan

I look forward to picking this up during Barnes & Noble's 50% off Criterion sale in a few weeks (there will be one, right?)

I hope so! I have about 15 criterion blu's on my wishlist and I'm hoping to knock off 10 of them.

[trombone dixie]

Originally Posted by Roninblues

You have to be on drugs to spend that much.

I'm hoping there are some good coupons to coincide with the sale. I'd like to show a little restraint by spending between $200-$250.

The musts: 3 Women, Colors Trilogy, Dazed and Confused, Rushmore, Island of Lost Souls, The Great Dictator and 12 Angry Men.

Other interests: Orpheus, The Complete Jean Vigo, Days of Heaven, 8½, The 400 Blows, For All Mankind and The Battle of Algiers.

[BluPops]

I'd love Belle de Jour! I'm pretty confident that Gojira/Godzilla is a sure bet!

Originally Posted by Brad1963

I'm changing my guess from a couple days ago:
Il momento della verità
Belle de Jour
Gojira
Le Samouraï (one of these days I will be right.)
Drunken Angel
Stray Dog
Tiny Furniture

To these:

Il momento della verità
Belle de Jour
Gojira
Le Samouraï (one of these days I will be right.)
Bitter Rice
Eating Raoul
Tiny Furniture