The Criterion Collection

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by SlickDamian

Goin' Down the Road, A Canadian film from 1970, would be an amazing addition to the Criterion Collection.

Forget that! I want the superior remake, Garth, Gord, Fiona, and Alice!

[TJS_Blu]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

And it wasn't without critical regard or fans during its original North American release oildude.

I seem to recall Siskel & Ebert being very impressed, believe at least on of them had it on their top ten list. I never saw it.

[DarknessBDJM]

An odd film I'd love to see Criterion release would be Incubus (1966). It's a grand point in cinema in terms of cinematography what with it being photographed (the first real theatrical project for two of them) by the three men who shot films such as In Cold Blood, Hell in the Pacific, Marathon Man, American Beauty, Road to Perdition, Blade Runner, Altered States, Peggy Sue Got Married, Rosemary's Baby, Bullitt, Paint Your Wagon, The Best Little *****house in Texas, and Tombstone. It has fantastic dreamlike photography and narrative, and also holds significance in being an Esperanto language film.

The main problem is that the only known surviving print has burnt in French subtitles, so the option for English subtitles would have to take up that space without losing, much film image whereas the dvd had a black box put over the French subs.

[blg]

Originally Posted by Cinemach

This is an interesting split as even (most) people who weren't particularly thrilled with The Tree of Life enjoy Days of Heaven, me being among them and the second quote above proving an example. It's actually the only Malick film I could safely recommend (though I haven't seen Badlands). I find it a far more focused picture than The Thin Red Line and The Tree of Life, and that has much to do with its scope: those latter two to me are unwieldy to the point of detriment.

Days of Heaven develops its characters well enough for its story. The first twenty minutes set up its four principle characters pretty solidly, and the story is fairly trite given its perspective - that of a young woman looking back at a time when she came into her own, so to speak. In that aim the voiceover is pretty effective, and the complaints of this comes largely from her voice and to a smaller extent, it's frequency - but that's Malick for you.

It's also a tremendously beautiful film, cinematography-wise. Shot almost entirely during the 'magic hour', that's what the film is best known for. Each of Malick's films exhibits a high aptitude for visual excellence, yes, but the 'magic hour' is what makes this film special.

It's interesting to read opinions of Malick's films. I'm one who never felt much of a connection to any of his films until I saw Tree of Life. I've always felt his movies were beautiful to look at, a moving oil painting, but found the episodic feel of Days of Heaven and the general disjointedness and lack of dialogue in most of his movies annoying, the worst being The New World.

However, I loved Tree of Life. I thought the story was incredibly moving in addition to the beautiful cinematography. In fact, it's made me want to go back and revisit The Thin Red Line, which I plan on doing soon.

[Trekkie313]

Originally Posted by blg

It's interesting to read opinions of Malick's films. I'm one who never felt much of a connection to any of his films until I saw Tree of Life. I've always felt his movies were beautiful to look at, a moving oil painting, but found the episodic feel of Days of Heaven and the general disjointedness and lack of dialogue in most of his movies annoying, the worst being The New World.

However, I loved Tree of Life. I thought the story was incredibly moving in addition to the beautiful cinematography. In fact, it's made me want to go back and revisit The Thin Red Line, which I plan on doing soon.

Tree Of Life seemed so pretentious to me, I feel that his other work didn't come off as so forced to make the audience think.

[Trekkie313]

Originally Posted by Roninblues

Can't help you as it was one of two Criterions that I didn't keep after purchase. There are far too many good movies available that I don't give it a second thought to not liking someone's favorite.

It's a great screensaver for your TV though!

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by DarknessBDJM

An odd film I'd love to see Criterion release would be Incubus (1966). It's a grand point in cinema in terms of cinematography what with it being photographed (the first real theatrical project for two of them) by the three men who shot films such as In Cold Blood, Hell in the Pacific, Marathon Man, American Beauty, Road to Perdition, Blade Runner, Altered States, Peggy Sue Got Married, Rosemary's Baby, Bullitt, Paint Your Wagon, The Best Little *****house in Texas, and Tombstone. It has fantastic dreamlike photography and narrative, and also holds significance in being an Esperanto language film.

Ahhhh yes, Leslie Stevens' adorably weird Incubus, starring soon-to-be famous Trek-meister William Shatner, and soon-to-be infamous murder-suicide Milos Milos. Basically, it played like an extended episode of the original Outer Limits TV series (same production team)...only in Esperanto. It certainly would be wonderful to see this one-of-a-kind cult classic paired up with Fanfare for a Death Scene or some other 'lost' Stevens/DayStar production from the era.

Originally Posted by DarknessBDJM

The main problem is that the only known surviving print has burnt in French subtitles, so the option for English subtitles would have to take up that space without losing, much film image whereas the dvd had a black box put over the French subs.

It would be tricky, but with the tools available today, I bet those black bar subs could be removed digitally, assuming enough un-subbed reference frames existed before and after within each shot.

But hey, if Criterion can resurrect foreign nutshows such as House, this wouldn't be such a stretch...

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by TJS_Blu

I seem to recall Siskel & Ebert being very impressed, believe at least on of them had it on their top ten list. I never saw it.

I wouldn't be surprised TJS_Blu. There was considerable promotion of Farnsworth for a Best Actor nomination that year.

[DetroitSquirreL]

Is anyone interested in doing a group order from Criterion.com? I'd like to get some replacement cases and replacement case for 'Bottle Rocket'. If we get an order to total at least $50.01 USD we can get FREE shipping and we'd only have to pay for the items we want. I just was going to order the plastic cue replacement for 'Bottle Rocket' which is $5 USD and shipping was $5.98 USD

If interested please let me know...I have 9+ positive trading feedback on here & 500+ positive feedback on eBay (with zero neg or neutrals)

[SlickDamian]

I really want to see The Grey Fox now after all of this discussion. Looks like a really good "lost" film, and an awesome peice of Canadiana.

Also, I have to say that I very much enjoy all of Malick's films, and the only one that I haven't seen is Badlands. They all rank amongst my personal favorites, except The New World. While I still like the film, I feel it is Malick's weakest work. The cinematography is excellent and it does a great job of giving you the feeling of being in "a new world". But the whole love angle, and the unrealistic parts where Pocahantas is suddenly speaking English and going about in the Old World take away from the film for me. The Thin Red Line is my favorite. That film is a beauty on every level.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Howard's End is awesome, as is Hausu. Of course, I like EM Forster novels, and the subsequent film adapataions. I've got A Passage to India on PVR right now, as I haven't watched it in a few years, and TCM had it on last Friday. Hausu is just so batshiat insane, it's awesome.

Originally Posted by octagon

The main reason I don't put Howards End in the buyers remorse category is because I'm fairly certain I will one day come to agree. I don't know exactly what my expectations were but I know they were heavily formed by Remains of the Day and the like. I was also in a fairly virulent anti-HBC phase (that has since largely passed) which couldn't have helped.

I've been half itching to revisit it over the past few weeks and I have a feeling I'll be scratching that itch before long.

Well that didn't take long.

I just rewatched it and I'm not quite all the way to awesome but I'm well on my way. One this viewing I could see that a lot of the things that annoyed me about many of the characters were actually very well done and some of the films strongest features.

And as expected no longer cringing at the sight of HBC was a definite plus.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by octagon

Well that didn't take long.

I just rewatched it and I'm not quite all the way to awesome but I'm well on my way. One this viewing I could see that a lot of the things that annoyed me about many of the characters were actually very well done and some of the films strongest features.

And as expected no longer cringing at the sight of HBC was a definite plus.

She's much better in a role like Helen than she is in a role like The Red Queen. As much as I actually enjoyed the newer version of Alice in Wonderland, Helena Bonham-Carter is better in period pieces.

[ShellOilJunior]

Monday morning chuckle. BG should love this.

Kodar was Welles' companion for the last 24 years of his life.

From Wellesnet:

OJA KODAR: When people say, "Orson began DON QUIXOTE in 1957, so he's been working on it for twenty years," it sounds as though this poor friend of mind was shooting and editing all that time, and that's not true. In a two year period, he might just shoot one sunset shot, because he thought it would be perfect for DON QUIXOTE. Then a few years would go by and we'd be back in Spain and he'd say, "let's shoot this, because I want to put this color material into DON QUIXOTE. So he wasn't sweating for twenty years over the making of DON QUIXOTE.

GARY GRAVER: Also, Orson was a avant-garde director, and everyone of his films was important. But if Henry Jaglom or Paul Mazursky doesn't finish a movie, nobody really cares.

OJA KODAR: With Jaglom, you hope to God he doesn't finish the movie! (laughter)

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Monday morning chuckle. BG should love this.

Kodar was Welles' companion for the last 24 years of his life.

From Wellesnet:

OJA KODAR: When people say, "Orson began DON QUIXOTE in 1957, so he's been working on it for twenty years," it sounds as though this poor friend of mind was shooting and editing all that time, and that's not true. In a two year period, he might just shoot one sunset shot, because he thought it would be perfect for DON QUIXOTE. Then a few years would go by and we'd be back in Spain and he'd say, "let's shoot this, because I want to put this color material into DON QUIXOTE. So he wasn't sweating for twenty years over the making of DON QUIXOTE.

GARY GRAVER: Also, Orson was a avant-garde director, and everyone of his films was important. But if Henry Jaglom or Paul Mazursky doesn't finish a movie, nobody really cares.

OJA KODAR: With Jaglom, you hope to God he doesn't finish the movie! (laughter)

Poor Paul Mazursky, I care about his films! He doesn't deserved to lumped with Jaglom! I will say he is a better writer than director though, as I Love You, Alice B. Toklas! is one of my favourite films.

[ShellOilJunior]

I did get through the SAFE PLACE extras this weekend. It was quite amusing hearing Jaglom ramble on about his disaster saying it was made for females and it "showed the female mind".

I'd rather see a far superior artist like Bunuel tackle the subject. I watched BELLE DE JOUR again this past weekend. Excellent film.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Poor Paul Mazursky, I care about his films! He doesn't deserved to lumped with Jaglom! I will say he is a better writer than director though, as I Love You, Alice B. Toklas! is one of my favourite films.

It'd be hilarious if we got a Jaglom eclipse for May.

[Blu Titan]

Should have it in my hands tomorrow, a blind buy...but can't wait to watch it. Hopefully we will see a release for The Hidden Fortress soon .

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by zeroman987

I wonder how well the Silent Naruse set sold?

Going by the 120 times it's been mentioned in this thread -- very well.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by Blu Titan

Should have it in my hands tomorrow, a blind buy...but can't wait to watch it. Hopefully we will see a release for The Hidden Fortress soon .

Hope you enjoy this one. I am no sure if they will be shipping it or not at this time since I place the pre-order along with World On A Wire, it's possible they won't ship it till next week.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by Blu Titan

Should have it in my hands tomorrow, a blind buy...but can't wait to watch it. Hopefully we will see a release for The Hidden Fortress soon .

In my hands tomorrow as well. I feel bad, but I own this on DVD and have yet to watch it!