The Criterion Collection

[EnigmaticWarrior]

Blu-ray.com review of the David Lean Directs Noël Coward set is now up.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by profholt82

Are you not happy with the quality of the transfers or with the actual films themselves? I ask because I'd like to pick up Branded. I have the old non-anamorphic Criterion DVD still. Is there an issue with the quality or do you just dislike the movie?

I just disliked the films. I found I have an aversion to the loud, shrieking Japanese New wave films... their plots are incoherent and there's hardly a quiet introspective moment,, form the get go, they are loud and brash and grating on the ears. It wold help if they films actually made sense... even many fans of the films concur that they aren't the best plotted films around, and if that's what you like, then be my guest. But if a film is going to be artsy and random, at least have a meaning or theme to latch onto and enjoy (like Tree of Life, etc). Again, I know some people dig them, just not me.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by EnigmaticWarrior

Blu-ray.com review of the David Lean Directs Noël Coward set is now up.

Wow. Might have to pick this one up.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by retablo

I just disliked the films. I found I have an aversion to the loud, shrieking Japanese New wave films... their plots are incoherent and there's hardly a quiet introspective moment,, form the get go, they are loud and brash and grating on the ears. It wold help if they films actually made sense... even many fans of the films concur that they aren't the best plotted films around, and if that's what you like, then be my guest. But if a film is going to be artsy and random, at least have a meaning or theme to latch onto and enjoy (like Tree of Life, etc). Again, I know some people dig them, just not me.

Just to clarify: you say 'the films'...is this your take on Pale Flower too?

[ElliesDad]

Originally Posted by EnigmaticWarrior

Blu-ray.com review of the David Lean Directs Noël Coward set is now up.

Well, ask and you shall receive! Wonderful review and just enough plot outline to really whet the appetite. Not to mention the wealth and depth of talent represented in the overall production. Makes for a really easy decision!

[octagon]

Originally Posted by octagon

I watched Melancholia last week (absolutely loved it) and watched World on a Wire (ditto and in almost all the same ways) over the past two nights and it was a very strange existential one-two.

And strangely enough, I got very strong Polanski vibes from both. The Polanski (and Kubrick) in the Part I of Melancholia was obvious enough but World on a Wire was harder to nail down.

The apartment settings ranging from decaying exteriors to oppulent interiors reminded me very much of all Polanski's apartment settings and The Tenant in particular and something about the look and facial expressions of the protagonist kept screaming Jack Nicholson. I thought it was just a facial resemblence but then I kept going to the fedora and overcoats and the way his face was shot and got lost in the 'who (if anybody) is getting influenced by whom' hall of mirrors.

In any case, between the two of them it was sixish hours very well spent. The kind of hours that make you want to dig out other stuff they've done.

I knew I was forgetting something when I was yapping about World on a Wire last night.

After less than a half hour in I really, really, really expected the mirror/reflection bit to get tiresome and gimmicky but the exact opposite happened. The more he used it the more effective it became. On a craftsmanship level alone that was pretty amazing.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by octagon

Just to clarify: you say 'the films'...is this your take on Pale Flower too?

Yeah Pale Flower, Tokyo Drifter, Branded To Kill, etc... the new wave stuff. Pale Flower had such a great visual style, but style doesn't equal substance to me. Plus I got tired of the lengthy scenes showing the game that I couldn't follow, lol. Mostly I just dislike films where the plot follows no cohesive narrative, and things happen randomly without much logic. Anyone can write nonsensical stories; it's much harder to write something that feels like a cohesive whole.

IN the case of Branded To Kill, Suzuki came up with many plot elements ad scenes the night before shooting or on set itself, and it shows. Again, great scenes individually, but taken as a whole they don't add up to zilch for me.

[Darkcritic]

Originally Posted by HyperRealist

Three Reasons: Kindergarten Cop - YouTube

"The Pecs and the Poetry" must be the single best reason they have given on any of these videos . I now feel really tempted to watch this sometime in the near future.

[DetroitSquirreL]

Originally Posted by PBateman87

http://www.criterion.com/films/28373-kindergarten-cop

Awesome April Fool's joke.

I laughed so hard when I saw this the first time...the '3 reasons' are fantastic! BRAVO to Criterion

[ShellOilJunior]

Going into the Lean set I'd only seen Brief Encounter.

So far I've had the chance to watch:

Blithe Spirit - wonderful technicolor transfer and a lot of fun. Some great lines in this one.

"She's (a spirit) upstairs lying down"
-She must be tired from the funeral.

In Which We Serve- I enjoyed this one and will have to watch it again soon. I think I was caught up in the beauty of the transfer.

Very much looking forward to when I'll have time to knock out the rest of the set.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by FaceInTheLeaves

The David Lean set is bliss. I much prefer the Coward collaborations to Lean's later work. Blithe Spirit is my least favourite film in the set but is worth having for Margaret Rutherford. This Happy Breed seemed very quaint the first time I saw it but it's since become one of my favourite films. I watched it last week and it looks and sounds amazing. Inevitably, films dealing with Empire and Britain in the early twentieth century are going to be 'dated'. Coward's writing and Lean's (beautiful) direction are definitely from another time. Whether that's a good or bad thing is probably a matter of personal preference.

I think the lack of discussion in this thread says more about the thread than it does the David Lean set. At least 50% of discussions pertain to what films people would like to buy, which film they should watch next, and when Barnes and Noble will be having another sale.

I'm also surprised more people aren't discussing it but there it is...

I am looking forward to this David lean set, just can't afford it right now at the price it's selling here in Canada. I might order the US edition or just wait for the sale at B&N (if there is one) I really enjoy David Lean movie but I am not too surprise by the lack of talk about this sets. For most people David Lean is The Bridge on the River Kwai, Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago and sort of forget a lot of his earlier work or that there is more to him as a director.

As for talking about movies in the thread, that is a rather dangerous subject as it can quickly come's to an shouting and insult match (true in this thread as in any other thread). Just go back a few months to the discussion over Tiny Furniture. I like posting about the movies I watch in the collection including the Eclipse sets and in general very few people will comment and dicussion about the covers, upcoming sale, top ten Criterion....will just bury my post in a matter of minutes

[Sinthetic]

I watched Amarcord last night and for the first 30 minutes, I was fully engrossed in it and laughing myself silly. I don't know how or why this happened, but I started to get bored after about 45 minutes or so. It's a real shame because I wanted to love it.

On to the next few.

[exolstice]

Originally Posted by greekak229

Like, in just one heartbeat? Is that even possible?

I have a slow metabolism.

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by retablo

Yeah Pale Flower, Tokyo Drifter, Branded To Kill, etc... the new wave stuff. Pale Flower had such a great visual style, but style doesn't equal substance to me. Plus I got tired of the lengthy scenes showing the game that I couldn't follow, lol. Mostly I just dislike films where the plot follows no cohesive narrative, and things happen randomly without much logic. Anyone can write nonsensical stories; it's much harder to write something that feels like a cohesive whole.

You couldn't be more wrong about Pale Flower. It is in no way like those other films and has a very deep plot with a ton of substance and character. I don't see how anyone could compare it to Branded to Kill & Tokyo Drifter. Let alone say Pale Flower follows no cohesive narrative when it most surely does.
I can follow you on Tokyo Drifter and Branded to Kill. I didn't care for them either. I just find your particular take on Pale Flower confusing. Makes me think I must have seen a different film.

[kristoffer]

It will be intersting to see how good cc can the Samurai trilogy to look on BD.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by kristoffer

It will be intersting to see how good cc can the Samurai trilogy to look on BD.

I really like the DVD that came out in 2004 (probably going to have to sell it now) This Blu-ray should be a very good release

[ElliesDad]

Originally Posted by FaceInTheLeaves

Inevitably, films dealing with Empire and Britain in the early twentieth century are going to be 'dated'. Coward's writing and Lean's (beautiful) direction are definitely from another time. Whether that's a good or bad thing is probably a matter of personal preference.

In this case it's a very good thing, brilliant in fact!

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

I am looking forward to this David lean set, just can't afford it right now at the price it's selling here in Canada. I might order the US edition or just wait for the sale at B&N (if there is one) I really enjoy David Lean movie but I am not too surprise by the lack of talk about this sets. For most people David Lean is The Bridge on the River Kwai, Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago and sort of forget a lot of his earlier work or that there is more to him as a director.

Can't forget Ryan's Daughter! That's one that's crying out for a blu release. The 2006 DVD claims to be a digital transfer from 'restored 65 mm elements' so a release shouldn't be that problematic. I just did the math incidentally~ the David Lean set free ships in Canada for $94.49 down from $134.99. With tax it's $105.83. Shipping from the US it's $68.99 ($92.15 with expedited shipping and import fee). Saving of $15 bucks, and also I have more confidence in UPS than in the Canadian mail system.

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

I like posting about the movies I watch in the collection including the Eclipse sets and in general very few people will comment and dicussion about the covers, upcoming sale, top ten Criterion....will just bury my post in a matter of minutes

But many of us see them and appreciate them anyway!

[billzfan]

Went wild this week and picked up A night to remember, Wings of Desire, Last Temptation, Rules of the Game, and 12 Angry Men. Criterion is getting a huge chunk of my tax return, lol.

[betto]

Originally Posted by Sinthetic

I watched Amarcord last night and for the first 30 minutes, I was fully engrossed in it and laughing myself silly. I don't know how or why this happened, but I started to get bored after about 45 minutes or so. It's a real shame because I wanted to love it.

On to the next few.

Did you end up finishing it? I always wonder what to do with films like this, where you just get bored after a while but end up halfway through. Should you just finish it and get it over with? Try to watch it some other time? Or just never think about it again :\

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by betto

Did you end up finishing it? I always wonder what to do with films like this, where you just get bored after a while but end up halfway through. Should you just finish it and get it over with? Try to watch it some other time? Or just never think about it again :\

I always just have to finish it otherwise I never will. Then again I've had movies I disliked so much I not only stopped them halfway, but listed them on ebay a few minutes later.

Watched The Last Temptation of Christ. Looked good, but they really skimped on the special features and booklet. Not a big deal, but IMO they should have had at least made a feature on the controversy when the film was released.
You could make a full feature just on that alone.