The Criterion Collection

[Sir Platypus]

Got my 19th Criterion for my birthday: Godzilla.

A bit disappointed with the packaging. Good concept, looks good, but the inner part fits the sleeve a bit tight. I can already see a bit of bending on the edges, and it takes a bit longer than it should to get it out.

It also served as a reminder that I forgot to put some foreign films on my Christmas list... I've got some good films coming, but I need just a tad more diversity in my collection.

[mrjohnnyb]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

I finally watched Black Narcissus last night and absolutely loved it. I wasn't too sure how I'd feel about it before, so I was really surprised by just how impressed I ended up being. Liked it more than The Red Shoes, as well. Not only was the cinematography some of the best I've seen in a long time, it's such a perfect example of how much story and character can build through the most subtle actions, visuals and fragments of dialogue possible. Anyone here really love the film?

Yes, I was also surprisingly impressed with the film. Have you had a chance to watch the supplements? I thought that they were outstanding as well. I found it absolutely fascinating that the entire film was shot in England, and that many of the exterior backgrounds were painted on glass and shot on the Pinewood Studio backlot.

[Cinemach]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

I've been considering the Artifical Eye (UK region 2) DVDs for a while on Amazon.co.uk. Two separate discs, one with parts 1-5, the other with 6-10, for about £15 each.

Originally Posted by Darkcritic

http://www.mixup.com.mx/mixup/Produc...=7506036071005

Mixup is a Mexican music/video store which operates in the whole country so they are safe. The release currently costs 199 pesos online (Around $16) but the thing is that this only has Spanish subs (Zima does not offer other subs for the same reason Criterion doesn't). This is a relatively new release as it came out around this time last year. I don't own the release but have a vast library of Zima titles and can say their quality isn't the best but you can't ask much for the low prices (A lot of their films are sold at $3-$5 each).

Damn that's quite some compression on those Artificial Eye discs, huh?

The US Image release still looks to be the best, and sometime in the new year after things settle down on releases I might start scouring for much better prices. But Criterion could work wonders with it.

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

I finally watched Black Narcissus last night and absolutely loved it. I wasn't too sure how I'd feel about it before, so I was really surprised by just how impressed I ended up being. Liked it more than The Red Shoes, as well. Not only was the cinematography some of the best I've seen in a long time, it's such a perfect example of how much story and character can build through the most subtle actions, visuals and fragments of dialogue possible. Anyone here really love the film?

I love this film, but funnily enough I wasn't too keen on it the first time I watched it. The film stayed with me though - particularly its striking cinematography and Kerr's steely performance - and upon rewatch and then rewatch and then rewatch, it has become one of my favorite British films. There's just so much going on under the surface, demonstrated as you mention through the subtlety of action and dialogue...and the compositions! Particularly the closeups, a trademark Cardiff technique that no one shot quite like he did in his films. Highly recommended as one of The Archers' best, and my favorite thus far of their noteworthy canon.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by oildude

Yes, I have looked into it. No DVD anywhere. However, it appears at some point it had a limited laserdisc release, and there are some DVD-R versions floating around for sale that were copied from this. I first discovered the movie browsing a small out-of-the-way rental store in Odessa, Texas, in 1992 while I was working in the oilfields over summer break from college. It was one of the best finds I ever made, and after that I noticed it in just about every video store I visited. It was the first film I actually bought on VHS, but sadly I no longer have my copy. I never dreamed it would not come out on DVD.

If you are not familiar with the film, The Grey Fox is a western, about an old gentleman-bandit stagecoach robber named Bill Miner (Richard Farnsworth), who is released after many years in prison at the turn of the 20th Century into a modern world he no longer recognizes. Stagecoaches are long gone, but after a period of trying to adjust to his new life, he decides to re-invent himself in his old age as a train robber north of the border in British Columbia.

The film is often ranked among the best westerns ever made, and one of the top Canadian films of all time. It triumphs on many levels - acting, screenplay, a beautiful haunting score by The Chieftains and Canadian composer Michael Conway Baker, and incredible cinematography. The grandeur of the Pacific Northwest and the majestic steam trains are as much stars in the film as the actors.

I have only been able to find two clips on the internet. One is a nice little preview taken from VHS, set only to music from the film. The other clip is a scene in a bar not long after Miner is released from prison.

Here they are:

[Show spoiler]

The Grey Fox Trailer VHS Rip - YouTube

The Grey Fox - YouTube

Thanks for posting those. Looks really intriguing.
It's incredibly sad that so much film heritage is being lost.
The work done to restore or preserve some films, like Citizen Kane, Lawrence of Arabia or Casablanca is great, but there are so many other fantastic films that are being left by the wayside.
I recently read an article in which Thelma Schoonmaker complained that when the Museum of Modern Art was trying to put together a retrospective of Scorsese's work, the studio said they no longer had a print of The Age of Innocence.
And apparently Fox no longer has prints of either Miller's Crossing or Barton Fink.

[Nielsb90]

Got around to watching Chungking Express for the first time yesterday. The plot didn't really go anywhere but I was fine with that. For me it is one of those movies I can watch when its a cold, rainy day outside.

After watching the my first 3 Criterion releases I have come to the obvious conclusion that I am a big fan of this company!

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by greekak229

Snagged Letter Never Sent while it was still $15. Never seen it but I've always wanted to.

You won't regret that.
Fantastic film and the cinematography is pretty amazing.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Didn't criterion release the Chabrols in September last year?

They certainly did and they're both fantastic.
So glad I (blind) bought both of them.
They make a great contrast, because they star the same two actors, but their roles are effectively reversed from dominant to passive character between the films.

[KrugerIndustrial]

Originally Posted by drbikeshorts

You won't regret that.
Fantastic film and the cinematography is pretty amazing.

It is visually one of the most beautiful Black & White films I've ever seen. It is an acquired taste and I didn't love it but definitely worth a watch.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by Darkcritic

I would hope so but the MoC will do for the moment. Eureka deserves the support, they have been doing an amazing work for the cinephile community .

This is so true.
I have 11 Masters of Cinema blu-rays and 0 regrets.
It won't be long before I have more... I've been pricing watching a few, such as Die Nibelungen.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

I finally watched Black Narcissus last night and absolutely loved it. I wasn't too sure how I'd feel about it before, so I was really surprised by just how impressed I ended up being. Liked it more than The Red Shoes, as well. Not only was the cinematography some of the best I've seen in a long time, it's such a perfect example of how much story and character can build through the most subtle actions, visuals and fragments of dialogue possible. Anyone here really love the film?

I definitely liked it a bit more than Red Shoes (which is divine aswell) but that might be because it was my first Powell/ Pressburger film. A supremely sensuous experience that leaves your mouth agape, almost as sweeping as the best of Max Ophuls. There are certain shots (the cliffs and nearly all shots with the girl with the nose ring) that I can't forget, and it's been a while since I've seen it. Black Narcissus is one of the shining examples of Technicolor. It's not that the film is just pretty to look at, the visuals are actually married to the ideas of the film. The astounding cinematography cements the ideas that the mission is going nowhere and they are all swept up in affairs of the heart. The film casts the same spell over you, the viewer, as India and Mr. Dean place over Sister Superior and Sister Ruth.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I definitely liked it a bit more than Red Shoes (which is divine aswell) but that might be because it was my first Powell/ Pressburger film. A supremely sensuous experience that leaves your mouth agape, almost as sweeping as the best of Max Ophuls. There are certain shots (the cliffs and nearly all shots with the girl with the nose ring) that I can't forget, and it's been a while since I've seen it. Black Narcissus is one of the shining examples of Technicolor. It's not that the film is just pretty to look at, the visuals are actually married to the ideas of the film. The astounding cinematography cements the ideas that the mission is going nowhere and they are all swept up in affairs of the heart. The film casts the same spell over you, the viewer, as India and Mr. Dean place over Sister Superior and Sister Ruth.

You mean the late, great Jean Simmons as Kanchi?

[toddly6666]

Purple Noon

If anyone is not sure or not about picking this Blu-ray up, do it! This film is probably the most entertaining non-pretentious film released by Criterion in a long time (or so it feels that way).

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

You mean the late, great Jean Simmons as Kanchi?

Thanks for the info, she was a total goddess! She was hugely memorable in Big Country, Elmer Gantry and Spartacus; although, I had forgotten she was in Great Expectations.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by toddly6666

Purple Noon

If anyone is not sure or not about picking this Blu-ray up, do it! This film is probably the most entertaining non-pretentious film released by Criterion in a long time (or so it feels that way).

I'm excited to finally see this film, should arrive any day now.

(thanks for using that pejorative, dismissive word to describe CC. Seriously? I'll forget you ever said that)

[toddly6666]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I'm excited to finally see this film, should arrive any day now.

(thanks for using that pejorative, dismissive word to describe CC. Seriously? I'll forget you ever said that)

haha, are you telling me that Criterion doesn't release pretentious films? There's nothing wrong with liking pretentious films!

[IronWaffle]

Originally Posted by toddly6666

haha, are you telling me that Criterion doesn't release pretentious films? There's nothing wrong with liking pretentious films!

That's true. But pretentious films rarely like you back, preferring to look down on you... and making you worship them.

Very dysfuctional.

[ShellOilJunior]

It's funny because the films people often think are the most pretentious are in fact the very least pretentious.

[rock, stone]

Originally Posted by toddly6666

Purple Noon

If anyone is not sure or not about picking this Blu-ray up, do it! This film is probably the most entertaining non-pretentious film released by Criterion in a long time (or so it feels that way).

I agree, which is why I gorged myself on fig leaves and watched Cremaster off my iPhone during most of it.

Still, it is good there is something for the plebs.

[IronWaffle]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

It's funny because the films people often think are the most pretentious are in fact the very least pretentious.

People throw around the word pretentious a lot. To steal from Princess Bride, "I do not think it means what [they] think it means."

[jcs913]

Originally Posted by toddly6666

Purple Noon

If anyone is not sure or not about picking this Blu-ray up, do it! This film is probably the most entertaining non-pretentious film released by Criterion in a long time (or so it feels that way).

I assume you believe that any film that isn't action/drama oriented with a plot is not pretentious? Let's use Nolan, since he is now in the 'club', his Batman films, by definition, are pretentious also, no?. Maybe Criterion should pick those up too, since they fit the mold... It should be ironic to you that Alain Delon pretty much defined that term throughout his career....