The Criterion Collection

[Cinemach]

Originally Posted by IronWaffle

Blimp gets much more interesting once you get passed the opening bookend. Those first twenty or so minutes really taxed me, but it was well worth it. Glad to see they've gone 180 on the Essential art house cover. Call me crazy but it always creeped me out and initially looked like a blood-soaked version of Martin Sheen rising out of Apocalyptic mud.

One of my favorite things about Colonel Blimp is its humor, and how the film tiptoes from humorous to pathos and then back again. A wonderful picture, with terrific performances from the leads, including a tour-de-force from Roger Livesy as the title character.

Originally Posted by silverlakephil

The Colonel Blimp restoration is wonderful, easily a top ten of 2012. If Criterion uses the same transfer, then fans of Powell & Pressburger will be pleased. I hope A Matter of Life and Death gets a similar treatment someday..

It will be the same transfer. We have no need to worry about a Les Enfants du Paradis debacle here.

Originally Posted by octagon

This is kind of funny in a 'tale of two gut reactions' sort of way. I'm not a huge Martin Sheen fan, not a huge Sissy Spacek fan and The Thin Red Line is still the only Malick I've been able to get all the way through buuuuuuut the first ten minutes of Badlands completely sold me on waiting for a BD release.

Originally Posted by IronWaffle

I love Days of Heaven and have a love/like relationship with Tree of Life. I own Thin Red Line and therefore NEED to give it a second chance. It just didn't stick to my memory, probably since I'm also not a huge combat film person. Saw it the same weekend as Paths of Glory, which I preferred but largely for the parts not in the trenches.

As much as I tire of the rampant Malick fanboyism, I am actually interested in seeing Badlands because it's supposed to be more in the Days of Heaven camp than the every-other-Malick-film one.

[biglou114]

Looks like I'll be picking up the BBV sets. Badlands, Blimp, and Verdoux!

[ShellOilJunior]

A great month! We knew a few of these were coming but weren't quite sure if Ministry of Fear was on the fast track. Great to see it coming soon and with some excellent cover art!

[Akijama]

Finally some Blu love for Bresson! Great month, though

[vader4]

Sort of off topic here, but does anyone think that Criterion would ever do The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari?

[GoldMotel]

So ready for Badlands! Love Malick and was waiting for this for a long time!

[IronWaffle]

Originally Posted by Cinemach

One of my favorite things about Colonel Blimp is its humor, and how the film tiptoes from humorous to pathos and then back again. A wonderful picture, with terrific performances from the leads, including a tour-de-force from Roger Livesy as the title character.

As much as I tire of the rampant Malick fanboyism, I am actually interested in seeing Badlands because it's supposed to be more in the Days of Heaven camp than the every-other-Malick-film one.

Re: Blimp... Tough I struggled with the opening bookend, I think the body of the film and the closing bookend make it very worthwhile. I've only seen it once but intend to revisit. When that happens I expect I'll enjoy the opening much more. Some of the tonal shifts you mention we're very jarring for me and fall under storytelling techniques that, frankly, remind me that as a viewer, sometimes the most important thing for me to do is "get over myself".

Re: Malick... I'm not a fan of fanboyism or backlashism (sic.). I've mentioned it before, but my overall love for Bob Dylan (the music, not the surly bastard) has taught me something essential about one's relationship to any artist or their art: anyone who has ever exceeded your expectations is doomed to fall short of them and vice versa. Also, if you accept other people's monolithic appraisal (or dismissal) then you aren't doing the hard work of avoiding over-simplifying an artist's strengths and weaknesses instead of embracing their alchemical interplay.

Pretentious enough?

[buffetfroid]

Originally Posted by SpiderBaby

After thinking back at how many releases I bought in 2012 and 2011, I literally don't know why I keep waiting for announcement day. 2011 had 3 releases that I praised and wanted (Vigo, People on Sunday, and The Music Room). I think it's time for me to just be surprised when there is 1 or 2 releases announced a year that I think is great and not be let down every month in hopes that they changed from the previous month. I believe I have bought more Facets dvd releases over the past year then Criterion releases the past 2.

We get it, dude.

[Cinemach]

Originally Posted by IronWaffle

Re: Blimp... Tough I struggled with the opening bookend, I think the body of the film and the closing bookend make it very worthwhile. I've only seen it once but intend to revisit. When that happens I expect I'll enjoy the opening much more. Some of the tonal shifts you mention we're very jarring for me and fall under storytelling techniques that, frankly, remind me that as a viewer, sometimes the most important thing for me to do is "get over myself".

The front side of the bookend is cloying, I do agree there. As for the tonal shifts I find they work in this film largely due to Livesy's performance: he imbues Blimp with such honesty, through fine and fault. You love him for laughing at him.

On a side note, I've found most every Archer film enjoyable (and better) upon rewatching: Black Narcissus, The Red Shoes, Colonel Blimp...they really were brimming with nodes under the surface.

[keldons]

i dont post here much anymore, but oh hey, Badlands

so this gives us hope for some other WB stuff right?

[IronWaffle]

Originally Posted by Cinemach

The front side of the bookend is cloying, I do agree there. As for the tonal shifts I find they work in this film largely due to Livesy's performance: he imbues Blimp with such honesty, through fine and fault. You love him for laughing at him.

Which is why I expect to enjoy it more the second time around. I'm also very sensitive to seismic tonal shifts (making the little mainstream Korean cinema I've seen very trying, for instance). It takes me some time to get over that knee-jerk response. In the case of Blimp, his backstory from what little I recall really justifies the character's eventual persona.

I will likely check it out from my library in the months before its release. I look forward to it, even.

I'm very intrigued by the Lang release, as well. I've only seen four of his films (none of which is Metropolis) and liked them all. Well, Fury reveals what feels like either studio interference or compromises at aiming for a more mainstream audience. Still, this title excites me and I can see blaming it and Badlands for having to live on Ramen noodles for a few weeks.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by buffetfroid

We get it, dude.

Thank you.

[TheHighRoller]

Originally Posted by Bateman84

Anyone know the cheapest place for heavens gate?

Tomorrow's B&N sale. If you are a member and use the coupon, you might be able to get it for $13.50 before tax.

[TheHighRoller]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

I know! Especially since 2012 had some great entries in the line..It's really unfortunate we haven't gotten one announced in way too long .

On the plus side, we got an announcement for Badlands. I'm so excited for it. I can't say the cover is up to par with Malick's previous Criterion releases though.

I hear that The Life Aquatic is getting a release in July.

[ShellOilJunior]

This is the last poll. Many thanks goes out to those who have participated. I hope to post the results in a week or so.

Vote for Best Criterion Collection Blu-ray Release of 2012:

http://goo.gl/26BMD

[Bateman84]

Originally Posted by TheHighRoller

Tomorrow's B&N sale. If you are a member and use the coupon, you might be able to get it for $13.50 before tax.

Damn. Not a member

[Ctzalman]

bresson, malick and P&P are absolute essentials. would love to see pickpocket and balthazar get blu upgrades.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by TheHighRoller

I hear that The Life Aquatic is getting a release in July.

Source?

[Tin Drum]

Definite buys of Badlands, Life and Death of Colonel Blimp and Monsieur Verdoux. I will definitely rent the Lang and Bresson titles.

[exolstice]

Originally Posted by SpiderBaby

After thinking back at how many releases I bought in 2012 and 2011, I literally don't know why I keep waiting for announcement day. 2011 had 3 releases that I praised and wanted (Vigo, People on Sunday, and The Music Room). I think it's time for me to just be surprised when there is 1 or 2 releases announced a year that I think is great and not be let down every month in hopes that they changed from the previous month. I believe I have bought more Facets dvd releases over the past year then Criterion releases the past 2.

Poor you. You've got real First World Problems. Someone get this guy a tissue.