The Criterion Collection

[jayputter]

Originally Posted by blu beaver

I know that from a film snob's perspective, Kurosawa may be "uncool" because he's World Cinema 101. But he is exactly that for a good reason!!! Sure, there are loads of amazing, lesser known filmmakers and some real obscure gems that'll make you seem elite and cool at parties (lol), but who can deny that Kurosawa is actually one of cinema's true masters...

Great assessment. I feel Bergman, and to a lesser degree Hitchcock are regarded like this too. They're acknowledged as masters, yet because they're popular as well they're looked down upon by a lot of people.

[Fellini912]

After watching Umberto D this last weekend, I hope criterion can release more De Sica. The issues in that movie are still relevant today. The only another movie I have seen from him is Bicycle Thief.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

After watching Umberto D this last weekend, I hope criterion can release more De Sica. The issues in that movie are still relevant today. The only another movie I have seen from him is Bicycle Thief.

DVD




Everything is worth owning

Pro-B

[TheHighRoller]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

Their best business comes from mid-Summer? I would have thought it'd be late in the year.

I think he meant the feel of the film. And then there also a lot of sales during the summer (like B&N, with whom Criterion works with). And there's also the one-day sale they have in September.

Also, a summer release will give it exposure, making potential buyers anticipate the day (or days) that it will go on sale (which also happens in the late fall and early winter).

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Is this similar to Boccaccio '70? It sounds like it may have a similar feel...I may have to see this.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by Darkcritic

Persona would make a great addition to their Bergman. Wild Strawberries is probably the next one of his films. The DVD is listed as OOP now and we know this was coming for quite some time. I think April is a pretty sure bet.

Yeah... I love WS, but it's not my favorite. I'd rather have the faith trilogy or Persona, or even The Virgin Spring, which I forgot to mention earlier. The colors in Cries and Whispers beg for blu, also. I'm sure they'll get around to them all, I just hope I'm still alive to see it happen haha.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

Is this similar to Boccaccio '70? It sounds like it may have a similar feel...I may have to see this.

Yes, Coop It is a collection of shorts, similar to this:



Pro-B

[TheHighRoller]

I saw Gomorrah today, and wow. I honestly think it's one of the greatest films I've ever seen. I'm definitely glad I bought it!

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Yes, Coop It is a collection of shorts, similar to this:

[Show spoiler]

Pro-B

Great! I will have to see it. Don't know how I hadn't come across it before.

[Wizard-of-Wars]

I've fallen smitten for PARIS, TEXAS. Gonna be getting it tomorrow at B&N. can't wait!

That will bring Criterion blu ray total to 28!!!

[Lutz]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

I have seen almost all of Fellini's movies. I have to say my top 3 are: 8 1/2, La dolce vita, and Amarcord ( in that order). La strada a close fourth

Mine are Juliet of the Spirits, La Dolce Vita and City of Women.

Though the quality of City of Women isn't even throughout the whole film I am extremely sentimental about it because I first saw it years ago when I was unemployed and it was able to remind me how fun life is and how nice people can be to one another.

Actually there are a whole lot of movies that I love from that period of my life and all because I borrowed them from the public library. Libraries are extremely well stocked and a good solution for when you have no money. I owe my local library for introducing me to one of my all time favourites - Gentlemen Prefer Blondes - and also my ongoing love for everything Liz Taylor.

[Page14]

Originally Posted by oildude

Thinking about Paris, Texas reminds me of another film that could walk along beside Wim Wender’s masterpiece, almost a companion film in many ways, and every bit as good - Bruce Beresford's Tender Mercies.

[Show spoiler]I first saw Tender Mercies while surfing movie channels in the early 1990s; it had just started so I decided to watch. It sucked me right in, much the same way Paris, Texas did when I first saw it. Beautiful cinematography, an outstanding screenplay by Horton Foote, memorable music - an absolutely wonderfully moving little film.

Like Paris, Texas, Tender Mercies is a heartfelt and ruggedly truthful piece of Americana directed by a foreigner. At the time, Bruce Beresford was one of the pioneers of the Australian New Wave whose previous credits included the masterful Breaker Morant. Beresford, like his fellow countryman Peter Weir, was just breaking into the U.S. in the early 1980s and chose to direct Foote's screenplay after it had been repeatedly rejected by others. He felt an immediate familiarity with its rural Texas setting and characters; I once saw an interview with him where he mentions that north Texas reminded him of the Outback in his native Australia and he wanted to bring to the film that same respect and love he felt for the bush country and its inhabitants.

Robert Duvall won his only Best Actor Oscar for his role as Mac Sledge, a washed up, alcoholic country music singer who finds redemption, love, and the strength to endure personal triumphs and tragedies through the love of a widow and her young son. Tess Harper and Wilford Brimley also star. Tender Mercies is what I would call a quiet film, filled with raw emotion that winds its way through music and themes that are universal beyond the lives of the characters, the honky-tonk dance halls, the small towns, and the isolating loneliness of the Great Plains. It feels authentic to its subjects better than just about any film I have ever seen.

I highly recommend this film to anyone who has not seen it. I think Universal holds the rights. I would love to see Criterion get this from them and release it on blu-ray; it just seems to naturally fit in the collection alongside Paris, Texas.

+1000

Tender Mercies is one of my absolute favorite films. I often wonder why I hear so little about it. I still have yet to see Paris, Texas, but that's high on my list of unwatched movies to watch next. (Then again, I could say that about any of my unwatched Criterions).

Another somewhat forgotten old favorite is Wrestling Ernest Hemingway, also starring Robert Duvall along with Richard Harris, Shirley MacLaine and Sandra Bullock. Probably a little "lighter" story than Tender Mercies, but a wonderful little film (in my eyes). I don't think it's on bluray yet, so it sure would be nice to see Criterion (or anybody) release it on bluray. (That last sentence is my attempt to keep this post OT. )

For those unfamiliar...

Trailer:

[Show spoiler]

Wrestling Ernest Hemingway Trailer - YouTube

DVDtalk review:
http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/40184...est-hemingway/

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by ZooTv

Have there been any new rumors regarding bringing some of David Lynch's films to Criterion (Mulholland Drive, Lost Highway, etc)? Considering importing a set from Germany, but would prefer to wait until a proper U.S. release.

Import it! You don't have access to the extras, but it is indeed an awesome set. It is definitely holding me over until the US release.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by TheHighRoller

I saw Gomorrah today, and wow. I honestly think it's one of the greatest films I've ever seen. I'm definitely glad I bought it!

I remember you posting this as a blind buy weeks ago. It's definitely the Great hyperlink film of the 2000's. And one of the greatest gangster films ofaracely memory along with Carlos and A Prophet.

I hear many people have a problem keeping up. I thought each strand was quite simple but together they form something pretty great and multi-faceted. After Gomorrah, all other "fun or cool" gangster films kind of lose their meaning.

[brandon_260]

Added Trilogy of Life, Salo or 120 Days of Sodom, and Eating Raoul to my collection. My mother also bought me Breathless and Cul-De-Sac as a Christmas gift. All blind buys for me, like most Criterion purchases.

Also took advantage of the extra 20% off online coupon to order Three Colors.

[Wizard-of-Wars]

Originally Posted by brandon_260

Added Trilogy of Life, Salo or 120 Days of Sodom, and Eating Raoul to my collection. My mother also bought me Breathless and Cul-De-Sac as a Christmas gift. All blind buys for me, like most Criterion purchases.

Also took advantage of the extra 20% off online coupon to order Three Colors.

Salo is a tough one to watch. It's not "graphic" like I thought it would be. It's just slow, boring, and disturbing.

Haven't bought Eating Raoul, but it's hilarious!!

[doowopman]

Originally Posted by oildude

That Ry Cooder score for Paris, Texas is iconic. I had it on CD long before I ever saw the movie. PT gets lots of positive discussion and recommendations here, but rarely does anyone mention the incredible music. I wonder how many other people have, like me, used the music as their gateway to the film.

Honestly, I think it was the Ry Cooder score that initially got me interested in the film as well. This was quite a few years ago before I started watching Wenders' films.

It's one of those perfect scores. Never intrudes, just adds to the mood. And with a master like Ry at the helm, you can't really go wrong.

Thanks for the rec on Tender Mercies. Definitely going to check that one out!

Originally Posted by Fellini912

Finally Badlands is going to be released. I am going to be broke in March. The life and death of Colonel Blimp, and The man escape are most buys. I hope Pickpocket will be out soon.

I'm all over Badlands. Been looking forward to this one for a good while now.

[zoodermin]

Eureka is releasing Onibaba on February:

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=10138

Hopefully this means a Criterion release is also coming soon.

[The Great Owl]

First of all, I'm new to this forum as of today, so it's great to see an ongoing Criterion discussion.

I bought my first HDTV and Blu-ray player a week and half ago (LG 32'' 1080p LCD television and Samsung Wi-Fi Blu-ray Player). I have no intention of replacing all of my current Criterion DVDs, but here are the ones that I upgraded this week after trading in my DVD copies and taking advantage of some cool Christmas Barnes and Noble member sales and such...

Army of Shadows
Le Cercle Rouge
Days of Heaven
The Thin Red Line
Solaris
Godzilla

I also bought Purple Noon. I've never owned this one in any format, so the timing of the release was spot-on.

It goes without saying that I am eagerly awaiting an eventual Criterion BD release of Le Samouraï. It's my favorite Criterion and my favorite movie.

As an enthusiastic follower of the Malick films, I am excited beyond words that Badlands was announced this week while I was in the middle of upgrading the other releases.

I have a ton of other Criterion movies on DVD, but will probably hold on to the DVD versions and just enjoy the upconvert (since it admittedly does not make a massive difference on my 32'' HDTV). There are still a handful that I will likely upgrade as they become available at some point in the future (The Vanishing and The Naked Prey are two that come to mind, aside from the other Melville gangster flicks.), but I'm pretty content now that I've upgraded my personal necessary favorites listed above.

Anyway, I'm rambling, but it's good to meet y'all.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

First of all, I'm new to this forum
I have no intention of replacing all of my current Criterion DVDs,
Barnes and Noble member sales and such...


I also bought Purple Noon.

I am eagerly awaiting an eventual Criterion BD release of Le Samouraï.

As an enthusiastic follower of the Malick films,

I have a ton of other Criterion movies on DVD

at some point in the future (The Vanishing and The Naked Prey are two that come to mind, aside from the other Melville gangster flicks.),

I'm rambling,.

You're gonna fit right in

Welcome