The Criterion Collection

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by ccg1978

Is Three Colors worth the blind buy? I haven't seen any of Kieślowski's films but have read that this trilogy is superb.

Yes. It's a good starter for Kieslowski, too. My all-time favorite trilogy.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

Yes. It's a good starter for Kieslowski, too. My all-time favorite trilogy.

Double Life of Veronique and The Decalogue aren't bad places to start either.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Double Life of Veronique and The Decalogue aren't bad places to start either.

The Double Life of Veronique is a little harder to grasp on an initial viewing, especially if you're not used to Kieslowski's style. The Decalogue is a good place to start, if you can get your hands on it. I'd go nuts if Criterion announced it.

But yes, all of his mentioned work are required viewings. One of the all-time greats.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

The Double Life of Veronique is a little harder to grasp on an initial viewing, especially if you're not used to Kieslowski's style. The Decalogue is a good place to start, if you can get your hands on it. I'd go nuts if Criterion announced it.

But yes, all of his mentioned work are required viewings. One of the all-time greats.

I can see how Veronique may be too heady a film to start off with, but hell that's the one I started with and it took away nothing away from the others.

[Monty70]

I just noticed that the upcoming blu-ray release of Richard III is now listed as having a 1.66 to 1 aspect ratio at Criterion's home page. The original DVD was in 1.85 wasn't it?

[Monty70]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

1.66:1 is correct. Criterion has had it listed as 1.85:1 on their site forever and it was the incorrect aspect ratio. The original DVD release lists the AR as 1.66:1.

Thanks for the clarification.

[RandyK]

Is the The Phantom Carriage a good recommendation for a silent film beginner?

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Randyman94

Is the The Phantom Carriage a good recommendation for a silent film beginner?

It most certainly is. The visuals in that film hold up to anything today, and it's an emotional rollercoaster of a film. Highly recommended!

I own it on DVD, but will likely upgrade in the not-too-distant future.

[rkish]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

The Double Life of Veronique is a little harder to grasp on an initial viewing, especially if you're not used to Kieslowski's style. The Decalogue is a good place to start, if you can get your hands on it. I'd go nuts if Criterion announced it.

But yes, all of his mentioned work are required viewings. One of the all-time greats.

Other than buying it at a bit of an inflated price online, you can get it on disc from NetFlix. That's how I got to see it, when I still had my disc plan with them.

Would be nice to have anyone release it in HD with some supplemental material to boot.

[*PREACHER*]

Originally Posted by Randyman94

Is the The Phantom Carriage a good recommendation for a silent film beginner?

Couldnt' agree more with The Great Owl's comment...definitely a film worth checking out...Vampyr and Nosferatu are awesome too, all three are very atmospheric when it comes to that eerie kind of spooky mood you're are looking for...but not yet released on blu...hopefully sooner than later. Could my sentence be anymore run-on...

Enjoy!!!

[Romulus]

Originally Posted by Randyman94

Is the The Phantom Carriage a good recommendation for a silent film beginner?

This is easily one of my favorite Criterion films that I own. The film does contain an alternative KTL track that I really enjoy too. It's extremely different from the "original" soundtrack. I would just flip back and forth between the two and see which you prefer.

[pro-bassoonist]

After mentioning Francesco Rosi's La sfida a while ago here:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...ostcount=44723

...Cecchi Gori/Cristaldi are now bringing it to Blu-ray in Italy. This is a very special film and it would be fantastic to have it as part of the Criterion Collection.

La sfida - Trailer - YouTube

Pro-B

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by *PREACHER*

Couldnt' agree more with The Great Owl's comment...definitely a film worth checking out...Vampyr and Nosferatu are awesome too, all three are very atmospheric when it comes to that eerie kind of spooky mood you're are looking for...but not yet released on blu...hopefully sooner than later. Could my sentence be anymore run-on...

Enjoy!!!

Very appropriate recommendations being that your sidekick (Cassidy) is a vampire, Jesse Custer.

[*PREACHER*]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

Very appropriate recommendations being that your sidekick (Cassidy) is a vampire, Jesse Custer.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Randyman94

Is the The Phantom Carriage a good recommendation for a silent film beginner?

+howevermanypeoplealreadysaidyes

People on Sunday is also a really good choice for somebody new to silent films. It's very charming and very engaging and I fell in love with it almost instantly.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by octagon

+howevermanypeoplealreadysaidyes

People on Sunday is also a really good choice for somebody new to silent films. It's very charming and very engaging and I fell in love with it almost instantly.

Yesssss! People on Sunday was one of the best blind buys for me last year along with Lonesome (which makes a great double feature with Vidor's The Crowd).

Personally, I think the all time best places to start are DW Griffith's Intolerance, FW Murnau's Sunrise, Buster Keaton's The General or Sherlock Jr., Chaplin's City Lights and Fritz Lang's Metropolis.....the list goes on and on...

[*PREACHER*]

Speaking of silents...I'm really hoping to see either Criterion, MoC, or Kino release an upgrade to Häxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages (1922)
.


Definitly another one to check out too Randyman94!

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by sc1957

The Phantom Carriage has a multi-layered plot that's interesting, but as I recall the picture quality is not the best, simply because it's old (someone else may correct me).

In my opinion, if you want to get started in silent films (and perhaps get a significant other interested, too) you might be better off with films like Pandora's Box (though it's DVD-only from Criterion for now), Chaplin's Modern Times, the von Sternberg trilogy from Criterion, the various Keaton films you can get on Blu-Ray from Kino, City Girl or Sunrise from Eureka (European but region-free), or Chicago, Laila, or The Italian Straw Hat from Flicker Alley. But there are so many choices, it's hard to narrow them down.

Awesome, you must be a silent movie connoisseur.

I would like to add Cabinet of Dr. Caligari , Un Chien Andalou, L'Age D'Or.

Un Chien Andalou is the greatest surrealist movie ever made by the masters Bunuel and Dali. True pure surrealism.

Cabinet of Dr. caligari is the greatest German expressionist film (Metropolis and Nosferatu close behind). The narrative structure is very contemporary. The imagery is unique and beautiful. Putting it in context with time it was made, it foreshadows the coming of fascism. Great movie, highly recommended, a penancle of silent movies.

[rkish]

Doing some research on Mark Cousins (The Story of Film) and found this picture of him. Dig the tee shirt...wish I could find this one!

image.jpg

[*PREACHER*]

Originally Posted by rkish

Doing some research on Mark Cousins (The Story of Film) and found this picture of him. Dig the tee shirt...wish I could find this one!

Attachment 58607

Sorry...not only is that a very sweet shirt....me thinks I'm going to listen to some Ozzy on the way home from work, now!!!

Thanks for sharing rkish!!!