The Criterion Collection

[rock, stone]

Originally Posted by MacEachaidh

Haven't at least the first two already been restored? Or is Universal planning to do better? (Not saying they can't, mind.)

Oh I'll say it.

Universal can't do better than MoC.

Although I would be surprised if there was any PQ/AQ differences beyond the encode.

[Brian81]

Originally Posted by rock, stone

Oh I'll say it.

Universal can't do better than MoC.

Although I would be surprised if there was any PQ/AQ differences beyond the encode.

Brazil and Halloween 2 are two cases where Uni releases ended up better than the boutique releases when it comes to PQ (Criterion, Shout). It's possible!

[MacEachaidh]

I certainly wasn't selling MoC short — I'm not aware of where MoC's masters came from, but I figured it was possible Universal might have access to more funds and maybe better film elements to do the restoration with. I would guess I've been as disappointed with some Universal BD releases as anyone else (Jurassic Park springs to mind), but then its restorations of Jaws and E.T. seem pretty spectacular.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

I still think Days of Heaven is Malick's best film. The first viewing it feels rather detached but on subsequent viewings it really works on all levels.

Those who don't like Linda Manz's narration won't like the film. I don't know why anyone wouldn't like it as it's some of the best stuff Malick has written to date. The sequence on the boat is beautiful.

I strongly agree on your comments.

You are very observative, I noticed that detached feeling also. I read a review (must of been Ebert's) commenting about the aspect of the film. He attributes the detach view to the second person narration. We as viewers are watching the events through Linda Manz's character.

It was the first Malick film I saw that is why I guess I am very fond to it. Ennio Moricone's variation on Saint-Saëns' Aquarium is an extra plus. The blu ray format and criterion really have done justice to this film (DVD was a bad transfer). I highly recommend this film, at least to view it once. It is a true classic.

[starman15317]

I watched The Seventh Seal last night. It's the first Bergman film I've seen. It was good, very well made, but I do have to say that my attention span was a bit short during it.

[TheHumanTornado]

Originally Posted by Brian81

Brazil and Halloween 2 are two cases where Uni releases ended up better than the boutique releases when it comes to PQ (Criterion, Shout). It's possible!

I wasn't aware that anyone thought these two were better. All feedback I have heard was that the boutique releases were better. I do own the Uni Halloween 2 but own the Criterion Brazil.

[Abdrewes]

All this Malick talk has got me thinking. I actually saw all his films in sequential order and consider Thin Red Line and Days of Heaven his two best films, but then again there's not a film of his I don't love. Furthermore, the process of ranking is totally arbitrary as each film takes several viewings to get a grip on everything he does from camera angles, camera placement and symbolic imagery.

For me his work, not unlike Antonioni's or David Lynch's, exists as a complete whole. There are certain core ideas present in his work that are only fortified when contrasting one picture against another.

Although To the Wonder has garnered a mixed reception, I can't think of a new release I'm anticipating more.

[Sinthetic]

I thought Badlands failed to live up to the hype (from this Thread) personally. The last 15 minutes was really great, but all those soliloquies from Spacek made my brain hurt.

I did however love Safety Last!... That goes up there with Modern Times as one of the funniest films I've ever seen. I was pissing my pants due to the laughter. Incredibly paced genius.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

All this Malick talk has got me thinking. I actually saw all his films in sequential order and consider Thin Red Line and Days of Heaven his two best films, but then again there's not a film of his I don't love. Furthermore, the process of ranking is totally arbitrary as each film takes several viewings to get a grip on everything he does from camera angles, camera placement and symbolic imagery.

For me his work, not unlike Antonioni's or David Lynch's, exists as a complete whole. There are certain core ideas present in his work that are only fortified when contrasting one picture against another.

Although To the Wonder has garnered a mixed reception, I can't think of a new release I'm anticipating more.

Well said. To the Wonder is also my most anticipated film of the year.

I cannot readily rank the Malick films. For a while now, I've been posting that The New World is the weak link in Malick's canon, but I still had an incredible emotional response when I revisited the film this past weekend and saw it in high definition for the first time.

Days of Heaven is a magical film in every sense of the word, and it really transports me to that time and place of early 20th century. Richard Gere was really on a roll through the late 1970s and early 1980s, and he was perfect for the film. Funnily enough, Linda Manz also has a minor role in David Fincher's The Game. She plays Christine's roommate when Michael Douglas visits her place.

The Thin Red Line was the first Malick film that I saw, and it will always hold a special place. The film score of that movie is off the chain.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by Sinthetic

I thought Badlands failed to live up to the hype (from this Thread) personally. The last 15 minutes was really great, but all those soliloquies from Spacek made my brain hurt.

I did however love Safety Last!... That goes up there with Modern Times as one of the funniest films I've ever seen. I was pissing my pants due to the laughter. Incredibly paced genius.

Sorry to hear that Badlands disappointed you. Have you seen Malick's another films? I would definitely give his other movies a try.

But I am glad you liked Safety Last!. In my opinion, it is funnier than The General (Keaton's best) and City Lights(Chaplin's best). I am surprised that there are few posts about it's criterion release. I hope this is not the last Harold Lloyd blu ray release by criterion, he is a comedic genius.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

All this Malick talk has got me thinking. I actually saw all his films in sequential order and consider Thin Red Line and Days of Heaven his two best films, but then again there's not a film of his I don't love. Furthermore, the process of ranking is totally arbitrary as each film takes several viewings to get a grip on everything he does from camera angles, camera placement and symbolic imagery.

For me his work, not unlike Antonioni's or David Lynch's, exists as a complete whole. There are certain core ideas present in his work that are only fortified when contrasting one picture against another.

Although To the Wonder has garnered a mixed reception, I can't think of a new release I'm anticipating more.

This is a paraphrase of my prior post, so...

I definitely agree.

[ccg1978]

watched Paris, Texas for the first time in years. What an amazing movie. When I saw it a while back I didn't have any children. Now with a son and one on the way it is quite a different feeling to me to watch. The PQ is soooo much better than when I last saw it as well! This is added to my yearly watch queue!

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by blkhrt

Not as young as he is here:

[Show spoiler]

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by iScottie

[Scottie]

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by ccg1978

watched Paris, Texas for the first time in years. What an amazing movie. When I saw it a while back I didn't have any children. Now with a son and one on the way it is quite a different feeling to me to watch. The PQ is soooo much better than when I last saw it as well! This is added to my yearly watch queue!

Paris, Texas is a great Criterion Blu-ray. One of the absolute best in the queue. Everything about that movie comes together so well.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I always try my best to review films without giving key information away. That said, some of the complaints about spoilers on this site are absurd. A few weeks back, somebody in another thread chastised me for not using spoiler tags when I made a joking reference to Luke Skywalker's father.
Seriously?

With TV, I wouldn't mind....if it's a thread for a specific tv series you'd expect the latest discussions to understandably be full of spoilers anyway...but for movies, I think the tags can be very useful for narrative points.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Everything about that movie comes together so well.

Can't think of a more perfect example

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

Can't think of a more perfect example

Yeah, I get carried away. Haha.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by drbikeshorts

I have a question: is Gate of Hell the first Criterion blu-ray to be on a single-layer disc?
(Not that it concerns me; over 28mbps is more than adequate.)

Hi Drbikeshorts,

Another recent release that uses a BD25 is The Blob

Rkish:

metaridley: I PM-ed you. Will do.

Pro-B