The Criterion Collection

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

http://www.film.com/photos/art-inspi...kar-wai-movies

Some of these are so pretty.

Speaking of whom, am I the only one who prefers the two WKW Kinos over the two Criterions?

All are spectacular, mind you.

[joie]

Originally Posted by Sherlock_Jr

Y Tu Mama También is still in their release queue... Cuaron has been so busy with Gravity for the past 2 years that he hasn't had time to approve the transfer and be a part of the release. But soon!

If Criterion has exclusive Region A rights, then Cuaron should express some solidarity with the Spanish speaking people of Region A by requiring Spanish subs.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Speaking of whom, am I the only one who prefers the two WKW Kinos over the two Criterions?

All are spectacular, mind you.

It's an even balance. I think the four movies in question, in descending order, are (1) Chungking Express (Criterion), (2) Happy Together (Kino), (3) In the Mood for Love (Criterion), and (4) Fallen Angels (Kino).

[Sherlock_Jr]

Originally Posted by joie

If Criterion has exclusive Region A rights, then Cuaron should express some solidarity with the Spanish speaking people of Region A by requiring Spanish subs.

Why in the world would Spanish speaking people need Spanish subs? Unless they are hearing impaired, wouldn't they just watch it without subs? Since, you know, it's their language?

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Speaking of whom, am I the only one who prefers the two WKW Kinos over the two Criterions?

All are spectacular, mind you.

I haven't had the chance to watch Fallen Angels, but I do prefer Happy Together over In The Mood for Love. Happy Together is probably on par with Chungking though.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

Ah. I think it's my favorite of his since.. I don't know when, really. It felt like a dead serious Allen picture while still feeling like a quintessential Allen picture.

Blanchett deserves whatever praise she receives, and Hawkins, I think, is right behind her.

I think my favorite Woody Allen film is Midnight In Paris, followed by Blue Jasmine or Match Point (I need to rewatch Match Point), and lastly Vicki Cristina Barcelona. I honestly haven't seen many of his films. I started watching Annie Hall but couldn't get into it so I shut it off. Go ahead guys, shoot me.

If Blanchett doesn't win something, I'm going to be very pissed off.

Also, doesn't the film have many similarities to A Streetcar Named Desire? I need to see that still.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Sherlock_Jr

Why in the world would Spanish speaking people need Spanish subs? Unless they are hearing impaired, wouldn't they just watch it without subs? Since, you know, it's their language?

It's precisely because some viewers may be hearing impaired. I speak English -- it's my native language -- but I always watch movies or TV shows with subtitles or closed captions if available because I will often miss bits of dialogue if I don't. Sometimes it's accents, sometimes it's a character speaking quietly or in a whisper. Sometimes, it's because the damn audio engineer doesn't do his job well, and the music or foley track stomps all over the dialogue.

There's no reason why Spanish-speakers can't be given the same opportunity. If Warner can release a movie on disc with subtitles in 18 freakin' languages, there's no reason Criterion can't put on two. Yes, I know, Warner has bags of money and Criterion doesn't. I'm just sayin'.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by jayembee

It's an even balance. I think the four movies in question, in descending order, are (1) Chungking Express (Criterion), (2) Happy Together (Kino), (3) In the Mood for Love (Criterion), and (4) Fallen Angels (Kino).

Maybe it's a stretch to put Fallen Angels over Chungking Express, but as for the other two--I saw In the Mood a couple months after Happy Together and I thought it suffered big time in comparison. In the Mood not only felt like a retread of some of the same ideas, but it seemed a bit repetitive. Too much longing before it gets anywhere special. Happy Together, on the other hand, always felt alive and exploring new ideas.

It could also just be that your first couple WKWs will always be the most eye opening. I hadn't seen images like that before Happy Together, but by the time I saw In the Mood for Love, I already had.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I think my favorite Woody Allen film is Midnight In Paris, followed by Blue Jasmine or Match Point (I need to rewatch Match Point), and lastly Vicki Cristina Barcelona. I honestly haven't seen many of his films. I started watching Annie Hall but couldn't get into it so I shut it off. Go ahead guys, shoot me.

If Blanchett doesn't win something, I'm going to be very pissed off.

Also, doesn't the film have many similarities to A Streetcar Named Desire? I need to see that still.

Annie Hall isn't one of my favorites. Strongly recommend Hannah and Her Sisters. It's my favorite Allen picture, and just one of my favorite films ever. It's the perfect mix of drama and comedy, and the ensemble is among the best of the best.

The Academy will find someone else to toss the award to.

And yes, so many of them.. but I think Jasmine is better.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by brandon_260

I haven't had the chance to watch Fallen Angels, but I do prefer Happy Together over In The Mood for Love. Happy Together is probably on par with Chungking though.

Part of me thinks some people give In the Mood for Love the edge just because it deals with heterosexual love...but that's opening a big can of worms there.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Part of me thinks some people give In the Mood for Love the edge just because it deals with heterosexual love...but that's opening a big can of worms there.

Ehh, yeah, that is. I don't think critics vote it as the best film of the 21st century for that reason. That's not why I prefer it.. at all. I think it's a much more assured piece in every aspect.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

Annie Hall isn't one of my favorites. Strongly recommend Hannah and Her Sisters. It's my favorite Allen picture, and just one of my favorite films ever. It's the perfect mix of drama and comedy, and the ensemble is among the best of the best.

The Academy will find someone else to toss the award to.

And yes, so many of them.. but I think Jasmine is better.

I just found the relationship between him and Annie Hall to be so awkward and the funny bits he tried to throw in were so dry. (Notice I enjoy all of the films with him not in it)

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I just found the relationship between him and Annie Hall to be so awkward and the funny bits he tried to throw in were so dry. (Notice I enjoy all of the films with him not in it)

Well.. avoid Hannah, then. His personality just cracks me up.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I just found the relationship between him and Annie Hall to be so awkward and the funny bits he tried to throw in were so dry. (Notice I enjoy all of the films with him not in it)

You're gonna adore Purple Rose of Cairo. I can feel it.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Sherlock_Jr

Why in the world would Spanish speaking people need Spanish subs? Unless they are hearing impaired, wouldn't they just watch it without subs? Since, you know, it's their language?

Didn't you recently take Olive to task for failing to provide English subs for their English language films?

[Rizor]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Speaking of whom, am I the only one who prefers the two WKW Kinos over the two Criterions?

All are spectacular, mind you.

I'd rank them thusly:

1. In the Mood for Love
2. Happy Together
3. Chungking Express
4. Fallen Angels

I think In the Mood for Love is his masterpiece, largely because it shows a great deal of maturity and focus on WKW's part as a filmmaker. His '90s films bound with energy, but they're also undisciplined. They're about loves that burn with passion but fade with time. In the Mood for Love is about a deep and enduring love between two people that's ultimately unfulfilled which I find emotionally devastating.

If Kino ever got around to releasing Days of Being Wild, I'd rank that as my second favorite WKW film.

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Maybe it's a stretch to put Fallen Angels over Chungking Express, but as for the other two--I saw In the Mood a couple months after Happy Together and I thought it suffered big time in comparison. In the Mood not only felt like a retread of some of the same ideas, but it seemed a bit repetitive. Too much longing before it gets anywhere special. Happy Together, on the other hand, always felt alive and exploring new ideas.

It could also just be that your first couple WKWs will always be the most eye opening. I hadn't seen images like that before Happy Together, but by the time I saw In the Mood for Love, I already had.

Nearly all of WKW's films are essentially about the same thing, so complaining that one feels like a retread seems a bit strange. He even manages to shoehorn it into The Grandmaster.

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Part of me thinks some people give In the Mood for Love the edge just because it deals with heterosexual love...but that's opening a big can of worms there.

I'm a little baffled by some of the praises it gets, even though I love the film. For me, 2046 may be the best WKW film. I recently watched As Tears Go By and found it difficult to sit through at parts. I even don't mind My Blueberry Nights. To tie it to the Woody Allen discussion, I feel the same way about that film as I do You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger. Both competent and completely watchable works, as well as being films I will certainly return to, but they fall short in comparison to their respective directors body of work.

[Sherlock_Jr]

Originally Posted by jayembee

It's precisely because some viewers may be hearing impaired. I speak English -- it's my native language -- but I always watch movies or TV shows with subtitles or closed captions if available because I will often miss bits of dialogue if I don't. Sometimes it's accents, sometimes it's a character speaking quietly or in a whisper. Sometimes, it's because the damn audio engineer doesn't do his job well, and the music or foley track stomps all over the dialogue.

There's no reason why Spanish-speakers can't be given the same opportunity. If Warner can release a movie on disc with subtitles in 18 freakin' languages, there's no reason Criterion can't put on two. Yes, I know, Warner has bags of money and Criterion doesn't. I'm just sayin'.

I'm hearing impaired and I agree, but the post I was replying to said nothing about hearing impaired Spanish speakers, which is why I asked.

[Sherlock_Jr]

Originally Posted by octagon

Didn't you recently take Olive to task for failing to provide English subs for their English language films?

Yep, and I'll continue to do so. But nowhere in the post I was replying to mentioned it should be for hearing impaired people. Hence, my reply (and in it, I specifically said "unless they are hearing impaired").

But why target just Spanish speaking people? Do all the French films they release have French subs for all the French people living in the US? Or Italian? Or Iranian? Etc.........

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

I haven't. The only heavy flaw I can lay out against the film is the god awful performance from Brandon De Wilde. Seriously, one of the worst child performances I've ever seen - and he was nominated for an Oscar!

The kid in The Blob gets my vote. I thought de Wilde was quite good in Shane but even better in his film debut of The Member of the Wedding.