The Criterion Collection

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I just finished watching To Be or Not to Be, and am now watching the Kalat commentary track.

I'll write more later, but I loved every minute of this film. To Be or Not to Be still shows real nerve with its comedy, and there are a few lines that got some double takes from this viewer. At the same time, it works quite well on different terms as a dramatic thriller.

I had a good sixth sense feeling about this particular title, and I'm glad that I followed through with that gut feeling for this blind buy.

A great great great double feature with Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds.

I don't own the Criterion (yet!) but have seen the film a few times and love it. Carole Lombard was just such a gifted actress and comedienne. Makes me hope for a upgrade of My Man Godfrey.

[ravenus]

I saw Babette's Feast last night. This was a blind-buy and sadly one that I slightly regret. The film is about a woman Babette who comes in from France to Denmark to seek shelter with and serve two spinster sisters, ascetic daughters of a priest, in an austere Catholic village. One day Babette hears that she has won a lottery of 10000 francs and wishes to host a genuine haute cuisine French dinner for the community on the priest's birth centenary. The sisters agree but are in secret mortified at the possible sin from an indulgent culinary experience, and their neighbors as a silly gesture of their Catholic faith, decide to eat the dinner without taking any pleasure in it. The last third of the film is devoted to the preparation and consumption of the feast and the effect it has on the community.
The film is very lightweight in content, but lacks a lightness of touch. For more than half of its running length its slow and turgid without any real payoff in terms of depth or sophistication. It buoys up in the last bit on account of the sensuousness of the dinner experience and a superb speech made by a pivotal character about beauty and grace, but on the whole it is too little, too late. I would have appreciated a greater investment into the sensuousness of Babette's culinary interests and a little more mischief and humor earlier on to offset the dull austerity of the proceedings then.
Technically I have nothing to complain about the beautiful 2K restoration that gorgeously presents both the remote and rustic setting of the film as well as the mouth-watering indulgence of the dinner sequence. i just hope the film will grow on me sufficiently for repeat viewings.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

Sheesh, you guys weren't kidding with the accents in Kes. I would read the subtitles and just be baffled that that's what was coming out of their mouths.

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

At least you watched it with subtitles. I seriously did not know how to turn them on when I watched it.

I still cried like my little cousin at the Bieber concert. Only a soulless grunt wouldn't be moved by that movie

I have a hard time with this kind of film. I think it's from seeing Bambi, The Yearling, Old Yeller, etc. when I was a kid.
The first time I watched it on TCM I was only picking up bits and pieces of the dialogue. The next time it played, I recorded it and used the closed captioning and...... Mystery solved!

[ccg1978]

Watched Kiss Me Deadly. Too many names thrown in and Hammer running around like a maniac but in the end an entertaining noir film.

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by ravenus

I saw Babette's Feast last night. This was a blind-buy and sadly one that I slightly regret. The film is about a woman Babette who comes in from France to Denmark to seek shelter with and serve two spinster sisters, ascetic daughters of a priest, in an austere Catholic village. One day Babette hears that she has won a lottery of 10000 francs and wishes to host a genuine haute cuisine French dinner for the community on the priest's birth centenary. The sisters agree but are in secret mortified at the possible sin from an indulgent culinary experience, and their neighbors as a silly gesture of their Catholic faith, decide to eat the dinner without taking any pleasure in it. The last third of the film is devoted to the preparation and consumption of the feast and the effect it has on the community.
The film is very lightweight in content, but lacks a lightness of touch. For more than half of its running length its slow and turgid without any real payoff in terms of depth or sophistication. It buoys up in the last bit on account of the sensuousness of the dinner experience and a superb speech made by a pivotal character about beauty and grace, but on the whole it is too little, too late. I would have appreciated a greater investment into the sensuousness of Babette's culinary interests and a little more mischief and humor earlier on to offset the dull austerity of the proceedings then.
Technically I have nothing to complain about the beautiful 2K restoration that gorgeously presents both the remote and rustic setting of the film as well as the mouth-watering indulgence of the dinner sequence. i just hope the film will grow on me sufficiently for repeat viewings.

Interesting. I had the exact opposite response. I thought the film was fully engaging throughout. You are definitely right about the transfer though!

[lordmorpheus72]

Anyone get the Criterion Flash Sale email yet??

[smoss469]

If it's a code, can someone post it? I've signed up for their email list but have never received a single email from them.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by smoss469

If it's a code, can someone post it? I've signed up for their email list but have never received a single email from them.

If it happens, and it's like previous sales, it will be posted right on the home page of Criterion.com. Last time it even included real time updates regarding which titles were out of stock or running low.

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

If it happens, and it's like previous sales, it will be posted right on the home page of Criterion.com. Last time it even included real time updates regarding which titles were out of stock or running low.

I wasn't a part of last year's sale, so my other question is... "does the sale usually include preorders?"

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by lordmorpheus72

I wasn't a part of last year's sale, so my other question is... "does the sale usually include preorders?"

No. Only in stock items, so no pre-order and no back order items.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by lordmorpheus72

Anyone get the Criterion Flash Sale email yet??

Not yet. I need to see what CC released in the last couple months to determine what will be a priority and what can wait for B&N50.

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

No. Only in stock items, so no pre-order and no back order items.

Thanks much! I figured that was the case, but wanted to ask.

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

If it happens, and it's like previous sales, it will be posted right on the home page of Criterion.com. Last time it even included real time updates regarding which titles were out of stock or running low.

Their sale is interfering with work, come on guys let's get it rolling so I can get back to work!

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by smoss469

Their sale is interfering with work, come on guys let's get it rolling so I can get back to work!

Exactly. Some Modern Times-esque hijinks will happen if it doesn't go online soon.

[shadedpain4]

I believe that it usually starts at noon est, and there is no notice of the sale prior to it starting.

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by smoss469

Their sale is interfering with work, come on guys let's get it rolling so I can get back to work!

Right! Wonder how much productivity is being lost now by all of us hitting refresh?

[smoss469]

Sadly I'm planning my lunch around it. If it's not there at 11 I'll go to lunch and check at 12.

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by smoss469

Sadly I'm planning my lunch around it. If it's not there at 11 I'll go to lunch and check at 12.

was thinking the same thing. sad isn't it? lol

[mimurph1]

Originally Posted by smoss469

Sadly I'm planning my lunch around it. If it's not there at 11 I'll go to lunch and check at 12.

Originally Posted by lordmorpheus72

was thinking the same thing. sad isn't it? lol

hey fellas, same boat

[smoss469]

Looks like it's not happening this hour.