The Criterion Collection

[mac1165]

Originally Posted by jw007

I do know that I would highly recommend you first rent David Lean directs Noel Coward and the Soderbergh releases Gray's Anatomy and Everything is Going Fine (unless you like Soderbergh's work, disregard my opinion though), before purchasing these.

I am yet to find anyone who rents the movies you mentioned above, well, at least the Blu-ray version of them, which is the only format I would actually purchase. I know for sure that Netflix and Blockbuster do not and the last thing you'd ever find in a Redbox is a Criterion title. Any suggestions on where to find rental copies? Thanks!

[ravenus]

Here's a question. If Criterion were to release any animated films, which are the ones you would want them to do? As a limitation, no Disney and also no Studio Ghibli flicks, and preferably not films that have already had decent English-friendly BD releases in US/UK territories.

I would love for them to do Sylvain Chomet's Belleville Rendezvous aka Triplets of Belleville which does not seem to have a BD release outside of France. The plot is slight, but the visuals and little touches in the film have tremendous charm. The Illusionist was a much better film, but that had a lovely presentation from Sony (though little by way of extras).

[jw007]

Originally Posted by mac1165

I am yet to find anyone who rents the movies you mentioned above, well, at least the Blu-ray version of them, which is the only format I would actually purchase. I know for sure that Netflix and Blockbuster do not and the last thing you'd ever find in a Redbox is a Criterion title. Any suggestions on where to find rental copies? Thanks!

Not sure about the Noel Coward box set but those other titles can be rented easily from a library if you live in or near a big city (or at least your local library in your town or village can ship in these titles via the World Cat system). I always rent from the library and find it to be a great idea if you're into the old fashioned way (as opposed to looking on Netflix or Hulu for example).

By the way, I found Gray's Anatomy on Hulu here:

[Show spoiler]http://www.hulu.com/watch/449569

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by brandon_260

I haven't seen Autumn Sonata yet, but Liv Ullmann is an incredible talent. I think she is absolutely Ingmar Bergman's best collaborator. Her performances in Persona, The Passion of Anna, and Shame are some of the best I've ever seen.

I'm a Harriet Andersson guy myself, but I also think Liv is terrific. Wish Scenes From A Marriage would get an upgrade.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Here's a question. If Criterion were to release any animated films, which are the ones you would want them to do? As a limitation, no Disney and also no Studio Ghibli flicks, and preferably not films that have already had decent English-friendly BD releases in US/UK territories.

I would love for them to do Sylvain Chomet's Belleville Rendezvous aka Triplets of Belleville which does not seem to have a BD release outside of France. The plot is slight, but the visuals and little touches in the film have tremendous charm. The Illusionist was a much better film, but that had a lovely presentation from Sony (though little by way of extras).

I'd love to see a double-feature set of Watership Down (1978) and The Plague Dogs (1982), both of which were directed by Martin Rosen and based off stories by Richard Adams.

Given my nickname, I'd obviously love to see The Secret of NIMH on Criterion, but the existing Blu-ray looks decent considering the source.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I'd love to see a double-feature set of Watership Down (1978) and The Plague Dogs (1982), both of which were directed by Martin Rosen and based off stories by Richard Adams.

Watership Down is getting a UK BD release from Universal next month, I think. I haven't seen the film but loved the book. Hopefully the transfer will be good. I avoided reading / watching The Plague Dogs on account of its theme which I found very depressing and traumatic .

[White Dang]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I'd love to see a double-feature set of Watership Down (1978) and The Plague Dogs (1982), both of which were directed by Martin Rosen and based off stories by Richard Adams.

Given my nickname, I'd obviously love to see The Secret of NIMH on Criterion, but the existing Blu-ray looks decent considering the source.

I'd love to see any classic Bluth film get a true remaster.

And Watership Down of course. Read the book in high school, but saw the movie when I was around 5 or 6 and that bloody rabbit imagery never left!

Still need to see Plague Dogs.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by ravenus

I avoided reading / watching The Plague Dogs on account of its theme which I found very depressing and traumatic.

The adaptation of The Plague Dogs is available in its entirety on YouTube. I watched it a few months back, and, yes, it is quite a downer of a story. It's also a fascinating animated film, though.

[joie]

Originally Posted by jw007

Not sure about the Noel Coward box set but those other titles can be rented easily from a library if you live in or near a big city (or at least your local library in your town or village can ship in these titles via the World Cat system). I always rent from the library and find it to be a great idea if you're into the old fashioned way (as opposed to looking on Netflix or Hulu for example).

You have to rent things from a library? Everyone I know borrows from them.

[JohnDoe NY]

Originally Posted by joie

Watched Rosemary's Baby.

[Show spoiler]A Criterion produced extra has Roman Polanski talking and he mentions "post-partum crazies," which, if I remember correctly, he called "pre-partum crazies" on an old DVD extra. Polanski stated that Rosemary is dreaming early in the movie and that there is no supernatural content. It did appear to be a dream.

I saw the movie in a theatre before VHS, then watched a DVD after the Blu-ray was announced, and I never thought it was a horror movie in the sense that Satan got a baby on Rosemary. It could be that after the dream we are watching what Rosemary is imagining is happening. That would explain why she is told first that the baby is a healthy boy, then that it died. She does seem to recognize that she hallucinates, late in the movie, when she tells Roman Castavets something like, "Shut up! You're in Dubrovnik. I can't hear you."

The original tag line, "Pray for Rosemary's Baby," may have expressed the hope that Rosemary wouldn't harm the baby.

Mia Farrow also talked and may have said that she believed Rosemary gave birth to Satan's son. She does say that she (Farrow) was a good Catholic girl.

Woow, you saw Rosemary's Baby in theaters? You must be old as Moses's beard!

[Freeza]

Originally Posted by ravenus

I would love for them to do Sylvain Chomet's Belleville Rendezvous aka Triplets of Belleville which does not seem to have a BD release outside of France. The plot is slight, but the visuals and little touches in the film have tremendous charm. The Illusionist was a much better film, but that had a lovely presentation from Sony (though little by way of extras).

I couldn't disagree more.
While The Illusionist was good, Les Triplettes de Belleville just gets under your skin in a way that for me at least, the former could never hope to. I would love to see it released on Blu.

Edited to add my selection for animated possibility, American Pop. Between the music, the characters/inspirations and Bakshi, it could have some very interesting special features.

[Scottie]

Not really Criterion related, but we watched "Sunrise" in my film class today and I was absolutely blown away.

I've always considered "Lonesome" to be my favorite silent film of all time (from the few that I've seen), but "Sunrise" takes the cake.

I've owned the MOC release for some time now, but I never watched it. I'm definitely going to plan on rewatching it sometime within the next few days, though.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Not really Criterion related, but we watched "Sunrise" in my film class today and I was absolutely blown away.

I've always considered "Lonesome" to be my favorite silent film of all time (from the few that I've seen), but "Sunrise" takes the cake.

I've owned the MOC release for some time now, but I never watched it. I'm definitely going to plan on rewatching it sometime within the next few days, though.

My favorite silent. The MOC release is stunning. I watched a pretty shoddy DVD transfer a few weeks prior to the Blu. The difference is just astounding.

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Not really Criterion related, but we watched "Sunrise" in my film class today and I was absolutely blown away.

I've always considered "Lonesome" to be my favorite silent film of all time (from the few that I've seen), but "Sunrise" takes the cake.

I've owned the MOC release for some time now, but I never watched it. I'm definitely going to plan on rewatching it sometime within the next few days, though.

I love it. If you get the chance, you should seek out Murnau's Tabu (it doesn't have a Region A release yet). I enjoyed it even more.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

My favorite silent. The MOC release is stunning. I watched a pretty shoddy DVD transfer a few weeks prior to the Blu. The difference is just astounding.

We watched a rather dull DVD version in class, so that makes me look forward to watching it again even more.

Originally Posted by brandon_260

I love it. If you get the chance, you should seek out Murnau's Tabu (it doesn't have a Region A release yet). I enjoyed it even more.

I've heard great things about Tabu, as well. Should I decide to go Region Free, that'll be one of my first buys.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by joie

You have to rent things from a library? Everyone I know borrows from them.

Okay, true, I meant to say "borrowed", not rented.

[CraigThom]

Originally Posted by 14728

Or how Robert Altman went from 3 women and Nashville to Popeye.

I like even Altman's less popular movies. The music in Popeye is boring, but it looks just like it should.

I also like Buffalo Bill and the Indians and OC and Stiggs.

[jcez28]

Anybody know whats the deal with 400 blows and Breathless, if theres a sale today kinda want to pick them.

-Thanks

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by jw007

Okay, true, I meant to say "borrowed", not rented.

At our public library, brand new books and movies have a small fee attached to them for the first few months. Its no more than Redbox would be, and it helps the library stay open. So, in some cases "rented" might be the correct term

[baheidstu]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Here's a question. If Criterion were to release any animated films, which are the ones you would want them to do? As a limitation, no Disney and also no Studio Ghibli flicks, and preferably not films that have already had decent English-friendly BD releases in US/UK territories.

I would love for them to do Sylvain Chomet's Belleville Rendezvous aka Triplets of Belleville which does not seem to have a BD release outside of France. The plot is slight, but the visuals and little touches in the film have tremendous charm. The Illusionist was a much better film, but that had a lovely presentation from Sony (though little by way of extras).

How about some Ralph Bakshi? Coonskin perhaps?