The Criterion Collection

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Lordy

You cannot go wrong with The Game.

That's exactly what I wrote too!

[Blu-Velvet]

Originally Posted by Gusto-Guus

If you had a choice, would you pick the original 3:10 to Yuma or the remake? I've seen the remake and they did a great job. Haven't seen the original though.

I like both quite a bit. The remake has beautiful color "CinemaScope" widescreen cinematography and one of the best 7.1 surround soundtracks currently on Blu-ray, as well as a bit more in the way of spectacular action sequences from time to time. The original has magnificent performances, beautiful black-and-white 1.85:1 cinematography, and is a bit lower-key, tending to stress the characterizations a bit more. The various (and interesting) plot differences make both must-sees. Being made almost exactly 50 years apart, there are also interesting social implications about the times each film was made. I really need to watch both again, back to back, one of these nights!

[hoytereden]

I'm wrestling with a decision: To go ahead and get the DVDs of the three Mark Hellinger produced films in the Collection- The Naked City, Brute Force, and The Killers, or wait for upgrades that may or maybe won't ever happen. I haven't bought any DVDs since Le doulos and Mafioso went OOP and I seem to have formed some sort of mental block about buying DVDs. What to do? What to do???

[joie]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

[Show spoiler]I just accept as a given that supernatural events can occur in the world that Bergman created for Fanny and Alexander. Uncle Isak apparently uses magic to make the children's images appear upstairs, and the stepfather is told not to touch the children, apparently because to do so would be to reveal the illusion.

This scene really threw me for a loop the first time that I saw the film, but I still love it. The children are existing in a mystical world of wonders that we view, in turn, as though we are seeing the world through the eyes of a child.

If I had to compare this to a more recent film on these shores, I would compare it to the inexplicable scene in Pulp Fiction where bulletholes are found in the wall directly behind Jules and Vincent, yet they are unhurt.

[Show spoiler]Is it possible that the shooters missed?

[joie]

Originally Posted by bdmartin134

oooo I just realized Bicycle Thieves is pictureboxed.. Is it really noticeable and annoying?

I've seen several Criterion DVDs where the screen wasn't filled vertically. They may have done that to accomodate people with equipment that overscanned, so they could see the entire picture. Of course, people with equipment that didn't overscan would see some black space above and below the picture.

[mdonovan]

Originally Posted by Gusto-Guus

If you had a choice, would you pick the original 3:10 to Yuma or the remake? I've seen the remake and they did a great job. Haven't seen the original though.

Without Question ...

The Original ! ... Less superfluous ... Way more lean than the remake.

I own both .., love both ... But of I had to pick one ... The Original for me.

Wait ... Now I am starting to remember certain things about the remake I loved ... Like the nod to 'Shane' in the beginning ...

[Thebunk]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

[Show spoiler]I just accept as a given that supernatural events can occur in the world that Bergman created for Fanny and Alexander. Uncle Isak apparently uses magic to make the children's images appear upstairs, and the stepfather is told not to touch the children, apparently because to do so would be to reveal the illusion.

This scene really threw me for a loop the first time that I saw the film, but I still love it. The children are existing in a mystical world of wonders that we view, in turn, as though we are seeing the world through the eyes of a child.

If I had to compare this to a more recent film on these shores, I would compare it to the inexplicable scene in Pulp Fiction where bulletholes are found in the wall directly behind Jules and Vincent, yet they are unhurt.

I think comparing the two scenes is not really fair or accurate. In PF, it is more believable as perhaps the guy really was that bad of a shot. Secondly, that scene also had impact on Sam Jackson's character. It was discussed and had a purpose. In Fanny and Alexander

[Show spoiler]the scene was much more supernatural. Also it was not addressed later on. It just felt like a cheap cop out.

[Ausjdm]

Originally Posted by joie

[Show spoiler]Is it possible that the shooters missed?

Divine Intervention my friend... Lol

[joie]

Originally Posted by Ausjdm

Divine Intervention my friend... Lol

Yeah, I think Pulp Fiction can be viewed as a comedy.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by joie

[Show spoiler]Is it possible that the shooters missed?

It's possible, but I like how the movie offers no explanation.

[Spirit Zero]

I still got my Robocop copy worth anything yet?

[TJS_Blu]

Some Criterion content...


John Sayles on the 12 films that most influenced his career

Need to get Ace in the Hole upgraded!

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by Thebunk

I think comparing the two scenes is not really fair or accurate. In PF, it is more believable as perhaps the guy really was that bad of a shot. Secondly, that scene also had impact on Sam Jackson's character. It was discussed and had a purpose. In Fanny and Alexander

[Show spoiler]the scene was much more supernatural. Also it was not addressed later on. It just felt like a cheap cop out.

But why would it need to be addressed? None of the other magical elements were addressed. Do they feel cheap to you to? Just curious

[Tns49]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

Thank you. Embarrassingly enough, I actually own it on blu I just don't post very frequently anymore, so I didn't even notice it was still on there. I'll probably replace it with A Matter of Life and Death.

Also out Erin Brockovich and A League of Their Own. Better check your whole list.

[Thebunk]

Originally Posted by blkhrt

But why would it need to be addressed? None of the other magical elements were addressed. Do they feel cheap to you to? Just curious

Nope.

[Show spoiler]The ghosts scenes (more meh then oh my god, ghosts are talking - but the scenes served a purpose) and the scene toward the end with the person locked away (loved it - very Lynchian feel).

The escape sequence just felt like a lazy way of getting the kids out. To me the mystical parts of the film just did not belong in that partofthe story for me.

[amoergosum]

Wes Anderson pays tribute to Kumar Pallana in USA Film Festival video

The USA Film Festival assembled a special tribute video to Kumar Pallana featuring Wes Anderson at Texas Theatre, November 7, 2013.

Link to tribute video >>>

http://video.dallasnews.com/Wes-Ande...s&VID=25338746

RIP Kumar.

My old friend Matt Zoller Seitz’s sold-out (!) The Wes Anderson Collection was the reason for Thursday night’s screening of Bottle Rocket at the Texas Theatre. But even in his absence, Kumar Pallana was the star.

Luke Wilson and Kumar Pallana at the premiere of Wes Anderson's The Royal Tenenbaums (AP Photo/Touchstone Pictures, Eric Charbonneau/BEI)

The former yoga master who returned to his long-dormant acting career thanks to Anderson and Owen Wilson died in October, two months shy of his 95th birthday. Before the screening, friends and family stood in a spotlight at the foot of the stage to share stories about Kumar, an experience both joyous and heartbreaking. His daughter Sandhya was there; so too son Dipak, the former Cosmic Cup proprietor who came in from Oakland just for the occasion. Dipak joined Matt for the post-screening Q&A, during which he shared early-days stories of Anderson and Wilson coming into the vegetarian eatery on Oak Lawn for the smoothies and chess matches.

Anderson made an appearance as well in the terrific tribute reel assembled by the USA Film Festival. It was a surprise to everyone in the audience, which included Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore. Ann Alexander, managing director of the USA Film Festival, reached out to the filmmaker a week after Pallana’s death to see if he would record something for the highlight reel.

“I wrote him a letter asking him if he would join us virtually,” says Alexander. “Sandhya passed my note to his assistant,” and within a few days they had his tribute in hand.

“It just worked out,” Alexander says. “It almost looks like he’s taking over the clip reel. We knew he’d been in touch with the family to express his condolences. I wouldn’t have reached out to him if that hadn’t taken place, just to be respectful. But I thought it would be an appropriate request. And how kind of him, ya know?”

Says Anderson of his old friend, Kumar was “one of the few people I would say was genuinely wise.” I won’t spoil the rest.

Thursday night “was not the evening we imagined,” says Alexander, who was planning the screening and book-signing looks before Pallana’s death. “But it was the evening it was supposed to be.”

Source:
https://sres.dallasnews.com/options....-pallana.html/

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by TJS_Blu

Some Criterion content...


John Sayles on the 12 films that most influenced his career

Need to get Ace in the Hole upgraded!

Thanks for sharing that!

We need The Spirit of the Beehive upgraded to Blu-ray soon as well. Such a beautiful film.

[the sordid sentinel]

Was on a French Criterion kick this week. The 400 Blows, The Wages of Fear, Leon Morin, Priest, Army of Shadows, and Le Cercle Rouge. Love them all but the Melville's slightly stand above the others. Alain Delon is impossibly cool in Le Cercle Rouge.

[SilentDawn]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Thanks for sharing that!

We need The Spirit of the Beehive upgraded to Blu-ray soon as well. Such a beautiful film.

I have always wanted to see The Spirit of The Beehive but I think I will wait until Blu. It looks so fascinating and interesting.

Also, I am going back to B&N today to see if they have the Criterion Edition of Armageddon. The film is a total-cheese fest but it's vintage Michael Bay. If they have The Rock I will pick that up as well.

[zoodermin]

Ok, so far I’m planning to buy 4 criterion titles:

City Lights
Tokyo Story
Frances Ha
Autumn Sonata

I probably would buy 2 more. I was thinking Kiss Me Deadly and Eyes Without a Face. What are your opinions on those two?