The Criterion Collection

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by Infernal King

It's strange then that Pro-B scored the video 4.5 out of 5 in his review of the Rashomon Blu-ray. I guess you and he just have different standards on what comprises "good" video quality. Hmm.

I am not saying that this is joie's reasoning, but there are people on this forum that are disappointed when a release doesn't have an immaculate transfer. The fact is, however, that the transfer is only as good as the source material. I thought the Rashomon release had great video. Sure, there are some areas for improvement, but without a new negative showing up, I am guessing that won't happen.

[Clare2904]

Originally Posted by Infernal King

lol that movie was REALLY ****ed up but definitely worth watching.

To quote Bond from Goldfinger: Shocking. Positively shocking.

Oh yes, a total mind **** but so

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by Clare2904

I have only seen 2 Chaplin - The Great Dictator & The Kid, the latter I thought was great.

The Lady Vanishes is GREAT

Of the 5 "maybe" that you highlighted, only Tokyo Drifter will probably be dropped.

Thanks for the help

It was my 2nd Chaplin. I've seen, but don't own, City Lights. It was a good movie, I loved the ending, it was very satisfying... it just seemed like it fit so well. Modern Times looks interesting as well but I've never seen it.

Tokyo Drifter wasn't bad, but I watched it before Branded to Kill, maybe it was lessened by the off the wall wackiness that Branded brings to the table. Branded is it's own beast for sure. Best way I can describe it is, it's almost like they took a schitzo from a psycho ward, gave him a camera and a crew and said "Go make a movie!"

I'd love to see an upgrade to Green For Danger but I'm sure it'll be a long time before that happens.

[Clare2904]

Originally Posted by smoss469

It was my 2nd Chaplin. I've seen, but don't own, City Lights. It was a good movie, I loved the ending, it was very satisfying... it just seemed like it fit so well. Modern Times looks interesting as well but I've never seen it.

Tokyo Drifter wasn't bad, but I watched it before Branded to Kill, maybe it was lessened by the off the wall wackiness that Branded brings to the table. Branded is it's own beast for sure. Best way I can describe it is, it's almost like they took a schitzo from a psycho ward, gave him a camera and a crew and said "Go make a movie!"

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Infernal King

lol that movie was REALLY ****ed up but definitely worth watching.

To quote Bond from Goldfinger: Shocking. Positively shocking.

I saw Eyes without a Face for the first time a couple of weeks back and the first thing I thought of was The Skin I Live In ! I still think the latter movie was more disturbing, but I can see how the earlier film inspired/influenced Pedro's film.

[momaw]

Originally Posted by Illy Scorsese

My exact concern...

And yes, "Ikiru" is incredible... In my Top 5 Films of All Time, and my very favorite Kurosawa film.

I'd rather see Red Beard before Ikiru.

[Mansinthe]

Originally Posted by momaw

I'd rather see Red Beard before Ikiru.

i want them all getting a bluray release. same goes for bergman and fritz lang movies.

so this is pretty good month already. maybe we will see a few kurosawa releases now, would be nice if they would add another one for the next annoucments.

throne of blood , hidden fortress..

and the cover for hidden fortress looks so amazing.
but the persona release is really cool as well. cant go wrong with another bergman. (does beat another movie like fantastic mr fox by miles...)

[momaw]

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

i want them all getting a bluray release. same goes for bergman and fritz lang movies.

so this is pretty good month already. maybe we will see a few kurosawa releases now, would be nice if they would add another one for the next annoucments.

throne of blood , hidden fortress..

and the cover for hidden fortress looks so amazing.
but the persona release is really cool as well. cant go wrong with another bergman. (does beat another movie like fantastic mr fox by miles...)

I agree. The Kurosawa I want the most is The Lower Depths. Biggest on my Criterion wishlist though is a blu-ray upgrade to Kwaiden (and an upgrade to the extended cut).

[JoeBuck]

Originally Posted by momaw

I agree. The Kurosawa I want the most is The Lower Depths. Biggest on my Criterion wishlist though is a blu-ray upgrade to Kwaiden (and an upgrade to the extended cut).

But only including it. Prefer the shorter cut...
But yes, it's one of my most wanted upgrades as well. Hopefully they can dig up some special features for it this time around as the first edition was bare.
We really need The Cranes Are Flying and La Strada too!

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Ctzalman

I am quite excited about the Bergman and Kurosawa releases. I don't quite understand the disappointment out there... "another Kurosawa?!? Boo!"

Yea... He's only one the towering figures in world cinema.

We sort of knew Hidden Fortress was coming, but it's great to have it anyway...
Now, if Criterion could only pry Dreams away from an uncaring Warner, THAT would spray our coffee a mile.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by JoeBuck

But only including it. Prefer the shorter cut...
But yes, it's one of my most wanted upgrades as well. Hopefully they can dig up some special features for it this time around as the first edition was bare.

Totally. I would have been interested in a longer cut if it meant an additional story. But more running time for the existing stories is plain excessive. I have a suspicion that the longer cut is perhaps some festival cut before the film was given a wider release. It could be possible that the shorter version is the DC (at least I hope, given that Kobayashi's other films like Harakiri and Samurai Rebellion were generally tight)

[Judex]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Totally. I would have been interested in a longer cut if it meant an additional story. But more running time for the existing stories is plain excessive. I have a suspicion that the longer cut is perhaps some festival cut before the film was given a wider release. It could be possible that the shorter version is the DC (at least I hope, given that Kobayashi's other films like Harakiri and Samurai Rebellion were generally tight)

I'm pretty sure the 183min version is the original Japanese version.

[amoergosum]

Originally Posted by Rich Pure Doom

100% not happening.

Exactly.

I always get my hopes up before every announcement though...
Man...The Life Aquatic on Blu-ray...feels like that's never going to happen.

[deepbreathsanddeath]

Fans of Ingmar Bergman... I need your help.

I honestly find it hard to get excited about the mans work but for $15 I found a DVD set with the following films in it:

HOUR OF THE WOLF
SKAMMEN
THE PASSION OF ANNA
THE SERPENTS EGG

I realize most people would recommend a film outside this box set, but this is all I have. Where would you recommend I begin with what I have?

[octagon]

I just finished Frances Ha and I have to say, I really liked it. I usually hate when people describe films as charming. That word just seems so trite and banal but this film was really freaking charming.

I was also a little aprehensive about whether the black-and-white would come off as gimmicky but it looked amazing and didn't feel at all forced.

It's definitely moved up on my next B&N list.

[joie]

Originally Posted by blkhrt

I am not saying that this is joie's reasoning, but there are people on this forum that are disappointed when a release doesn't have an immaculate transfer. The fact is, however, that the transfer is only as good as the source material. I thought the Rashomon release had great video. Sure, there are some areas for improvement, but without a new negative showing up, I am guessing that won't happen.

Rashomon's video may be immaculate in the sense that it is a very good representation of the film. That wouldn't lead me to rate the video highly. If the source material is flawed or imperfect (not the negative and in excellent condition), I wouldn't rate the video highly no matter how good the transfer is.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by deepbreathsanddeath

Fans of Ingmar Bergman... I need your help.

I honestly find it hard to get excited about the mans work but for $15 I found a DVD set with the following films in it:

HOUR OF THE WOLF
SKAMMEN
THE PASSION OF ANNA
THE SERPENTS EGG

I realize most people would recommend a film outside this box set, but this is all I have. Where would you recommend I begin with what I have?

Hour of The Wolf may be recommended if you like horror films, that's the most outright macabre film from Bergman I've seen. Shame is a film where the cracks in people's characters are revealed under desperate circumstances, I found it suspenseful and discomfiting. Passion of Anna is an emotionally brutal and ****ed up experience. Serpent's Egg made the least impression on me, I think it's one of the weaker films from that period, so maybe you want to keep it for last.
Btw that's a great price for that boxset. I paid maybe 3 times that and was very happy overall. After the initial snafus with wrong aspect ratios (which were recalled and replaced) MGM put out a truly Criterion-class release in that set. Someone here ridiculed the commentaries - I haven't heard them so I can't comment, but many of the other extras were fantastic.

[deepbreathsanddeath]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Hour of The Wolf may be recommended if you like horror films, that's the most outright macabre film from Bergman I've seen. Shame is a film where the cracks in people's characters are revealed under desperate circumstances, I found it suspenseful and discomfiting. Passion of Anna is an emotionally brutal and ****ed up experience. Serpent's Egg made the least impression on me, I think it's one of the weaker films from that period, so maybe you want to keep it for last.
Btw that's a great price for that boxset. I paid maybe 3 times that and was very happy overall. After the initial snafus with wrong aspect ratios (which were recalled and replaced) MGM put out a truly Criterion-class release in that set. Someone here ridiculed the commentaries - I haven't heard them so I can't comment, but many of the other extras were fantastic.

Cheers for the response! Yeah it was a great price. They seemed like really dark, more horror orientated films so I thought I would just snatch it up. If you don't mind my asking, what were the aspect ratios supposed to be and what were they initially? It wouldn't surprise me if I have the wronf aspect ratios in my box set lol

[Tin Drum]

Originally Posted by deepbreathsanddeath

Fans of Ingmar Bergman... I need your help.

I honestly find it hard to get excited about the mans work but for $15 I found a DVD set with the following films in it:

HOUR OF THE WOLF
SKAMMEN
THE PASSION OF ANNA
THE SERPENTS EGG

I realize most people would recommend a film outside this box set, but this is all I have. Where would you recommend I begin with what I have?

Shame is an excellent film and probably top three from Bergman for me. The other three are very, very good but not top five Bergman or anything like that (although Hour of the Wolf is pretty great).

[mdonovan]

Originally Posted by Tin Drum

Shame is an excellent film and probably top three from Bergman for me. The other three are very, very good but not top five Bergman or anything like that (although Hour of the Wolf is pretty great).

Ok ... A little embarrassed here ... But to the best of my knowledge I have never seen a single Bergmen film. From his catalogue which are essential 'don't die before seeing this' titles ?? Please don't answer 'all'.