The Criterion Collection

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by StLouisRibs

It's certainly an interesting take on the Ripley story that's very different from any one since.

I dunno if I'd recommend it as a blind buy necessarily - I'd say its a good film but maybe not a great one. Definitely in the 4-4.5 out of 5 range than the five a lot of Criterion blind buys have gotten me. If the price is good I'd say go for it, at least you get about 30 minutes of gorgeous maritime photography in 1080p...

(I'd rank it probably at about the 66th percentile - I'd rank about 1/3 of the titles I've seen in the collection higher than this one)

Ok thanks :-) will probs end up buying tbh lol

[Clare2904]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Ok thanks :-) will probs end up buying tbh lol

I thought you had no money

[Oblivion138]

For whatever it's worth, I enjoyed all the Ripley novels, and all three of the Ripley films I've seen (Purple Noon, The Talented Mr. Ripley, and Ripley's Game). The novels play with suspense, humor, and a charismatic antihero. They would have made great source material for Hitchcock. They also open themselves up to a wide array of adaptations. And all three of the films I've seen have taken unique approaches, which makes them all interesting interpretations. Not to mention entertaining. None of them would qualify as the ideal Ripley film, but all are worthwhile.

[szyzk]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Wondering what everyones prized Criterion would be?

The Third Man or The 400 Blows, just depends on what mood I'm in. Both are beautiful presentations of two of my absolute favorite films.

[iamnoone]

Originally Posted by JoeBuck

Lola is also in another movie he made called Model Shop.

MODEL SHOP is terrific, and it's Demy's love-letter to Los Angeles as a city. I hadn't known that the Lola character (Anouk Aimee in both films) had previously been in LOLA when first seeing MODEL SHOP, and it's not a requirement to have seen the earlier film, but the character's story remains the same. Sony released MODEL SHOP on DVD in their Martini Movies line and it's pretty cheap so I highly recommend it, although obviously not on Blu.

[JoeBuck]

Originally Posted by iamnoone

MODEL SHOP is terrific, and it's Demy's love-letter to Los Angeles as a city. I hadn't known that the Lola character (Anouk Aimee in both films) had previously been in LOLA when first seeing MODEL SHOP, and it's not a requirement to have seen the earlier film, but the character's story remains the same. Sony released MODEL SHOP on DVD in their Martini Movies line and it's pretty cheap so I highly recommend it, although obviously not on Blu.

I really wasn't crazy about Model Shop. I liked the last 15 minutes of it but couldn't really get into the rest.
Might try it again at some point in time but its not on my list of priorities.

[iamnoone]

Originally Posted by JoeBuck

I really wasn't crazy about Model Shop. I liked the last 15 minutes of it but couldn't really get into the rest.
Might try it again at some point in time but its not on my list of priorities.

I hear ya. It's not rated that highly overall, but I really fell into its low-key nothing really happens vibe. It may sound crazy, but it's my second favorite Demy right after UMBRELLAS. That said, I'm not really a huge Demy fan outside of UMBRELLAS, and maybe because MODEL SHOP is unlike most of his other films, it just really clicked with me. Absolutely love it.

[Scottie]

Non-Criterion related but I watched 2001 for the third time tonight and I realized that I will never understand it and that is A-OKAY.

The film is as big of a mystery as the world itself is. Each time I think I have a theory down, it constantly changes. Oh Kubrick, you are a genius.

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Would you recommend it as a blind buy? keep seeing it pop up on Amazon and I recognise name and tempted to order lol

It's a pretty good film, but I wouldn't recommend it as a blind buy.

For me personally, it's one of those "once was enough" type of films.

Originally Posted by The Stick

I didn't realize until after seeing Lola that:

[Show spoiler]The character Roland Cassard is the same character seen in The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. Apparently, characters from Demy's films are referenced or appear in Jacques Demy's other films.

Yes, I'm really looking forward to July

I didn't even know that!

I remember the constant mentions to Cherbourg, which seemed like just a coincidence for his later film.

Originally Posted by JoeBuck

You seen Bay Of Angels yet? That one was my favorite, but those other two are great as well. Un Chambre En Ville is awful though, I couldn't even get through it.

---

Lola is also in another movie he made called Model Shop.

I haven't seen it, but I really want to.

I was fortunate to catch both Lola and TUOC on TCM, so if the other ones are playing pre-July, I'll definitely record them. He's a great filmmaker.

Also, at the beginning of the Lola broadcast, there was mention of the character appearing in "Model Shop" later on.

[Tin Drum]

Originally Posted by StLouisRibs

Purple Noon is fascinating in that some scenes its like a classic piece from the French New Wave and seamlessly the film slowly fades into a Hitchcockian Thriller...

Agreed. A masterful film.

[Tin Drum]

Originally Posted by Oblivion138

For whatever it's worth, I enjoyed all the Ripley novels, and all three of the Ripley films I've seen (Purple Noon, The Talented Mr. Ripley, and Ripley's Game). The novels play with suspense, humor, and a charismatic antihero. They would have made great source material for Hitchcock. They also open themselves up to a wide array of adaptations. And all three of the films I've seen have taken unique approaches, which makes them all interesting interpretations. Not to mention entertaining. None of them would qualify as the ideal Ripley film, but all are worthwhile.

Hitchcock did adapt Highsmiths's A Stranger on a Train.

[RojD]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

During our discussion of Under the Skin a few days ago, we used spoiler tags to be respectful to everyone, but I honored your request after reading your post.

I hope that you have a chance to see the film on the big screen. I've seen it twice now at the theater. I will be surprised if it does not end up being my favorite film of the year by year's end. If it does not make my top five of the year, then that will probably mean that 2014 has outdistanced 1939 in terms of cinema greatness.


Back on topic, I'm about to write a few words about Riot on Cell Block 11. It's a great Criterion title!

Owl and the others: You didn't spoil anything about Under the Skin. I read every post you wrote before I saw it, and I wasn't the in least affected by what you had to say when I finally got to the film.

However, I had quite a different response to it than you guys did:

[Show spoiler]I thought it was a bit heavy handed and that it had some bad directorial decisions in it. I put together a few comments on a blog, if you're interested.

Like we see on here all the time, people's responses vary a lot.

And on an entirely different -- and thread-related -- tack, I've been reading comments about Hitchcockian suspense and finding that I think of some of the Hitchcockian suggestions as more like Clouzot than Hitchcock. I'm at a loss to explain how I feel that difference, though; maybe I think of Clouzot as a little edgier than Hitchcock. For example, a movie like Revanche feels more Clouzot-ian that Hitchcockian to me. Does anyone else have thoughts on that or feel a difference between the two?

[Oblivion138]

Originally Posted by Tin Drum

Hitchcock did adapt Highsmiths's A Stranger on a Train.

And did a fantastic job.

I always think of it as a missed opportunity that he never adapted a Ripley novel. Their sense of humor is thoroughly Hitchcockian.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by Clare2904

I thought you had no money

Monday I get paid :-)

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Oblivion138

For whatever it's worth, I enjoyed all the Ripley novels, and all three of the Ripley films I've seen (Purple Noon, The Talented Mr. Ripley, and Ripley's Game). The novels play with suspense, humor, and a charismatic antihero. They would have made great source material for Hitchcock. They also open themselves up to a wide array of adaptations. And all three of the films I've seen have taken unique approaches, which makes them all interesting interpretations. Not to mention entertaining. None of them would qualify as the ideal Ripley film, but all are worthwhile.

I'd agree with that statement. As I'd said before, I'm most partial to Purple Noon and Wim Wender's The American Friend.

By the way, keep in mind that even though it wasn't a Ripley novel, Patricia Highsmith did provide Hitchcock with a great film story: Strangers on a Train.

On edit: Ah, I see this last point was brought up.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by RojD

And on an entirely different -- and thread-related -- tack, I've been reading comments about Hitchcockian suspense and finding that I think of some of the Hitchcockian suggestions as more like Clouzot than Hitchcock. I'm at a loss to explain how I feel that difference, though; maybe I think of Clouzot as a little edgier than Hitchcock. For example, a movie like Revanche feels more Clouzot-ian that Hitchcockian to me. Does anyone else have thoughts on that or feel a difference between the two?

I would definitely say that Revanche has more of a Clouzot feel.

Now that I think of it, Haneke's Caché draws more from Clouzot than from Hitchcock. Of course, Haneke's The White Ribbon is almost a retread of Clouzot's Le Corbeau.

Speaking of Clouzot, I'm about to watch William Friedkin's Sorcerer for the first time. I've been excited about this Blu-ray since it was first announced, and I want to see how it stacks up to The Wages of Fear.

With respect to your Under the Skin review, I enjoyed reading it, and I sent you a PM.

[Snicket]

Sounds like I really need to see Under the Skin, damn limited releases. I wish it was easier to see them. Is it on VOD? (I would much prefer the theater)

Also I am discovering that e-bay is a great place to find Criterion's brand new shipped for under $20. This morning I found a seller with Autumn Sonata for $20 OBO and bought it for $18.50.

I really need to catch up with my watching.

[RojD]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I would definitely say that Revanche has more of a Clouzot feel.

Now that I think of it, Haneke's Caché draws more from Clouzot than from Hitchcock. Of course, Haneke's The White Ribbon is almost a retread of Clouzot's Le Corbeau.

Speaking of Clouzot, I'm about to watch William Friedkin's Sorcerer for the first time. I've been excited about this Blu-ray since it was first announced, and I want to see how it stacks up to The Wages of Fear.

With respect to your Under the Skin review, I enjoyed reading it, and I sent you a PM.

You nailed that one. I also feel more Clouzot in Caché -- and several Hanekes -- than Hitchcock.

Was asleep at the wheel when I coulda picked up Sorcerer on sale a couple of weeks ago. I will wait patiently. Wages of Fear is my number two Clouzot after Le Corbeau, so I'm looking forward to hearing how it compares to Sorcerer.

[Polaroid]

http://blog.criterioncast.com/post/8...-willumsen-the

Digipak? :-)

[Judex]

Well it is a three disc release. This 3D mock up pretty much confirms it's a digipak.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Judex

Well it is a three disc release. This 3D mock up pretty much confirms it's a digipak.

[Show spoiler]

Scanavo and Criterion are coming out with a standard 3-disc case. A pic was shown earlier for L'Eclisse which seemed to indicate a standard case, rather than digipak.


As it was in the past, Criterion still made select releases a Digipak, even when there wasn't a technical need for it. It looks like that may be the case for Scanners, and I think it looks great.