The Criterion Collection

[Oblivion138]

Originally Posted by Alex DeLarge

I would love Sluizer's original THE VANISHING in the Criterion collection! It's one of the most unsettling and downright disturbing films I've ever experienced. His own remake though is embarrassingly bad with an altered ending that is "dumbed down" for us Americans.

The Vanishing is already in the Collection (the DVD was released in 2001), and a BD upgrade has already been teased.

I don't blame Sluzier for how the remake turned out. It's clear that the studio insisted on a less downbeat ending. The first 2/3 of the remake are actually very good. It just goes off the rails when Nancy Travis starts playing Nancy Drew.

[Scottie]

I just finished watching "The Vanishing" via Criterion's DVD of it.

I decided to put this on after reading some comments, especially regarding how horrifying, disturbing, and traumatic the ending was. I was expecting the shocker of my life, but I was really lukewarm to how it ended. I didn't really see the big deal and I wasn't very surprised.

Overall, I think it's a pretty good film that keeps you on edge, especially with the non-linear narrative, but overall once was enough for me.

[dtyner92]

Any guesses on, if we'll see Criterion release more Andrei Tarkovsky? Just got done watching Nostalghia via Netflix streaming and the cinematography is absolutely beautiful. It's a shame Kino, owns the right to both Nostalghia and The Sacrifice.

[myka22]

Originally Posted by dtyner92

Any guesses on, if we'll see Criterion release more Andrei Tarkovsky? Just got done watching Nostalghia via Netflix streaming and the cinematography is absolutely beautiful. It's a shame Kino, owns the right to both Nostalghia and The Sacrifice.

I think we're lucky to already have the two from Kino and the two from Criterion. I'm sure Kino will release Stalker sometime in the future. As for Andrei Rublev, I believe there has been discussion from Criterion about it. If I remember correctly, the only known copy of the longer version that Criterion used for the dvd version is damaged, so restoring it isn't much of an option.

[JoeBuck]

Originally Posted by myka22

I think we're lucky to already have the two from Kino and the two from Criterion. I'm sure Kino will release Stalker sometime in the future. As for Andrei Rublev, I believe there has been discussion from Criterion about it. If I remember correctly, the only known copy of the longer version that Criterion used for the dvd version is damaged, so restoring it isn't much of an option.

From what I remember, they said they were waiting on a restoration being worked on by some Russian company weren't they?

[dtyner92]

Originally Posted by myka22

I think we're lucky to already have the two from Kino and the two from Criterion. I'm sure Kino will release Stalker sometime in the future. As for Andrei Rublev, I believe there has been discussion from Criterion about it. If I remember correctly, the only known copy of the longer version that Criterion used for the dvd version is damaged, so restoring it isn't much of an option.

I'm thankful that we at least have both films on blu-ray. The transfers are by no means terrible, just a little underwhelming. It's just a shame Criterion doesn't have the rights to all of his films. Like they have with the majority of Akira Kurosawa's work and Wes Anderson's work.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by dtyner92

Any guesses on, if we'll see Criterion release more Andrei Tarkovsky? Just got done watching Nostalghia via Netflix streaming and the cinematography is absolutely beautiful. It's a shame Kino, owns the right to both Nostalghia and The Sacrifice.

I watched Ivan's Childhood the other night on Hulu Plus and the cinematography there was just ! I don't know if I've ever seen a film with such visual depth to it. I felt like if I put my hand on the screen it would actually go through it and into the scene. 3D without the glasses and it was that way throughout the film but the forest scenes were the most memorable for me. Another film added to my Criterion 50% off list.

[bdmartin134]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

I watched Ivan's Childhood the other night on Hulu Plus and the cinematography there was just ! I don't know if I've ever seen a film with such visual depth to it. I felt like if I put my hand on the screen it would actually go through it and into the scene. 3D without the glasses and it was that way throughout the film but the forest scenes were the most memorable for me. Another film added to my Criterion 50% off list.

My exact opinions on Ivan's Childhood.. Was my most surprising blind buy. Absolutely incredible.

[myka22]

Originally Posted by JoeBuck

From what I remember, they said they were waiting on a restoration being worked on by some Russian company weren't they?

I think that was the case. The problem is that it sounds like the version Mosfilm restored is the shorter version, and the only known copy of the long version criterion used for the dvd is damaged. This is the copy that Martin Scorsese smuggled out of Russia, that was believed to be lost forever. In addition to being longer, the Criterion version supposedly has different scene ordering and different takes, and was the version closest to Tarkovsky's original vision. Anyways, there is a lack of clarity about the whole thing, I'm not to optimistic Criterion will ever upgrade it.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

I watched Ivan's Childhood the other night on Hulu Plus and the cinematography there was just ! I don't know if I've ever seen a film with such visual depth to it. I felt like if I put my hand on the screen it would actually go through it and into the scene. 3D without the glasses and it was that way throughout the film but the forest scenes were the most memorable for me. Another film added to my Criterion 50% off list.

It's funny you're all talking about this now. I had the still unwatched Ivan's Childhood in my hand last night and decided to rewatch Solaris instead.

Which wasn't a bad way to go, of course. It's not like that blind buy is going anywhere.

[dtyner92]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

I watched Ivan's Childhood the other night on Hulu Plus and the cinematography there was just ! I don't know if I've ever seen a film with such visual depth to it. I felt like if I put my hand on the screen it would actually go through it and into the scene. 3D without the glasses and it was that way throughout the film but the forest scenes were the most memorable for me. Another film added to my Criterion 50% off list.

Glad to hear this. Ivan's Childhood, was going to be one of the films I bought during the B&N sale. Now it will be the first one I get! I can never get enough of those, eye candy films.

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by octagon

It's funny you're all talking about this now. I had the still unwatched Ivan's Childhood in my hand last night and decided to rewatch Solaris instead.

Which wasn't a bad way to go, of course. It's not like that blind buy is going anywhere.

I watched Solaris, while it was an interesting film it didn't really appeal to me that much, it felt like it was missing something. I felt the movie could've been a little more fulfilling if they

[Show spoiler]offered some more info on the presence on the planet, or even that ending where he's suddenly on the planet on a small island in the water back in his own house

.

My favorite Russian film is still Letter Never Sent. I really wish Criterion had some supplements for that one!

What are people's thoughts on Salvatore Giuliano? It's DVD only, but I don't recall seeing it getting any mention.

[dtyner92]

In both the blu-ray reviews, the reviewer mentions Andrei Tarkovsky's memoir, Sculpting in Time. Not sure how many Tarkovsky fans are on this thread but I was curious if anyone has read it?

[bigbadwoppet]

Originally Posted by JoeBuck

Lionsgate

When Studio Canal was distributed by Anchor Bay in North America you had lots of titles available. Then they had the brilliant idea of signing with lionsgate, effectively erasing SC from region A. Brilliant.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by smoss469

I watched Solaris, while it was an interesting film it didn't really appeal to me that much, it felt like it was missing something. I felt the movie could've been a little more fulfilling if they

[Show spoiler]offered some more info on the presence on the planet, or even that ending where he's suddenly on the planet on a small island in the water back in his own house

.

My favorite Russian film is still Letter Never Sent. I really wish Criterion had some supplements for that one!

I think the ambiguity of Solaris's ending works extremely well because its question of the planet can be applied to the mystery of our own world.

By the way, have you seen The Cranes Are Flying? My favorite Russian film behind Solaris.

[bigbadwoppet]

Originally Posted by Slasherob

I was catching up on a few pages of comments and keep seeing Don't Look Now "talk", is a rumor coming from anywhere specific?

Thanks!

If there's a title that's screaming Criterion treatment, that's DLN. The UK BD is region locked and not especially good. I won't stop pestering until CC releases it instead of wasting time in some rather dubious choices.

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I think the ambiguity of Solaris's ending works extremely well because its question of the planet can be applied to the mystery of our own world.

By the way, have you seen The Cranes Are Flying? My favorite Russian film behind Solaris.

I haven't seen The Cranes Are Flying yet, but I've been keeping an eye out for it on TCM. I'll eventually catch it somewhere I'm sure.

I often wonder how much ambiguous plot points are by intention vs the writer really didn't know how to explain it so they left it open ended. It's why I could never get too much into H.P. Lovecraft's writings. You can only read a story so many times where important details are left out because "they're too horrible to repeat for fear I would go mad" (or something to that effect).

Often it seems leaving things open ended is judged as something like deeper thought, but I usually feel cheated. I don't want to be hand held through any movie, but sometimes shoring up some unexplained details really makes it enjoyable for the viewer.

[JoeBuck]

Originally Posted by bigbadwoppet

When Studio Canal was distributed by Anchor Bay in North America you had lots of titles available. Then they had the brilliant idea of signing with lionsgate, effectively erasing SC from region A. Brilliant.

My reaction everytime I hear Lionsgate owns the rights to a movie I want:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWaLxFIVX1s

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by iScottie

By the way, have you seen The Cranes Are Flying? My favorite Russian film behind Solaris.

I love The Cranes Are Flying!

[dtyner92]

Originally Posted by smoss469

I haven't seen The Cranes Are Flying yet, but I've been keeping an eye out for it on TCM. I'll eventually catch it somewhere I'm sure.

I often wonder how much ambiguous plot points are by intention vs the writer really didn't know how to explain it so they left it open ended. It's why I could never get too much into H.P. Lovecraft's writings. You can only read a story so many times where important details are left out because "they're too horrible to repeat for fear I would go mad" (or something to that effect).

Often it seems leaving things open ended is judged as something like deeper thought, but I usually feel cheated. I don't want to be hand held through any movie, but sometimes shoring up some unexplained details really makes it enjoyable for the viewer.

For me, it really depends on the film. Sometimes I feel having an ambiguous ending brings an additional amount of life to it, once the credits start rolling. Plus it's fun to listen to the people in the movie theater groan and say, "what" when the film abruptly ends.