The Criterion Collection

[aes3728]

Originally Posted by ngower

Call for opinions: What is the single most emotionally devastating work in the Collection? Just one—only one! In other words, what film has absolutely destroyed you emotionally and shaken you to your very core? Offer a brief explanation why, but please limit it to one as I'm sure this ought to elicit a number of responses.

Paths of Glory. I've never felt so powerless during a film.

[italy12]

Been a long time since I posted here, but now that I'm in the thick of a summer break and a 50% Criterion sale, I figured I'd come and ask a question that I'm not sure was asked before. If it was, I apologize...

I've picked up quite a few CCs over the last week from the sale, and have tried staying away from the 3-disc digis. For one, shelf space is extremely limited at this point, and, packaging is banged up most of the time. I was able to snag A Hard Day's Night as it is a beautiful looking package (and I love the film!). I would assume that even if this was a regular Blu ray release, the size of the book would necessitate a digipak release, and the same for Persona.

So, a question I have is since CC has decided to go back to Blu ray and DVD only releases, do you think they'll rerelease the combo pack digis in a standard case as single Blus, or in the 3-disc plastic case they recently started using when the films don't warrant such large/thick booklets?

On another note, I did pick up the Scorcese WCP boxset and immediately watched The Housemaid. The transfer was interesting as I read they had to digitally remove burned-in subtitles for some of the footage that remained. Overall, the film was intense...and compared to how I assume modern day Americans would act in similar situations:

[Show spoiler]an affair between a man and their maid, allowing the woman to live with the family and still care for the family, and the events that unfolded after the death of the son

I found it to be an interesting take, based on the period in which the film was shot, on the subject matter.

I look forward to checking out some of the other films in this set!

[DaveyJoe]

Originally Posted by jrsl76

I still need to watch a few of these, but I can tell you that I personally preferred Cul-De-Sac to Repulsion, though it's not as good as Rosemary's Baby and Chinatown.

Fish Tank is very good, but is not one of my favorite releases.

The Naked Kiss is top tier Fuller and very highly recommended!

Originally Posted by iScottie

Cul-de-sac is an okay film and better than I had imagined. That being said, I think it's my least favorite of him other than Carnage and The Ghost Writer (which are both still decent).

Fish Tank is one of the best coming-of-age stories that I have ever seen. Buy with confidence, in my opinion.

The Forgiveness of Blood was a rather boring film, in my opinion. I thought the story was rather compelling prior to putting the film into my Blu-ray player, but I couldn't wait for it to get over. It's really, really, really slow-burning and way too campy for me. It's one of the campiest films I've ever seen, if not the campiest.

Judex was decent. It's a fun film and I actually preferred it to Eyes Without a Face (though I'm not a big fan of that film).

I have not seen Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, but it is sitting in my "to watch" pile. I can't bring myself to putting it in for some reason.

The Naked Kiss is one of three Fuller films that I've seen and it probably has to be my favorite. It's a pretty suspenseful film at times.

Thanks for the suggestions guys, it looks like the Naked Kiss is a pretty safe bet, I will place an order for that along with Shock Corridor! I will try to watch the others before making any purchases, I know Fish Tank is on Netflix. I wish Netflix had partnered with Criterion instead of Hulu. Hulu plus has a lot of great Criterion flicks but apart from that their selection is dreadful, overall it's just not worth the subscription fee.

[The Stick]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

As far as devastating Criterion titles go, Forbidden Games is certainly up there as well...

FORBIDDEN GAMES is the film that came to mind.
I have the DVD and remember the film affecting me deeply after I watched it for the first time. I'm sure having a close family member of the same age as the little girl in the film is why it affected me so...

[Meek12345]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Ah not yet! really can't wait as I loved the first - been a bit distracted as bought over 30 films this month and got a bit lost in the pile haha!

I need to try watch 2 a night or something, I forget they are dual format so can chill out in bed and watch in here who partner watches god knows what in other room haha

Well, I hope you can get back to Zatoichi soon. It is interesting to see the transition from black & white to color from the 2nd to 3rd film. Most of the films in the set are 90 minutes or less, so watching 2 at a time is usually feasible. Some of the films run at just over an hour, so you could watch 3 at a time maybe once or twice. Also, the first 3 Zatoichi films are somewhat slow and less action-packed as the Zatoichi character is developed. The story really becomes a better mix of character development and action beginning with the 4th film, Zatoichi the Fugitive.

[CMNPlanet]

Originally Posted by italy12

So, a question I have is since CC has decided to go back to Blu ray and DVD only releases, do you think they'll rerelease the combo pack digis in a standard case as single Blus, or in the 3-disc plastic case they recently started using when the films don't warrant such large/thick booklets?

It's largely going to depend on fast they burn through inventories. I imagine you'll see new DVD stand-alone re-releases before new BD stand-alone re-releases.

The digipak for Night of the Hunter was always prone to damage. It was released in 2010, but they didn't feel the need to re-press until late last year. The von Sternberg and Golden Age of Television DVD sets are now temporary OOP as they update their packaging. So it can take a while.

Even then, some of the booklets are still too tall, thick and wide for keep cases, so it won't be a simple as making $5 keep cases available through their site.

[SammyJankis]

I echo the praise for Au Revoir, Les Enfants. There's a freeze-frame in the film that I'll never forget.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by CMNPlanet

The von Sternberg and Golden Age of Television DVD sets are now temporary OOP as they update their packaging. So it can take a while.

I did not realize that The Golden Age of Television was out-of-print only temporarily. If this is true, then I won't bother seeking out the DVD right now.

What was the issue with the original packaging?

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

Blue is the Warmest Color.

I don't have time, however, to articulate. Maybe later.

Great pick, I would agree. I also agree with the Bicycle Thief selection. Au Revoir Les Enfants is up there too. Have to think about some others.

[DaveyJoe]

I found the Robert Bresson films Au Hasard Balthazar and Mouchette to be pretty draining and depressing. I enjoyed them both but rarely find myself in the mood to revisit them.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by jayembee

I do (disagree, that is). Malick might be accused of being "obscure", but I don't think anyone can reasonably accuse him of being "obtuse".

Ditto Heidegger.

I too completely disagree. I agree with your post.

[CMNPlanet]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I did not realize that The Golden Age of Television was out-of-print only temporarily. If this is true, then I won't bother seeking out the DVD right now.

What was the issue with the original packaging?

Diminishing lifespan; it's cheaper to rework existing art for a keep case than doing another run of slip boxes and digipaks.

Golden Age... is back in print on August 26th.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Sifox211

As the others have said, it is a vital film but very sad. I haven't seen it since its theatrical release, though I do have it in the DVD box set.

Speaking of which, my thoughts on Lacombe, Lucien which I did watch recently:

[Show spoiler]I found this film difficult to judge initially, as the title character appeared to be cold and cruel - normally you expect to be able to empathise with the main character. But as it went on I began to realise that that was probably the director's intention, something which was confirmed when I read the booklet afterwards - they reprint a contemporary review by Pauline Kael in which she right off the bat mentions the emotional emptiness of Lucien. This you see more and more as it goes on - how he casually gives the name of a resistance leader to the German Police; how he coldly intrudes into the lives of the Horns; how his journey is almost indifferent; and most especially near the end when he laughs, you see the immature adolescent within, given power beyond his ken (although gone at that point).

The whole is luminously shot, especially in the verdant outdoor scenes, contrasting with the horrors going, almost casually, at the same time. The editing and pacing is utterly natural and observant, almost documentary like. Disturbing and beguiling in equal measure.

Curiously, given the recent discussions on this thread about animals, a bird and several rabbits meet their maker on camera in this film...

nice to see Lacombe, Lucien discussed here! I hope that this and Murmur of the Heart will see a blu-ray upgrade.

..and yes, Au Revoir Les Enfants is a wonderful film. one of my favorites, too!

[buffetfroid]

Originally Posted by Namuhana

I'm hoping that I Know Where I'm Going! gets an upgrade soon. I've yet to see A Canterbury Tale, but I'm a big fan of Powell and Pressburger (The Red Shoes was my first Criterion title, and probably my favorite; I actually saw the pair of red shoes that Scorsese owns when I was at Berlin's Museum für Film und Fernsehen in February of 2013, which was a truly astounding experience).

+1. Those are my two favorite P&Ps. I've even stayed at the Western Isles Hotel because of IKWIG

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by ngower

Call for opinions: What is the single most emotionally devastating work in the Collection? Just one—only one! In other words, what film has absolutely destroyed you emotionally and shaken you to your very core? Offer a brief explanation why, but please limit it to one as I'm sure this ought to elicit a number of responses.

SHOAH. Try as I may, I can't fully comprehend the Holocaust; every fiber of my being rejects the concept of any person or group deliberately planning the mass extermination of other human beings, especially in such barbaric ways.

SHOAH answered many of the questions I had concerning the complicity of "neutral" countries and citizens in the Nazi's activities. For example, I was shocked to learn that the Nazis actually paid railroad fares for all the prisoners loaded onto the cattle cars to each country their trains passed through ... and that neighbors routinely moved into the empty homes of the families that were taken to be slaughtered.

The film runs 9-1/2 hours, and I literally felt as though I had been emotionally, mentally and spiritually assaulted when it concluded. It was too much to absorb in one viewing, but I won't be able to watch it again any time soon.

[adamhopelies]

Saddest film? A toss up between Make Way For Tomorrow (it "could make a stone cry", said Orson Welles), Blue Is The Warmest Colour and Pickpocket, the latter of which kills me every time.

Honorary mentions go to The Life Aquatic's Jaguar Shark scene and the last ten minutes of The Royal Tenenbaums too.

[Namuhana]

Originally Posted by buffetfroid

+1. Those are my two favorite P&Ps. I've even stayed at the Western Isles Hotel because of IKWIG

I would love to stay at the Western Isles Hotel! I'll have to make that a priority once I've acquired money and paid off my student loans.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by Roninblues

Missed out on Bambi and/or Old Yeller at a young age, did ya? I was five.

Nothing I've seen since has come close.

I dont understand why everyone thinks Bambi is a sad film... like its a cartoon >.> an like its not sad? I'm probably just heartless lol

[Clare2904]

I can't ever watch Watership Down

Can't add to the list of "emotionally draining films" bar echo Au Reviour Les Enfants & Bicycle Thieves. Not a clue why some are mentioning BITWC, I guess they saw something in Adele I certainly didn't that warrants it a mention in conjunction with the others put forward.

[Clare2904]

My recent order has arrived and one of the tabs holding the booklet in The Children Are Watching Us has broke off

I have emailed them pictures and asked for either a refund (I'll be lucky) or a replacement case to be sent.