The Criterion Collection

[SlickDamian]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

I borrowed a copy through pirate bay, watched it once and then went and bought a copy from Barnes and Noble, after the 50% off sale had just ended. I've watched it several times and I'm glad it's free for HULU right now. Have a few friends streaming it now.: )

How do you "borrow" something from pirate bay? Isn't it "stealing" from pirate bay?

[Al_The_Strange]

Happy Halloween! Time once again to drench myself in cinematic debauchery and filth by watching Salo: 120 Days of Sodom again! Yaaaaayyyyy.

Seriously though, it is a sick-a$$ movie, but one that's well-made and it has a point. This is probably my fifth or sixth time seeing it, and my appreciation continues to grow even if the shock value fades. It is well-filmed and staged, it is emotionally pungent, and I find that it provides a good insight on the nature of an evil or exploitative power. It's like the Mona Lisa of torture films. It's become a 5/5 movie for me.

The Criterion Blu-Ray looks and sounds great too; very sharp and clear. Colors are a bit bland, but I think that's part of Pasolini's intended style. I also have the BFI edition (Region-B locked), which also looks very sharp and clear, but has a very faint level of digital smudginess, whereas the CC copy looks more natural. However, both editions have different extras (haven't looked at the CC extras yet, but the BFI disc had some good stuff).

[pro-bassoonist]

Happy Halloween, everyone

Our review of Michelangelo Antonioni's L'avventura is below.

Stunning restoration and presentation from Criterion!

L'Avventura Blu-ray REVIEW



Pro-B

[Scottie]

You are the best, Pro-B. I cannot wait to have it in my hands!

[jw007]

I watched Eraserhead last night for the second time in my life (and first time on home video via my new Criterion blu-ray) and I was immensely disturbed. Yes, its almost like a student film from David Lynch and its quite amateur, but holy sh#t, this film is incredibly horrifying in ways I can't say. I look forward to watching all the supplements and short films tonight.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Happy Halloween! Time once again to drench myself in cinematic debauchery and filth by watching Salo: 120 Days of Sodom again! Yaaaaayyyyy.

Seriously though, it is a sick-a$$ movie, but one that's well-made and it has a point. This is probably my fifth or sixth time seeing it, and my appreciation continues to grow even if the shock value fades. It is well-filmed and staged, it is emotionally pungent, and I find that it provides a good insight on the nature of an evil or exploitative power. It's like the Mona Lisa of torture films. It's become a 5/5 movie for me.

The Criterion Blu-Ray looks and sounds great too; very sharp and clear. Colors are a bit bland, but I think that's part of Pasolini's intended style. I also have the BFI edition (Region-B locked), which also looks very sharp and clear, but has a very faint level of digital smudginess, whereas the CC copy looks more natural. However, both editions have different extras (haven't looked at the CC extras yet, but the BFI disc had some good stuff).

I was in a grocery store checkout line the other day, and saw a tabloid magazine with Kate Middleton on the cover.
The headline was, "Kate humiliated, belittled, and forced to perform royal duties."

Is it wrong that I immediately thought of Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom when I read that headline?

I saw Salò for the first time a couple of weeks ago and posted my thoughts. It's a well-made film, but I will not be revisiting it.

[TheHighRoller]

Does anyone have any guesses as to what the drawing included in the newsletter is referring to?

[jw007]

Originally Posted by TheHighRoller

Does anyone have any guesses as to what the drawing included in the newsletter is referring to?

Odd Man Out by Carol Reed

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I was in a grocery store checkout line the other day, and saw a tabloid magazine with Kate Middleton on the cover.
The headline was, "Kate humiliated, belittled, and forced to perform royal duties."

Is it wrong that I immediately thought of Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom when I read that headline?

Sounds like a reasonable connection to me, given that sensationalist headline. Then again, we don't really know what goes on there, do we?

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I saw Salò for the first time a couple of weeks ago and posted my thoughts. It's a well-made film, but I will not be revisiting it.

That's a perfectly reasonable reaction; it must mean you're perfectly sane.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I cannot wait to have it in my hands!

Hey iScottie,

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Mr. Antonioni is one of my all-time favorite directors -- as you probably already know by now from my poster gallery -- and I am very pleased that we have the last/first film from the Trilogy of Alienation on Blu-ray, and that it looks so beautiful.

And I should point the obvious: Give credit where credit is due Criterion and the people who worked on the restoration deserve all of it. I only viewed the disc and offered my thoughts on the presentation.

Have a wonderful weekend, iScottie, and everyone else

Pro-B

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Happy Halloween! Time once again to drench myself in cinematic debauchery and filth by watching Salo: 120 Days of Sodom again! Yaaaaayyyyy.

Seriously though, it is a sick-a$$ movie, but one that's well-made and it has a point. This is probably my fifth or sixth time seeing it, and my appreciation continues to grow even if the shock value fades. It is well-filmed and staged, it is emotionally pungent, and I find that it provides a good insight on the nature of an evil or exploitative power. It's like the Mona Lisa of torture films. It's become a 5/5 movie for me.

The Criterion Blu-Ray looks and sounds great too; very sharp and clear. Colors are a bit bland, but I think that's part of Pasolini's intended style. I also have the BFI edition (Region-B locked), which also looks very sharp and clear, but has a very faint level of digital smudginess, whereas the CC copy looks more natural. However, both editions have different extras (haven't looked at the CC extras yet, but the BFI disc had some good stuff).

the BFI edition also has a very brief scene that isn't in CC print

actually if you compare the images from the DVDBeaver review, Criterion's transfer actually has more colour than BFI's.

the missing 25 second footage that is on the BFI print that was used is detailed at the bottom of DVDBeaver's review as well.

[pedromvu]

Does anyone think L'avventura could be a safe blind buy, since it has the most supplements of the trilogy i am very tempted to, and it is the first of the recent releases to have a booklet

I really like Red Desert and La notte, but for some reason i was not very fond of L'eclisse, so which of the two others in the trilogy would you say it is more like?

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

the BFI edition also has a very brief scene that isn't in CC print

I think I might have actually noticed a little something missing in the CC version, I just couldn't put my finger on it.

I also just remembered the BFI disc has the English dub. Not that it's any good.

Originally Posted by Dubstar

actually if you compare the images from the DVDBeaver review, Criterion's transfer actually has more colour than BFI's.

Ah, okay. I was going just by my memory of watching the disc before, but memories can be flawed easily.

Originally Posted by pedromvu

Does anyone think L'avventura could be a safe blind buy, since it has the most supplements of the trilogy i am very tempted to, and it is the first of the recent releases to have a booklet

I really like Red Desert and La notte, but for some reason i was not very fond of L'eclisse, so which of the two others in the trilogy would you say it is more like?

I always heard that L'avventura was one of the best films ever made in all of cinema history. I rented it and it did absolutely nothing for me. But, it is a good-looking film, and chances are that I simply didn't "get it" and need to give it another shot. As it is though, I wouldn't recommend a blind-buy unless you're a diehard fan of the filmmakers or genre. But then, if you're already familiar with the other parts of the trilogy, it might be okay for you.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

Does anyone think L'avventura could be a safe blind buy, since it has the most supplements of the trilogy i am very tempted to, and it is the first of the recent releases to have a booklet

I really like Red Desert and La notte, but for some reason i was not very fond of L'eclisse, so which of the two others in the trilogy would you say it is more like?

I can't think of a safer blind buy. L'Avventura is probably the best in the trilogy and it stands out well on its own.

Also, you should give L'Eclisse another chance . It is a personal favorite of mine and very, very thought-provoking!

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I found the film to simply be okay. I think it's worth seeing for Karlheinz Böhms performance alone. He has definitely mastered the portrayal of a blank-faced, emotionless sociopath.

I did like the film's direction in exploring the roots of the problem. Mark would not have become the monster that he became if his father did not exploit him like a guinea pig. It's ironic because his father, a psychologist, should have been helping people but instead he did more harm than good.

I think it's an interesting film, my least favourite film I've seen that Powell was involved in - But that's not saying much most stuff I've seen that Powell had a hand in are among my favourite films ever made.

It is crazy to think that film ruined his career though. Someone with that body of work behind him makes Peeping Tom and, that's it, he's done!

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Jeez, it certainly sounds like you really disliked it.

I found the film to simply be okay. I think it's worth seeing for Karlheinz Böhms performance alone. He has definitely mastered the portrayal of a blank-faced, emotionless sociopath.

I did like the film's direction in exploring the roots of the problem. Mark would not have become the monster that he became if his father did not exploit him like a guinea pig. It's ironic because his father, a psychologist, should have been helping people but instead he did more harm than good.

The theme and story were good yes.
It's the execution of it I didn't like.
I was bored to death! I hardly could sit through the end.
(and it's not like I don't like slow films. Mallick is one of my favourite directors)

[DenOfEarth]

Originally Posted by iScottie

A box set with The Elephant Man, Fatso, My Favorite Year, and other films is apparently going to be released by Brooksfilms.



It has never looked or sounded better. Glad I purchased it!

Are you sure?

[Clare2904]

Sad to say that I am done with buying Criterion's for at least 6 months after the last Flash sale. I have over 25 films waiting to be watched. Seems stupid to me to spend more money on films now that I will only be watching in 6 months time. There will be other sales closer to the watch time.

[inderweltsein]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

Well I'm much more excited by Odd Man Out coming to the Criterion Collection than I would be about The Tree of Life. :P

I would be as much excited for both. But as I have the French blu of Odd Man Out (that is not bad at all quality-wise, I doubt Criterion will be able to improve much, except maybe on some scratches and speckles), I am much more impatient for any new Malick release in the Criterion Collection.

[SammyJankis]

The L'Avventura release seems like a dream come true. Can't wait to get my hands on it.