The Criterion Collection

[dvining]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

How about being old enough to go back to the early 80s when BRAVO had on air hosts like Martin Scorsese and David Ansen introducing commercial free movies that had NEVER aired on American television before? AMC actually lived up to its name by showing only American Movie Classics and later Sundance and IFC were an indie/foreign film lovers dream. Yeah, I might be a geezer when I say the old days were better, but is there anyone here who can say these channels as they exist today are an improvement over the way they once were? What is it, Season 38 now on THE WALKING DEAD?

Old movies are far more niche than a repetitive, meandering soap opera where zombies get killed every once in a while with endless empty cliffhangers.

[dylrichard02]

Originally Posted by dvining

Old movies are far more niche than a repetitive, meandering soap opera where zombies get killed every once in a while with endless empty cliffhangers.

I always thought I was in the minority for not really like The Walking Dead. I couldn't even get into the earlier seasons that were so beloved by many.

Interestingly enough, streaming never went through a phase where you could see a lot of niche stuff (at least that I observed), you had to subscribe to a niche streaming platform. Just goes to show how little variety you get if you rely on a gatekeeper like Netflix or a Cable Network. Although I will say I am presently surprised with the amount of Bergman, Goddard, Fassbinder, etc. on HBO Max's TCM hub.

[dvining]

Originally Posted by dylrichard02

I always thought I was in the minority for not really like The Walking Dead. I couldn't even get into the earlier seasons that were so beloved by many.

Interestingly enough, streaming never went through a phase where you could see a lot of niche stuff (at least that I observed), you had to subscribe to a niche streaming platform. Just goes to show how little variety you get if you rely on a gatekeeper like Netflix or a Cable Network. Although I will say I am presently surprised with the amount of Bergman, Goddard, Fassbinder, etc. on HBO Max's TCM hub.

I made it about 3 episodes into season 2 before I just gave up. I was bored stiff.

The start of streaming was Netflix, of course, and they transitioned to a focus on television pretty quickly, moving away from film. A popular two hour film may get watched a bunch, but it's nothing like the dedicated numbers you can get from a popular television show of 100+ episodes.

I think movie streaming is kind of a niche thing in and of itself, at least in comparison to long form programming that we would have called television ten years ago.

[dylrichard02]

Originally Posted by dvining

I made it about 3 episodes into season 2 before I just gave up. I was bored stiff.

The start of streaming was Netflix, of course, and they transitioned to a focus on television pretty quickly, moving away from film. A popular two hour film may get watched a bunch, but it's nothing like the dedicated numbers you can get from a popular television show of 100+ episodes.

I think movie streaming is kind of a niche thing in and of itself, at least in comparison to long form programming that we would have called television ten years ago.

Fortunately HBO Max has the "curators" from TCM, which get many films from Janus and Criterion, plus lots of old MGM and WB films, and create a nice selection. My parents use cable and gave me their log in for HBO Max. I have to say, I'm way more pleased with it than I ever was with Netflix for selection alone. 14.99 a month is kind of steep though.

I really never had much interest in streaming films over physical media, until Netflix for example got Scorsese and Charlie Kaufman on board. But you're right about it's major difference from 3 decades back on Bravo. I've never even witnessed Bravo as a non-reality network. But I can only see some streaming platforms dying out and us getting left with something similar to modern day Bravo, IFC, AMC, and Sundance, just through Hulu, Netflix, and Disney+.

[dvining]

Originally Posted by dylrichard02

Fortunately HBO Max has the "curators" from TCM, which get many films from Janus and Criterion, plus lots of old MGM and WB films, and create a nice selection. My parents use cable and gave me their log in for HBO Max. I have to say, I'm way more pleased with it than I ever was with Netflix for selection alone. 14.99 a month is kind of steep though.

I really never had much interest in streaming films over physical media, until Netflix for example got Scorsese and Charlie Kaufman on board. But you're right about it's major difference from 3 decades back on Bravo. I've never even witnessed Bravo as a non-reality network. But I can only see some streaming platforms dying out and us getting left with something similar to modern day Bravo, IFC, AMC, and Sundance, just through Hulu, Netflix, and Disney+.

Yeah, I've grown to really appreciate HBO Max's film library. It's probably the best out of the marquee streamers. When I first got it, I bookmarked something like 40-50 films and watched them all in a few weeks.

However, I also acknowledge that I'm not in the majority about this. HBO Max is happy to have a niche thing if it increases signups somehow, but they're going to gravitate towards splashier movies like the Godzilla v Kong stuff that drives mass attention and then fall back on their television library like The Sopranos to keep people around month after month.

I have access to the Criterion Channel but just haven't dug into it seriously yet. A lot of what I had been looking for ended up in HBO Max, which I had access to first, and I keep going down very specific rabbit holes that I don't want to deviate from. I just started watching all of Howard Hawks' movies in order (watching The Criminal Code last night), and nothing Hawks made is on the Channel that I don't already own on Blu-ray. One day, I'll stop these little dives and actually make my viewing a bit more random again, but today is not that day.

[dylrichard02]

Originally Posted by dvining

Yeah, I've grown to really appreciate HBO Max's film library. It's probably the best out of the marquee streamers. When I first got it, I bookmarked something like 40-50 films and watched them all in a few weeks.

However, I also acknowledge that I'm not in the majority about this. HBO Max is happy to have a niche thing if it increases signups somehow, but they're going to gravitate towards splashier movies like the Godzilla v Kong stuff that drives mass attention and then fall back on their television library like The Sopranos to keep people around month after month.

I have access to the Criterion Channel but just haven't dug into it seriously yet. A lot of what I had been looking for ended up in HBO Max, which I had access to first, and I keep going down very specific rabbit holes that I don't want to deviate from. I just started watching all of Howard Hawks' movies in order (watching The Criminal Code last night), and nothing Hawks made is on the Channel that I don't already own on Blu-ray. One day, I'll stop these little dives and actually make my viewing a bit more random again, but today is not that day.

I watched Bringing Up Baby on HBO Max the day after CC announced it. So it's nice to have that overlap and I am going to watch stuff leading up to the July 50% off sale so I can decide on certain titles. It's a nice resource and looks pretty good on my TV for streaming.

[dvining]

Originally Posted by dylrichard02

I watched Bringing Up Baby on HBO Max the day after CC announced it. So it's nice to have that overlap and I am going to watch stuff leading up to the July 50% off sale so I can decide on certain titles. It's a nice resource and looks pretty good on my TV for streaming.

I bought a digital copy of Bringing Up Baby on Amazon for $1 (yes, one dollar) a couple of years ago.

I showed it to my wife who simply would not get into it while I was laughing my ass off through the whole thing.

[dylrichard02]

Originally Posted by dvining

I bought a digital copy of Bringing Up Baby on Amazon for $1 (yes, one dollar) a couple of years ago.

I showed it to my wife who simply would not get into it while I was laughing my ass off through the whole thing.

How one could not laugh at Bringing up Baby, I'll never understand. It is the one Cary Grant film my Mom didn't show me when I was a little kid. She says she does not like it, I don't understand.

[UnionJackMix]

From what I can remember the only time I really laughed was when Katharine Hepburn is dragging the leopard in the policy station believing it's her baby while we know it's not.
I am definitely buying this when it's out and looking forward to watching it for the second time only.

[dvining]

Originally Posted by UnionJackMix

From what I can remember the only time I really laughed was when Katharine Hepburn is dragging the leopard in the policy station believing it's her baby while we know it's not.
I am definitely buying this when it's out and looking forward to watching it for the second time only.

Just don't look too closely at the center of the screen.

[Vigojean]

I finally saw Criterion’s Mon oncle Antoine. No disrespect, but this is really considered the greatest Canadian film of all time? I know the director turned out to be a pedophile, so now the movie has gone out of favor, but the fact that it was consistently ranked Canada’s greatest cinematic achievement is puzzling. It’s good, but not great. Shouldn’t a Cronenberg movie be considered Canada’s greatest film?

[theater dreamer]

The Walking Dead did absolutely nothing for me, though admittedly, I did go into it with a bit of a closed mind. There was this whole "zombies and vampires" craze in entertainment for about 15 minutes that just held no interest for me.

Mad Men, Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, however...that's a completely different story. Collectively, they contain some of the best writing for television I've ever seen.

Originally Posted by dylrichard02

I always thought I was in the minority for not really like The Walking Dead. I couldn't even get into the earlier seasons that were so beloved by many.

Interestingly enough, streaming never went through a phase where you could see a lot of niche stuff (at least that I observed), you had to subscribe to a niche streaming platform. Just goes to show how little variety you get if you rely on a gatekeeper like Netflix or a Cable Network. Although I will say I am presently surprised with the amount of Bergman, Goddard, Fassbinder, etc. on HBO Max's TCM hub.

[Rui]

Originally Posted by Vigojean

I finally saw Criterion’s Mon oncle Antoine. No disrespect, but this is really considered the greatest Canadian film of all time? I know the director turned out to be a pedophile, so now the movie has gone out of favor, but the fact that it was consistently ranked Canada’s greatest cinematic achievement is puzzling. It’s good, but not great. Shouldn’t a Cronenberg movie be considered Canada’s greatest film?

Canada's greatest film is 'Strange Brew' and I will fight anyone who disagrees.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by Rui

Canada's greatest film is 'Strange Brew' and I will fight anyone who disagrees.

[Show spoiler]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qY1yoS2ZrbI

[jgogg]

Originally Posted by Rui

Canada's greatest film is 'Strange Brew' and I will fight anyone who disagrees.

As a Canadian, I would confirm that it's certainly Canada's most Canadian film.

[JasonMichael]

Originally Posted by Vigojean

I finally saw Criterion’s Mon oncle Antoine. No disrespect, but this is really considered the greatest Canadian film of all time?

It is? Who rates it?

[Vigojean]

Originally Posted by JasonMichael

It is? Who rates it?

Like every 10 years some Canadian thing does the top ten list and it’s always #1. Well not anymore, some Eskimo movie recently topped it.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_...ms_of_All_Time

[JasonMichael]

Originally Posted by Vigojean

Like every 10 years some Canadian thing does the top ten list and it’s always #1. Well not anymore, some Eskimo movie recently topped it.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_...ms_of_All_Time

Thanks for the answer, but I don't think I have the same taste as the TIFF people!

[Vigojean]

Originally Posted by JasonMichael

Thanks for the answer, but I don't think I have the same taste as the TIFF people!

lol. I just noticed every movie on those lists is directed by a Canadian. That’s dumb if that’s a rule. I’d suggest Paul Thomas Anderson go over there and make “the greatest Canadian movie” with little effort, but I guess that would disqualify him since he’s American.

I noticed the British are ashamed to admit that Kubrick and Gilliam directed their best movies. Because they’re not British? 🤷*♂️ I like If... and Kes and Trainspotting as much as the next guy, but come on, better than Brazil? Barry Lyndon? Clockwork Orange?

[Rayjg]

Originally Posted by Vigojean

Like every 10 years some Canadian thing does the top ten list and it’s always #1. Well not anymore, some Eskimo movie recently topped it.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_...ms_of_All_Time

Eskimo Nell