The Criterion Collection

[jw007]

Originally Posted by tatterdemalion

Have you ever read J. G. Ballard's original 1973 novel? Cronenberg had to tame down the story otherwise the movie would have been x-rated. It's about

[Show spoiler]Ballard, his wife and his crazy friend who wants to die in an accident involving Elizabeth Taylor. His friend will have sex with any woman in a car, including Ballard's wife while he's driving. Many pages of descriptions of what his friend is doing to his wife.

It was the pushing of the British New Wave SF novel (man meshed with machine) to such an extreme it became its own category.

Thanks for this insight. In that case, I will take a look at the Criterion supplements shortly and see if I can gain more illumination from the filmmakers and actors.

[Rayjg]

I’ve read only one Ballard novel so far, Concrete Island, and I still remember it vividly. Lots of amazing imagery.

[tatterdemalion]

Originally Posted by jw007

Thanks for this insight. In that case, I will take a look at the Criterion supplements shortly and see if I can gain more illumination from the filmmakers and actors.

You're welcome. I'm sot sure why I described the novel for you because it's pretty much the same as the movie. I should have just said the "love parts" are a tad bit more graphically described in the novel. Lol.

Ballard loved the film, and that's kind of a rarity with novelist and film adaptations of their work.

Originally Posted by Rayjg

I’ve read only one Ballard novel so far, Concrete Island, and I still remember it vividly. Lots of amazing imagery.

My favorites of his are Vermilion Sands & The Drowned World.

[BenOswald]

Originally Posted by jw007

I popped open my Criterion blu-ray of Crash last night for the first time and it was maybe the first time in 24 years since I saw this film. Pretty much forgot about everything but I gotta say, if you like sex, cars, and car crashes, this is your movie. I'm kind of questioning myself why I ended up buying this one though. Oh well, maybe I'll listen to the commentary to figure out what was going through Cronenberg's head. I feel like this is a polarizing film. Either you love it or hate it.

I'm a big fan of Commentaries, and Cronenberg's are always always interesting and help enrich his movies for me. His Crash commentary is the epitome of this, particularily in contextualizing the way the movie was received upon it's release.

[DimitriL]

Originally Posted by tatterdemalion

Ballard loved the film, and that's kind of a rarity with novelist and film adaptations of their work.

He was fairly pleased with Empire of the Sun as well, felt like he and Spielberg were on the same page, and was especially happy with the respect given to him by the production.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by tatterdemalion

You're welcome. I'm sot sure why I described the novel for you because it's pretty much the same as the movie. I should have just said the "love parts" are a tad bit more graphically described in the novel. Lol.

Ballard loved the film, and that's kind of a rarity with novelist and film adaptations of their work.

I spent almost 3 hours last night watching the supplements from my Criterion Crash blu-ray and learned quite a lot just watching the press conference from Cannes in 1996 (James Spader was hilarious) and the Guardian Interview with Cronenberg and Ballard not long after that festival.

I believe I know a lot more and understand the film better. Cronenberg mentioned several times that the sex IS the movie. Rather than audiences waiting for the sex scenes to end and focusing on the plot, the sex scenes are the narrative that drives the evolving story. Ballard also mentioned that its a romance film too, and its one that is perverted (or subverted as Cronenberg added). Also, the movie is a metaphorical one, not necessarily literal. But the most interesting aspect was the fusion of technology and sexuality, and how Ballard foresaw a future where cars would be the vehicle (no pun intended) for the interrelationship between human technology and human sexuality. It's a bit of a sci fi movie too in that regard.

I was surprised that J.G. Ballard embraced the film so much. He did mention how he was overjoyed that executive producer Jeremy Thomas and director David Cronenberg were making his vision come to life. He was absolutely in love with the film since it didn't fall into any genre or archetype. He even thought the film went further than his novel in terms of the graphic sexuality (which was stunning to know).

I was also surprised that Crash was the last film to receive the rare Special Jury Prize at the Cannes film festival, despite jury president Francis Ford Coppola strongly disagreeing with the film overall.

As a Film Studies graduate (PITT - '02), I'm surprised I never studied this film in depth when I was in school at the time.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by jw007

I was also surprised that Crash was the last film to receive the rare Special Jury Prize at the Cannes film festival, despite jury president Francis Ford Coppola strongly disagreeing with the film overall.

Cronenberg says that Crash was taken out of competition for the Palme D'Or BECAUSE Coppola disliked the film, and the Special Jury Prize was the way the rest of the jury expressed their disagreement with the President, since they didn't need his approval for it.

[dukiejosh54]

Just a heads up to anyone who orders The Umbrella's of Cherbourg standalone release blu-ray at amazon. They must have a large amount of stock that contains the wrong booklet inside. my copy had a booklet from the movie La Poison. I ended up just deciding to do an exchange to fix the issue but the new one i just received also has the wrong booklet inside.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by dukiejosh54

Just a heads up to anyone who orders The Umbrella's of Cherbourg standalone release blu-ray at amazon. They must have a large amount of stock that contains the wrong booklet inside. my copy had a booklet from the movie La Poison. I ended up just deciding to do an exchange to fix the issue but the new one i just received also has the wrong booklet inside.

That's odd. Years ago I went through 3 exchanges of Metropolis on DVD (Movie loaded to a pixelated screen) from BN. After the third return, I took the refund.

Maybe the Umbrella booklet is in a La Poison case?

[dukiejosh54]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

That's odd. Years ago I went through 3 exchanges of Metropolis on DVD (Movie loaded to a pixelated screen) from BN. After the third return, I took the refund.

Maybe the Umbrella booklet is in a La Poison case?

It's possible lol, I haven't come across anyone who had the same issue yet so it must of been a recent mix-up at the Manufacture.

[tatterdemalion]

Originally Posted by DimitriL

He was fairly pleased with Empire of the Sun as well, felt like he and Spielberg were on the same page, and was especially happy with the respect given to him by the production.

Originally Posted by jw007

I was surprised that J.G. Ballard embraced the film so much. He did mention how he was overjoyed that executive producer Jeremy Thomas and director David Cronenberg were making his vision come to life. He was absolutely in love with the film since it didn't fall into any genre or archetype. He even thought the film went further than his novel in terms of the graphic sexuality (which was stunning to know).

It may also be because both films stay very faithful to the original novels. Same with Kubrick and A Clockwork Orange. Except for changing Alex's age and ending the film one "chapter" early, at least 95% Burgess' novel is in the film.

[maely]

Am I the only one who's not impressed with the $60 list price for Kane 4K? I guess it goes on sale at B&N for $30, but I'm still not that keen on upgrading my Blu for $30.

Maybe it's my age, or the quality of (most of) the Blu-Ray discs that I already own, but I'm not feeling as inspired to upgrade my Blu-Ray collection as I did with my DVD collection 15 years ago. (Most of my 4Ks have been purchased on sale for $10-15 each.) I also don't think I watch movies as much as I did 15 years ago. Oh well

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by maely

Am I the only one who's not impressed with the $60 list price for Kane 4K? I guess it goes on sale at B&N for $30, but I'm still not that keen on upgrading my Blu for $30.

Maybe it's my age, or the quality of (most of) the Blu-Ray discs that I already own, but I'm not feeling as inspired to upgrade my Blu-Ray collection as I did with my DVD collection 15 years ago. (Most of my 4Ks have been purchased on sale for $10-15 each.) I also don't think I watch movies as much as I did 15 years ago. Oh well

It's a 4-disc set, with at least 2 BD's devoted to extras, plus the expected meaty booklet and premium packaging you'll get. For 30$ that sounds good to me. I paid 25$ for the 2-BD Seven Samurai set at 50% off and thought that was a good deal.

[ShellOilJunior]

$30 for what may be the definitive version of Kane. Very likely the last time you'll need to purchase on the film on home video again.

[jkoffman]

Originally Posted by dukiejosh54

Just a heads up to anyone who orders The Umbrella's of Cherbourg standalone release blu-ray at amazon. They must have a large amount of stock that contains the wrong booklet inside. my copy had a booklet from the movie La Poison. I ended up just deciding to do an exchange to fix the issue but the new one i just received also has the wrong booklet inside.

As MifuneFan said, I'd contact Criterion directly. They go above and beyond to stand by their releases. I've have had a few issues like this -- I own 250+ Criterions -- and they sent out replacements quickly. Recently they replaced my All About Eve case and His Girl Friday.

[jkoffman]

I don't know who they're price-matching this time, but Amazon has hundreds of Criterions at 50% off right now. They haven't even shown up yet in the Newest Deals on this site for me.

[Warm Gun]

Originally Posted by ravenus

It's a 4-disc set, with at least 2 BD's devoted to extras, plus the expected meaty booklet and premium packaging you'll get. For 30$ that sounds good to me. I paid 25$ for the 2-BD Seven Samurai set at 50% off and thought that was a good deal.

If only they sold a version then that only includes the two main discs. But I know that they don't do that because too many people would then buy the cheaper one. I hardly watch special features.

Yeah, thirty dollars is high.

[dvining]

Originally Posted by Warm Gun

If only they sold a version then that only includes the two main discs. But I know that they don't do that because too many people would then buy the cheaper one. I hardly watch special features.

Yeah, thirty dollars is high.

It's definitely the outer edge I'm willing to pay for a movie (fails to mention purchase of Dune Limited Edition Steelbook for $50 for reasons).

I'm in the particular situation of upgrading from a DVD, so it feels more worthwhile to me personally.

Still, Criterion is coasting on its brand to a certain degree, especially when it comes to pricing.

[regeyer]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

$30 for what may be the definitive version of Kane. Very likely the last time you'll need to purchase on the film on home video again.

Until 8K is released in a few years . . .

[theater dreamer]

I won’t upgrade every blu-Ray, obviously, but a classic like Citizen Kane, with all those extras, I’ll happily pay $30 for.

Casablanca, Lawrence of Arabia, Raiders of the Lost Ark, any number of Hitchcock films, the best of the Archers films, like The Red Shoes, Black Narcissus, etc-hell yes, I want the best presentation possible. And clearly, these will represent the definitive editions for home media.

I’ve already spent a small fortune on my collection, and the more I import, the higher my average cost rises. But for these great movies and performances, I consider it money well spent.

I’m drooling thinking about how Gregg Toland’s gorgeous black and white cinematography in Citizen Kane is going to look in 4K.