The Criterion Collection

[greekak229]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Lord of the Rings are pretty good popcorn films, too.

Exactly. Fine examples of great popcorn films.

[tyrone_slothrop]

Originally Posted by gener

I can't be alone in thinking that By Brakhage benefits the least from a BD treatment. Not to mention that the film can only be "enjoyed" in short spurts while no one else is home.

This is completely incorrect with regard to the benefit of having the Brakhage films on blu-ray.

First of all, most of these films were shot on 16mm, which translates incredibly well to the blu-ray format because the resolution of the film source and the HD format are extremely close. You see natural film grain, and if you view a well transferred film sourced from a 16mm print on BRD projected on a large screen, your mind can truly be tricked into thinking it's film. I did this with Gimme Shelter recently and I dare say it looked better than the one theatrical presentation I saw years ago.

Secondly, the quality of your viewing experience of the Brakhage films on home video will be directly related to the quality of the compression scheme used. This is always the case for home viewing, but for Brakhage's work it becomes even more important because in many of these films literally every frame has a radically different image. The changes in color and texture are abrupt and happen incredibly fast. You just don't get the same effect on a DVD, with the narrower data stream.

If you can, I encourage you to look at the Brakhage material on DVD and BRD side by side both in motion and frame by frame. The difference is not subtle.

[whbinder]

Originally Posted by greekak229

Exactly. Fine examples of great popcorn films.

I think the difference - at the risk of being hippie - is heart.

There are two real reasons to make movies, a strong need to tell a story and a vehicle to make cash. A film can be both.

Look at "Cronos". No doubt that was a labor of love.
Look at "Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning". Clearly a product churned out for cash.

Did "Dark Knight" make bank? Did "Star Trek" '09? Did "Lord of the Rings"? Of course they did, but there was also a desire from the filmmakers to really make something wonderful. Nolan, Abrams and Jackson cared about Batman Kirk and Frodo.

Whenever I see an interview with Bay he talks about how amazing the special effects are - and to a degree I'll admit he probably enjoys making those effects - but he doesn't care about making a great story.

I remember when Bay was only slightly terrible a few years ago. This was during the very early development of Tranformers. He talked for 10 minutes about the movie and never once mentioned anything about Transformers, only spectacle.

To put it another way. Some filmmakers make films for themselves because they want those tales to exist. Oh sure, they hope the audience enjoys them and they hope some money is made to finance future projects, but they don't pander to the audiences demands. Other filmmakers give the audience whatever they want in search of the box office. That's the difference.

So I have no beef with popcorn films or big budget films. I think we Criterion fans sometimes dismiss them outright. I object to film without passion.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by herzog4life

I take it you haven't seen The Brown Bunny.

Why the hate?

[whbinder]

For those who are bored. The next film announced will have the URL

http://www.criterion.com/films/27544-name-of-film

So feel free to type in your guesses.

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

Why the hate?

Maybe they feel like they got the "shaft."

Maybe they didn't think the build-up was worthy of getting to see the "shaft."

Maybe they wanted to see more close-ups of Chloë Sevigny's mouth like this .

CC

[connelly13]

Originally Posted by greekak229

I don't care. Pearl Harbor, Armageddon, The Island, Bad Boys, the Transformers movies?!? Good god. Yes, you can make popcorn movies, but at least make them good! Not to mention he produces the worst kind of filth on the film market.

I think I was the only person in the world who liked The Island. Exaggeration. I don't really like the rest of those movies though. Coincidentally, I'm reading a similarly themed book right now. (Probably not too hard to guess, but I'm going to leave the title out because that might be a spoiler.)

Why did we stop playing the least favorite Criterion blu? I've only seen about 10, but I'm going with Man Who Fell to Earth. Although I watched more special features on that than any other movie. I like all the movies so far for what they are.

[whbinder]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

Maybe they feel like they got the "shaft."

CC

Actually, I would much rather watch "Shaft".

[herzog4life]

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

Why the hate?

I just didn't get it. I love slow moving films, love Vincent Gallo, love Chloe, but I was looking at my watch the entire film. The ending made me laugh a bit, but I honestly think it's one of the worst films I've seen :-/

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by herzog4life

I just didn't get it. I love slow moving films, love Vincent Gallo, love Chloe, but I was looking at my watch the entire film. The ending made me laugh a bit, but I honestly think it's one of the worst films I've seen :-/

Oh, I thought you were one of those haters of a B.J.!

[herzog4life]

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

Oh, I thought you were one of those haters of a B.J.!

BJ's are so annoying. I just hate them. OVERRATED. Who's with me?

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by herzog4life

BJ's are so annoying. I just hate them. OVERRATED. Who's with me?

Speaking of Chloë Sevigny and Herzog, My Son, My Son.....was great! Finally watched it.

[aggienader08]

Originally Posted by tyrone_slothrop

This is completely incorrect with regard to the benefit of having the Brakhage films on blu-ray.

First of all, most of these films were shot on 16mm, which translates incredibly well to the blu-ray format because the resolution of the film source and the HD format are extremely close. You see natural film grain, and if you view a well transferred film sourced from a 16mm print on BRD projected on a large screen, your mind can truly be tricked into thinking it's film. I did this with Gimme Shelter recently and I dare say it looked better than the one theatrical presentation I saw years ago.

Secondly, the quality of your viewing experience of the Brakhage films on home video will be directly related to the quality of the compression scheme used. This is always the case for home viewing, but for Brakhage's work it becomes even more important because in many of these films literally every frame has a radically different image. The changes in color and texture are abrupt and happen incredibly fast. You just don't get the same effect on a DVD, with the narrower data stream.

If you can, I encourage you to look at the Brakhage material on DVD and BRD side by side both in motion and frame by frame. The difference is not subtle.

Fantastic points! Exactly why I own it!

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

Why the hate?

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by herzog4life

BJ's are so annoying. I just hate them. OVERRATED. Who's with me?

It depends on who's delivering and the price for delivery.

CC

[bgmat58]

Originally Posted by greekak229

I don't care. Pearl Harbor, Armageddon, The Island, Bad Boys, the Transformers movies?!? Good god. Yes, you can make popcorn movies, but at least make them good! Not to mention he produces the worst kind of filth on the film market.

Good is subjective, yes? Funny but that all the films you mentioned were a success at the box office and on home video. Seems like there are quite a few people who thought they were "good" films. Clearly you are in the minority, but that's what your going for anyways, right?

LOTR is not a popcorn flick in my opinion. It's too grand in scale, so many characters, places etc.. Same with the Harry Potter films.

I see your point that Bay makes movies to make money and I agree. My only point is that he is good at doing exactly that.


Herzog- never tried the north location. I live south and the guy that manages the SUnset Valley location is a pretty nice guy and will let you use them more then once. You should hit them up in July, just after I get my shopping out of the way!

[aggienader08]

Also, In honor of CG:

[octagon]

Is there a special graphic for people who hate haters gonna hate graphics?

[italy12]

Originally Posted by herzog4life

I take it you haven't seen The Brown Bunny.

One of the only 2 movies I ever stopped early. And Frusciante did the score, whom I love as a guitarist...but that movie was bland. Maybe I missed something, but I just didn't get it.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by greekak229

Exactly. Fine examples of great popcorn films.

I don't think they're great but decent 7/10 , imo.

[aggienader08]

The Brown Bunny - 5/10 stars (6,998 votes)

"Professional motorcycle racer Bud Clay heads from New Hampshire to California to race again. Along the way he meets various needy women who provide him with the cure to his own loneliness, but only a certain woman from his past will truly satisfy him." - imdb.com

hmmm... needy women? cure to his own "loneliness"? truly satisfy him?