The Criterion Collection

[Sukuri]

Originally Posted by los53

anitichrist
path of glory
the magician

+3

[Josh5890]

I'm guessing House isn't too popular? Looks like I'll get those three with Seventh Samurai. Thanks alot guys.

[oildude]

You can find lots of clips of House on YouTube. They will give you some idea of what to expect. Reminded me of a cross between H.R. Puffenstuff and Scooby Doo with a lot of blood thrown in. Might rent it one day.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by oildude

I finally got around to watching Ride with the Devil last night. It was a blind buy from the November B&N sale that for some reason I always seemed to hover over then pass by when I searched my collection for a movie to watch. That was a mistake. It is a great film, with outstanding performances and cinematography. It is a take on the Civil War in the Missouri borderlands, very foreboding and effective in its mixture of drama, dialogue, character development, and explosions of violence. Its use of language is superb, and the raid on Lawrence, Kansas - and the dramatic build-up to it - is haunting and sticks with you afterwards. Ang Lee is one hell of a director.

The film is one of the best I have ever seen at bringing the time-period into my living room and giving me a sense of just how terrible it was when life-long neighbors and friends turned on each other. It does so many things well, including the issue of slavery and racism from a local and individual perspective. Jeffrey Wright is terrific. I think the film also does an effective job of conveying how, after the war, the bitterness and the prevalence of irregular guerrilla action throughout the region could give rise to the James-Younger gangs and the sympathies the locals had for them (which is why it took so many years for these gangs to finally be run to ground).

Anyway, I rank it among my favorite Criterions and definitely recommend it. I am surprised it doesn't get mentioned more in this forum.

I saw this theatrically and I'm pretty sure I was alone in the cinema.
I liked it quite a lot, for all the reasons mentioned above.
I think there was an expectation that Skeet Ulrich and Jewel were there for their looks, but both were outstanding.
I'd also like to mention Jonathan Rhys Meyers as a great villain.
Although I liked it a lot, I've never felt the need to own it on DVD or blu-ray, because I'm just not sure how replay-value I'll personally get out of it.
However, if you've never seen it I highly recommend you see it.

[oildude]

Originally Posted by drbikeshorts

I saw this theatrically and I'm pretty sure I was alone in the cinema.
I liked it quite a lot, for all the reasons mentioned above.
I think there was an expectation that Skeet Ulrich and Jewel were there for their looks, but both were outstanding.
I'd also like to mention Jonathan Rhys Meyers as a great villain.
Although I liked it a lot, I've never felt the need to own it on DVD or blu-ray, because I'm just not sure how replay-value I'll personally get out of it.
However, if you've never seen it I highly recommend you see it.

Rhys Meyers is very good. His character is not obvious as a villain at first, but as the film progresses you begin to realize he is a stone-cold killer, psychotic in his dedication to the cause as he sees it should be. And Jewel was also impressive - first film I have ever seen her in. Did not realize she could act. Not into her music so I never paid much attention to her.

And for those who only know Tobey McGuire from Spiderman, he is also very good here in his portrayal of a young Southerner born in Germany and brought to the U.S. as a baby, who, unlike the majority of German immigrants, fights for the South because that is where he was raised and where he belongs. He portrays a mildly conflicted individual with a high sense of morality who questions the madness of war and the racism shown toward Jeffrey Wright, but not the righteousness of the cause.

[silentblu]

Figured out one thing I'm doing tomorrow. Watching Bucking Broadway. I didn't realize or forgot it was on the Stagecoach release. Might as well watch that too.

[rock, stone]

Originally Posted by Josh5890

I'm guessing House isn't too popular? Looks like I'll get those three with Seventh Samurai. Thanks alot guys.

Personally, I loved House. It is completely insane and not for everyone, but if you like bizarre Japanese sensibilities then it doesn't get too much better.

I haven't seen Antichrist, but I think that might be one of the least safe blind buys out there. Still, it gets a lot of love on these boards.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

Of the titles you mentioned, Seven Samurai is the only one I can imagine that just about anyone can enjoy.

Obviously this is all completely subjective but I think Paths of Glory might actually have an edge there.

You got your war stuff, you got your courtroom drama, you got your Kirk Douglas and everybody speaks English - I can see it being a much easier sell to a lot of folks.

Either way, they're both great choices.

[kndy]

Last year we wondered if Borders would save Barnes & Nobles from their financial problems....now it looks like Borders needs some saving.

I wonder if Amazon and Deep Discount (aside from the online Criterion store) will be the best place to get Criterion titles on sale. I guess we will find out if B&N will do it again in July.

[KB24SD]

The only Criterion collection blu-ray I have right now is The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button.

I saw on Criterion's website that Fear & Loathing Las Vegas is coming out on 4/26.

Is a Pulp Fiction Criterion blu-ray also coming soon?

[UniSol GR77]

Yes, the original masterpiece, by Tarkovsky.

Criterion is "correcting" and fixing the once black and white scenes, because they were originally meant to be blue tinted.

What about 'STALKER', my supreme fave?

[UniSol GR77]

http://criterioncast.com/2011/02/13/...tock-at-65-off

MMMMMMMMM please please please, I need 'STALKER'.

[Bad Sandwich]

Yeah. Criterion thread.

[ShellOilJunior]

Solaris
M. Hulot's Holiday
Bicycle Thieves


Tossing a few out there for May. I REALLY hope we get something not hinted at but long over-due (i.e. Hiroshima Mon Amour, Battle of Algiers). Of course I'd also take something totally out of left field like Before Sunrise/Sunset (Linklater). That set would really knock me out

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by KB24SD

Is a Pulp Fiction Criterion blu-ray also coming soon?

No. It has already been announced as part of the Mirimax / Lionsgate deal. You can find the information on this site.

CC

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by Smurfgasm

I have a handful of Criterion DVDs; I'm fairly new to Blu Ray as it is. I'm thinking of starting my foray into the world of Criterion Blu with The Thin Red Line. Good place to start?

What is your avatar from??? Repulsion???? Why not start there?

[italy12]

Just watched "If...." last night with Malcolm McDowell. What an interesting little movie. It was one that I had seen in the CC section at B&N, and the premise always sounded interesting. That, and I am a fan of McDowell's work.

Anyone here ever see it? I barely see it mentioned (out of the 550+ CC films).

[italy12]

Since the events which took place in Picnic at Hanging Rock started with Valentine's Day, perhaps we will see a Blu announcement tomorrow, one day after VD...

[rkish]

Originally Posted by italy12

Just watched "If...." last night with Malcolm McDowell. What an interesting little movie. It was one thatI had seen in the CC section at B&N, and the premise always sounded interesting. That, and I am a fan of McDowell's work.

Anyone here ever see it? I barely see it mentioned (out of the 550+ CC films).

I've never seen "If....", but I did see another Lindsay Anderson/Malcolm McDowell film called "O' Lucky Man!", which I enjoyed. Very strange little film as well.

[rkish]

Originally Posted by italy12

Since the events which took place in Picnic at Hanging Rock started with Valentine's Day, perhaps we will see a Blu announcement tomorrow, one day after VD...

At 7.99 BSP, I should just buy this from Amazon UK...it's just been an expensive month so far.