The Criterion Collection

[rezpekt]

Offtopic: 68th Venice Film Festival line-up was announced today. New films from Roman Polanski, Andrea Arnold, David Cronenberg, Steve McQueen, Todd Solondz and other Criterion favorites.


Competition:

• TOMAS ALFREDSON - TINKER, TAYLOR, SOLDIER, SPY
• ANDREA ARNOLD - WUTHERING HEIGHTS
• AMI CANAAN MANN - TEXAS KILLING FIELDS
• GEORGE CLOONEY - THE IDES OF MARCH [OPENING FILM]
• CRISTINA COMENCINI - QUANDO LA NOTTE
• EMANUELE CRIALESE - TERRAFERMA
• DAVID CRONENBERG - A DANGEROUS METHOD
• ABEL FERRARA - 4:44 LAST DAY ON EARTH
• WILLIAM FRIEDKIN - KILLER JOE
• PHILIPPE GARREL - UN ÉTÉ BRULANT
• ANN HUI - TAOJIE (A SIMPLE LIFE)
• ERAN KOLIRIN - HAHITHALFUT (THE EXCHANGE)
• YORGOS LANTHIMOS - ALPEIS (ALPS)
• STEVE MCQUEEN - SHAME
• GIAN ALFONSO PACINOTTI [GIPI] - L'ULTIMO TERRESTRE
• ROMAN POLANSKI - CARNAGE
• MARJANE SATRAPI, VINCENT PARONNAUD - POULET AUX PRUNES
• ALEKSANDER SOKUROV - FAUST
• TODD SOLONDZ - DARK HORSE
• SION SONO - HIMIZU
• TE-SHENG WEI - SEEDIQ BALE

Out of competition program includes films like:

• CHANTAL AKERMAN - LA FOLIE ALMAYER
• MARCO BELLOCCHIO - NEL NOME DEL PADRE [GOLDEN LION FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT 2011]
• NICHOLAS RAY - WE CAN'T GO HOME AGAIN [NEW RECONSTRUCTED AND RESTORED VERSION] [NICHOLAS RAY 1911-2011]
• SUSAN RAY - DON'T EXPECT TOO MUCH [NICHOLAS RAY 1911-2011]
• ROBERTO ROSSELLINI - INDIA, MATRI BHUMI [NEW RESTORED VERSION] [ROSSELLINI RITROVATO]
• STEVEN SODERBERGH - CONTAGION
• WHIT STILLMAN - DAMSELS IN DISTRESS [CLOSING FILM]
• and many more...!

Full line-up and more information @ http://www.labiennale.org/en/Home.html

[rkish]

Originally Posted by rock, stone

Which episode of the series is Frank Zappa in?

It's the intro to episode 57...I do remember seeing this before and it's quite funny...

‪Mike Nesmith and Frank Zappa‬‏ - YouTube

[Barrysupreme]

Over the last few days I have watched The Third Man and Wages Of Fear, both I have seen once before and at that time didn't really appreciate them. On second veiwing my opinion is somewhat different. I very much enjoyed both films, although I found The Third Man not as engaging as Wages Of Fear (I am not comparing the films as similar) but I am looking to watch it again soon with the audio commentary by Steven Sodderberg and Tony Gilroy.

Wages Of Fear was simply brilliant, from start to finish. I loved the relationship with the drivers and the drivers mate, the last scene where the 2 guys have to venture through a every deeping oil pit was a real highlight of the film for me, excellent transfer too cannot praise it enough. Deffinately going in my top ten

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by dr.mabuse

Thanks! But I sent an email to mulvaney@criterion.com, mainly because I bought the BD from a retailer and because of this info on their websit:

Has anyone ever emailed about a torn cover or booklet and actually got a good response?
Just curious. I hate when my new Bluray has a torn cover

[ParticleDan]

Originally Posted by Banned User

Has anyone ever emailed about a torn cover or booklet and actually got a good response?
Just curious. I hate when my new Bluray has a torn cover

Yes. I sent a note to both John Mulvaney and the generic store email about a badly damaged booklet. It took some time, but I ended up getting a response requesting my mailing address so a new booklet could be sent. I'm very impressed with their customer service.

[rock, stone]

Originally Posted by rkish

It's the intro to episode 57...I do remember seeing this before and it's quite funny...

[Show spoiler]‪Mike Nesmith and Frank Zappa‬‏ - YouTube

Oh wow, thanks for that.

When I was a kid I watched a lot of Monkees on morning syndication and know that I never saw that (although I imagine that would have been an easy syndication cut). I started getting into Zappa when I was about 13 and was very excited when I discovered he was already briefly on my well worn Head lp.

I have to say, I'm still baffled to have Head on Blu ray, let alone on a Criterion disc.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by rock, stone

Which episode of the series is Frank Zappa in?

Originally Posted by rkish

It's the intro to episode 57...I do remember seeing this before and it's quite funny...

Yep, that would be Monkees Blow their Minds, the second last episode of the series. He was Mike's pick for a guest star The previous episode had Charlie Smalls (The Wiz songwriter), who was Davy's pick, and the following Episode would have folk singer Tim Buckley, who was Micky's pic. Had the series continued, Peter would have brought on Janis Joplin (who he was "dating," for lack of a better word and out of politeness, at the time) or Pete Seeger.

If anyone is curious as to who guest starred in what episodes of the Monkees, here's a starter list from Wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...nkees_episodes

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by BazMoney81

Over the last few days I have watched The Third Man and Wages Of Fear, both I have seen once before and at that time didn't really appreciate them. On second veiwing my opinion is somewhat different. I very much enjoyed both films, although I found The Third Man not as engaging as Wages Of Fear (I am not comparing the films as similar) but will but looking to watch it again soon with the audio commentary by Steven Sodderberg and Tony Gilroy.

Wages Of Fear was simply brilliant, from start to finish. I loved the relationship with the drivers and the drivers mate, the last scene where the 2 guys have to venture through a every deeping oil pit was a real highlight of the film for me, excellent transfer too cannot praise it enough. Deffinately going in my top ten

I feel like I should give Wages of Fear another go, as I also saw it when I was much younger. I've been re-visiting a few films over the last few years and have found greater appreciation has come with my own maturity.

Also, your avatar is so great - I just tracked down the full-sized picture

[Old Geezer]

Recently decided to get back to my roots during the B&N Criterion sale and picked up 12-13 new blu-rays that I had passed on till now. I had seen most of them but (uncharacteristically for me) waited for a sale. What I wanted to add was that I hope that some of you aren't missing out on some great movies just because they haven't come out on blu-ray yet.

I finished off (I hope) my month long buying splurge by purchasing
Early Bergman set
L'Avventura
L'Eclippse
Pandora's Box
Diary of a Lost Girl ( Louise Brooks -Yowzaa )

all on DVD. Also watched Nights of Calibria on Netflix last night and I think I know what my next purchase will be. I've mostly been lurking on this board for quite awhile while I explored other movies, but I've returned to my true love.

[BohemianGraham]

I watched The Great Dictator last night, and while I enjoyed it, I just didn't love it. It seemed like I was expecting so much, with all the hype surounding it, but it didn't quite pay off. I would watch it again, but not sure if I actually want to own it. Perhaps I shouldn't have watched it immediately after Hausu.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by Old Geezer

What I wanted to add was that I hope that some of you aren't missing out on some great movies just because they haven't come out on blu-ray yet.

Which is why I just bit the bullet and ordered four of the Japanese box-sets:
Oshima's Outlaw Sixties
Travels with Hiroshi Shimizu
Silent Ozu - Three Family Comedies
Three Films by Hiroshi Teshigahara
I figured these aren't about to be upgraded to blu-ray anytime soon, plus the Nikkatsu Noir films were of a very good quality and the reviews of these sets were also good.

[Monty70]

Originally Posted by deltasun

LOL...you obviously don't know what you're talking about since you can't distinguish the difference between a master and a transfer.

I did not understand your original comment that stated the BD of Paths of Glory used an "old master". The booklet included with the disk states that "a 35mm fine-grain master positive from UCLA film archivist Robert Gitt's collection" was used to create the high-definition transfer.

I was always under the impression that the best option for creating a HD transfer would be the original camera negative (which would be very old in this instance), providing that it was in good condition. So with Paths of Glory, the next best option of a fine-grain master positive was used. (from reading the "about the transfer" sections of the booklets included with Criterion releases I have found that a fine-grain master positive is the most frequently used means of creating HD transfers)

Any information that you have come across about the materials used by Criterion for the Paths of Glory transfer would be appreciated.

[BluPops]

In all my years, I think I can count on one hand the films that blew me away on first viewing (North by Northwest, Clockwork Orange, Twentieth Century, Maltese Falcon and a few others). Most, while great and good, just didn't (but I still love them

I think it's due to our unrealistic expectations after hearing so much about them and how great they are, and exposure to the film in bits and pieces over time...

Still love Great Dictator though! "Herr Garbage" hehehehe
Although I think I lean toward preferring Modern Times and City Lights.

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

I watched The Great Dictator last night, and while I enjoyed it, I just didn't love it. It seemed like I was expecting so much, with all the hype surounding it, but it didn't quite pay off. I would watch it again, but not sure if I actually want to own it. Perhaps I shouldn't have watched it immediately after Hausu.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by Cocophone

I keep thinking I should buy Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence during this sale.

Watched this again last night...... less thinking... more ordering is in store for you.

[majorkonig41]

I watched Kes for the first time ever this morning and I have to say I do not see what the big deal about this movie is. I found it to be utterly boring and the ending predictable from the moment the kid takes the bird. I would have much rather have had more scenes with the bird then the kid getting picked on. There is only so many times you can see someone getting bullied before it becomes repetitive. Can someone let me in on what I missed?

[Beta Man]

The fact that he gets bullied to the point where you don't want to see him get bullied anymore, is sorta the point.....

[ry35an]

Hey Beta Man, I just noticed your location....that's the funniest line in Major League! Always cracks me up.

[BluPops]

So, why'd you buy Seven Samurai if you don't value their opinion?

Originally Posted by JLTucker

So? Their opinion means nothing to me and shouldn't.

[greekak229]

Sooo, Deep Discount, do they charge right when the order's placed or when the item eventually ships? Yes? No? Maybe so? Anyone? Anyone?

[AreaUnderTheCurve]

Originally Posted by aggienader08

It's very odd that you won't give Seven Samurai , the most revered and talked about film of all time, a solid sit through. Was there something other than the story and character progression that you didn't find appealing enough to make it through?

Yes: the acting. It seems that the actors are overdoing it and the one actor with that goofy look on his face is very, very annoying.