The Criterion Collection

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by kndy

Anyway, I'm interested in later Godard films (actually, open to more Godard films period) but I think for a lot of Criterion hardcore fans, it's come to the point where people want to see more directors represented from other countries than Japan, France, Italy and USA.

Criterion are a great distributor, so they don't need to improve too much what they are already doing, but I certainly hope that as Blu-ray expands, so will their catalog.

During DVD's best years, in my opinion, Criterion focused way too much on films originating from Japan, the UK, and the U.S. While the fact that there are so many U.S. directors represented in their catalog is somewhat understandable - after all, Criterion is a U.S. based company - to me, it makes little sense that they focused so heavily on Japan - while at the same time Spanish directors were basically ignored (to this day, there are only four Spanish films in their catalog, if I recall correctly).

Furthermore, if you look closer at their Italian releases, there's hardly anything beyond what is considered "mainstream classic" Italian cinema. Obviously, serious film aficionados would be forever grateful that Criterion treated, wonderfully I must say, some of the better known films Fellini, Pasolini, De Sica, Antonioni, Bellocchio, etc., did -- but, there are a number of great Italian classic films that RHV, Medusa, 01 Distribution, Minerva, and a number of other local labels have put on the market that they could have borrowed to introduce in the U.S. Bolognini, Camerini, Zurlini, Comencini, Salce, Zampa, Scola, Mattoli...the list is enormous.

I also understand that there are many issues distributors would face if they were to explore the cinema of the former Soviet-block, but, again, aside from what was basically available in the West before the fall of the Iron Curtain - mostly from "socialist" directors that were praised at Cannes, Berlin and Venice - the Criterion catalog is basically lacking important films from renowned ex- Soviet-block directors.

In any event, I wish the wonderful team at Criterion the best of luck, and hope that just as they partnered with IFC, they would manage to surprise us with a similar partnership involving a solid European distributor -- preferably an Italian one

Pro-B

[kefrank]

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

Let's just face it, people are zombies, and only getting worse. I refuse to get most of the new technology because it's lazy. If you can't open your car door on your own, you got a hard life ahead of you.

Just to clarify, liking certain movies doesn't make you pretentious, but thinking you're better than all those "zombies" certainly does.

[Volume11]

Originally Posted by kefrank

I think it's unfair to suggest that you're being "shunned." From what I can tell, most people are just engaging in the same "friendly chit chat about movies" that you claim to be. They're just in friendly disagreement with you.

I was being over dramatic and sarcastic.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by kefrank

Just to clarify, liking certain movies doesn't make you pretentious, but thinking you're better than all those "zombies" certainly does.

Well since you like those kinds of movies, I can't really take that opinion to heart.

[P@t_Mtl]

I believe that the quality of someone's work should not be judge by the popularity it hold's over the public or it's fan. A director's popularity does not mean that what he as created is bad. Not should one go about claiming those that enjoy popular things are in error to do so. That type of statement remind's me of those highschool kids who kept looking for underground unpopular music in order to stand out from the cool crowd they hated so much. The only reason to look for that underground music being to be cool themselves and thus becoming the very thing they hated. It's important to enjoy what we like but there is no reason to insult and destroy those you think are your inferior because they happen to enjoy something that is different. Doing so make's you the inferior and not them. In life don't try to look or sound cool but rather just be yourself and let others be who they are without insulting them for being themselves.

[KubrickFan]

I have to agree with you. Of course everybody has different tastes, it would be incredibly boring if everyone liked the exact same things.
However, if somebody says that The Dark Knight is the best movie ever made, and you ask if he's seen some older titles or foreign titles, I don't think you're insulting that person (if you're doing it politely). If that person says 'no' to those questions, and has no intentions to do that I think he limits himself by missing out on some great movies. Great movies are made everywhere and you can only see them if you're open to it. It doesn't matter if they're Hollywood blockbusters or a low budget movie from Poland.

[kefrank]

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

Well since you like those kinds of movies, I can't really take that opinion to heart.

I'm just ribbing you of course, but maybe you missed the point of my joke. It doesn't matter what movies you like or what movies I like. Liking Godard doesn't make you any more pretentious than liking Spielberg. Being pretentious is entirely based on one's attitude toward other people. An attitude that views most people as zombies is definitely not "the opposite of pretentious."

When people call you pretentious and you call them zombies, well...you're both probably right.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

I hope you don't think I responded to you with as an argue. You seem pretty cool on here, I was just stating my opinions. Just so that is cleared. It is hard to write on the computer with opinions and don't come off as a ***.

Ahh no way, I enjoy reading your posts. I love talking film with people who bring opinions to the table and are smart about it. I don't take offense to people who don't see 100% eye to eye with me, because no one ever will, and I hope people don't take offense with me likewise. But it's good to see people passionate about film and not just interested in the latest blockbuster.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by kefrank

I'm just ribbing you of course, but maybe you missed the point of my joke. It doesn't matter what movies you like or what movies I like. Liking Godard doesn't make you any more pretentious than liking Spielberg. Being pretentious is entirely based on one's attitude toward other people. An attitude that views most people as zombies is definitely not "the opposite of pretentious."

When people call you pretentious and you call them zombies, well...you're both probably right.

It's all cool.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by retablo

Ahh no way, I enjoy reading your posts. I love talking film with people who bring opinions to the table and are smart about it. I don't take offense to people who don't see 100% eye to eye with me, because no one ever will, and I hope people don't take offense with me likewise. But it's good to see people passionate about film and not just interested in the latest blockbuster.

This isn't the latest blockbuster, but I am flipping out like someone with Star Wars (I like Star Wars though too) right now:


Paul Thomas Anderson is going to start a new flick! YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's going to star Philip Seymour Hoffman and here are the details I found:
http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movie...#commentLstTop



Plus it's Godard's birthday, so everyone on the count of 3:

Happy Birthday Jean-Luc Godard!

[edo9125]

I loved reading the discussion in the last few pages of this thread, because I love hearing other people's opinions on film.

Something came to my mind when Cassavetes Godard mentioned some people as being "zombies", its absolutely true. We can all argue about who's films should be represented or not by Criterion, its all a matter of taste and most of us will never agree. But sadly 90% of the population don't even view films as anything more than just entertainment. If you ask people who Werner Herzog is, most wont know and half of the people who do know, will that he's the dude who made the bear movie.

If you say my point of view is pretentious then so be it, but I do think that I know more about movies than other people (not anyone in this thread of-course )

NO 300 is not the greatest film of all time STFU!!! Most people who think so are ignorant about film history. I think people's opinions on film should be respected but only if they pass a certain threshold. In my opinion if your top 3 movies this year are Transformers, Wolverine and Twilight then you can't really offer anything to the conversation. I am just trying to be honest, anyways I am gonna go back to watching my favorite movie Paul Blart Mall Cop.

[SpiderBaby]

I just think it's some people wants to talk about everything about film, and most people could care less. Not everyone has seen or is educated in film history as the next person. People thinks Twilight or something is the best movie ever because they are just jumping on to what is hot. What movie studios with money has to push into people's faces.

Do you honestly believe everyone that saw the Dark Knight was true Batman fans? Of course not. They saw it because the buzz (Ledger's death, etc). Then it got to where since that was hot, people says Ledger's Joker was the best acting ever. Only to those people, because they normally watch other "popular" "bandwagon" movies that has no substance (not saying Dark Knight didn't). It's stuff like that I say people are zombies for.

[edo9125]

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

I just think it's some people wants to talk about everything about film, and most people could care less. Not everyone has seen or is educated in film history as the next person. People thinks Twilight or something is the best movie ever because they are just jumping on to what is hot. What movie studios with money has to push into people's faces.

Do you honestly believe everyone that saw the Dark Knight was true Batman fans? Of course not. They saw it because the buzz (Ledger's death, etc). Then it got to where since that was hot, people says Ledger's Joker was the best acting ever. Only to those people, because they normally watch other "popular" "bandwagon" movies that has no substance (not saying Dark Knight didn't). It's stuff like that I say people are zombies for.

I agree with what you're saying about the bandwagon mentality. Don't get me wrong I am not against mainstream films, in-fact there are a lot of good ones and I also understand the business dynamic, the profits from 2012 will allow Sony to release Broken Embraces and The White Ribbon next year. Just like the profits from these Benjamin Button and IFC's new releases will help Criterion restore more older films.

My point is that most people know very little about movies. They complain about the look of Michael Mann's films as if he forgot to turn on the motion blur control on the camera. And they talk about it like they're experts when they know very little. Once in the middle of a movie a friend said to me seriously , hey I think they forgot to turn off the Gain setting on the Camera, referring to a setting on his digital camera. I am sure a $100 million production will have a DP using a cheap digital camera and leave the Gain on by mistake for a 1/3 of the movie. Guess what, each director will make different aesthetic choices when making their films, that is a good thing. END RANT

[QuasidodoJr]

I like all kinds of films. My tastes are all over the spectrum. I, of course, know when I put a movie on whether or not I'm putting it on just to be entertained for a few hours, or when I'm looking to explore a piece of art.

I don't think either Transformers movie comes anywhere close to being a film of actual substance, but I own the first one on HD DVD and the second on blu-ray, and I can still be entertained with giant robots knocking each other around for a few hours, in pretty, shiny high definition. I'm not a zombie (although I sometimes look the part in the morning ), but I definitely can still enjoy the occasional Hollywood action blockbuster extravaganza.

[edo9125]

Originally Posted by QuasidodoJr

I like all kinds of films. My tastes are all over the spectrum. I, of course, know when I put a movie on whether or not I'm putting it on just to be entertained for a few hours, or when I'm looking to explore a piece of art.

I don't think either Transformers movie comes anywhere close to being a film of actual substance, but I own the first one on HD DVD and the second on blu-ray, and I can still be entertained with giant robots knocking each other around for a few hours, in pretty, shiny high definition. I'm not a zombie (although I sometimes look the part in the morning ), but I definitely can still enjoy the occasional Hollywood action blockbuster extravaganza.

110% agree.

What I was saying was that a lot of people cant tell the difference between movies with that are pure Entertainment and others that are art. They think everything should be a thrill ride or it sucks.

I mean most people actively avoid movies in Black & White or movies with Subtitles.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by edo9125

110% agree.

What I was saying was that a lot of people cant tell the difference between movies with that are pure Entertainment and others that are art. They think everything should be a thrill ride or it sucks.

I mean most people actively avoid movies in Black & White or movies with Subtitles.

I like mainstream movies as well. Nic Cage is in my top 3 actors working today. Though that isn't a great example for "mainstream" since he bases his acting on much more "art" film actors and his characters have a huge amount of substance, it's just people can't see Nic Cage as a smart actor, which he is. When he let's loose and goes crazy, and the director gives him freedom, he is unstoppable, even in the crappiest film.

I like the Terminators, Star Wars, Batmans, Godfathers, etc. Just not my fav movies by a long shot.

[Riff Magnum]

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

This isn't the latest blockbuster, but I am flipping out like someone with Star Wars (I like Star Wars though too) right now:


Paul Thomas Anderson is going to start a new flick! YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's going to star Philip Seymour Hoffman and here are the details I found:
http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movie...#commentLstTop



Plus it's Godard's birthday, so everyone on the count of 3:

Happy Birthday Jean-Luc Godard!

Best news i've heard in a while.

[kndy]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

I also understand that there are many issues distributors would face if they were to explore the cinema of the former Soviet-block, but, again, aside from what was basically available in the West before the fall of the Iron Curtain - mostly from "socialist" directors that were praised at Cannes, Berlin and Venice - the Criterion catalog is basically lacking important films from renowned ex- Soviet-block directors.

In any event, I wish the wonderful team at Criterion the best of luck, and hope that just as they partnered with IFC, they would manage to surprise us with a similar partnership involving a solid European distributor -- preferably an Italian one

Pro-B

I would love to see more cinema from other countries but I would like to see where Criterion goes with the Eclipse series. Obviously, they have a lot of titles they have had through licensing (and as my source has told me, they've had quite a while), I personally would love to see these classic titles receive a Criterion Collection treatment than an Eclipse treatment devoid of the extras.

But looking at the newer films that Criterion has put out on the Essential Arthouse (esp. volume 4) and what we are getting via the Eclipse series, I feel that older, older classics will get the Eclipse treatment and on Blu-ray - newer titles and very few re-releases.

I definitely would like to see Russian cinema. Btw, I haven't been following the Masters of Cinema releases in Europe but are they ramping up releases over there? And is their representation of DVD/BD releases from other countries pretty diverse or is it pretty similar to what Criterion has released over here?

[edo9125]

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

I like mainstream movies as well. Nic Cage is in my top 3 actors working today. Though that isn't a great example for "mainstream" since he bases his acting on much more "art" film actors and his characters have a huge amount of substance, it's just people can't see Nic Cage as a smart actor, which he is. When he let's loose and goes crazy, and the director gives him freedom, he is unstoppable, even in the crappiest film.

I like the Terminators, Star Wars, Batmans, Godfathers, etc. Just not my fav movies by a long shot.

Yeah, I think Nicolas Cage is great! His performance in The Bad Lieutenant was just amazing!

Bad Lieutenant, Matchstick Men, Lord of War, Leaving Las Vegas, Adaptation, The Weather Man, Racing with the Moon and Wild at Heart are all excellent films in my opinion. He is one of my favorite actors too.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by edo9125

Yeah, I think Nicolas Cage is great! His performance in The Bad Lieutenant was just amazing!

Bad Lieutenant, Matchstick Men, Lord of War, Leaving Las Vegas, Adaptation, The Weather Man, Racing with the Moon and Wild at Heart are all excellent films in my opinion. He is one of my favorite actors too.

Lucky you. Bad Lieutenant hasn't started where I live yet. It's only limited in the U.S. so I can't see it yet.

If you haven't seen Vampire's Kiss, you should. Nic Cage walking around thinking he is a vampire by being bit by a woman. He even uses cheap, fake vampire teeth. Awesome.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmNP0OlfQ7c