The Criterion Collection

[oildude]

I finally had some time to watch a few movies last night and today.

People on Sunday - I really liked this. I think it may be one of the best silents I have ever seen. It feels intimate, modern, and real. As a time trip back to Weimar-era Berlin, it is a feast for the eyes. There is so much detail and life to the city, it is as much a character as the people appearing in the film. I loved the way Berliners are shown enjoying their weekend, with the five main actors blending into the whole setting.

For all of its modern feel, People on Sunday is also a window looking into a lost world. I have read several books about the Battle of Berlin in 1945, and have watched film footage of the US and Britiish bombings, the Soviet advance into the city, the house to house fighting, anti-tank guns firing down city streets, the bombed out tenements, shops, factories, public buildings. As I watched the movie, I could not help comparing in my mind those images of a dead and skeletal Berlin with what I was seeing in front of me. The movie is a celebration of life, but it is a sad and surreal viewing experience knowing what fate lay in the near future of all of those people shown on screen. Watching the playing children was especially touching.

Does anyone know what became of the main actors? I have not viewed the supplements yet, so I do not know if they address this.

I also liked the modern music score best. It seemed to give the film a more immediate and contemprary feel to match the dynamic of the city and its people. This is a silent film that just demands to be seen and recognized as a marvel of time and place. I recommend it highly.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Celine & Nickleback are ok, it's for Justin Beaver that we need to apologize to the entire planet

After all these years, I still apologize for Terry Jacks' "Seasons in the Sun".

"Good-bye my friend, it's time to die..."

By comparison, Dion is Callas.

[SlickDamian]

Originally Posted by oildude

I finally had some time to watch a few movies last night and today.

People on Sunday - I really liked this. I think it may be one of the best silents I have ever seen. It feels intimate, modern, and real. As a time trip back to Weimar-era Berlin, it is a feast for the eyes. There is so much detail and life to the city, it is as much a character as the people appearing in the film. I loved the way Berliners are shown enjoying their weekend, with the five main actors blending into the whole setting.

For all of its modern feel, People on Sunday is also a window looking into a lost world. I have read several books about the Battle of Berlin in 1945, and have watched film footage of the US and Britiish bombings, the Soviet advance into the city, the house to house fighting, anti-tank guns firing down city streets, the bombed out tenements, shops, factories, public buildings. As I watched the movie, I could not help comparing in my mind those images of a dead and skeletal Berlin with what I was seeing in front of me. The movie is a celebration of life, but it is a sad and surreal viewing experience knowing what fate lay in the near future of all of those people shown on screen. Watching the playing children was especially touching.

Does anyone know what became of the main actors? I have not viewed the supplements yet, so I do not know if they address this.

I also liked the modern music score best. It seemed to give the film a more immediate and contemprary feel to match the dynamic of the city and its people. This is a silent film that just demands to be seen and recognized as a marvel of time and place. I recommend it highly.

Never had any interest in People On Sunday before, but your post makes it look very intimate, beautiful and touching.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Criterion Collector

May I ask if there was anything specific that turned you off to this film? Not trying to argue, everyone has different tastes, just curious.

I didn't think much of the writing

But seriously folks...I wouldn't say I wasn't say I was turned off, exactly. I didn't love it but I didn't dislike it either and there were aspects I really liked a lot. In a weird way it almost reminded of post-70s Polanski - a story that I didn't really connect with coupled with really, really effective atmosphere.

And as I said earlier, it did click with me on enough levels to make me want to see more of his stuff from that period.

[*DrStrangelove*]

That David Lean set looks interesting. Would you recommend it to someone who hasn't seen any of Leans films?

On another note, my Army of Shadows bluray came from Amazon today. Excited to watch it. My copy of Taxi Driver came also, which should I watch first?

[octagon]

Originally Posted by oildude

Does anyone know what became of the main actors? I have not viewed the supplements yet, so I do not know if they address this.

I don't believe they went on to do much of anything because none of them were actors.

Originally Posted by SlickDamian

Never had any interest in People On Sunday before, but your post makes it look very intimate, beautiful and touching.

SpiderBaby was beating the drum pretty hard when it was announced so I thought 'okay, why not...it sounds interesting enough' but I was completely blown away. I still find it kind of hard to believe something so superficially simple and straighforward could be so engaging but it really does draw you in.

It's well worth a look.

[RojD]

Originally Posted by octagon

In general while I appreciate the spectacle and craft (of all involved) of Lean's epics and enjoy them well enough I can't really say I've liked any of them. At least not in that visceral 'omg, best. movie. ever.' sense. I would readily put them on a great films list but they wouldn't even be a consideration for any of my favorites lists.

Gotta say that Lawrence of Arabia touched me in a psychological soft spot. I've seen it several times, projected and on my own screen, and I've enjoyed every grain of sand in those long, telephoto shots. I even included Aqaba on a Middle Eastern trip once and hired a car with some friends to camp in the desert at Wadi Rum so we could march around and sing "I'm the man who broke the bank at Monte Car-lo!" Yeah, I'm a fan.

I think the psychology of that movie separates Lawrence from Lean's other, colder epics. The hero is a very complex guy you sometimes like and sometimes don't, sometimes admire and sometimes loathe. I'm a little at a loss to name another movie character who is that complex....and filmed so strikingly...and involved in so many great action shots. It's a 216-minute character study.

I can't imagine whoever owns Lawrence every licensing it, to Criterion or anyone else. And more's the shame since it's not even available on blu here. My top blu wait.

Check it out. The other epics have a certain heaviness, but this one is worth the time.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

I'm gonna let you in on a little secret and what I know to be the truth. All of Lean's earlier British films are better than his Hollywood epics. There's a great UK DVD set of all the British films. Get it now.

I've had Hobson's Choice collecting dust for a while...I think I'm going to dig that out next.

Originally Posted by RojD

Gotta say that Lawrence of Arabia touched me in a psychological soft spot. I've seen it several times, projected and on my own screen, and I've enjoyed every grain of sand in those long, telephoto shots. I even included Aqaba on a Middle Eastern trip once and hired a car with some friends to camp in the desert at Wadi Rum so we could march around and sing "I'm the man who broke the bank at Monte Car-lo!" Yeah, I'm a fan.

I think the psychology of that movie separates Lawrence from Lean's other, colder epics. The hero is a very complex guy you sometimes like and sometimes don't, sometimes admire and sometimes loathe. I'm a little at a loss to name another movie character who is that complex....and filmed so strikingly...and involved in so many great action shots. It's a 216-minute character study.

I can't imagine whoever owns Lawrence every licensing it, to Criterion or anyone else. And more's the shame since it's not even available on blu here. My top blu wait.

Check it out. The other epics have a certain heaviness, but this one is worth the time.

Lawrence, Zhivago and even River Kwai (though to a lesser extent) all hit me pretty much the same way. They're very impressive, interesting and engaging (and I'm not just saying that because it's expected - there were a lot of legitimate 'whoa' moments in all three) but they weren't very satisfying. When they were done they were done.

[CHEЯNOБLY!]

Originally Posted by *DrStrangelove*

On another note, my Army of Shadows bluray came from Amazon today. Excited to watch it. My copy of Taxi Driver came also, which should I watch first?

Taxi Driver is quite an incredible b-ray package. If you haven't seen it in awhile I would recommend that 1st. Really made me fall in love with the film again (kind of a twisted film to use the term "love", lol ).

[oildude]

Originally Posted by octagon

I don't believe they went on to do much of anything because none of them were actors.

Not what I meant. They played roles taken from their real life professions, but they still acted in the film. I meant what became of them later. Did they survive the war? For instance, did the wine salesman, a former officer, end up being recalled into the Wehrmacht ten years later? What became of the women? Just wondering if anyone knows what happened to them or if they simply disappeared from history.

[lemonski]

Originally Posted by oildude

I finally had some time to watch a few movies last night and today.

People on Sunday - I really liked this. I think it may be one of the best silents I have ever seen. It feels intimate, modern, and real. As a time trip back to Weimar-era Berlin, it is a feast for the eyes. There is so much detail and life to the city, it is as much a character as the people appearing in the film. I loved the way Berliners are shown enjoying their weekend, with the five main actors blending into the whole setting.

For all of its modern feel, People on Sunday is also a window looking into a lost world. I have read several books about the Battle of Berlin in 1945, and have watched film footage of the US and Britiish bombings, the Soviet advance into the city, the house to house fighting, anti-tank guns firing down city streets, the bombed out tenements, shops, factories, public buildings. As I watched the movie, I could not help comparing in my mind those images of a dead and skeletal Berlin with what I was seeing in front of me. The movie is a celebration of life, but it is a sad and surreal viewing experience knowing what fate lay in the near future of all of those people shown on screen. Watching the playing children was especially touching.

Does anyone know what became of the main actors? I have not viewed the supplements yet, so I do not know if they address this.

I also liked the modern music score best. It seemed to give the film a more immediate and contemprary feel to match the dynamic of the city and its people. This is a silent film that just demands to be seen and recognized as a marvel of time and place. I recommend it highly.

I loved People On Sunday (I blind bought it based on Dr. Svets review), for exactly the same reasons as you. It was like going back in a time machine to 1930, yet it was very modern at the same time. Loved the Kats-Chernin score too.

After I watched it, I went to imdb to find out if by some miracle any of the actors was still alive; amazingly one of the women died only a few months ago aged 100. And the brunette chick is very cute I don't normally imagine people from 1930 as being attractive LOL

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by octagon

SpiderBaby was beating the drum pretty hard when it was announced so I thought 'okay, why not...it sounds interesting enough' but I was completely blown away. I still find it kind of hard to believe something so superficially simple and straighforward could be so engaging but it really does draw you in.

It's well worth a look.

Don't let Letter Never Sent pass ya by either. If someone loves films for cinematography, I'm going to tell you, hands down, one of the best made films visually that Criterion has released to this day.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by lemonski

I loved People On Sunday (I blind bought it based on Dr. Svets review), for exactly the same reasons as you. It was like going back in a time machine to 1930, yet it was very modern at the same time. Loved the Kats-Chernin score too.

After I watched it, I went to imdb to find out if by some miracle any of the actors was still alive; amazingly one of the women died only a few months ago aged 100. And the brunette chick is very cute I don't normally imagine people from 1930 as being attractive LOL

I was completely smitten. Though for me it was less of a stretch. I've always been something of a sucker for that flapperesque Louise Brooks, Myrna Loy look.

Originally Posted by SpiderBaby

Don't let Letter Never Sent pass ya by either. If someone loves films for cinematography, I'm going to tell you, hands down, one of the best made films visually that Criterion has released to this day.

Of the - what are we up to? March? titles that one has already made the cut. That's about it so far too. A Night to Remember is a strong maybe but Letter Never Sent is the only definite.

[moody41]

Originally Posted by RojD

Gotta say that Lawrence of Arabia touched me in a psychological soft spot. I've seen it several times, projected and on my own screen, and I've enjoyed every grain of sand in those long, telephoto shots. I even included Aqaba on a Middle Eastern trip once and hired a car with some friends to camp in the desert at Wadi Rum so we could march around and sing "I'm the man who broke the bank at Monte Car-lo!" Yeah, I'm a fan.

I think the psychology of that movie separates Lawrence from Lean's other, colder epics. The hero is a very complex guy you sometimes like and sometimes don't, sometimes admire and sometimes loathe. I'm a little at a loss to name another movie character who is that complex....and filmed so strikingly...and involved in so many great action shots. It's a 216-minute character study.

I can't imagine whoever owns Lawrence every licensing it, to Criterion or anyone else. And more's the shame since it's not even available on blu here. My top blu wait.

Check it out. The other epics have a certain heaviness, but this one is worth the time.

Sony own the rights and they've done a 8k restoration so expect a similar package to Taxi Driver when released in 2012.

[RojD]

Originally Posted by moody41

Sony own the rights and they've done a 8k restoration so expect a similar package to Taxi Driver when released in 2012.

Weee-Haaaa! It'll be one of the few BDs I buy as a new release.

Originally Posted by octagon

I was completely smitten. Though for me it was less of a stretch. I've always been something of a sucker for that flapperesque Louise Brooks, Myrna Loy look.

And speaking of Louise Brooks, when is Pandora's Box going to go blu? Her Lulu is one of my favorite characters in movies. I like how open, sincere, sexy, honest, enthusiastic and attractive she is in that film. I can't recall another sound film lead like her, though I was pretty surprised to find Michelle Williams' character in My Week with Marilyn has similar depth and complexity.

[punisher]

any ideas on the difference between the regular blu ray of Godzilla and the upcoming criterion release?

[*DrStrangelove*]

Originally Posted by lherman22

Taxi Driver is quite an incredible b-ray package. If you haven't seen it in awhile I would recommend that 1st. Really made me fall in love with the film again (kind of a twisted film to use the term "love", lol ).

Yea I haven't seen it in a while so I'm pretty excited to watch it again in high def. I've heard a lot of good things about this bluray and can't believe it took me this long to get it. Well better late than never.

[Cookson]

Originally Posted by punisher

any ideas on the difference between the regular blu ray of Godzilla and the upcoming criterion release?

Criterion has actually remastered the japanese version. Also, the american version is a "bonus" feature(and also first time on blu ray). Also think there's more special features on this BD than the first.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by punisher

any ideas on the difference between the regular blu ray of Godzilla and the upcoming criterion release?

The first release (from two years ago) was a bit of a mess. It is really not a great release. Criterion will be more expensive but it's going to be a truly wonderful release if you are a fan of this movie.

[TJS_Blu]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

There's a great UK DVD set of all the British films. Get it now.

17 pounds for 10 films, huh? If I didn't already have the Criterions (and planning on getting the Coward BRs), I'd be all over this.