The Criterion Collection

[stobbart]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

I don't think yours and retablo's reactions are uncommon. I hated these Suzuki films the first time I saw them. I never used to like Godard, either. One night I went to see a repertory screening of Alphaville and decided rather than struggle to understand it, I'd just sit back and enjoy what was being thrown up there on the screen for what it was. It ended up being a bit of an epiphany for me, and I've loved Godard ever since. That in turn allowed me to look at stuff like Suzuki with fresh eyes.

I find Ozu quite boring, and love the crazy '60s/'70s Japanese new wave films. In between are Kurosawa and Kobayashi, humanist but not so traditional as Ozu. Imamura and Oshima, more polished than the really crazy B-movie guys but great innovators nonetheless. There's a definite gradation there and it isn't so strange for people to gravitate to one end of the spectrum or the other.

It is just like any other type of films, you literally have to learn to watch them. You cannot take a person that watches Transformers and every major Hollywood tentpole film and sit them down with something like Branded To Kill or even a more contemporary example The Tree of Life and expect them to enjoy it. Their whole idea of what a film is and should be is so one-sided.

I think that people become elitist in the styles and films that they have taught themselves to like and watch and do not bother trying to "learn" to watch something else. It is easy to dismiss a whole director or era of film because you watched one film and did not enjoy it.

[ShellOilJunior]

Last weekend I went through all 4 parts of Fanny and Alexander (TV version). I had seen the theatrical version before and liked it. The TV version is extraordinary. I watched part 1 on friday and parts 1-3 the next day. Great cinema.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by retablo

I'm not sure if its just 60s Japanese filmmaking in general or what... but I can't ever "get into" these types of films. The language is harsh and loud, there are no "quiet moments" -- everything is frenzied and noisy and half the time (especially in Branded to Kill) the shots/editing don't even match, so it's sometimes difficult to even tell what's going on. I'm all for art film, and cool style, but sometimes things just don't connect with you artistically, and this is one of them.

Then again, i'm totally fine with sitting through a 5 hour Bergman film or a 4 hour Rivette film no problem. I'll take quiet and introspective over gaudy and noisy every time.

Wow, that doesn't track with my reaction to Pale Flower at all. I thought it was at times very deliberate (without being plodding) with no shortage of quiet moments. In fact, I remember wondering if the gambling sequences might have even gotten a bit tedious (ala interminable Hollywood poker) had I known anything about the game they were contantly playing.

And while it was visually excellent I didn't think it was all that unconventional (at least not by noir standards) and certainly not annoyingly or distractingly so.

[rkish]

To each his/her own, I guess...I'm really into Ozu...but have begun to get into Japanese noir films. It's great being into films on two different sides...keeps it interesting. I like Suzuki and those films of his that I've seen so far...

Naruse could possibly be my unspoken favorite director...

[jcs913]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

I don't think yours and retablo's reactions are uncommon. I hated these Suzuki films the first time I saw them. I never used to like Godard, either. One night I went to see a repertory screening of Alphaville and decided rather than struggle to understand it, I'd just sit back and enjoy what was being thrown up there on the screen for what it was. It ended up being a bit of an epiphany for me, and I've loved Godard ever since. That in turn allowed me to look at stuff like Suzuki with fresh eyes.

I find Ozu quite boring, and love the crazy '60s/'70s Japanese new wave films. In between are Kurosawa and Kobayashi, humanist but not so traditional as Ozu. Imamura and Oshima, more polished than the really crazy B-movie guys but great innovators nonetheless. There's a definite gradation there and it isn't so strange for people to gravitate to one end of the spectrum or the other.

For me, Suzuki is undeniably a major talent just for his mise-en-scene. There are so many iconic shots in Branded To Kill alone. Style over substance, maybe, but it took talent to conceive and capture that style, especially on a cheap, quick production. Branded To Kill is not The Killing, sure, but considering it was just a cookie cutter action picture for Nikkatsu, I think it has held up extremely well in large part due to Suzuki's hand.

Suzuki volunteers himself as something of a B-movie studio hack just doing his paint-by-numbers job, but obviously he's a lot more talented than that. If you can appreciate this talent you can enjoy his films. Not everyone's cup of tea, though.

Joe, I think the bold is pretty much what watching a film is supposed to be about. It's not an exam to watch a film, but rather an experience. I read a lot of comments on this thread about 'getting it.' I never believe you have to get it to enjoy it. Unless you are being paid to analyze what is one the screen, why do it? Your senses are either stimulated or they are not. To me, it's that simple. If you like stylish or action or plot based, etc, films, then you are stimulated, if not, then move on...

[TylerDurden]

The Great Dictator is a comedic masterpiece way ahead of its time. I have also heard that Adolf Hitler privately saw the film twice. Going to watch the special features next.

[nathan_393]

Originally Posted by TylerDurden

The Great Dictator is a comedic masterpiece way ahead of its time. I have also heard that Adolf Hitler privately saw the film twice. Going to watch the special features next.

Hitler himself? That's incredibly interesting - and I hope it's meant to be funny, because I laughed. You're not pulling my leg, are you? It sounds too awesome to be true.

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by nathan_393

Hitler himself? That's incredibly interesting - and I hope it's meant to be funny, because I laughed. You're not pulling my leg, are you? It sounds too awesome to be true.

It's actually mentioned in the supplements. So, yes, as far as anyone knows Hitler did see The Great Dictator.

[Criterion Collector]

Originally Posted by jcs913

Your senses are either stimulated or they are not. To me, it's that simple. If you like stylish or action or plot based, etc, films, then you are stimulated, if not, then move on...

Interesting point, and something I have thought about a bit in the past. I find that the films I enjoy the most are the ones that cause me to have a reaction, or emote in some way.

Weather that emotion/reaction is joy, fear, sorrow, hope, love, wonder, or if it's just flat out funny to me, then I will find it enjoyable...although I do not really enjoy being truly scared when I watch a film.

That doesn't mean I do not like horror (it is one of my favorite genres) but if something is genuinely (and seriously) creepy, then I do not like to re-visit it much.

Since I usually watch movies alone, I find (with comedies especially) that I will literally begin to cheer, yell, and get up out of my seat to dance around with excitement when I really, really like a movie. As I said though, this type of reaction generally only happens with comedies for me.

Originally Posted by ccfixx

It's actually mentioned in the supplements. So, yes, as far as anyone knows Hitler did see The Great Dictator.

That is so awesome! I would love to have been a "fly on the wall" for that screening, just to see his reaction.

[greekak229]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

It's actually mentioned in the supplements. So, yes, as far as anyone knows Hitler did see The Great Dictator.

I heard he got so mad that he killed some 6 million people over it and then some. Talk about overreacting.

[Narcissus]

Originally Posted by greekak229

I heard he got so mad that he killed some 6 million people over it and then some. Talk about overreacting.

Not Funny.


No, i'm not Jewish.

[octagon]

It was a little funny.

[Criterion Collector]

Originally Posted by octagon

It was a little funny.

Off topic, octagon, but I had to say that I finally figured out where your sig quote comes from.

When I got home from work today, I decided to watch Chinatown on Netflix as they lose the license to stream it (along with a ton of others ) here shortly.

Anyway, I was enjoying myself, and Jack Nicholson's performance (as always), when suddenly I hear "Of course I'm respectable...." HAHHAHAHHA! I about crapped myself.

[Narcissus]

Originally Posted by octagon

It was a little funny.

Watch "The World At War: Episode 20 - 'Genocide' " Then Get Back To Me....

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Narcissus

Watch "The World At War: Episode 20 - 'Genocide' " Then Get Back To Me....

I think I did see that. It was something bad, right?

Originally Posted by Criterion Collector

Anyway, I was enjoying myself, and Jack Nicholson's performance (as always), when suddenly I hear "Of course I'm respectable...." HAHHAHAHHA! I about crapped myself.

Now that's funny

[Trekkie313]

Watched Bottle Rocket, didn't really understand it...seemed like Wes Anderson was trying to channel the Coen Bros. on a shoestring budget.

[Narcissus]

Originally Posted by octagon

I think I did see that. It was something bad, right?

Point Taken:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBFgqlwhlZg

[DLizzle]

Originally Posted by TylerDurden

The Great Dictator is a comedic masterpiece way ahead of its time. I have also heard that Adolf Hitler privately saw the film twice. Going to watch the special features next.

I actually enjoyed the supplements quite a bit more than the film itself on first viewing. It was my first Chaplin as well. I wasn't sold on my first watch, but the features definitely have me looking forward to a rewatch with more context.

[TylerDurden]

Originally Posted by DLizzle

I actually enjoyed the supplements quite a bit more than the film itself on first viewing. It was my first Chaplin as well. I wasn't sold on my first watch, but the features definitely have me looking forward to a rewatch with more context.

As an amateur historian I knew exactly what I was getting into. The film had me laughing out loud! I also really fell in love with Chaplin's acting ability. He is a rare talent that will never be replicated. I really want to get Modern Times now.

[billzfan]

Ok. I'm going to be that guy. Trying to decide between The Magician, Breathless, and Paris, Texas. What would you pick if you could only afford one?