The Criterion Collection

[mikesncc1701]

Originally Posted by *DrStrangelove*

While looking through the Criterions on Hulu I found that their are two films called The Lower Depths. One by Jean Renoir and one by Akira Kurosawa. Anyone seen both of these? Which would you say is the better film?

Both are great. It's nice to compare them because though they're both based on the same source material. Renoir's is a more lighthearted film where as Kurosawa's is more serious in tone. I highly recommend watching both. One of my favorite DVD sets as well.

[greekak229]

I waited quite a bit for Criterion to release Ugetsu and Sansho. Sooo happy Eureka is releasing them.

[Darkcritic]

Originally Posted by greekak229

I waited quite a bit for Criterion to release Ugetsu and Sansho. Sooo happy Eureka is releasing them.

Both Mizoguchi were my favorite announcements ! Even though I applaud Criterion for releasing such amazing new films in the Collection, I think more upgrades would be welcomed by most of us. I don't necessarily want them to stop releasing new stuff but a balance between both is needed. An amazingly rich catalogue that feels sunken at times. I can't really complain, though. Between Masters of Cinema and Criterion (Plus many other studios), every year feels complete. I need to get a region-free player as soon as possible .

[greekak229]

Originally Posted by Darkcritic

Both Mizoguchi were my favorite announcements ! Even though I applaud Criterion for releasing such amazing new films in the Collection, I think more upgrades would be welcomed by most of us. I don't necessarily want them to stop releasing new stuff but a balance between both is needed. An amazingly rich catalogue that feels sunken at times. I can't really complain, though. Between Masters of Cinema and Criterion (Plus many other studios), every year feels complete. I need to get a region-free player as soon as possible .

They are so, so worth it. I spent over $200 for mine, but I honestly can't complain. To buy films from companies like Eureka is just something I couldn't pass up.

[fdm]

Originally Posted by bluesilo

Thanks for the quick response. Maybe I'll try to swing it after coupons and member discount at B&N. I have a few Criterions from November I haven't watched yet, but this intrigues me.

Not that you want to spend twice as much or anything, but the B2G1 sale at B&N continues thru the 30th. Could save some additional money that way depending on how you work that into your mix.

[retablo]

Not sure why I just now realized it (as well as the fact that it's really no big deal), but I noticed the cover for Anatomy Of A Murder utilizes the original poster art, which almost never happens for Criterion titles. It's great art by Saul Bass, but Criterion usually takes pride in developing their own cover art.

Trying to think off the top of my head which other titles (if any) have used original art...

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by retablo

Not sure why I just now realized it (as well as the fact that it's really no big deal), but I noticed the cover for Anatomy Of A Murder utilizes the original poster art, which almost never happens for Criterion titles. It's great art by Saul Bass, but Criterion usually takes pride in developing their own cover art.

Trying to think off the top of my head which other titles (if any) have used original art...

If I recall correctly, La grande illusion used the late 90s restoration re-release poster art, which might be true for The Third Man too, although I'm less sure about that one. The stark This Is Spinal Tap logo against black was the essence of that movie's original poster, as was the cover art for Dead Ringers, Naked Lunch, Videodrome (??), Spartacus, Time Bandits, Life of Brian, The Blob, The Lady Eve, Sullivan's Travels, Traffic, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Straw Dogs, Battle of Algiers, Z, and Charade.

These are just off the top from memory retablo. There are probably more that at least 'distilled' available artwork...although few that I recall recently. Isn't the upcoming World on a Wire cover a reproduction of the poster for that film?

[IronWaffle]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

If I recall correctly, La grande illusion used the late 90s restoration re-release poster art, which might be true for The Third Man too, although I'm less sure about that one. The stark This Is Spinal Tap logo against black was the essence of that movie's original poster, as was the cover art for Dead Ringers, Naked Lunch, Videodrome (??), Spartacus, Time Bandits, Life of Brian, The Blob, The Lady Eve, Sullivan's Travels, Traffic, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Straw Dogs, Battle of Algiers, Z, and Charade.

These are just off the top from memory retablo. There are probably more that at least 'distilled' available artwork...although few that I recall recently. Isn't the upcoming World on a Wire cover a reproduction of the poster for that film?

Good list! Sam Smith designed the World on a Wire cover and discusses the process here in depth. The blog entry includes iterations between the original poster and the final artwork.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

These are just off the top from memory retablo. There are probably more that at least 'distilled' available artwork...although few that I recall recently. Isn't the upcoming World on a Wire cover a reproduction of the poster for that film?

Charade takes various elements from the original posters and mishmashes them together.

Armageddon also uses much of the same art, slightly altered for the Criterion release.

Criterion's hacked away most of one of the original Nights of Cabiria poster to make their own:

[Show spoiler]

Brazil uses an alternate poster also slightly modified.

Life During Wartime is just a painted/sketched version of the original photographic cover.

There's more, but I want to talk about Haxan.

Haxan was really interesting, although it admittedly did take me awhile to get into the film. I don't know why it took me so long to press the mute button. You're all wondering why I said I had to press the mute button on a silent film, aren't you? Well, I felt that the musical score they used didn't really match up with the events occuring in the film. It seemed far too upbeat and "happy" to me, and I felt that I got more out of it watching it in total silence, as it just made things seem more like a moving history book.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Haxan was really interesting, although it admittedly did take me awhile to get into the film. I don't know why it took me so long to press the mute button. You're all wondering why I said I had to press the mute button on a silent film, aren't you? Well, I felt that the musical score they used didn't really match up with the events occuring in the film. It seemed far too upbeat and "happy" to me, and I felt that I got more out of it watching it in total silence, as it just made things seem more like a moving history book.

You could play Black Sabbath or Candlemass in the background.

[octagon]

I had a similar reaction while watching The Phantom Carriage.

The Matti Bye score (which I ultimately settled on) was kind of bouncy, almost in a dance hall sort of way that didn't really fit. The KTL score was appropriately creepy but pretty over the top and had an anachronistic 80s horror movie synth feel to it.

I would like to give the KTL score more of a chance at some point though. Even though it seemed really jarring and out of place (particularly when switching back and forth with the Bye score) it did sound pretty good.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by ravenus

You could play Black Sabbath or Candlemass in the background.

Can't say I like Black Sabbath all that much, or even heard Candlemass. I was thinking more of The Black Plague by Eric Burdon, but muting Eric Burdon's voice out of it, just some stuff a little more solemn and medieval style:

Eric Burdon & the Animals - The Black Plague.mp4 - YouTube

It's not that the music was horrid, it's just that I felt it didn't match. There is classical music that would have fit better, such as Toccata and Fugue in D minor by Bach. It's just my personal preferences though, and I know Criterion worked to re-record and arrange as close to the orignal score as possible. That is why I've chosen to view the film on silent, rather than impose my own preferences on it.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by octagon

I had a similar reaction while watching The Phantom Carriage.

The Matti Bye score (which I ultimately settled on) was kind of bouncy, almost in a dance hall sort of way that didn't really fit. The KTL score was appropriately creepy but pretty over the top and had an anachronistic 80s horror movie synth feel to it.

I would like to give the KTL score more of a chance at some point though. Even though it seemed really jarring and out of place (particularly when switching back and forth with the Bye score) it did sound pretty good.

Exactly. I watched the TCM showing of it, so I couldn't see how better or worse the "jazz" version of the score was. It's not that I don't appreciate the music, but the subject is pretty deep, disturbing, and depressing. Somewhat bouncy music just doesn't seem to fit, it's distracting.

I will most likely buy this if Criterion upgrades it to Blu though.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by HelmutNewton

Think positive. Universal seems to be upping their game recently - https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=8049

To Kill a Mockingbird was not restored. Universal took an old master (with its share of issues) and they digitally sharpened the image with excessive DNR. That's not a restoration.

Don't get me wrong. I hope they get it right on those classics. I WANT to own Mockingbird on Blu-ray. I just don't want to own a release that looks like a video game.

[rezpekt]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

To Kill a Mockingbird was not restored. Universal took an old master (with its share of issues) and they digitally sharpened the image with excessive DNR. That's not a restoration.

Don't get me wrong. I hope they get it right on those classics. I WANT to own Mockingbird on Blu-ray. I just don't want to own a release that looks like a video game.

Not true. To Kill a Mockingbird comes from a brand new scan and restoration. The problem with it is that they ****ed up the restoration with their so called "grain management".

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

Apart from the beginning of each act, I found the KTL score pretty much an ambient drone (which is what they do, and which was fine by me as I hate "jaunty" silent film scores).

Unless of course it's for a jaunty silent film? The film score for Haxan would have been ok with a Chaplin short, but it was too jaunty for medieval torture.

[rkish]

Wow...check out the "Wings" thread. Seems like Paramount did a GREAT job on the restoration! I can't wait to watch my copy this weekend.

[Banned User]

Finally got around to watching Fanny & Alexander over the weekend. I watched the TV version. The film was great and while many feel its one of Bergman's few films to be upbeat it was appropriately dark with his usual jabs at god and inevitable death. Most of the fanatastic & unusual stuff is through the eyes of the young Alexander and easily explainable. I do have troubles making sense of one scene:

[Show spoiler] When the Jewish character comes to spirit away the kids in the trunk. The bright flash on him suggests some sort of magic. Then it cuts to the two kids laying on the floor motionless and the mother tells the Bishop not to touch them. Even though we know the kids are in the trunk.
This is the one supernatural scene where it can not be easily explained away as being in the mind of the child. Unless of course this is simply how it happened in the child's mind and that is what we are viewing.

I know everybody probably has their own take on this scene and was just curious how others perceived or even rationalized it..

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by Darkcritic

After Theo Angelopoulos passed away today I started wondering why Criterion hasn't a single one of his films. In fact, I noted that most of his filmography is really hard to find and when you do they come in so-so releases. Would be nice to make a set or release one or two films in his honor. Something similar happened with Sidney Lumet and 12 Angry Men (I know they were working on it way before but ,in a way, it fitted well to recognize him after his death).

After Theo Angelopoulos passed away, I started wondering why I've never seen one of his films...

[Brad1107]

Has anyone been following Twilight Times releases or purchased any? They do a limited run of 3000 copies per title. 6 have been released so far with another 6 announced for the coming months (2 per month). The only one completely sold out so far is Fright Night (their most recent and most commercial title).

I have their first four: The Egyptian, Rapture, Fright Night and Mysterious Island and plan on purchasing the rest (they're quite expensive and can only be purchased here: http://www.screenarchives.com).

There other titles available now, or coming soon are: Picnic (1955), The Roots of Heaven (1958), Pal Joey (1957), Swamp Water (1941), Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954), Bite the Bullet (1975), Bell, Book and Candle (1958) and Desiree (1954). All seemingly more commercial titles but classic films nonetheless.