The Criterion Collection

[Cinemach]

Originally Posted by THALL434

I really loved Videodrome, gotta love the mixture of thought provoking social commentary and disturbing images of violence and sex. So what films in the old CC are similar? House? Chronos?

This is kind of off-the-wall, but I was reminded very much of Blow Up (and its filmic progeny, The Conversation) whilst watching Videodrome, due to the use of technology, and its peripheral attributes, as social comment. Blow Up certainly doesn't have any disturbing violence though; there's sex but it's not particularly disturbing, either. It's not a Criterion title - though another of its so-called filmic progeny, Blow Out, is; I haven't seen that film though.

Originally Posted by THALL434

I ordered Belle De Jour (Catherine Deneuve ) during the valentines day sale along with Charade, M, and Godzilla. I also have Videodrome, Breathless, The Killing, Paths of Glory, Dazed & Confused, and Benny Button. Oh and I ordered The Last Temptation of Christ yesterday.

I am open to anything, there are so many I don't know what to get next. I am thinking of getting a copy of Pierrot Le Fou before the price goes way up. I watched Breathless recently and I want more Godard.

I don't think Pierrot le Fou will skyrocket to The Third Man prices but The Man Who Fell to Earth, another OOP Criterion title, commands outrageous prices as well with another (much cheaper) blu on the market, so who knows.

And it's a wonderful film too, though it's hard to recommend because it's so whimsical and free-form with no real narrative thread. If you're familiar with 60's Godard then go ahead freely, though if you're worried especially about it being hard to find I'd say go ahead without these trepidations...you could probably sell it later if you don't like it.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by DetroitSquirreL

Under the 1 votes is 'Touch of Evil', rumor has it that Universal are going to release it in the US under their 100th Anniversary campaign

Anyone who has a region-free player needs to get the MoC version of Touch of Evil. Amazing blu-ray package.
I've already watched the Restoration version twice in 1.85:1, so now I need to watch it in 1.33:1. Then I'll wath the previous versions

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Cinemach

This is kind of off-the-wall, but I was reminded very much of Blow Up (and its filmic progeny, The Conversation) whilst watching Videodrome, due to the use of technology, and its peripheral attributes, as social comment. Blow Up certainly doesn't have any disturbing violence though; there's sex but it's not particularly disturbing, either. It's not a Criterion title - though another of its so-called filmic progeny, Blow Out,

I don't think Pierrot le Fou will skyrocket to The Third Man prices but The Man Who Fell to Earth, another OOP Criterion title, commands outrageous prices as well with another (much cheaper) blu on the market, so who knows.

And it's a wonderful film too, though it's hard to recommend because it's so whimsical and free-form with no real narrative thread. If you're familiar with 60's Godard then go ahead freely, though if you're worried especially about it being hard to find I'd say go ahead without these trepidations...you could probably sell it later if you don't like it.

Pierrot Le Fou for me is very easy to recommend: Even if you don't get everything it's very fun and gorgeous. At the very least you won't have another film like it in your collection! ...I'd like to see Band of Outsiders and 2 or 3 things... On blu.

[RudyC]

Originally Posted by White Dang

do you mean alan parker?

sorry yes alan parker...

would be cool..

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Pierrot Le Fou for me is very easy to recommend: Even if you don't get everything it's very fun and gorgeous. At the very least you won't have another film like it in your collection! ...I'd like to see Band of Outsiders and 2 or 3 things... On blu.

Pierrot Le Fou is whimsical and free form but with his cool relax style. I second the comment above. If you liked Breathless check out Vivre sa Vie. A life of Parisian prostitute through Godard's eyes. Beautiful black and white cinematography. I cannot get enough of Anna Karina.

[Sukuri]

I've seen vivre sa vie twice, the second time with commentary, and both time it was aaaagony. I did dig Pierrot le fou the second time around though.

[arcadeforest]

Picked up The Last Temptation of Christ - only my second Criterion along with Topsy-Turvey. Want to get Godzilla, Solaris, Days of Heaven . . .

[spanky87]

If I didn't like Breathless, should I still check out Pierrot Le Fou? I appreciated Breathless from a technical standpoint, but just didn't care about anything that was going on.

[White Dang]

If you didn't like Breathless, then you probably won't like Peirot. I'd say check out Vivre Sa Vie to round out your scope of Godard and go from there.

There are a lot of interesting existential/philosophical messages in Godard's works. I didn't like him at first but his films have a way of growing on you if you really invest the effort.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by spanky87

If I didn't like Breathless, should I still check out Pierrot Le Fou? I appreciated Breathless from a technical standpoint, but just didn't care about anything that was going on.

That's a good question. I think Breathless as a existential love story. Pierrot Le Fou is an equal in technical cinematic execution, but it is a French Bonnie and Clyde, with a lot free form moments. Vivre sa vie is arranged in chapters (Quentin steals that device in pulp fiction), plot is based on a prostitute's life; it has the same technical merits as Breathless. I feel that these three movies are equal in grandeur, but with a different plot.

Now I do not feel the same with the movie Contempt. Very similar to Breathless' plot but very boring. I do not recommend a blind buy on Contempt when it is release on CC.

[White Dang]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

Now I do not feel the same with the movie Contempt. Very similar to Breathless' plot but very boring. I do not recommend a blind buy on Contempt when it is release on CC.

Agree with you there. But it at least has Brigette Bardot's backside.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by White Dang

Agree with you there. But it at least has Brigette Bardot's backside.

Lol, very true. It was not a great film, but it had some good "parts", especially from Bardot.

[spanky87]

I actually forgot to mention that I will be blind buying Contempt in the future. But just because I'm a big fan of Brigitte Bardot and that's the only one of her most notable films that I have yet to see. If Bardot is the lead, than it shouldn't be that bad for me.

But thanks for the tip on Vivre Sa Vie. It looks interesting and I'll check it out.

[Shout92]

Last Temptation review up on the site:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-L.../35194/#Review

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by THALL434

I ordered Belle De Jour (Catherine Deneuve ) during the valentines day sale along with Charade, M, and Godzilla. I also have Videodrome, Breathless, The Killing, Paths of Glory, Dazed & Confused, and Benny Button. Oh and I ordered The Last Temptation of Christ yesterday.

I am open to anything, there are so many I don't know what to get next. I am thinking of getting a copy of Pierrot Le Fou before the price goes way up. I watched Breathless recently and I want more Godard.

Benny Button? That's a crack up
If you want more Godard you should pick up Vivre Sa Vie - there's a few of us on this forum that champion this film.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

That's a good question. I think Breathless as a existential love story. Pierrot Le Fou is an equal in technical cinematic execution, but it is a French Bonnie and Clyde, with a lot free form moments. Vivre sa vie is arranged in chapters (Quentin steals that device in pulp fiction), plot is based on a prostitute's life; it has the same technical merits as Breathless. I feel that these three movies are equal in grandeur, but with a different plot.

Now I do not feel the same with the movie Contempt. Very similar to Breathless' plot but very boring. I do not recommend a blind buy on Contempt when it is release on CC.

I disagree about Contempt. It's easily one of my favourite Godard's. I've got the region B Studio Canal edition and I've watched it a few times.

[Brad1107]

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1728196/

A Harikiri remake?

[zeroman987]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

Now I do not feel the same with the movie Contempt. Very similar to Breathless' plot but very boring. I do not recommend a blind buy on Contempt when it is release on CC.

While I am pretty neutral to the movie, I have definitely watched it several times. The first time I watched it I found it very jarring and slow moving. The second time I watched it, I felt like it moved much faster and the plot seemed much deeper. Either way, I have never found it boring and the plot is not at all similar to the plot in Breathless.

However, it really doesn't *feel* like a "Godard" film. It is definitely shot "straight" and is the most accessible Godard from a technical standpoint.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by Brad1107

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1728196/

A Harikiri remake?

Well, it's also based on the same novel by Yasuhiko Takiguchi as the first Harakiri film.

[THALL434]

Sorry for this random and off-topic remark, but when I am perusing this thread or Criterion's website, I like to listen to classical music. Anyone else? It makes you feel very regal.