The Criterion Collection

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

Okay, I finally received World on a Wire, and ever since this previously-unfamiliar-to-me Fassbinder film was first mentioned in this thread, I've been very anxious to see it. But...

...it's 212 furshlugginer minutes long! 3 1/2 furshlugginer hours! After 2 weeks of teasing me from my Criterion shelf, I still haven't found a viewing block long enough to accommodate it. Since its arrival, it's become the most eagerly anticipated disc in my collection that I can't watch without breaking up...which until now, I've been reluctant to do. I mean, this isn't the TV remake of Day of the Triffids. So...

...if I'm not going to be able to digest all of World on a Wire in a single pass, then what's the next best way to watch it? Is there a natural break I should look for? Something - anything - that will allow me to walk away from it for a day or two?

Seriously folks, this is extremely frustrating...

I watched it over 2 days and loved it. I think I'll try to watch it all in one day sometime in the future.

[donald.brown]

Any chance of a blu-ray release of The Lady Eve?

[AgentOrange]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

Yes, there's the option to choose part 1 or part 2, or just watch it all together. The options of which part should be below the 'movie' option on the main menu.

Coincidentally I watched this today (all in 1 sitting). Even if you choose to watch it all together rather than select "Part I", it still rolls the credits at the end of the 1st "TV episode", and then the Criterion Logo and the beginning credits roll again at the start of the 2nd episode. I found that a bit odd considering this was shown theatrically (then again they might have done the same thing, or even had an interlude at a theatrical showing).

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

Okay, I finally received World on a Wire, and ever since this previously-unfamiliar-to-me Fassbinder film was first mentioned in this thread, I've been very anxious to see it. But...

...it's 212 furshlugginer minutes long! 3 1/2 furshlugginer hours! After 2 weeks of teasing me from my Criterion shelf, I still haven't found a viewing block long enough to accommodate it. Since its arrival, it's become the most eagerly anticipated disc in my collection that I can't watch without breaking up...which until now, I've been reluctant to do. I mean, this isn't the TV remake of Day of the Triffids. So...

...if I'm not going to be able to digest all of World on a Wire in a single pass, then what's the next best way to watch it? Is there a natural break I should look for? Something - anything - that will allow me to walk away from it for a day or two?

Seriously folks, this is extremely frustrating...

I first saw the full film early on an afternoon. I couldn't imagine seeing it for the first time over two nights. The film is just too rich and engrossing. Don't sweat the purchase because after having seen it, it's perfectly fine, when revisiting, to split into two seeing as they're totally distinct ( almost as distinct as Che's two parts).

Just Blind Bought Sweetie, A Christmas Tale & People on Sunday for $17 (plus shipping) each off an Amazon seller.

[SlickDamian]

Does anyone else think that it is realistic to see a Criterion release of McQueen's Shame? They did a nice edition of Hunger. Also, there was Fish Tank, another film starring Fassbender. I think that Shame would be a great film for Criterion.

[nateynate87]

Originally Posted by joie

World on a Wire was never shown theatrically. It was made for TV with two episodes. It had one re-run, on TV.

He could be referring to the US theatrical run it had a few months back.

I was unable to see it but I'm sure someone in here did and can confirm if they played it like that in the theater too.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by joie

World on a Wire was never shown theatrically. It was made for TV with two episodes. It had one re-run, on TV.

For some time, the film was only available on the Internet via file-sharing communities. However, a completely restored version was shown at the 60th Berlin International Film Festival in 2010. It was also released on Region 2 DVD by Kinowelt/Arthaus as part of the Arthaus premium series and by Second Sight in the UK. It has since screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival, New York's Museum of Modern Art, Rochester, NY's Dryden Theatre, the Harvard Film Archive, the Cleveland Cinematheque, Nashville's Belcourt Theatre, the University of Colorado at Boulder's International Film Series, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 2010 and 2011.

It was released on Blu-ray by the Criterion Collection in February 2012

It had a theatrical release, SB hyped it up to no end. I couldn't go because it came nowhere near me.

[P@t_Mtl]

WOW!!!!

I say catchup, you say ketchup!

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I first saw the full film early on an afternoon. I couldn't imagine seeing it for the first time over two nights. The film is just too rich and engrossing. Don't sweat the purchase because after having seen it, it's perfectly fine, when revisiting, to split into two seeing as they're totally distinct ( almost as distinct as Che's two parts).

I watched it it one sitting as well when I first got it. I will probably slipt it from now on when I will watch again. I suppose it depend how much I feel for it. Certain times I will slpt longer movies and other times I just want to watch them none stop. Like last night I stop after watching the first part of Cleopatra, was getting late and I probably would have start dozing off if I watched the second part right way.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by SlickDamian

Does anyone else think that it is realistic to see a Criterion release of McQueen's Shame? They did a nice edition of Hunger. Also, there was Fish Tank, another film starring Fassbender. I think that Shame would be a great film for Criterion.

Shame is being released by Fox in about 3 weeks. Not sure why Criterion would need to do it. Fox will put together a good video and audio package.
I saw Shame recently and thought it was quite overrated. A good film in a lot of respects, but clearly fails in a number of areas.
A noteworthy performance by Michael Fassbender. I was quite surprised he didn't receive an Oscar nomination.

[AgentOrange]

Originally Posted by joie

If you insist it had a theatrical release, it must have had one, but it didn't have a theatrical release in Germany before the two-part TV series was shown. It was made for TV ... All of the "theatrical releases" seem to have occurred long after the show appeared on TV. In Criterion's own supplements, the lack of a theatrical release is discussed.

Criterion has released TV programs before, so it's nothing that anyone should feel ashamed of.

I know it was made for TV, I was referring to the 2010 theatrical release, which is mentioned right on the back of the case...

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I first saw the full film early on an afternoon. I couldn't imagine seeing it for the first time over two nights. The film is just too rich and engrossing. Don't sweat the purchase because after having seen it, it's perfectly fine, when revisiting, to split into two seeing as they're totally distinct ( almost as distinct as Che's two parts).

In the end, I couldn't imagine splitting my first viewing of World on a Wire either. So I weasled out of all of my plans for last night, and settled in for the long haul. I just couldn't stand it any longer - this thing has been pinned near the top of my must see list since I first heard about it here late last year.

Glad I did make the space for the whole shebang because I loved it...as much or more than any other Fassbinder work I've seen, with the possible exception of Berlin Alexanderplatz, which is kind of in a class by itself if for no other reason than its vaulting ambition. Actually, I had to double-check the original release date for World on a Wire...it certainly looked like something from the early '70s, but it felt w-a-y more modern, even post-modern at times. Despite the quaintness of its filmmaking style and retro grasp of technology, it has aged very well conceptually. It certainly got the ideas right, so in that regard, it felt timeless.

And the faces! Like Fellini, this guy just found the most intriquing mugs, and shot them from the strangest, unapologetically expressive angles. There was very little evidence here that Fassbinder was 'making do' for TV either...this was as carefully crafted as anything for the big screen (all those mirrors in every shot!). Even if the quality of the picture and sound betrayed its vintage source, with the grain in some scenes looking less film-like than the byproduct of compression noise, it wasn't a show-stopper. After the first few minutes I was too engrossed to care. This thing could have been ripped from a Telecine Kinescope and it would have still worked.

Just a superb cinematic experience end-to-end. Worth every lame excuse and apology I had to make for flipping off everything else last night. Thank you all for the original recommendation, especially SpiderBaby.

[stobbart]

Criterion needs to get Yasmin Ahmad in the collection.

Also an Apichatpong Weerasethakul Eclipse set of his shorts would be really cool.

[billzfan]

Has anyone heard about a blu-ray release for La Dolce Vita? It's one of my top 10 favorite films ever and I'm sure it would be incredible in HD.

[Yami]

Originally Posted by billzfan

Has anyone heard about a blu-ray release for La Dolce Vita? It's one of my top 10 favorite films ever and I'm sure it would be incredible in HD.

There are ongoing legal issues but IVC have announced a Japanese Blu-Ray for May 25th.

[billzfan]

Originally Posted by Yami

There are ongoing legal issues but IVC have announced a Japanese Blu-Ray for May 25th.

Is it region free?

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by billzfan

Is it region free?

Even if it isn't, Japan is Region A

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

In the end, I couldn't imagine splitting my first viewing of World on a Wire either. So I weasled out of all of my plans for last night, and settled in for the long haul. I just couldn't stand it any longer - this thing has been pinned near the top of my must see list since I first heard about it here late last year.

Glad I did make the space for the whole shebang because I loved it...as much or more than any other Fassbinder work I've seen, with the possible exception of Berlin Alexanderplatz, which is kind of in a class by itself if for no other reason than its vaulting ambition. Actually, I had to double-check the original release date for World on a Wire...it certainly looked like something from the early '70s, but it felt w-a-y more modern, even post-modern at times. Despite the quaintness of its filmmaking style and retro grasp of technology, it has aged very well conceptually. It certainly got the ideas right, so in that regard, it felt timeless.

And the faces! Like Fellini, this guy just found the most intriquing mugs, and shot them from the strangest, unapologetically expressive angles. There was very little evidence here that Fassbinder was 'making do' for TV either...this was as carefully crafted as anything for the big screen (all those mirrors in every shot!). Even if the quality of the picture and sound betrayed its vintage source, with the grain in some scenes looking less film-like than the byproduct of compression noise, it wasn't a show-stopper. After the first few minutes I was too engrossed to care. This thing could have been ripped from a Telecine Kinescope and it would have still worked.

Just a superb cinematic experience end-to-end. Worth every lame excuse and apology I had to make for flipping off everything else last night. Thank you all for the original recommendation, especially SpiderBaby.

I know it's a plot spoiler, but you forgot to mention Klaus Löwitsch taking his shirt off at every opportunity.
But seriously, you're right - conceptually it holds up so well, and stylistically it's great to look at, even if it is dated 16mm. The production design and camera work is fantastic. Imagine trying to make sure the camera wasn't being reflected in one of the many mirrors...

[monque]

Can somebody name the movie in which in the last scene a girl is walking and crying and a street parade or band is playing. I know somebody posted a clip some time ago and I have been going razy trying to find the name of that movie.

[IronWaffle]

Originally Posted by monque

Can somebody name the movie in which in the last scene a girl is walking and crying and a street parade or band is playing. I know somebody posted a clip some time ago and I have been going razy trying to find the name of that movie.

Sounds like Nights of Cabiria (depending on whether it's a girl or woman).