The Criterion Collection

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by Oblivion138

That's what happened to me with The Third Man...and if I can ever get it for less than $100, I'll snatch it right up.




Man, have I been waiting for this upgrade.

Hopefully, within the next year or so, we'll get Night on Earth, as well.

I'm still hoping for Ghost Dog, which is probably one of my most wanted titles.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by IronWaffle

Two recommendations:
1) You need to write an episode guide. I mean, how do you remember that level of detail?!?

2) See a therapist. Monkees fans iz dee crazierest people

1) I only remembered that much because I watched it recently. When I heard the news about Davy, it gave me an excuse to sit down and watch all 58 episodes in one big marathon (still haven't gone back to 33 1/3 or watched all of the 1997 TV special, and I've watched the show sporadically here and there) and Head with and without the audio commentary. I also have a tendancy to retain useless information, that's supposed to fire my imagination. I've always been like that too, which is why I took history in undergrad, and hold a Masters of Library and Information Science.

Also, Andrew Sandoval alread has the episode guides covered anyways.

2) Does watching The Youngs Ones (which coincidently, Micky Dolenz actually loves, believe it or not) count as therapy? Cause I'm planning on watching that, and I won't let Jerzy near the goldfish.

Edit: I should add that I was a Young Ones fan before I found out about Micky liking it, in case others thought that was the only reason why I liked the show. I actually got into The Young Ones by way of Blackadder, which I was a fan of long before I became the gigantic Monkees fan I am today. I honestly used to think they were a useless boyband with a few catchy tunes, but then in 2004/2005, I heard The Porpoise Song and watched Head, did some research, and I became a believer (sorry couldn't leave that pun out). Although I will say, The Young Ones definitely did take a lot from the Monkees, and they even have a guy named Mike as the leader, although Mike Thecoolperson (character's name), is actually more like a pathetic version of Davy Jones, as he's short, lecherous, and highly unsuccessful at getting girls.

[ShellOilJunior]

Great to allegedly see more Jarmush on the way. I'm just wondering why that blog assumes the Criterion release will be 7/10 because the film will be screened on 7/3....

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Great to allegedly see more Jarmush on the way. I'm just wondering why that blog assumes the Criterion release will be 7/10 because the film will be screened on 7/3....

Criterion cast make a lot of poor assumptions. Remember how they thought Three Outlaw Samurai was going to be Rashomon?

[IronWaffle]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Criterion cast make a lot of poor assumptions. Remember how they thought Three Outlaw Samurai was going to be Rashomon?

Speaking of which, I'm psyched: Rashomon is being screened at the National Gallery in DC this Sunday. I've only watched it on my old 20" CRT (I've neglected that DVD).

I wish it were playing at the AFI instead, though, since that is usually a harbinger of forthcoming Criterion releases.

[IronWaffle]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

1) I only remembered that much because I watched it recently. When I heard the news about Davy, it gave me an excuse to sit down and watch all 58 episodes in one big marathon (still haven't gone back to 33 1/3 or watched all of the 1997 TV special, and I've watched the show sporadically here and there) and Head with and without the audio commentary. I also have a tendancy to retain useless information, that's supposed to fire my imagination. I've always been like that too, which is why I took history in undergrad, and hold a Masters of Library and Information Science.

Having watched 33-1/3 for the only time six months ago, aside from the extended jam at the end I strongly advise against it. In fact, if I had a time machine that could only go back once I think I might prevent its production. It's almost as bad as the not-short-lived-enough "New Monkees"

New Monkees

Also, Andrew Sandoval alread has the episode guides covered anyways.

Good point. But what it lacks is a combination of panache and thought-provoking ideas. What the Monkees lack and that you could provide is an exigetic approach that goes beneath the most obvious and whimsical, even if clearly satirical and subversive, traits of the original program.

[Show spoiler]Perhaps, for instance, just as Andy Kaufman carefully planned and executed his fake his death to live on an island with Hendrix, Morrison and McCartney (we all know he's dead), Rafelson and the Monkees actually concocted the entire series in advance (like Lost, which everyone knows wasn't made up as it went along) to lead up to HEAD, which, counter to their public claims, was not intended to deconstruct so much as to bring their original subtext to the fore, revealing to their then-audience of ageing proto-tweeners the magical mystery layers generally reserved for the tea-sipping, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern loving, French New Wave devotees. It raises the question: in which episodes and in what ways did they lay the clues so successfully embedded that to this day they remain untouched, awaiting to be unearthed like sacred texts so that someday, after Talmudic-level scrutiny, The Monkees -- like their arguable cinematic descendents, Bill & Ted's Wyld Stalyons -- can be deified, unifying the world and bringing peace and excellence to generation upon generation of Monkees g-g-generations? I'm a believer, indeed.

2) Does watching The Youngs Ones (which coincidently, Micky Dolenz actually loves, believe it or not) count as therapy? Cause I'm planning on watching that, and I won't let Jerzy near the goldfish.

I am not familiar with this. Does it involve a couch, a goatee-sporting, bemonacled man with a pipe, notepad and penchant for asking prurient questions and drawing facile conclusions while doodling dirty pictures? If so, yes. If not, also probably yes.

Edit: I should add that I was a Young Ones fan before I found out about Micky liking it, in case others thought that was the only reason why I liked the show. I actually got into The Young Ones by way of Blackadder, which I was a fan of long before I became the gigantic Monkees fan I am today. I honestly used to think they were a useless boyband with a few catchy tunes, but then in 2004/2005, I heard The Porpoise Song and watched Head, did some research, and I became a believer (sorry couldn't leave that pun out). Although I will say, The Young Ones definitely did take a lot from the Monkees, and they even have a guy named Mike as the leader, although Mike Thecoolperson (character's name), is actually more like a pathetic version of Davy Jones, as he's short, lecherous, and highly unsuccessful at getting girls.

So, can you say in a sense that Beatles:Rutles::Monkees:Young Ones? No, I thought not.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by IronWaffle

Having watched 33-1/3 for the only time six months ago, aside from the extended jam at the end I strongly advise against it. In fact, if I had a time machine that could only go back once I think I might prevent its production. It's almost as bad as the not-quite-short-lived-enough New MonkeesNew Monkees

I am not familiar with this. Does it involve a couch, a man with a pipe, goatee, notepad and penchant for asking prurient question and drawing facile conclusions while doodling dirty pictures? If so, yes. If not, also probably yes.


So, can you say in a sense that Beatles:Rutles::Monkees:Young Ones? No, I thought not.

I've watched 33 1/3 three times in my life, one on my own without Micky's commentary, once with Micky's commentary, and finally, a 3rd time with a friend who didn't believe me that it could be that bad. It's terrible, yet it looks like Cassablanca in comparison to A Safe Place. Peter Tork looks like he wants someone to put him out of his misery in the ape costumes, and it's a bit ironic how he's the Monkee they focus on the most, considering he had quit the group by this time and was only back for contract obligations. Also, his girlfriend/wife/common law spouse/what ever you call her, Reine Stewart ended up playing drums for Fats Domino, because his regular drummer was sick.

Also, the whole Brian Auger/Fats Domino/Jerry Lee Lewis/Little Richard playing pianos stacked on top of each other was awesome.

I have never watched or listened to The New Monkees, because I heard that they were absolutely terrible, and the original Monkees were apparently really pissed off about them back in the 1980s. As I stated before, Micky thought The Young Ones did a far better job at aping The Monkees than The New Monkees did.

I would argue that you could compare The Young Ones to the Monkees. The Young Ones had all the surreal, off-the-wall humour, musical breaks (with Motorhead! singing Ace of Spades!), and took a lot of gags and plots from the Monkees. It was essentially a more British, more violent, cruder (can you imagine Peter Tork rushing off to join the police force, despite hating fascist billy boys, because Micky was pregnant, when in actuality, it ended up being a really bad, disgusting case of gas? Or Davy Jones stringing women's lingere around his room and playing a recorded tape of himself pretenting to be a girl having sex with him so the others would think he was this great womaniser?), and disgustingly filthy (the housing arrangements of Vyvyan, Rik, Mike, and Neil, plus their personal grooming habits were absolutely appalling) version of the Monkees. I highly recommend people watch The Young Ones, it's fantastic. You have Rick Mayall, Adrian Edmondson, Nigel Planner, Christopher Ryan, Alexei Sayle, as well guest cameos from Robbie Coltrane, EMMA THOMPSON, and Hugh Laurie

Originally Posted by IronWaffle

Speaking of which, I'm psyched: Rashomon is being screened at the National Gallery in DC this Sunday. I've only watched it on my old 20" CRT (I've neglected that DVD).

I wish it were playing at the AFI instead, though, since that is usually a harbinger of forthcoming Criterion releases.

I want Rashomon on BD. It was my first Kurosawa. I myself am deeply jealous that you can watch it on the big screen.

[IronWaffle]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

I've watched 33 1/3 three times in my life, one on my own without Micky's commentary, once with Micky's commentary, and finally, a 3rd time with a friend who didn't believe me that it could be that bad. It's terrible, yet it looks like Cassablanca in comparison to A Safe Place. Peter Tork looks like he wants someone to put him out of his misery in the ape costumes, and it's a bit ironic how he's the Monkee they focus on the most, considering he had quit the group by this time and was only back for contract obligations. Also, his girlfriend/wife/common law spouse/what ever you call her, Reine Stewart ended up playing drums for Fats Domino, because his regular drummer was sick.

Some contracts should be broken. My brother used to have a bootleg VHS compiling post-Monkees appearances from the '70s. They were pretty uniformly depressing. I seem to recall Peter Tork performing seemingly drunk on a local kids TV show. The saving grace was the VHS quality was so poor you could blame the warbly voice and the apparent bleariness of his eyes on the poor audio quality and abundant scan lines respectively.

Also, the whole Brian Auger/Fats Domino/Jerry Lee Lewis/Little Richard playing pianos stacked on top of each other was awesome.

It really is.

I have never watched or listened to The New Monkees, because I heard that they were absolutely terrible, and the original Monkees were apparently really pissed off about them back in the 1980s. As I stated before, Micky thought The Young Ones did a far better job at aping The Monkees than The New Monkees did.

As I recall, they were upset largely for business reasons. The new show premiered about a year after the original Monkees' resurgence, around the time they were able to pull together a tour. They were rightly afraid of watering down the brand (a brand they themselves had to license) when they were finally in a place to profit from it. As I recall, the tour was originally equally billed between the Monkees, Grass Roots, Gary Puckett and someone else, but the Monkees' hype gave them the headline and bumped them up to bigger venues. No more public access cable for them!

I want Rashomon on BD. It was my first Kurosawa. I myself am deeply jealous that you can watch it on the big screen.

Amen to Rashomon on BD. It was the first one of his films I was introduced to as well and only saw it years later when it hit DVD. That and Ikiru are easily my favorite of his films. Regarding the showing, the print quality is unpredictable. While the audience is always respectful (even if, shall we say, a touch geriatric) we won't get a "bonus feature" like the lucky folks who recently got to see Seventh Seal with Max Von Sydow. Talk about envy

I emailed an excerpt of one of the Criterion essays to a friend who was on the fence about checking out the film -- she's who I envy since this Sunday will be her first exposure. Then again, I'll have the same experience in that theater with my first Ozu, Tokyo Story, on Saturday.

[Abdrewes]

Down by Law is really good, I love Tom Waits (Short Cuts), but first things first: Stranger than Paradise.

[zeroman987]

Originally Posted by ElliesDad

And there's another one to look up! I actually fell in love with Sophie Marceau in Braveheart! My nightmare is being in a position to have to decide whom to date between Sophie Marceau, Audrey Tautou, Juliette Binoche, or Irene Jacob...oh God, and then there's Carey Mulligan.

What about Richard Mulligan? Or his twin from outer space?

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by IronWaffle

Some contracts should be broken. My brother used to have a bootleg VHS compiling post-Monkees appearances from the '70s. They were pretty uniformly depressing. I seem to recall Peter Tork performing seemingly drunk on a local kids TV show. The saving grace was the VHS quality was so poor you could blame the warbly voice and the apparent bleariness of his eyes on the poor audio quality and abundant scan lines respectively.

As I recall, they were upset largely for business reasons. The new show premiered about a year after the original Monkees' resurgence, around the time they were able to pull together a tour. They were rightly afraid of watering down the brand (a brand they themselves had to license) when they were finally in a place to profit from it. As I recall, the tour was originally equally billed between the Monkees, Grass Roots, Gary Puckett and someone else, but the Monkees' hype gave them the headline and bumped them up to bigger venues. No more public access cable for them!

Are you talking about Uncle Floyd? Davy was on for a few episodes too. If you are, then yes, Peter was most likely drunk, although Peter did have a bit of a warbbly voice on certain songs anyways. Peter's been very open about his drug and alcohol addictions of the 1970s and into the 1980s. There's also the fact that he lost almost everything he had by giving money to friends and such to help them out, without them returning the favour. He spent 3 months in prison for hash possession in the early 1970s afterall, as well. He's been clean and sober since the early 1980s, around the time the anniversary tours were beginning to kick off.

Micky Dolenz ended up with a lot of "mental" issues as well, and they did have a pretty shitty contract, as we all heard on the Criterion commentary for Head, they were just "kids" afterall. The Monkees may bring a lot of joy to people, but you have to admit, that behind the scenes, things were really freaking depressing.

I don't blame them for being pissy at The New Monkees to be honest. As you said, the Monkees never really made any money until the reunion tours. Micky apparently was the only one who didn't go belly up, because his mom made him invest his money, and managed it for him. Mike Nesmith's windfall from his mom's Liquid Paper fortune didn't help him until the 1980s.

Amen to Rashomon on BD. It was the first one of his films I was introduced to as well and only saw it years later when it hit DVD. That and Ikiru are easily my favorite of his films. Regarding the showing, the print quality is unpredictable. While the audience is always respectful (even if, shall we say, a touch geriatric) we won't get a "bonus feature" like the lucky folks who recently got to see Seventh Seal with Max Von Sydow. Talk about envy

I emailed an excerpt of one of the Criterion essays to a friend who was on the fence about checking out the film -- she's who I envy since this Sunday will be her first exposure. Then again, I'll have the same experience in that theater with my first Ozu, Tokyo Story, on Saturday.

As I said before, I myself am deeply jealous. Even without the bonus feature of a castmember, and the unpredictability of the print quality, you still get to see Rashomon on the big screen. My friend could have met Peter Bogdnaovich in Toronto the other day at the screening they were doing of The Last Picture Show, but he said he couldn't guarantee meeting Bogdanovich, and went to a wine and cheese party instead. He also hadn't watched the film yet, despite owning it on BD, courtesy of the BBS set, for the past year. Silly fool.

[Cinemach]

Originally Posted by Darkcritic

Wow, I am getting really excited as of lately. First all this heavy posting regarding L'Avventura and now the almost-confirmation of Down by Law. Is it possible that we finally get there after a somewhat lacking first half of the year ?

L'Avventura would indeed induce major excitement from this guy. But I'm not going to hold out much hope just based on some postings.

Perhaps we are turning a corner with announcements though, at least in my spectrum. Last month was probably the best of this year's. I'm glad they're not dropping big hints (yet), though I'd welcome a real hint for L'Avventura. Or, any title that I really want, heheh.

[dwane5]

Originally Posted by ElliesDad

And there's another one to look up! I actually fell in love with Sophie Marceau in Braveheart! My nightmare is being in a position to have to decide whom to date between Sophie Marceau, Audrey Tautou, Juliette Binoche, or Irene Jacob...oh God, and then there's Carey Mulligan.



Don't ask, what we don't know can't hurt us!

[Brad1107]

Yes this might be the first month in a while where we've been given no indication of what's going to be announced, so close to announcement day. With the exception of the Jarmusch title which wasn't teased by Criterion itself.
It's both frustrating and nice at the same time.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Cinemach

L'Avventura would indeed induce major excitement from this guy. But I'm not going to hold out much hope just based on some postings.

Perhaps we are turning a corner with announcements though, at least in my spectrum. Last month was probably the best of this year's. I'm glad they're not dropping big hints (yet), though I'd welcome a real hint for L'Avventura. Or, any title that I really want, heheh.

I'm hoping for another box set, love them. L'Avventura would be great, I swear, Antonioni films my subconscious.

[Hunk Golden]

Amazon keeps teasing these deals. They're around $20.50. They go up in price every day, then down in price (up $1 or so, down $1 or so). Tempting titles:

12 Angry Men
Charade
Traffic
Hunger
Rushmore

$20.50'ish is a good price. But looking at my order history (& throwing out the aberration that was "Beauty & The Beast" for $11.99 last BF), I ordered several last year at the end of April/beginning of May. They were all in the $16-$17 range. Just wondering if these are going to drop more on Amazon in the next month or so(?)

[Yami]

The postings might not signify anything but the 'Dawn of L'Avventura' video they uploaded yesterday can be played in 1080p...

[DetroitSquirreL]

Originally Posted by Hunk Golden

Amazon keeps teasing these deals. They're around $20.50. They go up in price every day, then down in price (up $1 or so, down $1 or so). Tempting titles:

12 Angry Men
Charade
Traffic
Hunger
Rushmore

$20.50'ish is a good price. But looking at my order history (& throwing out the aberration that was "Beauty & The Beast" for $11.99 last BF), I ordered several last year at the end of April/beginning of May. They were all in the $16-$17 range. Just wondering if these are going to drop more on Amazon in the next month or so(?)

when they hit the $20 USD and lower I jump at them. Thats my 'rule of thumb'

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by Hunk Golden

Amazon keeps teasing these deals. They're around $20.50. They go up in price every day, then down in price (up $1 or so, down $1 or so). Tempting titles:

12 Angry Men
Charade
Traffic
Hunger
Rushmore

$20.50'ish is a good price. But looking at my order history (& throwing out the aberration that was "Beauty & The Beast" for $11.99 last BF), I ordered several last year at the end of April/beginning of May. They were all in the $16-$17 range. Just wondering if these are going to drop more on Amazon in the next month or so(?)

Most of those are from seller Warehouse deals fulfilled through Amazon.

[Hunk Golden]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Most of those are from seller Warehouse deals fulfilled through Amazon.

Right, but Warehouse Deals is Amazon (Amazon Warehouse Deals). Sometimes they sell used stuff...or food nearing its expiration date. Pretty sure these are all new though.