The Criterion Collection

[thecynical_drummer]

Originally Posted by Yami

Rosemary's Baby is Paramount. I'd love a Warner deal, if only to see some of their silents like Sjostrom's The Wind and Von Stroheim's Greed get a release.

+1 Saw a few clips of "The Wind" in a movie history class and have wanted to see this ever since. (didn't buy it because in 1999 it was like 70 bucks to order it on VHS)

[Sinthetic]

I demand more Jean Cocteau on Blu Ray. The man is a genius and I want more of his stuff in my collection.

[DetroitSquirreL]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Did you happen to watch Filthy, Rich, and Catflap, which was a bit of a precursor to Bottom? Also, Bad News was pretty funny and entertaining, it's the British equivalent of Spinal Tap.

I have the 'Every Stupid Episode' DVD of The Young Ones which has a 'Filthy, Rich & Catflap' episode on it...had all the episodes on VHS that I stayed up all night when they first aired on MTV in the 80s and taped them (after the first run of the series MTV would cut them with commercials thus shortening the show, the first run was uncut and no commercials). I actually have the 'Bad News' cd , which is LONG OOP. And I just listened to it 2 days ago, still makes me laugh so hard!


Here 'BAD NEWS' does a cover of 'Bohemian Rhapsody'

Bad News - Bohemian Rhapsody - YouTube

[Cinemach]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

I ended up having a lot of time for movie watching the past 2 days, so i watched my first 3 Jean-Pierre Melville films (Le Silence De La Mer, Army of Shadows, and Le Cercle Rouge) as well as my first Ozu (Late Spring).

I have one other Melville in my collection to check out (Leon Morin, Priest), and now i really want to see Le Samurai. Of the 3 Melvilles I watched so far, Le Silence De La Mer was my favorite, but all were thoroughly enjoyed. I didn't notice any problems with the video of Army of Shadows, even in the fuselage.

Late Spring was really good too. It's amazing that the exploration of those tiny differences from one generation to another in a culture can make for such good cinema.

I've still yet to watch my copy of Leon Morin, Priest, but I think it might go well with my double-bill of The Gospel According to Matthew and The Last Temptation of Christ I have planned this weekend.

There's a reason Le Samourai is one of those titles you always see requested for upgrade pronto, from me included. It's my favorite of the Melville's I've seen, a progenitor of the 'style-as-substance' cinema recently en vogue via Drive. I enjoyed Le Cercle Rouge as well, which is very much in the same style of film.

I really labored to try to get through Army of Shadows, and may have to try it again soon. It has a high reputation on this board but I found it too sterile, too slow for my tastes - points I found were positives in Le Samourai by the way, perhaps due to the differing nature of their stories.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by Cocophone

I have Primer on DVD. Will Bluray make a difference? I think it was shot digitally, but I don't remember the resolution.

Nope, Super 16.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by DetroitSquirreL

I have the 'Every Stupid Episode' DVD of The Young Ones which has a 'Filthy, Rich & Catflap' episode on it...had all the episodes on VHS that I stayed up all night when they first aired on MTV in the 80s and taped them (after the first run of the series MTV would cut them with commercials thus shortening the show, the first run was uncut and no commercials). I actually have the 'Bad News' cd , which is LONG OOP. And I just listened to it 2 days ago, still makes me laugh so hard!


Here 'BAD NEWS' does a cover of 'Bohemian Rhapsody'

Bad News - Bohemian Rhapsody - YouTube

I always enjoyed that cover, especially the "absolutely not" bit. I'm a huge, huge fan of Adrian Edmonson, who happens to be married to Jennifer Saunders, aka Eddie Monsoon from Absolutely Fabulous.

[SpiderBaby]

Olive Films is finally releasing Ici et ailleurs and Numéro deux on DVD. Happy day.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by lemonski

Another vote from me for Primer. Primer is awesome, but you really have to have your mind on the job at all times. I tried rewatching it not long ago, I wasn't concentrating and just got completely lost. In that way it reminds me of Following - that old Criterion chestnut.

Primer is quite possibly the densest 77 minutes in motion picture history. But also among the richest...there's not a wasted shot or scene, and no "you are here" story reminders. The film begins so simply and humbly, it's easy to understand why it catches most folks off guard. Actually, I was compelled to rewatch it immediately just to confirm that I had actually seen what I thought I saw. Even then, I realized I'd skimmed over gobs of detail.

Its 'guerrilla Indie' backstory is also equally fascinating. I can't think of a better label than Criterion to take Primer to Blu-ray.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by retablo

Nope, Super 16.

Yes, and even more extraordinary...Primer was looped entirely in post production. They had no live sound.

[colinrgeorge]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

Yes, and even more extraordinary...Primer was looped entirely in post production. They had no live sound.

Primer's got some great ideas, but it's a seriously amateur attempt at storytelling. It suffers worst from "I'm not going to hire actors and everybody in the film is going to be my 23-year-old friends" syndrome. Also the ending is juvenile Fight Club-esque suburban white boy angsty melodrama.

[Oblivion138]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Did you happen to watch Filthy, Rich, and Catflap, which was a bit of a precursor to Bottom? Also, Bad News was pretty funny and entertaining, it's the British equivalent of Spinal Tap.

I only ever managed to see one episode of Catflap, but it was very funny, as well. I'd love to see more of it. Anything with Ade and Rik is golden.

Haven't seen Bad News...will have to seek it out.

Originally Posted by drbikeshorts

The example of A Clockwork Orange is a perfect example. I have the original blu-ray and I'm happy enough. However, they create a new 4k master and then re-release the blu-ray using the old master. That's ridiculous.
What about Hamlet? The last film to be shot entirely on 65mm and all 4 hours, plus extras, stuffed on to one disc. Disappointing.

Hamlet is one that I'd love to see them revisit, even if I have little hope that they will. I love Branagh's film, and would love to see it get the proper BD treatment. Same goes for Amadeus.

I won't and don't say that Warner doesn't have its fault...but their record is clearly improving.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by Oblivion138

I only ever managed to see one episode of Catflap, but it was very funny, as well. I'd love to see more of it. Anything with Ade and Rik is golden.

Haven't seen Bad News...will have to seek it out.

Hamlet is one that I'd love to see them revisit, even if I have little hope that they will. I love Branagh's film, and would love to see it get the proper BD treatment. Same goes for Amadeus.

I won't and don't say that Warner doesn't have its fault...but their record is clearly improving.

Bad News was an episode of The Comic Strip presents. It's awesome. Five Go Mad in Dorset is also awesome.

I'm watching Witness for the Prosecution now, and I would honestly kill for Criterion to release this on BD.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by colinrgeorge

Primer's got some great ideas, but it's a seriously amateur attempt at storytelling. It suffers worst from "I'm not going to hire actors and everybody in the film is going to be my 23-year-old friends" syndrome. Also the ending is juvenile Fight Club-esque suburban white boy angsty melodrama.

We saw a different movie. À chacun son goût.

[IronWaffle]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

I'm watching Witness for the Prosecution now, and I would honestly kill for Criterion to release this on BD.

Isn't that an MGM title? What's their record on licensing (besides their Fox distribution deal)?

More Billy Wilder* is never a bad thing... well, I just watched The Front Page this week and while it wasn't bad per se it looked more fun to be on the set than in the theater.

*phew... I almost typed Monkees

[IronWaffle]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

colinrgeorge:
Primer's got some great ideas, but it's a seriously amateur attempt at storytelling. It suffers worst from "I'm not going to hire actors and everybody in the film is going to be my 23-year-old friends" syndrome. Also the ending is juvenile Fight Club-esque suburban white boy angsty melodrama.

Originally Posted by ROclockCK
We saw a different movie. À chacun son goût.

I agree that the storytelling could be more engaging but I think it works well for the type of story its trying tell. Personally, I'd rather keep that shortcoming while preserving and emphasizing, as it does, the far more rare hard sci-fi. You can't have everything.

I admit I'm stuck on the word "angsty"... the acting is underplayed almost to the level of a Bresson film with the emotions neatly tucked away. The film is cold, the antithesis of angst.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by IronWaffle

Isn't that an MGM title? What's their record on licensing (besides their Fox distribution deal)?

More Billy Wilder* is never a bad thing... well, I just watched The Front Page this week and while it wasn't bad per se it looked more fun to be on the set than in the theater.

*phew... I almost typed Monkees

Criterion's done a ton of MGM titles. Paths of Glory, The Killing being some of the more popular ones. It's really only Warner that has issues.

[lemonski]

Originally Posted by colinrgeorge

Primer's got some great ideas, but it's a seriously amateur attempt at storytelling. It suffers worst from "I'm not going to hire actors and everybody in the film is going to be my 23-year-old friends" syndrome.

What a ridiculous criticism. With a total budget of $7000, I hardly think they'd have been in a position to hire actors.

[captveg]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Criterion's done a ton of MGM titles. Paths of Glory, The Killing being some of the more popular ones. It's really only Warner that has issues.

Yep. Of the major studios, only Warner and Lionsgate haven't licensed to Criterion in the last 10 years or so.

Major studios being:

Warner
Lionsgate
Fox
MGM
Paramount
Disney
Universal

[retablo]

Originally Posted by colinrgeorge

Primer's got some great ideas, but it's a seriously amateur attempt at storytelling. It suffers worst from "I'm not going to hire actors and everybody in the film is going to be my 23-year-old friends" syndrome. Also the ending is juvenile Fight Club-esque suburban white boy angsty melodrama.

It's called low budget filmmaking. And Primer was 100 times more interesting than "Fight Club".

[billzfan]

I just ordered Godzilla. Believe it or not, I've never actually seen it. But, I'm a sucker for the words: under $20 and Criterion.