The Criterion Collection

[SlickDamian]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Anyone else plan on see Batman soon? It seems quite a few fanboys are in a tizzy with all the negative reviews out there.

Yeah I'm going to go soon. I'll report back here on my opinions. I doubt it's as good as The Dark Knight.

[exolstice]

I though the comment about death threats was a joke. Apparently not. Hilarious:
http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment...movie-reviews/

It's just a movie people!

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

I'm not much of a superhero film fan to begin with, in addition to not being utterly enamoured with Nolan, as there's never really been any I absolutely love, with the exception of Pixar's The Incredibles.

I pretty much feel the same way. IMO his best film is Insomnia and that is mostly because of a great screenplay and good actors more then any direction on Nolan's part. I've never seen the original though which is probably better.

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by exolstice

I though the comment about death threats was a joke. Apparently not. Hilarious:
http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment...movie-reviews/

It's just a movie people!

True and Ebert gave it only 3 Stars he for sure believes Dark Knight was the best of the Batman films. Finds the new one lacking a bit.

[bdmartin134]

I've got quite a few Criterions still in shrink wrap from the B2G1 and 50% off sales, so I've been dedicating some time to actually watching them, as well as Netflix ones..

Last night watched Rushmore blu, and the PQ was really good. Haven't seen in it quite some time, but always find something new to laugh at.

7/16 - 12 Angry Men blu.. Had already seen it via DVD years back and had an instant affect on me. It was great to revisit this gem as it has been on my shelf since Xmas.

7/14 - The Cranes are Flying dvd via Netflix. First viewing and still can't get over how beautiful and haunting it was. Will def. be waiting for a blu upgrade. I have Letter Never Sent on the shelf, so that might be tonight's viewing.

Currently I have Wenders' Wings of Desire and Paris, Texas in from Netflix, just waiting on the right mood for these slow-burners..

Tonight I think I'll try and get 2 in.. Letter Never Sent and Broadcast News (they share the same themes, don't they?

What's everyone else been watching recently?

[Banned User]

I need to make one more B&N visit and I'm trying to figure out what titles to pick up. Someone sell me on Ozu's Late Spring. I keep hearing about how great it is, but everything I've read said its a slow simplistic story with a camera that mostly just sits there. The reviews really make it sound like its just not my thing.

[nametag]

Originally Posted by SlickDamian

Yeah I'm going to go soon. I'll report back here on my opinions. I doubt it's as good as The Dark Knight.

I'm kind of hoping it's better. TDK was ambitious but a bit of a mess IMO, though Heath Ledger was brilliant.

Just really annoyed that because of how in-demand tickets were at the London IMAX I have to wait TEN WHOLE DAYS from release day to see it and am worried I'm going to be accidentally spoiled. Just going to avoid reading any reviews in the meantime (though already am aware that most of them are 4 and 5 stars...)

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by Lutz

Received the Gaumont Querelle bluray.

It's region free - I ejected the disc and toggled my player and it played in region A and B.

The image is extremely soft. I put in my old Columbia Tristar DVD to compare and while the image on that one looks extremely old and washed out I would say the very small jump in detail is only apparent in the slightly better rendering of textures e.g. The fringing on the lamps in the bar or the model ship in the background.

The real jump is that the movie now looks 100% natural and film like with extremely vivid colours. It's hard to tell if it's maybe just the colour tints used on the picture that makes the image so soft?

It certainly isn't sharp as a tack like the Olive release of Despair. But maybe they were filmed differently?

Thank you SO MUCH for your report. Now to figure out the cheapest way to order this. Will try after work.

[JHas]

Originally Posted by nametag

I'm kind of hoping it's better. TDK was ambitious but a bit of a mess IMO, though Heath Ledger was brilliant.

Can't agree more. The pacing was off, assuming it had to do with possible editing changes after Heath's death.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by Banned User

I need to make one more B&N visit and I'm trying to figure out what titles to pick up. Someone sell me on Ozu's Late Spring. I keep hearing about how great it is, but everything I've read said its a slow simplistic story with a camera that mostly just sits there. The reviews really make it sound like its just not my thing.

I'll let someone else sell you on the film (though I did really enjoy it). For me, this is a great buy for the film as well as the included Wim Wenders documentary Tokyo-Ga. Well worth viewing if you want to learn more about Ozu, as well as some interesting aspects of Japanese culture.

[stobbart]

Originally Posted by Banned User

I need to make one more B&N visit and I'm trying to figure out what titles to pick up. Someone sell me on Ozu's Late Spring. I keep hearing about how great it is, but everything I've read said its a slow simplistic story with a camera that mostly just sits there. The reviews really make it sound like its just not my thing.

Have you seen any Ozu before? While I have not seen this particular film Ozu is pretty hit and miss for me. I would not blind buy his films. "Still Walking" is a fantastic film that has a very similar style to the films made by Ozu.

And some of the best films ever made are "slow simplistic story with a camera that mostly just sits there".

[jcs913]

For all that have Down by Law on dvd already, I finished my Netflix rental of the new BD last night and believe it is a 'must own' upgrade! The PQ was at times almost 3D and very life-like. The depth the new release brings is something you have to view. Pretty much every scene in the swamp is breathtaking. The AQ is a real gem too, especially the dialogue, which is good on the dvd, but really has clarity on the new release. Needless to say, the dvd is being retired and a B&N order will be placed....

[*DrStrangelove*]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Anyone else plan on see Batman soon? It seems quite a few fanboys are in a tizzy with all the negative reviews out there.

It's at 87% on RT right now? I plan on seeing it. I enjoy seeing a good super hero movie done well. I like Christopher Nolan, I don't get all the hate he gets on this forum. I mean, I get that some of his fans are crazy, but that could be said about anyone's hardcore fans. I'm sure Akira Kurosawa has crazy fans who feel he could do (did?) no wrong. I'm gonna be the unpopular opinion here and say I am a proud fan of Christopher Nolan, Wes Anderson, David Fincher, Paul Thomas Anderson, and Tyler Perry (kidding?)

BTW, this isn't directed at Shell just quoted him cause he mentioned DKR

[*DrStrangelove*]

Originally Posted by jcs913

For all that have Down by Law on dvd already, I finished my Netflix rental of the new BD last night and believe it is a 'must own' upgrade! The PQ was at times almost 3D and very life-like. The depth the new release brings is something you have to view. Pretty much every scene in the swamp is breathtaking. The AQ is a real gem too, especially the dialogue, which is good on the dvd, but really has clarity on the new release. Needless to say, the dvd is being retired and a B&N order will be placed....

This wasn't even on my radar but the three reasons video made me wanna check it out. Good to hear the pq is great, gonna pick it up on my next trip to BN. I've only seen 1 Jarmusch film before, Coffee and Cigarettes. Really excited now for this blind buy.

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by stobbart

And some of the best films ever made are "slow simplistic story with a camera that mostly just sits there".

Oh I know. I was just trying to sum up some of the points made in reviews. Not saying this is a bad thing. There are a few films that I like that are slow like Solaris though that story is a lot more complicated then this one sounds. And no I've never seen a Ozu film. I don't dislike a film simply because it is slow moving, but it has to offer something.

Name a few of these 'Best films ever made that are slow simplistic with static cameras' you mentioned and I can see which ones I've liked.

I've just heard so much from other directors and people about Ozu. I'm trying to find what the allure is. Its starting to sound like this is not a wise blind buy choice.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by Banned User

Oh I know. I was just trying to sum up some of the points made in reviews. Not saying this is a bad thing. There are a few films that I like that are slow like Solaris though that story sis a lot more complicated then this one sounds. And no I've never seen a Ozu film. I don't dislike a film simply because it is slow moving, but it has to offer something.

Name a few of these 'Best films ever made that are slow simplistic with static cameras' you mention and I can see which ones I've liked.

I've just heard so much from other directors and people about Ozu I'm trying to find what the allure is. Its starting to sound like this is not a wise blind buy choice.

I watched it, and I like it because I really relate to the protagonist, as I'm

[Show spoiler]also a 27 year old woman who has older relatives that constantly hat on marriage and babies, and can understand somewhat why she doesn't have much of an interest. That's where the similarities end though.

it is a simple story, although a captivating one and an interesting look at the culture of post-war Japan, with some slight clash between new and tradition.

Mind you I could be talking out of my ass here and others might have a different interpretation.

[Darkcritic]

Originally Posted by Banned User

Oh I know. I was just trying to sum up some of the points made in reviews. Not saying this is a bad thing. There are a few films that I like that are slow like Solaris though that story sis a lot more complicated then this one sounds. And no I've never seen a Ozu film. I don't dislike a film simply because it is slow moving, but it has to offer something.

Name a few of these 'Best films ever made that are slow simplistic with static cameras' you mention and I can see which ones I've liked.

I've just heard so much from other directors and people about Ozu I'm trying to find what the allure is. Its starting to sound like this is not a wise blind buy choice.

One word: Kiarostami . Not exactly "static" all the time but you certainly don't know when the camera is moving because of how incredibly well they are shot. I love, love, love Kiarostami .

[Darkcritic]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Anyone else plan on see Batman soon? It seems quite a few fanboys are in a tizzy with all the negative reviews out there.

Will go to see it when it premiere here in Mexico (Next week). I have never been a Nolan fan, not because I have some sort of prejudice against him or him being popular but because I honestly don't like his style (Or lack of it, again, just my opinion) or his films. I moderately liked The Dark Knight but that's about it. My best friend is a Batman fan and so I mostly want to see it because I want to comment on it with him. In the other hand, I love super-hero films (Maybe because I love Marvel comics too ) and so the absolute best film in the genre is hands-down Spider-Man 2. One of my favorite action films (And one I honestly think is GREAT) for many reasons. That film is the gold standard and to this day I have not seen any other super-hero film topping that.

[BluLobsta]

I'm not sure how popular this is, but I picked it up anyway Now my Godard collection is a Godard/Kurosawa collection! The little Criterion Collection that could

[Darkcritic]

Originally Posted by BluLobsta

I'm not sure how popular this is, but I picked it up anyway Now my Godard collection is a Godard/Kurosawa collection! The little Criterion Collection that could

Great pick ! It doesn't matter if it is popular or not, the only thing that matters is that you like it (And I am sure you will ).