The Criterion Collection

[UNCMT9]

Just revisited the Seventh Seal. Not much else to say. Great film, timeless. Love it.

[HyperRealist]

Originally Posted by ParticleDan

Thanks for the suggestions. I ordered those titles plus the Bill Douglas trilogy. Eventually I'm going to have to go region free though; there are so many great movies that are region locked!

Back to Criterion related discussion, here's hoping December brings a release of Tokyo Story. I'd also love an upgrade of Ugetsu Monogatari. Highly recommended.

$40
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Insignia...&skuId=2097336

[octagon]

Originally Posted by jvince

(I obviously love surreal shit Anybody got recommendations?)

World on a Wire
Videodrome
Solaris
Shock Corridor
Insignificance
Antichrist
Chungking Express

Chungking Express isn't exactly surreal but it's no slave to narrative and I couldn't resist the opportunity to put it on a list with Antichrist.

[santasangria]

Don't forget House.

Shock Corridor is more pulp than surrealism imo...but still a good flick.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by santasangria

Don't forget House.

Shock Corridor is more pulp than surrealism imo...but still a good flick.

Yeah, Shock Corridor and Insignificance were both kind of marginal 'gut feeling' calls.

I skipped House because I own it but haven't seen it yet. It's made it as far as the player a couple times but I've not yet been in quite the right mood to sit down with it.

[Snicket]

Originally Posted by octagon

I skipped House because I own it but haven't seen it yet. It's made it as far as the player a couple times but I've not yet been in quite the right mood to sit down with it.

I watched House just a few days ago...The hype baffles me. I guess its good in a "WTF am I watching!?!?!" kind of a way, but not something I could ever revisit or recommend to another human being. IMO of course...

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by Snicket

I watched House just a few days ago...The hype baffles me. I guess its good in a "WTF am I watching!?!?!" kind of a way, but not something I could ever revisit or recommend to another human being. IMO of course...

I like weird and bizarre, but this was one film where I concluded, "okay I've seen it once, I don't need to ever see it again".

[billzfan]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

I like weird and bizarre, but this was one film where I concluded, "okay I've seen it once, I don't need to ever see it again".

You want WTF?! I just watched Last Year at Marienbad and fu*&*&g loved it!

[nametag]

Originally Posted by billzfan

You want WTF?! I just watched Last Year at Marienbad and fu*&*&g loved it!

I saw that about a week ago as well, and whilst I would put it in the 'surreal' category (which I'd usually be inclined to like), I don't think I could ever watch it again. Gorgeous to look at with some amazing visuals, but I have to say it left me completely cold and unengaged. It was so repetitive and seemed to go on for ever, with the main female character's performance really gratingly mannered. I'm sure the repetitive, cyclical nature of the never-ending dialogue may have been the 'point', but I found reading various interpretations and analyses of the film way more interesting than actually watching the film itself.

I almost blind bought it because it gets a lot of love around here - am I the only one who finds it hard-going?

Completely unrelated, but I also recently watched Persona. That's a 'surreal' film which could really do with being added to the collection... I was surprised to find out after seeing it that it was one of the few Bergmans never released by CC.

[PowellPressburger]

Picked up Quadrophenia at Barnes & Noble after work. First time watching it ever and it is was worth it. Great movie. Currently it is 20% off and also have membership plus a Barnes surprise coupon that got me another 20% off.

Cover art looks cooler in person also!

[P@t_Mtl]

Movie number 2 in the Alexander Korda set

The Rise Of Catherine The Great (1934)

I am now entering unknown territories with this one and the following two movies of this set. The movie itself if of course set in his time, do not expect a modern historical drama. It's a child of the 30's for all it's qualities and what not. While not as interesting as The Private Life Of Henry The VII, the story is still interesting. The acting is where I had more problem with this one. Douglas Fairbanks Jr is very good in the role of Grand Dule Peter. Where I had a problem (which does not help since it's the main character of the story) was with Elisabeth Bergner as Catherine. For me she was not very convincing and she seem for most of the movie as badly cast, she just does not fit as Catherine The Great. It reminded me of when they cast Kirsten Dunst as Marie Antoinette, seem like a good idea on the moment only to find out after, maybe not. The DVD while not perfect is quite adaquate and Criterion did a good job on the transfert. Overall I enjoyed it if not as much as I would hope for. Recommended only for those curious in the work of Korda or for these types of old historical drama

[blujazz]

Any recommendations where to buy Rosetta and La Promesse? The discounts on Amazon isn't a lot.

[jvince]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Salo

Ugh. No offense, but I absolutely despise that film. It's more repulsive than surreal. I have no intentions of ever seeing it again in my life.

Originally Posted by Beta Man

You have Black Moon?

Nope. I've heard of it though.

Originally Posted by SpiderBaby

Does it have to be released by Criterion?

I'd prefer Criterion titles (released or not), but anything surreal (and similar to the films I listed) would be great.

Originally Posted by octagon

World on a Wire
Videodrome
Solaris
Shock Corridor
Insignificance
Antichrist
Chungking Express

Chungking Express isn't exactly surreal but it's no slave to narrative and I couldn't resist the opportunity to put it on a list with Antichrist.

I've seen Solaris (meh; overlong) and Chungking Express (love it and own it). They're not exactly surreal. I intend to check out Antichrist and Videodrome someday.

Originally Posted by santasangria

Don't forget House.

Originally Posted by Snicket

I watched House just a few days ago...The hype baffles me. I guess its good in a "WTF am I watching!?!?!" kind of a way, but not something I could ever revisit or recommend to another human being. IMO of course...

Originally Posted by Dubstar

I like weird and bizarre, but this was one film where I concluded, "okay I've seen it once, I don't need to ever see it again".

I've seen House. It's definitely weird, but not my type of weird. I don't know if what I saw was terrible or genius.

Originally Posted by billzfan

You want WTF?! I just watched Last Year at Marienbad and fu*&*&g loved it!

Originally Posted by nametag

I saw that about a week ago as well, and whilst I would put it in the 'surreal' category (which I'd usually be inclined to like), I don't think I could ever watch it again. Gorgeous to look at with some amazing visuals, but I have to say it left me completely cold and unengaged. It was so repetitive and seemed to go on for ever, with the main female character's performance really gratingly mannered. I'm sure the repetitive, cyclical nature of the never-ending dialogue may have been the 'point', but I found reading various interpretations and analyses of the film way more interesting than actually watching the film itself.

I almost blind bought it because it gets a lot of love around here - am I the only one who finds it hard-going?

Completely unrelated, but I also recently watched Persona. That's a 'surreal' film which could really do with being added to the collection... I was surprised to find out after seeing it that it was one of the few Bergmans never released by CC.

Last Year at Marienbad is one of my favorite films of all-time. It's, hands down, the best surreal film I've ever seen. It's from Alain Resnais (Night and Fog, Hiroshima Mon Amour), whose other film Mon Oncle d'Amérique is another favorite of mine. I highly recommend it if you haven't seen it yet. It's absolutely amazing, I can't believe it isn't popular.

Persona is also another great film. It'd be awesome if Criterion would release it, but they don't seem to own it. If you liked Persona, I highly recommend Mulholland Dr. (you've probably seen it already) and The Double Life of Veronique by Krzysztof Kieslowski, one of my favorite directors ever.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by jvince

Ugh. No offense, but I absolutely despise that film. It's more repulsive than surreal. I have no intentions of ever seeing it again in my life.

No offense taken. I was hoping you'd get my joke

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by blujazz

Any recommendations where to buy Rosetta and La Promesse? The discounts on Amazon isn't a lot.

If you don' t mind waiting or (BN's shipping) there is a 40% off sale next week.

[Abdrewes]

Which of these are better seen in one sitting?
Summer With.../summer interlude (or)
Samurai Trilogy
(I also have Red Cliff)

Planning a marathon for tonight, thanks!

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Which of these are better seen in one sitting?
Summer With.../summer interlude (or)
Samurai Trilogy
(I also have Red Cliff)

Planning a marathon for tonight, thanks!

I did Samurai Trilogy all at once and loved it. Even though it's 3 movies, i think it only clocks in around 5 hours.

I still have to do Red Cliff myself...

[Simple Lines]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Which of these are better seen in one sitting?
Summer With.../summer interlude (or)
Samurai Trilogy
(I also have Red Cliff)

Planning a marathon for tonight, thanks!

Obviously mood would be the determining factor, but the moment I started watching The Samurai Trilogy, I couldn't stop. It's very, very good. It'd be nice if those 3 films start getting recognized with the greats. The total runtime of them blows right by if it clicks from the beginning.

[santasangria]

Man no love for House? I love a good b-movie, and the fact Criterion even release things of this nature, is cause for my support. The film is utterly one of a kind, both visually, and atmospherically, has a nightmarish quality, but is also really funny. Seems like some really cool people worked in their unique sense of Japanese culture into the film, also great for Japanese anime/film buffs in general.

[ImportFanatic]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

Picked up Quadrophenia at Barnes & Noble after work. First time watching it ever and it is was worth it. Great movie. Currently it is 20% off and also have membership plus a Barnes surprise coupon that got me another 20% off.

Cover art looks cooler in person also!

So how much did it come out to?