The Criterion Collection

[georgec]

I have 61 Criterion BDs, comprising of all my "must-haves" and a few others. I love my collection.

[jcs913]

Originally Posted by octagon

Dances With Wolves won seven.

What's our point?

There never is a point, but that's what makes it fun...

[octagon]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

Just because you personally don't like Traffic doesn't make it a bad film...

What if were trite, heavy-handed and superficial? Could that make it a bad film?

[Snicket]

I don't mean to come off as an adamant TF defender, because for one the film has some pretty big flaws and secondly, I don't think the film really needs defending. It is what it is. I would probably give the film a 6/10 but I respect the hell out of what Dunham has accomplished. If her projects were as interesting and bold as she is we would all be singing a different tune.

But one observation I have as to why it was picked up.

Dunham with TF is really the first of many in a new indie wave coming from the US. There has been a big push of indies premiering on YouTube and other non-traditional (i.e outside of theaters) distribution outlets. So with Criterion picking up TF it's acknowledging this movement as a company and bringing it into the mainstream and saying, "The future for indies in the US is outside the traditional studio system."

It makes more sense as well if you look at the entire TF package as her complete filmography to date, as it includes her first YouTube shorts and first feature.

So those are my thoughts.

[NoirFan]

Originally Posted by octagon

What if were trite, heavy-handed and superficial? Could that make it a bad film?

You're certainly entitled to your opinion, but when one's opinion stands in direct opposition with that of virtually every major and minor critic in the business, than it cannot simply be stated as some sort of empirical fact or as as proof of the film being a poor choice for release by Criterion.

[RiFiFi1955]

Just throwing my 2 cents in on the Traffic debate, While I don't like Traffic personally either I can not say it is a bad film. In all fairness I think it is a pretty well crafted film(probably Soderbergh's best). I do think though that it was a wasted release for the CC though since it had a blu-ray release from Universal a year before. I know all the reasons why the Criterion release is better but I would have liked to see another restored classic released in its place. Then again I feel this way probably just because I am not a huge fan of the film as I am sure many out their love their Criterion edition and all the added features.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

... than it cannot simply be stated as some sort of empirical fact or as as proof of the film being a poor choice for release by Criterion.

IMHO - and this is just how I personally see it, mind you - one needn't attach IMHO disclaimers to every subjective evaluation one might make.

I don't personally - and I'm speaking only for myself here - see a dime's worth of difference between 'Traffic sucked' and 'IMO Traffic sucked'.

But that could just be me.

[NoirFan]

It's not that I feel that Traffic is some kind of unimpeachable landmark masterpiece - I was troubled by the implied racial undertones of the sequences involving Erika Christensen and the drug dealer, and the script doesn't offer up any fresh solutions to the drug problem - it just seemed surprisingly and perplexing that the film, out of all the movies that Criterion has put out, would be the one cited as an example of previous questionable releases, when it is probably the most acclaimed modern film in their collection. I admit to following little of the critical discourse on many of their newer films though, so I may be incorrect in that assertion. Still, it must be near the top in that category.

[octagon]

Fair enough. Two points...

I've gone off on Traffic before so it's not totally new ground for me.

I'd already taken shots at Something Wild and The Game so I thought I'd mix it up a bit.

[NoirFan]

Originally Posted by octagon

I'd already taken shots at Something Wild and The Game so I thought I'd mix it up a bit.

It's been a few years since I saw it last, so my memory may be slightly hazy, but my biggest problem with The Game was

[Show spoiler]the sequence in which Sean Penn is stunned to discover all of the keys in Douglas' car. The whole thing is Penn's idea, so why would this shock him? It would be one thing if he put on a show for Douglas' benefit, but Douglas is behind the car, so why would he react with anything other than indifference, or perhaps appreciative amusement at CRS's dedication? This sequence is an outright cheat that is meant to trick the viewer. I have no problem with directors misleading audiences through editing, music, etc., but this moment is just dishonest.

It reminded me of the scene in De Palma's Sisters

[Show spoiler]where we are shown Kidder talking to the shadow of her 'sister' - the woman doesn't exist, so how can she have a shadow??

Something Wild was a fun little film with a great soundtrack (although I simply cannot stand Melanie Griffith's voice or acting, and found myself squirming every time she uttered a line of dialogue), but as relatively minor movie with almost no extras, I was also indifferent when the disc was announced.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

It's been a few years since I saw it last, so my memory may be slightly hazy, but my biggest problem with The Game was

[Show spoiler]the sequence in which Sean Penn is stunned to discover all of the keys in Douglas' car. The whole thing is Penn's idea, so why would this shock him? It would be one thing if he put on a show for Douglas' benefit, but Douglas is behind the car, so why would he react with anything other than indifference, or perhaps appreciative amusement at CRS's dedication? This sequence is an outright cheat that is meant to trick the viewer. I have no problem with directors misleading audiences through editing, music, etc., but this moment is just dishonest.

It reminded me of the scene in De Palma's Sisters

[Show spoiler]where we are shown Kidder talking to the shadow of her 'sister' - the woman doesn't exist, so how can she have a shadow??

Gee, I never noticed those...interesting points.

[silentblu]

Originally Posted by Snicket

I don't mean to come off as an adamant TF defender, because for one the film has some pretty big flaws and secondly, I don't think the film really needs defending. It is what it is. I would probably give the film a 6/10 but I respect the hell out of what Dunham has accomplished. If her projects were as interesting and bold as she is we would all be singing a different tune.

But one observation I have as to why it was picked up.

Dunham with TF is really the first of many in a new indie wave coming from the US. There has been a big push of indies premiering on YouTube and other non-traditional (i.e outside of theaters) distribution outlets. So with Criterion picking up TF it's acknowledging this movement as a company and bringing it into the mainstream and saying, "The future for indies in the US is outside the traditional studio system."

It makes more sense as well if you look at the entire TF package as her complete filmography to date, as it includes her first YouTube shorts and first feature.

So those are my thoughts.

If this is the new indie wave just shoot me.

[Snicket]

Originally Posted by silentblu

If this is the new indie wave just shoot me.

Your hate for the film is clouding your thinking methinks.

The new wave is the method of distribution, not the content of the films.

Put down the gun.

[jstxanothrxstory]

Just ordered my first Criterion Blu from Amazon, which is Curious Case of Benjamin Button. It's a blind buy for me, but I figured I might as well get it for $5.99.

[aherron]

Originally Posted by jstxanothrxstory

Just ordered my first Criterion Blu from Amazon, which is Curious Case of Benjamin Button. It's a blind buy for me, but I figured I might as well get it for $5.99.

That's a start and after watching it I'm sure you'll be checking out other titles as well cause there's a lot of great ones out there to be had from Criterion. Hope to see you start your collection soon.

[Silverfawn]

I have a question regarding the Heaven's Gate blu just released by Criterion.

While watching at the 1:27:43 mark I noticed a blue sheen come over the picture for about a second. I'm curious whether this is a defect on my disc or is it on every disc out there.

[Tin Drum]

Originally Posted by Silverfawn

I have a question regarding the Heaven's Gate blu just released by Criterion.

While watching at the 1:27:43 mark I noticed a blue sheen come over the picture for about a second. I'm curious whether this is a defect on my disc or is it on every disc out there.

Every disc out there.

[BohemianGraham]

Oh yay! I go away for a few days and the Tiny Furniture debate starts again! Naughty, naughty!

[IronWaffle]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Oh yay! I go away for a few days and the Tiny Furniture debate starts again! Naughty, naughty!

Tiny furniture? What does The Wire's detective extraordinaire Lester Freamon's side job meticulously crafting tiny collectible dollhouse furniture have to do with Criterion?

[rkish]

Originally Posted by IronWaffle

Tiny furniture? What does The Wire's detective extraordinaire Lester Freamon's side job meticulously crafting tiny collectible dollhouse furniture have to do with Criterion?

A Lester Freamon Eclipse set coming out in 2013...