The Criterion Collection

[PowellPressburger]

Very excited for Medium Cool! I've been wanting to see this film for at least a decade. This is going to be a good release.

[georgec]

I haven't heard of Medium Cool before.

Cool.

[Brad1963]

Medium Cool is a great choice for Criterion.

[NoirFan]

Great movie, and looks like I sold my OOP Paramount disc just in time!

[DarkRyder]

I seem to be in the minority that really loved The Canterbury Tales. The other two were great, but I just enjoyed that film the most. I'd probably put them in this order:

The Canterbury Tales
Arabian Nights
The Decameron

Overall though, I really loved this set! The best, or second best release of the year for me

Watching the trailer for Salo after finishing this trilogy was a lot more disturbing. I remember thinking Salo wasn't as bad as previously stated, but if we're talking about the same director from this trilogy, yeah that is truly ****ed up. Have to see the rest of his work now for sure!

[Cinemach]

Originally Posted by RedIsNotBlue

I have such mixed feelings about The Game. I love David Fincher as a director and I absolutely love the concept of The Game yet I still feel it is his weakest film. I just think it could have been executed better. I find areas of it to be a little too far fetched and implausible. Also not a fan of the hollywood ending. It has been a while since I have seen it though I should rewatch it and see if I like it anymore than I did the last time.

The Game is certainly one of Fincher's weakest pictures. While it is true that the cinematography and production design are frequently superb this film doesn't work for me because Fincher is too heavy with his direction. This is why he's excellent with material such as Zodiac, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, etc...a little lightness in this area - a la North by Northwest - punctuated with some humor would have made The Game a much better film.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by blkhrt

New newsletter clue:

Cool, now available in small, large, and Medium.

[aherron]

Got my copy of The Great Dictator today and waiting for a few more.

[TheHighRoller]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I can understand. I certainly like the Decameron more than The Canterbury Tales. Here's to hoping Arabian Nights trumps both.

( In The Realm of the Senses remains the best explicit Criterion. )

What is it with Pasolini and heavy nudity? I was interested in getting Salo during the sale, but after seeing some screencaps, I kind of stayed away from it. It's still on my Criterion wishlist though.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by TheHighRoller

What is it with Pasolini and heavy nudity? I was interested in getting Salo during the sale, but after seeing some screencaps, I kind of stayed away from it. It's still on my Criterion wishlist though.

If that bothers you, you may have to stay away from him all together . Salo has nudity in pretty much every scene.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

I would love to see Criterion issue Solaris (yeah that version) and include a lot of the footage that was cut / or alternates. I honestly like the film on its own. I love the original version more so, but the remake isn't a bad film IMO.

I'm a fan of both versions, but I prefer Soderbergh's. Tarkovsky's takes far too long to get started and seems to meander quite a bit before getting to the space station.
I'd definitely like to see Criterion or Fox upgrade this to blu-ray.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by TheHumanTornado

Does anyone feel like commenting on Branded to Kill and Tokyo Drifter? I have no experience with Suzuki but have been on an Asian film kick recently purchasing In the Mood for Love as well as Chungking Express.

If you like In the Mood for Love and Chungking Express you should look into getting other Wong Kar-Wai films, such as Happy Together and Fallen Angels.
There's also nothing similar between these films and the films of Seijun Suzuki.
Suzuki was a Japanese director working in the 60s, whereas Wong Kar-Wai is a director from Hong Kong making films from the late 80s to now.
As someone else has said, Branded to Kill and Tokyo Drifter are kind of nuts. I'm a big fan of both (see my avatar), but these films really aren't for everyone. Some love their crazy, 60s pop sensibility and others hate their sloppy and confusing (or nonsense) narratives. Suzuki was actually fired from Nikkatsu Studios because of Branded to Kill.
I'd recommend trying before buying.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by retablo

I'd like to see King of the Hill, which I don't think even got a DVD release. I still have my widescreen laserdisc, though.

Yes! Definitely needs a Criterion blu-ray release!

[RiFiFi1955]

Originally Posted by RedIsNotBlue
I have such mixed feelings about The Game. I love David Fincher as a director and I absolutely love the concept of The Game yet I still feel it is his weakest film. I just think it could have been executed better. I find areas of it to be a little too far fetched and implausible. Also not a fan of the hollywood ending. It has been a while since I have seen it though I should rewatch it and see if I like it anymore than I did the last time.

I feel this way about so many movies...that I should re-watch them to see if I like them any better the second time around. There are many films I did not like the first time I watched them but on second, third viewing turned out to really love them. Does anyone else feel that certain movies you really have to be in the right mood to fully enjoy them??? I remember watching His Girl Friday and not really caring all that much for it the first time around and now it is one of my favorite films, The 400 blows I didn't get into all that much the first time around but on second viewing it drew me in a lot more, same goes for Bande A Part, the list goes on and on but those are a few that just popped into my head first.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by RiFiFi1955

I feel this way about so many movies...that I should re-watch them to see if I like them any better the second time around. There are many films I did not like the first time I watched them but on second, third viewing turned out to really love them. Does anyone else feel that certain movies you really have to be in the right mood to fully enjoy them??? I remember watching His Girl Friday and not really caring all that much for it the first time around and now it is one of my favorite films, The 400 blows I didn't get into all that much the first time around but on second viewing it drew me in a lot more, same goes for Bande A Part, the list goes on and on but those are a few that just popped into my head first.

Not only do I agree that mood (or tiredness/wakefulness, and everything else!) plays a huge factor, I'm amazed that people will completely discount those factors when appraising a film.
Films don't exist in a vacuum. What we bring to a film viewing is just as important as the socio/historical conditions that created the film.

[cferreiro]

Originally Posted by drbikeshorts

Not only do I agree that mood (or tiredness/wakefulness, and everything else!) plays a huge factor, I'm amazed that people will completely discount those factors when appraising a film.
Films don't exist in a vacuum. What we bring to a film viewing is just as important as the socio/historical conditions that created the film.

"If you are great, El Topo is a great picture. If you are limited, El Topo is limited." - Alejandro Jodorowsky

[RiFiFi1955]

Originally Posted by drbikeshorts

Not only do I agree that mood (or tiredness/wakefulness, and everything else!) plays a huge factor, I'm amazed that people will completely discount those factors when appraising a film.
Films don't exist in a vacuum. What we bring to a film viewing is just as important as the socio/historical conditions that created the film.

Yeah I at least always try to give a film a second watch before critiquing it. And yes I am glad you mentioned tiredness cause that is an important one!

[jrsl76]

Originally Posted by Akijama

Medium Cool you say?Awesome! Now bring the Paper Moon as well

Hell yes, bring on "Paper Moon". I like getting all types of films from Criterion, but I have to admit that the Classic Hollywood and the New Hollywood films excite me the most.

Also, now that we've gotten "On The Waterfront", I hope it bodes well for "It Happened One Night" and "From Here To Eternity".

Finally, I hope like hell, Criterion can rescue "The Last Detail" from Echo Bridge.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by RiFiFi1955

Yeah I at least always try to give a film a second watch before critiquing it. And yes I am glad you mentioned tiredness cause that is an important one!

Mrs Drbikeshorts will often try to watch a film with me when she's tired and then later complain that it was a bit slow or too long
And she's always tired

[aherron]

A Night To Remember is now $17.99 for those who are waiting for a price drop.