The Criterion Collection

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by bingtau

I would like to request that Criterion releases P.T. Anderson's first film on BD, Hard Eight. Who else loves Hard Eight?

Hard Eight is great. It seems to be a perfect fit for Criterion. Anyone who hasn't seen this film and has any interest in the Casino lifestyle then this if a must see. I love the fact that There's a line in the film where they talk about some of Sydney's old aquaintinces. They mention names that I can't think of off the top of my head, (my bad) but however these same names (charachters) show up in some of his later films such as Boogie Nights and Magnolia. Pure Genius.

Hasn't it been rumored that it will be coming to Criterion? I remember several posts a few months back regarding it.

[billzfan]

What are your 3 favorite film in the Criterion collection. Not necesarily the best transfers or extras but your actual favorite films.

Mine would be:

1. Seven Samurai
2. 8 1/2
3. 12 Angry Men

[greekak229]

Originally Posted by Cinemach

I haven't seen Following, but I'd have to agree that there's no way it's worse than The Dark Knight Rises. What a clunky, bloated, overindulgent mess of a film. And you're right, the editing is downright atrocious.

I had to order Following because it reminded me when Christopher Nolan was truly a great filmmaker. Its subtlety is very intriguing in that picture, but Memento will always be my personal favorite from him. The Dark Knight Rises is indeed atrocious, in pretty much every aspect, but in the end, I'm glad we're getting a BD of Following.

[billzfan]

Originally Posted by greekak229

I had to order Following because it reminded me when Christopher Nolan was truly a great filmmaker. Its subtlety is very intriguing in that picture, but Memento will always be my personal favorite from him. The Dark Knight Rises is indeed atrocious, in pretty much every aspect, but in the end, I'm glad we're getting a BD of Following.

Is this a joke? We're calling Following a better film than Dark Knight Rises. Why? Because it's a low budget film versus a billion dollar franchise? DKR is a far superior film in storytelling, execution, as well as acting.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by billzfan

Is this a joke? We're calling Following a better film than Dark Knight Rises. Why? Because it's a low budget film versus a billion dollar franchise? DKR is a far superior film in storytelling, execution, as well as acting.

The Dark Knight Rises doesn't completely demonstrate what I find grating about Nolan (that would be Inception), but it does do it in spades. I had to force myself to turn off my brain while watching it half-way through because, man, that film was just flat-out stupid. I almost expected Cesar Romero to pop up in that third act.

I agree that Memento is his best film. It probably always will be. I haven't seen Following in a long time so I can't weigh it against The Dark Knight Rises, but I remember liking it quite a bit. It wouldn't take much for me to rank it ahead of the latter.

[paul000]

Originally Posted by billzfan

Is this a joke? We're calling Following a better film than Dark Knight Rises. Why? Because it's a low budget film versus a billion dollar franchise? DKR is a far superior film in storytelling, execution, as well as acting.

That really doesn't change the underlying problem: they're both rubbish. In my opinion anyway. I don't understand the praise for Nolan, or Fincher for that matter. To me, they make dumb films for smart people. That's the best way I can describe it. Have any of you ever seen Bill Murray in "The Man Who Knew Too Little"? It makes watching "The Game" a bit easier to sit through, because it becomes hilarious.

[greekak229]

Originally Posted by billzfan

Is this a joke? We're calling Following a better film than Dark Knight Rises. Why? Because it's a low budget film versus a billion dollar franchise? DKR is a far superior film in storytelling, execution, as well as acting.

Storytelling? I'm sorry, but saying The Dark Knight Rises has good storytelling when in truth it's nothing but a jumbled mess, now that's a joke.

[billzfan]

Originally Posted by paul000

That really doesn't change the underlying problem: they're both rubbish. In my opinion anyway. I don't understand the praise for Nolan, or Fincher for that matter. To me, they make dumb films for smart people. That's the best way I can describe it. Have any of you ever seen Bill Murray in "The Man Who Knew Too Little"? It makes watching "The Game" a bit easier to sit through, because it becomes hilarious.

I love Fincher just for Zodiac alone. That is one of the most underrated films of last decade.

[Brad1963]

Originally Posted by billzfan

I love Fincher just for Zodiac alone. That is one of the most underrated films of last decade.

I agree.

[runnersdialzero]

Let the bashing of popular directors begin. :/

My favorite Criterion movies

1. The Game
2. Modern Times
3. The Thin Red Line

[rkish]

Originally Posted by jw007

So who here in this forum ever goes to their local library and rents Criterion films before purchasing them?

I recently returned Black Moon after realizing it got poor reviews (and streamed some of the film online and realized I shouldn't have bought it).

But guess what!?

My awesome local library system (Carnegie Library of Pgh) happens to have a TON OF CRITERIONS in stock and Black Moon is one of them.

So I had one of the other branches send in the DVD to my neighborhood branch and I'm going to pick it up later to watch! AND ITS FREE of course!

It's a wise idea!

Now if only they had BD's to rent! But hey, at least if you watch the DVD first, you can get a better idea if you're gonna invest $ into the BD edition.

An old friend of mine lives in Pittsburgh and you are both lucky to have a great library there. I don't have the same luxury in upstate New York (as many others on this forum)...but agree with your logic, as these films cost enough to buy and it pays to know what you are buying.

At least I was smart enough to take advantage of hooking up with Hulu Plus, which not only carries a LARGE number of current CC releases (on both BD and DVD), but a number of films not yet available on disc. I've already seen a number of those films by Ozu, Naruse, Mizoguchi, and my new favorite, Kinoshita (who has an unbelievably large number of films represented). $7.99 a month is surely a more economical way of seeing these films for the first time and then deciding if they are worth purchasing for multiple viewings.

[rkish]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

I do. But I also currently have Hulu Plus and Netflix streaming, so I've been making less visits to the library.

Thanks for mentioning NetFlix Joe! I also have that in addition to Hulu Plus and they both compliment each other, as they both carry slightly different content.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by paul000

That really doesn't change the underlying problem: they're both rubbish. In my opinion anyway. I don't understand the praise for Nolan, or Fincher for that matter. To me, they make dumb films for smart people. That's the best way I can describe it. Have any of you ever seen Bill Murray in "The Man Who Knew Too Little"? It makes watching "The Game" a bit easier to sit through, because it becomes hilarious.

At the very least, Fincher understands how time and space work. He's a superb craftsman, maybe the best craftsman alive today & always in command of his material. Nolan missed the forest for the trees in Dark Knight Rises. Nonetheless I enjoyed the hell out of the scrambled first act. Enough exposition, action and Hammer Zimmer soundtrack to fill three comic book movies.

[rkish]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

Anyone snag a copy of 99 Reasons?

I saw a Twitter post from Criterion Cast about this...what exactly is it? I can't find it on Amazon and/or the Criterion website.

[paul000]

Ah, I'm not bashing anybody. These are just opinions and discussions. I think it's interesting more than anything. Check out the Bill Murray flick

Originally Posted by billzfan

I love Fincher just for Zodiac alone. That is one of the most underrated films of last decade.

I wouldn't go as far as saying it is criminally underrated, but I think it's his best film. One of the reasons for this, in my opinion, is that it is essentially a gripping story and well written script that has nothing to say - which is perfect for Fincher. He literally has nothing to say.

[bingtau]

My top 3 Criterions I own would have to be

The Thin Red Line
Seven Samurai
Naked

Followed by

Harakiri
High and Low

[bingtau]

I'm dying for both Insomnia and The Vanishing on blu. They were a couple of the first Criterions I ever owned back in the day.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

In that case get it. Its strange in a dry, matter of fact way and has some pretty startling images of military control. Do you own Weekend? It has a very apocalyptic feel?

I do own Weekend (by Godard). Just bought it on Blu last week. Like I said in an earlier post, I wrote a 12 page college essay on that film in my final year at university. It's an amazing film and I can't wait to watch it again soon. As for Black Moon, if I really like this movie, I'll buy it, but I'm being more selective now with post-apocalyptic-themed movies.

[RiFiFi1955]

Originally Posted by billzfan

What are your 3 favorite film in the Criterion collection. Not necesarily the best transfers or extras but your actual favorite films.

Mine would be:

1. Seven Samurai
2. 8 1/2
3. 12 Angry Men

That is a superb top three!

I don't even think I could rate my top three favorites....just too hard but I will say Night of the Hunter, The Seventh Seal, and The Thin Red Line are up there in addition to the three you mentioned above.

Oh Yeah and of course the Hitchock Films

[jw007]

Originally Posted by rkish

An old friend of mine lives in Pittsburgh and you are both lucky to have a great library there. I don't have the same luxury in upstate New York (as many others on this forum)...but agree with your logic, as these films cost enough to buy and it pays to know what you are buying.

At least I was smart enough to take advantage of hooking up with Hulu Plus, which not only carries a LARGE number of current CC releases (on both BD and DVD), but a number of films not yet available on disc. I've already seen a number of those films by Ozu, Naruse, Mizoguchi, and my new favorite, Kinoshita (who has an unbelievably large number of films represented). $7.99 a month is surely a more economical way of seeing these films for the first time and then deciding if they are worth purchasing for multiple viewings.

Yes, Hulu is great too! But there's something old fashioned and tangible about libraries and actually holding the film in your hand as a physical object rather than downloading an invisible file online. Plus, heck, I enjoy the exercise walking to the library and back (which is literally 5 blocks from my house!).

And yes, even though there isn't a single true bookstore in our downtown (unless a used book store counts?), my city sure does take care of our library system fortunately.