The Criterion Collection

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I know it's beloved by many, but I can't help but think of scores of films that handle the various themes better. For TV it's quite good, but as art, it just doesn't compare. It certainly isn't "cinematic" nor it does it have any discernible visual style (sans the early use of shaky cam action).

Originally Posted by oildude

Coopfilm, if you mean Band of Brothers, then absolutely, enthusiastically YES, it is worth getting. The interviews with the actual veterans before each episode are worth the price of admission alone. BOB is arguably the finest mini-series ever produced.

Originally Posted by octagon

Yes.

Originally Posted by iScottie

It's the best mini-series out there. It's very realistic and has some of the best PQ and AQ I've seen.

Thanks, guys. I appreciate the advice and it makes me want to definitely see it at some point. It was mainly the subject matter I wasn't sure I'd be interested in---I'm not always a fan of war-related films, but if it's more of a character drama...I'm more interested, then.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

Thanks, guys. I appreciate the advice and it makes me want to definitely see it at some point. It was mainly the subject matter I wasn't sure I'd be interested in---I'm not always a fan of war-related films, but if it's more of a character drama...I'm more interested, then.

I personally feel like it was more of a character development series. Band Of Brothers definitely has a lot of killing and fighting moments, but when they aren't fighting they're forming bonds with one another and trying to cope with their own conflicts that go above and beyond the battlefields.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Haha. Yeah, I figure the same.

I did not waste a lot of time building up a 100+ collection, since I had some money set aside to upgrade my "essential favorites" to Blu-ray right off the bat. I'm still watching these now, and will be throughout January and February.

I am not usually one to let movies sit around unwatched after I buy them, and, most of the time, I watch a movie on the same evening that I purchase it. I bought a lot of Blu-rays in December, though, to upgrade my favs.

I can respect that. Just make sure you snag them at the best price, Criterions: 18; Kino, Olive and imports: 15; most other studios: 5-10 dollars. I made the mistake of overpaying in the first months after I went Blu

[The Great Owl]

Band of Brothers is an amazing show. I have owned the DVD box set for years and years, because I bought it immediately after reading the book. The show has its battle scenes, but there are many more character-driven moments, and the show gives a feel for how the trauma of war settles into the psyche of the young soldiers.

The only thing is...

I only watched my DVD box set one time right after I bought it. I keep meaning to revisit it, but I just never seem to want to make the time commitment to do so.
For this reason, I have no immediate plans to upgrade my set to Blu-ray.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by iScottie

It's the best mini-series out there. It's very realistic and has some of the best PQ and AQ I've seen.

On a side note, I just watched Something Wild. Meh.

I love Something Wild I know it's silly and exuberant, but i had a blast watching it. Jonathan Demme is underrated & I would love for Beloved to get a CC spine. It's reception mirrors that of Ride With the Devil: box office flop and mixed reviews.

What was your verdict on Thin Red Line?

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Band of Brothers is an amazing show. I have owned the DVD box set for years and years, because I bought it immediately after reading the book. The show has its battle scenes, but there are many more character-driven moments, and the show gives a feel for how the trauma of war settles into the psyche of the young soldiers.

The only thing is...

I only watched my DVD box set one time right after I bought it. I keep meaning to revisit it, but I just never seem to want to make the time commitment to do so.
For this reason, I have no immediate plans to upgrade my set to Blu-ray.

Mine is certainly up for trade.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I can respect that. Just make sure you snag them at the best price, Criterions: 18; Kino, Olive and imports: 15; most other studios: 5-10 dollars. I made the mistake of overpaying in the first months after I went Blu

Definitely!

One reason why I bought so many Blu-rays right off the bat in December was that I got some crazy good deals on them with Christmas sales and such.

Amazon was selling a lot of Criterions for $17.99, so that's how I bought The Thin Red Line, Days of Heaven, Purple Noon, Solaris, Godzilla, Le Cercle Rouge, and Army of Shadows.

I ended up grabbing Seven Samurai for $18 from Barnes & Noble by combining coupons.

I bought my entire collection of individual 50th Anniversary James Bond Blu-rays for a couple hundred dollars, since the respective store exclusives in my area happened to have them on the cheap.

I bought the other random awesomeness (King Kong 1933 version, Planet of the Apes 5-Movie Collection set, North by Northwest, To Catch a Thief, Indiana Jones set, Star Wars set, Flash Gordon, Dune, The Shawshank Redemption, Stand By Me, Blade Runner, Alien, Aliens, The American, etc.) at used stores and/or with money that came from selling the respective DVDs when I upgraded. Barnes & Noble also had that 40% Off All Blu-rays going on for the longest time.

[NoirFan]

Originally Posted by Cinemach

One of the clues in the drawing has been interpreted as All That Heaven Allows, so there's that.

Nice, I must have missed that.

If we're counting films made in America - as I surmise you are, since Sirk was German - then Alfred Hitchcock is really unmatched in this claim. But I digress, they're all great, and I'm in agreement that Sirk's blu representation is pitiful.

I was counting made in America, hence not using 'English-language' as my qualifier, as I'd then have to include Powell/Pressburger. I guess I didn't include (or even really think of) Hitchcock because he created masterpieces in five different decades, transcending any particular time period or zeitgeist, and I suppose I just naturally associate Sirk and Ray specifically and almost exclusively with the 1950's, although Ray made several superb films in the 1940's, and Sirk made a few good-not-great movies in that decade. You're quite right though, Hitchcock's 1950's output is unsurpassed.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I have the Twins of Evil, the final film in that "trilogy", and I love it. I actually bought Twins of Evil several months before I had a Blu-ray player, because it is sold as a Blu-ray/DVD combo.

Twins of Evil is not exactly cerebral highbrow material, but it's a fun movie all around. I am expecting the same of The Vampire Lovers.

It's definitely along the lines of that, yes. Personally, I just don't like Hammer films. I've tried..I've seen many..but I just don't like them for some reason, so I've kind of given up.

Great Owl, I'd recommend Daughters of Darkness if you haven't seen it (it's on blu-ray).

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I love Something Wild I know it's silly and exuberant, but i had a blast watching it. Jonathan Demme is underrated & I would love for Beloved to get a CC spine. It's reception mirrors that of Ride With the Devil: box office flop and mixed reviews.

What was your verdict on Thin Red Line?

I mean Something Wild was fun and all, but I can't see myself really watching it again. The Thin Red Line, on the other hand, was a masterpiece. Easily one of my favorite war movies. Jim Caviezel and Sean Penn's performances were great. Speaking of Malick, I'm about to watch The Tree Of Life right now.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

It's definitely along the lines of that, yes. Personally, I just don't like Hammer films. I've tried..I've seen many..but I just don't like them for some reason, so I've kind of given up.

Great Owl, I'd recommend Daughters of Darkness if you haven't seen it (it's on blu-ray).

I had never heard of Daughters of Darkness until your post, but I just looked it up on the main site and am intrigued.

I have quite a few Hammer Studios movies on DVD. I do not see myself upgrading them all as they come available, but my favorites are These are the Damned (from the Icons of Suspense set) and The Mummy. The "essentials" (The Curse of Frankenstein, The Horror of Dracula, etc.) are definite upgrades, but not as high on my priority ladder.

[IronFingaz]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

My vote goes to Carlos.

Not to derail the thread more but is Generation Kill good?

I thought Generation Kill was very good. Better than The Pacific.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Speaking of Malick, I'm about to watch The Tree Of Life right now.

My advice is just to go with the flow during the first viewing, and do not try to understand it.

I have a somewhat-legible analysis underneath spoiler tags from a few pages back on this forum, but wait and read that after.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I mean Something Wild was fun and all, but I can't see myself really watching it again. The Thin Red Line, on the other hand, was a masterpiece. Easily one of my favorite war movies. Jim Caviezel and Sean Penn's performances were great. Speaking of Malick, I'm about to watch The Tree Of Life right now.

Yes! You may overdose on Malick if you don't cleanse your palate, though. Tree of Life is just swarming with ideas. It's tied with A Separation for the best film of 2011 in my opinion.

[deepbreathsanddeath]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Currently watching The Thin Red Line. Hands down one of the most beautiful movies ever made.

Maybe it's just me, but my god, the grass in The Thin Red Line just looks so damn luscious compared to in any other movie I've seen lol!

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

My advice is just to go with the flow during the first viewing, and do not try to understand it.

I have a somewhat-legible analysis underneath spoiler tags from a few pages back on this forum, but wait and read that after.

My advise would be the opposite: try to reason it out on initial viewing then have a more relaxed second viewing and you'll be devastated. (which mirrors my advise for Inland Empire funnily enough) I was in tears as I felt the reality of the bond between brothers.

If God watches movies my guess is they are either Andrei Tarkovsky's of Terrence Malick's.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I love Something Wild I know it's silly and exuberant, but i had a blast watching it. Jonathan Demme is underrated & I would love for Beloved to get a CC spine. It's reception mirrors that of Ride With the Devil: box office flop and mixed reviews.

Add me to the list of fans of the film. I really love the shift in tone that takes place near the end..it's so unexpected but oddly fitting.

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I had never heard of Daughters of Darkness until your post, but I just looked it up on the main site and am intrigued.

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

It's tied with A Separation for the best film of 2011 in my opinion.

Was my 6th or so favorite...such a great film, I'm surprised it hasn't been talked about more here after becoming more 'well known' this past year.

[deepbreathsanddeath]

I've recently gotten into the films of Lee Chang-Dong, I've watched Oasis and Peppermint Candy so far. He's been added to my list of favourite korean directors Secret Sunshine just arrived in the mail today which I'll be watching tonight. Very excited to see one of his films in high def

[ElliesDad]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I mean Something Wild was fun and all, but I can't see myself really watching it again. The Thin Red Line, on the other hand, was a masterpiece. Easily one of my favorite war movies. Jim Caviezel and Sean Penn's performances were great. Speaking of Malick, I'm about to watch The Tree Of Life right now.

For the first time? Wow, I'm envious!

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

Thanks, guys. I appreciate the advice and it makes me want to definitely see it at some point. It was mainly the subject matter I wasn't sure I'd be interested in---I'm not always a fan of war-related films, but if it's more of a character drama...I'm more interested, then.

Tough to know what to advise, CoopFilm! Band of Brothers is one of the finest television productions out there and it's strength does include the intimately personal development of the characters and their inter-relationships, BUT, if as you say you're not much into war films be warned that in the final analysis this is definately a war film (or series)! There's a great deal of combat footage and it is intense and graphic.

As far as the comparison of Band of Brothers with Thin Red Line, we're talking apples and oranges. Both are masterpieces in their own right~ 'Brothers' speaks to the gritty realism of combat and the hardships endured and pays homage to the men and the sacrifices they made. 'Thin Red Line' is an epic homeric poem that attempts to find some meaning and sense of morality behind the violence and bloodshed, and is a beautiful affirmation of everything that is not war against the canvas of war.

You're call!

[rock, stone]

Originally Posted by oildude

As for The Thin Red Line, Malick made a lovely to look at film, which has a definite stamp of "Terrance Malick makes a war movie" all over it. To me, the much-too-frequent for my taste use of multiple character voiceovers representing philosophical musings and inner thoughts becomes tedious as it plays out. This isn't to say that TTRL does not have its moments, because parts of it are incredibly effective in portraying the terrors of combat and the longings of soldiers for home. But compared to just about any episode of BOB and The Pacific, it is not nearly as emotionally compelling.

The 25th Infantry Division was a regular army division based in Hawaii at the time of Pearl Harbor, filled with better trained soldiers than most US Army divisions in the Pacific at that time, which was the reason it was one of the units sent into combat at Guadalcanal towards the end of the campaign to relieve the exhausted 1st Marine Division. We get a hint of that in the movie, but mostly it is like watching angst-ridden grad students fight a war in between "contemplations" of life and the world around them. I barely get any sense of the reality of ordinary dog faces fighting for friends in the line next to them. To me, it is way too artsy to be an effective war film.

[Show spoiler]And yet it has grown on me with repeated viewings, and I bought the Criterion despite the faults I find in it. Perhaps that is what makes a Malick film memorable. His films may be frequently tedious, overly philosophical, and devote large portions of run time to characters reconciling their inner turmoil toward a reality which places them in conflict with the natural world, but I keep watching them anyway.

This is my chief complaint about Thin Red Line. While many of the performances are strong, no one ever transcends feeling like an actor in a movie. Not to mention Travolta has that long scene of blandly mannered scene chewing that I still can't believe made final cut.

Say what you will about BoB, Pacific, or Generation Kill, they excel at showing the complexities of what is means to be a soldier as well as the camaraderie, boredom, despair, and visceral terror that comes with it.