The Criterion Collection

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by mrjohnnyb

In addition, The Killing was inspired by the different perspectives presented in Rashoman. Sterling Hayden says this was told to him when auditioning for the film; his comments can be found in the supplements.

One of the supplements for The Killing is Sterling Hayden talking about his life and admitting he named names at the HUAC hearings. His confession and guilt are very moving.

[Cinemach]

Originally Posted by drbikeshorts

I did enjoy both Gone Baby Gone and The Town, but they are very overrated. Particularly The Town. Seriously, have critics never seen a crime film before?
I liked Argo quite a bit and think it's a much better film than the previous two. I think Affleck is actually a good director of Affleck the actor.
I expect to see Argo in the mix when the Oscar nominations are announced.

Afleck's a serviceable director in the Eastwood mold, and one who gets overrated so to speak because everyone had left his career for tabloid fodder dead. I'll give him credit for that at least. Argo should have a strong presence come Oscar time.

[SammyJankis]

Affleck does nothing for me. His directorial work is solid, but that's it. His approach just seems vanilla to me, and Argo doesn't change this. It's one of the few films this year that I'd label overrated (a term I try not to use).

I'm seeing Zero Dark Thirty this Friday. Hoping that will be the film to improve a rather lackluster year.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

Hoping that will be the film to improve a rather lackluster year.

2012 has been strange.

I'm getting off the Criterion subject a bit much here, but my top five of 2012 reads as follows...

1. The Grey
2. Skyfall
3. Django Unchained
4. John Carter
5. Lawless

This is the first time that my top five of the year has exclusively featured big blockbuster movies. I usually have a couple of indie/foreign flicks in the fold that I see at theaters here in Atlanta. The only "indie" film that I made it out to this year was V/H/S, and, while that was an awesomely uncompromising horror flick, I have no real desire to watch it ever again, and it falls outside my top five.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

2012 has been strange.

I'm getting off the Criterion subject a bit much here, but my top five of 2012 reads as follows...

1. The Grey
2. Skyfall
3. Django Unchained
4. John Carter
5. Lawless

This is the first time that my top five of the year has exclusively featured big blockbuster movies. I usually have a couple of indie/foreign flicks in the fold that I see at theaters here in Atlanta. The only "indie" film that I made it out to this year was V/H/S, and, while that was an awesomely uncompromising horror flick, I have no real desire to watch it ever again, and it falls outside my top five.

Every time I think this year will get better with an upcoming release, it doesn't. It's a lackluster year, even if you don't compare it to 2011, one of the greatest years for film since.. 2007.
I just need to see Zero Dark Thirty and Amour before I can finalize my top 10. As of right now, my top five would be something like this:

1. Moonrise Kingdom
2. Holy Motors
3. The Master
4. The Kid With a Bike
5. This is Not a Film

EDIT: To attempt to get back on topic, I have to say I'm very pleased that Criterion announced The Kid With a Bike. The film introduced me to the Dardenne brothers, and made me blind buy Rosetta earlier this year.

[R o d]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Regarding Solaris ...

Now, if you have the older Criterion DVD edition (with Kelvin and Hari in front of the mirror on the cover), then the upgrade to Blu-ray is a must, because the blue color tint on the black/white scenes has been restored.

That's the one I have. Thank you for this insight and your other comments as well.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

EDIT: To attempt to get back on topic, I have to say I'm very pleased that Criterion announced The Kid With a Bike.

I want to see this one as well. Cécile De France is such an amazing actress.

This leads me to a general Criterion question, though...

What is Criterion's rationale when they pick up recent films as titles instead of overlooked older classics?

The Forgiveness of Blood, Revanche, Hunger, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button are a few that come to mind.

These are solid offerings, yes, and, in fact, Revanche and Hunger are mind-blowingly good. The older films that demand resurrection after years of standing the test of time seem more like Criterion fare, though. Maybe it's a studio rights thing or something of the sort, but I've always been curious about this. Whenever I see Criterion pick up a film that was released the year before or within the same year, I always wonder why.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by drbikeshorts

I did enjoy both Gone Baby Gone and The Town, but they are very overrated. Particularly The Town. Seriously, have critics never seen a crime film before?
I liked Argo quite a bit and think it's a much better film than the previous two. I think Affleck is actually a good director of Affleck the actor.
I expect to see Argo in the mix when the Oscar nominations are announced.

I personally feel that Gone Baby Gone is his most underrated film. I feel like whenever people think Affleck, they think of "The Town".

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

Every time I think this year will get better with an upcoming release, it doesn't. It's a lackluster year, even if you don't compare it to 2011, one of the greatest years for film since.. 2007.
I just need to see Zero Dark Thirty and Amour before I can finalize my top 10. As of right now, my top five would be something like this:

1. Moonrise Kingdom
2. Holy Motors
3. The Master
4. The Kid With a Bike
5. This is Not a Film

EDIT: To attempt to get back on topic, I have to say I'm very pleased that Criterion announced The Kid With a Bike. The film introduced me to the Dardenne brothers, and made me blind buy Rosetta earlier this year.

The Kid with a Bike was my introduction as well. I was ecstatic when I saw it announced for the February slate. Now that I've seen all of the Dardenne's films, it certainly falls more towards the middle than the top of their filmography, but nonetheless a fantastic film. The fact that it's only number 12 on my end of the year list for 2012 is really a testament to how great a year it has been for film.

[TJS_Blu]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

What is Criterion's rationale when they pick up recent films as titles instead of overlooked older classics?

official response:

Since 1984, the Criterion Collection, a continuing series of important classic and contemporary films, has been dedicated to gathering the greatest films from around the world and publishing them in editions that offer the highest technical quality and award-winning, original supplements.

I'd give 'em a C on the contemporary part and a D- on the "greatest films from around the world" simply because that's my opinion.

[deepbreathsanddeath]

I'd love to see Criterion release Picnic at Hanging Rock. The UK release by Second Sight is amazing in every way possible except that it doesn't include the theatrical cut which is approximately 7 minutes longer. Not sure why. The 3-disc dvd set did. If Criterion were to release Picnic at Hanging Rock, I know we would get a complete and definitive package.
Wonderful movie that deserves the effort.

[andsoitgoes]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

April. Those will be announced next week.

When do they normally announce? Monday, Tuesday? I just want to be on the ball in case there's anything I want. Are there any speculations as to what they've got going on?

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by andsoitgoes

When do they normally announce? Monday, Tuesday? I just want to be on the ball in case there's anything I want. Are there any speculations as to what they've got going on?

the 15th of each month unless it falls on the weekend. Should be Tuesday.

[andsoitgoes]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

the 15th of each month unless it falls on the weekend. Should be Tuesday.

The Tuesday makes sense, as that's the date of the new movie releases. Can't wait until then. I hope there are some gems I want to get.

More Kurosawa, please and thank you! Ikiru with commentary would be like a gift from the heavens.

[Xtempo]

I don't believe this would ever work but it would be nice for Criterion to release all the extras except for the commentaries since that would make it more of a mess. For example all extras from Blade Runner #19 and #69 and maybe scans of the cover and inserts and other paper stuff that they release on the LaserDisc and put that on a DVD. I know it probably won't work so you have to buy all previous releases that are out of print on LaserDisc or VHS (I don't think there are any extras on VHS though) and make your own but if Criterion did this I would gladly pay anything really especially for the films I love that I would like to preserve everything since machines such as LaserDisc ones will stop working and the LDs themselves will stop being read at some point.

that would be so cool. I know the money issue is probably one of the main (not the reason though) reasons Studios have not let Criterion not keep releasing things.

[dirtylemons]

Originally Posted by deepbreathsanddeath

I'd love to see Criterion release Picnic at Hanging Rock. The UK release by Second Sight is amazing in every way possible except that it doesn't include the theatrical cut which is approximately 7 minutes longer. Not sure why. The 3-disc dvd set did. If Criterion were to release Picnic at Hanging Rock, I know we would get a complete and definitive package.
Wonderful movie that deserves the effort.

Absolutely agree. 'Picnic At Hanging Rock' and 'Eraserhead' are the two titles I'm always hoping to see announced when the 15th comes around.

[deepbreathsanddeath]

Originally Posted by dirtylemons

Absolutely agree. 'Picnic At Hanging Rock' and 'Eraserhead' are the two titles I'm always hoping to see announced when the 15th comes around.

Eraserhead will almost definitely be getting announced. I'll be keeping my hopes high for them to eventually announce Picnic at Hanging Rock though. Until then, my UK disc will suffice. The version I first saw was the theatrical version on television and my older sister taped it the next time it was on and so growing up that's the version I watched countless times and grew to love. It wasn't until later that I discovered a directors cut of it. I never bothered to check it out until it came out on blu-ray from Second Sight due to it's glowing reviews.

The fact that it's the directors intended version is the only reason I am keeping it and why I tolerate it. It's not bad by any means but when you've grown up with the theatrical cut, the missing 7 minutes make an enormous difference and certainly dampens the experience a little for me but it's still a wonderful film. I wonder why only the directors cut was included on the blu-ray. So much effort was put into it's release in every other regard. Truly is a shame because I love Second Sight. If Criterion eventually release this masterpiece and include all of the special features found on the Second Sight release (and no doubt they would), AND include both versions, I would unfortunately have to part with my Second Sight blu-ray.

I sure hope they do eventually announce it. And by eventually I mean very soon :P haha

[agoofykindasuperman]

I'm still waiting for Blu-ray reissues of Armageddon and Lord of the Flies! Can't wait for those two... hopefully in April's releases!

[MacEachaidh]

Originally Posted by deepbreathsanddeath

I'd love to see Criterion release Picnic at Hanging Rock. The UK release by Second Sight is amazing in every way possible except that it doesn't include the theatrical cut which is approximately 7 minutes longer. Not sure why. The 3-disc dvd set did. If Criterion were to release Picnic at Hanging Rock, I know we would get a complete and definitive package.
Wonderful movie that deserves the effort.

I agree, breaths. I spoke with Umbrella a while back, when Hanging Rock first came out on BD, curious why the original cinema version wasn't available and wanting to register my interest in it. Umbrella's comment was that Peter Weir was adamant that he only wanted people watching the revised version — but I obviously can't vouch for that directly, and I have no idea of how much of a final say Peter Weir really has, or if they were just being courteous. But that's what Umbrella said as to why the original cut wasn't on Blu.

If Criterion can break through that, of course, like you I'll be all over its release!

[nametag]

Originally Posted by MacEachaidh

I agree, breaths. I spoke with Umbrella a while back, when Hanging Rock first came out on BD, curious why the original cinema version wasn't available and wanting to register my interest in it. Umbrella's comment was that Peter Weir was adamant that he only wanted people watching the revised version — but I obviously can't vouch for that directly, and I have no idea of how much of a final say Peter Weir really has, or if they were just being courteous. But that's what Umbrella said as to why the original cut wasn't on Blu.

If Criterion can break through that, of course, like you I'll be all over its release!

That's unfortunate, I hate it when directors try to overwrite history like that. They need to deal with the fact that there was a version lots of people watched/loved/studied/applauded, etc, and that one shouldn't be totally suppressed.