The Criterion Collection

[DarkRyder]

I got an email from Fry's saying the films I ordered are out of stock, but they will ship as soon as they are back. As for a date, that was not given. Anyone have luck yet?

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by TAC

Is the Australian edition of Miami Vice region free? Thanks

I set my player to Region A and it definitely works.
As far as I know, Universal never region-lock their discs.
The Australian edition is the same as the UK (and other European) editions. It has all the classification ratings for the other countries.
The Australian edition has a much larger (and uglier) classification label on the cover.
Here's a user review of the UK edition.
Awesome film! Easily one of my favourites of the last decade.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

Two-Lane Blacktop is the next criterion I would like to own before Badlands is released. I have not seen the movie. Can any one comment on Oates performance.

Warren Oates is one of the under appreciated actors from 70 s. I hope criterion can get around in releasing Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia or any early Peckinpah movie.

Sounds like you already like Warren Oates.
I'm pretty confident you'll love him in Two-Lane Blacktop.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by Norbie

Brazil arrived! Only four more to go from the last N&B sale.

My Plein Soleil arrived today
That's the last one of my recent B&N and Amazon splurges that I was waiting for.

[Whirlygig]

Originally Posted by Wizard-of-Wars

You think I'm buying these at retail stores??

Heck no!

Then...you have my permission to buy.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

Empire magazine had a great article about Jodorowsky's Dune. That's where I read about it the first time. It is issue 244, October 2009. Moebius is a fantastic artist. His work on Heavy Metal magazine is pure sci fi genius.

The Kyoto International Manga Museum has a ceramic cast of Moebius' hand drawing, that was then illustrated upon by Moebius. One of my favorite things in the museum. Sadly, no photos were allowed. He is missed.

[buffetfroid]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

In one word, superb.

Two-Lane Blacktop is such a fun-spirited movie for me, even when scenes are more serious. It's one of the ultimate vehicle-symbolizes-freedom films, and Oates is a main reason. Part of me wants to quit my day job and live on the open road when I see this.

Indeed. And to quote Leonard Maltin, "Oates' performance is about as good as you'll ever see and should have had the Oscar."

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

Some stories are better left in their original form. We all know that the field of well-adapted books-to-film is pretty barren. Also anything considered science-fiction is generally dumbed-down by most movie studios into space opera. I agree with you that most people would find a true-to-the-source adaptation of Dune boring.

I find that Fantasy and/or Children's books fare far worse to be honest. Also, you're also viewing them from a North American/Hollywood perspective. Other parts of tge world, or TV do far better adaptations.

[SammyJankis]

Come on, Criterion. Now is your chance to announce Hiroshima, Mon Amour.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by madmojo

I'm thinking of starting to listen to the commentaries on my Criterion blu-rays. Are there any commentaries in particular that anyone would recommend as standouts?

Very good idea. My second viewing of all new Criterion is always with the commentaries, it give's me new look into each movie. I am a fan of cinema but no expert, never really study in it and haven't read many books compared to others in this thread. The commentaries always let me take in the story and the movie from another angle

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Very good idea. My second viewing of all new Criterion is always with the commentaries, it give's me new look into each movie. I am a fan of cinema but no expert, never really study in it and haven't read many books compared to others in this thread. The commentaries always let me take in the story and the movie from another angle

I usually watch the commentary track during my second viewing as well.

I find that the commentaries sometimes help me understand certain plot points and themes if I am unable to grasp them with my caveman intellect. I also enjoy knowing more about some of the historical context of certain films (the nuclear testing concerns that were a background to Godzilla, for instance, or the historical specifics about Vichy France that are referenced in Army of Shadows).

[paul000]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

Some stories are better left in their original form. We all know that the field of well-adapted books-to-film is pretty barren. Also anything considered science-fiction is generally dumbed-down by most movie studios into space opera. I agree with you that most people would find a true-to-the-source adaptation of Dune boring.

Well, this is all my opinion but that's just it. I think the studio played a major part every time. In the case of Jodorowsky, I think it was mainly this and the fact that he himself allowed the budget to get unnecessarily bloated. With Lynch, he was backed into a corner. I believe he shot over 4 hours and originally edited to 2hours 45 min. The studio made him cut it to 2 hours which resulted in the cluster **** you know today, among other reasons. Lynch was forced to do reshoots, "simplifying" scenes to result in a shorter length. I can't imagine how frustrating that would be. That's not to say that if he wasn't forced to mess with his vision he would've made something definitive, but it's something to think about anyway in both cases. The studio didn't have a clue hiring guys like these 2 to shoot a film based on Dune without giving them complete creative control, especially enforcing final cut and running time restraints. I can't remember if they okay'd Jodorowsky making it a mini series type thing or not but the material needs at LEAST 3 hours in my opinion. And like you said a straight from the book approach would probably not connect with many lightweight or non sci-fi fans. I think this is why Jodorowsky and Lynch were brilliant choices, because both of them approached the story on much deeper terms. It's a shame how both projects turned out.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

Come on, Criterion. Now is your chance to announce Hiroshima, Mon Amour.

Good to see I'm not the only one calling for this one.

[*PREACHER*]

Saw The Organizer on Amazon for 14.99 and Rosetta for 20.99, any thoughts on these, and how good are they..thanks in advance.

After reading a review for Rosetta on here it sounds like a very good and powerful film one that I can enjoy and gnaw into!

The Organizer another great B&W film that looks very interesting! Always been a fan of B&W films no matter what it's about. The B&W gives me more of a chance to explore the film for what it really would have been like at that time and how it would of looked in my mind had I been there.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by *PREACHER*

Saw The Organizer on Amazon for 14.99 and Rosetta for 20.99, any thoughts on these, and how good are they..thanks in advance.

After reading a review for Rosetta on here it sounds like a very good and powerful film one that I can enjoy and gnaw into!

The Organizer another great B&W film that looks very interesting! Always been a fan of B&W films no matter what it's about. The B&W gives me more of a chance to explore the film for what it really would have been like at that time and how it would of looked in my mind had I been there.

Buy them both! The Organiser is a surprise gem, that no one talks about! If you've studied any sort of labour rights history, it's essential! It's quite relevant today even.

I enjoyed La promisse more thatn Rosetta, as it wasn't as soul crushing, but you do need to see Rosetta.

[*PREACHER*]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Buy them both! The Organiser is a surprise gem, that no one talks about! If you've studied any sort of labour rights history, it's essential! It's quite relevant today even.

I enjoyed La promisse more thatn Rosetta, as it wasn't as soul crushing, but you do need to see Rosetta.

Thanks BG with the whole talk of B&N going OOB sadly I've been considering nabbing them while I can...also glanced at The Complete Jean Vigo which also looks right up my alley.

[*PREACHER*]

For anyone that's been on the fence over getting Chungking Express Amazon has it for 17.99. Probably my fav blind buy for 2012. Thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the film.

I believe the film is now OOP through Criterion!

http://www.amazon.com/Chungking-Expr...=criterion+blu

[Sukuri]

Originally Posted by madmojo

I'm thinking of starting to listen to the commentaries on my Criterion blu-rays. Are there any commentaries in particular that anyone would recommend as standouts?

Stagecoach and Micheal Jeck on Seven Samurai are the first that come to mind. The commentaries on Red Desert and Solaris make those movies bearable to watch.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

Some stories are better left in their original form. We all know that the field of well-adapted books-to-film is pretty barren. Also anything considered science-fiction is generally dumbed-down by most movie studios into space opera. I agree with you that most people would find a true-to-the-source adaptation of Dune boring.

I don't know if I'd agree with that. Obviously I don't know how you would define pretty barren - or well-adapted, for that matter - but I can think of a lot of pretty good to very good book-to-film adaptations.

Your sci-fi point is better taken though. For every Andromeda Strain there seems to be ten Starship Troopers.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I usually watch the commentary track during my second viewing as well.

I find that the commentaries sometimes help me understand certain plot points and themes if I am unable to grasp them with my caveman intellect. I also enjoy knowing more about some of the historical context of certain films (the nuclear testing concerns that were a background to Godzilla, for instance, or the historical specifics about Vichy France that are referenced in Army of Shadows).

Yes it give's details that you may not be aware about that sort of open up a new way of looking at the movie and the story being told. It's too bad that in so many cases the directors of these movies are no longer available to offer comments. I would love to have a commentary track of Ozu talking about how he did Late Autumn, that would be so wild for me