The Criterion Collection

[rock, stone]

Originally Posted by andsoitgoes

Neil Patrick Harris made the movie and sure as heck was. He was brilliant in the movie.

heh, he even gets to dress up like bona fide nazi and everything.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by rock, stone

heh, he even gets to dress up like bona fide nazi and everything.

Heh, yeah, satire doesn't get much more sly than SS uniforms. That was quite deft

[Show spoiler]

[drbikeshorts]

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.

Rosetta and La Promesse were blind-buys for me and my first introduction to the Dardenne brothers.
Rosetta is an incredibly powerful, yet very simple, story about a poor girl who lives in a trailer with her alcoholic mother, just trying to get by and trying to keep a job and trying to get a break.
The usually super-cute Émilie Dequenne gives a great performance, with almost no make-up, less than glamourous clothes, and walks around with the weight of the world on her shoulders. All she wants is a job and an opportunity.
Loved it

[spanky87]

I was also just considering a blind buy of Rosetta.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by *PREACHER*

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.

Damn! Get that too!
L’atalante is such a gorgeous film. It's beautiful and moving the first time. It rewards repeated viewings. And it's also one of those films you can put on late at night when you're tired and you can just drift off to sleep in front of it...
Zéro de conduite is also fantastic. If you like any of the French New Wave filmmakers, you should see this. Obviously, very influential on Truffaut and Les quatre cents coups.

[ElliesDad]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

I liked Starship Troopers! Although I've never read the book...

You have cojones the size of small planetoids, sir.

Originally Posted by octagon

I freaking hated that movie but like Pat said, not necessarily because it was terrible, it just had precious little to do with the book. It was quite jarring.

I've actually been meaning to give it another look at some point because you're far from the first person to say 'I dunno, I liked it'.

What exactly would you be expecting to extract from a second viewing?? I pvr'd it from cable last week and tried to watch it a couple of nights ago. Twenty minutes of my life irretrievably lost! But then I'm one of the three people out there who kind of liked Waterworld, so there you go. Actually, more Jeannie Tripplehorn than Waterworld...

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Years ago, I saw Caché at an indie theater here in Atlanta, and loved it. One scene drew the most dramatic audience reaction that I have experienced during a film. (If you've seen the movie, then you know exactly the scene to which I'm referring.) It's one of my favorites in my DVD collection right now.
...and I just now found out through this website that a region-free version exists via Amazon UK. Hmmmm. Next paycheck, perhaps...

Hahahaha!
Yes, I sat there stunned for about 5 minutes after that scene!
I picked up the UK edition and I'm very happy with it.
Very good film.
I want to watch it again, but I want to watch it with someone else, because of it's ambiguity and compelling themes. I think it'd be a great film for discussing...
Plus, Daniel Auteuil and Juliette Binoche are two of my favourite actors.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by joe dalek

i liked starship troopers! Although i've never read the book...

yes!

[ElliesDad]

Originally Posted by drbikeshorts

Hahahaha!
Yes, I sat there stunned for about 5 minutes after that scene!
I picked up the UK edition and I'm very happy with it.
Very good film.
I want to watch it again, but I want to watch it with someone else, because of it's ambiguity and compelling themes. I think it'd be a great film for discussing...
Plus, Daniel Auteuil and Juliette Binoche are two of my favourite actors.

Definitely going to have to look that one up (Cache). In reference to Daniel Auteuil, this is the second time today his name has popped up. Delighted to discover the Koch-Lormer release of The Well-Diggers Daughter earlier this evening. Came out at right at Christmas time and I somehow managed to miss it. Stars Daniel Auteuil and is based on a book by Marcel Pagnol, who also, I discovered, wrote not only Manon des Sources and Jean de Florette, but My Father's Glory and My Mother's Castle as well, all of which I have on DVD and over which I've been salivating at the prospect of a blu-ray release since blu-ray came out! And I've loved Juliette Binoche since the Unbearable Lightness of Being and Horseman on the Roof days (both of which would make magnificent Criterion releases). So yes, thanks for the heads up on Cache!

[rock, stone]

Originally Posted by octagon

Heh, yeah, satire doesn't get much more sly than SS uniforms. That was quite deft

[Show spoiler]

Weeeellllll, if you really want to look at it, those uniforms don't make an appearance until the end of the movie. The first 3/4s or so are filled with pro military jingoisms that are typically associated with the American right, complete with its own Pearl Harbor moment.

It's only towards the end that it becomes plainly obvious (though still missed by many) that the blandly attractive war heroes are fighting for a facist state who started the war in the first place.

I don't typically rate Verhoven very high, but I get a kick out this movie. It has to be one of the most subversive films to slip through the studio system.

[rkish]

Originally Posted by drbikeshorts

Damn! Get that too!
L’atalante is such a gorgeous film. It's beautiful and moving the first time. It rewards repeated viewings. And it's also one of those films you can put on late at night when you're tired and you can just drift off to sleep in front of it...
Zéro de conduite is also fantastic. If you like any of the French New Wave filmmakers, you should see this. Obviously, very influential on Truffaut and Les quatre cents coups.

It also influenced Lindsay Anderson's "If...."

[octagon]

Originally Posted by ElliesDad

YWhat exactly would you be expecting to extract from a second viewing??

Well, going in with too many expectations would likely defeat at least part of the purpose. And over the years enough otherwise sane voices have come out in support so if nothing else I'm somewhat curious.

And to be perferctly honest, my time isn't really all that important. You would think the older I get the more jealously I would guard each moment but no, not so much.

So even if it sucks again, eh, I've lost a few hours I would have otherwise devoted to a lockout-shortened NHL season. I can live with that. Actually, I'd probably watch Starship Troopers and hockey. Eh, I can live with that too.

PS: Cache is pretty amazing. It's difficult to discuss why even in general terms without coloring if not outright spoiling things best left to your own perceptions but bump it up on whatever priority list you keep - you won't regret it.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by ElliesDad

Definitely going to have to look that one up (Cache). In reference to Daniel Auteuil, this is the second time today his name has popped up. Delighted to discover the Koch-Lormer release of The Well-Diggers Daughter earlier this evening. Came out at right at Christmas time and I somehow managed to miss it. Stars Daniel Auteuil and is based on a book by Marcel Pagnol, who also, I discovered, wrote not only Manon des Sources and Jean de Florette, but My Father's Glory and My Mother's Castle as well, all of which I have on DVD and over which I've been salivating at the prospect of a blu-ray release since blu-ray came out! And I've loved Juliette Binoche since the Unbearable Lightness of Being and Horseman on the Roof days (both of which would make magnificent Criterion releases). So yes, thanks for the heads up on Cache!

Unfortunately, we also didn't get around to seeing The Well-Diggers Daughter. I might have to pick it up sometime. Auteuil's sad face is one of cinema's greatest treasures.
I would love to see Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources again. I just found out they were both released on French blu-rays in 2008, but there aren't reviews or even user reviews. Anyone know if they're English-friendly or have good A/V packages?
Confession time: I've never seen Unbearable Lightness of Being

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by rkish

It also influenced Lindsay Anderson's "If...."

Yes, of course! Really liked If...

[rkish]

Originally Posted by drbikeshorts

Yes, of course! Really liked If...

Myself as well!

[NoirFan]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

I'm constantly surprised at how few people interpret it as satire.

The stone-faced earnestness of the painfully (if amusingly) wooden cast may have something to do with it, though I have little doubt that they were chosen precisely for their mimbo/bimbo qualities.

[larry333]

I sure do hope Criterion gets around to releasing Louis Malle's "Elevator to the Gallows" (Ascenseur pour L'echafaud) on blu-ray. However, I did find this blu-ray edition:

http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=DAXA-1168

Hmmm...


Larry

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by larry333

I sure do hope Criterion gets around to releasing Louis Malle's "Elevator to the Gallows" (Ascenseur pour L'echafaud) on blu-ray. However, I did find this blu-ray edition:

http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=DAXA-1168

Hmmm...

Great movie! I will gladly upgrade my Criterion DVD of Elevator to the Gallows. That Miles Davis score is ace. I would also like to see The Fire Within and The Lovers upgraded.

I have a number of Louis Malle Criterion DVDs that I have not upgraded yet.

Au Revoir Les Enfants is one of the saddest movies ever made.

Black Moon is one of the... is one of the.... Hmmmm. I don't know. I really don't. I've watched my DVD of Black Moon a couple of times and I still have no clue exactly what that movie is.

[jrsl76]

Speaking of Malle, has anyone heard if Warner got Atlantic City in the Paramount deal? I hope Criterion snagged it as I'd love to see it in the collection.

[Hendershot737]

Jumped on Chungking Express...thorougly enjoyed that one. Also threw A Better World in there for $10...great flick for those of you willing to venture past the Criterion label