The Criterion Collection

[*PREACHER*]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

The IFC Center sells those "Cinemetal" t-shirts: http://www.ifccenter.com/merchandise/

Thanks for the link!!!

[rkish]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

The IFC Center sells those "Cinemetal" t-shirts: http://www.ifccenter.com/merchandise/

Thanks Joe...now I'll have to justify spending money on a tee or on a film.

[paul000]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

So again, you're going on about some 14-year-old DVDs and one Blu-ray master which isn't even Criterion-native (the UK Artificial Eye release has the same framing issue). Yep, that's a pretty shoddy track record. Go back under your bridge!

I do agree with him though in that they should've released a statement or spent the money on a new master. That set is my favorite Criterion release of all time; it is masterfully done beside this issue with Blue, which is a big one.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by sc1957

The Phantom Carriage has a multi-layered plot that's interesting, but as I recall the picture quality is not the best, simply because it's old (someone else may correct me).

I'll correct you.

[Monty70]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

It most certainly is. The visuals in that film hold up to anything today, and it's an emotional rollercoaster of a film. Highly recommended!

I own it on DVD, but will likely upgrade in the not-too-distant future.

I agree with Owl here, The Phantom Carriage is a great silent film. The Blu-ray looks wonderful for a film of this vintage. (TPC was shot in 1920)

I believe Charlie Chaplin stated that it was the greatest film he had ever seen at some point.

Here is a link to the B-R.com review.
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-P.../25341/#Review

[retablo]

Originally Posted by Monty70

I agree with Owl here, The Phantom Carriage is a great silent film. The Blu-ray looks wonderful for a film of this vintage. (TPC was shot in 1920)

I believe Charlie Chaplin stated that it was the greatest film he had ever seen at some point.

It was also one of Bergman's most influential films. He even cast the director (Victor Sjöström) as the lead actor in Wild Strawberries 30 years later.

[metaridley]

Originally Posted by ccg1978

Is Three Colors worth the blind buy? I haven't seen any of Kieślowski's films but have read that this trilogy is superb.

Three Colors is one of the only blind buys I've ever purchased on Blu-ray and it was worth every penny. One of my favorite trilogies of all time and the entire Criterion set is amazing. I blind bought The Double Life of Veronique and have yet to watch it but feel comfortable based on my reaction to Three Colors.

[the sordid sentinel]

Originally Posted by metaridley

Three Colors is one of the only blind buys I've ever purchased on Blu-ray and it was worth every penny. One of my favorite trilogies of all time and the entire Criterion set is amazing. I blind bought The Double Life of Veronique and have yet to watch it but feel comfortable based on my reaction to Three Colors.

Blind bought Three Colors over the holidays and agree with your take. My favorite is Red but all 3 are excellent.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by rkish

Doing some research on Mark Cousins (The Story of Film) and found this picture of him. Dig the tee shirt...wish I could find this one!

Attachment 58607

Thank you for this recommendation a bit ago. I picked up the dvd set last week and the wife and I have watched the first 4 episodes so far. Great overview for people like us who are novice film fans.

[zoodermin]

Originally Posted by the sordid sentinel

Blind bought Three Colors over the holidays and agree with your take. My favorite is Red but all 3 are excellent.

Three Colors is the best Criterion set I have and the best Criterion edition so far IMO. Is simply amazing and beautiful!

[oildude]

Originally Posted by Randyman94

Is the The Phantom Carriage a good recommendation for a silent film beginner?

I'll limit myself to blu-rays only here (lots of great silents also available on DVD that have not made it to BD yet):

Phantom Carriage is definitely a good place to start. I like it very much. I also highly recommend People on Sunday, a fantastic film about four young Berliners, two men and two women, having a double date together one afternoon at a popular nearby lake. The viewer is also treated to a time-capsule tour of Weimar-era Berlin. It is one of the best films in the Criterion Collection, silent or sound.

But don't limit yourself to the Criterion Collection. It is hard to beat Wings, a thrilling tale of two rivals who leave together for France to become WWI fighter pilots and in the process become the best of friends. The aerial dogfight scenes are stunningly well done, and hold up for realism 80+ years later. It was the first Oscar winner and is available in a gorgeous blu-ray transfer from Paramount. One of the first silent films I would recommend to someone who is new to the era.

And Kino has a whole bunch of great silents, including the Buster Keaton films, the Eisenstein films, The Penalty (starring the masterful Lon Chaney), Metropolis, and what I consider to be the crown jewel of silent cinema - Fritz Lang's five-hour epic Die Nibelungen, recently restored in Germany and released in the U.S. by Kino. It includes the original music score, quite possibly the best score I have ever heard in a silent film.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by Randyman94

Is the The Phantom Carriage a good recommendation for a silent film beginner?

Probably. I think it's a fantastic film.
Perhaps you should approach silent films according to genre:
Comedy: Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin
Sci-Fi: Metropolis
Melodrama: Sunrise, City Girl, Josef von Sternberg collection
Horror: The Phantom Carriage, Nosferatu
Gangster: Underworld (in the Josef von Sternberg collection)
Fake Silent: The Artist
I haven't seen People on Sunday, but it gets a lot of love around here.
This list isn't even the tip of the iceberg...

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

Cabinet of Dr. caligari is the greatest German expressionist film (Metropolis and Nosferatu close behind). The narrative structure is very contemporary. The imagery is unique and beautiful. Putting it in context with time it was made, it foreshadows the coming of fascism. Great movie, highly recommended, a penancle of silent movies.

I'm surprised there's been no sign of either Cabinet of Dr. caligari or Nosferatu on blu-ray, being such high-profile silent films.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

sc1957 recommendations on silent films are superb.

I would like to add Cabinet of Dr. Caligari , Un Chien Andalou, L'Age D'Or.

Un Chien Andalou is the greatest surrealist movie ever made by the masters Bunuel and Dali. True pure surrealism.

Cabinet of Dr. caligari is the greatest German expressionist film (Metropolis and Nosferatu close behind). The narrative structure is very contemporary. The imagery is unique and beautiful. Putting it in context with time it was made, it foreshadows the coming of fascism. Great movie, highly recommended, a penancle of silent movies.

BFI released Un Chien Andalou and L'Age D'Or on blu ray region free. One of the greatest blu rays in my collection.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by drbikeshorts

I'm surprised there's been no sign of either Cabinet of Dr. caligari or Nosferatu on blu-ray, being such high-profile silent films.

I understand Cabinet of Dr. Caligari not being released. I feel that it is still not a well known film, although you can see it's influence today (Edward scissorhands, Shutter Island, Red Hot Chili Peppers's music video). But there is no excuse for not having Nosferatu released in Blu ray yet.

Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and Un Chien Andalou are my personal favorite silent films.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by drbikeshorts

Probably. I think it's a fantastic film.
Perhaps you should approach silent films according to genre:
Comedy: Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin
Sci-Fi: Metropolis
Melodrama: Sunrise, City Girl, Josef von Sternberg collection
Horror: The Phantom Carriage, Nosferatu
Gangster: Underworld (in the Josef von Sternberg collection)
Fake Silent: The Artist
I haven't seen People on Sunday, but it gets a lot of love around here.
This list isn't even the tip of the iceberg...

I forgot to mention Silent Ozu—Three Family Comedies. A really good Eclipse set

[A Sith Lord?]

Just watched The Man Who Knew Too Much for the first time ever.

Mind = Blown

Looks like my wallet may soon be empty regularly now that I'm graduating into the criterion label.

[ccg1978]

Originally Posted by rkish

Other than buying it at a bit of an inflated price online, you can get it on disc from NetFlix. That's how I got to see it, when I still had my disc plan with them.

Would be nice to have anyone release it in HD with some supplemental material to boot.

Yes, after seeing the $46 price I decided to add to my Netflix disc queue first. Thanks everyone!

[ccg1978]

Originally Posted by MasturB

Just watched The Man Who Knew Too Much for the first time ever.

Mind = Blown

Looks like my wallet may soon be empty regularly now that I'm graduating into the criterion label.

I plan on watching this week. Can't wait!

[rkish]

Originally Posted by drbikeshorts

I forgot to mention Silent Ozu—Three Family Comedies. A really good Eclipse set

The Silent Naruse Eclipse set is a good one as well.