The Criterion Collection

[metaridley]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

I was really impressed with her acting--it was my favorite aspect of the film and the thing that made it memorable.

I liked her performance too but what the script put her character through lead to her having to wail a lot. Maybe too much but like I said, this happens a lot in the Korean cinema I've seen.

[mrjohnnyb]

A few days ago, I completed watching The Complete Jean Vigo.

This blu-ray is a "must own" for all cinemaphiles. The four films and the supplements can be viewed within an afternoon.

[Thebunk]

Originally Posted by iScottie

The only Soderbergh film I truly liked was Traffic. The Oceans films and Magic Mike were decent, but they weren't anything significantly impressive, in my opinion (although Magic Mike surprised me and was better than I expected). I was very disappointed with The Girlfriend Experience. Part of me liked it even though I think it was terrible. That's about all I've seen from him, though. I try to steer clear from his newer movies, especially, as I've heard a lot of terrible things about them, especially Haywire. Side Effects does look decent, though, and it has a pretty good cast, too.

I was a HUGE Soderberg fan in the mid to late 90s. IMO, Out of Sight, The Limey and Traffic are all modern classics with earlier two selections never getting enough credit or acclaim.

After that string of films though, he really lost me with his ADHD method of choosing projects and within the last 5 years, the amount he has been churning them out. Of that output, I really liked the first Oceans film and Solaris. After that, it all seems really unfocused and pedestrian.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

I'm about your .... I guess I mean the 20 minute scene is probably my favorite scene of a film. Probably...I'm thinking...

Sorry, that emoticon was unintentional. I must have hit it by mistake while I was posting from my iPhone last night.

I usually try to avoid using emoticons if at all possible.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Just finished Paris, Texas - wow, what a great film!

I tend to say this often, but this is one of my top Criterion films that I've seen to date. The acting was fantastic, the score was emotionally moving, and the storyline was full of adventure and surprise.

Before I saw the movie, I honestly thought it was going to take place in the desert for most of the film. I'm really glad that I was wrong. I think the message is the most important part of the entire film.

[Show spoiler]You cannot run away from your problems or the past. You can't numb yourself up with alcohol, run away, or let it go unnoticed. Nothing will change until you face it head on. In Travis's case, he ruined his marriage and ultimately left his son without a family. It was his responsibility to take blame for his past actions and mend the relationship with both his wife and his son. I think when he turned around to face Jane head on, that was the moment when Travis changed. He had been running away from his wrongful actions all of his life and in that instance, he decided to turn his life around. I would have loved for it to be a happier ending for the family, but by reuniting mother and son, it seems like Travis's work was done.

Overall, I would say this is a Criterion that should be in everyone's collection. Nastassja Kinski is beautiful, by the way.

I like your analysis. I wish that more films took their time to tell a story with such an emotional payoff in the way that Paris, Texas does.

The greatness of this movie really unfolded for me watching it on Blu-ray on a decent television for the first time. The landscapes of the West as seen through the fresh eyes of a European director are marvelous.

The Paris, Texas screenshot in my avatar, for example, was a good choice to dethrone the picture of The Great Owl from The Secret of NIMH. That shot of Travis walking on the railroad tracks suits my personality better.

[JHas]

Originally Posted by Rizor

I love Soderbergh's version and actually prefer it to Tarkovsky's. Would love a Blu-ray!

Yikes, I found the Soderbergh version awful. Felt it was dull and heavy handed and Jeremy Davies was unbearable to watch. Maybe, I need to give it another shot and see if it really was as bad as I first thought...

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by drbikeshorts

On Her Majesty's Secret Service has always been my favourite Bond film. I've been waiting awhile to see it in 1080p
Fighting words - my top three Bond films:
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
Thunderball
Quantum of Solace

That's a respectable choice for a favorite Bond film, actually.

I am a massive fan of the James Bond movies and, in fact, I purchased all of the individual 50th Anniversary Bond Blu-rays within a couple days of buying my Blu-ray player. Casino Royale (2006) is actually my second-favorite film of all-time behind Le Samourai, and Dr. No is high up on my list as well.

The Bond Blu-rays are stellar in every sense of the word. The picture restoration on these movies has to be seen to be believed. Goldeneye is the weak link of the series as far as Blu-ray transfers, but even that one is a fine viewing.

It goes without saying that I will be joined at the hip to the upcoming Skyfall Blu-ray for a long while.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by JHas

Yikes, I found the Soderbergh version awful. Felt it was dull and heavy handed and Jeremy Davies was unbearable to watch. Maybe, I need to give it another shot and see if it really was as bad as I first thought...

No, it is. It pales in comparison to Tarkovsky's version, and this is coming from someone that saw Soderbergh's version first.

[The Great Owl]

Steven Soderbergh is one of those directors whom I respect immensely, but most of his films do not quicken my pulse that much for some reason. In a way, Soderbergh's clinical style of emotional detachment is both his greatest cinematic strength and his ultimate downfall. This style really works when it does work, but I can also feel a disinterest in turn with the results.

Contagion was a good film for Soderbergh's approach, because I loved the way that the movie gave us a matter-of-fact technical blueprint of how a disease epidemic might cripple society. Traffic was quite brilliant as well in its clear-cut ability to trace the "life cycle" of the drug trade.

I have never seen Soderbergh's version of Solaris. The original Andrey Tarkovskiy version is one of my all-time favorite science fiction films, so I guess that I am wary of seeing the story through another filmmaker's eyes. I really should give Soderbergh's version a chance.

[ZooTv]

Originally Posted by Thebunk

I was a HUGE Soderberg fan in the mid to late 90s. IMO, Out of Sight, The Limey and Traffic are all modern classics with earlier two selections never getting enough credit or acclaim.

The Limey is an excellent film, very very underrated that's for sure.

[Cinemach]

Originally Posted by mrjohnnyb

A few days ago, I completed watching The Complete Jean Vigo.

This blu-ray is a "must own" for all cinemaphiles. The four films and the supplements can be viewed within an afternoon.

+11. One of the very best bluray sets Criterion has released, right alongside the Three Colors set for me.


RE - Soderbergh: he reminds me of a Classic Hollywood studio helmer, like Michael Curtiz or Howard Hawks: supremely adept technically, with the ability to produce excellent pictures in any number of genres. It's unique that he's an auteur that isn't so bookishly auteur-y, in the midst of a critical era that tends to overvalue that over just simply delivering a great film.

[oildude]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

The landscapes of the West as seen through the fresh eyes of a European director are marvelous.

As someone who has lived and travelled across the American West, I very much agree. Bruce Beresford had a similar eye when he lovingly portrayed the beauty of the Great Plains in Tender Mercies. As an Australian, he found the starkness of its open expanse and rugged terrain - and the people inhabiting its rural places - reminiscent of the Outback he loved from his native land. His approach is, therefore, reverential and without judgment.

[SilentDawn]

So I watched The Seventh Seal and Days of Heaven last night, Here are some of my impressions:

Both are absolutely wonderful. I think that it helped greatly that I watched The Seventh Seal in my basement because that is such a moody film.

Days of Heaven was awesome, a exceptional Malick piece. I wouldn't expect anything less from him.

The Seventh Seal was my first Burgman film and I am excited to see more of his filmography. What other films of his are on Criterion Blu-Ray?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Silent.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by SilentxStatik24

The Seventh Seal was my first Burgman film and I am excited to see more of his filmography. What other films of his are on Criterion Blu-Ray?

http://www.criterion.com/explore/5-ingmar-bergman

Some are still on DVD, a good amount are on blu-ray, though.

[SilentDawn]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

http://www.criterion.com/explore/5-ingmar-bergman

Some are still on DVD, a good amount are on blu-ray, though.

Thanks so much!!

I'l have to pick some of these up pretty soon.

[Blu-Velvet]

Originally Posted by SilentxStatik24

Thanks so much!!

I'l have to pick some of these up pretty soon.

After seeing THE SEVENTH SEAL, it might be good to go back to SUMMER INTERLUDE, which explores numerous themes Bergman would use through the rest of his career. Then try SMILES OF A SUMMER NIGHT, which is sort of the Ingmar Bergman version of a Lubitsch sex comedy, quite different from his stereotyped heavy drama yet still keeping hints of it. FANNY AND ALEXANDER is a good, fairly accessible Bergman that's not too heavy and not too light and gets in most of his major themes. I love THE MAGIC FLUTE, as well, which effectively turns Mozart's opera into a recognizably Bergman film (but sadly is so far DVD only). Any of Criterion's Bergman Blu-rays are worth seeing, and buying if you like them.

WILD STRAWBERRIES is also a must-see, but isn't yet on Blu-ray.

PERSONA is likewise a must-see, but is so far only on DVD (albeit a very good one) from MGM/Fox.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Blu-Velvet

FANNY AND ALEXANDER is a good, fairly accessible Bergman that's not too heavy and not too light and gets in most of his major themes.

Fanny and Alexander is a tremendous film. The television version is a big time commitment, but so well worth it. I have always loved the Christmas scenes.

[octagon]

The Christmas sequences are pretty remarkable. I found myself comparing it to of all things A Christmas Story. Subject matter aside - it's only natural that pretty much any Christmas sequence will remind one of some other Christmas film - they're both pretty adept at plucking fairly universal nostalgia strings.

And by nostalgia I don't solely mean the warm, fuzzy syrupy kind. The Christmas sequences in F&A were pretty much equal parts smiling and thinking 'yep, been there' and wincing while thinking 'yeah, been there too'.

I never expected a Bergman period piece to strike so many familiar chords let alone have so many of them be so dead on.

[Monty70]

I'm very happy that I decided to keep my order for The Ballad of Narayama. The brief video "anomaly" that is mentioned in the B-R.com review was hardly noticeable to me. (the film seems to go into slow motion for few seconds as the camera pans by a stand of trees) The audio/visual presentation is excellent besides this, and I would certainly rather have the film in its present condition than not have it at all. Great film.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Blu-Velvet

After seeing THE SEVENTH SEAL, it might be good to go back to SUMMER INTERLUDE, which explores numerous themes Bergman would use through the rest of his career. Then try SMILES OF A SUMMER NIGHT, which is sort of the Ingmar Bergman version of a Lubitsch sex comedy, quite different from his stereotyped heavy drama yet still keeping hints of it. FANNY AND ALEXANDER is a good, fairly accessible Bergman that's not too heavy and not too light and gets in most of his major themes. I love THE MAGIC FLUTE, as well, which effectively turns Mozart's opera into a recognizably Bergman film (but sadly is so far DVD only). Any of Criterion's Bergman Blu-rays are worth seeing, and buying if you like them.

WILD STRAWBERRIES is also a must-see, but isn't yet on Blu-ray.

PERSONA is likewise a must-see, but is so far only on DVD (albeit a very good one) from MGM/Fox.

You forgot Summer With Monika