The Criterion Collection

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Isn't it wonderful?

I love how Videodrome plays out in present day, with people worried about cell phones causing cancer, with people wearing bluetooth headphones every waking minute, and the research about how the internet is affecting our thought patterns. The idea that increasing technology could, in effect, physically alter our bodies was something that David Cronenberg utilized so well in Videodrome, and it's one reason why the movie is still just as much ahead of its time right now as it was back in the day.

I had a big infatuation with Deborah Harry when I was a kid, and Videodrome always makes me smile for that very reason. I also love the fact that James Woods carries a movie, since he has been the unsung hero of so many flicks.

I rented Videodrome on VHS tape back in high school, and I never looked back. Thankfully, the VHS tape did not start breathing and pulsating in my hand! I warmed up to the movie in a big way back then, because one of my favorite albums at the time was Flesh For Lulu - Long Live The New Flesh, which was, of course, named from the quote in Videodrome.

Incidentally, I just now noticed that the 2003 remastered CD of the Flesh For Lulu album that I bought for ten dollars when it was released is now selling for $217. Pretty cool. I'm not going to sell my copy, though. They'll have to pry it from my cold, dead fingers. No way I'm selling off such an important part of the soundtrack to my teenage years.

I just finished it and I found it really enjoyable.

You gave a really good analysis of the film, Owl. If I recall correctly, wasn't there a lot of speculation on whether television was taking over people's lives or not due to the huge influx of it, especially in the late 70s / early 80s? Like you said, this same mentality still plays out in present day.

I think Cronenberg played out this absurdity well by making this film, in which this television show was purportedly made to take over the world. I think the whole irony with the film is that James Woods' character was trying to pursue this television show in order to boost his network's ratings (one could say that this would eventually lead him to be one of the biggest in the television world), but it ended back firing on him, as the entire show wasn't exactly what it was supposed to be at all.

The whole thing that I'm wondering about is whether this was just one big hallucination or not. I sort of don't feel like it was, as Cronenberg is known for being a little out there, but you never know.

[Scottie]

I need this flash sale to be announced soon.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Also...

Dazed and Confused is such a brilliant film. A friend and I saw it at the theater on the day of release back in the day (I can't say that about many other Criterion titles...har har.) and I was blown away.

[Show spoiler]The movie does such a good job of showcasing both the joys and frustrations of the high school days, where teenagers dislike certain ritual behaviors, but continue to follow them simply because they are rituals. The gleeful spontaneity and reckless abandon of being a teenager is captured well, although there is an undercurrent of sadness. This would probably be a difficult film for a lot of folks to watch when it comes time for high school reunions.

Whenever I revisit Dazed and Confused, I think to myself...
Do I look back fondly on my teenage years? Of course!
Would I go back and do it again? No way!

I've posted this before, but my father was a head coach of a high school football team during my childhood. He used to wear those exact same coaching shorts and collared shirts, and he also used to joke with my brother and I that we needed "attitude adjustments." I crack up whenever I watch those scenes in the movie

.

I really enjoy Dazed & Confused as well, bring some memories. WHile I wasn't in high school at the exact same time as in the movie it's close enough to remind of those crazy days. I did not really like school per say but the friends were great and I still manage to keep in contact with some of them even now after 33 years which is very rare.

[*PREACHER*]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

I really enjoy Dazed & Confused as well, bring some memories. WHile I wasn't in high school at the exact same time as in the movie it's close enough to remind of those crazy days. I did not really like school per say but the friends were great and I still manage to keep in contact with some of them even now after 33 years which is very rare.

Probably the only reason why I have a Facebook account still, for family and friends that I haven't seen or spoken with since my school days...otherwise I hate being on there!

[*PREACHER*]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I need this flash sale to be announced soon.

Waiiiiit for iiiiiittt......waaaiiiitttt for iiiitttt.....

Sorry...I just had to

I'm impatient too!!!

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by *PREACHER*

Probably the only reason why I have a Facebook account still, for family and friends that I haven't seen or spoken with since my school days...otherwise I hate being on there!

I use FB because of my in law family on the other side of the planet so it's pretty much the only useful thing I can find about it, love seeing pics of my little nephew and niece even if I could still receive them by email but FB does sort of make it a little easier

[*PREACHER*]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

I use FB because of my in law family on the other side of the planet so it's pretty much the only useful thing I can find about it, love seeing pics of my little nephew and niece even if I could still receive them by email but FB does sort of make it a little easier

Agreed to see some of my cousins over in the Netherlands with their children....it's just, you can't put words to it....and here me and the wife having been still trying for God knows how many years...been rough, to put it mildly!

[retablo]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I need this flash sale to be announced soon.

Me too, I have a $50 Criterion gift card sitting here from Christmas... much rather buy 2 titles than one.

[RandyK]

Originally Posted by retablo

Me too, I have a $50 Criterion gift card sitting here from Christmas... much rather buy 2 titles than one.

I'm holding off on buying the Three Colors Trilogy from Amazon because I can get it cheaper from Criterion if they do 50% off. But I really want to see it! Hopefully it happens soon.

How does Criterion normally ship? Boxes or mailers?

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by *PREACHER*

Waiiiiit for iiiiiittt......waaaiiiitttt for iiiitttt.....

Sorry...I just had to

I'm impatient too!!!

Haha I can't!

Originally Posted by retablo

Me too, I have a $50 Criterion gift card sitting here from Christmas... much rather buy 2 titles than one.

I have a $10 one from fixing my copy of "Carlos", so I'll be going through that immediately once the sale starts.

[SilentDawn]

Originally Posted by *PREACHER*

Waiiiiit for iiiiiittt......waaaiiiitttt for iiiitttt.....

Sorry...I just had to

I'm impatient too!!!

I am so excited for this as well. I will try to pick up The Killing and Paths of Glory.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by SilentxStatik24

I am so excited for this as well. I will try to pick up The Killing and Paths of Glory.

The Killing is great.

[Scottie]

I forgot to add in my other post that I sort of feel as if the Wachowski Brothers adapted some of the things in Videodrome to The Matrix.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

I really enjoy Dazed & Confused as well, bring some memories. WHile I wasn't in high school at the exact same time as in the movie it's close enough to remind of those crazy days. I did not really like school per say but the friends were great and I still manage to keep in contact with some of them even now after 33 years which is very rare.

I was only four years old in 1976 when the events of Dazed and Confused took place, but both of my parents worked at a high school at the time, so I clearly remember the dress styles and such of the students and teachers alike. The movie was a real trip for me, and I'm sure that it would be even more so for my parents. I'll have to show it to them someday soon.

Facebook is a great way for me to keep in touch with everyone from high school, especially since I moved to a new town during the summer before my senior year and, as such, have two different groups of high school friends with whom I stay in contact.

The scoop on high school reunions, for those younger folks who are curious...

• The 10-year reunion was somewhat awkward, because everyone sizes one another up with regard to what they have done with their lives since high school graduation (jobs, salaries, etc.). I had a fun time at my 10-year, but there was a distinct feeling of everyone (myself included) trying to dress our best and look our best to impress.

• The 20-year reunion is awesome, or at least it was for me. By the time 20 years have gone by, everyone has realized that life is not all about who has the best car or the best job, and old friends are just happy to see old friends again. My 20-year reunion was laid-back, and the overall mood was a lot more fun-spirited.

I'm rambling, but this is somewhat loosely related to Dazed and Confused. I guess...

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I just finished it and I found it really enjoyable.

You gave a really good analysis of the film, Owl. If I recall correctly, wasn't there a lot of speculation on whether television was taking over people's lives or not due to the huge influx of it, especially in the late 70s / early 80s? Like you said, this same mentality still plays out in present day.

I think Cronenberg played out this absurdity well by making this film, in which this television show was purportedly made to take over the world. I think the whole irony with the film is that James Woods' character was trying to pursue this television show in order to boost his network's ratings (one could say that this would eventually lead him to be one of the biggest in the television world), but it ended back firing on him, as the entire show wasn't exactly what it was supposed to be at all.

The whole thing that I'm wondering about is whether this was just one big hallucination or not. I sort of don't feel like it was, as Cronenberg is known for being a little out there, but you never know.

I think that the ending of Videodrome is on the level, without giving any spoilers, and that it really happened. In other words, the character is not hallucinating.

The debate about the effect of excessive television was definitely going on back then, at least during the early 1980s when Videodrome was released. There were studies emerging about the effects of television violence on children and such. Cronenberg's film takes all of this and so much more into account.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I think that the ending of Videodrome is on the level, without giving any spoilers, and that it really happened. In other words, the character is not hallucinating.

The debate about the effect of excessive television was definitely going on back then, at least during the early 1980s when Videodrome was released. There were studies emerging about the effects of television violence on children and such. Cronenberg's film takes all of this and so much more into account.

Yeah, I can definitely see that now.

On a side note, I'm watching Shallow Grave now.

[The Great Owl]

I just finished watching the StudioCanal Blu-ray of La Grande Illusion.



Wow. Just...wow.

First of all, the restoration of this Blu-ray blows my old Criterion DVD away. It's a night-and-day difference. The character close-ups and the European countryside landscapes are both stunning by today's standards, and that's remarkable for this 1937 film.

La Grande Illusion (Grand Illusion) deserves all its accolades, because so few films manage to entertain the viewer with laughter and tears by way of stories that are so multi-layered. La Grande Illusion is a prison escape movie, it is an anti-war movie that also conjures an offbeat nostalgia for wartime interactions, it is an observation on class distinctions, it is an ode to well-earned friendships, it is a love story, it is a riveting adventure, and it is a fun-spirited story that inspires a handful of belly laughs.

Jean Gabin is outstanding in the movie (although I prefer his too-cool-for-school role in Touchez Pas Au Grisbi, which was filmed decades later), but Pierre Fresnay and Erich von Stroheim keep pace every step of the way. Has there ever been a more sobering scene than Erich von Stroheim clipping the geranium? Dita Parlo, of course, is beautiful in such an understated way.

I've watched La Grande Illusion a couple of times before, by way of my old Criterion DVD, but it really hit me like a gut punch tonight as I watched it in high definition for the first time.

This Blu-ray has my highest recommendation.

[Scottie]

All of the Studio Canal films are on my to buy list. I'm mostly looking forward to Contempt, La Grande Illusion, and That Obscure Object Of Desire.

I lied about watching Shallow Grave. I put on a few minutes and realized I wasn't in the mood to watch a new age British film. I actually prefer the older British films to the newer ones. While it is easier to understand the accents in the newer ones, the voices get on my nerves.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I actually prefer the older British films to the newer ones. While it is easier to understand the accents in the newer ones, the voices get on my nerves.

So no British TV for you?

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by iScottie

All of the Studio Canal films are on my to buy list. I'm mostly looking forward to Contempt, La Grande Illusion, and That Obscure Object Of Desire.

I lied about watching Shallow Grave. I put on a few minutes and realized I wasn't in the mood to watch a new age British film. I actually prefer the older British films to the newer ones. While it is easier to understand the accents in the newer ones, the voices get on my nerves.

I am going to rest my brain after La Grande Illusion and go on autopilot next by watching my new Blu-ray of Better Off Dead.
Because...(drumroll, please)...I want my two dollars.