The Criterion Collection

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

I know there have been glitches in the past (one year you were briefly able to order for 50% of the Criterion.com price, not 50% SRP), but i don't know if it's ever allowed pre-orders at the sale price.

They had that happen last year for a little while at the start.

Originally Posted by iScottie

You should post user reviews!

I'm taking it as a compliment that you said that enthusiastically

Originally Posted by nekromantik

My newest addition to my Criterion collection! (Not really a collection as I only have 5 now)

...and what a great addition it is

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by IronWaffle

[Show spoiler]So, another thread got me remembering some memorable public screenings I've attended in recent years. I wrote about this here once, before the Great Crash of '12 erased most of my posts, but thought it worth sharing here. I'm also curious how others' perceptions of films they like or dislike may have been changed by seeing the film with an audience.

Several years ago I attended a Bergman retrospective several times over a month or so. On one of the days I saw Seventh Seal (Death, Plague, Chess, Catholicism, Witch hunts, etc.). It wasn't my first time seeing it, but it was the time that invigorated my love for it because its easily forgotten how genuinely funny some of its over-the-top humor is and how the chess scenes are peppered with dark humor arguably meant to elicit uncomfortable laughter. When you are alone (or perhaps in a classroom) and watching this "essential" "cornerstone" arthouse "classic" it's easy to see it is a dreary, overrated sophomoric movie with no entertainment value.

I've been lucky to catch my fair share of classic films in rerelease, but while all have been improved in terms of spectacle (I keep missing out on LoA, but I've caught many others either 70mm or Cinerama) Casablanca was different. I don't mean that in some melodramatic way, but in that unlike LoA it's a film arguably more about the dialogue and character than anything else. This meant a large room filled with laughter. It's easy to forget how funny a film like this is when watching alone at home or with a small group of people. it made me long to see Kane, which I also find to be quick witted despite so many understandably calling it dull.

Dialogue-driven films lose a lot with an audience of one, especially when the film is particularly old so the humor baked into drama is lost on the uninitiated.

Last year I had a similar experience with Rashomon, another film I've seen plenty of times. Just as Casablanca's wryly cynical humor and Seventh Seal's morbid humor were punctuated by audience response so too was this film's.

This is not true across the board, of course. Particularly I'm thinking of Bresson and Ozu's films, many of which I saw screened this past summer, where the audiences were generally mum throughout. No titters, no gasps, sighs or pins dropping. In fact, at these I noticed more people walking out mid-film, which I found to be a shame. Only two exceptions regarding these film makers sticks in my brain: a smattering of chuckles at one point during Balthasar and applause at the end of A Man Escaped

.

Great post!

I caught a screening of the original 1933 King Kong this past summer and loved this once-in-a-lifetime experience. The humor of this film was especially evident while watching it with an audience. In fact, Denham's talk with Ann Darrow at the cafe was comedic gold. This was a fun viewing.

I love how the older films blended humor and tension so well.

[R o d]

Originally Posted by EricJ

I didn't get the impression he was posting WHILE watching Marienbad--
I sort of got the distinct feeling he was trying to watch it, gave it fifteen minutes, and gave up. Not an uncommon experience with this movie, I'm guessing.
(Oh, and to answer his original question: No, it's pretty much exactly like that for the whole slog.)

And that's a good thing, actually.

[IronWaffle]

Originally Posted by rkish

I wound up canceling my Amazon order of "Narayama" after Pro-B's warning about "the issue", but watched it on Hulu Plus this morning. For those w/o access to Hulu, I wholeheartedly recommend purchasing it. For those with access to Hulu...take the time and watch it here first. If you really enjoy it, you'll buy it anyway. I have a Roku box that has a "wired" Internet connection and the PQ was quite impressive...you won't be disappointed and it's a way to see it and buy it when you can/want to. I found out that I have a coup and my membership with B & N which will be cheaper than my initial Amazon order. I plan to buy it sometime this weekend.

I rented "Realm" and it didn't hit me like I wanted it too. I think Oshima films like that are an acquired taste.

Hmm. Maybe I'll give this a shot during Hulu's free weekend!

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

I'm taking it as a compliment that you said that enthusiastically

Ever since I've started talking to you, I always thought you had a great taste in films, so I would definitely like some of your thoughts on different films.

[nametag]

Originally Posted by EricJ

I didn't get the impression he was posting WHILE watching Marienbad--
I sort of got the distinct feeling he was trying to watch it, gave it fifteen minutes, and gave up. Not an uncommon experience with this movie, I'm guessing.
(Oh, and to answer his original question: No, it's pretty much exactly like that for the whole slog.)

I found Marienbad pretty hard going, which was surprising as it sounded really good. I know it's supposed to be repetitive but after a while it just ceased to hold my interest, it was too 'static' somehow and didn't have enough character or story for me to cling onto. The female character was treated in such an overblown overly-precious way that it irritated me as well, all her strange posing and lounging around... It's one of those films which I think is more interesting to read about than to actually watch. Nevertheless, I'll admit it looks great and maybe I'll watch it again one day. Knowing what to expect might make a second viewing more tolerable.

[rkish]

Originally Posted by IronWaffle

Hmm. Maybe I'll give this a shot during Hulu's free weekend!

I think you'll enjoy it. It's presented in "play" form with blackouts and scenes where the lights dim to black and the actors are lit with a single spotlight. Very interesting and quite colorful...as good as it looked on Hulu, I'm sure the BD will be quite nice.

You should check out as many of the new Ozus as you can...I'm very psyched, as most of the new listings on Hulu are films of his that I've never seen and have not been released on disc in the US or in the UK yet (I'm sure BFI will get to them in the near future).

Enjoy the free weekend...I could see someone like you looking into paying for a Hulu account. It's saved me money so far...if I had great library access like Joe Dalek, it would be quite a different thing, so Hulu has been a worthy investment.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Ever since I've started talking to you, I always thought you had a great taste in films, so I would definitely like some of your thoughts on different films.

Aw, thank you Scottie

I do intend on starting to write somewhere...at some point..soon hopefully

[rkish]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Nope, it's just a car that's been subjected to a few Nova Scotian winters, with a lot of salt and such on the roads. Like I said, I bought it used 3 years ago. Also, to commit blasphemy, I actually want the two Studio Ghibli films that are coming out this year in May, more than any of the Criterions coming out in May.

I did finally watch Narayama btw, and I absolutely loved it.

Never apologize for a great love of Ghibli films...that's like apologizing for loving classic Disney animation. These are masterpieces of art and they are deserving of their place in the history of cinema. Miyazaki (for all intents and purposes) is the Walt Disney of Japan and was heavily influenced by Disney.

Glad you liked Narayama...I did too after watching it this morning...will be buying it tomorrow at B & N.

BTW Jess...were you aware of this?

http://www.importcds.com/music/25052...cific-arts-box

[rkish]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Whoa bro. I had it on pause and I made a post when I peed lol.

Did you make it to the bathroom safely?

[rkish]

Originally Posted by JohnDoe NY

You wanna cookie ? It was obvious they're doing 3:10 To Yuma. The clock on the building was set to 3:10. Congrats, Columbo!

I normally don't attempt to "feed the troll", but I have a short fuse when it comes to bullies. No need to be a penis...especially a limp one...

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

Aw, thank you Scottie

I do intend on starting to write somewhere...at some point..soon hopefully

I'm writing a full-blown analysis of Antichrist right now. It's hard gathering all my scattered thoughts down at once.

Originally Posted by rkish

Did you make it to the bathroom safely?

Yup

[rkish]

Originally Posted by nametag

I found Marienbad pretty hard going, which was surprising as it sounded really good. I know it's supposed to be repetitive but after a while it just ceased to hold my interest, it was too 'static' somehow and didn't have enough character or story for me to cling onto. The female character was treated in such an overblown overly-precious way that it irritated me as well, all her strange posing and lounging around... It's one of those films which I think is more interesting to read about than to actually watch. Nevertheless, I'll admit it looks great and maybe I'll watch it again one day. Knowing what to expect might make a second viewing more tolerable.

I tried watching it, but it just didn't do it for me. As I mentioned about "Realm" earlier, it is most definitely an acquired taste...not that there's anything wrong with that.

[Scottie]

Do you guys think that Criterion will release Dogville?

[rkish]

I know this isn't Criterion related, but there is currently no Cohen thread.

After two stellar reviews and the bargain basement price of $10.79...I pulled the trigger on "The Thief of Bagdad" today from Import CDs. I wonder when they will ship? They haven't been shipping weeks before release date like they used to.

[Yami]

Originally Posted by rkish

I know this isn't Criterion related, but there is currently no Cohen thread.

Here it is

[retablo]

Originally Posted by KrugerIndustrial

Just watched The Wages of Fear for the first time. Way better than the Friedkin remake, and the ending was brilliant. That said, I found the beginning to be too slow(even by my standards - I love slow films). It's a shame because once the real story starts, it's a nerve-wracking roller coaster of pure tension.

Reminded me a lot of Ice Cold in Alex.

I think that was the point... same with Repulsion. Lull the audience into a kind of slow place, then once the tension starts, it feels ever MORE ramped up because of the change of pace. It's very calculated.

It's what films nowadays are lacking... pacing. Everything now is a constant rush, constantly loud and in your face, and you can't create anything emotion that way. It becomes dull and boring.

[rkish]

There used to be poster named "CassavetesGodard" that hasn't posted in a very long time. I wonder what he would think about "Band of Outsiders" being released in May?

[rkish]

There's also some poster named "CC" who also hasn't reared his head in ages...I guess we'll just have to wait until the next Bergman release until he pokes his head out.

[rkish]

BTW Beta...Welcome Home! How was Aspen?