The Criterion Collection

[bdmartin134]

Originally Posted by ElliesDad

The fact that the caliber of individual who would be obnoxious enough to openly tear into a film that people were lining up to see, did not like the film, bespeaks volumes on the merit of the film itself. Their distain can only be taken as a compliment and recommendation.

Incidentally, nice collection...

Thanks for the compliment. You have a great collection as well.

[IronWaffle]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I stayed up late last night to watch my Blu-ray of The Night of the Hunter.



The Night of the Hunter is one of my all-time favorite films. I owned a non-Criterion DVD edition of the film several years ago, and even tracked down the Davis Grubb novel from which the movie was based. After watching the Criterion Blu-ray last night, I am pleased to say that one of my favorites is now better than I imagined possible.

With this Blu-ray transfer, the movie really pops out at the viewer, even with my modest 32'' HDTV, and looks as through it were filmed on a sound stage just a few feet away. This high definition transfer accentuates the lighting and movie props during key moments (Robert Mitchum's Harry Powell driving through the countryside on a staged automobile, artificial jetstreams in the water when the children take off on their boat, film lighting angles, and such), but these moments simply serve to strengthen The Night of the Hunter as a work of fantasy by way of old-fashioned storytelling. Unlike many current movies that allow realism to subvert the story with unfavorable consequences, The Night of the Hunter is a movie that never lets the viewer forget that he or she is watching a movie. This twisted slice of Americana contains several fearful images, but we always feel comfortable in the same way that children feel safe when listening to a bedtime story.

The Night of the Hunter is one of the least subtle films ever made, and virtually every still frame drives home a certain theme like the hammering a railroad spike. The angles of light around Willa (Shelley Winters) while she is lying in bed give her a pure spiritual illumination. Basement boards in the shape of a crucifix are accentuated when Harry Powell opens a basement door to search for the children. Harry Powell's deep voice (in the style of Johnny Cash) reverberates with force across Southern Gothic river town landscapes. Rachel Cooper (Lillian Gish) is portrayed in technical terms as a light in the darkness in her role as the ultimate den mother and one ray of sunshine in a cruel Great Depression world. "It's a hard world for little things", yes, but survival and hope are possible even in the darkest times.

There are a great many elaborately visceral special effects in modern-day horror movies, but none will ever live up to the simple shadow of a hat in the background of a children's bedroom in The Night of the Hunter.

This movie is an American treasure.

Great write-up! I'm particularly struck by your comment on the film's lack of subtlety. It was years between reading about the film, adding it to my must-see list and when I was able to get my hands on it. During those intervening years, I didn't reread about the film and what I knew fogged over. When I finally saw it, I loved the visuals but much of the film itself was a disappointment because of that lack of subtlety. I did not reread about the film, instead filing it on the shelf where it sat for several months. Eventually, my expectations re-calibrated and I popped it in the player; this time was not just caught up in the atmospherics but was fully drawn into the film. It underlined for me the importance of re-visiting what you don't like (mindless popcorn fare aside). Speaking of which, tonight or tomorrow I'll be checking out Mulholland Dr. for the first time. My guess is that, as with Night of the Hunter, I will have to revisit it in a few months.

[ZooTv]

Originally Posted by IronWaffle

Speaking of which, tonight or tomorrow I'll be checking out Mulholland Dr. for the first time. My guess is that, as with Night of the Hunter, I will have to revisit it in a few months.

Really looking forward to your thoughts and reactions to the film.

[The Great Owl]

I just now realized that Shelley Winters from The Night of the Hunter is one and the same as the Shelley Winters in another one of my favorite movies, The Poseidon Adventure. Two fun movies from a great career!

[ZooTv]

Pre-order prices for Badlands & The Blob have now been lowered to $26.99 on Amazon.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by ZooTv

It is a special film, that is for sure. Insomnia (1997) is an equally fantastic psychological thriller that is filmed with the same intense precision which makes The Vanishing so captivating. Both films are long overdue for an upgrade given their shoddy (even by Criterion standards) DVD presentations.

Definitely add Insomnia (1997) to the list of my Criterion DVDs that I would gladly upgrade to Blu-ray.

Stellan Skarsgård is so brilliantly corrupt in that movie. Like most people on these shores, I saw the U.S. remake with Al Pacino and Robin Williams first, but my preferences are strong for the original Norwegian version.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by ZooTv

Pre-order prices for Badlands & The Blob have now been lowered to $26.99 on Amazon.

[ccg1978]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I just now realized that Shelley Winters from The Night of the Hunter is one and the same as the Shelley Winters in another one of my favorite movies, The Poseidon Adventure. Two fun movies from a great career!

I saw her first in A Place in the Sun. Another great movie that Criterion needs to remaster.

[TheHumanTornado]

Originally Posted by IronWaffle

Speaking of which, tonight or tomorrow I'll be checking out Mulholland Dr. for the first time. My guess is that, as with Night of the Hunter, I will have to revisit it in a few months.

I envy those who get to watch Mulholland Dr for the first time. One of my favorite films of the 00's. Looking forward to hearing what you think.

[ZooTv]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Definitely add Insomnia (1997) to the list of my Criterion DVDs that I would gladly upgrade to Blu-ray.

Stellan Skarsgård is so brilliantly corrupt in that movie. Like most people on these shores, I saw the U.S. remake with Al Pacino and Robin Williams first, but my preferences are strong for the original Norwegian version.

Though I did enjoy Nolan's remake, it can not compare to the paranoia and bleakness which characterizes the original Norwegian version.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by ZooTv

Though I did enjoy Nolan's remake, it can not compare to the paranoia and bleakness which characterizes the original Norwegian version.

Have you read Nolan vs. Nolan by David Bordwell. It's an excellent deconstruction of Nolan's Insomnia. At this particular time, considering they all heavily employ unmotivated editing and camera placement, I'll take Michael Bay's and Tony Scott's visual styles over Nolan's any day.
link: http://www.davidbordwell.net/blog/20...olan-vs-nolan/

Speaking of which, I re watched Armageddon yesterday, on a visual level it may be his masterpiece.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I'll take Michael Bay's and Tony Scott's visual styles over Nolan's any day.
link: http://www.davidbordwell.net/blog/20...olan-vs-nolan/

Speaking of which, I re watched Armageddon yesterday, on a visual level it may be his masterpiece.

I have to say that Michael Bay's The Island and Tony Scott's Top Gun are definitely worthwhile Blu-rays in my collection as far as frequent revisits are concerned. They're both pretty amazing-looking in this format.

I haven't seen Armageddon since I watched it in the theater on the day of release.
...and I call myself a Criterion fan. For shame!

By the way, thanks for sharing that article. Good read!

[ZooTv]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Have you read Nolan vs. Nolan by David Bordwell. It's an excellent deconstruction of Nolan's Insomnia. At this particular time, considering they all heavily employ unmotivated editing and camera placement, I'll take Michael Bay's and Tony Scott's visual styles over Nolan's any day.
link: http://www.davidbordwell.net/blog/20...olan-vs-nolan/

Speaking of which, I re watched Armageddon yesterday, on a visual level it may be his masterpiece.

That is a very good find, I gave it a read when it had been previously posted.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by ZooTv

That is a very good find, I gave it a read when it had been previously posted.

Cool, glad to hear that. Ive endorsed it on several threads.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by lemonski

Just got back from seeing Tree of Life tonight at the Astor. Captivating, enchanting, mesmerizing.......nothing like seeing it on the big screen

I love going to The Astor - great cinema

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I have to say that Michael Bay's The Island and Tony Scott's Top Gun are definitely worthwhile Blu-rays in my collection as far as frequent revisits are concerned. They're both pretty amazing-looking in this format.

I haven't seen Armageddon since I watched it in the theater on the day of release.
...and I call myself a Criterion fan. For shame!

By the way, thanks for sharing that article. Good read!

Awesome. I'm more into Tony Scott's later works. I find the films he made after Enemy of the State to be his most accomplished and the fruition of what his career was inching towards. Many of these works were dismissed for being "style over substance," but I think he really makes it glow (Pauline Kael nicknamed him, Tony "make-it-glow" Scott)

I haven't seen The Island since it first hit DVD. I picked up the blu ray for 7.88 two weeks ago and plan on revisiting it before Pain & Gain comes out.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I have to say that Michael Bay's The Island and Tony Scott's Top Gun are definitely worthwhile Blu-rays in my collection as far as frequent revisits are concerned. They're both pretty amazing-looking in this format.

I haven't seen Armageddon since I watched it in the theater on the day of release.
...and I call myself a Criterion fan. For shame!

By the way, thanks for sharing that article. Good read!

I have been a big Tom Cruise fan all of my life and I have never seen Top Gun.

/ashamed

Edit: By the way Zoo, I was creepin' on your collection and I noticed you had Grindhouse on your Wish List. I saw both of them in the $7 bin at Walmart yesterday so you may want to give that a look.

Double Edit: I had a dream last night that March's announcements were for Cohen Media Group films and I was like wtf.

[TheHumanTornado]

Just ordered a new copy of Pierrot le fou on Amazon. I dropped 59.99 for it but I am excited anyway!

[Joe Dalek]

Originally Posted by rkish

Wow...two milestones today! My 20th wedding anniversary and this is my 2000th post on this Criterion thread!

Still got quite a ways on blowing past Spidey!

Congrats to you and the missus, Rich!

[rkish]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

Congrats to you and the missus, Rich!

Thanks Joe!