While I don't think this applies that much in this situation, this is something I see all over this forum and it bugs me to no end. It's awful how many posts there are saying "can't wait to blind buy, ___________ is cute/hot/sexy/whatever."
There was even some guy on this forum who bought the Criterion edition of Red Desert just because Monica Vitti starred in the lead role. It's difficult to imagine such blatant close-mindedness, but I heard that this really did happen.
Today is The Man With No Name Trilogy day. I watched A Fistful of Dollars first thing this morning, I'm about to watch For a Few Dollars More, and I plan to watch The Good, the Bad and the Ugly this evening. This Sergio Leone trilogy was one of my first Blu-ray purchases back in December, but I'm just now getting around to watching the movies.
A Fistful of Dollars is a straight remake of Akira Kurosawa's Yojimbo, and it's one of the few instances where I like a remake interpretation just as much as the original film. They both hold a place in my heart for different reasons, and they both have a distinct coolness that sets them apart from each other. I need to upgrade my old DVDs of Yojimbo/Sanjuro sometime this year.
Really??? I haven't seen Fish Tank yet but I definitely seen that before on film...think harder you probably have too.
EDIT**** User above me gave it away!
I know I haven't seen that many movies because I've probably watched more anime and tv shows more but I can't recall any girls doing anything like that.
but I suppose I could google it girls urinating in movies and see what happens
I decided to do a breakdown of the films that I've seen thus far based on what I liked and didn't like. Note: All of these correspond to the Blu-rays in The Criterion Collection.
My Favorite Films: 12 Angry Men, Antichrist, Belle De Jour, The Double Life Of Veronique, Down By Law, Fish Tank, The Killing, Lonesome, The Night Of The Hunter, On The Waterfront, Three Colors Trilogy (As A Whole), Traffic
Films That I Liked: 3 Women, The 39 Steps, Anatomy Of A Murder, Army Of Shadows, Bigger Than Life, Charade, The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, The Darjeeling Limited, Days Of Heaven, Dazed And Confused, Diabolique, Eating Raoul, The Game, The Gold Rush, La Haine, The Kid With A Bike, Kiss Me Deadly, The Lady Vanishes, Modern Times, Paris Texas, La Promesse, Repulsion, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Thin Red Line
Films That I'm Neutral Towards (Some Of These Were More Liked Than Disliked And Vice Versa): Being John Malkovich, Black Narcissus, Blow Out, Bottle Rocket, Fat Girl, Following, Ivan's Childhood, The Last Days Of Disco, The Last Temptation Of Christ, The Last Year At Marienbad, M, The Man Who Knew Too Much, Paths Of Glory, Rashomon, Rosemary's Baby, Rushmore, The Seventh Seal, Something Wild, Sweet Smell Of Success, Videodrome, Vivre Sa Vie
Films That I Disliked: 8 1/2, Brazil, Design For Living, Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas, Rosetta, The Third Man
Films That I Have Not Seen Yet: 3:10 To Yuma (Pre-Ordered), The 400 Blows, ¡Alambrista!, Amarcord, America Lost And Found: The BBS Story (All), And Everything Is Going Fine, Au Revoir Les Enfants, Badlands (Pre-Ordered), The Ballad Of Narayama, Band Of Outsiders (Pre-Ordered), The Battle Of Algiers, Le Beau Serge, Beauty And The Beast, Black Moon, Black Orpheus, The Blob (Pre-Ordered), Branded To Kill, Breathless, Broadcast News, By Brakhage: An Anthology (Both), Carlos, Le Cercle Rouge, Certified Copy, Che, Children Of Paradise, A Christmas Tale, Chronicle Of A Summer, Chungking Express, Close-Up, The Complete Jean Vigo (All), The Complete Monterey Pop Festival (Both), Les Cousins, Cronos, Crumb, Cul-de-sac, David Lean Directs Noel Coward (All), Everlasting Moments, Fanny And Alexander, For All Mankind, The Forgiveness Of Blood, The Four Feathers, Gate Of Hell (Pre-Ordered), Gimme Shelter, Godzilla, Gomorrah, Gray's Anatomy, The Great Dictator, Harakiri, Harold And Maude, Le Havre, Heaven's Gate, High And Low, A Hollis Frampton Odyssey (All), House, Howard's End, Hunger, Identification Of A Woman, If..., In The Mood For Love, In The Realm Of The Senses, Insignificance, Island Of Lost Souls, La Jetee / Sans Soleil, Jubal (Pre-Ordered), Kagemusha, Kes, Kuroneko, The Last Emperor, The Last Metro, Late Spring, Leon Morin Priest, The Leopard, Letter Never Sent, The Life And Death Of Colonel Blimp (Pre-Ordered), Life During Wartime, Life Is Sweet (Pre-Ordered), Lola Montes, The Magician, The Makioka Sisters, A Man Escaped (Pre-Ordered), The Man Who Fell To Earth, Medium Cool (Pre-Ordered), Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, Metropolitan, The Mikado, Ministry Of Fear (Pre-Ordered), The Moment Of Truth, Monsieur Verdoux (Pre-Ordered), Monsoon Wedding, The Music Room, My Life As A Dog, Mystery Train, Naked, The Naked Kiss, Naked Lunch (Pre-Ordered), A Night To Remember, El Norte, The Organizer, Orpheus, Pale Flower, People On Sunday, The Phantom Carriage, Pierre Etaix (All) (Pre-Ordered), Pierrot Le Fou, Pina, Playtime, Purple Noon, The Qatsi Trilogy (All), Quadrophenia, Red Desert, The Red Shoes, Repo Man (Pre-Ordered), Revanche, Richard III (Pre-Ordered), Ride With The Devil, Robinson Crusoe On Mars, The Rules Of The Game, Salo Or The 120 Days Of Sodom, The Samurai Trilogy (All), Sansho The Bailiff, The Secret Of The Grain, Secret Sunshine, Senso, Seven Samurai, Shallow Grave, Shock Corridor, Smiles Of A Summer Night, Solaris, Stagecoach, Still Walking, Summer Hours, Summer Interlude, Summer With Monika, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Sweetie, Three Outlaw Samurai, The Times Of Harvey Milk, The Tin Drum, Tiny Furniture, Tokyo Drifter, Topsy-Turvy, Trilogy Of Life (All), Two-Lane Blacktop, Umberto D., Vanya On 42nd Street, Les Visiteurs Du Soir, The Wages Of Fear, Walkabout, The War Room, Week End, Weekend, White Material, Wings Of Desire, World On A Wire, Yi Yi, Yojimbo / Sanjuro Box Set (Both), Zazie Dans Le Metro
Today is The Man With No Name Trilogy day. I watched A Fistful of Dollars first thing this morning, I'm about to watch For a Few Dollars More, and I plan to watch The Good, the Bad and the Ugly this evening. This Sergio Leone trilogy was one of my first Blu-ray purchases back in December, but I'm just now getting around to watching the movies.
A Fistful of Dollars is a straight remake of Akira Kurosawa's Yojimbo, and it's one of the few instances where I like a remake interpretation just as much as the original film. They both hold a place in my heart for different reasons, and they both have a distinct coolness that sets them apart from each other. I need to upgrade my old DVDs of Yojimbo/Sanjuro sometime this year.
With all three now on Blu-ray, I occasionally like to watch YOMIMBO followed by A FISTFULL OF DOLLARS and LAST MAN STANDING. Each is fun on its own, and seeing them together makes it easier to savor the similarities and differences.
There was even some guy on this forum who bought the Criterion edition of Red Desert just because Monica Vitti starred in the lead role. It's difficult to imagine such blatant close-mindedness, but I heard that this really did happen.
Monica Vitti was a box-office draw and did a very good job with her parts in Antonioni's films. She's not always good looking on film, but part of enjoying those 60s Antonioni "alienation" films is watching Monica Vitti. What else can one do? She rarely speaks, but expresses her character's feelings through body language and facial expression; yes, even the "blank" expression expresses something. So, I'm in for La Notte (she's not a blonde), L'Avventura and L'Eclisse. I'll add, though, that Monica Vitti isn't all that's interesting about those films.
P.S. I don't consider Red Desert to be part of the "alienation trilogy," even though she plays an alienated character in that film.
I've pre-ordered La Notte on Blu-ray from UK's Eureka. Even if it's not re-mastered, I expect the Blu-ray will have fewer digitalization artifacts. That is an important consideration when one likes to pause at a particular frame: Antonioni's compositions alone are usually interesting.
I Scottie that list is brutal. If those are bad/mediocre films, I don't know what good looks like.
I'm not saying that they're bad. They're just films that I neither loved nor disliked.
I take the concept and the plot into account while watching a movie as well. While the scenery and the way that a director is able to capture a particular thing may be all well and good, if the story doesn't connect with me then I don't have any desire to praise it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ZooTv
Have you had the chance to revisit The Third Man since your first viewing?
No, I'm trying to get through the ones that I haven't seen first and then I'll revisit other films, watch special features (which I never really do), and watch other films that are present on the disc (i.e. The Killer's Kiss).
No, I'm trying to get through the ones that I haven't seen first and then I'll revisit other films, watch special features (which I never really do), and watch other films that are present on the disc (i.e. The Killer's Kiss).
Ok gotcha, I have a really strong feeling The Third Man will grow on you with repeat viewings.
I'm not saying that they're bad. They're just films that I neither loved nor disliked.
I take the concept and the plot into account while watching a movie as well. While the scenery and the way that a director is able to capture a particular thing may be all well and good, if the story doesn't connect with me then I don't have any desire to praise it.
No, I'm trying to get through the ones that I haven't seen first and then I'll revisit other films, watch special features (which I never really do), and watch other films that are present on the disc (i.e. The Killer's Kiss).
You might as well watch TV. I'm serious, you're going to regret buying the whole collection.
I'm not saying that they're bad. They're just films that I neither loved nor disliked.
I'm quite surprised by some movies in it, but I guess you can please everyone.
But seeing Black Narcissus, Blow Out, M, The Man Who Knew Too Much, Paths Of Glory, Rosemary's Baby, Sweet Smell Of Success, 8 1/2 & The Third Man as barely liked or even disliked is quite surprising, indeed.
I'm not saying that they're bad. They're just films that I neither loved nor disliked.
I take the concept and the plot into account while watching a movie as well. While the scenery and the way that a director is able to capture a particular thing may be all well and good, if the story doesn't connect with me then I don't have any desire to praise it.
No, I'm trying to get through the ones that I haven't seen first and then I'll revisit other films, watch special features (which I never really do), and watch other films that are present on the disc (i.e. The Killer's Kiss).
A major part of what is so great about most Criterion releases (besides the careful curating of interesting, off-beat, and/or significant titles) really is the bonus features package. The booklet essays that accompany every release, plus the usual interviews, commentaries, re-evaluations, and occasional bonus films greatly enhance appreciation of the main feature and may even reverse or at least heavily influence initial opinions on seeing the film.
Really, watching a few dozen Criterion Collection releases with all of their bonus features is like attending a good semester of film school (at a fraction of the expense and on your own personal schedule). ...and of course your regular reaction papers and analysis discussions are what you post in this Blu-ray.com thread!
A major part of what is so great about most Criterion releases (besides the careful curating of interesting, off-beat, and/or significant titles) really is the bonus features package. The booklet essays that accompany every release, plus the usual interviews, commentaries, re-evaluations, and occasional bonus films greatly enhance appreciation of the main feature and may even reverse or at least heavily influence initial opinions on seeing the film.
Really, watching a few dozen Criterion Collection releases with all of their bonus features is like attending a good semester of film school (at a fraction of the expense and on your own personal schedule). ...and of course your regular reaction papers and analysis discussions are what you post in this Blu-ray.com thread!
Considering how many he's been cramming down his throat recently, it's no surprise there's not enough time or condideration given to these films. It's all about wow factor/ entertainment NOW or else he tunes out. It's no surprise he praises something as pedestrian and clumsily directed as the manipulative Perks of Being a Wallflower. No directorial choices were made in that film, it might as well have been shot by a robot.
Considering how many he's been cramming down his throat recently, it's no surprise there's not enough time or condideration given to these films. It's all about wow factor/ entertainment NOW or else he tunes out. It's no surprise he praises something as pedestrian and clumsily directed as the manipulative Perks of Being a Wallflower. No directorial choices were made in that film, it might as well have been shot by a robot.
hahahaha the indignation of this post is so thick I can practically reach into my computer screen and touch it.
Ok gotcha, I have a really strong feeling The Third Man will grow on you with repeat viewings.
The only thing that I recall liking about it was that catchy jingle.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Abdrewes
You might as well watch TV. I'm serious, you're going to regret buying the whole collection.
If I was going to regret buying the entire collection, I wouldn't have bought it to begin with.
I appreciate these foreign films and seeing a new side to the movie industry. A lot of these older films and foreign films are better than most of the films that are country is used to seeing. However, if I don't enjoy a movie or I don't find a concept interesting, why should I be forced to like it?
Even if the film is sliced and diced and I see all of the bigger things to the film, I don't have to like it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tenia
I'm quite surprised by some movies in it, but I guess you can please everyone.
But seeing Black Narcissus, Blow Out, M, The Man Who Knew Too Much, Paths Of Glory, Rosemary's Baby, Sweet Smell Of Success, 8 1/2 & The Third Man as barely liked or even disliked is quite surprising, indeed.
Was it the themes ? The pace ?
For those films in particular (the ones I'm neutral toward), I neither liked nor disliked them. Some of them had elements in the film that gravitated toward me appreciating them more than others, but otherwise they were just average films, in my opinion.
I watched 8 1/2 yesterday and I didn't like it. Sure, I appreciate Fellini for what he did and how he worked himself into Guido's character, but the concept doesn't interest me. I found myself watching the time remaining on my Blu-ray player more than the actual movie. I was even falling asleep throughout it. The film started off good, don't get me wrong, but it just got out of hand, in my opinion, after a while.
Black Narcissus is a film that I liked more than I didn't. For a 1947 film, the colors were vibrant and beautiful. It was also a unique film that explored the mind and how people can crack.
Blow Out was a fun film. It was one of John Travolta's best roles. I can see how it is a cult classic, but I've seen that style in similar movies and it ended up being an average film for me. Had I seen it back in the 80s, when it first came out, then I would have probably liked it a lot better.
M was a film that I had a lot of high standards when going into it. I really enjoyed Fritz Lang's directing abilities by employing various techniques that hadn't truly made their way into cinema for decades, but the story fell a little short with me. Yes, it was very unique, but I feel as if a lot of the story consisted of deciding HOW to deal with Peter Lorre's character than actually doing anything.
The Man Who Knew Too Much was the first Hitchcock Criterion that I had seen. It was a decent thriller film, but I much preferred the other films to it. I didn't hate it nor love it.
Paths Of Glory was a unique film, especially for its time. I appreciate Stanley Kubrick so I was very interested in seeing it because it wasn't the usual Kubrick that we all know. The ending was great in my opinion, but the film just felt a little dry to me. I enjoyed the themes that Kubrick used, especially the dehumanization of mankind. It is a theme that was later shaped and employed better in his other films. This was a film that I liked more than I disliked.
Rosemary's Baby is a cult classic, yes, but I went into the film with extremely high standards. Everybody calls it one of the best horror films of all time, but the film fell short with me. A lot of people argue that it's a remake to Repulsion, which makes me enjoy this film a bit better, but it wasn't a favorite film of mine by any means. I was actually thinking that it was going to be more demonic scary than psychological scary. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it. I know that I'll end up revisiting this film.
Sweet Smell Of Success was good, but I didn't find it be as spectacular as I expected it to be. For its time, it touched on a lot of issues that we didn't see really played out until recent years. For example, the idea of power and doing whatever it takes to get a piece of the action.
I didn't like The Third Man. I guess I was expecting it to be a traditional film-noir that I'm used to, but it wasn't. The film dragged on and as a result, the pacing was the thing that got me the most. The last 20 minutes or so were good, but as a whole, I didn't like it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Blu-Velvet
A major part of what is so great about most Criterion releases (besides the careful curating of interesting, off-beat, and/or significant titles) really is the bonus features package. The booklet essays that accompany every release, plus the usual interviews, commentaries, re-evaluations, and occasional bonus films greatly enhance appreciation of the main feature and may even reverse or at least heavily influence initial opinions on seeing the film.
Really, watching a few dozen Criterion Collection releases with all of their bonus features is like attending a good semester of film school (at a fraction of the expense and on your own personal schedule). ...and of course your regular reaction papers and analysis discussions are what you post in this Blu-ray.com thread!
Thank you for the suggestion. I have never truly diverged into the special features of any film (aside from some outtakes back in the day on Comedy DVDs), but I will definitely check out some of the other features on these films - especially the ones I'm on the fence about.
I browsed through a couple of the essays included and I was really impressed about how well thought about and detailed they were.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Abdrewes
Considering how many he's been cramming down his throat recently, it's no surprise there's not enough time or condideration given to these films. It's all about wow factor/ entertainment NOW or else he tunes out. It's no surprise he praises something as pedestrian and clumsily directed as the manipulative Perks of Being a Wallflower. No directorial choices were made in that film, it might as well have been shot by a robot.
lol - you're acting like I'm running to my Blu-ray to throw in the next film ASAP. I take my time with the films. Sure, I've been watching some silly films lately like the Andersons, but films that you know, require some thought, I glad research once the film is over. I try to look for what else is hidden in the film that I missed or a theme or concept that I overlooked that could ultimately change my entire feelings about the film.
As far as The Perks Of Being A Wallflower is concerned, it was a great film. It had a great, somewhat newcomer cast, and it tackled issues that every person has experienced in some way, shape, or form while in high school. Not only that, but it touched on other, more personal issues, that some people have experienced during their life.
It was one of the best selling books in the 90s for a reason.
Also, just because we have differing views on certain movies doesn't make that a bad thing. You seem pissed off because my opinions on movies don't match yours.
Quote:
Originally Posted by IronWaffle
I'd say this is a significant reason to revisit anything he didn't like. It's one thing to binge watch even an excellent program, but the diversity of movements, periods, languages, paces, etc. alone are recipe for individual films to not sink in.
That said, I'll gladly buy many off the cast-offs if the price is right.
Sincerely,
Yet another Internet know-it-all telling other people how to do stuff
That's what I plan on doing.
The films that really didn't spark some emotion inside of me will be revisited in the future. I'm not going to just discard them like they're some piece of trash. All of the crew puts a lot of work into making a film and I truly appreciate that. However, some things just settle more with me than others.
hahahaha the indignation of this post is so thick I can practically reach into my computer screen and touch it.
I'm sorry, but if editing/camera placement/sound design/lighting/mis en scene/ //////// doesnt matter, than who cares. Smart directorial choices make a film. Why visualize a story if construction doesn't matter, to save you reading time?
Theres dozens of passable crudely constructed tv shows out there to keep you entertained if that's all your after.
For those who missed it, these are iScottie viewpoints and they aren't saying that you have to have the same experience or viewpoint. You come on a forum and ask strangers which movies you should buy which one you should watch first with no parameters other than looking for group approval. iScottie has done reviews of films expressing personal thoughts and feelings. If you really have an opposing viewpoint, be specific. If it is just a difference of taste, why would you care? Do you need a group hug?
End of rant.
Thank you! I don't see why people are getting so defensive.
If we all had the same opinions on movies, then the world we be a very boring place. Some things stick with us more than others and that's okay.
I'm not trash talking the films or the directors, I'm simply stating which ones stuck with me more than others. I've already given my opinion on why I liked and didn't like certain films. I respect other people's opinions, why can't they respect mine?
Thank you! I don't see why people are getting so defensive.
If we all had the same opinions on movies, then the world we be a very boring place. Some things stick with us more than others and that's okay.
I'm not trash talking the films or the directors, I'm simply stating which ones stuck with me more than others. I've already given my opinion on why I liked and didn't like certain films. I respect other people's opinions, why can't they respect mine?
You too!
I wouldn't knock any ones personal tale on a film. What I do have a problem with is implying direction and construction are arbitrary.
I accept the fact that we can only view a film from our limited viewpoint and knowledge, which is why I admire writing that can eloquently state the virtues of any film I disliked.
I greatly admire J Rosenbaum because even though I frequently disagree with his reviews, they allow me to see a film through another lens and always engage my intellect. You know, because afterall, sometimes my lens is dirty.
All countries
Argentina
Austria
Belgium
Brazil
Bulgaria
Chile
China
Colombia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Estonia
Denmark
Finland
Greece
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
India
Latvia
Lithuania
Malaysia
New Zealand
Norway
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Singapore
South Africa
South Korea
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Turkey
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
I Scottie that list is brutal. If those are bad/mediocre films, I don't know what good looks like.
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