The Criterion Collection

[the sordid sentinel]

Originally Posted by retablo

Love Heat, but I feel The Insider to be his best, most mature work. Then Maybe Mohicans, then Heat. I love all his films except The Keep, and wasn't too warm on PE, although I still enjoyed much of it despite the awful video look.

Yeah, I thought the pseudo documentary "you are there" digital look worked great for Miami Vice, but was a detriment to Public Enemies. I actually think that movie would have killed in traditional black and white. All that said I still enjoy it.

Mann has voiced enthusiasm for the Blu Ray format in the past. If not Criterion maybe some studio will get Thief released on Blu. As things are currently there isn't even a decent DVD version to fall back on.

I hope the Ford vs. Ferrari movie Mann has been rumored to helm gets in production one of these yrs. Marriage made in Heaven right there.

[SammyJankis]

Decided to watch Secret Sunshine after loving Chang-dong Lee's Poetry so much.

It wasn't quite up to par with that gem, but it was still pretty great. The lead performance from Doo-yeon Jeon knocked me on my ass. Even when the film borders on melodrama (which is bound to happen, given the film's subject mater), she remains entirely convincing and sympathetic. She possessed a real genuine quality that is rare these days. One of the best performances of the past decade, easily.

Criterion needs to release more of his films. This is another one of those situations where I scratch my head at people whining about the lack of films that are already, or inevitably will be, out on Blu that aren't in the Criterion Collection (The Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Fountain, etc.), and yet films that are completely OOP or aren't available in this region rarely get mentioned. Those should be their priorities. Sorry for the rant, I couldn't help myself. Yeah.. would like to see his earlier work in the Collection. 'Tis all.

[metaridley]

No, no, no. The Insider is Mann's magnum opus. If you like a large serving of ham from your actors (except for the bored-looking De Niro) in something that's supposed to be deadly serious, Heat is the way to go. Miami Vice was meh and Public Enemies was just plain bad and supremely ugly to look at. Little wonder he hasn't made a movie since.

[Lordy]

Is anybody else noticing that their Criterion pre-orders through Amazon take forever to get shipped once the release date has been surpassed? Or is it just me?

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Lordy

Is anybody else noticing that their Criterion pre-orders through Amazon take forever to get shipped once the release date has been surpassed? Or is it just me?

I ended up canceling my order of Badlands, because it had still not shipped on the day after release, and I simply went to the Best Buy down the street to buy it for roughly the same price. I wouldn't normally fuss about a few days here or there, but I wanted to have Badlands to watch by that weekend.

[Lordy]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I ended up canceling my order of Badlands, because it had still not shipped on the day after release, and I simply went to the Best Buy down the street to buy it for roughly the same price. I wouldn't normally fuss about a few days here or there, but I wanted to have Badlands to watch by that weekend.

My pre-order of Badlands didn't ship from Amazon right away either. It sat for days in the "Not Shipped Yet" mode. I finally fussed about it and they did eventually send it on it's way. Now my pre-order of Monsieur Verdoux and A Man Escaped is just being ignored by Amazon.

Pffft, what gives !?!

[Yojimbo]

I find it interesting that in the short story Sansho the Steward, Sansho's three sons' names are the same as Hidetora's in Ran. Anyone have any insight into why that is? It can't be merely coincidence.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by Lordy

Is anybody else noticing that their Criterion pre-orders through Amazon take forever to get shipped once the release date has been surpassed? Or is it just me?

After I pre-ordered Badlands the approx. shipping date was about a week after the release. I sent them an email asking why that was; their reply was they didn't know and sent it out a day before the release date and even upgraded from free to 2day shipping. The result was I got it a day after the release.

[*PREACHER*]

Speaking of Badlands me and the wife just got through watching it and what a great film and transfer to boot...the wife even liked it...way more than Tree of Life.

[Abdrewes]

All this Mann talk made me pop in Miami Vice. Upon each viewing, it yields new meaning as its one of the most radical films of the last decade. Not unlike Antonioni, Wong Kar Wai, Mike Snow or James Gray, he shows us a new way to see the world.

I need Criterion's release of Thief in my hands now!

[bluesparrow]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I need to buy Mann's feature film of Miami Vice someday. Most people did not warm up to that movie, but I love how Mann updated the concept without pandering to the campiness of most modern film versions of 1980s television shows.

I love his movie version of Miami Vice, I'm still convinced everyone critical of the film saw a different movie than I did. I had no problem following the storyline.

I think it probably would have been better received if it wasn't called Miami Vice, but then again it probably wouldn't have been made.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I finally got around to watching my copy of Monsieur Verdoux. It is such an extraordinarily unique film by the great Charlie Chaplin. I've said it once and I'll say it again, but Chaplin is a legend. It's rare to see many directors, especially nowadays, writing, directing, producing, choosing the music, etc., like Chaplin did in the past.

Monsieur Verdoux had me laughing quite often, but in my opinion, it was a perfect blend of comedy and drama. It had great acting by Charles Chaplin, once again, as well as Martha Raye and the supporting cast. The quality of the film looked excellent and the essay included with the film is very thick.

One of the chapters in the essay is "Sympathy For The Devil" and that's all I felt throughout the film, especially during the ending.

After seeing all four Chaplin films in the Criterion Collection, I would say that my favorites are in the following order: Monsieur Verdoux, The Great Dictator, Modern Times (despite falling asleep for a few minutes), and The Gold Rush.

As far as March 2013's releases go, I have seen all of them except for The Life And Death Of Colonel Blimp. The order that I would rank them in would go as follows: Badlands, Monsieur Verdoux, A Man Escaped, Ministry Of Fear, and The Blob.

Long story short - buy this film immediately!

Got mine yesterday, will be watching it this weekend. Glad you had a good time with your first viewing. Chaplin as been a favorite of mine since I was a kid. I am not sure I think I was maybe 10 or 11 when I first saw it. I also was surprise by the size of the booklet

[Lepidopterous]

Kind of late to the party but it is so great to see Safety Last get a blu-ray release. I was not expecting that.

And more Bergman!

Not one of my favorites, but I'm not complaining.

[metaridley]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

All this Mann talk made me pop in Miami Vice. Upon each viewing, it yields new meaning as its one of the most radical films of the last decade. Not unlike Antonioni, Wong Kar Wai, Mike Snow or James Gray, he shows us a new way to see the world.

As you know, I value your opinion so please expand on this post. It's been awhile since I've seen a movie that has such scathing reviews on Netflix, if you care to look. I don't remember thinking too much of it when I saw it back in the theatres all those years ago.

[mrjohnnyb]

Last night, I finished the third film of Pasolini's Trilogy of Life, The Arabian Nights. Like all of his films, I loved it, but of the three films of the trilogy, it was my least favorite. I would rank them in the following order:

The Decameron
The Canterbury Tales
The Arabian Nights

Now I am ready for Salo.

[ShellOilJunior]

For those hoping for a Criterion release of Before Sunrise/Before Sunset - I'd imagine IF this is coming to fruition it would have to be announced April 15. It'd make it a July release (Big Crit Co. month) and coincide with the release of Before Midnight.

I just hope somebody releases those two films leading up to the release of Before Midnight (which looks to be great!).

[ccg1978]

I was in the local movie in store at the mall and saw a used copy of Fear and Loathing (DVD) for $39! What the fudge!

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by metaridley

As you know, I value your opinion so please expand on this post. It's been awhile since I've seen a movie that has such scathing reviews on Netflix, if you care to look. I don't remember thinking too much of it when I saw it back in the theatres all those years ago.

Hmm, I'll post something in the Miami Vice thread

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by ccg1978

I was in the local movie in store at the mall and saw a used copy of Fear and Loathing (DVD) for $39! What the fudge!

Reminds me of the time I saw Monsoon Wedding (Blu) at Best Buy for $40.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by mrjohnnyb

Last night, I finished the third film of Pasolini's Trilogy of Life, The Arabian Nights. Like all of his films, I loved it, but of the three films of the trilogy, it was my least favorite. I would rank them in the following order:

The Decameron
The Canterbury Tales
The Arabian Nights

Now I am ready for Salo.

Arabian Knights was actually my favorite. Simply, it's the most palatable for me. The incredible locations & the lighter touch offset the cruelty and excess of the other films.