The Criterion Collection

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

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

No biggie it's a normal thing up here in Cannuckistan, Critetion are usually $40+ on Amazon or store

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by bluesparrow

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.

I am the biggest fan of the original 1980s Miami Vice television series that I know of. I recorded the shows on VHS when I was in middle school during the mid-1980s, and I bought all five seasons on DVD as soon as they were released. Miami Vice is my second-favorite television show of all time, behind the original series of The Twilight Zone.

As an enthusiastic fan of Michael Mann's work, however, I went into the film hoping that he would deliver a visual masterwork along the lines of Heat or The Insider, and I was not disappointed. It's a great-looking film.

More than that, though, Miami Vice did a fine job of updating the concept into present day. The original Miami Vice television series was inspired by news stories of the drug trade in that city, after Fidel Castro had purposely emptied prisons in Cuba and allowed a multitude of convicts to flee the country for U.S. shores during the Mariel boatlift in 1980 in an effort to remove undesirables from his country. Michael Mann's 2006 film version of Miami Vice featured an updated portrayal of the drug war, where white supremacist groups and other such entities had interests in the illegal profits. Miami Vice always had dark undercurrents with the original television series, but the film carried it to a new level.

I am inclined to think that the changes in tone did not appeal to many fans of the original show. I am hard-pressed to imagine what fans of the old Miami Vice television series were expecting to see with the new movie, though. A "nostalgic" or campy ode to the 1980s Miami Vice show would have been an epic fail, because the original series did not roll that way. The original television series dealt with unsavory subject matter, and the series finale closed off on a rather bleak note.

[Show spoiler]For those unfamiliar with the television show, Crockett (Don Johnson) and Tubbs (Philip Michael Thomas) both show signs of burnout during the episodes of the last season, and ultimately turn in their badges at the end of the final episode in disgust at the corruption of other law enforcement officials around them.

The dynamics of the original television series were simply not conducive to a 1980s nostalgia film that many fans might have been wanting to see.

[The Great Owl]

I intended to watch A Man Escaped last night, but decided to wait for the weekend when I would have time to enjoy the movie well-rested and uninterrupted.

Last night, however, I went through my steadily-shrinking stack of still-unwatched Blu-rays and decided to go with Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs. I realized, for the first time, that Reservoir Dogs was produced by Monte Hellman, director of Two-Lane Blacktop. Monte Hellman helped Quentin Tarantino get the film going when Hellman was working with the Sundance Institute.

This got me thinking about Hellman, and about whether or not we'll see Criterion releases of some of his other films (The Shooting, Road to Nowhere, etc.).

[jrsl76]

The Shooting and Ride In The Whirlwind are supposed to be somewhere in the pipeline.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by jrsl76

The Shooting and Ride In The Whirlwind are supposed to be somewhere in the pipeline.

Thanks! Ride in the Whirlwind looks as though it might be a sweet Criterion pick.

[shortmartin]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

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.

I've got the trilogy on my shelf and have been planning on watching it for some time. Do you recommend watching the trilogy in order, or is the kind of thing where I can dip into one of the films (like I've done with the Three Colors) and visit the others later?

As far as Pasolini goes, I've seen and loved Mamma Roma, and I also watched Salo a couple of weeks ago. Personally, I found Salo to be interesting and thought provoking, if somewhat difficult to watch . . . not because of what is depicted, but I found myself constantly wondering about the purposes of the film and of viewing it. I can understand its historical and artistic importance and relevance, but the film made me question my relationship to real and graphic violence - made me feel voyeuristic, and no doubt this uneasy response is part of what Pasolini was trying to induce with his film.

[shortmartin]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I love all his films so much that I can't draw a line on what's essential and what's not. I was initially disappointed with Miami Vice and Public Enemies. But upon revisiting them, their virtues have become even more evident in fact, they might be his two most formally inventive films. I mean, come on, restaging scenes in the exact place where the events took place, in digital cinema verite style no less, its far from your standard bio pic.

Although I'm not as into Mann's corpus of work as you and some others on this forum, I respect his work and have found it really rewarding. And I'm also very interested in the notion of whose catalogs we celebrate, embrace, or appreciate in their entirety. For me, for example, it would be difficult to differentiate essential/non-essential for a set of artists. I'm assuredly a completist when it comes to Kubrick, Coppola, Bergman, Kurosawa, Ozu, Jarmusch, Fellini, Godard, Malle, and some others. But that's just me.

Anyways, simply wanted to put this out there on the forum: which artists have a catalog that is valuable on whole, and does this mean that each of their works is worthy of a CC spine number? Do all of Mann's works essentially merit inclusion in the collection, for example? Or are there some that do not, even if we can embrace and appreciate their merits against the backdrop of his method, style, and vision?

I don't have any easy answers to these questions, just wanted to throw them out there in case others are interested. I do recall a conversation from a week or two back on this forum about a similar question. The issue was raised, for which directors can we imagine each and every one of their films in the collection? And I think some folks dropped Kurosawa, Bergman, maybe Jarmusch. But there is no doubt bound to be much difference of opinion on this issue.

[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.

Here's my review of sorts:
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...8&postcount=77

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by shortmartin

Anyways, simply wanted to put this out there on the forum: which artists have a catalog that is valuable on whole, and does this mean that each of their works is worthy of a CC spine number? Do all of Mann's works essentially merit inclusion in the collection, for example? Or are there some that do not, even if we can embrace and appreciate their merits against the backdrop of his method, style, and vision?

I don't have any easy answers to these questions, just wanted to throw them out there in case others are interested. I do recall a conversation from a week or two back on this forum about a similar question. The issue was raised, for which directors can we imagine each and every one of their films in the collection? And I think some folks dropped Kurosawa, Bergman, maybe Jarmusch. But there is no doubt bound to be much difference of opinion on this issue.

My obvious answer is going to be Jean-Pierre Melville, and the bulk of his work has already seen release on Criterion, although mostly on DVD so far.

[ZooTv]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Here's my review of sorts:
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...8&postcount=77

Excellent review, do you have any particular preference between the director's cut & theatrical cut?

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Here's my review of sorts:
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...8&postcount=77

Well done!

This is a review from fresh eyes that does not compare the movie to the old television series (like I did a few posts back). On its own terms, Miami Vice is an excellent film.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by ZooTv

Excellent review, do you have any particular preference between the director's cut & theatrical cut?

To be honest, I haven't seen the Theatrical cut since 2006 on DVD. I will gladly add to my review once I finally import the UK release

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Well done!

This is a review from fresh eyes that does not compare the movie to the old television series (like I did a few posts back). On its own terms, Miami Vice is an excellent film.

In all fairness, I haven't seen the TV series but I know I should, considering its a different kind of monster.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by ZooTv

Excellent review, do you have any particular preference between the director's cut & theatrical cut?

I like the director's cut myself. It's more akin to the television series.

The film version of Miami Vice actually shares a few similarities with "Smuggler's Blues", one of the first-season episodes of the show. Several lines of dialogue are even identical.

[metaridley]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Here's my review of sorts:
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...8&postcount=77

After reading your impressive review, I kind of want to see Miami Vice again but there are plenty of other things I'd rather view instead. Maybe one of these days.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Here's my review of sorts:
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...8&postcount=77

That was a nice review. Like others have stated, it sort of makes me want to attempt to watch it again (I feel asleep 4/4 times that I tried to watch it).

You should post more reviews

[metaridley]

Originally Posted by iScottie

That was a nice review. Like others have stated, it sort of makes me want to attempt to watch it again (I feel asleep 4/4 times that I tried to watch it).

You should post more reviews

I wish I had a 100% reliable way to fall asleep! It would prove very useful.

[shortmartin]

Originally Posted by metaridley

I wish I had a 100% reliable way to fall asleep! It would prove very useful.

Ambien

[Mansinthe]

wish criterion releases would not be so expensiv to import...

Rashomon ~25 $ nice and fair price !
+ shipping fee 5-7$ if the seller is avaible for international shipping.
+ tax (bluray price + shipping fee) 6,50$

~38$ for an 25$ movie -.-

[metaridley]

Originally Posted by shortmartin

Ambien

I should have amended that post to say, "without pills".