The Criterion Collection

[memovieaddict]

Originally Posted by JackTwist

I'd say get both if you can. Both are great choices, but also, Criterion discs that go out of print are ones you will regret not at least attempting to get when the price skyrockets later. Not all do, mind you, but many, especially the blu-ray editions do. And hey, if you don't like them, sell them!!

thank you very much for the suggestion! if you have to choose between the two titles i've mentioned and Last Year at Marienbad, which one would you say will be the most sought after in the future?

[Hawkguy]

I watched Two-lane Blacktop last night. At first I wasn't sure if it was 'for me'...I can't stand the films from the America Lost and Found set. This film, however, I ended up loving.

I was reminded of the discussion last week-ish where Great Owl was talking about the use of empty spaces in Badlands. Unlike Badlands, where space was a meaningless stretch where anything could be discarded without reason...here there's so much reason to be found. The setting very effectively reflects the isolation that is easy to live by but so difficult to escape. Of course, we also do get a more intimate look at the character's thoughts here...even though they're more closed off, as people. I liked this film much more than that one (not that they need to be compared, they're very different).

[StonesEGF]

Originally Posted by memovieaddict

i need your suggestions guys! i went to barnes and nobles today because i was having my car fixed at a dealership and b&n has one copy of Le Cercle Rouge and Leon Morin. do you recommend that i buy these titles now or should i wait. i don't think they're as rare as some other oop titles and because i am really not a big criterion collector, i am not as knowledgeable as a lot of you are as to when it's smart to buy these titles. should i buy them now or should i try getting them from amazon? what do you guys think? oh, and btw, which titles should i be focusing on?

Two great movies that are both OOP... don't wait.

[JackTwist]

Originally Posted by memovieaddict

thank you very much for the suggestion! if you have to choose between the two titles i've mentioned and Last Year at Marienbad, which one would you say will be the most sought after in the future?

Last Year... and Le Cercle Rouge will be the most sought after as they are the better known and more beloved pictures overall.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by octagon

I don't know why but I've been having a very hard time warming up to Chaplin. The Great Dictator was okay and after a few tries each I still haven't been able to finish Modern Times or The Gold Rush. I've really taken a liking to silents over the past year or so and I love Buster Keaton but Chaplin just doesn't do it for me.

That all said, I haven't completely ruled it out for July because it does sound pretty interesting.

I agree with you about Chaplin. I think City Lights is the only movie that reaches the heights of Buster Keaton movies, in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, I believe The Gold Rush and Modern Times are great films. I just think that Keaton is more "humane", funnier and approachable.

Harold Lloyd's Safety Last is my personal favorite silent comedy. I could not stop laughing when I first saw this film. It is a very ingenious film. Day one purchase for me.

[memovieaddict]

Originally Posted by JackTwist

Last Year... and Le Cercle Rouge will be the most sought after as they are the better known and more beloved pictures overall.

thank you once again... i am on my way to pick up these titles

oh, and just one more thing (sorry if i'm asking too many questions), do you guys know if there's any b&n printable coupon available online that i can print?

[Hawkguy]

I just got Leon Morin, Priest in from that amazon seller

Now I just need to see if Le Cercle Rouge ships...

[JackTwist]

Originally Posted by memovieaddict

thank you once again... i am on my way to pick up these titles

oh, and just one more thing (sorry if i'm asking too many questions), do you guys know if there's any b&n printable coupon available online that i can print?

I haven't seen any. I was going to look again but my former store as I figured was still out of Le Doulos. Sad day...

[octagon]

Originally Posted by EricJ

If you want to try Chaplin in short doses, look up a few of the Mutual shorts (The Rink, The Pawnshop, The Immigrant) that Chaplin still directed and creatively lorded over, but just for a straight commercial comedy audience. The Chaplin Revue, with "Shoulder Arms" and Chaplin soundtrack, is also a good source.

I hadn't considered looking for shorts, good call.

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

The only think I can see as why sometime Chaplin can rub people the wrong way is that many of his stories can be preachy and that can turn off people. He never hide that fact either, the preaching is in your face with no excuses at all. He really just throw's it at you like there is no tomorrow

I think that is part of it, at least as far as The Great Dictator. I wouldn't say the preachy-er aspects turned me off exactly but I did tune out from time to time. And to be fair, part of my problem with The Great Dicator had nothing to do with the film itself: I had just rewatched Downfall a day or two earlier and was a really hard time wrapping my brain around Hitler jokes being, you know, funny

Originally Posted by Fellini912

Harold Lloyd's Safety Last is my personal favorite silent comedy. I could not stop laughing when I first saw this film. It is a very ingenious film. Day one purchase for me.

I'm really looking forward to this release. I've seen various clips over the years but I never sat down and watched anything by Harold Llloyd. I'm very, very curious to see how I react to him.

[StonesEGF]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

I just got Leon Morin, Priest in from that amazon seller

Now I just need to see if Le Cercle Rouge ships...

I ordered Le Cercle Rouge two days before the OOP announcment was made. I've watched my status sit at "NOT YET SHIPPED" since then. Availability hase gone from "3 to 5 days" to "9 to 11 days" to "6 to 10" days" to "1 to 3 weeks."

Luckily I picked it up at B&N in the meantime.

[vader4]

Just watched High and Low the other day and it was fantastic! Kurosawa is quickly making his way up my personal favorite directors list. The film is as suspenseful as ever and poses difficult human questions that make you think what you might do in the same situation. Perfect thriller 10/10.

This July is going to be crazy.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by vader4

This July is going to be crazy.

I've got sixteen titles on my definite/probable list and another fifteen on my maybe list.

This one's gonna hurt

[retablo]

Originally Posted by octagon

I'm really looking forward to this release. I've seen various clips over the years but I never sat down and watched anything by Harold Llloyd. I'm very, very curious to see how I react to him.

Love Harold Lloyd. I'd say he's a cross between the pathos of Chaplin and the shenanigans of Keaton... he kind of falls in the middle. That said, Chaplin is my least favorite of the big 3, so if you prefer Keaton over Chaplin, you'll most likely dig Lloyd.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by vader4

Just watched High and Low the other day and it was fantastic! Kurosawa is quickly making his way up my personal favorite directors list. The film is as suspenseful as ever and poses difficult human questions that make you think what you might do in the same situation. Perfect thriller 10/10.

This July is going to be crazy.

I am glad you enjoyed Kurosawa, and one of his non-samurai films at that. You should check out Ikiru, fantastic, enduring film.

Some of my personal favorites Yojimbo, Ran, Dersu Uzala. He is one of the few directors that has a great, consistent filmography. So you can do no wrong watching any of his films.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by octagon

I think that is part of it, at least as far as The Great Dictator. I wouldn't say the preachy-er aspects turned me off exactly but I did tune out from time to time. And to be fair, part of my problem with The Great Dicator had nothing to do with the film itself: I had just rewatched Downfall a day or two earlier and was a really hard time wrapping my brain around Hitler jokes being, you know, funny

It's not so much that "we laugh at what we fear"; on the contrary, the problem with most dictators is they ARE so patently ridiculous, once you get past the "world threat" idea and start lampooning their ways of trying to get attention. (Like Chaplin did with the opening speech.)
If you want a modern equivalent, just watch Jon Stewart on the Daily Show stick it so deservingly to Kim Jr. in North Korea:

[Show spoiler]

Jon Stewart makes fun of North Korea Over war threats - A must watch Hilarious The Daily News 4/2/13 - YouTube

When it's THAT ridiculous, we don't fear it, it and we're readier to fight it.

Most of the public was staying out of WWII in 1940, and Jewish Hollywood execs paled at the idea of treating Hitler comically, and Chaplin was "controversial" for satirizing him--But consider that the Three Stooges did "You Nazty Spy" only few months later, and you realize that it was the Jewish comics who had a particular grudge against him, and the right weapons to fight him with.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by octagon

Thanks for the heads up. I've got that set on my maybe list and it will be nice to be able to move it up or down before July rolls around.



I don't know why but I've been having a very hard time warming up to Chaplin. The Great Dictator was okay and after a few tries each I still haven't been able to finish Modern Times or The Gold Rush. I've really taken a liking to silents over the past year or so and I love Buster Keaton but Chaplin just doesn't do it for me.

That all said, I haven't completely ruled it out for July because it does sound pretty interesting.

I like Chaplin, but I find Keaton's films to be much more engaging. The energy, the visual wit (especially the shorts), the stunts, and the judicious sprinkling of pathos coalesce into a more satisfying whole. Sometimes Chaplin can be quite mawkish.

Considering that the price of the Keaton set is equivalent to seven Chaplin Criterions (if they manage to release that many), its totally worth it. Along with my Hitchcock set its the most treasured set I own.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by octagon

I'm really looking forward to this release. I've seen various clips over the years but I never sat down and watched anything by Harold Llloyd. I'm very, very curious to see how I react to him.

Harold Lloyd is very witty. His timing on his gags is perfect. I was surprised by how great, and most of all, funny this film is when I first watched it on TMC. I hope you enjoy it.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

I agree with you about Chaplin. I think City Lights is the only movie that reaches the heights of Buster Keaton movies, in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, I believe The Gold Rush and Modern Times are great films. I just think that Keaton is more "humane", funnier and approachable.

Harold Lloyd's Safety Last is my personal favorite silent comedy. I could not stop laughing when I first saw this film. It is a very ingenious film. Day one purchase for me.

I wouldn't get mad at you if you said Buster Keaton's 20 minute short, One Week, was every bit as good as Modern Times. However great the latter actually is.

[ZooTv]

Looks like Marketplace is now the only route on Amazon for Le doulos, Army of Shadows, and Leon Morin, Priest.

[KrugerIndustrial]

And I was literally just about to pull the trigger on Le Doulos.