The Criterion Collection

[rkish]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

That's why I switched to an S3, although my typing still leaves a lot to be desired for, as Go Keyboard has a mind of its own when it comes to spelling.

No choice here Jess...my phone from work...and my first smartphone to boot. I can't complain...I get unlimited text and data, so it fits my needs. I can't type either and these small keypads are murder.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by rkish

No choice here Jess...my phone from work...and my first smartphone to boot. I can't complain...I get unlimited text and data, so it fits my needs. I can't type either and these small keypads are murder.

Yeah, the iJesusPhone was my first smartphone. We have 3 year contracts up here, but Bell had a Black Friday deal on, where the S3 was free, but I had to pay 150 to extend my contract for another three years. It was essentially the price of the iPhone when I first got it, but it does a lot more. It has a better battery life, bigger screen, and I was able to keep my cell plan, which doesn't include unlimited data, but 6GB, with 10 free hours of Bell TV, unlimited texting, unlimited evening and weekend local calling 6pm to 7am, and 10 numbers nation wide for free long distance isn't too shabby. It pays for itself, considering I talk to a couple friends for a few hours weekly; one in Saskatchewan, another in Ontario.

I still use the iPhone as an iPod touch, didn't want to lose my Angry Birds scores.

[KrugerIndustrial]

According to Amazon CS, Le Doulos is now completely out of stock and they are unlikely to obtain more.

[ZooTv]

Originally Posted by KrugerIndustrial

According to Amazon CS, Le Doulos is now completely out of stock and they are unlikely to obtain more.

Definitely going to breathe easy when my copy finally arrives, it's been a battle to get this one.

[jcez28]

Damn looks like thas amazon got rid of their listing for army of shadows and Leon Morin, Priest

[RojD]

Originally Posted by metaridley

I listened to Ebert's Citizen Kane commentary back in the day on DVD and it was really, really, good. He talked the entire time and was obviously well-prepared. Everything an audio commentary should be.

Agreed! My two favorite film commentaries are that one and Coppola on The Godfather.

Anyone have Criterion commentaries to recommend? I don't care for the this-was-so-hard-and-we-did-such-a-good-job type, nor do I like the the ones that run along the lines of "this lighting implies [director's name]'s anxiety about mature women's sexuality." Or, for that matter, commentaries that do so much context that we end up hearing about the financing of the film or why Bette Davis turned down the role. What are some especially good Criterion commentaries that enrich an already good film?

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by RojD

Agreed! My two favorite film commentaries are that one and Coppola on The Godfather.

Anyone have Criterion commentaries to recommend? I don't care for the this-was-so-hard-and-we-did-such-a-good-job type, nor do I like the the ones that run along the lines of "this lighting implies [director's name]'s anxiety about mature women's sexuality." Or, for that matter, commentaries that do so much context that we end up hearing about the financing of the film or why Bette Davis turned down the role. What are some especially good Criterion commentaries that enrich an already good film?

I've just finished listening to John Bailey's excellent commentary track on F.W. Murnau's Sunrise from Masters of Cinema.
Back to Criterion, I very highly recommend Adrian Martin's commentary track on Vivre Sa Vie.
Oddly enough, I haven't listened to a lot of the commentaries on my Criterions.

[TJS_Blu]

Originally Posted by rkish

Harold Lloyd is new territory for me, but I haven't met a silent that I didn't like yet. . I've seen clips of Lloyd and am looking forward to Safety First.

Lloyd should be experienced with an audience. Not going out on a limb, but sometimes its easy to forget that these comedies were meant to be seen in a big room full of people. I find that I enjoy Lloyd more if I have that in mind when watching his films on my home theater (moreso than Chaplin/Keaton, for example). my 2 cents.

[Mansinthe]

im about to start my criterion collection of asia cinema. what movies should i get first ?

i already own seven samurai & kagemusha + Harakiri (masters of cinema release) + chunking express (AE UK release)

kuroneko might be released by Masters of cinema in the near future (less expensiv to import for me)

so what would you recommend ? i totally like samurai / yakuza movies.. black and white movies ..


branded to kill
high & low
rashomon
three outlaw samurai
tokyo drifters
sansho
pale flower

what would you recommend / did you like the most or was the movie you would most likely watch more than 1 time

thinking about getting 1 or 2 of the movies this month, more to follow next.
(i already considered sanjiru & yojimbo but that one is to expensiv right now (tax mostly))

thanks

[Sinthetic]

High & Low.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

im about to start my criterion collection of asia cinema. what movies should i get first ?

i already own seven samurai & kagemusha + Harakiri (masters of cinema release) + chunking express (AE UK release)

kuroneko might be released by Masters of cinema in the near future (less expensiv to import for me)

so what would you recommend ? i totally like samurai / yakuza movies.. black and white movies ..


branded to kill
high & low
rashomon
three outlaw samurai
tokyo drifters
sansho
pale flower

what would you recommend / did you like the most or was the movie you would most likely watch more than 1 time

thinking about getting 1 or 2 of the movies this month, more to follow next.
(i already considered sanjiru & yojimbo but that one is to expensiv right now (tax mostly))

thanks

I would highly recommend Yojimbo and Sanjuro box set, if you want more Kurosawa. Yojimbo is a must have samurai film, watch a trailer on youtube, I revisit it more than Seven Samurai. The Samurai Trilogy by Inagaki is priceless, it is based on the life of Musashi Miyamoto, to many the greatest samurai that ever lived.

I personally like all of the samurai films of Mizoguchi. I hope criterion will release Ugetsu on blu ray soon. There is very little action in his films, but the moral question explored in his movies are what makes his movies timeless.

[Mansinthe]

regarding musashi movies i did read the vagabond manga series think i would like movies about him. but that one and Yojimbo and Sanjuro are the only 2 that are to expensiv thanks to import fee + tax + higher shipping fee. maybe if i find them used her in germany on ebay like seven samurai

high & low looks interessting too.. maybe i will get that one + pale flower (the main actress is a beauty )

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

regarding musashi movies i did read the vagabond manga series think i would like movies about him. but that one and Yojimbo and Sanjuro are the only 2 that are to expensiv thanks to import fee + tax + higher shipping fee. maybe if i find them used her in germany on ebay like seven samurai

high & low looks interessting too.. maybe i will get that one + pale flower (the main actress is a beauty )

Those films are great picks. I think Drbikeshorts could probably high in better on the yakuza films (based on his avatar).

It would be very interesting to see what his favorite yakuza film.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

so what would you recommend ? i totally like samurai / yakuza movies.. black and white movies ..


branded to kill
high & low
rashomon
three outlaw samurai
tokyo drifters
sansho
pale flower

what would you recommend / did you like the most or was the movie you would most likely watch more than 1 time

thinking about getting 1 or 2 of the movies this month, more to follow next.
(i already considered sanjiru & yojimbo but that one is to expensiv right now (tax mostly))

thanks

Easy, Sansho.

[shortmartin]

Originally Posted by SpiderBaby

Easy, Sansho.

+1 sansho easy

[rkish]

Originally Posted by TJS_Blu

Lloyd should be experienced with an audience. Not going out on a limb, but sometimes its easy to forget that these comedies were meant to be seen in a big room full of people. I find that I enjoy Lloyd more if I have that in mind when watching his films on my home theater (moreso than Chaplin/Keaton, for example). my 2 cents.

Agreed TJS...I've watched a few of the Keatons with my wife and son and have enjoyed the comedy even more.

[Mansinthe]

glad i did read the review about sansho the baliff just now. i already got this one from eureka but have not watched it so far. (Sanshô Dayû)

[rkish]

Originally Posted by SpiderBaby

Easy, Sansho.

Agreed...and if Ugetsu was on that list, I'd put it ahead of Sansho.

[Mansinthe]

Originally Posted by rkish

Agreed...and if Ugetsu was on that list, I'd put it ahead of Sansho.

ugetsu (and sansho) i got too. have already all the asia Master of cinema releases
now its criterions turn

[KrugerIndustrial]

Watched a few Criterion's earlier this week and decided to share my thoughts.



The first hour filmed completely in the hilltop mansion is pitch-perfect and extremely intense. The crime takes place and the protagonist is battling between greed and humanity. The viewer is immediately faced with a difficult dilemma - what would you do in his shoes? Later on Kurosawa takes the viewer on one enthralling hunt for the kidnapper where crime and punishment occur. The punishment is death, but is it that simple? What is morally right and wrong?

I'm fairly new to Kurosawa and I had previously seen only The Bad Sleep Well, which I mostly enjoyed. High and Low is definitely my new favorite film of his and I can't wait to add this to my collection. Oh, and that ending is superb!



Jean-Paul Belmondo as a priest? Well, now I can say I've seen pretty much everything.

I'm a huge fan of Melville's early work and I've meant to watch Leon Morin multiple times over the years but always ended up ignoring it. It was probably the theological subject that kept putting me off. How stupid do I feel now. This took me by surprise. I thought the long philosophical discussions about religion and Catholicism between Riva and Belmondo were fantastic. I wouldn't go as far as to say I loved it, but I really had a great evening with Belmondo and Riva. The story is simple but it works.




You really can't go wrong with Mitchum and Boyle.

Mitchum plays the aging low-level gunrunner Eddie, who's better days are long gone. The only thing he has left is his old reputation. The bills are piling up and something needs to be done. This is ultimately a loser's story. There are no happy endings here. What I really loved is how it managed to bring something fresh to the genre and the way it showed the life of small time mobsters trying to make a living. A very minimalistic and underrated gem of a film.



I really loved the painstaking attention on the preparation for the escape. It's a minimalistic film that focuses on humanity at its most desperate. You either die or you trust your cellmate all the way through. Even though I prefer Le Trou, this is still a really fantastic film.