The Criterion Collection

[The Great Owl]

Guess who is going to see Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds on the big screen at Fox Theatre in Atlanta on June 23 for the film's 50th Anniversary showing?

Me!

This will be a good event for The Great Owl. I saw The Good, the Bad and the Ugly at Fox Theatre a few years ago for the summer series, and it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I'm expecting the same for The Birds.

I finished watching Alfred Hitchcock's Spellbound late last night, and, once again, it's an incredible Blu-ray transfer, and a great film with the beautiful and talented Ingrid Bergman. I laughed at the childhood flashback scene, as I always do. I know that it's cruel, but I cannot help it.

[Glamdring7920]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

...and it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I'm expecting the same for The Birds...

Just curious, but how is this possible?

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Glamdring7920

Just curious, but how is this possible?

Two different movies. Two different once-in-a-lifetime experiences to see two movies on a theater screen that are not normally shown on a theater screen.

[SammyJankis]

Damn.. was hoping The Fox Theater would have a better line-up this Summer. Hate myself for missing their 2001 print showing years ago.

[JHas]

Originally Posted by RupertPupkin

yes, the "amazon-choose your criterion poll "proposed 4 movies :

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?docId=1000368291


Au Revoir Les Enfants

Down By Law

Howards End

Kwaidan

Picnic at Hanging Rock

Dang! We could have got more Kobyashi on blu? Oh well, hopefully it will come out soon along with The Human Condition and Samurai Rebellion.

I like your Kings of Comedy inspired name, pumped for that one to come out on blu.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

Damn.. was hoping The Fox Theater would have a better line-up this Summer. Hate myself for missing their 2001 print showing years ago.

I wouldn't mind seeing Raiders of the Lost Ark on June 14, but I'll be running a race that day instead.
Lawrence of Arabia and Breakfast at Tiffany's would both be fun, but I need to check the schedule. My Lawrence of Arabia Blu-ray is perfect, but I've never seen that film on a big theater screen before.
The last three movies are yet to be announced. I'm hoping for one of the Sean Connery Bond films, because they've shown some of those in the past.

The Birds will be great at Fox Theatre. A friend and I already have our tickets, and I'm trying to get more people to go.

[The Great Owl]

My Band of Outsiders write-up...



Band of Outsiders is one of the most accessible Jean-Luc Godard films, and, although I have revisited it several times, I am always surprised at the lightning-fast pacing of the story. This movie wears its American pulp crime influences on its sleeve, but it also includes enough Godard stylistic winks, by way of nonchalant voiceover narration and character interaction with the audience, to remind us that we are in his trademark world of forlorn, but energetic, souls who travel along their path in life through a combination of emotional detachment and offbeat timing when connections are made with other such souls.

I grew up listening to the music of The Cure, and Anna Karina's Odile reminds me of one of the many females in The Cure's lyrics, with her irresistible beauty and sparkling eyes that belie a unique blankness of someone lost in her own strange world. Arthur, with his dismissive abruptness, lends credence to the popular assumption that women are attracted to jerks, but the viewer relates to him just the same as the desperation of his personal home life is eventually made apparent during the film. Franz is quieter and less forward than Arthur, but his daydreams and unique musings nonetheless lead him down the same dangerous road as he and Arthur emulate American outlaws with fast cars and fast guns.

These three characters alternately repel and attract one another with bright electricity, and the viewer cannot help but smile at how they bump one another aside at a cafe table during a pivotal scene as they simultaneously lean in closer to one another in confidence. These three souls do seem to gel together in harmony during a lively dance sequence that provides one of the most iconic images of French New Wave, and during a rushed tour of the Louvre, but Godard's narration intercuts even these moments to illuminate individual thoughts of people who will never truly understand one another.

The video transfer of this Blu-ray shines with detail, especially during the scenes that sweep across the Bastille areas of Paris. This is important in a film that familiarizes us with a handful of landmarks so that we know them as we know our own backyards. Dirt-covered lots that provide joyful obstacles for car rides, pathways leading to and from a boat tied to both ends of a short water crossing, and large homes on the outskirts of Paris are all brought to life in this high definition presentation.

Highly recommended!

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Guess who is going to see Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds on the big screen at Fox Theatre in Atlanta on June 23 for the film's 50th Anniversary showing?

Me!

This will be a good event for The Great Owl. I saw The Good, the Bad and the Ugly at Fox Theatre a few years ago for the summer series, and it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I'm expecting the same for The Birds.

I finished watching Alfred Hitchcock's Spellbound late last night, and, once again, it's an incredible Blu-ray transfer, and a great film with the beautiful and talented Ingrid Bergman. I laughed at the childhood flashback scene, as I always do. I know that it's cruel, but I cannot help it.

Sounds like a grand time. The Birds might be my favorite Hitchcock. Is it a digital presentation or a print?

I still regret not seeing Vertigo in 70 mm when it was screening simultaneously with 2001, but seeing Neighboring Sounds was a great alternative.

[COLD_COBRA_]

Do people have something against this one? I've read this thread for months and never once heard anything about it.



I'm buying it in July.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by brandon_260

Sounds like a grand time. The Birds might be my favorite Hitchcock. Is it a digital presentation or a print?

I still regret not seeing Vertigo in 70 mm when it was screening simultaneously with 2001, but seeing Neighboring Sounds was a great alternative.

Not sure. The Fox Theatre specifies that the Lawrence of Arabia showing is a new digital print, but nothing is specified for The Birds or for the other films.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by COLD_COBRA_

Do people have something against this one? I've read this thread for months and never once heard anything about it.



I'm buying it in July.

For what it's worth I've seen the film on a non-Criterion release and it's a very good film. It could very easily have devolved into a standard triangle rom-com, but the script stays true to its intentions of being a reflection of media becoming shallow and presentation oriented and facts being subjugated to the cause of drama. Great performances from the lead cast especially Holly Hunter. Highly recommended from me.

[brandon_260]

If Criterion feels like releasing another mini-series anytime soon, my vote goes to Top of the Lake.

[Brad1963]

Originally Posted by COLD_COBRA_

Do people have something against this one? I've read this thread for months and never once heard anything about it.



I'm buying it in July.

Nothing. It is a great film. There are just alot of snobs who shun anything out of Hollywood that Criterion decides to release.

[Abdrewes]

I haven't listened to the AuteurCast since January. I just downloaded all their podcasts since only to see a bunch if Kieslowski, Bay & Hitchcock episodes. This should be fun.

As for Broadcast News, I really like the film. It is unmistakably a Hollywood product, but it is sweet, engaging and even contains bits of biting satire. I can't see how someone would argue against it being James L. Brooks' best film (although Terms of Endearment comes pretty close).

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

My Band of Outsiders write-up...


[SPOLIER]
Band of Outsiders is one of the most accessible Jean-Luc Godard films, and, although I have revisited it several times, I am always surprised at the lightning-fast pacing of the story. This movie wears its American pulp crime influences on its sleeve, but it also includes enough Godard stylistic winks, by way of nonchalant voiceover narration and character interaction with the audience, to remind us that we are in his trademark world of forlorn, but energetic, souls who travel along their path in life through a combination of emotional detachment and offbeat timing when connections are made with other such souls.

I grew up listening to the music of The Cure, and Anna Karina's Odile reminds me of one of the many females in The Cure's lyrics, with her irresistible beauty and sparkling eyes that belie a unique blankness of someone lost in her own strange world. Arthur, with his dismissive abruptness, lends credence to the popular assumption that women are attracted to jerks, but the viewer relates to him just the same as the desperation of his personal home life is eventually made apparent during the film. Franz is quieter and less forward than Arthur, but his daydreams and unique musings nonetheless lead him down the same dangerous road as he and Arthur emulate American outlaws with fast cars and fast guns.

These three characters alternately repel and attract one another with bright electricity, and the viewer cannot help but smile at how they bump one another aside at a cafe table during a pivotal scene as they simultaneously lean in closer to one another in confidence. These three souls do seem to gel together in harmony during a lively dance sequence that provides one of the most iconic images of French New Wave, and during a rushed tour of the Louvre, but Godard's narration intercuts even these moments to illuminate individual thoughts of people who will never truly understand one another.

The video transfer of this Blu-ray shines with detail, especially during the scenes that sweep across the Bastille areas of Paris. This is important in a film that familiarizes us with a handful of landmarks so that we know them as we know our own backyards. Dirt-covered lots that provide joyful obstacles for car rides, pathways leading to and from a boat tied to both ends of a short water crossing, and large homes on the outskirts of Paris are all brought to life in this high definition presentation.

Highly recommended![/SPOILER]

Nice. I can't wait to get my copy this summer.

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by COLD_COBRA_

Do people have something against this one? I've read this thread for months and never once heard anything about it.



I'm buying it in July.

The late 80's were great to Joan Cusack, if only Criterion could release Working Girl! Joan Cusack is the best!

And Yeah Broadcast News is good. Great title to pick up in July

[sethdlh]

I'm so anxious for the 50% sale, I've got gift cards piling up.

[Scottie]

Import the John Cassavetes Blu-ray collection from Germany or just order Faces and Shadows from UK? Decisions, decisions.

[The Great Owl]

I posted my review of Greed in the Sun in the Olive Films forum, but am linking it here, since actors Jean-Paul Belmondo and Lino Ventura are both prominently featured in several Criterion films, especially the Jean-Pierre Melville offerings.

I am thrilled with this particular blind-buy, because Greed in the Sun is an uproariously good action flick that plays out like a combination of The Wages of Fear and one of the 1980s buddy action films like Tango & Cash or Lethal Weapon. The truck stunts are intense, just as they were in The Wages of Fear, but this film has some grand comedic scenes thrown into the fold.

Greed in the Sun will likely be one of my most frequently-rewatched Blu-rays in the long run.

Now, onward to the Twilight Time Blu-ray, The Big Heat.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by James78

I thought you had already bought the boxed set? I know Octagon has it; maybe he will post what he thinks. It's definitely good value!

Nope, I never went ahead and ordered it, but I did a few minutes ago

Seems like a better price for the movies included.