The Criterion Collection

[Mansinthe]

Originally Posted by Jughead

So is there irony in the fact that

[Show spoiler]Orin is the only one in the family that is actually good at anything? I'm pretty sure the whole point of the younger brother was to display uselessness.

[Show spoiler]
ballad of narayama is movie made up of two books.. at least the remake.
there is only enough food for only a few people.. at the end of the remake you see how they already gave all of orins stuff to the other family members.

its kind like ozus tokyo story regarding that.

ive only seen the remake.. but i think the story is pretty much the same.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Rich Pure Doom

I paid around 80 for my copy of The Third Man a couple years ago and I don't regret it. It's certainly one of those films that's worth whatever you pay for it, it's that good. Speaking of films worth their money, I watched Miami Vice for the first time tonight and I can happily say that it was an amazing blind buy. The critics got it wrong and abdrewes saying it was Michael Mann's "purest expression of his art" is a pretty accurate statement. Purely cinematic.

Rich, I am very glad to hear that. It's a film that only grows stronger after repeat viewings

[Scottie]

I'm thinking about getting Hulu Plus to watch several of the films offered by Criterion. I figured it would save me on purchasing the DVD because of not only the funds, but because there is always a possibility of an upgrade in the near future.

After going through the entire Hulu page, I've come up with this list:

• L'Avventura
• Brute Force
• Circus
• City Lights
• Confidential Report
• L'Eclisse
• Elevator To The Gallows
• Les Enfants Terribles
• Eraserhead
• Europa
• Foreign Correspondent
• I Married A Witch
• Kid
• Knife In The Water
• Lost Honor Of Katharina Blum
• Most Dangerous Game
• Murderer Lives At Number 21
• Naked City
• Night Porter
• Pandora's Box
• Permanent Vacation
• Pickpocket
• Picnic At Hanging Rock
• Rendez-Vous
• Rome, Open City
• Seance On A Wet Afternoon
• Shoot The Piano Player
• Spirit Of The Beehive
• La Strada
• Stromboli
• Summertime
• Testament Of Dr. Mabuse
• Virgin Spring
• Viridiana
• Z

[Abdrewes]

^^^
Awesome list. Don't forget La Notte.

Let us know how the HULU experience goes.

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I'm thinking about getting Hulu Plus to watch several of the films offered by Criterion. I figured it would save me on purchasing the DVD because of not only the funds, but because there is always a possibility of an upgrade in the near future.

After going through the entire Hulu page, I've come up with this list:

• L'Avventura
• Brute Force
• Circus
• City Lights
• Confidential Report
• L'Eclisse
• Elevator To The Gallows
• Les Enfants Terribles
• Eraserhead
• Europa
• Foreign Correspondent
• I Married A Witch
• Kid
• Knife In The Water
• Lost Honor Of Katharina Blum
• Most Dangerous Game
• Murderer Lives At Number 21
• Naked City
• Night Porter
• Pandora's Box
• Permanent Vacation
• Pickpocket
• Picnic At Hanging Rock
• Rendez-Vous
• Rome, Open City
• Seance On A Wet Afternoon
• Shoot The Piano Player
• Spirit Of The Beehive
• La Strada
• Stromboli
• Summertime
• Testament Of Dr. Mabuse
• Virgin Spring
• Viridiana
• Z

I did not know they had the rights to Foreign Correspondent. Although my least favorite of the few Hitchcocks I've seen, I wouldn't mind it getting a blu-ray release at some point. Same thing with City Lights, although I haven't seen it, I'd love it to get a release. A lot of people I talk to regard it as Chaplin's best.

[Jughead]

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

[Show spoiler]
ballad of narayama is movie made up of two books.. at least the remake.
there is only enough food for only a few people.. at the end of the remake you see how they already gave all of orins stuff to the other family members.

its kind like ozus tokyo story regarding that.

ive only seen the remake.. but i think the story is pretty much the same.

Okay. That makes sense. Perhaps I wasn't looking at the content's historical context.

[Show spoiler]I might argue that the secret fishing spot reveal was use to signify the ignorance of the youngest son/men/rest of the villiage. If this is the case, it could also be viewed as a commentary on pure communism. Any thoughts?

Also, does anyone have any thoughts on

[Show spoiler]the frightened old man who resists the purge? I guess it could just be saying that individualism and selflessness are preferential.

The more I write about it, the more it makes me think. Highly recommended! I just realized I didn't read the accompanying critique. I will do that when I get home.

[deepbreathsanddeath]

Not sure if anyone read this article but after The Master was screened in Melbourne in October last year, P.T Anderson did a Q&A and someone asked him about Punch Drunk Love on blu-ray. Apparently he answered them by saying he was working on it now and that it will be released next year.

Nothing more to go on really but the fact that he said he's working on it could be an indication that Criterion might be announcing it in the near future? Regular studios generally don't bother getting director approvals for transfers unless they're massive titles by people like Spielberg. I don't imagine a regular studio would bother including P.T Anderson in the transfer process for Punch Drunk Love...

Maybe I'm reading too far into it. Something to consider though.
Here is the source of my info though:
http://cigsandredvines.blogspot.com....-next.html?m=1

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Rich, I am very glad to hear that. It's a film that only grows stronger after repeat viewings

I was lucky enough to buy Miami Vice for $6 at a local franchised record store. The BD was still new (the long sticker at the top was still on it) even though the plastic wrapping was gone. It was a great deal and the movie was well worth the price. I have to see the film a second time but I do know that after upon the first viewing, I was quite impressed. I thought there might have been too romance in the film, but otherwise it was a strong story.

Thanks to everyone else by the way who commented on my The Third Man BD $125 purchase from eBay. I finally have this in my collection now. (I think its my 110th Criterion film also).

[Monty70]

Originally Posted by Jughead

I've got a lot to talk about today:

I resumed and finished The Ballad of Narayama last night. It was great but I would have loved some supplements afterwards as I didn't understand some of the themes. I absolutely loved the music in the film. What is the name of the string instrument that is used predominantly? It added a lot to my enjoyment of the film.

I subsequently popped in Sansho the Bailiff and fell asleep over half way through. This time, blame it on an 8-hour drive and 2 ounces of scotch. I should have done a comedy. Either playtime, Monsieur Verdoux, or something from the Pierre Etaix set. Those will be next.

Oh, and Le Cercle Rouge is due for delivery today! Not a bad CC day if I must say so.

Lastly, while out of town this weekend, I happened upon a Barnes and Noble which had Léon Morin, Priest, Last Year at Marienbad, and Army of Shadows. Would you guys have paid $80 bucks for them to try and flip them? They weren't on sale but were a part of the B2G1. I should be back up that way at the end of July. Maybe I'll be able to snag them in 50% sale.

I believe it is called a shamisen.

Here is a link to it being played.

shamisen - a japanese three-stringed instrument - YouTube

[Blu-Velvet]

Originally Posted by Jughead

So is there irony in the fact that

[Show spoiler]Orin is the only one in the family that is actually good at anything? I'm pretty sure the whole point of the younger brother was to display uselessness.

That's a good assessment and a reason that despite its heavily stylized presentation (which might be hard for some people not used to foreign films or cultures to get past) the film is amazingly timely and moving today. I actually prefer it to the remake, which is harsher and more realistic, whereas the 1958 version is more artfully poetic in its lush colors and obvious studio soundstage settings. The aspect of a wistful parable is all the more intensified by the music and voiceover chanting of the ballad.

By coincidence within several weeks either direction of watching Criterion's Blu-ray a couple months back, I saw the recent Korean films POETRY (on Blu-ray from Kino) and MOTHER (on Blu-ray from Magnolia), both of which explore some similar themes, especially Chang-dong Lee's touching POETRY. Bong Joon-ho's MOTHER is more of an unsettling noirish murder mystery but raises a few similar issues. Both are well-worth seeing if you liked BALLAD OF NARAYAMA, especially POETRY.

[Jughead]

Yahtzee!

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by deepbreathsanddeath

Not sure if anyone read this article but after The Master was screened in Melbourne in October last year, P.T Anderson did a Q&A and someone asked him about Punch Drunk Love on blu-ray. Apparently he answered them by saying he was working on it now and that it will be released next year.

Nothing more to go on really but the fact that he said he's working on it could be an indication that Criterion might be announcing it in the near future? Regular studios generally don't bother getting director approvals for transfers unless they're massive titles by people like Spielberg. I don't imagine a regular studio would bother including P.T Anderson in the transfer process for Punch Drunk Love...

Maybe I'm reading too far into it. Something to consider though.
Here is the source of my info though:
http://cigsandredvines.blogspot.com....-next.html?m=1

Sounds like it could mean almost anything. Maybe it means he is working on a new commentary, or they are making new extras. The Anderson that has been directly mentioned in the past as a possibility is Hard Eight.

[Mansinthe]

Originally Posted by Jughead

So is there irony in the fact that

[Show spoiler]Orin is the only one in the family that is actually good at anything? I'm pretty sure the whole point of the younger brother was to display uselessness.

well they dont want to much population in there small village cuz there is not enough food.at least in the remake it was already the youngers brother fate to be useless.. he was not allowed to have a wife cuz they could not feed more children. thats why one of the first things you see in the remake is a dead baby.. thrown away cuz they can only sell girls away to that one person that visits the village from time to time.


maybe thats why orin shows the new wife of her son the secret fishing spot. to make sure her family has at least food and stuff. cuz the people in the village to acutally not care for the others, only for themself.
there was that one family that was killed cuz they stole some potatos and stuff. but i thing they did it cuz there would be not enough food for everyone else.

its really a movie that makes you thing about how we take care of our elders today...


if someone really liked the narayama story you might like the movie "profound desires of the gods" or "insect woman"

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

^^^
Awesome list. Don't forget La Notte.

Let us know how the HULU experience goes.

I didn't see La Notte offered.

[The Great Owl]

My copy of Rio Bravo arrived in the mail from WB Shops, so there was a silver lining to my being too busy to watch my Criterion Blu-ray of Stagecoach this past weekend. I can make a double feature night of these two films in the not-too-distant future.

[Jughead]

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

well they dont want to much population in there small village cuz there is not enough food.at least in the remake it was already the youngers brother fate to be useless.. he was not allowed to have a wife cuz they could not feed more children. thats why one of the first things you see in the remake is a dead baby.. thrown away cuz they can only sell girls away to that one person that visits the village from time to time.


maybe thats why orin shows the new wife of her son the secret fishing spot. to make sure her family has at least food and stuff. cuz the people in the village to acutally not care for the others, only for themself.
there was that one family that was killed cuz they stole some potatos and stuff. but i thing they did it cuz there would be not enough food for everyone else.

its really a movie that makes you thing about how we take care of our elders today...


if someone really liked the narayama story you might like the movie "profound desires of the gods" or "insect woman"

I didn't even put that together. I guess that is another time/culture contextual thing I missed. If that is the case, do you think they were using the rhythm method?

[Mansinthe]

well in the remake they did some kinda birth control and population control with selling of their childs (the girls) to some slave trader.. and the boys did get killed if there was not enough food / space or if they are just childs no one should know of. they just throw the dead boys away in some neighbors field..and seeing how they handle finding (another) dead body it does show that something like that must happen from time to time again

im not sure but i think orin saved the younger brother , thats why he was not allowed to have a wife and was regarded kinda worthless by all other members of the village.. but im not sure about that part, maybe im making that up in my mind after checking out some reviews of the novel.

after orin is gone they have already shared all her stuff to the other family members...
that one family got killed of in my opinion only to share their food and stuff, cuz there was already not alot in that winter.

and in that time they did still belive in gods and ghosts and stuff.. some of the elders did know that in old age they are only a burden in these hard times.. so they are happy (most of them) to die.


its really a awesome story. the remake does start in our modern time.. going to naryama only to show that its not that much different in the story how it acutally right now.

maybe you should check out the remake as well or ozus tokyo story

[Illy Scorsese]

Does Criterion Still Offer the Replacement Plastic Cases????

I just bought "The 400 Blows" and got the Cardboard Case... Hate it... Want the Plastic one.

So yeah, do they still do that? And if so, can anyone give me the info on how to.

Thanks!

[octagon]

http://www.criterion.com/shop/other

[Illy Scorsese]

Originally Posted by octagon

http://www.criterion.com/shop/other

Thank you!