The Criterion Collection

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

Yeah, mine was closed for like a WEEK. It was awful...I was so impatient.

"Hey, will you accept this blood stained coupon?" "You won't! I am going to make some phone calls."

[JoeBuck]

Finally posted my order online after my ride to Seattle dropped out.
Placed an order for the following:

Shoah
Pierre Etaix
Safety Last
Monsieur Verdoux
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
Marketa Lazarova
Wild Strawberries
Purple Noon
A Man Escaped
The Lady Vanishes
3 Women
The Life of Oharu
The Man Who Knew Too Much

The bolded ones are all blind buys although I have seen Yoyo from the Pierre Etaix set and liked it a lot.

[fdm]

Originally Posted by monorail91

Thinking of getting the following DVDs in the 50% off sale:

-I vitelloni
-Flowers of St. Francis
-Young Mr. Lincoln
-Life of Brian

Just wanted to check if there have been any hints as to whether these will go to Blu any time soon? I'd hate to pick these up and then see an announcement in next month's newsletter announcements lol!

I was pretty excited about the dvdbeaver comparison of Life Of Brian Criterion dvd and Sony's blu-ray, as I recall, and I'm not really a big fan it (Holy Grail for me). So partial answer is that Life Of Brian is already on blu-ray, it would probably be a good idea to get that instead, the dvd was only so-so. Don't recall if there was any content differences in terms of supplements.

[fdm]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I will say that it was fun to watch Orson Welles in action during A Safe Place.

Unfortunately, I kept trying to imitate his concentrated gaze while I was watching the movie, so that I could make the movie disappear. That never happened, and the movie kept going.

I've tried this during boring work meetings as well, to no avail. I get that Orson Welles look, I close my eyes, I start wishing for things to magically disappear, and they never do. The same with random co-workers who step into my office occasionally when I'm busy.

I often closed my eyes in meetings and wished co-workers would go away, especially the ones that kept waking me up when I was "busy". Now I finally know why. Hindsight is indeed 20-20. And in the end, they've also finally gone away...

[COLD_COBRA_]

This thread has convinced me to get Ravanche.
Is Purple Noon considered a must buy?

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by COLD_COBRA_

This thread has convinced me to get Ravanche.
Is Purple Noon considered a must buy?

Nope, but it's a darn good film.

It's the original Mr. Ripley.

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by COLD_COBRA_

This thread has convinced me to get Ravanche.
Is Purple Noon considered a must buy?

It's fun, but not a must buy at all. Also it diverges from the book - Which is not an argument against it, just saying that if you are looking for a strict adaptation.

[Danchez]

Just finished watching "Fish Tank," which I thought was really great, but man am I glad that I didn't read the review here on the site before doing so. It literally summarizes the entire plot of the movie with little-to-no insight given.

I would've been so pissed had I read it before watching the movie! I will never understand that particular reviewing style.

Anyway, just felt that I should give fair warning to any other members who have yet to see this one and might want to pick it up (as I did) during B&N's current sale. It's definitely worth seeing!

[Majin Blu]

I was curious about "The Moment of Truth". Does anyone own this film? Would you recommend it?

[Visco.]

I'm currently and hour and 20 minutes into 2001: A Space Odyssey. I must say this film is really surprising me. I expected it to be somewhat of a chore to sit through but this film has held up really well. The production design is astounding. I have a feeling I'm going to like all of Kubrick's movies now.

(I've only seen the Shining but Clockwork Orange is on the way).

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Visco.

I'm currently and hour and 20 minutes into 2001: A Space Odyssey. I must say this film is really surprising me. I expected it to be somewhat of a chore to sit through but this film has held up really well. The production design is astounding. I have a feeling I'm going to like all of Kubrick's movies now.

(I've only seen the Shining but Clockwork Orange is on the way).

Add Paths of Glory to your B&N list immediately then. The Killing should be on there too but if your list is getting tight go with Paths of Glory first.

Kubrick is a real blast. There's just so much there. Even the few I don't totally love beg to be watched again and again.

[Visco.]

Originally Posted by octagon

Add Paths of Glory to your B&N list immediately then. The Killing should be on there too but if your list is getting tight go with Paths of Glory first.

Kubrick is a real blast. There's just so much there. Even the few I don't totally love beg to be watched again and again.

The Killing is at the very top of my list for sure. I really can't wait to see Clockwork Orange though.

[starman15317]

With Kubrick, I still have to see Fear and Desire (will watch when I buy The Killing), Spartacus and Eyes Wide Shut.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Visco.

I'm currently and hour and 20 minutes into 2001: A Space Odyssey. I must say this film is really surprising me. I expected it to be somewhat of a chore to sit through but this film has held up really well. The production design is astounding. I have a feeling I'm going to like all of Kubrick's movies now.

(I've only seen the Shining but Clockwork Orange is on the way).

Wow, first time watching 2001? That movie is the equivalent of a religious experience for me. I guess it was about 10 or 11 years ago when I really appreciated that film, but I could never pause a movie like that and then write about it on a forum... a movie like that must be watched without interruption or distractions!

Ahh, if only I could go back in time and re-live the first time I experienced Kubrick's films. Lucky you. A new discovery happens every day to someone out there.

[monorail91]

Originally Posted by fdm

I was pretty excited about the dvdbeaver comparison of Life Of Brian Criterion dvd and Sony's blu-ray, as I recall, and I'm not really a big fan it (Holy Grail for me). So partial answer is that Life Of Brian is already on blu-ray, it would probably be a good idea to get that instead, the dvd was only so-so. Don't recall if there was any content differences in terms of supplements.

Thanks for going all the way back to my post, that was from a while ago! I appreciate your input, I recall the video quality of the Criterion DVD not being great and as great as special features are, at the end of the day I care more about the quality of the transfer than special features.

[jw007]

Well, I struck gold again today at Barnes & Noble!

I bought 4 more Criterions and I've attached another photo below!

This time I went for:

On the Waterfront (14.49 + tax)
A Man Escaped ($16.33 + tax)
Ivan's Childhood ($16.32 + tax)
Medium Cool ($16.32 + tax)

I used the "$8 off $40" coupon on On the Waterfront in a separate transaction by itself (with 10% member discount), while I bought the other 3 films using the "$5 off $50 or more" coupon (with 10% member discount). I'm nearly halfway done with the titles I want!

Also, i should note that I bought On the Waterfront at the Waterfront! (Yes, the Barnes & Noble store is located in a part of the city here called "the Waterfront")!

HIP HIP HOORAY!

[deepbreathsanddeath]

Just finished watching Chang-dong Lee's Poetry. I love this director so far. Didn't find Poetry as enjoyable as Oasis and Peppermint Candy (the only other films of his I've seen). It was well made and the leading actress was quite amazing but unfortunately found the movie pretty boring.

There were times that I loved it and looking back, the film felt a bit like poetry which is fitting. Quite beautiful in many area's but somehow the execution didn't work for me. I think it could've lost a good 20 minutes, leaving it at roughly 2 hours still, but I'm sure the director wanted an intentionally lesurely pace to it. It definitely felt deliberate and I'm sure most people who liked the film enjoyed that aspect of it, but It just felt overly slow to me.

Anyway, very well made film but didn't work for me as much as I hoped it would. Seems more like a personal issue than anything wrong with the film as most people apparently loved it. I'm looking forward to checking out Secret Sunshine. It looks great!

[mallomar]

Originally Posted by COLD_COBRA_

This thread has convinced me to get Ravanche.
Is Purple Noon considered a must buy?

For the contrarian opinion, I'm not a big fan of Revanche, but I loved everything about Purple Noon.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by Danchez

Just finished watching "Fish Tank," which I thought was really great, but man am I glad that I didn't read the review here on the site before doing so. It literally summarizes the entire plot of the movie with little-to-no insight given.

I would've been so pissed had I read it before watching the movie! I will never understand that particular reviewing style.

Anyway, just felt that I should give fair warning to any other members who have yet to see this one and might want to pick it up (as I did) during B&N's current sale. It's definitely worth seeing!

I would like to quickly comment here as I've seen other people posting similar observations.

I don't agree that the review spoils Fish Tank because this isn't a film that can be spoiled. In fact, in my opinion the specific scene a couple of people have addressed is irrelevant. Why? Because the idea behind this film is to place the viewer in the closed system where Mia exists. There is no way out. Her decisions are pointless. Her feelings and ambitions are irrelevant. The title of the film describes the system perfectly - it is a fish tank, and the fish leaves the tank only when it dies.

I think that there is a general perception in North America that a film has to tell a story. I believe this is one of the reasons why a lot of people have a problem with "slow" films. For some people slow is...bad? Fish Tank isn't a film in which the story is irrelevant, but the focus of attention is definitely on the system I mentioned above, not on the relationships between the main characters and the manner in which they evolve. The film does not have to begin at point A and end and point B to accomplish its mission. It has to force the viewer to step on the other side and spend some time with Mia. That's it. And I think that Fish Tank accomplishes its mission quite well.

Some of Jean-Claude Brisseau's films are meant to be experienced like that. Many of Godard's films are meant to be experienced like that (see Notre musique, Weekend). Another Criterion film? See Haskell Wexler's Medium Cool. The idea behind it is very similar to that of Arnold's film - while viewing the film you get in, you experience the chaos and then you get out. That's it. The love relationship in it is nothing more than a needed distraction.

Pro-B

[Danchez]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

I would like to quickly comment here as I've seen other people posting similar observations.

I don't agree that the review spoils Fish Tank because this isn't a film that can be spoiled. In fact, in my opinion the specific scene a couple of people have addressed is irrelevant. Why? Because the idea behind this film is to place the viewer in the closed system where Mia exists. There is no way out. Her decisions are pointless. Her feelings and ambitions are irrelevant. The title of the film describes the system perfectly - it is a fish tank, and the fish leaves the tank only when it dies.

I think that there is a general perception in North America that a film has to tell a story. I believe this is one of the reasons why a lot of people have a problem with "slow" films. For some people slow is...bad? Fish Tank isn't a film in which the story is irrelevant, but the focus of attention is definitely on the system I mentioned above, not on the relationships between the main characters and the manner in which they evolve. The film does not have to begin at point A and end and point B to accomplish its mission. It has to force the viewer to step on the other side and spend some time with Mia. That's it. And I think that Fish Tank accomplishes its mission quite well.

Some of Jean-Claude Brisseau's films are meant to be experienced like that. Many of Godard's films are meant to be experienced like that (see Notre musique, Weekend). Another Criterion film? See Haskell Wexler's Medium Cool. The idea behind it is very similar to that of Arnold's film - while viewing the film you get in, you experience the chaos and then you get out. That's it. The love relationship in it is nothing more than a needed distraction.

Pro-B

I understand what you're saying about the film itself, but don't agree that it has any bearing on whether or not the review spoils elements of the film. Your perception of the film is given in hindsight, and while I think it's really well-articulated, part of my own enjoyment of the film was, you know, not knowing what was going to happen next.

Mileages may vary, but I don't think that it's ever truly necessary to reveal specific plot points in a review of a film.