The Criterion Collection

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by Tin Drum

IMO, yes. It's a very good film with amazing PQ and AQ. I love the film's style. Not your typical film made in 1960.

I got Purple Noon from the library about a week ago, and even on DVD the image really popped. I will probably wait to get it on blu, since I just watched it, but I too would probably consider it a high priority title.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Glad to report that after seeing Pacific Rim, Criterion's very own Guillermo del Toro has yet to make a bad film.

If I can hightail it out of the office fast enough this afternoon, I plan to catch a showing of Pacific Rim on the way home. Maybe I should turn off my office phone a half hour before leaving, just in case.

Pacific Rim looks pretty fun to me. The kid in me who loved those old Japanese shows, like The Space Giants, Ultraman, Spectreman, and Voltron, is looking forward to this.

I've avoided the noisy CGI-heavy movies so far this summer, but I'll make an exception with this one.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by COLD_COBRA_

Is Purple Noon considered a must buy?

Oh yeaahhh!

Purple Noon was one of the first Blu-rays that I purchased. In fact, I bought it from Barnes & Noble the same day that I got my first Blu-ray player. It's one of the most accessible Criterion titles, for one thing, and it's one of those universal appeal movies that I imagine is unrecognized here in the U.S. only because most people dislike subtitles. The scenes of the Mediterranean look splendid in high definition, and Marie Laforêt is really something else in this film. It's my favorite film version of The Talented Mr. Ripley.

We really need René Clément's Forbidden Games to be upgraded to Blu-ray.

I understand that René Clément's The Damned is coming out on Blu-ray soon from Cohen Media. This is good.

[shortmartin]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Glad to report that after seeing Pacific Rim, Criterion's very own Guillermo del Toro has yet to make a bad film.

awesome, thanks, it opens in a week here and I'm psyched to go see it

[COLD_COBRA_]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Oh yeaahhh!

Purple Noon was one of the first Blu-rays that I purchased. In fact, I bought it from Barnes & Noble the same day that I got my first Blu-ray player. It's one of the most accessible Criterion titles, for one thing, and it's one of those universal appeal movies that I imagine is unrecognized here in the U.S. only because most people dislike subtitles. The scenes of the Mediterranean look splendid in high definition, and Marie Laforêt is really something else in this film. It's my favorite film version of The Talented Mr. Ripley.

We really need René Clément's Forbidden Games to be upgraded to Blu-ray.

I understand that René Clément's The Damned is coming out on Blu-ray soon from Cohen Media. This is good.

Yep. Add it to the list. I'm going in with this game plan.

Ravanche/ Battle of Algiers (keep forgetting about that one)
Purple Noon
Band of Outsiders
The Seventh Seal

July 23-30. That's if they have the sale until the 30th.
Ice Storm
Devil's Backbone

[ParticleDan]

Originally Posted by rock, stone

There is a reason I only read the technical info for these reviews. Before I gave up on them, more often than not the film reviews would read like a wikipedia summery, spoiling plot points well into the 3rd act.

I don't see the point, but to each his own.

The Criterion Collection reviews are far below the standard set by other reviews on this site, which are typically very informative and insightful without ruining the film. I personally gave up on reading the CC reviews when pro-b said that those who don't like Heaven's Gate should admit that "they are idiots."

I think it's pretty pathetic that Blu-Ray.com didn't assign a more talented reviewer to handle what is arguably the most important collection of films available.

[editor*by*night88]

Originally Posted by deepbreathsanddeath

I'm waiting for a non-member coupon before I finally make the order, but I'm still trying to narrow down my final picks for my order.

Currently I have:
-Wages of Fear
-Marketa Lazarova
-Safety Last!
-Repo Man (selling MoC steelbook to replace it with this)
-Island of Lost Souls (selling MoC steelbook to replace it with this)
-Letter Never Sent

I swapped Wings of Desire out for Letter Never Sent. In part because it'll save me some money but also because I'm still not sure on Wings of Desire. I keep flipping back and forth between wanting it and not being highly interested in seeing it.

I need a little push in the right direction here. What do you guys think I should get? Wings of Desire or Letter Never Sent?

letter never sent ,

[UNCMT9]

If you could pick up one Chaplin film (I don't own any), what would it be?

[deepbreathsanddeath]

Originally Posted by UNCMT9

If you could pick up one Chaplin film (I don't own any), what would it be?

The Gold Rush or Modern Times would be the safest blind buys but all 4 currently released Chaplin BD's are great. I have all 4 and look forward to more hopefully coming in the near future.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by UNCMT9

If you could pick up one Chaplin film (I don't own any), what would it be?

Modern Times is probably my favorite.

I owned The Gold Rush, Modern Times, and The Great Dictator all on DVD, I sold them a few months back to make room for the Blu-rays, and I finally bought the Blu-rays this past week. Looking forward to revisiting these three in style this weekend!

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by UNCMT9

If you could pick up one Chaplin film (I don't own any), what would it be?

Wait until they release The Kid and then buy that

But in all seriousness, you should think about whether you want one of the silent films or one of the non-silent ones. If you want a silent, maybe go with Modern Times. If you want a talkie, go for The Great Dictator. If you can't decide, get The Gold Rush, which has both.

[deepbreathsanddeath]

Originally Posted by editor*by*night88

letter never sent ,

That's two for LNS. Looks like I might've made a good decision for now.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by blkhrt

I'm glad to hear you say that. While there have been some very positive reviews, I have heard some very big fans of del Toro think it is his worst movie. I hope I get a chance to see it while it is in the theaters...it seems like something that needs to be seen on the big screen.

Well, I think the first act contains some very rough stretches, but as a whole it builds to an infectious climax. I'm gonna try to have my review done in the downtime between all the bridal festivities.

Not really a flaw but, Jeez, it seems like nobody is talking about how blatantly Del Toro pays homage to Blade Runner. Neon ads, transparent umbrellas in a crowded asian downtown area. Someone should be filing a lawsuit right about now...

[UNCMT9]

Originally Posted by blkhrt

Wait until they release The Kid and then buy that

But in all seriousness, you should think about whether you want one of the silent films or one of the non-silent ones. If you want a silent, maybe go with Modern Times. If you want a talkie, go for The Great Dictator. If you can't decide, get The Gold Rush, which has both.

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Modern Times is probably my favorite.

I owned The Gold Rush, Modern Times, and The Great Dictator all on DVD, I sold them a few months back to make room for the Blu-rays, and I finally bought the Blu-rays this past week. Looking forward to revisiting these three in style this weekend!

Originally Posted by deepbreathsanddeath

The Gold Rush or Modern Times would be the safest blind buys but all 4 currently released Chaplin BD's are great. I have all 4 and look forward to more hopefully coming in the near future.

Thanks for the response, folks. I'm leaning towards Modern Times for now. I keep coming back to The Great Dictator though..

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

If I can hightail it out of the office fast enough this afternoon, I plan to catch a showing of Pacific Rim on the way home. Maybe I should turn off my office phone a half hour before leaving, just in case.

Pacific Rim looks pretty fun to me. The kid in me who loved those old Japanese shows, like The Space Giants, Ultraman, Spectreman, and Voltron, is looking forward to this.

I've avoided the noisy CGI-heavy movies so far this summer, but I'll make an exception with this one.

Yeah, the effects are fantastic, even moving to a great degree. Trust me, you'll have chills when you see the Kaiju rising from the deep. The water effects are absolutely awe inspiring. Each time they move, a thick mist of droplets hovers just above their bodies. I actually want to see it again in 3D just for that...however, considering 95% of the movie takes place at night, 3D may not be the best route as I was squinting to make everything out last night.

Originally Posted by shortmartin

awesome, thanks, it opens in a week here and I'm psyched to go see it

Also, the film has its own kind of Godzilla/Damaijin "monster theme". It's not as prominent in the score as either (can't really even hum it right now), but it's there buried under the layers of guitar.

[bluesilo]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Also, the film has its own kind of Godzilla/Damaijin "monster theme". It's not as prominent in the score as either (can't really even hum it right now), but it's there buried under the layers of guitar.

Glad you enjoyed it Abdrewes. I saw it in IMAX 3D last night and loved the hell out of it myself. Most fun you can have at the theaters this summer. I'm really looking forward to Devil's Backbone since I haven't seen it yet and I've liked all of Del Toro's other films.

[UNCMT9]

Safety Last! gets two thumbs up from me. Just watched it. What a fun ride!

[shortmartin]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Yeah, the effects are fantastic, even moving to a great degree. Trust me, you'll have chills when you see the Kaiju rising from the deep. The water effects are absolutely awe inspiring. Each time they move, a thick mist of droplets hovers just above their bodies. I actually want to see it again in 3D just for that...however, considering 95% of the movie takes place at night, 3D may not be the best route as I was squinting to make everything out last night.

Also, the film has its own kind of Godzilla/Damaijin "monster theme". It's not as prominent in the score as either (can't really even hum it right now), but it's there buried under the layers of guitar.

sounds awesome. can't wait. I haven't really been following the media or reviews around the film, so this might be a silly question: is it set up to be a franchise, to have sequels? realizing this would of course also depend on its success, though I'm assuming it will do well. it seems like a Godzilla reboot that would do well in a franchise format . . . along the lines of a Hellboy maybe?

(okay, settle down shortmartin . . . see this first one first )

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by bluesilo

Glad you enjoyed it Abdrewes. I saw it in IMAX 3D last night and loved the hell out of it myself. Most fun you can have at the theaters this summer. I'm really looking forward to Devil's Backbone since I haven't seen it yet and I've liked all of Del Toro's other films.

Was it too dark? The one big flaw with the film is that it is all set at night. Being so visually preoccupied, I would have loved to have more day scenes, or just a daytime denouement. I know the setting it during stormy night nights lends it a simplistic metaphysical quality..but still.

Originally Posted by shortmartin

sounds awesome. can't wait. I haven't really been following the media or reviews around the film, so this might be a silly question: is it set up to be a franchise, to have sequels? realizing this would of course also depend on its success, though I'm assuming it will do well. it seems like a Godzilla reboot that would do well in a franchise format . . . along the lines of a Hellboy maybe?

(okay, settle down shortmartin . . . see this first one first )

It can become a franchise if it wants to as it sets up the possibility. If there are sequels, I hope there are more daytime battles. The designs are too great to be contained in darkened frames. Seriously, that's the one problem I have had with del Toro films. Hellboy II and Blade 2 would be close to perfect if they had a little more day (that's a bit unreasonable with Blade 2 as its a vampire flick.

I will say this, on a cinematographic level, it's not as impressive as his other films. Really good, but not great.

[RandyK]

Final list for B&N today:

Brazil
Godzilla
M
The Double Life of Veronique
Safety Last

Add that to seeing Pacific Rim in IMAX 3D and today should be a great day.