The Criterion Collection

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by repulsed

i went a little crazy this sale and more than doubled my criterion dvd/blurays
and was excited to finally pick up La Strada. just watched it the other day.
i was curious if this is considered his best film
or i'd like to at least hear some opinion of members on here
as to what they would rank as top movies of his

I would rank La Strada as top-tier Fellini. it's certainly one of his best. Great performances, especially Giulietta Masina and the Niño Rota score is terrific.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by starman15317

I just watched 8 1/2 last night for the first time and enjoyed it quite a bit. I also saw La Dolce Vita for the first time recently and liked it, possibly even more than 8 1/2.

Those are both spectacular films. 8 1/2 is one of the most marvelous Criterion transfers in terms of picture quality.

My favorite Fellini film, I Vitelloni, needs to be upgraded to Blu-ray. The existing Criterion DVD is quite nice, but could use some improvement.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Welcome to the site Repulsed.

Personally, 8 1/2 and La Dolce Vita tower over the other Fellini films I have seen. They were both made when he found his way as a visual artist, yet hadn't succumb to indulgence (Satyricon).

And Amarcord, being the one "in between", is considered the most all-encompassing starting point.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

I would rank La Strada as top-tier Fellini. it's certainly one of his best. Great performances, especially Giulietta Masina and the Niño Rota score is terrific.

Nino Rota never phoned in his scores.

[The Great Owl]

My revisiting of Lord of the Flies by way of this new Blu-ray got me pumped up about watching my Olive Films Blu-ray of Sands of the Kalahari this week.

I have the Olive Blu-rays of The Enforcer, The Quiet Man, and Sands of the Kalahari in my stack to watch now that I'm finished going through my recent Criterion purchases (but will be purchasing more this week). I'll be saving Sands of the Kalahari for last to keep the excitement up.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by EricJ

And Amarcord, being the one "in between", is considered the most all-encompassing starting point.

That's maybe where Fellini's films started to get a bit too indulgent for my liking (this coming from the guy who considers Lola Montes of of the finest in the collection too). The film was definitely effective though, so ultimately I feel I'm more in the wrong than Fellini.

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Feel-good movies in the Criterion Collection?

Off the top of my head...

Sullivan's Travels
Safety Last!
Modern Times
Fanny and Alexander
One Wonderful Sunday
Charade
The 39 Steps
12 Angry Men
Dazed and Confused
The Blob

I just finished revisiting Island of Lost Souls. No matter how terrible my life circumstances seem at any given time, I'm always thankful that I'm not being tortured in the House of Pain. It's always great to have something like that to fall back on when I'm having a bad day. So, yes, Island of Lost Souls is a feel-good movie.

You find Fanny and Alexander to be a feel good movie? It's incredibly devastating and upsetting!

[Show spoiler]Even the 'life affirming' ending has an upsetting twist...

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

You find Fanny and Alexander to be a feel good movie? It's incredibly devastating and upsetting!

[Show spoiler]Even the 'life affirming' ending has an upsetting twist...

Fanny and Alexander is an emotional rollercoaster of a film, but key images and sequences always put a smile on my face. It's still one of my favorite cinematic depictions of a Christmas celebration. The movie's later scenes vary in impact, but the end result makes me feel good.

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Fanny and Alexander is an emotional rollercoaster of a film, but key images and sequences always put a smile on my face. It's still one of my favorite cinematic depictions of a Christmas celebration. The movie's later scenes vary in impact, but the end result makes me feel good.

Fair enough, I can't argue how a film makes you feel, but I would be surprised if many people would argue it was a feelgood film.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

Fair enough, I can't argue how a film makes you feel, but I would be surprised if many people would argue it was a feelgood film.

I'm with you man. It's certainly a film with a broad range of emotions, but there are only a few light moments. It's no Zazie dans Le Metro, that's for sure.

[starman15317]

In a weird way, Schindler's List is a feel good film despite the terrible things that happen in it.

I've been wanting to see Fanny and Alexander. The only Bergmans I've seen are The Seventh Seal and Wild Strawberries, so should I watch Fanny and Alexander next?


Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk 2

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by starman15317

In a weird way, Schindler's List is a feel good film despite the terrible things that happen in it.

I've been wanting to see Fanny and Alexander. The only Bergmans I've seen are The Seventh Seal and Wild Strawberries, so should I watch Fanny and Alexander next?


Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk 2

I suggest trying to go chronological with his films. There's definitely an arc there.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

Fair enough, I can't argue how a film makes you feel, but I would be surprised if many people would argue it was a feelgood film.

I did a double-take at feel good too but I totally understand what he's saying about the early acts. I've compared that section to A Christmas Story. It really does have the same sort of warmth.

[Blu-Velvet]

Originally Posted by starman15317

I've been wanting to see Fanny and Alexander. The only Bergmans I've seen are The Seventh Seal and Wild Strawberries, so should I watch Fanny and Alexander next?

I'd say go for it! I think that those three are the most accessible Bergman films and appeal to the widest audiences, although individuals may be turned off by any one or another for various reasons. Those and SMILES OF A SUMMER NIGHT are probably my favorite Bergmans, although I also like his more experimental and enigmatic PERSONA quite a bit.

[DeadEyesSmiling]

Seeing as how it's going to be re-released at some point with a new restoration, is there any point to tracking down the OOP version of Playtime? When it gets re-released, it'll still have the old spine number and most likely the same features, right? Thanks!

-DES

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by starman15317

In a weird way, Schindler's List is a feel good film despite the terrible things that happen in it.

I've been wanting to see Fanny and Alexander. The only Bergmans I've seen are The Seventh Seal and Wild Strawberries, so should I watch Fanny and Alexander next?

I haven't seen The Seventh Seal yet, but my understanding is, if you've watched that, you've already dived into the deep end of the pool, so you might as well swim around.

Fanny and Alexander is excellent - One of my favourites in the collection so far.

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by octagon

I did a double-take at feel good too but I totally understand what he's saying about the early acts. I've compared that section to A Christmas Story. It really does have the same sort of warmth.

For sure the highs are incredibly high. A wonderful film, I'd just hate for someone to blind buy it thinking it's a 'feelgood' film.

Of course, if they shut it off after the first hour or so, it's a wonderfully feelgood film.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by DeadEyesSmiling

Seeing as how it's going to be re-released at some point with a new restoration, is there any point to tracking down the OOP version of Playtime? When it gets re-released, it'll still have the old spine number and most likely the same features, right? Thanks!

-DES

Yes..but if it's part of a boxed set, you'd still end up with two copies.

[Rich Pure Doom]

Originally Posted by DeadEyesSmiling

Seeing as how it's going to be re-released at some point with a new restoration, is there any point to tracking down the OOP version of Playtime? When it gets re-released, it'll still have the old spine number and most likely the same features, right? Thanks!

-DES

Is this why it went OOP? Did Criterion lose the rights or are they just re-releasing it later on?

[shamus]

Hey guys/gals... looking for a little help.

I'm headed to Barnes&Nobles this week to pick up Devils Backbone. While I'm there, I thought I might pick up a few more titles.

These are all blind buys and kinda interest me:

charade
breathless
diabolique
m
8 1/2
safety last
lord of the flies
the seventh seal
robinson crusoe on mars

Unfortunately, I can't afford them all and would love some help weeding through. As a reference, I'm rather new to these more "artsy" films, but really enjoyed Island of Lost Souls, 39 steps, Blob, Cronos, The Grapes of Wrath, 12 Angry men and To Kill a Mockingbird.

Maybe list your top 5 if your interested...

Thanks!