The Criterion Collection

[JHas]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Whenever I have a stack of multiple movies that are still unwatched, like on the days when I bring home a big haul from the store, I pick the film that I'm least enthusiastic to see at that particular moment, and watch it first.

I mean, I'm obviously enthused to see every film that I purchase, otherwise I wouldn't purchase it in the first place, but, whenever I have a stack of movies to watch, there are always some that ring my bells more than others. I put the ones that I'm the least enthused to see on top of the stack, and I move the ones that I am most excited to see to the back of the stack.

This helps in two regards...

1. I never have Blu-rays sitting around unwatched for long periods of time, because I'm always in a hurry to watch the ones at the top of the stack to get to the ones on the bottom of the stack that I'm especially fired up to see.

2. I always end up rediscovering the greatness of the films that I thought that I was the least enthused to see, or, if it's a first viewing of that movie, realizing that it's quite an awesome film.

That's a good idea I should put to use. All too often I go for the ones I most want to see, and I have a huge backlog of blu-rays I haven't watched yet.... Will put your theory to the test and see if I can get some shrinkwrap in the garbage!

[Beta Man]

Work, travels, and just the general "Nice Weather" have caused me to get a pretty hefty back-log in unwatched movies, mostly from the current, and prior sale.

I need a solid week of alone-time to try to burn through them, but that's not really an option! When I do get time, I find myself watching House of Cards, or Orange is the new Black, etc.... it seems like less of a time commitment, and before you know it, I've watched 4 episodes in a row

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

When I do get time, I find myself watching House of Cards, or Orange is the new Black, etc.... it seems like less of a time commitment, and before you know it, I've watched 4 episodes in a row

I've posted in the official thread but I'll add it here too...Orange is the New Black is, by far, my favorite series of this year

[starman15317]

Speaking of defects, what was wrong with initial pressings of Carlos? My local library has the DVD and I'm planning on renting it at some point.

[JHas]

Originally Posted by starman15317

Speaking of defects, what was wrong with initial pressings of Carlos? My local library has the DVD and I'm planning on renting it at some point.

I believe the 2nd disc had an audio issue where no sound played through the rear left speaker.

[The Great Owl]

After seeing The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp for the first time last night, I've been knocking the various themes and ideas around in my head like pool balls, and I cannot stop thinking about the movie. I'm still not quite sure how to cover everything, but I just know that this is a beautiful film. Here goes...



While I was watching Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's 1943 film, The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, for the first time last night, I kept thinking about the dynamics of friendship and aging, and about how friendships can endure and evolve over distance and time. Two childhood friends of mine, for instance, are still my best friends and, despite the fact that we all live in different places and only see one another every few years, our friendship is unwavering, and I would throw myself in front of traffic to help them if needed. I thought about the two high school reunions that I have attended. The 10-year reunion was fun, but slightly uncomfortable, because people were sizing one another up to see who had turned out to be the most successful or least successful. The 20-year reunion, on the other hand, was much more relaxed, because we were all genuinely happy to see one another and enjoyed spending the time together without comparing ourselves with others. I suppose that, as friends and acquaintances grow older, we are all just grateful that we all still have a pulse and are able to see one another to catch up on old times. Watching the interactions of the British career military official, Clive Wynne-Candy (Roger Livesey), and his German friend, Theo Kretschmar-Schuldorff (Anton Walbrook), as they encounter one another over three different time periods brought a smile to my face as I reflected on some similar interactions from my own life. There is a warmness to this depiction of friendship that I have rarely seen in a film.

The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp is a cinematic tour de force that introduces us to a blustery and aged Major General, with whom we would not readily sympathize, and transports us on a ride through this man's past so that we eventually understand him almost as well as we understand ourselves. Youthful vigor, arrogance, and naivety yield to the joy of new friendships laced with the regret of missed opportunities and lost love as Candy, a young officer in 1902, duels and then befriends Theo, who is faster to proclaim his affection for the beautiful Edith (Deborah Kerr) while Candy later realizes that he had strong feelings for her as well. The effect of these encounters ripples and reverberates over the years, as a World War I-era Candy marries a nurse (also played by Deborah Kerr) who reminds him of Edith, and finds his adherence to civilized values challenged when sharing his hopeful optimism with Theo. The story comes to a full-circle close during World War II, as the weathered Major General Candy reflects on the nature of civilized values, love, and tolerance with the help of Theo and a driver (played by Deborah Kerr in a third role). The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp opens with a scene of motorcycles traveling across the countryside to give us an impression of speed and energy, but closes with the image of a leaf floating tranquilly on water.

The above synopsis may give the impression that The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp is a long-winded and weighty examination of values over one's life, but the film is actually a fast-paced and often lighthearted journey that throws just the right amount of good-natured humor and effective camera tricks into the fold. An offbeat depiction of time passage, where the years of Candy's life hurriedly pass to the sound of gunshots and the appearance of new hunting trophies on a wall, accelerates us to each significant stepping stone of his story. At the same time, The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp has its share of heartbreak and empathy. A scene where Theo is outlining his life events in the face of the rise of Nazism to an immigration officer is one of the most poignant movie moments that I have ever witnessed.

The final result is a movie that will alternately make you smile and bring tears to your eyes, in the same way that a life well-lived is remembered with a range of emotions. I regret not seeing The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp years earlier, but I am also inclined to believe that I saw it at just the right time in my middle age for me to appreciate it with a maximum effect.

As presented by this Criterion Blu-ray, The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp is one of the best-looking films that I have ever seen. The brilliance of Technicolor has rarely been conveyed this superbly to a home viewing format. I am also impressed with the supplements that I watched last night. Since I love watching Martin Scorsese wax his enthusiasm about his favorite films, his introduction to this movie is the perfect touch.

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

I've posted in the official thread but I'll add it here too...Orange is the New Black is, by far, my favorite series of this year

I'm going to start it tonight after I finish the final episode of The Wire. I'm very excited based on all the reactions I've seen.

[The Great Owl]

I'm becoming spoiled from all of the cinematic awesomeness that I've been watching over the past few weeks with these Criterion titles.

Maybe I should scale back tonight to watch Tara Reid in Sharknado or Debbie Gibson and Tiffany in Mega Python vs. Gatoroid.

No, I think that I'll watch Bigger Than Life tonight and see how long I can keep up this good streak.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Kbg1292

For those of you who have sent in the white disc from the Three Colors Trilogy for replacement, how long did it take for you to get the new disc? I mailed mine out over a week ago and haven't received any kind of response. I'm really hoping it didn't get lost in the mail.

I sent in my flawed White disc about 2 months ago and it took them just over 3 weeks to return with my replacement disc. I also sent in the second disc of Carlos as well and that was included as well. But it did take well over a month until I received my gift certificate credit on the Criterion.com website. Instead of $20, they increased it to $25 (probably because I had to email Mr. Mulvaney about an "update").

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Whenever I have a stack of multiple movies that are still unwatched, like on the days when I bring home a big haul from the store, I pick the film that I'm least enthusiastic to see at that particular moment, and watch it first.

I mean, I'm obviously enthused to see every film that I purchase, otherwise I wouldn't purchase it in the first place, but, whenever I have a stack of movies to watch, there are always some that ring my bells more than others. I put the ones that I'm the least enthused to see on top of the stack, and I move the ones that I am most excited to see to the back of the stack.

This helps in two regards...

1. I never have Blu-rays sitting around unwatched for long periods of time, because I'm always in a hurry to watch the ones at the top of the stack to get to the ones on the bottom of the stack that I'm especially fired up to see.

2. I always end up rediscovering the greatness of the films that I thought that I was the least enthused to see, or, if it's a first viewing of that movie, realizing that it's quite an awesome film.

Good idea, never thought of using that sort of strategy. I usually end up doing the opposite, by watching my least enthusiastic purchases last and the ones I want to see first. I'll try reversing this methodology and see what happens.

[the sordid sentinel]

Grabbed On The Waterfront, Wild Strawberries and Badlands from B&N. That order pushed me over 300 Blus. Unreal. SO glad B&N does these sales..already can't wait until Nov. Looking fwd. to giving these a spin after arrival.

[starman15317]

Originally Posted by JHas

I believe the 2nd disc had an audio issue where no sound played through the rear left speaker.

Well that shouldn't be a problem when I rent it since it is just the DVD that my library has and I don't have a nice surround sound setup or anything.

[starman15317]

I'm about to watch Seven Samurai for the first time. I've seen the first thirty minutes before but, admittedly, I had trouble getting through it when I first tried a while ago, but I was not really experienced with art house films yet. Looking forward to it!

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by starman15317

I'm about to watch Seven Samurai for the first time. I've seen the first thirty minutes before but, admittedly, I had trouble getting through it when I first tried a while ago, but I was not really experienced with art house films yet. Looking forward to it!

I have a good feeling about this I need to show it to my younger brother one of these days...after Harakiri of course

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by starman15317

I'm about to watch Seven Samurai for the first time. I've seen the first thirty minutes before but, admittedly, I had trouble getting through it when I first tried a while ago, but I was not really experienced with art house films yet. Looking forward to it!

When I first saw Seven Samurai, I watched it on the original Criterion DVD version from way back when. The picture quality of the current Blu-ray is so much better than it's not even funny. When I revisited the film back in December, via the Blu-ray, I was fascinated the whole time at how much more awesome the movie looked compared to that old DVD.

[starman15317]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

When I first saw Seven Samurai, I watched it on the original Criterion DVD version from way back when. The picture quality of the current Blu-ray is so much better than it's not even funny. When I revisited the film back in December, via the Blu-ray, I was fascinated the whole time at how much more awesome the movie looked compared to that old DVD.

Yeah, I've actually seen some of that DVD and its rough. I'm actually watching the Essential Art House DVD since I rented it from Netflix (they don't have the Blu-Ray!) and even this DVD looks so much better.

[Yojimbo]

I picked up my reserved copy of Devil's Backbone at Barnes and Nobles today, so it is definitely being sold in stores. When I reserved it last week, I caught a glimpse of their computer, which showed only one copy on order for the store itself.

[dannyfriar]

Either B&N underestimated the popularity of this title, or, they are doing it on purpose so that more people will order online, and can't use a coupon.

[The Great Owl]

I was going through my remaining DVDs yesterday, and found myself wondering about the possibility of Criterion ever releasing Le Combat Dans L'île (Fire and Ice).



This 1962 movie stars Jean-Louis Trintignant (Three Colors: Red, Amore, The Conformist), Henri Serre (Jules and Jim), and the beautiful Romy Schneider, and tells the story of a love triangle that develops after an assassination gone wrong.

It's a cool bit of French New Wave that was released on this DVD a few years back, but would be good for a bigger audience. Nothing on the level of Melville, but still very much worth seeing.

Has anyone else seen this? Pro-B? Anybody?

[ccg1978]

Originally Posted by Yojimbo

I picked up my reserved copy of Devil's Backbone at Barnes and Nobles today, so it is definitely being sold in stores. When I reserved it last week, I caught a glimpse of their computer, which showed only one copy on order for the store itself.

Nice, Amazon doesn't ship till next week Hope to see a review on the PQ ect soon!

[jw007]

Abdrewes:

You da man! I just received your package today. The Blu-rays look great. Looking forward to watching these movies. I am going to give you positive feedback as a trader now.