The Criterion Collection

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Thebunk

Agreed on all counts.

Getting back to the Three Colors though, I am shocked it is not championed more as a great blindbuy or as a place to start for those looking to get into the Criterion Collection. Outside of the normal modern English speaking films in the collection (I.e. Fear and Loathing, Dazed and Confused, etc) I think it truly does showcase what lies within the collection and kind of accessible as well.

Anyway great set of films that in my mind are still very under appreciated and still get overshadowed by the traditional masters within the collection.

Yes, it is probably because the trilogy is offered as a single set priced at $79.99 (MSRP), that wards off consumers at first. It is daunting to blind-buy something at that price (unless its during the 40 or 50% off sales). The films though are indeed accessible and most people would enjoy them. I wish family members of mine would see these films. Since my own mother and siblings will not watch anything if there is sex or nudity in the film (they basically watch only PG or PG-13 movies), it will be difficult to convince them to see this. I believe that is all part of the human condition and some films do a great job showing the full spectrum and Three Colors is no exception.

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I sincerely hope they do. It's one of the most unforgettable films of the 2000's.

I love The 25th Hour. I'm still perplexed as to why this film isn't available on Blu-ray yet anywhere in the world!

[dannyfriar]

Originally Posted by oildude

Even better, why not post and discuss it in the Hitchcock Masterpiece Collection thread. I sure wouldn't come to the Criterion thread if I wanted to discuss the Hitchcock box set. Just sayin'.

I didn't realise there was a specific thread for that. I'll have to look for it.

[The Great Owl]

I revisited Three Colors: White last night, seeing it on Blu-ray for the first time.

I love how The Double Life of Veronique and each of the Three Colors movies have entirely different looks to them, due the use of multiple cinematographers (The two Sławomir Idziak works even look quite different.) and varying approaches. White has always seemed to have noticeably more grain than the other pictures, but I really love the style and look of it that is comparably rough around the edges (since the Poland depicted in the film is quite rough around the edges).

White is my least favorite of the three films, but I still adore it. It's fun to watch Karol worm his way through the movie, sliding under and around corners. Julie Delpy is captivating as Dominique. Actually, Delpy is always captivating, and the fact that she somehow seems to become even more beautiful with age always astounds me.

I'll hopefully write something more cohesive when I submit a user review for the entire Three Colors box set later on.

Sort of an aside thought...
Here in America, we pretty much suck at recycling and we suck at the notion of environmental awareness in general, but our recycling bins are at least accessible to elderly people and handicapped people. We've got that much going for us.

[Abdrewes]

JW, I'm sorry you didn't enjoy Essential Killing more than you did. I was really entranced by the dialogue free, pared down nature of it.

Re: 25th Hour, it's a film that has only grown in stature over time. I consider it one of the defining films of the "Oughts". The fantasy sequence and the bathroom monologue rank among the most powerful moments in Spike Lee's career.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

JW, I'm sorry you didn't enjoy Essential Killing more than you did. I was really entranced by the dialogue free, pared down nature of it.

Re: 25th Hour, it's a film that has only grown in stature over time. I consider it one of the defining films of the "Oughts". The fantasy sequence and the bathroom monologue rank among the most powerful moments in Spike Lee's career.

Essential Killing isn't a bad movie at all. It DID keep me on the edge of my seat for a good amount of time in fact. I guess I find it to be merely a good movie rather than a great movie. I understand the dialogue-free technique can sometimes work, which it did here. I guess I'm just more into dialogue than dialogue-free films. The director though is a genius.

25th Hour is a work of art though.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by jw007

Essential Killing isn't a bad movie at all. It DID keep me on the edge of my seat for a good amount of time in fact. I guess I find it to be merely a good movie rather than a great movie. I understand the dialogue-free technique can sometimes work, which it did here. I guess I'm just more into dialogue than dialogue-free films. The director though is a genius.

25th Hour is a work of art though.

Fair enough. Do you think it will have decent replay value for you?

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Fair enough. Do you think it will have decent replay value for you?

It is possible. I will watch it again probably...its a shame the supplements don't run on my Blu-ray player. Those region-free players are like $250+ so I can't really afford those. I'd rather have a great Region A player than a mediocre Region-free player that plays all types of releases, ya know?

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by jw007

It is possible. I will watch it again probably...its a shame the supplements don't run on my Blu-ray player. Those region-free players are like $250+ so I can't really afford those. I'd rather have a great Region A player than a mediocre Region-free player that plays all types of releases, ya know?

That's what sucks about those Region Free Artificial Eye titles. The extras don't work

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

That's what sucks about those Region Free Artificial Eye titles. The extras don't work

Yeah! and that was like my first Artificial Eye release too! I noticed they have a special design like Criterion, although the spine design doesn't always match up well on a shelf. A bit inconsistent if you ask me. I guess Artificial Eye is the British version for Criterion (unless that is, Masters of Cinema is?). Oh well.

What kind of Blu-ray player do you have? I have an older Sony BDP-S580 (bought in 2011 @ Costco).

I hear the Sony BDP-S5100 is the best consumer BD player out there. (I don't have $500 to drop for a high end OPPO player though).

[Abdrewes]

I have a 2010 Sony. Not sure of the model.

I am having trouble with a few Lionsgate titles, I hope it's just a matter of updating it.

[shortmartin]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I thought it was a very entertaining movie. I know many people don't find the story he tells about treating his Macular Pucker all that interesting, but I was hooked throughout. It was an oddly life affirming watch. I don't know how much Spalding made up, but I was quite mesmerized that This man could retain so many quotidian details. And Everything Is Going to be Fine is a much stronger film, but it is also radically different in form. Overall the two make a very nice pair.

Unrelated, but I wanted to give a shout out to Fruitvale Station. It owes alot to the realism of the Dardennes and Ramin Bahrani, and is a very worthy effort. Probably the best 2013 release I have seen thus far. It's very emotionally engaging, yet brutally honest and without an ounce of fat...well except for the dog scene and one poor movie reference (WallE was released in 2008 not 2007). It's one of the indies to see this summer.

cool, i was just asking because i love And Everything, but for some reason couldn't get into Gray's, it felt more forced, and that his monologue style had changed into something a bit too precious for me.

I'll have to check out Fruitvale, sounds incredible.

[shortmartin]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I was very reminded of The 25th Hour in terms of structure and even tone, to a degree. Do yourself a favor and see that Spike Lee film if you haven't already. I promise you that the film will contain several sequences that you will never forget, most notably the fantasy sequence at the end.

the 25th hour is a movie I keep returning to because it is just that good, and lots of nuance. one interesting aspect - wondering what you think - as much as i like PS Hoffman, and as much as he adds to the film, i felt like the casting decision was a bit off given that some of the loner/pervy character that he played in Happiness inevitably carries over into his role in 25th, where there are also potent issues of sexual creepiness and desperation surrounding his character.

[Mansinthe]

Originally Posted by jw007

What kind of Blu-ray player do you have? I have an older Sony BDP-S580 (bought in 2011 @ Costco).

thats cuz most region a US players are ntsc locked, so they dont play pal content (50hz), its possible to unlock a lot of these players with a custom firmware and make them region free as well.

HK does use the pal system and Region A locking, so these players play region A content and pal stuff. all region Free players do that as well.

but unlocking a player might cuz damage over some time or end up in freezes on some discs.

im currently using a panasonic bdt 210 region A and a bdt 110 region B player. its a little cheaper compared to a region free player but im still not able to play Region A HK discs with pal content. but thats so far only 1 bluray out of 600....

[benbess]

Really impressed by the new Heaven's Gate transfer. A very solid film with a lot of artistry in it imho. Yes, it's long and slow, but I think of it as more like a big budget miniseries Western, kinda like Lonesome Dove (which is another one of my favorite Westerns).

[Scottie]

I would not mind some Atom Egoyan in the Collection.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I would not mind some Atom Egoyan in the Collection.

Wait a second...you sold me The Sweet Hereafter a month ago!

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Wait a second...you sold me The Sweet Hereafter a month ago!

But I just watched Exotica and loved it!

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by shortmartin

the 25th hour is a movie I keep returning to because it is just that good, and lots of nuance. one interesting aspect - wondering what you think - as much as i like PS Hoffman, and as much as he adds to the film, i felt like the casting decision was a bit off given that some of the loner/pervy character that he played in Happiness inevitably carries over into his role in 25th, where there are also potent issues of sexual creepiness and desperation surrounding his character.

It may have carried over a bit...but considering I have seen him in a whole bunch of contrasting roles, it didn't detract too much.

Have you seen Owning Mahowny by the way? That's another PSH film that would make a decent fit in the Criterion Collection.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by iScottie

But I just watched Exotica and loved it!

Nice!

Definitely try to see The Sweet Hereafter too. Such a devastating movie.

I also wouldn't mind seeing Where the Truth Lies in the Collection, but I may be alone on that front.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Nice!

Definitely try to see The Sweet Hereafter too. Such a devastating movie.

I also wouldn't mind seeing Where the Truth Lies in the Collection, but I may be alone on that front.

I wouldn't either, even though I haven't seen it. I started watching it a while back, but I ended up shutting it off. I'm not quite sure why.

While the Alliance release of Exotica is great, I wouldn't mind seeing it in the Collection.