The Criterion Collection

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Ha! I'll defend John Carter to the grave. I love that Blu-ray.

I need to see World on a Wire and Gamer one of these days.

(Fixed)

I own the BD, still haven't revisited it. The final act left much to be desired.

[The Bronx Bull]

Originally Posted by bluesilo

This might be the first time in a while I've had two misses in a row with my Criterion buys.

Finished Medium Cool and then half way through Life and Death and just don't care for either of them very much. It's a damn shame too since I really enjoy Black Narcissus and Red Shoes.

Most definitely finish The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp. I thought that film was amazing the way it spans several generations, and the showcases the lifelong friendship of two of the main characters. The way that film unfolded for me was almost surreal: they show us a curmudgeon of a character in the very first scene, and leaves us wondering "Why is he like that?" and "Is this guy supposed to be the main protagonist in this film?" Then, over the course of the next few hours, we learn all about this man, his life experiences, his pathway to success, and then by the final quarter of the film, the first scene simply clicks and we go "ahhhhhh."

[UNCMT9]

What's a good P&P film to get started with ? Blimp, The Red Shoes, or Black Narcissus?

[mrjohnnyb]

Has anybody here viewed the region-free Le Samouraï Blu-ray by Fox Pathe Europa? It is currently going for a good price, but there is no review.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by UNCMT9

What's a good P&P film to get started with ? Blimp, The Red Shoes, or Black Narcissus?

I say Black Narcissus. At a lean 1 hour and 40 minutes of technicolor wonder, it's a must.

The best P&P starting point will always be A Matter of Life and Death though.

[Mansinthe]

Originally Posted by James78

Here are some screen shots:

http://www.ecranlarge.com/forum/showthread.php?t=874371

looks like a upscaled DNR DVD master

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by mrjohnnyb

Has anybody here viewed the region-free Le Samouraï Blu-ray by Fox Pathe Europa? It is currently going for a good price, but there is no review.

Le Samouraï is my all-time favorite movie, but I've heard some questionable things about the Fox Pathe Europa release (see the screenshots response above by James78).

I'm holding tight to my Criterion DVD, which looks great, and keeping my fingers crossed for a good Criterion Blu-ray upgrade in the near future.

Le Samouraï is a popular Criterion title, so I'm inclined to believe that they won't cut corners with an upgrade.

[nametag]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I say Black Narcissus. At a lean 1 hour and 40 minutes of technicolor wonder, it's a must.

The best P&P starting point will always be A Matter of Life and Death though.

Agreed. Shorter than the other CC BD options but still absolutely gorgeous and a pretty thrilling, melodramatic (in a good way) final act. It's narratively the most straightforward but still had interesting stuff to say about religious repression, British colonialism, and, to use a rather pretentious phrase, the sublimity of nature. Probably my fave P&P.

After that, between Red Shoes and Colonel Blimp it might depend on your tastes. I think Blimp is the overall stronger film, more consistent and emotionally engaging. After the (admittedly spectacular) ballet sequence in Red Shoes I feel that one loses steam a bit and I felt the romance in it was slightly contrived.

[bluesilo]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I too was a bit cold on Medium Cool, but "Blimp" blew me away when I caught it a while back on TCM.

Have you seen A Matter of Life and Death? That one may be more up your alley.

I've read everyone else's responses this one was just the easiest to quote.

Okay I'll stick with Blimp. I really expected to be completely sucked in, but it hasn't clicked yet. I haven't seen 'A Matter of Life and Death'. What's the best available copy I could look into?

I don't know about Medium Cool. I thought the most interesting part of the entire film was the last twenty minutes. Otherwise its reminds of countless similar films.

[bluesilo]

Originally Posted by nametag

...after the (admittedly spectacular) ballet sequence in Red Shoes I feel that one loses steam a bit and I felt the romance in it was slightly contrived.

People always are quick to announce Red Shoes as a classic, but that romance didn't feel organic at all. It makes a great film study with Repulsion though to see how Black Swan borrows from both those movies.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by bluesilo

I've read everyone else's responses this one was just the easiest to quote.

Okay I'll stick with Blimp. I really expected to be completely sucked in, but it hasn't clicked yet. I haven't seen 'A Matter of Life and Death'. What's the best available copy I could look into?

I don't know about Medium Cool. I thought the most interesting part of the entire film was the last twenty minutes. Otherwise its reminds of countless similar films.

The most interesting part was the opening of Medium cool: the wide angle lenses put me in a trance.

TCM shows A Matter of Life and Death often. I really will be surprised if you don't love it even more than the other two P&P's you've seen. However, I don't want to hype it up too much if you are gonna wait it out until it hits BluRay.

[Musicguy]

Originally Posted by bluesilo

I've read everyone else's responses this one was just the easiest to quote.

Okay I'll stick with Blimp. I really expected to be completely sucked in, but it hasn't clicked yet. I haven't seen 'A Matter of Life and Death'. What's the best available copy I could look into?

I don't know about Medium Cool. I thought the most interesting part of the entire film was the last twenty minutes. Otherwise its reminds of countless similar films.

The Sony DVD of "A Matter of Life and Death" is the best available to date. I think it's their best film (of course it's the one not on Blu-ray yet)

I love "Colonel Blimp" but you really need to watch the whole thing to get the feel of the film - it's pretty long - but well worth it.

[The Great Owl]

I thought that Black Narcissus was a spectacular movie in every way when I saw it last weekend, and I went into The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp thinking that it could not possibly top the other film. I was wrong. I mean, both films are top-notch Criterions, but The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp resonated with me more at this point in my life.

The Red Shoes was always one of those Criterion titles that I never paid much attention to when I saw it in stores. Now that I've seen Black Narcissus and Colonel Blimp, however, I'm compelled to check out The Red Shoes in the not-too-distant future.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I thought that Black Narcissus was a spectacular movie in every way when I saw it last weekend, and I went into The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp thinking that it could not possibly top the other film. I was wrong. I mean, both films are top-notch Criterions, but The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp resonated with me more at this point in my life.

You really like films that touch on war, politics, and world events, don't cha?

[UNCMT9]

Maybe I should just pick up Blimp and Black Narcissus..?

[starman15317]

Just got done watching Band of Outsiders. I did find it a little more tolerable than the other Godard films I've seen, but overall, he is just not for me. But without Godard, there would be no Tarantino, so I guess I appreciate Godard.

Btw, I forgot that this is the film where Tarantino took his production company's name from (A Band Apart).

[The Great Owl]

I just saw Alfred Hitchcock's Topaz for the first time, and I am floored at how good this movie is. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, and I loved how this movie reminded me of the Criterion titles, Melville's Army of Shadows and Martin Ritt's The Spy Who Came In From the Cold. More than anything else, though, Topaz reminded me of pre-Hollywood Hitchcock, and it seemed like a throwback to The 39 Steps. Topaz also had a European feel to it that I enjoyed, thanks to the inclusion of many prominent French actors. Topaz also reminded me of the early James Bond films, and I loved seeing the amazing Karin Dor (You Only Live Twice). Great great film! I cannot believe that I went so long without seeing this one, because it belongs with the top tier Hitchcock.

Keeping this topic threadworthy, aside from the above mentions, when do y'all think that we're going to get Hitchcock's Foreign Correspondent released in the Collection?

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

You really like films that touch on war, politics, and world events, don't cha?

I suppose that I just proved your point.

I also saw Hitchcock's Family Plot for the first time today, and, while I would not rank it on the same level, I did thoroughly enjoy it. The movie is a riot, and it had some trademark Hitchcock camera perspectives (the crane shot in the cemetery after a funeral, etc.). I'll definitely be revisiting this one often.

Onward to Torn Curtain...

[Namuhana]

I'm the worst decision maker ever, so I was wondering whether or not anyone could help me. I'm planning on getting a couple of Blu-rays during the next B&N sale, and I was wondering if anyone could help choose five or so titles from the following list. I've seen all of them except for Sweet Smell of Success and Videodrome, but they both look like great titles.

Seven Samurai (2)
The Lady Vanishes (3)
M (30)
Lord of the Flies (43)
Autumn Sonata (60)
Orpheus (68)
Wild Strawberries (139)
Band of Outsiders (174)
Videodrome (248)
Eyes Without a Face (260)
The Double Life of Véronique (359)
Repulsion (438)
Bottle Rocket (450)
The Secret of the Grain (527)
The Magician (537)
The Darjeeling Limited (540)
Antichrist (542)
Modern Times (543)
Cronos (551)
Sweet Smell of Success (555)
12 Angry Men (591)
Tiny Furniture (597)
Anatomy of a Murder (600)
Summer with Monika (614)
The Gold Rush (615)
Eating Raoul (625)
Rosemary’s Baby (630)
The Man Who Knew Too Much (643)
On the Waterfront (647)
Safety Last! (662)

Any favorites/suggestions?

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Namuhana

I'm the worst decision maker ever, so I was wondering whether or not anyone could help me. I'm planning on getting a couple of Blu-rays during the next B&N sale, and I was wondering if anyone could help choose five or so titles from the following list. I've seen all of them except for Sweet Smell of Success and Videodrome, but they both look like great titles.

Seven Samurai (2)
The Lady Vanishes (3)
M (30)
Lord of the Flies (43)
Autumn Sonata (60)
Orpheus (68)
Wild Strawberries (139)
Band of Outsiders (174)
Videodrome (248)
Eyes Without a Face (260)
The Double Life of Véronique (359)
Repulsion (438)
Bottle Rocket (450)
The Secret of the Grain (527)
The Magician (537)
The Darjeeling Limited (540)
Antichrist (542)
Modern Times (543)
Cronos (551)
Sweet Smell of Success (555)
12 Angry Men (591)
Tiny Furniture (597)
Anatomy of a Murder (600)
Summer with Monika (614)
The Gold Rush (615)
Eating Raoul (625)
Rosemary’s Baby (630)
The Man Who Knew Too Much (643)
On the Waterfront (647)
Safety Last! (662)

Any favorites/suggestions?

12 Angry Men
Double Life of Veronique
Lady Vanishes
On The Waterfront
Repulsion

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Namuhana

I'm the worst decision maker ever, so I was wondering whether or not anyone could help me. I'm planning on getting a couple of Blu-rays during the next B&N sale, and I was wondering if anyone could help choose five or so titles from the following list. I've seen all of them except for Sweet Smell of Success and Videodrome, but they both look like great titles.

Seven Samurai (2)
The Lady Vanishes (3)
M (30)
Lord of the Flies (43)
Autumn Sonata (60)
Orpheus (68)
Wild Strawberries (139)
Band of Outsiders (174)
Videodrome (248)
Eyes Without a Face (260)
The Double Life of Véronique (359)
Repulsion (438)
Bottle Rocket (450)
The Secret of the Grain (527)
The Magician (537)
The Darjeeling Limited (540)
Antichrist (542)
Modern Times (543)
Cronos (551)
Sweet Smell of Success (555)
12 Angry Men (591)
Tiny Furniture (597)
Anatomy of a Murder (600)
Summer with Monika (614)
The Gold Rush (615)
Eating Raoul (625)
Rosemary’s Baby (630)
The Man Who Knew Too Much (643)
On the Waterfront (647)
Safety Last! (662)

Any favorites/suggestions?

These.

Do you own Red Desert or Solaris? Those are my two favorites in the collection.