The Criterion Collection - Page 3955 - Blu-ray Forum

UNCMT9 · 08-01-2013, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmarvin

Saw Seven Samurai for the first time last night in my film history class. I really wasn't willing to give older foreign flicks much of chance...until I saw that bad boy. Pretty damn good movie. Now I must have me the Criterion BD! I've been tempted to blind buy Rashomon for months now, but now I will definitely be doing that after having my first taste of Kurosawa.

We watched a NON-Criterion DVD of Seven Samurai in class, by the way. Pretty rough condition. I'm hoping the Criterion BD is like 10 notches up.

Seven Samurai and Yojimbo inspired a lot of Westerns and modern day films. A staple for any true film buff!

The Great Owl · 08-01-2013, 02:46 PM

A few words about my latest enjoyable Criterion purchase and last night's viewing...

Nobody can accuse director Michelangelo Antonioni of heavy-handed emotional manipulation. A cursory look at the film title and the cover art for this Criterion Blu-ray of Antonioni's 1982 film, Identification of a Woman, does not suggest an overabundance of Rocky Balboa theme music or a buildup to a grandly cathartic heartwarming payoff, and, in this case, there is truth in advertising. In Antonioni's cinematic landscapes, characters are alive, healthy, and attractive, but they often wander through their lives with the same somnambulistic blankness that one might associate with the pod people in Invasion of the Body Snatchers. In the rare instances when a character does have an outburst or an open display of emotion in an Antonioni film, the surrounding characters usually respond with patronizing politeness or evasive suspicion. Antonioni's characters seem to be in a constant state of isolated meditation about their place in the world, and the generous space provided to them by empty city streets and vast openness grants them freedom in their reflections.

My above paragraph makes Identification of a Woman seem like a bleak film, but I would not define it as such. It's merely a clinical film, as the title suggests, that examines the predicament of its fictional Italian film director in an honest and strangely objective manner, as though we are studying him under a microscope. Niccolo (Tomas Milian) attempts to fill the emotional void of a divorce by searching for an ideal woman for a film with a concentration on certain aspects of the female face and physique without regarding the whole of a person. His relationships along the way, with the gorgeously sophisticated, but evasive Mavi (Daniela Silverio) and the openly inviting Ida (Christine Boisson), are ultimately unfulfilling when the unpredictable natures of these women do not necessarily click with his expectations of them, and he is left, both figuratively and literally, searching through fog. Characters are either framed in doorways or viewed from the side with some of the most uniquely beautiful camera perspectives that I have seen in recent memory. A shot of Mavi looking up from a stone spiral staircase is one for the ages, as is a shot from behind as Mavi looks down at the street at Niccolo from her window.

Identification of a Woman has an aura of detached "softcore Euro-sleeze" about it, and, like the early 1980s fashions and styles of many of its characters, the narrative is both seductive and unattainable. As I watched this film last night, I was reminded of the early music videos of Duran Duran that portrayed lavishly dressed band members jet-setting around lovely women on beautiful beaches and ancient rock fortresses. The inclusion of Japan, a notable precursor band to Duran Duran, on the soundtrack to Identification of a Woman, is appropriate and pleasing. Identification of a Woman does not rely obtrusively on music, but it does feature an icy John Foxx score along with some notable synth numbers by the likes of Japan, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, and Tangerine Dream that are interspersed throughout the film along with more classical-flavored musical sketches. Some contemporary viewers may not warm up to the brittle music of this early 1980s soundtrack, but I grew up listening to synth numbers like this, and I love how the music enforces the themes of alienation in the movie.

Identification of a Woman looks beautiful for the most part on this Criterion Blu-ray presentation, and any shortcomings seem to be from limitations with the source material. In one pivotal scene, a yellow stain that appears to be print damage is quite noticeable, but not distracting. A long sequence where Niccolo is searching for Mavi through fog is brought to life with beautiful effectiveness by both the video and audio presentation. This particular Blu-ray could have been enhanced considerably by a commentary track that walks viewers through the film, like the superb commentary of Antonioni's Red Desert, but Identification of a Woman is its own reward as a film for us to enjoy puzzling through.

Michelangelo Antonioni's Identification of a Woman, with all its elusive splendor, is not for everyone, but I thoroughly enjoyed the film. Oddly enough, my viewing of this movie also made me think of a seemingly unlikely companion piece, For Your Eyes Only, a James Bond 007 entry that was released the year before this one. The movies are drastically different in subject matter and mood, but both of them blend lush music soundscapes and images of decadent European settings with the end result of capturing an era of the early 1980s that was scenic, sexy, a little dangerous, and cool.

movieben1138 · 08-01-2013, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by starman15317

So here's a little question for everyone: when were you introduced to the Criterion Collection? Was it in the Laserdisc days? DVD era? Or were you introduced with Blu-Ray? And what was the first Criterion you saw or bought?

I never had a laserdisc, but I got into them as soon as I started in on DVDs. I remember vividly my first DVD (non-Criterion) being the Ghostbusters 15th anniversary disc, so it was 1999. I was in college at the time and went stupid with credit cards...but I began snatching up anything and everything that sounded interesting. Some I was introduced to in my film appreciation classes and some I sought out on my own. It's because of the Collection that I became the Kurosawa, Dassin, and Melville fan that I now am. I don't know specifically which my first CC disc was, but I know in my early film-buff snobbery I would have grabbed The Seven Samurai and The Seveth Seal because I believed then (and still do) that they are essential cornerstones for any proper film collection. I know Olivier's Hamlet and Mario Monicelli's Big Deal on Madonna Street were also early ones I purchased. I really enjoyed taking blind stabs at films back then and more often than not, if it was in the Collection, I ended up being very happy I did.

--Ben

aewb · 08-01-2013, 02:58 PM

The first dvd I bought was Le Samouraï in 2007. I'd been to a number of films at the BFI's Jean-Pierre Melville retrospective and had to own Le Samouraï. My first import too.

Re: Madame De...

You really think Criterion has become the byword for excellence by blindly accepting any old master they are given?

Abdrewes · 08-01-2013, 03:00 PM

Glad to read you enjoyed it, Owl

The Great Owl · 08-01-2013, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Glad to read you enjoyed it, Owl

I really did enjoy Identification of a Woman, and I'm glad that I gave in to shelling out $14 more during this sale. It's quite funny and appropriate that this Criterion spine looks almost identical to the spine of Red Desert, and they're back to back in my collection now.

For all interested, here are the images from Identification of a Woman to which I was referring. Simply awesome.

[Show spoiler]

dmarvin · 08-01-2013, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UNCMT9

Seven Samurai and Yojimbo inspired a lot of Westerns and modern day films. A staple for any true film buff!

I thought it was really interesting that the Samurai film was basically the equivalent of the western in the US. Is Yojimbo comparable to Seven Samurai in terms of quality?

The Great Owl · 08-01-2013, 03:19 PM

One more thing...

It turns out that Identification of a Woman is the token "Erotic" film in my collection, as determined by the Statistics on this website.

My above assertion that Identification of a Woman has a detached "softcore Euro-sleeze" look to it is not a diss. It reminds me of the foreign films that used to air in the late night hours on Cinemax and Showtime back in the early 1990s, and, in fact, I may have actually seen some of the film back then, and that may be why a lot of the scenes looked familiar. I just admitted to the whole world that I occasionally used to watch late night Cinemax and Showtime, but...oh well. The scenes in question during Identification of a Woman are certainly detached, though. One features a woman looking at her own face in the mirror during an encounter, as if to make us wonder about her narcissism or, more probable, the lack of a complete connection between the man and woman.

The Great Owl · 08-01-2013, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmarvin

I thought it was really interesting that the Samurai film was basically the equivalent of the western in the US. Is Yojimbo comparable to Seven Samurai in terms of quality?

Yojimbo has more of an "Americanized" feel to it, because Akira Kurosawa drew influence from American film noir while creating the film. In this regard, I think that it's the most accessible offering in Kurosawa's amazing canon.

brandon_260 · 08-01-2013, 03:28 PM

In regards to first Criterion films, I had watched about 20 or so without knowing about the collection, but the first that I consciously was House, which I bought at the same time as Repulsion.

PK22 · 08-01-2013, 03:42 PM

Hey guys, can I ask for a little bit of help?

I'm from the UK, basically this year I finally got a region-free player. This enabled me to get some of the beautiful Criterions

I was wondering what to buy next. I'm interested in seeing Bergman's work, Kurosawa's, Chaplin's and Truffaut's. Any idea what films are the best introduction to each director's work? (BTW I have the UK BD of Ran, but haven't saw it yet)

NoirFan · 08-01-2013, 03:45 PM

Bergman: Seventh Seal, Wild Strawberries
Kurosawa: High and Low, Seven Samurai
Chaplin: Modern Times and The Gold Rush (silent version)
Truffaut: 400 Blows

Mansinthe · 08-01-2013, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmarvin

Saw Seven Samurai for the first time last night in my film history class. I've been tempted to blind buy Rashomon for months now, but now I will definitely be doing that after having my first taste of Kurosawa.

[/B]

if you liked the kurosawa style you should defintly get "rashomon" too...

and always watch the background in kurosawa movies.. incredible amount of small details !

and i liked Ran a lot ! great acting , loved the story and the style.
its sad that criterion didnt release that movie since the stduicanal release is only "watchable"

The Great Owl · 08-01-2013, 03:46 PM

I am compelled to make a list of "Criterion Collection films that I saw before I even knew that there was any such thing as The Criterion Collection."

The Criterion Collection first came to my attention sometime in 1999, when I got my first DVD player, because I wanted The Silence of the Lambs on DVD, but would always think to myself, "No way I'm paying that much for a DVD!", whenever I saw The Criterion Collection edition on a store shelf. The following list consists of films that I saw before then.

Off the top of my head...

The Blob
The Red Balloon
Paddle to the Sea
White Mane
Time Bandits
Videodrome
Repo Man
Straw Dogs
Robocop
Rosemary's Baby
The Silence of the Lambs
Brazil
Dazed and Confused
The Vanishing
The Rock
Armageddon
Blow Out
Chasing Amy
Dead Ringers
Fiend Without a Face
The Game
Godzilla: King of the Monsters (American version)
Hamlet
Hoop Dreams
The Killer
Hard Boiled
My Own Private Idaho
The Thin Red Line

starman15317 · 08-01-2013, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PK22

Hey guys, can I ask for a little bit of help?

I'm from the UK, basically this year I finally got a region-free player. This enabled me to get some of the beautiful Criterions

I was wondering what to buy next. I'm interested in seeing Bergman's work, Kurosawa's, Chaplin's and Truffaut's. Any idea what films are the best introduction to each director's work? (BTW I have the UK BD of Ran, but haven't saw it yet)

You can't go wrong with any Chaplin film but I would watching the Criterion Chaplins in order of release (The Gold Rush, Modern Times, The Great Dictator, Monsieur Verdoux). For Truffaut, definitely start with The 400 Blows. For Kurosawa, I recommend starting with Seven Samurai or Yojimbo. Bergman is tricky, but I started with The Seventh Seal. I would probably say start with Wild Strawberries first.

Keep in mind that I haven't yet seen all of Kurosawa, Truffaut, or Bergman's films in the collection.

Abdrewes · 08-01-2013, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PK22

Hey guys, can I ask for a little bit of help?

I'm from the UK, basically this year I finally got a region-free player. This enabled me to get some of the beautiful Criterions

I was wondering what to buy next. I'm interested in seeing Bergman's work, Kurosawa's, Chaplin's and Truffaut's. Any idea what films are the best introduction to each director's work? (BTW I have the UK BD of Ran, but haven't saw it yet)

Bergman: not my favorite, but we all start with The Seventh Seal.
Kurosawa: my favorite is Ikiru (not on blu), but Seven Samurai is the place to start
Chaplin: Modern Times
Truffaut: (though I prefer several DVD only releases more), 400 Blows is the place to start.

starman15317 · 08-01-2013, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I am compelled to make a list of "Criterion Collection films that I saw before I even knew that there was any such thing as The Criterion Collection."

The Criterion Collection first came to my attention sometime in 1999, when I got my first DVD player, because I wanted The Silence of the Lambs on DVD, but would always think to myself, "No way I'm paying that much for a DVD!", whenever I saw The Criterion Collection edition on a store shelf.

[Show spoiler]

Most of my movies that I saw were films I saw after discovering the collection, but I didn't watch the Criterion versions. Should those count?

The Great Owl · 08-01-2013, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by starman15317

Most of my movies that I saw were films I saw after discovering the collection, but I didn't watch the Criterion versions. Should those count?

I just counted movies that I watched when I was younger before I even knew that the Collection existed.

Making lists is always fun, no matter what you decide, though.

Abdrewes · 08-01-2013, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I just counted movies that I watched when I was younger before I even knew that the Collection existed.

Making lists is always fun, no matter what you decide, though.

Which reminds me...how does Identification of a Woman stack up against other 1982 releases for you, Owl?

Here's my Mubi list:

[Show spoiler]

Yami · 08-01-2013, 04:21 PM

1982? I'd recommend tracking down Ishmael Bernal's Himala. It's a truly marvellous Filipino film that's just been recently restored. Nora Aunor's performance is up there with the very best.

08-01-2013, 02:46 PM	#79082
The Great Owl Blu-ray Archduke Member since:Dec 2012 Location:Georgia 4K collection:921 Blu-ray collection:6031 DVD collection:28 Blu-ray reviews: 255 Trading Score:6	A few words about my latest enjoyable Criterion purchase and last night's viewing... Nobody can accuse director Michelangelo Antonioni of heavy-handed emotional manipulation. A cursory look at the film title and the cover art for this Criterion Blu-ray of Antonioni's 1982 film, Identification of a Woman, does not suggest an overabundance of Rocky Balboa theme music or a buildup to a grandly cathartic heartwarming payoff, and, in this case, there is truth in advertising. In Antonioni's cinematic landscapes, characters are alive, healthy, and attractive, but they often wander through their lives with the same somnambulistic blankness that one might associate with the pod people in Invasion of the Body Snatchers. In the rare instances when a character does have an outburst or an open display of emotion in an Antonioni film, the surrounding characters usually respond with patronizing politeness or evasive suspicion. Antonioni's characters seem to be in a constant state of isolated meditation about their place in the world, and the generous space provided to them by empty city streets and vast openness grants them freedom in their reflections. My above paragraph makes Identification of a Woman seem like a bleak film, but I would not define it as such. It's merely a clinical film, as the title suggests, that examines the predicament of its fictional Italian film director in an honest and strangely objective manner, as though we are studying him under a microscope. Niccolo (Tomas Milian) attempts to fill the emotional void of a divorce by searching for an ideal woman for a film with a concentration on certain aspects of the female face and physique without regarding the whole of a person. His relationships along the way, with the gorgeously sophisticated, but evasive Mavi (Daniela Silverio) and the openly inviting Ida (Christine Boisson), are ultimately unfulfilling when the unpredictable natures of these women do not necessarily click with his expectations of them, and he is left, both figuratively and literally, searching through fog. Characters are either framed in doorways or viewed from the side with some of the most uniquely beautiful camera perspectives that I have seen in recent memory. A shot of Mavi looking up from a stone spiral staircase is one for the ages, as is a shot from behind as Mavi looks down at the street at Niccolo from her window. Identification of a Woman has an aura of detached "softcore Euro-sleeze" about it, and, like the early 1980s fashions and styles of many of its characters, the narrative is both seductive and unattainable. As I watched this film last night, I was reminded of the early music videos of Duran Duran that portrayed lavishly dressed band members jet-setting around lovely women on beautiful beaches and ancient rock fortresses. The inclusion of Japan, a notable precursor band to Duran Duran, on the soundtrack to Identification of a Woman, is appropriate and pleasing. Identification of a Woman does not rely obtrusively on music, but it does feature an icy John Foxx score along with some notable synth numbers by the likes of Japan, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, and Tangerine Dream that are interspersed throughout the film along with more classical-flavored musical sketches. Some contemporary viewers may not warm up to the brittle music of this early 1980s soundtrack, but I grew up listening to synth numbers like this, and I love how the music enforces the themes of alienation in the movie. Identification of a Woman looks beautiful for the most part on this Criterion Blu-ray presentation, and any shortcomings seem to be from limitations with the source material. In one pivotal scene, a yellow stain that appears to be print damage is quite noticeable, but not distracting. A long sequence where Niccolo is searching for Mavi through fog is brought to life with beautiful effectiveness by both the video and audio presentation. This particular Blu-ray could have been enhanced considerably by a commentary track that walks viewers through the film, like the superb commentary of Antonioni's Red Desert, but Identification of a Woman is its own reward as a film for us to enjoy puzzling through. Michelangelo Antonioni's Identification of a Woman, with all its elusive splendor, is not for everyone, but I thoroughly enjoyed the film. Oddly enough, my viewing of this movie also made me think of a seemingly unlikely companion piece, For Your Eyes Only, a James Bond 007 entry that was released the year before this one. The movies are drastically different in subject matter and mood, but both of them blend lush music soundscapes and images of decadent European settings with the end result of capturing an era of the early 1980s that was scenic, sexy, a little dangerous, and cool. Last edited by The Great Owl; 08-01-2013 at 02:55 PM.

08-01-2013, 03:46 PM	#79094
The Great Owl Blu-ray Archduke Member since:Dec 2012 Location:Georgia 4K collection:921 Blu-ray collection:6031 DVD collection:28 Blu-ray reviews: 255 Trading Score:6	I am compelled to make a list of "Criterion Collection films that I saw before I even knew that there was any such thing as The Criterion Collection." The Criterion Collection first came to my attention sometime in 1999, when I got my first DVD player, because I wanted The Silence of the Lambs on DVD, but would always think to myself, "No way* I'm paying that much for a DVD!", whenever I saw The Criterion Collection edition on a store shelf. The following list consists of films that I saw before then. Off the top of my head... The Blob The Red Balloon Paddle to the Sea White Mane Time Bandits Videodrome Repo Man Straw Dogs Robocop Rosemary's Baby The Silence of the Lambs Brazil Dazed and Confused The Vanishing The Rock Armageddon Blow Out Chasing Amy Dead Ringers Fiend Without a Face The Game Godzilla: King of the Monsters (American version) Hamlet Hoop Dreams The Killer Hard Boiled My Own Private Idaho The Thin Red Line Last edited by The Great Owl; 08-01-2013 at 05:56 PM.*

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08-01-2013, 02:58 PM	#79084
aewb Expert Member Member since:Nov 2011 4K collection:2 Blu-ray collection:1137 DVD collection:206	The first dvd I bought was Le Samouraï in 2007. I'd been to a number of films at the BFI's Jean-Pierre Melville retrospective and had to own Le Samouraï. My first import too. Re: Madame De... You really think Criterion has become the byword for excellence by blindly accepting any old master they are given?

08-01-2013, 03:00 PM	#79085
Abdrewes Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:May 2011 Location:Texas 4K collection:767 Blu-ray collection:9831 DVD collection:523 Digital collection:1 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:362	Glad to read you enjoyed it, Owl

08-01-2013, 03:19 PM	#79088
The Great Owl Blu-ray Archduke Member since:Dec 2012 Location:Georgia 4K collection:921 Blu-ray collection:6031 DVD collection:28 Blu-ray reviews: 255 Trading Score:6	One more thing... It turns out that Identification of a Woman is the token "Erotic" film in my collection, as determined by the Statistics on this website. My above assertion that Identification of a Woman has a detached "softcore Euro-sleeze" look to it is not a diss. It reminds me of the foreign films that used to air in the late night hours on Cinemax and Showtime back in the early 1990s, and, in fact, I may have actually seen some of the film back then, and that may be why a lot of the scenes looked familiar. I just admitted to the whole world that I occasionally used to watch late night Cinemax and Showtime, but...oh well. The scenes in question during Identification of a Woman are certainly detached, though. One features a woman looking at her own face in the mirror during an encounter, as if to make us wonder about her narcissism or, more probable, the lack of a complete connection between the man and woman.

08-01-2013, 03:28 PM	#79090
brandon_260 Special Member Member since:Feb 2012 Location:Canada Blu-ray collection:613 DVD collection:130 Trading Score:10	In regards to first Criterion films, I had watched about 20 or so without knowing about the collection, but the first that I consciously was House, which I bought at the same time as Repulsion.

08-01-2013, 03:42 PM	#79091
PK22 Special Member Member since:Dec 2011 Location:The Stretford End Blu-ray collection:853 DVD collection:326 Blu-ray reviews:6	Hey guys, can I ask for a little bit of help? I'm from the UK, basically this year I finally got a region-free player. This enabled me to get some of the beautiful Criterions I was wondering what to buy next. I'm interested in seeing Bergman's work, Kurosawa's, Chaplin's and Truffaut's. Any idea what films are the best introduction to each director's work? (BTW I have the UK BD of Ran, but haven't saw it yet)

08-01-2013, 03:45 PM	#79092
NoirFan Blu-ray Count Top contributor Member since:Aug 2009 4K collection:16 Blu-ray collection:2442 Trading Score:29	Bergman: Seventh Seal, Wild Strawberries Kurosawa: High and Low, Seven Samurai Chaplin: Modern Times and The Gold Rush (silent version) Truffaut: 400 Blows

08-01-2013, 04:21 PM	#79100
Yami Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Aug 2008 4K collection:158 Blu-ray collection:1830 DVD collection:32	1982? I'd recommend tracking down Ishmael Bernal's Himala. It's a truly marvellous Filipino film that's just been recently restored. Nora Aunor's performance is up there with the very best.

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