The Criterion Collection

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by Herry Dunston

So I'm checkin' the Criterion sale on Amazon's Gold Box deal.

Kinda disappointed at how few there are on sale, and I already owned a copy of the Qatsi Trilogy. Not exactly hyped up to buy Kieslowski's Colors Trilogy, although I might consider owning On The Waterfront, one of my all-time favorites.

Was about to buy Three Colors then noticed it was the DVD version just before I checked out. Kind of disappointed in that, and the selection on sale.

Anyone know when the September sale is going to happen? Isn't it usually near the end of the month?

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Speaking of shorts, am I the only one here that finds The Red Balloon way, way too schmaltzy? I've seen it about four times now, and while it is wonderfully staged, I cannot engage with it on the emotional level with which it wants me to.

My love for The Red Balloon goes way back. When I was an elementary school student, our teachers used to show films of The Red Balloon, White Mane, and Paddle to the Sea on a fairly frequent basis (as in, I probably saw those movies about four or five times from my 3rd grade year to my 6th grade year).

When those three movies were announced on Criterion DVD a few years ago, my jaw hit the floor as I read through the announcements and realized that those were the movies that had been shown at my elementary school. It's a trip to revisit those movies today, and it's sort of like stepping into the way-back machine to those years in the early 1980s when I first saw them.

Paddle to the Sea was always my favorite by a long mile. I was just fascinated with that story, and I could have easily watched a full-length two-hour feature of that little boat floating down more random creeks, streams, and rivers.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Just got my intro to film media Syllabus.

Looks like we have two papers, one on The 400 Blows and any Hitchcock film.

(Wonder what would happen if you picked Family Plot? )

Films we're watching:
-The Wizard Of Oz (excerpts)

Just excerpts? I'm always suspicious when they show you PART of a movie...

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Cocophone

It's been a while since I watched Blade Runner.

How does it not work if Deckard is a replicant?

Well, in one way it does. If you think of the theme of the movie being "What is human?" then the ambiguity of any character's human-ness or replicant-ness fits. And certainly the idea that Deckard is a replicant and doesn't realize it fits in with the theme of Philip K. Dick's work as a whole.

But the movie can be seen as being about race and racism. I think it's important that our POV character be a human who comes to a epiphany about replicants and how little meaningful difference there is between humans and replicants. Deckard is transformed to the point where he falls in love with a replicant, and is willing to throw away his life to be with her. If he is himself a replicant, the force of his epiphany is reduced to nothing.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by SimBelm

Those two are up there, however as much as I admire The House is Black in my two viewings, I still haven't unravelled nearly enough of it to cite my feelings about it. I haven't yet seen The Red Balloon, but I can envisage it being like that.

I haven't either, hence why it is #1.

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

My love for The Red Balloon goes way back. When I was an elementary school student, our teachers used to show films of The Red Balloon, White Mane, and Paddle to the Sea on a fairly frequent basis (as in, I probably saw those movies about four or five times from my 3rd grade year to my 6th grade year).

When those three movies were announced on Criterion DVD a few years ago, my jaw hit the floor as I read through the announcements and realized that those were the movies that had been shown at my elementary school. It's a trip to revisit those movies today, and it's sort of like stepping into the way-back machine to those years in the early 1980s when I first saw them.

Paddle to the Sea was always my favorite by a long mile. I was just fascinated with that story, and I could have easily watched a full-length two-hour feature of that little boat floating down more random creeks, streams, and rivers.

Don't cha love it when you find a film you loved from your youth. That happened with me and Mystery Train, oddly enough.

Will have to track down Paddle to the Sea.

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by jayembee

But the movie can be seen as being about race and racism. I think it's important that our POV character be a human who comes to a epiphany about replicants and how little meaningful difference there is between humans and replicants. Deckard is transformed to the point where he falls in love with a replicant, and is willing to throw away his life to be with her. If he is himself a replicant, the force of his epiphany is reduced to nothing.

Couldn't have said it better..

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by EricJ

(Wonder what would happen if you picked Family Plot? )

I really dislike Family Plot, so I don't think that would be a good contender.

[KnoxVolJJ]

Am I the only one that hates the Criterion packaging?

Sorry if this has been hashed out ad nauseum but I haven't read through the entire thread. I was really wanting The Blob (1958). It is in the Gold Box Deal of the Day but when I saw the clear case I changed my mind. The insert is taller than a normal blu-ray case so I can't just switch cases....

[The Great Owl]

I stopped by a used store during lunch and found two unexpected jewels among the stones.

To Kill a Mockingbird
La Femme Nikita

I owned both of these on DVD, and had been looking to upgrade for some time. I'm particularly thrilled about the mint condition To Kill a Mockingbird set, because my previous DVD was the old old Collector's Edition DVD from about 15 years ago. I was glad to find the stand-alone Blu-ray of La Femme Nikita, though, since I get a hankering to revisit this Luc Besson classic at least once or twice a year, and I've heard that the Blu-ray is a nice leap in picture quality over the DVD.

Not Criterion-related, except to say that someone had apparently unloaded a ton of Criterion DVDs at the used store (just as I did a few months back), and I saw some choice movies (Jubilee, etc.). Hopefully, those will all be upgraded at some point.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I really dislike Family Plot, so I don't think that would be a good contender.

Is that the one with the amazing Truck scene, or whatever. That scene alone makes it worth seeing a number of times...

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I really dislike Family Plot, so I don't think that would be a good contender.

I have a soft spot for Family Plot. It's the lesser offering in the Hitchcock box set, but it's still a solid great flick that I'd gladly purchase as a stand alone if I had not bought the set. I wish that the picture quality of the Blu-ray did not suck so badly, but I still enjoy watching the movie after I get over the initial dismay with the transfer during the first few minutes.

Family Plot takes a lot of flack, because the 1970s vibe of the movie, and the 1970s cast (Bruce Dern, the late Karen Black, etc.) do not quite feel like Hitchcock, but the movie really does have some killer vintage Hitchcock moments. There's an overhead crane shot of a cemetery that really amazes me, and the attempted vehicular homicide scene on the mountain road is ace.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by KnoxVolJJ

Am I the only one that hates the Criterion packaging?

Sorry if this has been hashed out ad nauseum but I haven't read through the entire thread. I was really wanting The Blob (1958). It is in the Gold Box Deal of the Day but when I saw the clear case I changed my mind. The insert is taller than a normal blu-ray case so I can't just switch cases....

I'm in love with The Blob Blu-ray package, personally. It fits with the rest of the Criterion plastic cases, which are the best, and the cover art is some of the best that Criterion has to offer. The movie itself is simply beyond reproach, and is an important milestone of American cinema.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I stopped by a used store during lunch and found two unexpected jewels among the stones.

To Kill a Mockingbird
La Femme Nikita

I owned both of these on DVD, and had been looking to upgrade for some time. I'm particularly thrilled about the mint condition To Kill a Mockingbird set, because my previous DVD was the old old Collector's Edition DVD from about 15 years ago. I was glad to find the stand-alone Blu-ray of La Femme Nikita, though, since I get a hankering to revisit this Luc Besson classic at least once or twice a year, and I've heard that the Blu-ray is a nice leap in picture quality over the DVD.

Not Criterion-related, except to say that someone had apparently unloaded a ton of Criterion DVDs at the used store (just as I did a few months back), and I saw some choice movies (Jubilee, etc.). Hopefully, those will all be upgraded at some point.

Nice! La Femme Nikita is my favorite Besson Film. Also make sure to see Femme Fatale. It's one of my favorite films.

[Mansinthe]

Originally Posted by KnoxVolJJ

Am I the only one that hates the Criterion packaging?

Sorry if this has been hashed out ad nauseum but I haven't read through the entire thread. I was really wanting The Blob (1958). It is in the Gold Box Deal of the Day but when I saw the clear case I changed my mind. The insert is taller than a normal blu-ray case so I can't just switch cases....

probably. i love the clear cases criterion is using. and it would be nice if more labels would put their releases in cases like that , with covers like that.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Nice! La Femme Nikita is my favorite Besson Film. Also make sure to see Femme Fatale. It's one of my favorite films.

I certainly will check that one out at some point. I'll also probably rent Passion when it comes out for Blu-ray (and try my absolute best not to whine about how Love Crime is not available Region A, as I do every time Passion is mentioned in the forum).

[KnoxVolJJ]

Originally Posted by sc1957

Solution: scissors

As a collector, I hate to alter the cases or inserts. I recently divested all of my steelbooks because I hated how they looked on the shelf with the rest of my movies. I would buy new packaging tomorrow for Band of Brothers and The Pacific if it were released.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I certainly will check that one out at some point. I'll also probably rent Passion when it comes out for Blu-ray (and try my absolute best not to whine about how Love Crime is not available Region A, as I do every time Passion is mentioned in the forum).

Hell yes!! Cant wait for November so we could discuss it. I'm gonna blind buy is Day 1.. love me some sleazy DePalma..

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Is that the one with the amazing Truck scene, or whatever. That scene alone makes it worth seeing a number of times...

I don't really remember lol.

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Nice! La Femme Nikita is my favorite Besson Film. Also make sure to see Femme Fatale. It's one of my favorite films.

I couldn't take La Femme Nikita after 20 minutes or so. The whole 80s cult vibe made the film very for me.

Also, if you like LFN more than Leon, then we may not be able to be pals anymore.

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I certainly will check that one out at some point. I'll also probably rent Passion when it comes out for Blu-ray (and try my absolute best not to whine about how Love Crime is not available Region A, as I do every time Passion is mentioned in the forum).

It's On Demand right now, which is what I'd recommend.

One of my favorites of the year! So good!
(I love rubbing it in Andrew's face)

[octagon]

Originally Posted by KnoxVolJJ

Am I the only one that hates the Criterion packaging?

Yes.

Well, actually some guy from somewhere in Manitoba said he didn't like them either but that doesn't count, we didn't believe him.

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Is that the one with the amazing Truck scene, or whatever. That scene alone makes it worth seeing a number of times...

If by truck scene you mean an out-of-control vehicle careening downhill (basically a car chase with one car) then yes, that's the one.

If by truck you mean potato truck then no, that's Frenzy (also a great sequence).

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Family Plot takes a lot of flack, because the 1970s vibe of the movie, and the 1970s cast (Bruce Dern, the late Karen Black, etc.) do not quite feel like Hitchcock, but the movie really does have some killer vintage Hitchcock moments. There's an overhead crane shot of a cemetery that really amazes me, and the attempted vehicular homicide scene on the mountain road is ace.

I just watched that a couple nights ago (almost certainly the first time I watched it in its entirety) and I suspect it will grow on me. If it gets the chance, that is. One of the things that holds back lesser Hitchcocks is the presence of so many greater Hitchcocks. I'm going to have to be in a very particular frame of mind to revisit any of his post-The Birds offerings and that would likely be the case even if there weren't so many genuine classics in the same freaking box.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I couldn't take La Femme Nikita after 20 minutes or so. The whole 80s cult vibe made the film very for me.

Also, if you like LFN more than Leon, then we may not be able to be pals anymore.

I love Leon: The Professional, but I got burned out on that movie during the 1990s after watching it about a hundred times. Right now, I give the edge to La Femme Nikita.

La Femme Nikita was released in 1990, and it hit the indie theaters here in Atlanta shortly after, where it stayed for a long while. It was a huge counter-culture thing during the early 1990s, and it rocked out independent cinema in the same way that the Three Colors Trilogy and Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs did. I always have fond memories of my college days when I watch the movie.