The Criterion Collection

[Mansinthe]

Originally Posted by fdm

Funny nobody seemed to have mentioned this anywhere on this site until it was over. Suppose it could have been local to a whole different set of stores than the last time I heard about one of these weekends. Was it posted somewhere and I just missed it?

(Edit) Somebody posted about it on dvdtalk, where it says Sunday is the last day. No details about which stores may be participating.

i saw it in criterions facebook page.. but since its instore only i couldnt use it anyway...

[Carletty]

Last day of the B2G1F Sale - I think about getting Wild Strawberries, Autumn Sonata and the Earrings of Madame De. Although I have to check my expenses first.

[brandon_260]

The Rossellini set is down to $58 on B&N. I grabbed that with To Be or Not To Be and Identification of a Woman, which came to $3 more than it would be during the 50% off sale.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by brandon_260

The Rossellini set is down to $58 on B&N. I grabbed that with To Be or Not To Be and Identification of a Woman, which came to $3 more than it would be during the 50% off sale.

I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts on those. I feared that To Be or Not to Be would come off as a stuffy movie in present day, but it was actually lightning fast with the pacing, and it was still hilarious.

Identification of a Woman is more elusive, but I love the soundtrack, and the movie has some of the best Antonioni images that I've seen. The fog sequence is for the ages.

I'm about to watch Kiss Me Deadly. Woo hoo!

[joie]

Watched Rosemary's Baby.

[Show spoiler]A Criterion produced extra has Roman Polanski talking and he mentions "post-partum crazies," which, if I remember correctly, he called "pre-partum crazies" on an old DVD extra. Polanski stated that Rosemary is dreaming early in the movie and that there is no supernatural content. It did appear to be a dream.

I saw the movie in a theatre before VHS, then watched a DVD after the Blu-ray was announced, and I never thought it was a horror movie in the sense that Satan got a baby on Rosemary. It could be that after the dream we are watching what Rosemary is imagining is happening. That would explain why she is told first that the baby is a healthy boy, then that it died. She does seem to recognize that she hallucinates, late in the movie, when she tells Roman Castavets something like, "Shut up! You're in Dubrovnik. I can't hear you."

The original tag line, "Pray for Rosemary's Baby," may have expressed the hope that Rosemary wouldn't harm the baby.

Mia Farrow also talked and may have said that she believed Rosemary gave birth to Satan's son. She does say that she (Farrow) was a good Catholic girl.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Oh nice, I have those. Do you have Herzog on Herzog? That is one of the most entertaining film books I've read. My Best Fiend is practically just a filmed version of what Herzog talks about Kinski in this book.

Gah. I will have to seek that book out. I have a few Herzog's blind-spots to take care of before then--namely, Stroszek, Invincible and Heart of Glass.

[The Great Owl]

Robert Aldrich's 1955 film, Kiss Me Deadly, quite literally hits the ground running with the first camera shot that features a terrified woman fleeing on foot down a night highway before the unique backwards scroll of opening credits even begins. The fast pace never lets up as Kiss Me Deadly plows through everything in its path with the same gleeful violence displayed by the lead character, Mike Hammer, who is played with brawny efficiency by Ralph Meeker. One female character observes, "I could tolerate flabby muscles in a man, if it'd make him more friendly.", but she does not find flabby muscles or friendliness in this movie, and neither will the viewer. It is a testament to the effectiveness of the filmmaking here that the freewheeling brutality and political incorrectness puts a smile on the face of most viewers, including me, and Kiss Me Deadly was an early prototype for Sean Connery's rough-around-the-edges early Bond films and Clint Eastwood's smirking dismissal of lawful procedures in the Dirty Harry series. An early scene where Mike Hammer administers a thorough beatdown to a thug that results in a tumble down a flight of stairs gives me a fun jolt of adrenaline with each viewing.

Kiss Me Deadly, with its genre-bending storyline that blends detective film noir potboilers with the unnerving nuclear radiation subject matter of many 1950s sci-fi monster films, anticipated the James Bond series in another way. When the first James Bond 007 film, Dr. No, featured the lead character on a supposedly routine espionage investigation that morphed into larger-than-life futuristic action involving an atomic reactor and rockets, astute viewers may have recalled how Mike Hammer's adventures through the well-traveled territory of shadowy slums, knife-wielding thugs, and shady, but beautiful dames ultimately led to eerily apocalyptic plot twists. It's impossible, for example, for me to watch a pivotal sequence late in Kiss Me Deadly without thinking of the terrifying noises made by the giant radioactive ants in the sci-fi monster tale, Them!, that was released a year before this film. The influence of Kiss Me Deadly on movies like Repo Man and Pulp Fiction has been discussed in almost every review for good reason, and most of us who watch Lily Carver, played by Gaby Rodgers, ask what is in the box will immediately think of Amanda Plummer asking Tim Roth to tell her what is in the briefcase.

This Criterion Blu-ray of Kiss Me Deadly looks beautiful, with the high definition presentation lending a natural film brilliance to the glow of streetlights and lamps in the shadows of Bunker Hill neighborhood streets and darkened apartment rooms with characters in hiding. The audio presentation works well for the film's jazzy tunes and eerie sounds from the unknown alike. The commentary from Alain Silver and James Ursini, which I am almost finished watching right now, is an informative look at this movie's place in film noir. A brief discussion from filmmaker Alex Cox brings to light the many films that would follow in the footsteps of Kiss Me Deadly with its unexplained "great whatsit" subject matter. A short documentary on the Bunker Hill neighborhoods of Los Angeles is both interesting and sad, while a fun documentary of interviews with the screenwriter discusses the differences of the film from its Mickey Spillane source novel. Finally, a documentary about the career of Mickey Spillane himself is a beautiful homage, and I was happy to see interviews from Stacy Keach, since I remember seeing his portrayal of Mike Hammer on television during my childhood.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by joie

Watched Rosemary's Baby.

[Show spoiler]A Criterion produced extra has Roman Polanski talking and he mentions "post-partum crazies," which, if I remember correctly, he called "pre-partum crazies" on an old DVD extra. Polanski stated that Rosemary is dreaming early in the movie and that there is no supernatural content. It did appear to be a dream.

I saw the movie in a theatre before VHS, then watched a DVD after the Blu-ray was announced, and I never thought it was a horror movie in the sense that Satan got a baby on Rosemary. It could be that after the dream we are watching what Rosemary is imagining is happening. That would explain why she is told first that the baby is a healthy boy, then that it died. She does seem to recognize that she hallucinates, late in the movie, when she tells Roman Castavets something like, "Shut up! You're in Dubrovnik. I can't hear you."

The original tag line, "Pray for Rosemary's Baby," may have expressed the hope that Rosemary wouldn't harm the baby.

Mia Farrow also talked and may have said that she believed Rosemary gave birth to Satan's son. She does say that she (Farrow) was a good Catholic girl.

I love the food for thought that Rosemary's Baby offers the viewer. It's such a brilliantly creepy occult film.

I just ordered the 2010 digibook of The Exorcist for $13 from WBShop, so I'm thinking that these two movies might make for a good double-feature weekend. (Although The Exorcist could also fit well with one of Bergman's films.)

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Robert Aldrich's 1955 film, Kiss Me Deadly, quite literally hits the ground running with the first camera shot that features a terrified woman fleeing on foot down a night highway before the unique backwards scroll of opening credits even begins. The fast pace never lets up as Kiss Me Deadly plows through everything in its path with the same gleeful violence displayed by the lead character, Mike Hammer, who is played with brawny efficiency by Ralph Meeker. One female character observes, "I could tolerate flabby muscles in a man, if it'd make him more friendly.", but she does not find flabby muscles or friendliness in this movie, and neither will the viewer. It is a testament to the effectiveness of the filmmaking here that the freewheeling brutality and political incorrectness puts a smile on the face of most viewers, including me, and Kiss Me Deadly was an early prototype for Sean Connery's rough-around-the-edges early Bond films and Clint Eastwood's smirking dismissal of lawful procedures in the Dirty Harry series. An early scene where Mike Hammer administers a thorough beatdown to a thug that results in a tumble down a flight of stairs gives me a fun jolt of adrenaline with each viewing.

Kiss Me Deadly, with its genre-bending storyline that blends detective film noir potboilers with the unnerving nuclear radiation subject matter of many 1950s sci-fi monster films, anticipated the James Bond series in another way. When the first James Bond 007 film, Dr. No, featured the lead character on a supposedly routine espionage investigation that morphed into larger-than-life futuristic action involving an atomic reactor and rockets, astute viewers may have recalled how Mike Hammer's adventures through the well-traveled territory of shadowy slums, knife-wielding thugs, and shady, but beautiful dames ultimately led to eerily apocalyptic plot twists. It's impossible, for example, for me to watch a pivotal sequence late in Kiss Me Deadly without thinking of the terrifying noises made by the giant radioactive ants in the sci-fi monster tale, Them!, that was released a year before this film. The influence of Kiss Me Deadly on movies like Repo Man and Pulp Fiction has been discussed in almost every review for good reason, and most of us who watch Lily Carver, played by Gaby Rodgers, ask what is in the box will immediately think of Amanda Plummer asking Tim Roth to tell her what is in the briefcase.

This Criterion Blu-ray of Kiss Me Deadly looks beautiful, with the high definition presentation lending a natural film brilliance to the glow of streetlights and lamps in the shadows of Bunker Hill neighborhood streets and darkened apartment rooms with characters in hiding. The audio presentation works well for the film's jazzy tunes and eerie sounds from the unknown alike. The commentary from Alain Silver and James Ursini, which I am almost finished watching right now, is an informative look at this movie's place in film noir. A brief discussion from filmmaker Alex Cox brings to light the many films that would follow in the footsteps of Kiss Me Deadly with its unexplained "great whatsit" subject matter. A short documentary on the Bunker Hill neighborhoods of Los Angeles is both interesting and sad, while a fun documentary of interviews with the screenwriter discusses the differences of the film from its Mickey Spillane source novel. Finally, a documentary about the career of Mickey Spillane himself is a beautiful homage, and I was happy to see interviews from Stacy Keach, since I remember seeing his portrayal of Mike Hammer on television during my childhood.

Great movie, but man Gaby Rodgers' acting was awful in this!

[Scottie]

I just finished watching Autumn Sonata and I was really surprised at how well it was. I wasn't a big fan of The Seventh Seal, the only Bergman film I had seen besides this one, and this is absolutely worthy of all of the praise.

It's some of the best acting I've seen to date with both Ingrid Bergman and Liv Ulmann pouring their hearts into these two characters.

It's definitely one of the best films I've seen of all time, especially because we can all put ourselves in the characters' shoes to some degree.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I just finished watching Autumn Sonata and I was really surprised at how well it was. I wasn't a big fan of The Seventh Seal, the only Bergman film I had seen besides this one, and this is absolutely worthy of all of the praise.

It's some of the best acting I've seen to date with both Ingrid Bergman and Liv Ulmann pouring their hearts into these two characters.

It's definitely one of the best films I've seen of all time, especially because we can all put ourselves in the characters' shoes to some degree.

As incredible as they are, it's interesting to see how different Ullman and Bergman's acting styles are.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

As incredible as they are, it's interesting to see how different Ullman and Bergman's acting styles are.

Oh yes, that was a plus of it.

Two different personalities clashing was just

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Oh yes, that was a plus of it.

Two different personalities clashing was just

Do you plan on watching Fanny and Alexander during the holidays?

If not, you should.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

Do you plan on watching Fanny and Alexander during the holidays?

If not, you should.

I've been watching everything in alphabetical order, but I may switch it up (should I not be there then).

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I just finished watching Autumn Sonata and I was really surprised at how well it was. I wasn't a big fan of The Seventh Seal, the only Bergman film I had seen besides this one, and this is absolutely worthy of all of the praise.

It's some of the best acting I've seen to date with both Ingrid Bergman and Liv Ulmann pouring their hearts into these two characters.

It's definitely one of the best films I've seen of all time, especially because we can all put ourselves in the characters' shoes to some degree.

I haven't seen Autumn Sonata yet, but Liv Ullmann is an incredible talent. I think she is absolutely Ingmar Bergman's best collaborator. Her performances in Persona, The Passion of Anna, and Shame are some of the best I've ever seen.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by brandon_260

I haven't seen Autumn Sonata yet, but Liv Ullmann is an incredible talent. I think she is absolutely Ingmar Bergman's best collaborator. Her performances in Persona, The Passion of Anna, and Shame are some of the best I've ever seen.

I notice you have it, so I'd recommend making it your next watch.

[MTRodaba2468]

Just ordered Slacker, Seconds and The Rules of the Game for B&N's B2G1 Free sale.

Originally Posted by ccg1978

What was your first Criterion? Mine was Benjamin Button....no comments please

DVD: Chasing Amy
Blu-Ray: Chungking Express

Originally Posted by ccg1978

wow, I found a fellow Fugazi fan on a Blu message board! Nice!

I enjoy them as well, I just don't discuss my music tastes here a great deal just because it's a movie forum.

[smoss469]

Just finished Letter Never Sent. It was a blind buy and the description sounded promising. I must say the first half of the movie was pretty slow but it really picked up

[Show spoiler]when the fire broke out

. From there is was nothing but 1 discouraging act after another. Some of the shots were really great. There was something about the opening shot, them standing in the water with the helicopter creating ripples across the surface while the sun came up over the horizon; a lot of beauty in a B&W shot. I really enjoyed some of the wide angle shots of silhouettes crossing the landscapes; especially

[Show spoiler]after Tanya dies, leaving Sabinine to set off across the tundra alone, how they really made it a point to show that what started as a group, has dwindled down to a single man... left to cross the wastelands in solitude.

Overall it was a good movie, the visuals were great, mainly due to (I think) them shooting the film on location. So many films of that era, while great, are obviously indoor sets. Not this one, and the danger of the stunts just added to it. I can't imagine a studio today letting an actor

[Show spoiler]wade through a marsh full of burning trees, or raft down an icy river on nothing more than a few logs tied together

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by smoss469

Just finished Letter Never Sent.

[Show spoiler]It was a blind buy and the description sounded promising. I must say the first half of the movie was pretty slow but it really picked up

[Show spoiler]when the fire broke out

. From there is was nothing but 1 discouraging act after another. Some of the shots were really great. There was something about the opening shot, them standing in the water with the helicopter creating ripples across the surface while the sun came up over the horizon; a lot of beauty in a B&W shot. I really enjoyed some of the wide angle shots of silhouettes crossing the landscapes; especially

[Show spoiler]after Tanya dies, leaving Sabinine to set off across the tundra alone, how they really made it a point to show that what started as a group, has dwindled down to a single man... left to cross the wastelands in solitude.

Overall it was a good movie, the visuals were great, mainly due to (I think) them shooting the film on location. So many films of that era, while great, are obviously indoor sets. Not this one, and the danger of the stunts just added to it. I can't imagine a studio today letting an actor

[Show spoiler]wade through a marsh full of burning trees, or raft down an icy river on nothing more than a few logs tied together

I'm glad that you enjoyed it! Letter Never Sent is on my list of Blu-rays to revisit soon, since it was one of my early purchases and I've been itching to see it again. This film has some of the most rugged, but gorgeous shots that I've ever seen in a wilderness adventure film. I hope that Criterion puts out The Cranes Are Flying someday.

I just finished watching the new Blu-ray edition of John Carpenter's Halloween (awesome-looking transfer!) and am looking forward to watching Melville's Two Men in Manhattan tomorrow after work.

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I notice you have it, so I'd recommend making it your next watch.

I've got it, but it's at my parents place right now. I'm hoping I get another package from them in the next few weeks. I'm dying to see it.