The Criterion Collection

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

They look like this Mann movie to me:

[Show spoiler]

But I'm being nitpicky. This would actually go well with Pain & Gain, and other movies about the myth of the American dream.

Good point!

It's more the title font of the alternative covers that turns me off. I like that original font.

[BluPat]

My partner and I just watched my Blu-ray of 'Brief Encounter' from the David Lean directs Noel Coward collection. We had never seen it before. I have to say this is one of the BEST classic films I've ever seen. Beautifully acted from both Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard. Fantastic music score. Lovely story. Terrific transfer. Excellent film.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

The nostalgia bug hit me a few minutes ago,...

Yeah, me too. Now I really want them to release The Hunger and Lair of the White Worm. I'm even tempted to break my 'd00d, there's already a pretty decent BD' rule and start whinging for To Live and Die in LA.

Shout's Cat People might have jumped a few slots on my list too. [edit] Dammit, Tequilla Sunrise is pretty much a lock now too.

Where will this madness end???

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

I love the film. It's my favorite Mann, though a rewatch of The Insider is in order, as is a viewing of Miami Vice.

I'm hoping the score works for me when I watch the blu.

All those are top tier Mann for me as you know. Is the score a bit intrusive? Yes it is. So I fully understand where you are coming from.

Have you read some of the choice writing on Miami Vice out there? The Senses of Cinema piece may be too much to digest at times, but it is definitely worth a read: http://sensesofcinema.com/2007/featu...es/miami-vice/

[The Great Owl]

After watching the new Stalag 17 Blu-ray tonight, I'm still yearning for that spoof post earlier today about the Billy Wilder announcements.

An Ace in the Hole upgrade would be most excellent, at the very least.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by BluPat

My partner and I just watched my Blu-ray of 'Brief Encounter' from the David Lean directs Noel Coward collection. We had never seen it before. I have to say this is one of the BEST classic films I've ever seen. Beautifully acted from both Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard. Fantastic music score. Lovely story. Terrific transfer. Excellent film.

Absolutely fantastic film. I bought that set kinda sorta on spec...David Lean, Noel Coward...how bad could it be. And I specifically went into Brief Encounter wondering whether Trevor Howard could pull off a leading role let alone a romantic lead.

Wow. Just wow.

[SilentDawn]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

All those are top tier Mann for me as you know. Is the score a bit intrusive? Yes it is. So I fully understand where you are coming from.

Have you read some of the choice writing on Miami Vice out there? The Senses of Cinema piece may be too much to digest at times, but it is definitely worth a read: http://sensesofcinema.com/2007/featu...es/miami-vice/

Man, that is dense; definitely going to read that sometime when i'm less tired. Always awesome to see articles talking about Miami Vice in a positive light.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by SilentxStatik24

Man, that is dense; definitely going to read that sometime when i'm less tired. Always awesome to see articles talking about Miami Vice in a positive light.

Yup. I read it very patiently during a long wait at the post office not too long ago and I think it totally gets what Miami Vice is actually about.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by CraigThom

I'm not convinced that's going to happen. The switch from VHS to DVD brought more than an increase in quality; it also brought a lot of convenience. DVDs take up less shelf space, are easier to load, require no rewinding, allow random access, and are less likely to die in the player. For many people I think the extras and the PQ are just gravy. Since most people listen through their TV speakers, I don't think audio quality is a big factor, either.

Blu-ray offers better PQ and AQ and some new extras, but those are huge leaps, especially for smaller TVs. The discs are less likely to scratch, but that's it for convenience.

I may be wrong, but I just don't see Blu-ray taking over.

(As an example, my parents are getting a new TV, but it won't be over 42" because it wouldn't fit the space they want. They also don't want any kind of improved sound because it, too, would take up space they don't want to give up. They know a bigger TV and better sound would improve their enjoyment of the movies and sports they watch, but they don't care.)

I don't know man...people these days go with the trends and the quality... maybe DVDs will still be relevant in 5 years but people will want movies in high definition. That's just the future. Out with the old, in with the new. DVDs aren't vinyl. They don't have an aesthetic/nostalgic appeal like vinyl records have in the music industry. DVDs are simply discs, just like BDs, and they are totally inferior in every way possible. Not to mention, Blu-rays are now just about the same price as DVDs anyway, so why spend the same amount of money on a DVD when you can own a BD that is far better in quality and value? I wouldn't hold on to DVDs at all...you're setting yourself up for disappointment otherwise.

I'm just going with what the future brings, in terms of home video.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

I wonder what the true reason for the switch to dual-format was. I'm certainly not a fan.

"True reason"? Is there any reason why you doubt that their stated reason is the true one?

[brandon_260]

Jeez, Eyes Without a Face is so damn sublime. Criterion has been so on point with these 1960's releases this year.

[Abdrewes]

I'm going to hell. On the Eve of Criterion's announcements, I find myself watching the special features and Faith Hill music video for Pearl Harbor. Hey, it's Criterion related in a way.

[Rhylliam]

I'm assuming Thief will be the Director's Cut and not the theatrical..

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Totally unrelated to anything, but y'all should check out the From Here to Eternity Blu-ray. I've fallen in love with Donna Reed several hundred times over since yesterday.

I just finished watching Stalag 17, so tomorrow night belongs to the Criterion Blu-ray of Eyes Without a Face. Woo hoo!

Owl, Donna Reed was the gorgeous mom of the '50s sitcoms! It was real easy to have a crush on her. I loved her in They Were Expendable which is one of the great WWII films. Even though it's a John Ford (with an directing assist from Robert Montgomery) film it seems to get overlooked. Fine film.
Stalag 17 is a film that keeps you off stride. When you think it's a comedy, it turns serious, when you get in that mood; back to comedy. The genius of Wilder is that he strikes a perfect balance of the two.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

Owl, Donna Reed was the gorgeous mom of the '50s sitcoms! It was real easy to have a crush on her. I loved her in They Were Expendable which is one of the great WWII films. Even though it's a John Ford (with an directing assist from Robert Montgomery) film it seems to get overlooked. Fine film.
Stalag 17 is a film that keeps you off stride. When you think it's a comedy, it turns serious, when you get in that mood; back to comedy. The genius of Wilder is that he strikes a perfect balance of the two.

I like Donna Reed in It's a Wonderful Life as well. I have a real soft spot for that movie, and I might end up grabbing myself a copy around Christmas. Her role in From Here to Eternity is edgier than any of her other roles, though, and I think that this is why I am so taken with her character in that movie.

I'll have to look up They Were Expendable.

Deborah Kerr has a great role in From Here to Eternity as well, and it breaks the trend of her morally-upstanding character types in the Powell/Pressburger films and such.

[Mansinthe]

awesome annoucements for next year ! wow !

criterion is really doing a fine job these few last months, first the totally awesome Zatoichi box, followed by the WCP box. + Tokyo Story, Eyes without a Face , its a mad mad world 197 min cut

+ Throne of Blood

[jw007]

Hey Owl, guess what I watched last night?!

[jw007]

I watched Seconds last night for the very first time.

Absolutely brilliant film!

I now see John Frankenheimer in a new light. The man was brilliant.

This film touches on so many existential themes and topics. It's a cautionary tale about "second chances" and identity crises, bringing up so many questions including: "what if we were granted another chance but don't know what we want? or "what if we waste our second chance?" or "how could you behave when have the body of a young man with the mind of an old man?" as well as "do we even know who we are if we just change our appearance?".

There is a gripping sense of psychological claustrophobia inherent in Seconds. I love the first half of this film when our main character, Arthur Hamilton (played by John Randolph) is willingly taken to a mysterious building, after receiving telephone calls from a "friend" from his past. In this building, we don't know who these people are and what their true motives are. And then Rock Hudson emerges and we are taken along for one hell of a joyride, culminating in well, in a familiar place again. I cannot reveal more than this, even though I'd like to. That big surreal scene in the middle of the film really conjures up the counter-culture movement of the 1960s. It was like a clash between the 50s and 60s right there (with Rock Hudson's conventional character vs. the hippies that emerged during this decade). And we know it won't end pretty, that is certain. It's a true nightmare to say the least, but again, I will not reveal anything specific. I can see how many people can be shaken and disturbed by this film. I watched it with both my eyes open and enjoyed every "second" of it.

The editing (by Ferris Webster) and cinematography (by James Wong Howe) is both frenetic and surreal at times. There are scenes with looping (audio overdubs) and scenes with live sound. The looping scenes were only done because of the handheld Arriflex cameras used in the film (since the cameras were too noisy and the footage was ruined because of the noise). It's impressive to see a film that came out that used a lot of effective handheld shots before steadycams were invented. There are a plethora of fantastic wide-angle shots as well.

So many films/filmmakers were influenced by this movie. I can see how John Woo's Face/Off might have borrowed from this film. I can also see a bit of The Matrix in this one (by leaving your own reality and starting over - maybe in an alternate universe). I can see how The Game from David Fincher used a bit of the charade from this story. Finally, I saw a bit of Peter Weir's The Truman Show in here with the artificial and manufactured world for Rock Hudson's character, Antiochus Wilson. Also Westworld might have taken a bit from Seconds as well.

As a Criterion release, its nearly perfect overall, with just the right amount of supplements and interviews. The video and audio quality is near perfect and I thought the Alec Baldwin interview was the highlight for me at least. Director John Frankenheimer's audio commentary sheds some light on the technical aspects and production of the film (but I wish he could have talked more about the story and deeper meaning within the film). Overall, this is an impressive Blu-ray release.

Seconds, at the heart of it, is really about being able to live your life accepting your past (failures or triumphs both). When you get rid of your past, you don't exist any longer. You need your past memories, because this shapes us as adults and who we become. You just cannot "start over" and find any meaning that way.

A brilliant film, to which I wholeheartedly give my rating of...

86 out of 100

[ArdathBey]

Is there a sticky, or a quick once over on how to make the most of the Barnes and Noble November sale? I know it's 50% off, but have read about stacking of other offers and such.

How does one make the most of it?

Thanks!

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Rhylliam

I'm assuming Thief will be the Director's Cut and not the theatrical..

Criterion's page doesn't say anything on the matter. But it does give the running time as 124 minutes, and the IMDb says the runtime for the original is 122 minutes. IMDb also says that the Director's Cut has been the only version available in Region 1 since it was first released on laserdisc.