The Criterion Collection

[14728]

Hey. I'm about half way through Paths of Glory, and I have to admit, it's pretty good. The atmosphere is great, and the writing and directing are just brilliant. Though the acting is questionable. Like, Paul (the general) is a bit over acting, don't you think? And also, why does he want to kill 3 random men because they were scared of death? But I'm just nit picking. Pretty good.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by 14728

Hey. I'm about half way through Paths of Glory, and I have to admit, it's pretty good. The atmosphere is great, and the writing and directing are just brilliant. Though the acting is questionable. Like, Paul (the general) is a bit over acting, don't you think? And also, why does he want to kill 3 random men because they were scared of death? But I'm just nit picking. Pretty good.

Because

[Show spoiler]he was ambitious and the failed capture of the Ant Hill made him look bad. Remember, he had to be talked down to just 3 men to be shot.

[14728]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

Because

[Show spoiler]he was ambitious and the failed capture of the Ant Hill made him look bad. Remember, he had to be talked down to just 3 men to be shot.

But still, did he have to KILL people because they were scared of death. I can see him putting them in jail, but DEATH??? Umm...

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Oh, it was? I didn't know that!

I'll definitely check that one out! Abdrewes is still begging me to see Salo

Still begging? No. I've given up. You've been sitting on the film for almost a year now.

[Snicket]

Originally Posted by TheHighRoller

I have that! I still haven't seen it though. I will before the 28th though as I plan on seeing 12 Years a Slave then, and I'll want to watch the Michael Fassbender filmography I have in order. I still have yet to see McQueen's Hunger and Shame as well.

You are in for a treat!

I just finished watching Shame, what a powerful film.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Still begging? No. I've given up. You've been sitting on the film for almost a year now.

I've given up too It's not gonna happen..

[octagon]

Originally Posted by 14728

But still,

[Show spoiler]did he have to KILL people because they were scared of death. I can see him putting them in jail, but DEATH???

Umm...

First off, yes it's an old movie but I would bet that even in here people who haven't seen it outnumber those who have and spoiler tags are really easy to use. I'm just saying...

As for your point,

[Show spoiler]Once Mireau decided to blame the failure of the attack on cowardice the punishment was a foregone conclusion. Refusing to carry out an attack because of cowardice is a ticket to a firing squad. Jail wasn't an option. His choices were admit the attack was a terrible idea doomed to fail before it even started or execute some grunts for cowardice.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by TheHighRoller

I have that! I still haven't seen it though. I will before the 28th though as I plan on seeing 12 Years a Slave then, and I'll want to watch the Michael Fassbender filmography I have in order. I still have yet to see McQueen's Hunger and Shame as well.

Still??? We were talking about this a whole year ago ()

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Watching the Wes Anderson movies was like being at a party where I don't know anyone, but everyone else knows one another and they are all exchanging inside jokes.

LOL at that, and watching a bunch of Wes Anderson movies is like going to several parties only to find the same set of ******s with their inside jokes everywhere
Fantastic Mr. Fox's need to be kid-accessible IMO made it better in terms of not sniffing up its own ass in self-absorption.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by 14728

But still, did he have to KILL people because they were scared of death. I can see him putting them in jail, but DEATH??? Umm...

[Show spoiler]The anti-war theme of the film points out many of the absurdities of war. This General, in his quest for promotion and attention, ordered this attack on what was, admittedly, a near-impossible mission. If it succeeded; he got the glory and all the things that go with it. if it failed; he would have still gotten the accolades for being bold and imaginative at a time in the war when, as was stated, there was very little going on battle-wise with both sides pretty well just hunkered down. This General's ego is so huge that when the battle turns so badly against his troops and they (in his eyes) perform as cowards he orders his own artillery to fire on them to get them out of the trenches. By this action alone it shows the extremes he would go to so why would executing 3 men be a big deal? An example made. They're like children, they want to be disciplined or so the reasoning goes. Watch this movie again. There's lots of little (and not so little) examples of the foolishness of war. The Wayne Morris character, for example, is the biggest true coward in the picture, and yet he, literally, gets away with murder. The irony there is that, in real life, Wayne Morris was a highly decorated flying Ace in WWII!

[hoytereden]

Not a Criterion title but I just ordered The Haunting. Sliding back into Criterion territory......I was watching Seconds last night and as much credit as Rock Hudson gets for his performance I don't think John Randolph gets nearly enough for his. He's terrific!!!

[The Great Owl]

Eyes Without a Face Blu-ray for the win!

I've seen the Criterion DVD of this movie several times, but tonight's viewing was my first time seeing it in high definition. This Blu-ray transfer is really something else. I'm not qualified to give a highly technical audio/video review, but, to my eyes, the picture quality here rivals that of The Spy Who Came In from the Cold or Seconds. Eyes Without a Face really jumps off the screen, and it looks marvelous here.

I'll write a longer review later, but I wanted to express my joy right off the bat.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Still begging? No. I've given up. You've been sitting on the film for almost a year now.

I owned it since August 28 (I believe) of last year...so...over a year...!

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I owned it since August 28 (I believe) of last year...so...over a year...!

I'll watch Trashzil if you watch Salo

(yeah I realize that doesn't sound too tempting )

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

I'll watch Trashzil if you watch Salo

(yeah I realize that doesn't sound too tempting )

Nice trade-off

[MitchA17]

Originally Posted by Tin Drum

I was bowled over by Fish Tank. An amazingly tense film with excellent central performances. Jarvis was very, very good for an unknown and Fassbender was, as usual, excellent.

The story draws you in immediately and keep ahold of you through to the end even if the screenplay is very calculated and the twist is pretty easy to figure out.

I choked up during the two final scenes.

Definitely. It follows a pretty standard coming-of-age plot structure, but shot and performed in such an intense and realistic way that it becomes (in my opinion) among the best of the genre. And those last scenes came out of nowhere and packed a real punch.

Fassbender is incredible, as is Jarvis. It's a shame that her real-life situation has kind of undercut the film's ambiguity of a happy ending, and makes it sound like she's not going to be acting again.

[MitchA17]

Just finished my first-ever Criterion blind buy, and loved it: Medium Cool. Absolutely stunning cinematography and camerawork, great performances (Robert Forster never does a bad job), and knowing that all those riot scenes were real made them that much more intense.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by MitchA17

It's a shame that her real-life situation has kind of undercut the film's ambiguity of a happy ending, and makes it sound like she's not going to be acting again.

Real-life situation?

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by MitchA17

Definitely. It follows a pretty standard coming-of-age plot structure, but shot and performed in such an intense and realistic way that it becomes (in my opinion) among the best of the genre. And those last scenes came out of nowhere and packed a real punch.

Fassbender is incredible, as is Jarvis. It's a shame that her real-life situation has kind of undercut the film's ambiguity of a happy ending, and makes it sound like she's not going to be acting again.

MitchA17, I have not posted anything in this thread for months due to some individuals that like to achieve a posting quota, but your avatar caught my attention.

I consider Koyaanisqatsi Philip Glass' greatest film score. The re-recording is fantastic. I just recently purchased his Music in 12 Parts, which is also great.

Once again great avatar

[MitchA17]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

MitchA17, I have not posted anything in this thread for months due to some individuals that like to achieve a posting quota, but your avatar caught my attention.

I consider Koyaanisqatsi Philip Glass' greatest film score. The re-recording is fantastic. I just recently purchased his Music in 12 Parts, which is also great.

Once again great avatar

Thanks! It's definitely my favorite Glass score (Mishima and Naqoyqatsi are in a close tie for second; Naqoyqatsi's especially for being such a stunningly beautiful score for such a boring dud of a movie), and the re-recording makes it sound even better. Even though it doesn't really have anything to do with the film, the cover is such a striking image.

I've given Glass' score for Reggio's next film Visitors a listen, and it's pretty excellent. The movie isn't coming out until next year, but I'm excited to see it (and hopefully he learned something after doing Naqoyqatsi ). The Visitors score is on iTunes if you want to give it a listen.

Thanks again! (Big fan of your Avatar too, BTW. )