The Criterion Collection

[bwdowiak]

I blind bought Heaven's Gate a few days ago. I think the film can now be categorized as polarizing instead of its previous status as a film that belongs in the category of 'worst films ever made.' Usually, I find myself appreciative of what a director was trying to do even if many others are quick to call his/her work as pretentious (e.g. Only God Forgives)

My top film of the 70's is Barry Lyndon. I liked The English Patient and although I haven't seen it yet, The Assassination of Jesse James... piqued my interest and I bought that not too long ago, as well. My point is, there usually is no such thing for me as a film that is "too slow."

Also, I saw a few customer reviews on Amazon. One person called it "Hell's Service Entrance." Another said, "watchable kind of like a car crash is watchable." And yet another called it "a real butt number." I thought to myself, "man, this sounds like something I'm gonna love!"

To those who have seen it, I'd like to ask which label do you feel is most appropriate?:

1) Misunderstood Masterpiece
2) Good not great
3) Interesting, but mostly as a cinematic curiosity
4) A Real Butt Number

[baheidstu]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I just finished watching The Public Enemy (1931), and cannot believe that it took me this long to check it out. That said, I'm glad that I waited until the film was available in a beautiful high definition presentation that belies its age.

I've always heard about James Cagney, because his name is ubiquitous in pop culture, but this was my first experience watching one of his films. He commands so much attention simply by way of presence and physicality, so I now understand his popularity.

The Public Enemy has some amazing sequences, my favorite being a revenge scene in the rain toward the end. The scenes with Cagney and Jean Harlow are wonderful. Of course, everyone always talks about the grapefruit scene. That's no way to treat a lady.

Tomorrow night, I'll move on to The Petrified Forest in this Ultimate Gangsters set.

Once again, I'm calling on Criterion to tackle some of these big name gangster films, like Scarface.

Even better, I'd love to see Criterion handle the Cagney/Bogart team-up films, Angels With Dirty Faces and The Roaring Twenties.

Another Cagney title you might like is White Heat. Warner released it on blu fairly recently.

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I blind bought Heaven's Gate a few days ago. I think the film can now be categorized as polarizing instead of its previous status as a film that belongs in the category of 'worst films ever made.' Usually, I find myself appreciative of what a director was trying to do even if many others are quick to call his/her work as pretentious (e.g. Only God Forgives)

My top film of the 70's is Barry Lyndon. I liked The English Patient and although I haven't seen it yet, The Assassination of Jesse James... piqued my interest and I bought that not too long ago, as well. My point is, there usually is no such thing for me as a film that is "too slow."

Also, I saw a few customer reviews on Amazon. One person called it "Hell's Service Entrance." Another said, "watchable kind of like a car crash is watchable." And yet another called it "a real butt number." I thought to myself, "man, this sounds like something I'm gonna love!"

To those who have seen it, I'd like to ask which label do you feel is most appropriate?:

1) Misunderstood Masterpiece
2) Good not great
3) Interesting, but mostly as a cinematic curiosity
4) A Real Butt Number

It's been a while since I've seen it. At that time it was still firmly in the category of one of the worst films ever made. So with low expectations, I was surprised it was quite enjoyable. But, yes, it is long. I would say it's (2) good not great. I wouldn't go so far as to call it a masterpiece and it's better than just a cinematic curiosity - it has more to offer than to dismiss it by comparing it to watching a car wreck.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by baheidstu

Another Cagney title you might like is White Heat. Warner released it on blu fairly recently.

I've got it. Last week, I bought the Ultimate Gangsters Collection: Classics box set, which includes Little Caesar, The Public Enemy, The Petrified Forest, and White Heat.

I'm going through this box set sequentially, so I'll be watching The Petrified Forest tonight and I'll probably be watching White Heat tomorrow night.

[baheidstu]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I've got it. Last week, I bought the Ultimate Gangsters Collection: Classics box set, which includes Little Caesar, The Public Enemy, The Petrified Forest, and White Heat.

I'm going through this box set sequentially, so I'll be watching The Petrified Forest tonight and I'll probably be watching White Heat tomorrow night.

Gotcha - I forgot it was in that set - I just remember seeing the individual release when it came out.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

November 5 through December 2

I won't be hitting the Criterion sale until the November 15 payday, because I've ordered enough to keep me busy until then. I hardly expect that my desired picks will be sold out in the local Barnes & Noble stores.

I just visited Amazon for three non-Criterion titles...

The Right Stuff
Raging Bull
Once Upon a Time in America

I checked to see that The Right Stuff, which comes out Tuesday, was less than $20. Since I've been wanting the other two for a long while now, I decided to throw them in to take advantage of the free shipping.
I got to thinking about Raging Bull again after watching Scorsese's Taxi Driver last week.

[TJS_Blu]

Originally Posted by deepbreathsanddeath

...Waddell ended up mentioning that Criterion released a blu-ray of it and now there are people who actually think its a masterpiece and they both chuckled. Good listen.

So they were chuckling at the people who now claim it is a masterpiece?

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by RiFiFi1955

That would be a fantastic release!



Yeah that would also be super.

I want a Criterion release of Gilda with a nice classy B&W pic of Rita on the cover! Is there a smiley for Dreamer

I also think Dodsworth and/or My Man Godfrey would make for some great Criterion additions too.

It doesn't get a lot of love, but I really enjoyed All Through the Night. Bogart and Lorre? Yes sir!

[joie]

Looking for recommendations?

Try going to this site's Criterion list. You can sort titles by collection count, popularity, sales rank, etc. I do not know how "popularity" and "sales rank" are determined, but I imagine a sort by "collection count" is by this site's count.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

1) Misunderstood Masterpiece
2) Good not great
3) Interesting, but mostly as a cinematic curiosity
4) A Real Butt Number

Better than merely good....maybe great, maybe not...but not a masterpiece.

The good - and there's plenty of it - handily outweighs the bad and while there's really not a lot of bad there's a little too much bad to call it a masterpiece.

I'm definitely glad I bought it and look forward to watching it again down the road.

[bluesilo]

Originally Posted by Ausjdm

Anatomy of a murder
Bigger than life
Killing of a Chinese bookie
Revanche (I'm buying this one)
Gomorrah
Sweet smell of success
Double life of Veronique
World on a wire
Wages of fear
39 steps
Identification of a woman
House of games
Life & death of Colonel Blimp
Vengeance is mine
Sisters
3 women
Woman under the influence
Missing
Spy who came from the cold
Heavens gate
Frances Ha
2 or 3 things I know about her
Vivre sa vie
Last temptation of Christ
Solaris
Battle of Algiers
Seconds
Knife in the water
Che
Carlos
Le deuxieme soufflé
Jules and Jim
Black narcissus
Earrings of Madame de..
Amarcord

Bolded are my suggestions. Add Woman Under the Influence if your going to buy the five disc set.

[RiFiFi1955]

Originally Posted by smoss469

It doesn't get a lot of love, but I really enjoyed All Through the Night. Bogart and Lorre? Yes sir!

OH All Through the Night...great stuff! and you are right highly underrated. I actually just purchased a 1080p HD download from itunes last week so it is real funny you mention that title. I also purchased a 1080p download of Charles Vidor's The Desperadoes too(which looked great in HD).

P.S. Don't kill me for buying Digital Downloads guys but I just don't see these titles hitting blu anytime soon.

[SilentDawn]

Originally Posted by baheidstu

Another Cagney title you might like is White Heat. Warner released it on blu fairly recently.



It's been a while since I've seen it. At that time it was still firmly in the category of one of the worst films ever made. So with low expectations, I was surprised it was quite enjoyable. But, yes, it is long. I would say it's (2) good not great. I wouldn't go so far as to call it a masterpiece and it's better than just a cinematic curiosity - it has more to offer than to dismiss it by comparing it to watching a car wreck.

I found Heaven's Gate to be a misunderstood masterpiece, an epic western worth every amount of praise it can get. It's in my top 5 westerns actually and I don't even own the Blu-Ray, I've heard it looks fantastic.

[The Keeper]

Any other fans of Sahara here? Caught it for the first time on TCM a few years back and really enjoyed it. Bogart is great in it, great cast in supporting roles, and some very moving moments. It's a Columbia (Sony) title, so it would probably look great, especially if Criterion released it!

[RiFiFi1955]

Originally Posted by The Keeper

Any other fans of Sahara here? Caught it for the first time on TCM a few years back and really enjoyed it. Bogart is great in it, great cast in supporting roles, and some very moving moments. It's a Columbia (Sony) title, so it would probably look great, especially if Criterion released it!

Sahara is another fantastic Bogie Film. Damn they need to start releasing more Bogart on Blu

[Mansinthe]

only a little notice for you all.. looks like hulu has some "halloween" special with criterion movies and eclipse movies.. there are a lot of japanese ghost storys avaible for free (kwaidan , kaidan , onibaba, kuroneko , empire of passion etc..)

currently watching kaidan (video quality of this one is acutally pretty strong. would probably make a decent bluray release)

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by RiFiFi1955

OH All Through the Night...great stuff! and you are right highly underrated. I actually just purchased a 1080p HD download from itunes last week so it is real funny you mention that title. I also purchased a 1080p download of Charles Vidor's The Desperadoes too(which looked great in HD).

P.S. Don't kill me for buying Digital Downloads guys but I just don't see these titles hitting blu anytime soon.

I picked it up in a 4 pack with High Sierra, Petrified Forest and... Dr Chitterhouse (or whatever the name is, can't check right this moment). I wish there was more Bogart on Blu that's for sure! Would love to see more Detective movies from the B&W era on BD. There are a TON of Mr Moto's, Charlie Chan's, Mr Wong's and more to pick from. Not to mention the Thin Man stuff and all the other 5-6 series of movies out there!

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by The Keeper

Any other fans of Sahara here? Caught it for the first time on TCM a few years back and really enjoyed it. Bogart is great in it, great cast in supporting roles, and some very moving moments. It's a Columbia (Sony) title, so it would probably look great, especially if Criterion released it!

Big fan. I have the dvd which is so-so printwise so I would love to see a restoration. It's a little similar, plotwise, to The Lost Patrol which is a fine film also. Maybe the best compliment I can pay to Sahara is that my wife, who absolutely hates war films, will watch it.

[bwdowiak]

Thanks, everyone, for your input on Heaven's Gate. I counted 2 good, but not great, 1 misunderstood masterpiece, and another that said good maybe even great. I can't wait to see it! Even if it is somewhere between a cinematic curiosity and 'good, but not great', I think I will enjoy it.

[SammyJankis]

Abdrews:



Mann shooting Crowe finding the bullet in his mailbox. He liked the lighting of the location, so he moved the mailbox there.

[Scottie]