The Criterion Collection

[dylan32]

Originally Posted by CoenP

They're also showing Eisensteins Alexander Nevski and Ivan the Terrible part 1&2 and Tarkovsky's The Sacrifice as part of their 'Russian masters program'. I like

My ex-wife was the author of The Sacrifice film companion (from Kino files). I had not seen it at this point, so made an effort to get hold of a DVD so that we could discuss it (this was quite early in our relationship, so wanted to impress).

I called her after watching it to tell her I'd just seen it. Her response was;

"Did you? Isn't it shit!"

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by smoss469

So what about:

Basil Dearden's London Underground
Warped World of Koreyoshi Kurahara

Not much on these on the forum that I've found. Anyone own them and have any thoughts? Blind Buys that looked interesting!

Anyone? This thread moves too quick! (Sometimes)

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by deepbreathsanddeath

So... Why aren't you reviewing for this site yet? Lol.
This website would benefit from hiring one more reviewer so we can get more Region B and Asian imports reviewed quicker and I think we would all agree that The Great Owl would make a nice addition to the official reviewers.

Pro-B is doing great work but the output of Region B reviews is far too slow for my liking.

I just write User Reviews for the fun of it, and to spread the word about movies that I enjoy. Most of my reviews are written during a half-hour span of time after I finish going through a Blu-ray, so I like the challenge of trying to come up with something presentable during that time frame.
Sadly, I do not have Region B capability. Thanks for the kind words, though!

[Mansinthe]

I do not have Region B capability. Thanks for the kind words, though!

yep i would defintly enjoy more reviews of you.
Pro-B does a awesome job as well!

Originally Posted by smoss469 View Post
So what about:

Warped World of Koreyoshi Kurahara

did blind buy this one as well. probably its great

[Scottie]

Caught Eraserhead on The Movie Channel yesterday.

What a fascinating, yet weird film! I can't wait to give it another watch when Criterion releases it.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

and seconds has rock hudson in a real awesome role. saw him the first time in "tarnished angels" but in seconds he could really "act"

A lot of people tend to write off Hudson, possibly because they associate him with Doris Day (or because of his TV series McMillan and Wife), and think of him as fluff. And, quite frankly, he's had a number of underwhelming performances in underwhelming films.

But in the hands of an excellent director, he could pull off a terrific performance. Seconds was certainly one of them, but at the very least, there's also Giant (out on Blu-ray this week from Warner) and the films he did with Douglas Sirk -- Manificent Obsession, Written on the Wind, and All That Heaven Allows (all available on Criterion DVD, and highly recommended; I'd love to see these upgraded to Blu-ray and released in a boxed set).

[SolidBlu]

Just thinking if Amazon will have the same CC sale as B&N

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by Roninblues

I have and enjoy both. The B&N sale is the time to buy the Eclipse sets (great value).

I should have them in a few days and will be getting the Nikkatsu Noir set for Christmas. I've got about 6 or 7 more on my Amazon wish list. I might pick up one or two more before the BN sale ends.

[Judex]

Originally Posted by SolidBlu

Just thinking if Amazon will have the same CC sale as B&N

They did last Nov/Dec, but that was down to price matching the Best Buy sale.
If I remember correctly most of them were priced at $17.99.
If they have a sale I imagine it'll start after the B&N one ends.

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by jayembee

You should've gone for The Complete Monterey Pop Festival instead of just half of it.

Originally Posted by lordmorpheus72

I did look at it, but was really just interested in the Jimi and Otis performances. Looked over the complete, but really didn't have the need to get the whole thing. I may regret it in the future, but ok for now.

So ended up going back to return the Jimi Monterey disc and get the complete set. Also got a 20% coupon so picked up 3 Films by Roberto Rossellini Starring Ingrid Bergman for $39.00! Hopefully this is my last trip, but it's early in the month.

[SolidBlu]

Originally Posted by Judex

They did last Nov/Dec, but that was down to price matching the Best Buy sale.
If I remember correctly most of them were priced at $17.99.
If they have a sale I imagine it'll start after the B&N one ends.

thanks

[Mansinthe]

Originally Posted by jayembee

A lot of people tend to write off Hudson, possibly because they associate him with Doris Day (or because of his TV series McMillan and Wife), and think of him as fluff. And, quite frankly, he's had a number of underwhelming performances in underwhelming films.

But in the hands of an excellent director, he could pull off a terrific performance. Seconds was certainly one of them, but at the very least, there's also Giant (out on Blu-ray this week from Warner) and the films he did with Douglas Sirk -- Manificent Obsession, Written on the Wind, and All That Heaven Allows (all available on Criterion DVD, and highly recommended; I'd love to see these upgraded to Blu-ray and released in a boxed set).

dont forget tarnished angels from Moc. probably the first movie with rock that i saw.

[Thebunk]

Thinking of blind buying one of the following:

- Seconds
- Eyes Without a Face

Leaning very heavily toward Seconds due to what I think is cheese filled EWAF (at least the the carnival-esque score)

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by lordmorpheus72

So ended up going back to return the Jimi Monterey disc and get the complete set.

Good man.

Thanks for reminding me, anyway. When we had the previous exchange, I thought to myself that instead of playing my iTunes while puttering on the laptop, I should pop The Complete Monterey Pop in my disc drive and just listen to the soundtrack.

I'm doing that just that now.

Of course, a lot of the songs (albeit studio sessions) are in my iTunes library anyway, but it's not the same.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by deepbreathsanddeath

I never even brought Kubrick up! Haha. It seems a discussion can't be had about Solaris without igniting another Kubrick vs. Tarkovsky discussion lol. I've only seen one film by Tarkovsky so far and that's Solaris. I don't think I've seen enough from him to say whether I like him more but... I think I can safely say I do and will always like Kubrick more.

As emotionless and cold as 2001 may be, it's infinitely rewatchable for me where as I struggled to get through Solaris once. There were moments in it that were really engaging but otherwise I felt like I was watching it all from a distance (not in a good way) where as with 2001, I actually felt drawn in and had a real experience. I'm pretty sure Tarkovsky's intention was to give a different more human reaction than that but that's how I feel.

I'm pretty keen to see Stalker and Ivan's Childhood though. Andrei Rublev is supposed to be his masterpiece but that one doesn't really interest me much... I have a feeling it will be a similar experience to Solaris for me. Solaris is a good movie but the pacing just felt dead slow. I love slow burners and even deliberately paced films but Solaris wasn't very enjoyable for me unfortunately.

We usually don't agree on many things, but this is one instance where I wholeheartedly agree with you on Solaris. I just watched Ivan's Childhood for the first time not too long ago and I enjoyed it. The only other Tarkovsky I've seen is The Sacrifice. I really want to see Nostalghia, and I'm looking forward to the upcoming blu-ray release. I sort of wish Criterion had been releasing it as Kino/Lorber usually doesn't clean up any old prints. You're right though, somehow Kubrick always gets into the mix whenever anyone mentions Tarkovsky's Solaris. I was the latest perpetuator for doing this.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Thebunk

Thinking of blind buying one of the following:

- Seconds
- Eyes Without a Face

Leaning very heavily toward Seconds due to what I think is cheese filled EWAF (at least the the carnival-esque score)

cheese and camp are two different things, but I'll just put it out there.. I found the sci-fi elements of Seconds to be a bit campy. I did enjoy the film, but I'm actually slightly surprised at the heaps and mounds of praise it has garnered. I generally say that one would be pleased w/ a blind buy of the film, but I don't think it's the masterpiece that some are claiming it is. but, of course, that's just one man's opinion.

[Hintermann]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I found the sci-fi elements of Seconds to be a bit campy.

If one thinks logically - or at least what we consider logically - any supernatural or sci-fi element can seem campy. Seconds is no different but it succeeds very well in depicting what it sets out to do - an attempt to find happiness on the 'other pasture' in its extreme form - and gradually realising that things are not always what they seem from a distance. The script, camerawork and acting are all unformly good - even Hudson's bland performance somehow fits in with his pseudo-character. The increasing claustrophobic feeling of being surrounded by forces that one has no control right until the shattering termination is excellently presented.

Seconds may not be a masterpiece but is certainly an outstanding film.

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Good man.

Thanks for reminding me, anyway. When we had the previous exchange, I thought to myself that instead of playing my iTunes while puttering on the laptop, I should pop The Complete Monterey Pop in my disc drive and just listen to the soundtrack.

I'm doing that just that now.

Of course, a lot of the songs (albeit studio sessions) are in my iTunes library anyway, but it's not the same.

Yeah, I debated in the store, but upon further thought, after your post... figured I'd want it eventually. So, thanks to you as well.

And yes, just not the same in iTunes.

[Thebunk]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

cheese and camp are two different things, but I'll just put it out there.. I found the sci-fi elements of Seconds to be a bit campy. I did enjoy the film, but I'm actually slightly surprised at the heaps and mounds of praise it has garnered. I generally say that one would be pleased w/ a blind buy of the film, but I don't think it's the masterpiece that some are claiming it is. but, of course, that's just one man's opinion.

So without spoilers (if possible) is the sci-fi comments campy due to props/sound effects or the concept?

Also, any opinion on Eyes Without a Face?

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Thebunk

So without spoilers (if possible) is the sci-fi comments campy due to props/sound effects or the concept?

Also, any opinion on Eyes Without a Face?

I did not think of either movie as cheesy or campy.

Eyes Without a Face features some off-kilter music during a handful of scenes, but it accentuates the strangeness of the premise in a fitting way.

Seconds has some rather offbeat scenes regarding the secret locations of the organization, but nothing about the setup is supposed to appear normal.

You cannot go wrong with either movie, in my opinion. I think that both of them are classics.