The Criterion Collection

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Ausjdm

Yes def in our capitalist society we're in everyone should see it no doubt. Oh god the whole movie is about extreme and excess. Some where Gordon Gekko watched this movie and even he's blushing after this lol. Like I said the main character is not someone you'll like, but I give Leo props he pulls it off amazingly. It also Has a Pain and Gain feel to it that your just watching like this stuff couldn't of really happen but yes it did! Side note damn I wander who Scorese and the team paid off to get it a R rating Because its Super graphic and I've seen Shame, irreversible, enter the void, blue valentine, dreamers, showgirls, kids, bad education, antichrist etc.. Idk how they rate stuff sometimes. Wasn't saving private Ryan pg13 lol?

You must have read that review in my local paper about "Gordon Gekko". Ha. This is a snippet of what the Post-Gazette wrote regarding Gekko:

"Wolf," with a screenplay by Terence Winter based on Belfort's book, dramatizes a life of such utter excess, decadence and depravity that it would make Gordon Gekko blush. This is not the movie to take Grandma to see after you've polished off the eggnog but it is masterfully made and engaging, with a fearless Mr. DiCaprio as a sort of seductive Wall Street wiseguy.

I'll probably watch this film and cringe and roll my eyes after every scene. It will be excruciating but I can handle Scorcese anytime.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I have not seen Soylent Green in ages, but I thought about it recently when I saw a three-disc Blu-ray set that also included The Omega Man and Logan's Run.

I bought the blu-rays for Soylent Green and Logan's Run last year and I have a certain appreciation and love for 1970s sci fi.

If there is ever a 70s sci fi film that belongs in the Criterion Collection, its Silent Running. I could just imagine how awesome the supplements would be as the movie is about "saving the plants and trees in a future society that has destroyed its wildlife and nature". Imagine all the environmentalists and horticulturists that could contribute their feedback about this film. This was an important movie because, at the time, its one of the few that directly addressed the problems of deforestation, clean air/water and biogenetic pollution. It's never been more timely than today, esp. with climate change, greenhouse gases and global warming. The film itself also was a precursor to Star Wars with those personalized robots... and Bruce Dern was a madman in that film!

[baheidstu]

Originally Posted by lordmorpheus72

I need to pick those up myself. One of my best friends in college was a huge fan of Logan's Run. I've never seen the whole movie, or the short-lived series, but seen parts of the movie and it is one of those "so bad it's great films," I have many of those in my collection.

As for Jenny Agutter, I really didn't know who she was until I watched the UK series Coupling many, many years ago. Walkabout and The Wicker Man are favorites of the male characters in the show... and of course Jenny Agutter is the reason.

Logan's Run is a fun 70s sci-fi, although I feel that it drags on in the final act when

[Show spoiler]they flee the city and meet up with the old man played by Peter Ustinov.

Logan's Run won the Oscar for Best Special Effects in 1976 (along with the King Kong remake) and I think it was the end of an era for those early 70s dystopian sci-fi films, what with Star Wars coming out the following year and changing the entire face of the genre. Jenny Agutter is fantastic in Logan's Run, she's so beautiful especially with her skimpy outfits and some brief nudity!

On a related note, for those in Canada this February at Cineplex movie theatres, they are once again having their digital film fest. February 2nd appears to be a classic sci-fi day as they are showing Logan's Run, the original Planet of the Apes, the original Battlestar Galactica, the original Tron and my most anticipated, Flash Gordon!

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by baheidstu

On a related note, for those in Canada this February at Cineplex movie theatres, they are once again having their digital film fest. February 2nd appears to be a classic sci-fi day as they are showing Logan's Run, the original Planet of the Apes, the original Battlestar Galactica, the original Tron and my most anticipated, Flash Gordon!

Those are all golden. I've owned the five original Planet of the Apes films in every format, and I bought the box set on the same day that I bought my Blu-ray player. I bought Flash Gordon and Tron on Blu-ray around this time last year.

I have not seen the original Battlestar Galactica since childhood.

[Clare2904]

Originally Posted by baheidstu

On a related note, for those in Canada this February at Cineplex movie theatres, they are once again having their digital film fest. February 2nd appears to be a classic sci-fi day as they are showing Logan's Run, the original Planet of the Apes, the original Battlestar Galactica, the original Tron and my most anticipated, Flash Gordon!

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Those are all golden. I've owned the five original Planet of the Apes films in every format, and I bought the box set on the same day that I bought my Blu-ray player. I bought Flash Gordon and Tron on Blu-ray around this time last year.

I have not seen the original Battlestar Galactica since childhood.

I also noticed that on Jan 3 they have Lawrence of Arabia scheduled I saw this when searching for the film after Peter O'Toole passed away.

http://www.cineplex.com/Movie/lawrence-of-arabia

[Ausjdm]

Originally Posted by jw007

You must have read that review in my local paper about "Gordon Gekko". Ha. This is a snippet of what the Post-Gazette wrote regarding Gekko:

"Wolf," with a screenplay by Terence Winter based on Belfort's book, dramatizes a life of such utter excess, decadence and depravity that it would make Gordon Gekko blush. This is not the movie to take Grandma to see after you've polished off the eggnog but it is masterfully made and engaging, with a fearless Mr. DiCaprio as a sort of seductive Wall Street wiseguy.

I'll probably watch this film and cringe and roll my eyes after every scene. It will be excruciating but I can handle Scorcese anytime.

That's weird well I sware I haven't read your local newspaper lol

[lordmorpheus72]

I really love how so many movies can be so different to so many people. Rushmore is one of my favorite movies, not just Criterion releases. By no means do I love all Wes Anderson films, but I do enjoy most. Fantastic Mr. Fox is one of those I've seen once that I don't hate, but don't love. I may or may not pick it up when it's released. And then there is The Royal Tenenbaums, which I really didn't like the first, and only, time I watched the movie. It's on my list for those who want to buy it for me, but I didn't even pick it up during the B&N B1G1.

And then there are all those really "bad" movies that we love to hate! Anywho... that's what is so great about movies, there's something for everyone out there... even for all us "snobs" out there. Ha!!! I just love being able to discuss it all here.

On a Criterion note... I just finished both City Lights and The Gold Rush. Both are gems... so glad I have them in my collection. I can see myself watching these over and over. Starting Kiss Me Deadly now, and hope I can squeeze in Pale Flowers before I head out to see Saving Mr. Banks with the wife later.

[Mansinthe]

Originally Posted by 14728

I just watched the Passion of Joan of Arc DVD,

why dont you get the masters of cinema bluray?

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by baheidstu

Logan's Run is a fun 70s sci-fi,
and I think it was the end of an era for those early 70s dystopian sci-fi films, what with Star Wars coming out the following year and changing the entire face of the genre.

It was the first upbeat dystopian sci-fi of the '70's, as we were putting the cynical Nixon years behind us. Which meant that kids could go see the movie for reasons other than seeing how cool-realistic the disaster movie was.
What we know today as the "shopping mall" was still relatively rare in the 70's, so the Domed City was someplace that just looked cool to be.

Originally Posted by jw007

If there is ever a 70s sci fi film that belongs in the Criterion Collection, its Silent Running. The film itself also was a precursor to Star Wars with those personalized robots... and Bruce Dern was a madman in that film!

It was also Joel Hodgson's inspiration for MST3K. (Yes, he admitted it.)

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Only one Criterion in my Christmas haul: Eyes Without a Face. But I've got gift cards burning a hole in my pocket.

I bought a few things today at B&N and Best Buy, but none of them Criterions:

Taxi Driver (the DigiPack edition with the lobby cards)
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (DigiBook)
The Right Stuff (DigiBook)
The Big Parade (DigiBook)
The African Queen

Still more gift card to spend at Amazon.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Quinni

Just found out about The Fantastic Mr. Fox and Blue is the Warmest Color. Very glad that I held off on the former until now (makes me wonder, though, how often does Criterion consider animated films such as this?)

Not often. They did release Akira on laserdisc back in the day. I'm sure their choice of Fantastic Mr. Fox has more to do with Wes Anderson being the director than anything else. They seem bound and determined to put out all of his films.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Taxi Driver (the DigiPack edition with the lobby cards)
The Right Stuff (DigiBook)
The Big Parade (DigiBook)
The African Queen

Great selections!

The Right Stuff and The Big Parade are both superb digibook releases. The Right Stuff, in particular, really shines on Blu-ray.

I bought the 4K-remaster bare-bones edition of Taxi Driver, simply because I found it for incredibly cheap. Such a great movie transferred beautifully to high definition.

The African Queen is one of the best movies ever made, and needs no further elaboration.

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by jayembee

I bought a few things today at B&N and Best Buy, but none of them Criterions:

Taxi Driver (the DigiPack edition with the lobby cards)
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (DigiBook)
The Right Stuff (DigiBook)
The Big Parade (DigiBook)
The African Queen

Still more gift card to spend at Amazon.

Excellent choices! Rocky Horror digibook is wonderful, and The Right Stuff.. well it's just an awesome movie. Wanting to pick it up before the BN 40% sale ends as well.

[spanky87]

LA Confidential should have been made in black and white.

[bwdowiak]

today I purchased The Red Shoes (new) for $17 flat and Sunset Boulevard for $12.49 (free shipping) w/ my Amazon 30 day Prime trial that will expire in a few days.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by jw007

If there is ever a 70s sci fi film that belongs in the Criterion Collection, its Silent Running. I could just imagine how awesome the supplements would be as the movie is about "saving the plants and trees in a future society that has destroyed its wildlife and nature". Imagine all the environmentalists and horticulturists that could contribute their feedback about this film. This was an important movie because, at the time, its one of the few that directly addressed the problems of deforestation, clean air/water and biogenetic pollution. It's never been more timely than today, esp. with climate change, greenhouse gases and global warming.

I loved the film (Doug Trumbull's first as a director) when it first came out. Especially loved the soundtrack by Peter Schickele (better known as "P.D.Q. Bach") with a couple of songs by Joan Baez. But frankly, I don't think it quite holds up.

If I had to choose a 70s SF film for Criterion to release (other than, of course, the ones that they actually did release: The Man Who Fell to Earth and Solaris), I'd go with Altman's Quintet. Failing that, I'd probably pick the underrated Demon Seed. I might've gone with the original Rollerball, but it appears that Twilight Time has gotten their talons into that one.

The film itself also was a precursor to Star Wars with those personalized robots... and Bruce Dern was a madman in that film!

Interesting historical note: Fox instigated a lawsuit against Universal claiming that Battlestar Galactica's Muffit the Dagget was a rip-off of R2D2. They dropped the suit when Universal threatened to counter-sue claiming that R2D2 was a rip-off of Huey, Dewey and Louie, the drones from Silent Running.

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Interesting historical note: Fox instigated a lawsuit against Universal claiming that Battlestar Galactica's Muffit the Dagget was a rip-off of R2D2. They dropped the suit when Universal threatened to counter-sue claiming that R2D2 was a rip-off of Huey, Dewey and Louie, the drones from Silent Running.

Pretty cool, I had no idea. Always nice to pick up tidbits of trivia for later use. Thanks for the info!

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Great selections!

The Right Stuff and The Big Parade are both superb digibook releases. The Right Stuff, in particular, really shines on Blu-ray.

I bought the 4K-remaster bare-bones edition of Taxi Driver, simply because I found it for incredibly cheap. Such a great movie transferred beautifully to high definition.

The African Queen is one of the best movies ever made, and needs no further elaboration.

No love for Rocky Horror?

But seriously. The woman cashing me out at B&N scans in Queen and says, "Fabulous film"; scans in Rocky Horror and says "Another fabulous film"; scans in The Big Parade and says "I'm not familiar with this one." I said "It's yet another fabulous film," to which she replied, "It must be, with the other two you're getting." Of course, I said that I didn't think Rocky Horror was a "fabulous" film, but a hell of an enjoyable one nonetheless.

I'm one of those crazy people who actually likes the movie, and doesn't care for all of the participatory nonsense that ended up surrounding the film. Then again, I saw the film several times before the whole audience participation thing began.

The other two titles I got at the Best Buy next door. I was surprised when the cashier asked me if I was born before 1996. I answered, "Yes. Isn't it obvious?" (I have graying temples and salt-&-pepper facial hair.) She said that she had to ask. When I asked why, she said it was because Taxi Driver was R-rated! This was the first time I ever even heard of someone being "carded" buying a video, let alone had it happen to me.

After I left the store, I realized that I should have told her that I was old enough to have seen both Midnight Cowboy and A Clockwork Orange in the theater back when they were first released, and rated "X". Though, to be honest, I really shouldn't have been allowed in for Midnight Cowboy, as I wasn't quite 16 at the time.

Originally Posted by lordmorpheus72

Excellent choices! Rocky Horror digibook is wonderful, and The Right Stuff.. well it's just an awesome movie. Wanting to pick it up before the BN 40% sale ends as well.

The local B&N didn't seem to have any such sale. Is it on-line only? I haven't been paying attention.

[Mansinthe]

taxi driver is R-Rated? why? cuz of the teeny prostitution?
its FSK 16 over here

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by jayembee

The local B&N didn't seem to have any such sale. Is it on-line only? I haven't been paying attention.

Yeah, they have signs at my local B&N about 40% off all blu-rays. Supposedly lasts until Jan 2 according to the lady I talked with.