The Criterion Collection

[TJS_Blu]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I just caught up with Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story on Netflix, and it was a very engrossing watch. This comes highly recommended to all fans of The War Room and it's portrayal of smear tactics in political campaigns.

Never seen Boogie Man, does it have his 1981 comments on the Southern strategy?

[JoeDeM]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Here's a new article from Ain't It Cool News that makes a case for why Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai is the greatest movie ever made.

Seven Samurai may not be my own favorite movie of all time, but it's right up there, and I agree enthusiastically with everything in the above review. I love how this film introduces us to some truly wonderful human beings.

Cheers to the movie that introduced me to The Criterion Collection.

Shamefully, I've never seen this, but it looks like my kind of movie. I will have to pick this up on the next BN sale.

[ultlife2013]

Originally Posted by dwk

Criterion will be re-releasing Playtime in a Tati box set later this year, so you will not have to wait too long.

Playtime is a very interesting movie. I very much enjoy the DVD I have.

[deepbreathsanddeath]

I'm almost 2 hours into The New World (have paused it to make some food). I'm absolutely loving it, however it's undoubtedly Malick's worst edited film I've seen so far.

[thebard]

Originally Posted by dwk

Criterion will be re-releasing Playtime in a Tati box set later this year, so you will not have to wait too long.

Are you basing that on this?:






.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by dwk

Criterion will be re-releasing Playtime in a Tati box set later this year, so you will not have to wait too long.

Originally Posted by thebard

Are you basing that on this?:






.

Yes. The man with the hat and pipe is the very image of Tati's character M. Hulot. And he's in a box.

There should be little doubt that such a set will include M. Hulot's Holiday, Mon Oncle, Playtime, and Trafic, which are all Hulot films, and all previously released by Criterion on DVD.

The only real question is whether it will also include Jour de fête and Parade. He doesn't play Hulot in these, but it'd be nice if we were able to get a Complete Tati set, not just a Complete Hulot set.

Anyway, Jour de fête and Parade were released by Criterion on LD (as were the first two of the Hulots), so there's precedence.

[PowellPressburger]

Didn't Criterion lose Trafic to Studio Canal? Id love to have it in the box set but I'm not holding my breath.

[bwdowiak]

I saw Ivan's Childhood this past weekend and it exceeded my expectations. When I heard the film described as "visual poetry," I expected a virtually plotless film more along the lines of Pather Panchali. Not so. This is a great film both for its artistic qualities and for the engaging story it tells. Really liked it!

I've noticed that many of my favorite Criterion titles are films dealing with World War II, Nazi Germany and the like. With that being said, can anyone direct me to more titles or suggest one that you might like?

These are the ones that I have seen and enjoyed immensely!: Army of Shadows, Ivan's Childhood, Au Revoir Les Enfants, and A Man Escaped. What else is out there?

[The Great Owl]

Abdrewes has set up the Top 20 Films of the 2000s thread in the Movies forum.

My Top 20 only includes one Criterion Collection film this time around (Revanche), but In the Mood for Love is sitting in my stack of still-unwatched Blu-rays that I bought last month, there's always a chance that my final result will be altered later on.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I saw Ivan's Childhood this past weekend and it exceeded my expectations. When I heard the film described as "visual poetry," I expected a virtually plotless film more along the lines of Pather Panchali. Not so. This is a great film both for its artistic qualities and for the engaging story it tells. Really liked it!

I've noticed that many of my favorite Criterion titles are films dealing with World War II, Nazi Germany and the like. With that being said, can anyone direct me to more titles or suggest one that you might like?

These are the ones that I have seen and enjoyed immensely!: Army of Shadows, Ivan's Childhood, Au Revoir Les Enfants, and A Man Escaped. What else is out there?

You have a great taste for films. I believe it not so much the war films that attracts your attention, but a particular poetic tone these films capture that you have mention.

Tarkovsky was a fan of Bresson and Bergman (which he believed were the only film directors that mattered). If you are looking for that particular filmic tone, I highly recommend Andrei Rublev (Tarkovsky), Pickpocket (Bresson), Le Samourai (Melville) and Persona (Bergman), all of which are pending upgrades.

Other great war films are The Thin Red Line and The Cranes are Flying (main cinematographic inspiration for Ivan's Childhood)

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I've noticed that many of my favorite Criterion titles are films dealing with World War II, Nazi Germany and the like. With that being said, can anyone direct me to more titles or suggest one that you might like?

These are the ones that I have seen and enjoyed immensely!: Army of Shadows, Ivan's Childhood, Au Revoir Les Enfants, and A Man Escaped. What else is out there?

Ballad of a Soldier.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I've noticed that many of my favorite Criterion titles are films dealing with World War II, Nazi Germany and the like. With that being said, can anyone direct me to more titles or suggest one that you might like?

I think that Fritz Lang's Ministry of Fear is one of the most underrated Criterion titles of the past year, and the subject matter delves quite extensively into the Nazi raids on England. There are a few decidedly less-serious twists and turns with this espionage story, but Lang's talent for spectacular visuals is at its best here.

Ernst Lubitsch's To Be or Not to Be is a hilarious and subversive take on the Nazi threat, but it also blends adventure story elements into the fold in a seemingly effortless way.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

You have a great taste for films. I believe it not so much the war films that attracts your attention, but a particular poetic tone these films capture that you have mention.

Tarkovsky was a fan of Bresson and Bergman (which he believed were the only film directors that mattered). If you are looking for that particular filmic tone, I highly recommend Andrei Rublev (Tarkovsky), Pickpocket (Bresson), Le Samourai (Melville) and Persona (Bergman), all of which are pending upgrades.

Other great war films are The Thin Red Line and The Cranes are Flying (main cinematographic inspiration for Ivan's Childhood)

Oh! Thanks, Fellini! I was supposed to follow up with my thoughts on Vivre sa Vie... I really liked it! Even though the story could possibly have been told without the episode breaks, it kind of allows for the film to be a few different things - artsy, yet accessible; cool and fun, but also philosophical. ..and Anna Karina is, IMO, STUNNING! so, yes, I do think I prefer it to Band of Outsiders, although I need to see it again. it has been a while.

Thanks for the 4 recommendations. Bresson's Pickpocket I have seen once, although I saw it many years ago when it's stylish minimalism sailed right over my head. so, it's on my radar for another viewing. Based on what I know about Persona, I'm near certain I will like it, so I will blind buy it.

I will look into The Cranes are Flying and Andrei Rublev. Thanks!

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I think that Fritz Lang's Ministry of Fear is one of the most underrated Criterion titles of the past year, and the subject matter delves quite extensively into the Nazi raids on England. There are a few decidedly less-serious twists and turns with this espionage story, but Lang's talent for spectacular visuals is at its best here.

Ernst Lubitsch's To Be or Not to Be is a hilarious and subversive take on the Nazi threat, but it also blends adventure story elements into the fold in a seemingly effortless way.

thanks, Owl. I had no idea those two titles dealt with WWII, especially the latter. will look into them.

[K1NG J0RDAN]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

I had the same reaction. Well made film, great acting but what they did out in the woods put the original Evil Dead to shame. I know we all have different ways of handling our emotions, such as grief, but some of the actions made no sense to me. I've only seen two Von Trier films-this one and Melancholia which I did enjoy. I'm interested in Breaking the Waves but not enough for a blind buy.

I agree! Some of that nonsense between the two of them (mostly her) was really just WEIRD. Pretty much watched it for the sake of Dafoe and then the special features of the film. But now I'm scared to watch Breaking the Waves... Might be able to make it though Melancholia. What about Nymphomaniac? Starting to worry about what's in store for us.

Originally Posted by frittscs

Yeah, it was difficult for me to make it all the way through that one. Von Trier just doesn't click with me, though I did like Melancholia somewhat.

He is an odd one that's for sure. And to see Willem Dafoe call this film "beautiful" in the special features....dunno about that Willem. Lol

Originally Posted by buzzwoody

I will never go back to it!

I am still haunted, while doing mundane things like sitting in traffic or washing dishes, of the mutilation scenes.

I won't either! Omg those scenes where

[Show spoiler]blood comes out of Dafoe's private and the woman cuts part of her vag off? Yeah... Hardly made it through that UNNECESSARY nonsense.

[Ausjdm]

Originally Posted by K1NG J0RDAN

I agree! Some of that nonsense between the two of them (mostly her) was really just WEIRD. Pretty much watched it for the sake of Dafoe and then the special features of the film. But now I'm scared to watch Breaking the Waves... Might be able to make it though Melancholia. What about Nymphomaniac? Starting to worry about what's in store for us.

He is an odd one that's for sure. And to see Willem Dafoe call this film "beautiful" in the special features....dunno about that Willem. Lol

I won't either! Omg those scenes where

[Show spoiler]blood comes out of Dafoe's private and the woman cuts part of her vag off? Yeah... Hardly made it through that UNNECESSARY nonsense.

Isn't the ending chapter

[Show spoiler]the symbolism of women are inherently evil? I thought that was one of the theories with her research?

[Romulus]

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that I'm completely SOL on finding a copy of The Third Man or Chungking Express without selling a kidney, correct?

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Yes. The man with the hat and pipe is the very image of Tati's character M. Hulot. And he's in a box.

There should be little doubt that such a set will include M. Hulot's Holiday, Mon Oncle, Playtime, and Trafic, which are all Hulot films, and all previously released by Criterion on DVD.

The only real question is whether it will also include Jour de fête and Parade. He doesn't play Hulot in these, but it'd be nice if we were able to get a Complete Tati set, not just a Complete Hulot set.

Anyway, Jour de fête and Parade were released by Criterion on LD (as were the first two of the Hulots), so there's precedence.

His Hulot character also has a bit part in Truffaut's Bed and Board but that'll be in the Antoine Doinel set if/when that box set gets upgraded.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

Didn't Criterion lose Trafic to Studio Canal? Id love to have it in the box set but I'm not holding my breath.

That's possible. They lost the rights, certainly -- their DVD went OOP some time ago -- but I don't know if that was a SC casualty or not.

So I suppose I shouldn't say that there's "little doubt" about that one being in the box.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Romulus

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that I'm completely SOL on finding a copy of The Third Man or Chungking Express without selling a kidney, correct?

Last week, a friend here tipped me off to a "Used - Like New" Criterion Blu-ray of The Third Man that had been posted on Amazon.com by a third party seller for $75.99. I pulled the trigger, and am now the proud owner of an original digipak Blu-ray edition that looks great and plays great.

My advice is simply to keep looking and enjoy the thrill of the hunt. Ever so often, you might see one of these onsale for a comparably low price like I did.