The Criterion Collection

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

I'm not sure why you're comparing Anderson with Bergman. Bergman's The Silence was brought up by Anderson as an influence for him, which, I have to admit, excites me. No, I'm not expecting something entirely Bergman-esque, but I'm expecting his polished aesthetic to be meshed with an array of influences, this one included.

I always feel that name calling your influences equals unwarranted hype building with sand. Especially when it comes to one's artwork.

When ever I hear or read an artist name call their influence, I compare him to his influence. It usually adds up to stealing a scene or a setting from their "influence" and totally miss the point of the original film.

None of Wes' films are remotely as good (or interesting) as any of Bergman's films (even his mediocre ones).

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

Wes has a knack for detail and style, but he does not have the universality of Bergman (it feels awkward to use those directors in the same sentence). I feel if he can get out of his comfort zone, he can again make an interesting film.

The only film I have not seen from him is Fantastic Mr. Fox.

An example of a film that was fundamentally out of his comfort zone to begin with, and he didn't want to leave it.

[Norbie]

It's a m4 World digipack arrived and I gotta say the package is average, not as bad as the original CC digipacks but almost there. It looks so bloated, it should have come in the same size package as the Nashville release.

[Fadeaway189]

Random question but does anyone know why The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button is not packaged like all other Criterion movies?

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by Fadeaway189

Random question but does anyone know why The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button is not packaged like all other Criterion movies?

It is not a traditional Criterion release. The studio struck a deal with Criterion to use their branding, but Criterion didn't develop the release, like they do in other situations.

[kengjj]

When is Like Someone in Love coming out on blu-ray?

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by kengjj

When is Like Someone in Love coming out on blu-ray?

Already out in the UK, no release announced in the US so far.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

Inspired, but very unlikely surpassed.

Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey was inspired by Bergman also.

The 90s and early 2000s showed many directors that made movies with extravagant style but with little substance. This includes Wes Anderson and Quentin Tarantino. Wes makes films about dysfunctional families (or groups) and Quentin vengeance films. After awhile, the themes get very old.

My problem w/ Wes Anderson is that his films haven't evolved. Every new trailer looks exactly like every other movie he's done. Was a fan of his first 3, but got disinterested after seeing The Life Aquatic. Disinterest then slowly grew into disdain.

[tommynorcal]

the only wes anderson movie I felt it necessary to own was the royal tennenbaums and some girl now has it at her house but im just like "whatever"

[klauswhereareyou]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

My problem w/ Wes Anderson is that his films haven't evolved. Every new trailer looks exactly like every other movie he's done. Was a fan of his first 3, but got disinterested after seeing The Life Aquatic. Disinterest then slowly grew into disdain.

How exactly should Wes Anderson's films be evolving?

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by klauswhereareyou

How exactly should Wes Anderson's films be evolving?

as soon as you figure that out, let him know because it's apparent that he has no idea either.

[klauswhereareyou]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

as soon as you figure that out, let him know because it's apparent that he has no idea either.

No but really, what is it you want his films evolve into??? When someone says this about a director I'm always curious what exactly they mean.

[baheidstu]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

as soon as you figure that out, let him know because it's apparent that he has no idea either.

I don't think it's fair to say he's not evolving. It's not like the stories themselves are repetitive, but he does have a certain unique style and when he re-uses quirky details such as close-ups of handwritten notes in red ink on personalized stationery, it can tend to overshadow things.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

I always feel that name calling your influences equals unwarranted hype building with sand. Especially when it comes to one's artwork.

When ever I hear or read an artist name call their influence, I compare him to his influence. It usually adds up to stealing a scene or a setting from their "influence" and totally miss the point of the original film.

None of Wes' films are remotely as good (or interesting) as any of Bergman's films (even his mediocre ones).

Perhaps. But Woody Allen was also influenced by Bergman, and I'd say it was clear that he completely understands the points of Bergman's film. Of course, I'd also say that Woody's films are far better and more interesting than Wes's.

I don't consider myself much of a fan of Wes Andersen, but I must admit that the trailer for The Grand Budapest Hotel has got me interested.

[bwdowiak]

I don't want them to evolve into anything. I'm not a fan. Perhaps, however, if he didn't make the same movie 9 times, I'd still be one.

Maybe you are taking exception to the word "evolve." At very least, I'd like to see him do something different. Granted he did an animated film, but he applied the same stylish whimsy to that film that he has to everything else he's done.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by baheidstu

I don't think it's fair to say he's not evolving. It's not like the stories themselves are repetitive, but he does have a certain unique style and when he re-uses quirky details such as close-ups of handwritten notes in red ink on personalized stationery, it can tend to overshadow things.

ahh, yes!

[JJJ225]

Why should Wes Anderson use a style that's not his?

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by JJJ225

Why should Wes Anderson use a style that's not his?

Because the one he DOES have wasn't really good for more than one movie?

[klauswhereareyou]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I don't want them to evolve into anything. I'm not a fan. Perhaps, however, if he didn't make the same movie 9 times, I'd still be one.

Maybe you are taking exception to the word "evolve." At very least, I'd like to see him do something different. Granted he did an animated film, but he applied the same stylish whimsy to that film that he has to everything else he's done.

Most of who are considered the great directors basically make the same type of movie over and over. Probably in the past with someone like Hitchcock they had more of a chance to stray from time to time because they worked within a system where you basically got to put out a film a year (something that he did for the most part until he reached his sixties). I guess you've got your two types of "good" directors...the auteurs (the guys and gals that basically use the same style and tackle the same themes over and over for the most part), and the types that are just work horses that put out good films that really bare very little of what you'd call a personal stamp (those I'd call the Michael Curtiz and Robert Wises').

I feel the same way you do about some directors. I for the life of me never got the appeal of Hal Hartley. I always thought his films were badly acted, poorly written, and staged terribly, yet he has a following.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by klauswhereareyou

I feel the same way you do about some directors. I for the life of me never got the appeal of Hal Hartley. I always thought his films were badly acted, poorly written, and staged terribly, yet he has a following.

I've only seen one Hal Hartley film (I watched Fay Grim on Netflix) and that was more than enough for me. If other people like his films, more power to them. He's not for me.