The Criterion Collection

[lordmorpheus72]

So decided to hit Huluplus this morning and watch some of the Criterion films they had today... just finished The Atomic Submarine. Have to say I loved it! Really, I love all of those all B sci-fi movies, they just have that certain charm to me. And the ones that deal with nuclear power and aliens/monsters, they tend to be my favorites.

The special effects were actually pretty nice in this one, I mean you can always tell it's a toy sub, but again, that's the charm, the times, and budget. I really need to start the When Horror Came to Shochiku boxset this weekend.

Next up, I think, will be Paris, Texas. A complete 180 I know, but it's on sale at BN right now and I have a coupon. So figured I'd give it watch instead doing a blind buy on this one.

[JoeBuck]

Originally Posted by mdonovan

another wa flick taking up a slot ...

cry baby.jpg

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by kuro_sawa

Yes I was mistaken, although that aspect doesn't matter much to me, this would've unfolded the same way I think. I like that these people don't give a damn about seasoning their potatoes. They are incredibly habitual. And he has "manners" and waits to tell the man he's full of it. I mean, going into this reading about how devoid of anything these lives are I would expect him to shoot the others and take their horses right off the bat. But there is something more to this

I thing I love most about The Turin Horse is that I haven't really been able to stop thinking about it. The last time a film stuck with me in this way was about 20 years ago when I saw Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East? at the Brattle Theater in Cambridge, MA. It's been too long since I watched my DVD of that film (I never managed to pick up the Criterion LD). I need to revisit it soon.

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by JoeBuck

Attachment 80568

[bwdowiak]

I'm intrigued w/ Red River because of Montgomery Clift. By all indications, this is a straight up western, no? I wonder how those percentages get allocated to the genre designations for these films. Red River is noted as romance - 100% and western 58%. Do you suppose there'd be enough here to keep me amused if I said I am mildly afraid of the western genre?

also wanted to say... I had NO IDEA that The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is available on a region-free blu-ray. It is only in 110 collections. I've never seen anybody mention the film on this site and geez... only 110 collections? seems kinda low. It's a great film!

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I'm intrigued w/ Red River because of Montgomery Clift. By all indications, this is a straight up western, no? I wonder how those percentages get allocated to the genre designations for these films. Red River is noted as romance - 100% and western 58%. Do you suppose there'd be enough here to keep me amused if I said I am mildly afraid of the western genre?

also wanted to say... I had NO IDEA that The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is available on a region-free blu-ray. It is only in 110 collections. I've never seen anybody mention the film on this site and geez... only 110 collections? seems kinda low. It's a great film!

Red River is a straight-up western. The romance is only a small part of the story (most of the action takes place on the cattle drive). Even if you aren't a western fan, the real story is the relationship between the John Wayne's character and Clift's character, and how the latter comes to earn the former's respect.

As for Valance, I've been holding off waiting for a domestic release with extras. There are no extras with the UK release.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by belcherman

Red River is a straight-up western. The romance is only a small part of the story (most of the action takes place on the cattle drive). Even if you aren't a western fan, the real story is the relationship between the John Wayne's character and Clift's character, and how the latter comes to earn the former's respect.

There are those who say that the romance is between Clift and Wayne.

As for Valance, I've been holding off waiting for a domestic release with extras. There are no extras with the UK release.

I have so many domestic releases that I want to buy that I hesitate to get an import (even a region-free one; I don't have an all-region player), especially if it's something I already have on a good-quality DVD, as I do with The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. So far, I've only gotten two non-US BDs, one of which is a film never released in the US (Peter Greenaway's The Baby of Mâcon). The other is the Canadian release of Gosford Park.

My resolve is breaking down, though. I'm this close to getting the Aussie releases of Lifeboat and A Journey to the Centre of the Earth, as well as the Japanese Peter Greenaway Collector Box, which includes The Falls, The Draughtsman's Contract, A Zed and Two Noughts, and a half-dozen short films. But then, the Greenaway box does fall into the category of titles that aren't likely to get a US BD release.

[Brad1963]

Originally Posted by sycro

Any word on the flash sale? Will it be before or after Blue Is The Warmest Color release?

Last year was Feb 26 and the year before Feb 14. It could be anytime now. Next week would be great since new releases Tess, King of the Hill, Blue is the Warmest Color are releasing. I'm holding out on Fantastic Mr Fox and Foreign Correspondent so I can get them on sale.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by jayembee

There are those who say that the romance is between Clift and Wayne.



I have so many domestic releases that I want to buy that I hesitate to get an import (even a region-free one; I don't have an all-region player), especially if it's something I already have on a good-quality DVD, as I do with The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. So far, I've only gotten two non-US BDs, one of which is a film never released in the US (Peter Greenaway's The Baby of Mâcon). The other is the Canadian release of Gosford Park.

My resolve is breaking down, though. I'm this close to getting the Aussie releases of Lifeboat and A Journey to the Centre of the Earth, as well as the Japanese Peter Greenaway Collector Box, which includes The Falls, The Draughtsman's Contract, A Zed and Two Noughts, and a half-dozen short films. But then, the Greenaway box does fall into the category of titles that aren't likely to get a US BD release.

There hasn't been much in the way of PQ reviews on the Lifeboat disc and that (for the moment) has kept me only mildly interested. If you get it, please do comment. I'm pretty sure that Owl liked it.

I like the region free imports - provided that the discs have met with good reviews. It gives an alternative to either higher priced U.S. releases (ITV's Black Narcissus) or OOP titles such as Chungking Express, Last Year at Marienbad and Pierrot Le Fou. Going to pick up the Godard film some time soon. $25 beats the $75 that you'd have to pay on ebay.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

There hasn't been much in the way of PQ reviews on the Lifeboat disc and that (for the moment) has kept me only mildly interested. If you get it, please do comment. I'm pretty sure that Owl liked it.

Will do. It won't likely be that soon, though. Wifey needs a new Mac, so that takes precedence in our discretionary spending.

[bwdowiak]

whoa, whoa, wait, wtf??

Melville's Le Silence de la Mer is region free?!?!?



it is most certainly peanut butter jelly time in my neck of the woods! hell yeah!

[Meek12345]

Originally Posted by hustlermane

Hi five! Honestly, it's looking very likely that The Swimmer will be my release of the year for 2014. Unless somehow the 4k transfer is botched in some way, this for me is the must-have package. One of my absolute favourite film and as you say, incredible performance by Lancaster, perhaps second only to The Leopard. I've seen some 15 films with Lancaster or so, but strangely never one with Douglas, should rectify that.

I have the Arrow blu of Rififi so I'll get on that soon, promise.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on Rififi. It is another solid film by Dassin with good performances, so hopefully you will enjoy it.

On the blu-ray.com forum for The Swimmer a few members complained about Grindhouse Films releasing the blu instead of Criterion. I don't own any releases by Grindhouse films, but they seem to have a decent reputation. By the way, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral will be released on blu the same day as The Swimmer! Maybe you can get a good deal and pick up both titles. P.S. I have only seen 13 Lancaster films. Hope to catch up with you soon.

It looks like Seven Days in May hasn't been released on blu yet. That's another title I need to suggest to Criterion. It could be their third Frankenheimer after Seconds and Days of Wine and Roses in The Golden Age of Television set.

Thanks belcherman for the I Walk Alone recommendation. I will watch it and any other Lancaster/Douglas pairings as soon as possible.

[funtom]

Originally Posted by Carletty

Most Criterions are available on Amazon for $25, or even cheaper from 3rd party sellers or ebay. I wouldn't limit myself to the B&N sales alone - why wait for a couple of months when you only save a few bucks? Dollar goes up again too...

Well, I checked and I couldn't really find them for 25... 30 maybe... Foreign Correspondence is 25, but Jules and Jim, like almost everything else, is 30... in a 50% sale I can buy these for 20, so 10 USD less... Add together a couple of discs, + international shipping... and that 10 dollars difference will become HUGE...

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Meek12345

It looks like Seven Days in May hasn't been released on blu yet. That's another title I need to suggest to Criterion.

I'm not sure that's feasible. Seven Days in May was originally distributed theatrically by Paramount, but it's a Seven Arts production, and I think Warner holds the rights to the Seven Arts catalog (they definitely released the DVD edition).

The Frankenheimer film I'd like to see Criterion do would be The Challenge, from 1982. Co-written by John Sayles, and starring Scott Glenn and Toshirô Mifune. It's one that's never been released (at least in the US) on LD or DVD, and I think the videotape editions were of the cut version under the title Sword of the Ninja.

Failing that, I'd like to see 52-Pickup, with Roy Scheider (and John Glover doing a wonderfully twisted turn as the Big Bad), adapted by Elmore Leonard from his novel.

[Mansinthe]

Looks like the italian bluray of third man is using the criterion naster. Awesome news. Price is 1/10 of the criterion

[L.A. Guy]

Are pre-orders part of the "flash sale" and if so, if ordered with released titles will they be delivered until the pre-order is out?

-Thanks

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by L.A. Guy

Are pre-orders part of the "flash sale" and if so, if ordered with released titles will they be delivered until the pre-order is out?

-Thanks

If I recall correctly, they are not part of the Criterion flash sales.

[Carletty]

Originally Posted by funtom

Well, I checked and I couldn't really find them for 25... 30 maybe... Foreign Correspondence is 25, but Jules and Jim, like almost everything else, is 30... in a 50% sale I can buy these for 20, so 10 USD less... Add together a couple of discs, + international shipping... and that 10 dollars difference will become HUGE...

Oh, you were talking about new releases. The older ones are available for around $25 usually. You can find Jules and Jim on ebay for $26 though, which is a fair price for a new release and a Digipak.

If you buy during the sales only you will miss out a lot of stuff (or not if you're able to save your money until then).

[natureboy]

Originally Posted by jayembee

I'm not sure that's feasible. Seven Days in May was originally distributed theatrically by Paramount, but it's a Seven Arts production, and I think Warner holds the rights to the Seven Arts catalog (they definitely released the DVD edition).

The Frankenheimer film I'd like to see Criterion do would be The Challenge, from 1982. Co-written by John Sayles, and starring Scott Glenn and Toshirô Mifune. It's one that's never been released (at least in the US) on LD or DVD, and I think the videotape editions were of the cut version under the title Sword of the Ninja.

Failing that, I'd like to see 52-Pickup, with Roy Scheider (and John Glover doing a wonderfully twisted turn as the Big Bad), adapted by Elmore Leonard from his novel.

I'd also love to see Seven Days in May on blu. As for other Frankheimer films dying for blu release are:

Black Sunday (Paramount)
Birdman of Alcatraz (MGM)
Gypsy Moths, for the skydiving scenes alone (Warner)
Iceman Cometh (Kino?)
Ronin re-release w/ extras from the DVD special edition
Prophecy (Paramount)
The Young Savages (MGM)

All Fall Down would be good as well but Warner's got that on their Archive label so I would guess DVD is as good as it's gonna get.

I'm very excited about The Train being released by TT.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Seemed fairly clear to me that she was his daughter. They were sleeping in different beds, for one.



Undoubtedly it was for people who were just getting by. You'd think they would at least try to come up with some variations on how to prepare them instead of just boiling, peeling, and eating them day after day.



Well, there was the one friend. Or neighbor, at least. That was actually my favorite bit in the film, where the neighbor goes on this long, seemingly endless rant about acquisition and degradation. And when he finally finishes, the old man says, "What complete rubbish!", the neighbor smiles, and takes his leave.

Yes, that was pretty much my favorite scene as well...and really the one scene with actual dialogue.

I wonder what would happen to the human body if one only subsisted off boiled potatoes? I don't believe it has all of the necessary vitamins and minerals (esp. Vitamin A) for humans to be healthy. I mean, potatoes have a great amount of phytochemicals and a great assortment of B vitamins, but seriously, I personally would have high anxiety if I was only given potatoes to eat for an entire season. And in The Turin Horse, the father and daughter don't even enjoy the potatoes. They eat them just to survive. They don't use utensils or forks/knives and he crushes/stabs the potato with his fingers after ripping the skin off while its boiling hot. He probably burns his tongue too in his haste of hunger. They don't eat to live, they eat to survive. Today, more and more people live to eat but it should be "eat to live"...yet they just exist.

Originally Posted by kuro_sawa

Yes I was mistaken, although that aspect doesn't matter much to me, this would've unfolded the same way I think. I like that these people don't give a damn about seasoning their potatoes. They are incredibly habitual. And he has "manners" and waits to tell the man he's full of it. I mean, going into this reading about how devoid of anything these lives are I would expect him to shoot the others and take their horses right off the bat. But there is something more to this

Well, they do season their potatoes... with a bit of salt if you may remember. Other than the plates of potatoes there is an iron salt container on the table.

Originally Posted by jayembee

I thing I love most about The Turin Horse is that I haven't really been able to stop thinking about it. The last time a film stuck with me in this way was about 20 years ago when I saw Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East? at the Brattle Theater in Cambridge, MA. It's been too long since I watched my DVD of that film (I never managed to pick up the Criterion LD). I need to revisit it soon.

I believe I'm another victim of this film embedding itself into my brain. I still can't stop thinking about it. What makes this film really bizarre is that one line the neighbor said: "The wind blew the village away"....that sounds quite apocalyptic. Like a hurricane or some sort of natural disaster destroyed the one nearby village.. its like the father and daughter are some of the last people left on the planet, even though we see the band of gypsies and the neighbor/yokel asking for some brandy.