The Criterion Collection

[bundyblu]

Watched Hunger (which I picked up in the 50% flash sale) last night.

While it definitely dragged in some spots, I still enjoyed. I'd give it a 3.5/5. Just a little slow for me.

[Mansinthe]

Originally Posted by bundyblu

Watched Hunger (which I picked up in the 50% flash sale) last night.

While it definitely dragged in some spots, I still enjoyed. I'd give it a 3.5/5. Just a little slow for me.

would rate it the same. on of the criterions i probably will not revisit that much...

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

My favorite movie of 2013, All Is Lost, owns it as far as cinematography in a limited setting. I keep returning to this Blu-ray over and over again, although I've got a backlog of unwatched Blu-rays in my stack.

I love Gravity, though. It's the first time that I've watched a movie that relies heavily on digital effects, and did not even once think about the fact that I was watching digital effects.

Here's my review of Gravity that I posted in another thread a few months ago after I saw the theatrical release...

[Show spoiler]I am hesitant to embrace hyperbole when reviewing movies, but I think that Gravity is a visually spectacular film, and I have never seen such a seamless blend of digital technology, live-action choreography, and traditional lensing techniques in all of my years as a moviegoer. Director Alfonso Cuarón demonstrated a flair for long camera takes in his previous film, Children of Men, but he outdoes himself here with a 13-minute unbroken opening shot that introduces the two characters, played by Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, floating above the vast panorama of Earth on a shuttle mission to repair the Hubble Telescope. Cuarón's camera works with a stunning fluidity to depict the disorientation of outer space, where up, down, left, or right have no meaning. Unlike the Star Wars and Star Trek films that we have seen for the past several decades, Gravity gives us a true idea of the isolation of space, where sound does not carry and where normal physical maneuvers for locomotion do not apply. Aside from Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, no other film has succeeded so well in showing the terrifying prospects of danger in a space environment. When satellite debris flies across the screen to destroy the shuttle and leave the two characters alone in the elements, the destruction and explosions are accompanied by haunting silence. The subsequent efforts of these characters to survive offers some truly riveting moments that made my heart skip a few beats.

Gravity is not without its flaws. Astute space enthusiasts may point out the logical shortcomings of the transport between objects in different orbits that is outlined in the film. A back story about the daughter of Sandra Bullock's character is superfluous and unnecessarily melodramatic, because we already relate to her peril without such histrionics. I cannot help wondering if Gravity would have been an even better film if unfamiliar actors had been cast in lieu of Clooney and Bullock, but I concede that the use of easily-identifiable personalities is crucial in this story where the presence of these characters is only perceived through voice transmissions in many scenes. My above observations are minor nitpicks, though, and Gravity succeeds admirably and awesomely with its simple mission to sell us on both the majesty and horror of its setting.

This movie has my highest recommendation.

I've not seen All is Lost as of yet, for some reason I stayed away when it was released in the theaters. I don't know, I think I thought it was just Castaway on a boat. But I do love Robert Redford, and over the last few weeks my interest has peaked for the film, I look foward to finally seeing it.

As for Gravity, I loved your review, and really agree with

[Show spoiler]the backstory of Ryan and the seemlessness of digital additions. I spent most of the movie trying to figure out what was digital and what wasn't. But yes, the backstory of her child really seemed like overkill to me. I already felt for her, she was in a dire place and I was rooting for her survival. Though I will say, had she not survived either, the movie may have been even better. I know that's an ending that Hollywood wouldn't allow in such a big, blockbuster style, but that thought did go through my head as I was watching.. "maybe she won't make it back, what a story that would be." Maybe if the had gone with someone other than A-list actors it could have been different.

But thanks for the recommendation of All is Lost, I'm adding it to my queue.

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by Ausjdm

Let me know what you think of I am Curious sir. I've been interested in that set.

Will do, I'm excited to finally see the films and hope they are as good as I think they may be.

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

The ballet is incredible. You don't even to have to be remotely interested in ballet or dance at all. If you look at it simply as someone being really really good at what they do it's still amazing. You can see the determination on Moira Shearer's face when she dances, too.

I think I posted before about The Red Shoes, but have to throw in my two cents and agree with you on the ballet. I was blown away by the ability and grace she showed. In a movie I watched because "I was supposed to," I found something that I really enjoyed and loved.

[JeffTheMovieGuy]

Originally Posted by lordmorpheus72

Ok, now that's just funny. Bill Hader gets funnier everytime I see him.

Now, if we can just see what else is in that closet and all get a shopping spree...

Dude I would go in there with a box of xtra large garbage bags and be like I gotta get this, I gotta get this, I gotta get this, I definitely need to get that.

[JeffTheMovieGuy]

Originally Posted by Tekka

Hausu is wonderful insanity.

Yep and aren't you happy that I suggested it to you?

[Clare2904]

Originally Posted by Quinni

So, I've gotten to watch Blue Is The Warmest Color. I have to say, I walked away a touch disappointed.

I loved the original book for being a very heartfelt and well-made lesbian coming of age story, and much of that is retained in the film (aside from some odd changes). However, the comical sex scenes and the presence of the male gaze within a story that's meant to focus on women, alongside it's own themes, hurt it severely. Aside from this, the cast was very enjoyable, and despite its length, the film was fairly engaging. As it stands, it's a very solid film, but not the one that I've been hoping for. Maybe the upcoming extended edition will help improve things, but I'm not holding my breath.

I agree with what you said here.

[Show spoiler]That first sex scene was a joke. I may have this wrong but that was Adele's first time having sex with a woman? It was a) too long, b) too unrealistic for a 1st time c) lacked any kind of verbal interaction that comes with having sex d) the sounds from Adele were laughable. I was actually more disappointed with the scene at Adele's house, after they all had dinner. That to me was in need for them being more intimate. Their conversation showed innocence, love and commitment and the physical side was missing. Had the intimacy been there is would have been very powerful. The scene in the studio was so unnecessary too. We had a long lingering close up of a naked woman, oh how clever of you Mr Director. The scene needed two points of view, the one from Adele looking at Emma and the one of Emma looking at Adele, nothing else but hey, you are a man and boy did it show here, ditto the shower scene later! I also found it too long, Emma's party at the house was overdone and Adele teaching was drawn out. Lots of filler in the film from the start.

As for the Director, I see people are suggesting his other works etc, I for one will not be going near him. I hated his use of close ups, I prefer to see the whole of someones head and the surroundings!

All that said, it was a good film, the disappointing part is it should have been a BRILLIANT film and its sadly not, though I did score it as Good (7/10). Hopefully more same-sex films will be made and they are given to someone who understands and wants to give them a proper, balanced production.

[natureboy]

Originally Posted by themp3000

I'll agree with this but go a step further and say virtually the entire BBS Story box set is probably the worst Criterion I own. The only one that came close to me liking was King of Marvin Gardens but still weak in every way. Nothing really jived with me, unfortunately.

Easy Rider and The Last Picture Show are classics.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

I remember The Grapes of Wrath being the only required reading book in High School that I enjoyed.

Hunh. I didn't like it at all (nor The Pearl, which was the other required-reading Steinbeck in my high school). I enjoyed a fair amount of the H.S. required reading, but the one I enjoyed most was A Tale of Two Cities. Oddly enough, though, the required reading I enjoyed the most were two books in a couple of history classes (Colonial America and Revolutionary America -- same professor) in college: John Barth's The Sot-Weed Factor and Kenneth Roberts' Arundel.

Anyway, I avoided Ford's film of The Grapes of Wrath for a long time because I didn't enjoy the novel. I did finally watch it when I decided I couldn't leave a John Ford film unwatched. I liked it a lot, but it's nowhere near my favorite Ford films. It's Fonda's and Darwell's performances (especially Darwell's) that makes it worth seeing.

[edcresdee]

What is the situation with Army of Shadows and Le Cercle Rouge? Do Criterion still have the rights to them, and is it likely that they will be re-released in dual format?

[natureboy]

Originally Posted by edcresdee

What is the situation with Army of Shadows and Le Cercle Rouge? Do Criterion still have the rights to them, and is it likely that they will be re-released in dual format?

OOP, rights owned by StudioCanal. If they get a US blu release it will be through them. They are available in Europe on blu (Region B locked) from StudioCanal:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Le-Ce...Blu-ray/11183/

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Army-...Blu-ray/66157/

Edit: For a detailed thread on StudioCanal titles and Criterion, read this:

http://www.criterionforum.org/forum/...hp?f=2&t=10391

[Mansinthe]

No both are oop

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by edcresdee

What is the situation with Army of Shadows and Le Cercle Rouge? Do Criterion still have the rights to them, and is it likely that they will be re-released in dual format?

No, Criterion does not have the rights to them any more.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I just finished The Red Shoes and I really, really, really liked it.

I honestly did not expect to like it because I had seen some of the introduction and nothing really stuck out for me. Plus, the only other Powell / Pressburger film that I had seen was Black Narcissus, and I was not particularly fond of it.

That being said, this film was excellent. It reminded me a lot of one of my all time favorite films, All About Eve (1950), especially with the theater atmosphere and the relationships formed and the tragedies unfolded.

EDIT: I left out that The Red Shoes dance sequence features some of the most beautiful directing I've seen in quite a while.

I've got both The Red Shoes and All About Eve on my shelf waiting for me to watch. Both were blind buys. Waiting for the wife and I to have some time alone while my son is by grandma's house.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Clare2904

I agree with what you said here.

[Show spoiler]That first sex scene was a joke. I may have this wrong but that was Adele's first time having sex with a woman? It was a) too long, b) too unrealistic for a 1st time c) lacked any kind of verbal interaction that comes with having sex d) the sounds from Adele were laughable. I was actually more disappointed with the scene at Adele's house, after they all had dinner. That to me was in need for them being more intimate. Their conversation showed innocence, love and commitment and the physical side was missing. Had the intimacy been there is would have been very powerful. The scene in the studio was so unnecessary too. We had a long lingering close up of a naked woman, oh how clever of you Mr Director. The scene needed two points of view, the one from Adele looking at Emma and the one of Emma looking at Adele, nothing else but hey, you are a man and boy did it show here, ditto the shower scene later! I also found it too long, Emma's party at the house was overdone and Adele teaching was drawn out. Lots of filler in the film from the start.

As for the Director, I see people are suggesting his other works etc, I for one will not be going near him. I hated his use of close ups, I prefer to see the whole of someones head and the surroundings!

All that said, it was a good film, the disappointing part is it should have been a BRILLIANT film and its sadly not, though I did score it as Good (7/10). Hopefully more same-sex films will be made and they are given to someone who understands and wants to give them a proper, balanced production.

Here's my "Southern good old boy" take on Blue is the Warmest Color...

I thought that the scenes of Adele dancing were sexier than the actual sex scenes.

The sex scenes struck me as some dude's idealized daydream of what happens between two women. I won't go so far as to say that the sex scenes were "unrealistic", because, well, there's no way to define what constitutes normal sex, and what might seem laughable to some might seem sensual to others. Everybody has different things that make them tick. The scenes did not quicken my pulse as much as I would have imagined, though.

The scene with Adele dancing fully clothed when she was out with the male teacher, though... I could have watched that scene for hours and hours.

The close-ups in Blue is the Warmest Color were interesting, but I kept wanting to tell Adele to chew food with her mouth closed.

The use of music in Blue is the Warmest Color was perfect. Just perfect. This was my favorite aspect of the movie.

There were a lot of classroom scenes in Blue is the Warmest Color, but I rather liked this setup, because Adele is going through an education of sorts with her life experiences.

Cool movie. I liked it at the theater, but I'm holding out for a Special Edition on Blu-ray before I decide to buy it.

[edcresdee]

Originally Posted by natureboy

OOP, rights owned by StudioCanal. If they get a US blu release it will be through them. They are available in Europe on blu (Region B locked) from StudioCanal:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Le-Ce...Blu-ray/11183/

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Army-...Blu-ray/66157/

Edit: For a detailed thread on StudioCanal titles and Criterion, read this:

http://www.criterionforum.org/forum/...hp?f=2&t=10391

Thanks, I live in the UK and have seen the StudioCanal Blu-rays but would prefer the Criterions. I'll have to go with the StudioCanal Le Cercle Rouge, as the Criterion is too expensive on eBay, however the Army of Shadows CC seems more affordable second-hand so might be an option.

It's a shame because I'd rather it be the other way round - have the Criterion Le Cercle Rouge and the StudioCanal Army of Shadows. I prefer the colour levels on Criterion's LCR whereas the colours for AoS seem more similar

[natureboy]

Originally Posted by edcresdee

Thanks, I live in the UK and have seen the StudioCanal Blu-rays but would prefer the Criterions. I'll have to go with the StudioCanal Le Cercle Rouge, as the Criterion is too expensive on eBay, however the Army of Shadows CC seems more affordable second-hand so might be an option.

It's a shame because I'd rather it be the other way round - have the Criterion Le Cercle Rouge and the StudioCanal Army of Shadows. I prefer the colour levels on Criterion's LCR whereas the colours for AoS seem more similar

For LCR, I have the Criterion DVD and the StudioCanal blu. I've had the DVD since it came out and I held out on upgrading for whatever reason so it went OOP before I got the chance. I like having the SC blu as a complement so now I have the extras on both versions and both prints in one format or the other.

I have the Criterion blu ray of Army of Shadows so I can't comment on the SC.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I've got both The Red Shoes and All About Eve on my shelf waiting for me to watch. Both were blind buys. Waiting for the wife and I to have some time alone while my son is by grandma's house.

You won't be disappointed!

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I really need to revisit Black Narcissus because I remember it looking beautiful, but I didn't find myself really into the story so much. Hopefully that will change!

for the better part of Black Narcissus, I wasn't quite sure what the film was about. I did like it though and when my wife and I reflected on it over dinner a few weeks ago, I realized that I loved it. I can't remember where I read it or heard it, but

[Show spoiler]when the nuns leave India somewhat defeated, it is symbolic (whether or not it was knowingly symbolic, I don't know) of the British rule ending in India. India got their independence from the U.K. in '47, I believe. So the nuns go there in an attempt to educate and 'civilize' them, but they finally leave and let India, for lack of a more articulate way to describe it..... be India. My wife is India born and raised, so it kinda makes me proud, I guess.

...and the way P&P handle the way in which the nun freaks out and how stunningly beautiful she looks when you first see her w/o her holy garb. its shocking in a 'this is totally bada$$ way!' and all the orange and purple light from the setting sun.. oh, man.. great stuff!!