The Criterion Collection

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I just grabbed my ticket to see Andrei Tarkovsky's Solaris at Midtown Art Cinema tomorrow night. Here's looking forward to seeing this one on the big screen at long last!

Enjoy!

I would love to see Solaris on the big screen. It's definitely one of those films that would looking stunning on it!

[nightcrawler]

I'm getting my first multi-region BD player this week, and have ordered a bunch of Criterion releases as my first ever region A locked purchases. On their way to me soon are; Anatomy of a Murder, Paths of Glory, and Monsoon Wedding

[joie]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

You really can't go wrong with either of them. I prefer Vivre Sa Vie. Although, if you get Band then you can see where Tarantino stole the dance sequence for Pulp Fiction

Anna is gorgeous in both, too.

There is nothing like Travolta and Thurman dancing in Pulp Fiction anywhere in Godard

[adsdsdsd]

Took a trip to my local library to see they had The Great Beauty blu-ray out early. In fact, It was there for days and I was the first to get it said the check-out lady. Can't wait to watch it tonight!

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by nightcrawler

I'm getting my first multi-region BD player this week, and have ordered a bunch of Criterion releases as my first ever region A locked purchases. On their way to me soon are; Anatomy of a Murder, Paths of Glory, and Monsoon Wedding

Anatomy of a Murder is such an amazing film!

[JWilliams85]

I watched my first Godard movie a few weeks back. It was Breathless and I thought it was terrible!

I would like to give Godard another shot. I'm thinking Band of Outsiders.

Can anyone give me some recommendations for Godard films?

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by JWilliams85

I watched my first Godard movie a few weeks back. It was Breathless and I thought it was terrible!

I would like to give Godard another shot. I'm thinking Band of Outsiders.

Can anyone give me some recommendations for Godard films?

Breathless was the worst CC release I've ever seen.... until it was dethroned by the Norman Mailer Eclipse Set. And I don't mean bad as in it was a technically flawed release, however the movie itself is beyond terrible IMO.

[Patrick M.]

Originally Posted by JWilliams85

I watched my first Godard movie a few weeks back. It was Breathless and I thought it was terrible!

I would like to give Godard another shot. I'm thinking Band of Outsiders.

Can anyone give me some recommendations for Godard films?

Well, my first Godard was Masculin Feminin which I liked a lot, but it was Pierrot Le Fou that made me fall in love with Godard and it's one of my favorite films of all time now, so I'd go with that one.
Contempt is another must see.

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by Patrick M.

Well, my first Godard was Masculin Feminin which I liked a lot, but it was Pierrot Le Fou that made me fall in love with Godard and it's one of my favorite films of all time now, so I'd go with that one.
Contempt is another must see.

I found Breathless to be just OK (Need to give it another go) but we hated Contempt. One of the very few Blu Rays that I think we'll offload.

[Woodsy]

Just posted this video...thought I'd share my love for Criterion.

The Woodsy Collection: Criterion on Blu-Ray - YouTube

[cash_black]

Originally Posted by smoss469

Breathless was the worst CC release I've ever seen.... until it was dethroned by the Norman Mailer Eclipse Set. And I don't mean bad as in it was a technically flawed release, however the movie itself is beyond terrible IMO.

Yeah Breathless is overrated trash for sure, but Criterion did put out Armageddon back in the day so its not the worst.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by The Stick

The Red Shoes and The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp are both wonderful films...but of the 3 Criterion Powell/Pressburger blu-rays available, my absolute favorite would be Black Narcissus.

I remember nearly buying this film (Black Narcissus) several times but always passing it by. I am most likely going to either buy this on Blu-ray or at least borrow it from the library for a viewing.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

If I enjoy a film enough to watch it multiple times, then it belongs in my film library.

I make no distinction between the "refined" Criterion Collection Blu-rays in my collection and movies like Better Off Dead, Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, City Slickers, Clash of the Titans (1981), Ferris Bueller's Day Off, First Blood, Flash Gordon, The Goonies, the Indiana Jones movies, Iron Man, The Avengers, Logan's Run, Oblivion, Poltergeist, Pulp Fiction, Red Dawn (1984), The Sandlot, Taken, Top Gun, Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, and, of course, my James Bond movies. They're all just movies that I enjoy, pure and simple.

It's not uncommon for me to watch 8 1/2, Last Year at Marienbad, or Wild Strawberries back to back with movies like The Last Starfighter, Night of the Comet, or Sixteen Candles.

With respect to The Criterion Collection, there are quite few films that are pretty ridiculous in the grand scheme of things, and placing the big "C" on the cover does not make these movies any less ridiculous. The Blob (1958) is one such example. I love it, though.

I have a broader knowledge of cinema than I did 20 years ago, but my tastes are no more refined than they were back then.

I'm with you on most of this, except for the last part. I believe my tastes are more refined for sure. I have a higher appreciation for certain directors and certain genres now than when I did when I was a teenager. There will always be a spot in my heart for popcorn-variety Hollywood action films but nowadays I find more challenging films to be more attractive in my life. I turn my brain off less and less these days because I no longer find it desirable to do so. I am wiser than my younger years and constantly challenge myself every day. I've become an adventurous film viewer and take risks with obscure and films that are less known to mainstream audiences. I feel like I've matured a lot and I won't apologize for this. It's only natural that people mature as they get older and the same thing has happened to me regarding cinema. I do not feel ashamed one bit for stating this.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

here we go again, j dub - I, too, watched The Red Shoes for the first time this weekend. I, however, think that I stand on the side of the fence with jayembee. Not really a fan, and that was, for me, surprising. I can't say that I was underwhelmed or even disappointed because it is a wonderful looking film and the long ballet sequence is some kind of technical achievement.

[Show spoiler] I think that, as a director, you have to have some kind of balls and be uber-confident in what you have created to have that last line - "Julian, take off the red shoes." I admire that audacity. I thought it was totally bad-a$$ and it really worked for me.

BUT... there is no story for the first 100 minutes of this film!! Nothing! Just ballet and behind the scenes theater shenanigans. For many films, we frequently say, "oh you don't have to like sports to relate to this story," or "you don't have to be into God-speak to like Leon Morin," but for this one.. I feel that you have to have some kind of interest in ballet to get into it.

Now, I know, that nearly everyone will tell me that I am wrong. That is obvious by the amount of love that this film receives from posters on this thread. I was surprised, though.

Prior to seeing any of the P&P films, I really thought that a film about a group of nuns would be far less interesting, but I was wrong. Black Narcissus was great. The Red Shoes, for me, was 'ok' at best.

Wow, B, that is synchronicity again as usual. I think your criticism of

[Show spoiler]there being no story for the first 100 minutes is unjustified though. I think that was the whole point of the movie. There wasn't supposed to be a plot.

I was just fine with how the film unraveled though. I'm going to rewatch The Red Shoes shortly and this time with the commentary on (oh, I know you can't stand audio commentaries, sorry!).

Now I can't wait to see Black Narcissus!

[ravenus]

Not directly Criterion related but I saw this excellent movie last night called Ice Cold in Alex about a bunch of people in a military ambulance trying to get past the Germans and reach Alexandria. Made by J. Lee Thompson (Guns of Navarone) this was quite a riveting experience, and reminded me a good deal of Clouzot's Wages of Fear, with some elements of Hitchcock's Lifeboat. I daresay I found it more absorbing than WoF, so people who like that movie should give this a shot. It's available on region B from Optimum / Studio Canal in a very nice transfer.

[Visco.]

I just finished the 1925 version of The Gold Rush. This is my first Chaplin film and although I found it pretty funny and enjoyed it, I don't think I'm going to rush to see the rest of his movies. There were some funny parts. I just didn't find it a masterpiece like I've heard from so many fans. I have a feeling I'll fancy City Lights and Modern Times more, so we'll see.

[Oblivion138]

Originally Posted by Visco.

I just finished the 1925 version of The Gold Rush. This is my first Chaplin film and although I found it pretty funny and enjoyed it, I don't think I'm going to rush to see the rest of his movies. There were some funny parts. I just didn't find it a masterpiece like I've heard from so many fans. I have a feeling I'll fancy City Lights and Modern Times more, so we'll see.

As much as I enjoy The Gold Rush, I do think Chaplin refined his feature technique as he went along. City Lights and Modern Times certainly have much tighter narratives. Though I do prefer the longer 1925 version of The Gold Rush over the shorter, Chaplin-preferred 1942 re-release version, where Chaplin attempted to tighten the narrative. Mostly because I don't particularly like the voiceover narration.

[monorail91]

Prices on Amazon have gone down a bit - out of Tess, Riot in Cell Block 11, Breaking the Waves, and King of the Hill, which one would you say is the best blind-buy?

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by monorail91

Prices on Amazon have gone down a bit - out of Tess, Riot in Cell Block 11, Breaking the Waves, and King of the Hill, which one would you say is the best blind-buy?

Riot in Cell Block 11 is going to be a great Criterion disc. It's a film noir by Don Siegel, who directed The Big Steal, Private Hell 36, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Dirty Harry, and Escape from Alcatraz. You can't go wrong with prison riot/prison escape films.

As soon as Riot in Cell Block 11 arrives at my doorstep, I'm going to make it a double feature with Crashout.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by joie

There is nothing like Travolta and Thurman dancing in Pulp Fiction anywhere in Godard

"'nothing" like meaning nothing as good? we'd agree to disagree if that is what you mean; I won't challenge that because everyone is entitled to their opinion, but The Madison scene in Band of Outsiders is, for me, infinitely cooler. And the way Anna Karina moves in the pool hall scene in Vivre sa Vie had to have been an influence on the way Uma Thurman moves in the scene where they go back to her home after Jack Rabbit Slim's. That scene in VSV is absolute perfection.

but if you mean "nothing" as in a literal sense... (which I guess I don't think you mean it that way...) you'd be severely mistaken. that'd be like saying there is nothing in Oasis's music that is reminiscent of the Beatles.

Originally Posted by JWilliams85

I watched my first Godard movie a few weeks back. It was Breathless and I thought it was terrible!

I would like to give Godard another shot. I'm thinking Band of Outsiders.

Can anyone give me some recommendations for Godard films?

check back a few pages as Godard has been a major topic for a while now... my hunch would be to say, however, that if you didn't like Breathless, you may not be hip to his other stuff. although my theory about people not liking Breathless is that people might be turned off by the jump cuts early in the film and maybe also the long scene in the hotel room.