The Criterion Collection

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Sadly that seems to be the case with the blu-ray of KC Confidential. It's a shame a quality noir like that isn't in good hands.

Funnily enough, Kansas City Confidential has the best transfer (to my eyes) out of the three Film Chest Blu-rays that I own (The Strange Love of Martha Ivers and The Red House are the other two.).

I do not think that any of these three Blu-rays are unwatchable, and I enjoy the movies so much that I roll with it, but I'd love to see Kino (or Criterion, for that matter) work their magic with these without scrubbing the details away.

I didn't kick up a lot of dirt over these, though, since the three Blu-rays cost me less than five dollars apiece.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Le Samourai is a great film, and, in fact, it was my all-time favorite film for years before I rediscovered the brilliance of Jacque Tourneur's Out of the Past not long ago. (Of course, Le Samourai might regain the throne, because it's a tough call between these two amazing movies.)

There is a French Pathe Blu-ray of Le Samourai, but the transfer is murky, and it's one of the rare instances where I would recommend the Criterion DVD over a Blu-ray. The existing Criterion DVD is well worth owning if you are even remotely intrigued by the movie. I'm inclined to say that I don't think that a suitable high definition transfer of Le Samourai is coming soon, but I honestly have no idea and, for all I know, Criterion may announce an upgrade next month.

Le Samourai dethroned? That could be the biggest news of the day, Owl! I can't imagine my favorite film (Vertigo) ever getting dethroned, although subsequent viewings of Ikiru could give it a run for its money, I suppose.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Coen

I have never seen a Melville film. It looks like the 3 on BD are all out of print (along with a couple that came out on DVD but not BD) and the three that Criterion has on DVD that are not out of print are not on BD. I am especially interested in Le Samourai. What are the odds it is released on BD? Or should I just pick up the DVD?

I thought the Criterion DVD PQ for Le Samourai was lousy. Criterion still has the rights to it, so it theoretically could get an upgrade. I wouldn't buy the DVD. Melville has made his way into my team picture of all time favorite directors and here is how I would rate what I've seen from him.

1 Army of Shadows
2 Leon Morin, Priest
3 Le Deuxiemme Souffle
4 Le Cercle Rouge
5 Un Flic
6 Two Men in Manhattan
7 Le Samourai

I'm actually holding off on seeing a few others of his that are supposed to be great in hopes that we'll get a blu ray for them some time in the near future.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

Le Samourai dethroned? That could be the biggest news of the day, Owl! I can't imagine my favorite film (Vertigo) ever getting dethroned, although subsequent viewings of Ikiru could give it a run for its money, I suppose.

I've been a fan of Out of the Past for a while, but I rediscovered it in a big way this past year when I saw the DVD on a high definition television. I also relate to this movie a lot more now that I'm older, for some reason.

It's really tough for me to name one single all-time favorite movie. There are a handful that are pretty much tied for the spot, and I hold them in equal esteem...

Out of the Past
Le Samourai
Dr. No
Rear Window
The Maltese Falcon
Army of Shadows
From Russia with Love
Le Cercle Rouge

If someone stuck a gun to my head right now and made me pick just one, though, I'd go with Out of the Past.

In fact, it's difficult for me even to nail down my favorite Hitchcock. Rear Window, North by Northwest, and Vertigo all pretty much go hand in hand on top.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I've been a fan of Out of the Past for a while, but I rediscovered it in a big way this past year when I saw the DVD on a high definition television. I also relate to this movie a lot more now that I'm older, for some reason.

It's really tough for me to name one single all-time favorite movie. There are a handful that are pretty much tied for the spot, and I hold them in equal esteem...

Out of the Past
Le Samourai
Dr. No
Rear Window
The Maltese Falcon
Army of Shadows
From Russia with Love
Le Cercle Rouge

If someone stuck a gun to my head right now and made me pick just one, though, I'd go with Out of the Past.

In fact, it's difficult for me even to nail down my favorite Hitchcock. Rear Window, North by Northwest, and Vertigo all pretty much go hand in hand on top.

Of the first 3 Bond movies, I've only seen Goldfinger in it's entirety. That will change, though, as I bought those 3 in one mini-set in the last Fox sale for 9 bucks.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I thought the Criterion DVD PQ for Le Samourai was lousy. Criterion still has the rights to it, so it theoretically could get an upgrade. I wouldn't buy the DVD. Melville has made his way into my team picture of all time favorite directors and here is how I would rate what I've seen from him.

1 Army of Shadows
2 Leon Morin, Priest
3 Le Deuxiemme Souffle
4 Le Cercle Rouge
5 Un Flic
6 Two Men in Manhattan
7 Le Samourai

I'm actually holding off on seeing a few others of his that are supposed to be great in hopes that we'll get a blu ray for them some time in the near future.

I highly recommend Bob Le Flambeur (which I consider his best film), it might change your top three.

[ShellOilJunior]

Anyone else hoping Criterion releases the Tati box in July? I'm really anxious to see M. Hulot's Holiday in HD. Such a relaxing summer film.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Anyone else hoping Criterion releases the Tati box in July? I'm really anxious to see M. Hulot's Holiday in HD. Such a relaxing summer film.

I am glad I held off from buying Trafic. I agree M. Hulot's Holiday is great, and love the ending. Having a box set with all his movies will be quite an experience.

Is there any Tati film that you enjoy as much as M. Hulot's Holiday?

[FilmCafe]

I really hope they release a Tati box set because I was so bummed when they had a stock of Playtime at Amazon for sale and I placed in order which had me on a waiting list for a whole month and in the end I didn't get it...

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

Of the first 3 Bond movies, I've only seen Goldfinger in it's entirety. That will change, though, as I bought those 3 in one mini-set in the last Fox sale for 9 bucks.

Goldfinger is a excellent film and one of the best in the series, but Dr. No and From Russia with Love are my two favorite James Bond movies. I'm in the minority, but I prefer the rough-around-the-edges scrappy vibe of Dr. No to the more polished sheen of the subsequent movies. From Russia with Love has a similar rough-around-the-edges feel, but it also introduces a few of the landmark conventions that graced the rest of the franchise, namely the pre-credits sequence and John Barry's music.

I think that you'll be in for a pleasant surprise when you watch those first two Bond movies. I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

Of the first 3 Bond movies, I've only seen Goldfinger in it's entirety. That will change, though, as I bought those 3 in one mini-set in the last Fox sale for 9 bucks.

I just had a James Bond marathon over the past couple of months. I had recorded every film on my DVR (even the ones I had seen before - which were Dr. No, the Pierce Brosnan films, and the Daniel Craig films), and I tried to watch at least one a night before I went to bed.

The funny thing is that I once owned the "Bond 50" Blu-ray set when it first came out, but I decided to sell it that same year for the same exact price that I paid on a Black Friday Amazon sale (I think it was $100). A little foolish because I could have watched them with more ease, but that's neither here nor there.

Anyway, they're really fun films, so check them out if you want a change of pace and / or haven't seen many of them. I'd have to say that Roger Moore is my favorite Bond due to his demeanor. After watching them, I think "For Your Eyes Only" is my favorite Bond film. Others I would recommend (based off being other favorite Bond films of mine) are "Casino Royale", "Dr. No", "Goldfinger", "The Man With The Golden Gun", and "Thunderball".

(Oh, and "The Spy Who Loved Me" has the best theme song of all the Bonds! )

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by iScottie

After watching them, I think "For Your Eyes Only" is my favorite Bond film. Others I would recommend (based off being other favorite Bond films of mine) are "Casino Royale", "Dr. No", "Goldfinger", "The Man With The Golden Gun", and "Thunderball".

You have a solid taste in Bond movies.

My top five, by comparison...

1. Dr. No
2. From Russia with Love
3. Casino Royale
4. For Your Eyes Only
5. Goldfinger

As far as Bond themes go, my favorite is Louis Armstrong's "We Have All the Time in the World", from On Her Majesty's Secret Service (which just missed my above top five list).

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Goldfinger is a excellent film and one of the best in the series, but Dr. No and From Russia with Love are my two favorite James Bond movies. I'm in the minority, but I prefer the rough-around-the-edges scrappy vibe of Dr. No to the more polished sheen of the subsequent movies. From Russia with Love has a similar rough-around-the-edges feel, but it also introduces a few of the landmark conventions that graced the rest of the franchise, namely the pre-credits sequence and John Barry's music.

I think that you'll be in for a pleasant surprise when you watch those first two Bond movies. I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts.

Originally Posted by iScottie

After watching them, I think "For Your Eyes Only" is my favorite Bond film. Others I would recommend (based off being other favorite Bond films of mine) are "Casino Royale", "Dr. No", "Goldfinger", "The Man With The Golden Gun", and "Thunderball".

(Oh, and "The Spy Who Loved Me" has the best theme song of all the Bonds! )

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

You have a solid taste in Bond movies.

My top five, by comparison...

1. Dr. No
2. From Russia with Love
3. Casino Royale
4. For Your Eyes Only
5. Goldfinger

Thanks, guys! For Your Eyes Only was completely not on my radar, so I'll keep it in mind. I think that I'll like the early films if they are, as you say, Owl, a little less polished. I was surprised to see that they were so well reviewed. For a long time, I thought only Goldfinger had the rep as being a legitimately great movie.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

Thanks, guys! For Your Eyes Only was completely not on my radar, so I'll keep it in mind. I think that I'll like the early films if they are, as you say, Owl, a little less polished. I was surprised to see that they were so well reviewed. For a long time, I thought only Goldfinger had the rep as being a legitimately great movie.

Terence Young, who directed the first two Bond movies, as well as Thunderball, was an amazing filmmaker whom I'm hoping will join the Criterion Collection this year, if the cartoon hint was indeed for Red Sun (1971). Young also directed the brilliant Wait Until Dark (1967), which stars the lovely Audrey Hepburn. I'd love to see Criterion pick up Wait Until Dark as a title.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by jw007

It's up there on par with The Royal Tenenbaums but not as funny.

Oh, dear. I'm not quite sure what to make of that statement.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Anyway, they're really fun films, so check them out if you want a change of pace and / or haven't seen many of them. I'd have to say that Roger Moore is my favorite Bond due to his demeanor.

Moore is by far my least favorite Bond. I even prefer Lazenby (who I think is better -- though not a whole lot better -- than most people give him credit for). Craig is my favorite by far, but I really got to like Brosnan a hell of a lot.

After watching them, I think "For Your Eyes Only" is my favorite Bond film.

That's definitely the best of the Moore films, and is the only one of the Moores that I'm inclined have in my collection. When I bought my first LD player, I bought 3 discs along with it. For Your Eyes Only was one of them (the other two were Halloween and The Philadelphia Story).

Being a completist, I got all of the then-extant Bond films on widescreen LD. Then I upgraded them all to DVD. I've broken my completist compulsion when it comes to BD, though, as I'm only interested in watching about half the movies over again.

Casino Royale (Craig version) is probably my choice for best Bond film ever, but I confess that the one I enjoy watching the most is Tomorrow Never Dies because (a) it has the best pre-credits sequence, and (b) it has Michelle Yeoh.

(Oh, and "The Spy Who Loved Me" has the best theme song of all the Bonds! )

Now, that I agree with.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

Thanks, guys! For Your Eyes Only was completely not on my radar, so I'll keep it in mind.

It's notable for two things. After the seeming excesses of Moonraker, FYEO scaled back considerably, and harkens back to the more thriller aspects of the early Connery films. It also scales back on the campier aspects of previous films, and comes off as much more serious.

It also has one of the best "Bond Girls" in Carole Bouquet. On the other hand, it has by far the worst Bond Girl in Lynn Holly Johnson (even Denise Richards was preferable).

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

You have a solid taste in Bond movies.

My top five, by comparison...

1. Dr. No
2. From Russia with Love
3. Casino Royale
4. For Your Eyes Only
5. Goldfinger

As far as Bond themes go, my favorite is Louis Armstrong's "We Have All the Time in the World", from On Her Majesty's Secret Service (which just missed my above top five list).

It's hard for me to pick my bottom choices of Bond films, but I'd have to say that it's at least Die Another Day, Moonraker, and On Her Majesty's Secret Service (in that order). The Lazenby film is the absolute worst for me and just about killed me. I watched a bit of it one night before bed one night and I ended up falling asleep. The next day was me mustering up enough strength to finish it.

Originally Posted by jayembee

Moore is by far my least favorite Bond. I even prefer Lazenby (who I think is better -- though not a whole lot better -- than most people give him credit for). Craig is my favorite by far, but I really got to like Brosnan a hell of a lot.

-----

That's definitely the best of the Moore films, and is the only one of the Moores that I'm inclined have in my collection. When I bought my first LD player, I bought 3 discs along with it. For Your Eyes Only was one of them (the other two were Halloween and The Philadelphia Story).

Being a completist, I got all of the then-extant Bond films on widescreen LD. Then I upgraded them all to DVD. I've broken my completist compulsion when it comes to BD, though, as I'm only interested in watching about half the movies over again.

Casino Royale (Craig version) is probably my choice for best Bond film ever, but I confess that the one I enjoy watching the most is Tomorrow Never Dies because (a) it has the best pre-credits sequence, and (b) it has Michelle Yeoh.

-----

Now, that I agree with.

I used to own the Bond DVD box sets, as well, but I never got around to watching many of them. When it comes to Bond now, I like the majority of them, but I don't see myself going out of my way to watch them again.

As far as the actors playing Bond go, I will have to say that after Roger Moore, who I find to be the most relaxed and humorous Bond, I will say that Sean Connery is my favorite Bond. There's no denying the badassery of Connery and without him, I don't know how well the films would have been received at their beginning. After Connery, I would have to say Daniel Craig because not only is he a bad-to-the-bones type of deal, but his stories seem a lot more polished than some of the other ones in the past. Pierce Brosnan, the first Bond that I ever saw, is my fourth favorite, followed by Timothy Dalton, whose films I did not really enjoy, and lastly George Lazenby, who stars in the longest and most boring Bond film.

Rewatching the Pierce Brosnan films honestly did nothing for me, but I still think GoldenEye is pretty cool!

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

I am glad I held off from buying Trafic. I agree M. Hulot's Holiday is great, and love the ending. Having a box set with all his movies will be quite an experience.

Is there any Tati film that you enjoy as much as M. Hulot's Holiday?

Truthfully, I need to to view the other Tati films. I own Play Time on blu-ray but it's been ages since I last saw it.

I love Hulot's Holiday because the last time I saw it everything was aligned perfectly (I'm a big believer in watching certain films during the summer months. For me it makes the experience better).

It was a lazy, warm day and the screening was at 1 or 2pm in the afternoon - something the cinematheque usually doesn't do on Saturday as times tend to start at 5pm. The fact the c'theque's director loves the film probably had something to do with the time slot.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by iScottie

There's no denying the badassery of Connery

nice use of the word "badassery," Scottie!