The Criterion Collection

[The Great Owl]

The Hidden Fortress was 20% off at Barnes & Noble today when I went there to buy Three Days of the Condor and Captain America: The First Avenger, so I added it to my haul for a good price in conjunction with my membership discount.

I have a backlog of Akira Kurosawa Blu-rays to watch, with Rashomon, High and Low, Throne of Blood, and The Hidden Fortress. I mean, I've already seen these movies several times over by way of my old DVDs, but I have yet to check out how the upgrades are. I may devote an entire upcoming weekend to this soon.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

I watched Twenty-Four Eyes on TCM last night. It was amazing!

Glad to hear you liked it. I recorded the showing.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

the ending is so awesome cool. and i loved the score...

Originally Posted by iScottie

Glad to hear you liked it. I recorded the showing.

When I first started watching it I definitely got a Goodbye, Mr. Chips vibe from it but it followed, almost the entire film, one class of students over the years and periodically returning to that one photograph showing them all that was both reaffirming and heartbreaking.
I must admit when I first heard a certain western hymn in the score I had to do a mental double-take to wonder-"Wait, is that Japanese and similar, or did I just hear....?"
Just a wonderful film and a great time seeing it.

[Polaroid]

ummm delivery from Amazon.co.uk for me is like a £1.15 or something, FROM USA to UK, no customs charges ever and I've bought around 200ish Criterions from different buyers.

Not sure why so expensive elsewhere oO

[mrjohnnyb]

Originally Posted by smoss469

RIP Mickey Rooney.

I believe he was the last remaining "main star" from IAMMMMW wasn't he?

You are correct. He outlived Sid Caesar who passed away in February.

In fact, the only members of the entire cast who are still alive are Jerry Lewis, Carl Reiner, and Barrie Chase (Sylvester's Girlfriend.)

[octagon]

Originally Posted by jayembee

That scene was a bit of a shock. Once the reveal happens, you realize that it should've been obvious, but for a brief while it's WTF?

Sounds pretty cool. I can't wait to see I'm shocked or if I see the reveal coming a mile away.

I'm leaning toward the mile away thing but I suppose you never know.

[AnamorphicWidescreen]

Originally Posted by Blu-Velvet

Finally watched LA VIE DE BOHEME, which I got on the Criterion flash sale about a month ago. Fantastic film! It's amazing how Kaurismaki can turn such a classic romantic tragedy into a delightfully dark comic satire with more than a few laugh-out-loud moments! Lovely black and white cinematography, unexpected but effective casting, wonderfully droll performances, all in all great fun and definitely something to revisit soon! A few more bonus features would have been nice, but what there is is good.

I agree - La Vie De Boheme is an excellent b&w '90's film; just saw it for the first time earlier this year. Very funny and also sad story about a group of friends/artists living in Paris. What's extremely interesting about Boheme is that though it came out in '92, it's very unclear when the film is actually supposed to take place - it's got a very 1950's/1960's vibe, but is probably supposed to take place much later. I think it helps that no one has a cell phone (which they wouldn't necessarily in '92); the film's b&w stunning b&w cinematography also evokes an earlier era. I know the stories the film is loosely based on were written in the 1850's, but obviously the film takes place sometime during the 20th century.

Kaurismaki's Le Havre (2011; also on the Criterion label) is a nice pseudo-follow up to Boheme, with some of the same actors; this takes place in the French port city of Le Havre. Like Boheme, the film seems to take place in the present, but reminds you of a much earlier time....

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by AnamorphicWidescreen

I agree - La Vie De Boheme is an excellent b&w '90's film; just saw it for the first time earlier this year. Very funny and also sad story about a a group of friends/artists living in Paris. What's extremely interesting about Boheme is that though it came out in '92, it's very unclear when the film is actually supposed to take place - it's got a very 1950's/1960's vibe, but is probably supposed to take place much later. I think it helps that no one has a cell phone (which they wouldn't necessarily in '92); the film's b&w stunning b&w cinematography also evokes an earlier era. I know the stories the film is loosely based on were written in the 1850's, but obviously the film takes place sometime during the 20th century.

Kaurismaki's Le Havre (2011; also on the Criterion label) is a nice pseudo-follow up to Boheme, with some of the same actors; this takes place in the French port city of Le Havre. Like Boheme, the film seems to take place in the present, but reminds you of a much earlier time....

My wife and I LOVED Le Havre. La Vie De Boheme Will be in my next batch of Criterions ordered, I am sure.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

The Hidden Fortress was 20% off at Barnes & Noble today when I went there to buy Three Days of the Condor and Captain America: The First Avenger, so I added it to my haul for a good price in conjunction with my membership discount.

I have a backlog of Akira Kurosawa Blu-rays to watch, with Rashomon, High and Low, Throne of Blood, and The Hidden Fortress. I mean, I've already seen these movies several times over by way of my old DVDs, but I have yet to check out how the upgrades are. I may devote an entire upcoming weekend to this soon.

After making the Shimura thread I had the urge to revisit Seven Samurai on blu-ray. I've seen the film half a dozen times before (including once on the big screen thanks to Janus) and it enjoyed like it was the first time. The film has it all - humor, action, stellar character development, heroism, etc.

I have Hidden Fortress coming tomorrow. I plan on tackling it, along with Throne of Blood next weekend. I've also been making it a point to watch 1-2 Zatoichi films each weekend. I feel so spoiled with all these great films to watch

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

I have Hidden Fortress coming tomorrow. I plan on tackling it, along with Throne of Blood next weekend. I've also been making it a point to watch 1-2 Zatoichi films each weekend. I feel so spoiled with all these great films to watch.

I still need to delve into my Zatoichi set. I'm probably going to tackle those films three at a time, so that I can go through the nine Blu-ray discs over nine different occasions. Maybe watch the first Blu-ray, wait a month to watch the second Blu-ray, and so on.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I still need to delve into my Zatoichi set. I'm probably going to tackle those films three at a time, so that I can go through the nine Blu-ray discs over nine different occasions. Maybe watch the first Blu-ray, wait a month to watch the second Blu-ray, and so on.

You may want to view the first 4 together without much time in between them if possible. They're very closely related and serve to establish Zatoichi's character and past. Also, once you get the ball rolling it's hard to stop.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

You may want to view the first 4 together without much time in between them if possible. They're very closely related and serve to establish Zatoichi's character and past. Also, once you get the ball rolling it's hard to stop.

Thanks for the heads-up. You make a good point that I may not want to stop watching them once I get started. I should probably check out my Buster Keaton box set first, before starting this one, just in case I do want to watch both all at once.

[movieben1138]

Originally Posted by mrjohnnyb

You are correct. He outlived Sid Caesar who passed away in February.

In fact, the only members of the entire cast who are still alive are Jerry Lewis, Carl Reiner, and Barrie Chase (Sylvester's Girlfriend.)

Marvin Kaplan and Stan Freberg are both still with us, too.

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Thanks for the heads-up. You make a good point that I may not want to stop watching them once I get started. I should probably check out my Buster Keaton box set first, before starting this one, just in case I do want to watch both all at once.

Sadly, I haven't started the Zatoichi set and I've only made it 1/4th of the way through the massive Keaton set so far. I keep getting side tracked!

[ShellOilJunior]

Just imagine if Criterion gives us another big box set in July. Add in the big Herzog box set from Shout! and some of us may need a week's vacation

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Just imagine if Criterion gives us another big box set in July. Add in the big Herzog box set from Shout! and some of us may need a week's vacation.

I went back and purchased a lot of classic-era 1940s/1950s film noir movies on DVD, because many of them are going out of print or becoming more difficult to find, and because the jury is still out on whether or not most of them will be upgraded to high definition. My recent preoccupation with those movies has caused me to slack off on watching some of the Blu-rays in my stack.

It's all in the fun, though. I prefer to be caught up with watching my purchases, but I also like being able to pull any sort of new movie out of the stack on a whim.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I went back and purchased a lot of classic-era 1940s/1950s film noir movies on DVD, because many of them are going out of print or becoming more difficult to find, and because the jury is still out on whether or not most of them will be upgraded to high definition. My recent preoccupation with those movies has caused me to slack off on watching some of the Blu-rays in my stack.

It's all in the fun, though. I prefer to be caught up with watching my purchases, but I also like being able to pull any sort of new movie out of the stack on a whim.

TCM does a decent job of showing some of those classic 40's/50's film noir (although they'll often play them in the early hours of the morning). I can watch those films in any mood I'm in. I consider those film noir and tend to not include crime films in color, "neo noir" and foreign crime pieces.

To me film noir has: a slick talking and resourceful detective, beautiful but dangerous dames, dope doctors, slapjacks, henchmen, gambling, syndicate bosses, night clubs, booze, corrupt cops, floozies, brutal police chiefs, etc. Essentially, things you'd encounter in a Chandler novel........and shot in block in white.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

To me film noir has: a slick talking and resourceful detective, beautiful but dangerous dames, dope doctors, slapjacks, henchmen, gambling, syndicate bosses, night clubs, booze, corrupt cops, floozies, brutal police chiefs, etc. Essentially, things you'd encounter in a Chandler novel........and shot in block in white.

...and confined within the parameters of the Hays Production Code.

For me, the Hays Code helped to make classic-era film noir what it was. I love watching the creative devices that the filmmakers used to convey sexual tension, violence, and taboo behavior. The body language, the snappy dialogue, the symbolic use of cigarettes, and the use of shadows made these movies more alluring, shocking, and bleak than newer films that have the freedom to portray these things in a more direct way. In a more simplistic sense, the Southern "good old boy" in me likes how these films demonstrate what happens when people disobey the 10 Commandments.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

...and confined within the parameters of the Hays Production Code.

For me, the Hays Code helped to make classic-era film noir what it was. I love watching the creative devices that the filmmakers used to convey sexual tension, violence, and taboo behavior. The body language, the snappy dialogue, the symbolic use of cigarettes, and the use of shadows made these movies more alluring, shocking, and bleak than newer films that have the freedom to portray these things in a more direct way. In a more simplistic sense, the Southern "good old boy" in me likes how these films demonstrate what happens when people disobey the 10 Commandments.

Very much agreed with the bolded.

[Meek12345]

Originally Posted by UncleBuckWild

Honestly i love these indie stores, feels good to know they're still around... For me Amoeba in LA was and still is an interesting place to discover new/classic stuff.

Does anyone remember Virgin Megastore? that too was a uber cool place... too bad it ended it's busineses in the U.S.

I wasn't able to visit a Virgin Megastore while they were still open. However, I was lucky enough to get to the Amoeba in LA once. I believe I picked up Sullivan's Travels, The Sword of Doom, and Le Samourai for less than $20 each. Also, I was able to buy an Out of Print copy of Ran for less than $20. I hope that I will have the chance to shop there again soon.

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

You may want to view the first 4 together without much time in between them if possible. They're very closely related and serve to establish Zatoichi's character and past. Also, once you get the ball rolling it's hard to stop.

I agree with you. I just watched number 8 today (Fight, Zatoichi, Fight), and it is definitely my favorite so far. I keep thinking about the Bond series as I watch the Zatoichi films. I guess it's like comparing apples and oranges, but there are some similarities. Both series established formulas in their first outings and found interesting ways to vary the formula slightly with each subsequent outing. Each Zatoichi film has been better than the last so far for me.