The Criterion Collection

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by SlickDamian

I was watching Jeopardy! the other day, and Alex Trebek mentioned that he enjoys watching "old black and white movies from the 40's and 50's".
Wouldn't it be awesome if Criterion got him to do some commentaries and/or interviews on some titles!

I don't know.It's a crapshoot on commentaries: sometimes I'd see a name attached to a commentary and think "this is gonna be great" only to have a guy state the obvious about what's happening on the screen and give me zero information.

[Polaroid]

Omg didn't know Philip Glass did music for A Brief History of Time! Very happy!

EDIT: Really enjoyed this documentry - so happy Criterion released it )))

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by SlickDamian

I was watching Jeopardy! the other day, and Alex Trebek mentioned that he enjoys watching "old black and white movies from the 40's and 50's".
Wouldn't it be awesome if Criterion got him to do some commentaries and/or interviews on some titles!

How's this for a dream Criterion title?

Robert Redford's 1994 movie, Quiz Show, with a commentary track from Alex Trebek.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

How's this for a dream Criterion title?

Robert Redford's 1994 movie, Quiz Show, with a commentary track from Alex Trebek.

Only if they provide an alternate audio track that replaces Rob Morrow's annoying faux Kennedy accent.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

How's this for a dream Criterion title?

Robert Redford's 1994 movie, Quiz Show, with a commentary track from Alex Trebek.

With a history of the category "Potent Potables"...

[buffetfroid]

Originally Posted by SlickDamian

I was watching Jeopardy! the other day, and Alex Trebek mentioned that he enjoys watching "old black and white movies from the 40's and 50's".
Wouldn't it be awesome if Criterion got him to do some commentaries and/or interviews on some titles!

Just because the dude can read quiz questions doesn't mean he knows shit about movies.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by buffetfroid

Just because the dude can read quiz questions doesn't mean he knows shit about movies.

was kind of thinking the same thing, but thought not to be so blunt. Reggie Miller (a basketball hall of famer for people who don't know) likes old movies, too. which was surprising and cool. he sat in with Robert Osborne once on TCM. I sincerely doubt, however, that what he thinks about the films he likes is worth much more of a hoot than Joe Schmo, Accountant or whoever it might be.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

was kind of thinking the same thing, but thought not to be so blunt. Reggie Miller (a basketball hall of famer for people who don't know) likes old movies, too. which was surprising and cool. he sat in with Robert Osborne once on TCM. I sincerely doubt, however, that what he thinks about the films he likes is worth much more of a hoot than Joe Schmo, Accountant or whoever it might be.

True. Although, Trebek's profession is what is depicted in the film.

Maybe Criterion could've used Reggie for a commentary on Drive, He Said ?


OK, I'm joking about that one.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Maybe Criterion could've used Reggie for a commentary on Drive, He Said ?

OK, I'm joking about that one.

I would actually love to hear a major sports star's commentary for Downhill Racer, if Criterion were to upgrade that DVD.

[bwdowiak]

I saw Hiroshima, Mon Amour last night and was a bit underwhelmed.

What I liked:

the music and all of the ambient noise that fills the soundtrack. I haven't read much about the film, but do people generally notice the scene early in the film

[Show spoiler]when they are laying in the bed and talking - there is the sound of a car engine trying to start and at the same time there is a plane flying overhead. It sounds like a fighter plane firing away. pretty cool.

What I didn't like:

[Show spoiler]The swapping of the pronouns 'you' and 'he' when she is describing her German lover who was killed. It was confusing initially because up until that point in the film, we are unaware of a past love. Also, as far as however artful it is for the dialogue to be arbitrarily swapped like that... I don't know. That didn't work for me and it came off kind of clumsy.

The last spoken words of the movie. "You are Hiroshima." "..and you are Nevers" (or something like that) somewhat vapid and obvious at that point, no? I just don't think the metaphor of a lost love and the bombing of Hiroshima is particularly strong, either.

The film reminded me so much of Last Year at Marienbad, which I loved. The intro, the dreamy dialogue spoken over images of Hiroshima locales, the man following her incessantly. It just worked so much better for me in LYaM. I'd probably appreciate it more with another viewing, but for now, it was just 'alright'.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

The film reminded me so much of Last Year at Marienbad, which I loved. The intro, the dreamy dialogue spoken over images of Hiroshima locales, the man following her incessantly. It just worked so much better for me in LYaM. I'd probably appreciate it more with another viewing, but for now, it was just 'alright'.

Both films are a full cinematic meal and both get better with subsequent viewings. The first two times I see LYAM was on the big screen on consecutive nights. The first night was overwhelming but my mind was actively engaged in the film. The second night I could appreciate the film a lot more. Now when I see LYAM I'm so dialed in that everything works for me. To the film's credit (and nature) I see something different each time as I try to make sense of the film. Marienbad is truly a work of art.

Hiroshima is one of my all time favorites, too. I won't hide my bias there. I love the film.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Both films are a full cinematic meal and both get better with subsequent viewings. The first two times I see LYAM was on the big screen on consecutive nights. The first night was overwhelming but my mind was actively engaged in the film. The second night I could appreciate the film a lot more. Now when I see LYAM I'm so dialed in that everything works for me. To the film's credit (and nature) I see something different each time as I try to make sense of the film. Marienbad is truly a work of art.

Hiroshima is one of my all time favorites, too. I won't hide my bias there. I love the film.

It took until the first appearance of the card game for it to 'click' with me for Marienbad and after that I was spellbound.

I was intrigued w/ Hiroshima from the start, but just felt that it was clumsy at times. Also, the older I get, the more obsessed I have become with a lot of the themes that the film presents - fading memories and the need to never forget. Because of that, those themes and the way that they were expressed just didn't resonate with me as much as the poetry in Marienbad, Godard's films, or even Brief Encounter for that matter.

Edit: I should add... and that is because those ideas are already in my stream of consciousness.

[octagon]

I watched Marienbad for the first time a few nights ago and I was hooked from the beginning. Well, kind of. I was wrapped up in it from the opening scenes but it took me a while to trust that initial impression. For a while there I was vacillating rather rapidly between 'whoa, this is awesome' and 'wtf am I even watching' but once I shrugged and thought 'eh, who cares, I'll worry whether or not there's any point to any of this later' I was completely captivated.

And I didn't really stop wondering wtf I was watching or whether or not there was any point to any of it. I just stopped worrying about it.

[MifuneFan]

I watched Eyes Without a Face last night for the first time. I thought it was good, but not great. It was certainly unsettling, and haunting, but it just felt like it was maybe one or two notches above the gothic horrors of the time. Perhaps I've just become too used to these shocking kinds of storylines that it didn't impact me as well as others here. I think I felt sorrow for Christiane more than anything. I think it's a rather grim premise presented with her character, that's masked by a somewhat run of the mill mad scientist plot.

3/5

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by SlickDamian

I was watching Jeopardy! the other day, and Alex Trebek mentioned that he enjoys watching "old black and white movies from the 40's and 50's".
Wouldn't it be awesome if Criterion got him to do some commentaries and/or interviews on some titles!

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

How's this for a dream Criterion title?

Robert Redford's 1994 movie, Quiz Show, with a commentary track from Alex Trebek.

When I think of Game Show hosts and movies it kind of starts and ends with Richard Dawson in The Running Man.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by octagon

I watched Marienbad for the first time a few nights ago and I was hooked from the beginning. Well, kind of. I was wrapped up in it from the opening scenes but it took me a while to trust that initial impression. For a while there I was vacillating rather rapidly between 'whoa, this is awesome' and 'wtf am I even watching' but once I shrugged and thought 'eh, who cares, I'll worry whether or not there's any point to any of this later' I was completely captivated.

And I didn't really stop wondering wtf I was watching or whether or not there was any point to any of it. I just stopped worrying about it.

I'm totally with you on that.

When I first watched it, I gave up trying to understand it and just focused on what was unfolding before my eyes.

I need to rewatch it again because I thought it was quite haunting.

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I watched Eyes Without a Face last night for the first time. I thought it was good, but not great. It was certainly unsettling, and haunting, but it just felt like it was maybe one or two notches above the gothic horrors of the time. Perhaps I've just become too used to these shocking kinds of storylines that it didn't impact me as well as others here. I think I felt sorrow for Christiane more than anything. I think it's a rather grim premise presented with her character, that's masked by a somewhat run of the mill mad scientist plot.

3/5

I saw it for the first time a few months ago and my opinion pretty much mimics yours.

I thought it was good, but I wasn't wowed or horrified by it like many others. I wonder how Judex is in comparison to EWAF.

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I watched Eyes Without a Face last night for the first time. I thought it was good, but not great. It was certainly unsettling, and haunting, but it just felt like it was maybe one or two notches above the gothic horrors of the time. Perhaps I've just become too used to these shocking kinds of storylines that it didn't impact me as well as others here. I think I felt sorrow for Christiane more than anything. I think it's a rather grim premise presented with her character, that's masked by a somewhat run of the mill mad scientist plot.

3/5

I didn't like it as much as others either. I bought it during the last sale from B&N, but sold it after finally watching it recently.

I didn't think it was bad, but I would have never had the urge to watch it again.

I just watched To Be or Not to Be last night and thought that was amazing though.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by octagon

I watched Marienbad for the first time a few nights ago and I was hooked from the beginning. Well, kind of. I was wrapped up in it from the opening scenes but it took me a while to trust that initial impression. For a while there I was vacillating rather rapidly between 'whoa, this is awesome' and 'wtf am I even watching' but once I shrugged and thought 'eh, who cares, I'll worry whether or not there's any point to any of this later' I was completely captivated.

And I didn't really stop wondering wtf I was watching or whether or not there was any point to any of it. I just stopped worrying about it.

Originally Posted by iScottie

I'm totally with you on that.

When I first watched it, I gave up trying to understand it and just focused on what was unfolding before my eyes.

I need to rewatch it again because I thought it was quite haunting.

.

I know many of you already have the film in your collection, but if you don't, I just wanted to bring your attention to the fact that Studio Canal's UK edition is region free and got really good marks on this web site and others. I'm not exactly sure why I'm waiting to pull the trigger on that one. It can be had through Amazon UK for about $25 and that includes shipping!

[edwinaac]

I'm not a regular poster, but wanted to add that the Last Year at Marienbad StudioCanal UK release is very high quality

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by octagon

I watched Marienbad for the first time a few nights ago and I was hooked from the beginning. Well, kind of. I was wrapped up in it from the opening scenes but it took me a while to trust that initial impression. For a while there I was vacillating rather rapidly between 'whoa, this is awesome' and 'wtf am I even watching' but once I shrugged and thought 'eh, who cares, I'll worry whether or not there's any point to any of this later' I was completely captivated.

And I didn't really stop wondering wtf I was watching or whether or not there was any point to any of it. I just stopped worrying about it.

This is how I roll every time I watch Last Year at Marienbad, and I've seen it quite a few times now. I'm baffled, but I cannot look away.

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I watched Eyes Without a Face last night for the first time. I thought it was good, but not great. It was certainly unsettling, and haunting, but it just felt like it was maybe one or two notches above the gothic horrors of the time. Perhaps I've just become too used to these shocking kinds of storylines that it didn't impact me as well as others here. I think I felt sorrow for Christiane more than anything. I think it's a rather grim premise presented with her character, that's masked by a somewhat run of the mill mad scientist plot.

I made a big case in my User Review for why I love Eyes Without a Face, but I'll just say here that it's one of the best-looking Criterion transfers of a black-and-white movie. It's up there with The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and Persona as far as transfer quality goes. The final scene is just magnificently beautiful and haunting.