The Criterion Collection

[Meek12345]

Originally Posted by jayembee

I see no one's falling over themselves to suggest Delicatessen or Eating Raoul as "food films".

I have never seen Eating Raoul, but I hope I will have the chance to soon. I recently sold several DVDs with the intent of eventually upgrading my favorite trade-ins to blu. Delicatessen is one of my former DVDs that I plan to buy on blu soon. I have read reviews for the StudioCanal blu on several websites and they are all positive. It will be my first StudioCanal blu.

I didn't sleep much last night so it took me a while to get your joke. I was like this after watching Delicatessen the first time, and almost became a vegetarian again. Subsequent viewings have been great as I am now prepared for the dark tone of the film.

[ShellOilJunior]

I've just received word Willem Dafoe will be appearing at my local cinematheque in June for a Q&A session after a screening of Shadow of the Vampire.

I'm leaning towards getting the booklet for The Last Temptation of Christ signed.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

I'll be seeing a 35mm print of To Catch a Thief tonight. I've seen the film many times but never on the big screen.

Envious. That's one of my favorite Hitchcock movies and one of my favorite Blu-rays.

I'm about to see Under the Skin, so SammyJankis and I will have to compare notes later.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

I've just received word Willem Dafoe will be appearing at my local cinematheque in June for a Q&A session after a screening of Shadow of the Vampire.

I'm leaning towards getting the booklet for The Last Temptation of Christ signed.

funny you say that.. I'm trying to get a hotel room for next Friday night in Champaign. Spike Lee will be at EbertFest. don't know how hard I'd try for an autograph, but was thinking it would kind be cool to have him sign my Alpha 1 Air Jordans. I don't know. maybe that's kinda lame. was thinking about it though.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Envious. That's one of my favorite Hitchcock movies and one of my favorite Blu-rays.

I'm about to see Under the Skin, so SammyJankis and I will have to compare notes later.

+1 on it being one of your fav blu-rays.

I, too, am really fond of TCaT.. more so than most, but it's hard to say that it is one of my favorites.

[Nocturnaloner]

Does anyone know if Bob le Flambeur has an HD transfer? In other words, could it ever see blu ray? Its 'noir' qualification may be debatable, but its cool factor is beyond reproach. I consider it the first modern heist film. Absolutely essential viewing for anyone who likes the Oceans remakes.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

+1 on it being one of your fav blu-rays.

I, too, am really fond of TCaT.. more so than most, but it's hard to say that it is one of my favorites.

To Catch a Thief is really light but it's Hitch, Grant, Kelly and the French Riviera.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Coen

Just watched Kurosawa's Dreams. Wow - what a beautiful film. Would love to see Criterion release this.

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I really enjoy it. There's an HD version of it available on Vudu which looks pretty good. It's part of their disc to digital program too, so you can get it for $5 if you have the DVD. I don't see Criterion getting it, but I hope Warner considers a BD release as part of their Archive collection. Next year will mark the film's 25th Anniversary.

This isn't Criterion related, but I messaged Warner, requesting Kurosawa's Dreams, and they replied saying that WHV is currently considering a BD release

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

This isn't Criterion related, but I messaged Warner, requesting Kurosawa's Dreams, and they replied saying that WHV is currently considering a BD release

Thanks for the news! Consider me intrigued!

[szyzk]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

This isn't Criterion related, but I messaged Warner, requesting Kurosawa's Dreams, and they replied saying that WHV is currently considering a BD release

I must be the only person here who doesn't care for Dreams. It looks beautiful, but that was never enough to make it engaging.

[Arkadin]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

I've just received word Willem Dafoe will be appearing at my local cinematheque in June for a Q&A session after a screening of Shadow of the Vampire.

I'm leaning towards getting the booklet for The Last Temptation of Christ signed.

How could you pass on the cover of Platoon?

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by szyzk

I must be the only person here who doesn't care for Dreams. It looks beautiful, but that was never enough to make it engaging.

How can you not be engaged by a film that starts off with a very somber wedding procession, and ends with a very joyful funeral procession?

[jayxrico]

So many criterion releases dropping and my list just keeps building up. Being patient for the next B&N sale is tough.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I'm about to see Under the Skin, so SammyJankis and I will have to compare notes later.

Looking forward to it. I just got back, but I have to run back out so I can't share my thoughts in a thorough manner.

Will do so later. Very curious to hear your thoughts.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

Looking forward to it. I just got back, but I have to run back out so I can't share my thoughts in a thorough manner.

Will do so later. Very curious to hear your thoughts.

I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts.

Here's a review that I just posted in the Movies forum.




I have been looking forward to Under the Skin for a while now, since I enjoyed the novel by Michel Faber, so I made a special trip to Midtown Art Cinema on my way home from work as a fun alternative to the rush hour traffic on this rainy afternoon.

Under the Skin stars Scarlett Johansson as a mysterious woman who drives around the streets of Scotland in search of male hitchhikers. This is all that I can reveal about the plot without lessening the effect for unfamiliar viewers, but I highly recommend this science fiction film to anyone who enjoys eerie imagery, unhurried pacing, and narratives that do not spoon-feed the audience. Scarlett Johansson is outstanding in what must have been a challenging role, and she is surprisingly adept at conveying the reactions that an outsider might have when immersing herself into our society. Jonathan Glazer's direction is brilliantly understated, and his work here will appeal to anyone who likes the calm moments in movies when characters are simply thinking their way through situations. Mica Levi's experimental music score is integral to the unsettling feel of this film, and I was reminded several times of the music in Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. Finally, the scenes featuring the beautiful and foggy landscapes of the Scottish countryside made me want to travel there for some trail running.

If you like the detached vibe of Stanley Kubrick's movies, the otherworldly ambiguity of Andrei Tarkovsky's films, or even the paranoia of Philip Kaufman's 1978 version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, then you will probably be mesmerized by Under the Skin. I think that this is one of the most quietly fascinating science fiction movies that I have seen in a long time, and I will be surprised if it does not have a place on my top five list at year's end.

Under the Skin is a strange film, to say the least, but I loved every minute of it.

[Clare2904]

Originally Posted by Six Demon Bag

anyone heard about any upcoming 50% off B&N sales this year?

its been a while and i'd like to stock up.

Originally Posted by iScottie

There's usually one every July and October / November.

There was also a 50% sale from Amazon in June last year.

[Blu-Velvet]

Originally Posted by jayembee

I see no one's falling over themselves to suggest Delicatessen or Eating Raoul as "food films".

If I'd mentioned those, I would have been required to mention RAVENOUS (which is finally coming to Blu-ray in June), along with TITUS, naturally, and of course

[Show spoiler]SOYLENT GREEN

, and probably

[Show spoiler]A BOY AND HIS DOG

as well, all of which might make an interesting weekend festival.

[SlickDamian]

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.

That is a fantastic idea! That movie needs a blue ray release as well.

[SammyJankis]

Great write-up, Owl.

It's a film that has been in my head all day, and I suspect that's going to be the case for at least a week. Most of the story wasn't very difficult to grasp. I think you can get a pretty clear understanding of what it's about. The way it's told is why people are finding it so difficult.

I imagine the word "pretentious" will be thrown about for this one, especially after its opening sequence (which is marvelous.) Frankly, I was transfixed for the entire duration, in awe at how well this (for me) unknown director is pulling off this ambitious vision with such success. He sets a tone of surrealism that is up there with some of the best. The static car shots, the strikingly unsettling score (seriously, this deserves to be compared to The Shining), and the gaze of Johansson's eyes just culminate into something that just grabs your attention and doesn't let go.

I need another viewing in order to delve into its thematic concerns (besides the obvious: sex and identity.) Might even see it in theaters again. The sound design alone makes it worth it.

[Scottie]

All of this "Under the Skin" talk is making me even more excited for seeing it next weekend!