The Criterion Collection

[bwdowiak]

Okay.. I think I found my #1 "this film needs a blu-ray release.. why not Criterion?" title.

this one can also be added to the list of best Hitchcock-like films not directed by Hitchcock. Claude Chabrol's Le Boucher was fantastic. Really, to me, the dictionary definition of a thriller! Any fans of this film?

[quickdraw]

Originally Posted by iScottie

It's a perfect month (June) to upgrade both Picnic at Hanging Rock and Summertime.

The Japanese release of Summertime is actually a pretty solid release of this film in BD. I have the Criterion DVD release of Summertime and the Japanese version has much better shadow detail and color balance to my eyes. Although it has never been a super-sharp picture, you can definitely see film grain on the imported BD and it looks like it should without a lot of manipulation. I'm happy with this release, so unless Criterion does a major overhaul on this title, I'll probably stick to this one.

Picnic at Hanging Rock is another obvious omission, but so is The Last Wave, which is one of my favorite supernatural/thriller films and another Peter Weir classic that sadly gets no love either. They need to revisit both of these titles sooner than later.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by quickdraw

Picnic at Hanging Rock is another obvious omission, but so is The Last Wave, which is one of my favorite supernatural/thriller films and another Peter Weir classic that sadly gets no love either. They need to revisit both of these titles sooner than later.

I'm guessing that you haven't heard that Picnic at Hanging Rock is scheduled for release by Criterion on Blu-ray in mid-June.

I'm there with you on The Last Wave, though. It's still my favorite Weir film. But I suspect it's just a matter of time before they get to it. I'm patient.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

Okay.. I think I found my #1 "this film needs a blu-ray release.. why not Criterion?" title.

this one can also be added to the list of best Hitchcock-like films not directed by Hitchcock. Claude Chabrol's Le Boucher was fantastic. Really, to me, the dictionary definition of a thriller! Any fans of this film?

Great film! Wow. I think I posted something similar to this after watching it a couple years ago. It's my favorite Chabrol by far.

[kazama]

Watched Godzilla over the weekend (and went through most of the extras) and all I can say that it's an absolutely stunning release from Criterion.

First of all, the sturdy digi-packaging is gorgeous and one of Criterion's all time best in my opinion.

The film itself - though not a masterpiece - was much better and deeper than I expected with great dark atmosphere, and after watching the extras I came to admire it even more. The special effects may seem funny at times, but there are quite a few moments when they are truly amazing considering the film's age, and some of the shots of Godzilla are still very effective and look great.

PQ and AQ were also quite good. All in all, it's a superb release from Criterion, definitely one of my favs.

Are the sequels any good? I don't know if they are worth checking out...

Hopefully the 2014 remake won't be bad, can't wait to see it.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by kazama

Watched Godzilla over the weekend (and went through most of the extras) and all I can say that it's an absolutely stunning release from Criterion.

First of all, the sturdy digi-packaging is gorgeous and one of Criterion's all time best in my opinion.

The film itself - though not a masterpiece - was much better and deeper than I expected with great dark atmosphere, and after watching the extras I came to admire it even more. The special effects may seem funny at times, but there are quite a few moments when they are truly amazing considering the film's age, and some of the shots of Godzilla are still very effective and look great.

PQ and AQ were also quite good. All in all, it's a superb release from Criterion, definitely one of my favs.

Are the sequels any good? I don't know if they are worth checking out...

Hopefully the 2014 remake won't be bad, can't wait to see it.

Criterion needs to make a Zatochi style boxset for ALL the godzilla films - how epic would that be!?

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by kazama

Watched Godzilla over the weekend (and went through most of the extras) and all I can say that it's an absolutely stunning release from Criterion.

Are the sequels any good? I don't know if they are worth checking out...

In my opinion, there's the original 1954 Japanese version of Godzilla and the 1956 Godzilla, King of the Monsters!, and then there's everything else.

All of the sequels that I've seen (and I've seen most of them) are fun, and worth watching, but none of them stand up to the original film when it comes to the menacing presence of Godzilla. Nothing that I've seen in the sequels stands up to Godzilla's rampage through Tokyo in that original film. I've always liked how the crude sequences of Godzilla in the first film resemble actual black-and-white postwar news footage.

That said, some sequels are worth a mention. My preferences are strong for the Shōwa series (1954–1975), which is the original run of the franchise.

Of all of the Godzilla sequels, I'm partial to Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964). Ghidorah is a total sociopath, and it's fun to watch him wreak havoc everywhere.

Destroy All Monsters (1968) is another fun one, just for the sheer spectacle.

Godzilla 2000 is good, because the special effects are masterful, and because it's cool to see how the film makes fun of American movies like Jurassic Park, Twister, and, of course, the 1998 American version of Godzilla.

I really wish that the Criterion Collection would release the original 1956 movie, Rodan. Rodan eventually crossed over into the Godzilla franchise, but the first movie is a stand-alone story and it is marvelous.

I am looking forward to the 2014 American version of Godzilla that comes out in a couple of weeks. I do not expect the digital effects to stand up to the brilliant vibe of the 1954 film, but I am expecting a fun popcorn movie.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by kazama

Watched Godzilla over the weekend (and went through most of the extras) and all I can say that it's an absolutely stunning release from Criterion.

I've been lax about picking this up. I have the Classic Media DVD release (as well as the CM release of the first sequel, Godzilla Raids Again), which has served me well enough as I don't really think of myself as a hardcore fan of the Godzilla movies in particular or the kaiju genre in general.

I am tempted to pick up the Criterion BD at Best Buy (assuming my local BB has it in stock) for the current sale price, though, which I assume is being done because of the imminent release of the new film.

Are the sequels any good? I don't know if they are worth checking out...

That depends. The franchise (and the kaiju genre) has its devotees, but I'm not one of them, as I already mentioned. The first sequel is the only one -- of those I've seen -- that I've ever particularly liked. Even as a kid, I didn't really care for the third film, King Kong vs. Godzilla. With perhaps one or two exceptions, after that, the series started being aimed at a younger audience, with Godzilla becoming (for all practical purposes) a good guy, and the tone of the films becoming less serious.

For those who enjoy these movies, warts and all, more power to them. I just could never get into them.

Hopefully the 2014 remake won't be bad, can't wait to see it.

Despite not being a hardcore Godzilla fan, the new film is one of the three big sf/fantasy/action blockbusters this year that I've most looked forward to. And that's because of the director Gareth Edwards. His previous movie was a low-budget sf/monster movie titled, appropriately enough, Monsters, and it's a film that I highly recommend.

My only concern about him taking on Godzilla is that Monsters was astonishing for what it accomplished with a virtually nil budget. Edwards had to get very creative with it, and I worry that with a $100-gazillion (or should that be $100-godzillion?) budget, his creativity will suffer if he can solve problems by throwing money at them.

But I'm definitely giving him the benefit of the doubt, and I have to say that with each new trailer and TV spot that I see (with their increasingly good shots of the Big G himself), the more excited I am to see it. And that itself is surprising. I never imagined there would come a time when I find myself excited about seeing a new Godzilla movie.

[The Great Owl]

Rest in peace, Tatiana Samoilova.



Soviet Film Star Tatiana Samoilova Dies at 80

I should revisit Letter Never Sent soon. That was one of the first Criterion films that I upgraded from DVD to Blu-ray.

I still need to see The Cranes are Flying.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Criterion needs to make a Zatochi style boxset for ALL the godzilla films - how epic would that be!?

Epic to the point of impossible: In Criterion's case, you DID get "all" their Godzilla films.
Dreamworks/Classic Media has the rest, except for what Sony's got.

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

All of the sequels that I've seen (and I've seen most of them) are fun, and worth watching, but none of them stand up to the original film when it comes to the menacing presence of Godzilla. Nothing that I've seen in the sequels stands up to Godzilla's rampage through Tokyo in that original film. I've always liked how the crude sequences of Godzilla in the first film resemble actual black-and-white postwar news footage.

Of all of the Godzilla sequels, I'm partial to Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964). Ghidorah is a total sociopath, and it's fun to watch him wreak havoc everywhere.

We'll never again get the doomed Hiroshima-metaphor of the original--especially as Japan moved out of postwar 50's into the modern 60's--but as for the new direction of the franchise (campy-but-straight spy/caper adventure, where giant monsters occasionally wander through to ruin the villains' plans), Gt3HM is probably the most fun, structurally balanced, and has the most iconic monsters in it.
Among the "good" and "bad" monsters, Ghidorah was sort of the closest thing to the central comic-book villain.

[JJJ225]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I still need to see The Cranes are Flying.

Yes indeed. One of the most underseen masterpieces. It's in my top 5 of all time.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by JJJ225

Yes indeed. One of the most underseen masterpieces. It's in my top 5 of all time.

If I wasn't a fan of Letter Never Sent, will I like The Cranes Are Flying?

[JHas]

Originally Posted by iScottie

If I wasn't a fan of Letter Never Sent, will I like The Cranes Are Flying?

For what it's worth, I really enjoyed Letter Never Sent, however I was not entertained with The Cranes are Flying (besides the technical achievements)....

[Clare2904]

I have today caught up on my Film Club film from yesterday, the one I missed due to going to the cinema to watch Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey.

It was The Earrings of Madame De...

I rented the copy from iTunes and loved it. I know there is some disappointment in regards to the transfer but I found the film to be in a very acceptable condition.

As for the film itself, I really enjoyed it

De Sica, what a handsome man he was. Umberto D & The Bicycle Thieves (needs an upgrade)

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by iScottie

If I wasn't a fan of Letter Never Sent, will I like The Cranes Are Flying?

Originally Posted by JHas

For what it's worth, I really enjoyed Letter Never Sent, however I was not entertained with The Cranes are Flying (besides the technical achievements)....

I actually enjoyed The Cranes are Flying more than Letter Never Sent. It might be a good idea to check it out before buying it, if you are considering picking up The Cranes are Flying.

[jw007]

I saw a Werner Herzog film last night (Encounters at the End of the World), and by no means is it a brilliant documentary, its still a very good one. I would love to see more Herzog in the Criterion Collection by the way.

Does anyone else like Burden of Dreams? What a great documentary on Herzog's epic production of Fitzcarraldo.

Why is this the only film related to Herzog for Criterions? We need more!

[jw007]

Additionally, I think there should be a Les Blank documentary box set. Would be a great fit in the collection.

[kazama]

The Great Owl, jayembee thanks for your replies!

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by jw007

Why is this the only film related to Herzog for Criterions? We need more!

Shout Factory is putting out a big Herzog set at the end of July:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Herzo...lu-ray/100833/

[jw007]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Shout Factory is putting out a big Herzog set at the end of July:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Herzo...lu-ray/100833/

I know, I saw this when the news broke...still, wish it had been Criterion. I'll stop whining though. Shout Factory, though they're not nearly as comprehensive as Criterion, is still decent.