The Criterion Collection

[Ausjdm]

I just read esquire's top 75 movie list. On it was Tootsie. Was that verified movie that's coming to criterion someday or just speculation?

[hustlermane]

Not a Cassavetes expert by any means, but is Criterion's aspect ratio listing correct? They have it as 1.85 - incidentally I only saw this film for the first time ever last week (on DVR) and I'm sure the version I saw looked like 1.33. I hope I didn't see an incorrect version but it looked okay to me as well. Anyone have a good handle on this?

And btw, it's a terrific film and great choice for the collection.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

The one time I ordered a case replacement (for Bigger than Life) they sent me everything (minus the disc and book).

They told me its $5 per item so, case, artwork, booklet etc etc

[AlexIlDottore]

Originally Posted by hustlermane

Not a Cassavetes expert by any means, but is Criterion's aspect ratio listing correct? They have it as 1.85 - incidentally I only saw this film for the first time ever last week (on DVR) and I'm sure the version I saw looked like 1.33. I hope I didn't see an incorrect version but it looked okay to me as well. Anyone have a good handle on this?

And btw, it's a terrific film and great choice for the collection.

My French DVD of Love streams is 1:66.

Agreed. This is a fantastic film.

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I just finished the 1954 version of Godzilla.

It saddens me to say this, but I was not a big fan of the movie. A lot of it has to do with my lack of interest in giant monster movies. There's something about watching a giant lizard-like dinosaur wrecking havoc that doesn't do anything for me.

I understand that the creature of Godzilla is a metaphor for the nuclear holocaust and it's effects and I respect that. I liked that aspect of the film, but not necessarily the presentation.

Overall, it was okay. The highlight for me was definitely the soundtrack. It gets an A++ all around from me. In fact, the film has one of the nicest scores I may have ever heard.

That's funny, I did the same thing last night, and watched the extremely "funny" Americanized version with Raymond Burr as well.

For the record, I am a huge Godzilla fan. I love giant monster movies, and Godzilla is the king of them... though the original King Kong is pretty close to a tie. I loved the movie, and at times was very surprised at how well some of the effects hold up and still look. yeah, there are some cheese moments, as my wife pointed out before she feel asleep (lord love her), but the movie holds up for me. Maybe it's the kid in me, but it does. The underlying nuclear testing/holocaust still hits a spot with me, though so many today didn't live through the fear of one (mine being the 70's and 80's with the USSR).

I do want to do a big agree with you on the score though... it is truely amazing. My favorite, which is probably the most obvious, is the "Song of Peace" the children sing. It's beautiful, yet haunting.

As for the American version, Godzilla, King of the Monsters, what can I say? It's hilarious! Raymond Burr is so over the top, and watching it after seeing the original, it's funny to see how they interweave the scenes out of order, and run a few scenes more than once. But it's a classic... wouldn't ever want it to go away.

I'm going to see the new one this afternnon, with very low expectations, though some of the trailers look amazing. But I'm really just a fan of a guy in a big rubber monster suit. (Man that could really be taken the wrong way.) Then I think I'l watch some of the other Toho Godzilla films later this weekend.

[The Great Owl]

For those of you who are wondering how the new Godzilla film stacks up to the 1954 original version, here is my review that I posted in the dedicated movie thread.

[Show spoiler]

I was obsessed with Godzilla during my childhood. I loved those late-1970s Hanna-Barbera Godzilla cartoons that aired on Saturday mornings, I owned a huge Mattel Godzilla action figure, and I watched the old movies every time I stumbled across one on TBS Superstation or on one of the cable channels. I eventually outgrew this obsession, but I still think that Godzilla is pretty awesome, and I still get a head rush out of watching this creature destroy cities. Several years ago, I attended a theatrical screening of the original black-and-white subtitled 1954 Japanese version of Godzilla, and was impressed at how this initial story was so much more mature and darker than any of the subsequent movies. When I heard that the new 2014 reboot was an attempt to recapture the intensity of that original masterpiece, I eagerly put the release date on my calendar and made a trip to Midtown Art Cinema yesterday evening. The bad news is that this new movie does not hold a candle to that original 1954 film. The good news is that it is easily the best Godzilla movie that has been released since that first film, and that it sets the bar high for the rest of the big summer movies this year.

The most notable success of this new film is that it wonderfully conveys the size and immensity of Godzilla and the other giant creatures by showing them from a human perspective with the camera eye looking up from ground level. Director Gareth Edwards employs some filmmaking choices that may frustrate viewers accustomed to epic rampages of earlier Godzilla films that were shown from a distant vantage point, because he mostly depicts the monsters with fleeting glimpses, in the same way that we might witness the monsters in real life if we were on the ground beneath them and trying to escape from the destruction. Imagine, for instance, how a game of football on your front lawn might appear from the perspective of ants and insects that are looking up from between the blades of grass and scrambling to avoid being crushed from above by the massive humans who are constantly running around and tackling one another. The daunting aspect of this updated Godzilla is not that these huge monsters are purposely trying to destroy us, but rather that they simply do not realize that we are there beneath their feet while they are walking through our cities and focusing on killing each other. More than anything, this movie is a reminder that we humans are tiny and insignificant in the grand scheme of nature, and that we might just be temporary guests here while larger things are happening beyond our limited scope. Godzilla will make you feel small.

The cast consists of several talented actors, namely Bryan Cranston, Ken Watanabe, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Juliette Binoche, David Strathairn, and Sally Hawkins. None of these actors will win any awards for their roles in this movie, though, and their impact is limited by a script of predictable clichés and contrivances. I probably speak for most when I say that I was rolling my eyes at the fact that the soldier played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson just happens to be located right in the middle of every big monster attack. I believe, however, that people in a Godzilla film deserve admiration and credit simply for acting out their roles with straight faces, and I am impressed that all of the actors treat the subject matter seriously without resorting to campiness. This movie thankfully omits any forced attempts at lame humor, and all of the actors here are playing it straight.

The title character is not seen in full for most of the film, and Gareth Edwards takes cues from Steven Spielberg’s Jaws by keeping us in suspense and not putting his cards on the table too soon with regard to showcasing the special effects. When Godzilla finally appears in all of his immense glory, however, the visuals are worth the wait. The massive physical presence of this creature is the one thing that the movie really gets right, and these scenes alone are good enough for me to give this movie a solid four-star review. This updated Godzilla is a triumph of digital effects and sound, pure and simple. When Godzilla roars, the sound explodes out of the speakers and almost seems to shake the theater. This movie may take its time acquainting us with the creatures, but the final payoff is spectacular. When Godzilla unleashes a fierce beatdown on two other monsters in the middle of San Francisco and uses his atomic breath, it is impossible to watch without cheering.

Highly recommended!

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Ausjdm

I just read esquire's top 75 movie list. On it was Tootsie. Was that verified movie that's coming to criterion someday or just speculation?

Yes. It was long rumored and it was confirmed through the 2014 New Years newsletter (with the tootsie rolls on the picnic blanket).

Originally Posted by lordmorpheus72

That's funny, I did the same thing last night, and watched the extremely "funny" Americanized version with Raymond Burr as well.

For the record, I am a huge Godzilla fan. I love giant monster movies, and Godzilla is the king of them... though the original King Kong is pretty close to a tie. I loved the movie, and at times was very surprised at how well some of the effects hold up and still look. yeah, there are some cheese moments, as my wife pointed out before she feel asleep (lord love her), but the movie holds up for me. Maybe it's the kid in me, but it does. The underlying nuclear testing/holocaust still hits a spot with me, though so many today didn't live through the fear of one (mine being the 70's and 80's with the USSR).

I do want to do a big agree with you on the score though... it is truely amazing. My favorite, which is probably the most obvious, is the "Song of Peace" the children sing. It's beautiful, yet haunting.

As for the American version, Godzilla, King of the Monsters, what can I say? It's hilarious! Raymond Burr is so over the top, and watching it after seeing the original, it's funny to see how they interweave the scenes out of order, and run a few scenes more than once. But it's a classic... wouldn't ever want it to go away.

I'm going to see the new one this afternnon, with very low expectations, though some of the trailers look amazing. But I'm really just a fan of a guy in a big rubber monster suit. (Man that could really be taken the wrong way.) Then I think I'l watch some of the other Toho Godzilla films later this weekend.

I watched the Americanized version after the 1954 version and it was so ridiculous lol. I'm actually laughing out loud as I think back on it right now.

I never had a Godzilla experience until now, so maybe a lot of that is my reason for not being wowed by it like others with more nostalgia. The only somewhat experience I have is that I saw bits and pieces of the 1990s version, but not enough for something to stick with me.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

http://blog.criterioncast.com/post/8...-the-criterion



Temporary, thank god cause its poorly done lol

I usually don't get too passionate one way or the other about art work, but since this is one of my favorite movies, I guess I have a strong opinion about this one.

It reminds me of the 3 or 4 Thief alternatives that were posted when that one was announced. Or.. it reminds me of watching deleted scenes on a disc. The feeling is that, "oh, I can definitely see why they didn't choose that one" or "this scene didn't make the final cut because..."

it is really, really awful. the two male characters occupy approximately 8% of the surface area of the image and somebody decided to make some kind or artistic statement by blurring out their images. ?!? wtf? stupid. ugly. my life won't end and I'll still get the disc, but this is baaaaddd!

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by hustlermane

Not a Cassavetes expert by any means, but is Criterion's aspect ratio listing correct? They have it as 1.85 - incidentally I only saw this film for the first time ever last week (on DVR) and I'm sure the version I saw looked like 1.33. I hope I didn't see an incorrect version but it looked okay to me as well. Anyone have a good handle on this?

You saw an incorrect version. His first film, Shadows is the only film he shot in Academy Ratio. His last film, Big Trouble, was the only one he shot in an anamorphic ratio (2.35). Everything else was 1.85, except for a couple he shot at 1.66. Chances are, the version you saw was open matte rather than cropped, though.

I'd pretty much given up watching classic movies On Demand. Too many of them turn out to be the wrong ratio. It's like they force-fit everything to fill a 16x9 screen, whether the film was originally Academy Ratio or scope widescreen.

Even Netflix has this problem once in a while, but thankfully not very often. Out of about 150 films I've watched on Netflix, only about a half-dozen were at the wrong ratio.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by lordmorpheus72

As for the American version, Godzilla, King of the Monsters, what can I say? It's hilarious! Raymond Burr is so over the top, and watching it after seeing the original, it's funny to see how they interweave the scenes out of order, and run a few scenes more than once. But it's a classic... wouldn't ever want it to go away.

I have to confess that these days, given that his character's name is Steve Martin, I would keep expecting to see him in some ultra-serious scene wearing an arrow-through-the-head prop.

I'm going to see the new one this afternnon, with very low expectations, though some of the trailers look amazing. But I'm really just a fan of a guy in a big rubber monster suit. (Man that could really be taken the wrong way.) Then I think I'l watch some of the other Toho Godzilla films later this weekend.

I'll probably see it at a bargain matinee on Sunday or Monday. Current tomatometer reading is 74%, which isn't bad. One review was kind of hilarious (and Criterion-relevant in an odd way). The capsule quote from the reviewer said, "Edwards has made The Third Man of monster movies." Which sounds encouraging, because, well, hey, The Third Man is a great film! But when you read the actual review, that quote in context is referring to the fact that the title character has surprisingly little screen time.

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

For those of you who are wondering how the new Godzilla film stacks up to the 1954 original version, here is my review that I posted in the dedicated movie thread.

[Show spoiler]

I was obsessed with Godzilla during my childhood. I loved those late-1970s Hanna-Barbera Godzilla cartoons that aired on Saturday mornings, I owned a huge Mattel Godzilla action figure, and I watched the old movies every time I stumbled across one on TBS Superstation or on one of the cable channels. I eventually outgrew this obsession, but I still think that Godzilla is pretty awesome, and I still get a head rush out of watching this creature destroy cities. Several years ago, I attended a theatrical screening of the original black-and-white subtitled 1954 Japanese version of Godzilla, and was impressed at how this initial story was so much more mature and darker than any of the subsequent movies. When I heard that the new 2014 reboot was an attempt to recapture the intensity of that original masterpiece, I eagerly put the release date on my calendar and made a trip to Midtown Art Cinema yesterday evening. The bad news is that this new movie does not hold a candle to that original 1954 film. The good news is that it is easily the best Godzilla movie that has been released since that first film, and that it sets the bar high for the rest of the big summer movies this year.

The most notable success of this new film is that it wonderfully conveys the size and immensity of Godzilla and the other giant creatures by showing them from a human perspective with the camera eye looking up from ground level. Director Gareth Edwards employs some filmmaking choices that may frustrate viewers accustomed to epic rampages of earlier Godzilla films that were shown from a distant vantage point, because he mostly depicts the monsters with fleeting glimpses, in the same way that we might witness the monsters in real life if we were on the ground beneath them and trying to escape from the destruction. Imagine, for instance, how a game of football on your front lawn might appear from the perspective of ants and insects that are looking up from between the blades of grass and scrambling to avoid being crushed from above by the massive humans who are constantly running around and tackling one another. The daunting aspect of this updated Godzilla is not that these huge monsters are purposely trying to destroy us, but rather that they simply do not realize that we are there beneath their feet while they are walking through our cities and focusing on killing each other. More than anything, this movie is a reminder that we humans are tiny and insignificant in the grand scheme of nature, and that we might just be temporary guests here while larger things are happening beyond our limited scope. Godzilla will make you feel small.

The cast consists of several talented actors, namely Bryan Cranston, Ken Watanabe, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Juliette Binoche, David Strathairn, and Sally Hawkins. None of these actors will win any awards for their roles in this movie, though, and their impact is limited by a script of predictable clichés and contrivances. I probably speak for most when I say that I was rolling my eyes at the fact that the soldier played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson just happens to be located right in the middle of every big monster attack. I believe, however, that people in a Godzilla film deserve admiration and credit simply for acting out their roles with straight faces, and I am impressed that all of the actors treat the subject matter seriously without resorting to campiness. This movie thankfully omits any forced attempts at lame humor, and all of the actors here are playing it straight.

The title character is not seen in full for most of the film, and Gareth Edwards takes cues from Steven Spielberg’s Jaws by keeping us in suspense and not putting his cards on the table too soon with regard to showcasing the special effects. When Godzilla finally appears in all of his immense glory, however, the visuals are worth the wait. The massive physical presence of this creature is the one thing that the movie really gets right, and these scenes alone are good enough for me to give this movie a solid four-star review. This updated Godzilla is a triumph of digital effects and sound, pure and simple. When Godzilla roars, the sound explodes out of the speakers and almost seems to shake the theater. This movie may take its time acquainting us with the creatures, but the final payoff is spectacular. When Godzilla unleashes a fierce beatdown on two other monsters in the middle of San Francisco and uses his atomic breath, it is impossible to watch without cheering.

Highly recommended!

So tempted to read this, but I want to go in fresh... but I'll read after!

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Yes. It was long rumored and it was confirmed through the 2014 New Years newsletter (with the tootsie rolls on the picnic blanket).



I watched the Americanized version after the 1954 version and it was so ridiculous lol. I'm actually laughing out loud as I think back on it right now.

I never had a Godzilla experience until now, so maybe a lot of that is my reason for not being wowed by it like others with more nostalgia. The only somewhat experience I have is that I saw bits and pieces of the 1990s version, but not enough for something to stick with me.

Yeah, it really made me chuckle as well. It's just poorly executed. And you are probably correct on the nostalgia, I grew up on Godzilla movies and the Hanna-Barbera cartoon and loved every minute of every show and movie.. no matter howover the top they were.

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by jayembee

I have to confess that these days, given that his character's name is Steve Martin, I would keep expecting to see him in some ultra-serious scene wearing an arrow-through-the-head prop.

Yeah, the name cracks me up as well.. I know he was only a kid when they made it, but still he's all I think of.

[blu-bry]

Could someone here please help me with a question I have about the Criterion.com website?
In "My Criterion" I'm trying to figure out how to use the "My Updates" section over to the right. Is it just intended that I type the text of the names of movies I've updated, or is there a way to select movies from somewhere and add them to that area?
Thanks in advance to whoever is able to answer!

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by blu-bry

Could someone here please help me with a question I have about the Criterion.com website?
In "My Criterion" I'm trying to figure out how to use the "My Updates" section over to the right. Is it just intended that I type the text of the names of movies I've updated, or is there a way to select movies from somewhere and add them to that area?
Thanks in advance to whoever is able to answer!

I think the My Updates are for comments you've made recently on articles.

[blu-bry]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

I think the My Updates are for comments you've made recently on articles.

Oh, O.K. that probably makes more sense. Not everyone is thinking in terms of upgrading to Blu-ray. Many still buy Criterion DVDs as well.
Thanks for straightening me out on that.

[TJS_Blu]

Originally Posted by blu-bry

Could someone here please help me with a question I have about the Criterion.com website?
In "My Criterion" I'm trying to figure out how to use the "My Updates" section over to the right. Is it just intended that I type the text of the names of movies I've updated, or is there a way to select movies from somewhere and add them to that area?
Thanks in advance to whoever is able to answer!

From what I can tell, My Updates logs any films you add to Favorited or any new or changed lists you make or comments you make about a list.

[blooregard_q_kazoo]

Originally Posted by mcvitie

When I read posts like this it makes me so jealous that us UKians can't just wonder into HMV or the like and pick up Criterions!

Well, what are people in Germany supposed to say? We can pick up neither Criterions nor MOCs/BFIs/Artifical Eyes/etc. in store.

[mcvitie]

Originally Posted by blooregard_q_kazoo

Well, what are people in Germany supposed to say? We can pick up neither Criterions nor MOCs/BFIs/Artifical Eyes/etc. in store.

touché...

[blooregard_q_kazoo]

So, what do you think are the chances of a Criterion Blu-ray upgrade of Berlin Alexanderplatz? Japan got the blus in October (I think) and it says remastered on the cover. I'm thinking of importing the set, but the extras seem to be mostly in Japanese, so I'd wait if there was a Criterion on the horizon. The price doesn't help, either.