The Criterion Collection

[Clare2904]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Can any mod reading this thread please move the Mulholland Drive Criterion thread to Wish Lists? There's been no confirmation of a release and it's getting peoples' hopes up every time the thread is bumped.

Don't understand why people do this, same with pages that are created for films "hinted" at.

[mcvitie]

Can any one sway me either way on a blind purchase of Robinson Crusoe On Mars? Looks quite interesting

[Scottie]

I think I'm going to begin my John Cassavetes set.

Can anyone tell me what version of The Killing of a Chinese Bookie is better? 1976 or 1978?

Originally Posted by mcvitie

Can any one sway me either way on a blind purchase of Robinson Crusoe On Mars? Looks quite interesting

It's a pretty good sci-fi film and it's way ahead of its time, in my opinion.

Also, if I'm not mistaken, the film first premiered in the United States in my little state of Rhode Island.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by mcvitie

Can any one sway me either way on a blind purchase of Robinson Crusoe On Mars? Looks quite interesting

Oohh Ive been eyeing that up (also a blind buy) lol

[SammyJankis]

Just finished Pickpocket. It was good, but I didn't find its simplicity to be nearly as compelling as A Man Escaped (the only other Bresson I have seen.) The most impressive aspect within the film was the way the exchanges were shot, although some of them seemed downright silly in their execution (how a woman wouldn't notice her purse being replaced with a newspaper, for instance.)

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

Just finished Pickpocket. It was good, but I didn't find its simplicity to be nearly as compelling as A Man Escaped (the only other Bresson I have seen.) The most impressive aspect within the film was the way the exchanges were shot, although some of them seemed downright silly in their execution (how a woman wouldn't notice her purse being replaced with a newspaper, for instance.)

I really need to rewatch it. I remember not being a big fan of it last year, but my opinion may have changed.

I'll probably watch it on Hulu some night soon so that I can decide whether to purchase it or not.

[Polaroid]

Last Days of Disco really does remind me of early Sex and the City TV series :P

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

Just finished Pickpocket. It was good, but I didn't find its simplicity to be nearly as compelling as A Man Escaped (the only other Bresson I have seen.) The most impressive aspect within the film was the way the exchanges were shot, although some of them seemed downright silly in their execution (how a woman wouldn't notice her purse being replaced with a newspaper, for instance.)

I, too, prefer A Man Escaped, but am looking forward to seeing Pickpocket again because it has been over 5 years. I knew nothing about Bresson at the time or his style and the simplicity was lost on me. I remember feeling like I saw a film where absolutely nothing seemed to happen.

I recommend his last film L'Argent which is streaming on Hulu. He was still capable of utilizing his style to maximum effect all the way to the end of his life. It's a really good film!

[mcvitie]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Oohh Ive been eyeing that up (also a blind buy) lol

Buy and let me know

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by blu-bry

Ever seen "Ghost Story"? I don't think there are any dance steps in that one either. Fred Astaire and the Borg Queen (Alice Krige)! That's an interesting combination. Not to mention John Houseman, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Melvyn Douglas, and Patricia Neal. I haven't seen it in years, so maybe it hasn't held up with time, but in it's day it was a fair thriller.

Sure, I've seen Ghost Story (wasn't too thrilled with it, but the cast was good), as well as other films where Astaire didn't dance. And TV shows as well: I remember when he showed up in It Takes a Thief and (the original) Battlestar Galactica. But On the Beach was still the first film I'd ever seen with Astaire in which he didn't dance.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Dogme set would be awesome like this ... or a COMPLETE Godzilla collection haha!

Thanks for mentioning Godzilla. That gives me an excuse (as if I really need one) to mention that I just saw the new film this afternoon. There were some things I liked about it, some things I didn't like about it. All in all, I'd give it about a 6.5 out of 10. It definitely won't serve as a replacement for the original film.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by blu-bry

Ever seen "Ghost Story"? I don't think there are any dance steps in that one either. Fred Astaire and the Borg Queen (Alice Krige)! That's an interesting combination. Not to mention John Houseman, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Melvyn Douglas, and Patricia Neal. I haven't seen it in years, so maybe it hasn't held up with time, but in it's day it was a fair thriller.

I liked the movie, Ghost Story, alright, but I was a much bigger fan of the source novel by Peter Straub. I probably read that novel about 10 times when I was younger.

“What was the worst thing you've ever done?
I won't tell you that, but I'll tell you the worst thing that ever happened to me...the most dreadful thing...”

As far as the movie is concerned, I wouldn't mind seeing Scream Factory get their hands on it for a Blu-ray release.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Sure, I've seen Ghost Story (wasn't too thrilled with it, but the cast was good), as well as other films where Astaire didn't dance. And TV shows as well: I remember when he showed up in It Takes a Thief and (the original) Battlestar Galactica. But On the Beach was still the first film I'd ever seen with Astaire in which he didn't dance.

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I liked the movie, Ghost Story, alright, but I was a much bigger fan of the source novel by Peter Straub. I probably read that novel about 10 times when I was younger.

“What was the worst thing you've ever done?
I won't tell you that, but I'll tell you the worst thing that ever happened to me...the most dreadful thing...”

As far as the movie is concerned, I wouldn't mind seeing Scream Factory get their hands on it for a Blu-ray release.

I think the film was just ok. Too bad since the cast (with one exception) was so good. The exception being Craig Wasson. Undoubtedly, one of the blandest leading men I've ever seen.

[The Great Owl]

As it turns out, I'm glad that August is a quiet month for me with respect to the upcoming Criterion titles.

There's a new kid in town. Kino Lorber Studio Classics

I would love for some of these to have been released as Criterion titles, but it's great to see them coming down the pipes from Kino as well.

[RandyK]

What's the consensus on A Night to Remember? I watched Titanic for the first time today expecting a sappy love story but was mesmerized at everything. I know that A Night to Remember focuses more on the actual events than a fictional romance, which is what I'm interested in the most.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

As it turns out, I'm glad that August is a quiet month for me with respect to the upcoming Criterion titles.

There's a new kid in town. Kino Lorber Studio Classics

I would love for some of these to have been released as Criterion titles, but it's great to see them coming down the pipes from Kino as well.

Hopefully, August will be generally light for me. June & July are going to be killers; I'll have to pass on the June Criterions until July, to score them in the B&N sale.

June:
5 Criterion
3 Twilight Time
4 TV sets

July:
3 Criterion (one being the Demy set)
3 Twilight Time
7 Kino Studio Classics
2 TV sets (one being the Twin Peaks set)
and assorted others

And I haven't even considered the Olive or Cohen titles yet.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by RandyK

What's the consensus on A Night to Remember? I watched Titanic for the first time today expecting a sappy love story but was mesmerized at everything. I know that A Night to Remember focuses more on the actual events than a fictional romance, which is what I'm interested in the most.

Fantastic film. It looks absolutely stunning. Yeah, some of the opticals are a little fuzzy and the models occasionally look like, well, models but the sets are amazing, most of the ship effects/models are extremely convincing, the cinematography is classic black-and-white gorgeous and the restoration/transfer is top shelf.

And the film itself is also remarkable. The first time I saw it I was impressed with how they were able to build suspense and dramatic tension and I just watched it again last week and I'll be damned if it wasn't just as good this time around. It gets a bit sentimental at times but very deftly avoids being sappy or melodramatic.

It's a great freaking movie

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by RandyK

What's the consensus on A Night to Remember? I watched Titanic for the first time today expecting a sappy love story but was mesmerized at everything. I know that A Night to Remember focuses more on the actual events than a fictional romance, which is what I'm interested in the most.

A Night to Remember is terrific. I also really, really like Titanic as well, but I have to say that if you watch ANtR, you might notice a few instances in which Cameron lifted scenes wholesale (the one that most prominently comes to mind is when Rose & Jack come across Andrews by the clock during the sinking). But Cameron has not been shy about saying that he loves ANtR, was inspired by it, and quoted several scenes as an homage.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Thanks for mentioning Godzilla. That gives me an excuse (as if I really need one) to mention that I just saw the new film this afternoon. There were some things I liked about it, some things I didn't like about it. All in all, I'd give it about a 6.5 out of 10. It definitely won't serve as a replacement for the original film.

Yeah had soem AWESOME scenes, but then it had some really flawed/annoying moments.

[Show spoiler]Love that he killed the two expecting leads off near start (Binoche and Ford, really didn't expect that which was nice - I think it focused on the people too much, I can see why and it since having character development but the focus should have been Godzilla and the other misters - plus I didn't really connect with characters anyway :/

[Spire]

Originally Posted by mcvitie

Can any one sway me either way on a blind purchase of Robinson Crusoe On Mars? Looks quite interesting

I would like to, but I just can't. Lol. Maybe it would be better during a second viewing but it was pretty hard to get through when I watched it. Super slow. I have 30 Criterion titles and if I were forced to throw one away it'd be that one.