The Criterion Collection

[Tin Drum]

Essential:

Beauty and the Beast
Fanny and Alexander
John Cassavetes Five Films Box Set
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
A Night to Remember

[Freeza]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Oh what do people think of Cronos?

I didn't dislike it, but I came away feeling that it could have just as easily been an extended episode of Tales From The Darkside or any of the other television horror series from the '80s/'90s.

[jw007]

Top 5 essentials for me:

The Thin Red Line
On the Waterfront
America: Lost and Found (box set)
The Seventh Seal
John Cassavetes: Five Films (box set)

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by Freder Fredersen

Sansho has an incredible story. It's one of the greatest films I've seen. And yes, The Blob has cheese, but it's charming cheese! I like it a bit more every time I see it.

Think I will make Sansho my next purchase, does look very beautiful - and seems like film i'd like :P

As for Blob.... I don't know XD, I do love House and that is on a entire level of cheese - so maybe I'd like The Blob XD

Just been eyeing up Senso... agh Criterion stop making me spend lol

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Tin Drum

John Cassavetes Five Films Box Set

Originally Posted by jw007

John Cassavetes: Five Films (box set)

I'm glad that I made the spur-of-the-moment decision to purchase John Cassavetes: Five Films earlier today. The $47 price was too good to pass up for something that has intrigued me for a while.

It'll probably be a couple of months before I go through the movies, though, because I've got a sizable still-unwatched stack. I've been outdoors a lot more this summer than I expected and I'm watching fewer movies each week as a result, but my purchases have not slowed down.

[soarinsteven]

My essentials

The Rules of the Game
The 400 Blows
The Leopard
Breathless
Seven Samurai

Btw, speaking of The Blob. I netflixed it a few months ago, and I was blown away from the PQ on the release. Way better than it has any right to be!

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by Freder Fredersen

Just noticed the second part!
Grey Gardens was like a forerunner for all of the 'reality shows' we see now, in the sense that people invited cameras into their home to document their daily lives. The Beales make for interesting subjects because they are a bit neurotic, a bit eccentric, but also 'unscripted'. I don't want to give too much away, but it makes for entertaining and emotionally complex viewing.

Ah thanks will go for it - I'm so intrigued by it.

[starman15317]

Originally Posted by jw007

I watched The Long Day Closes last night for the first time on the DVD that I borrowed from the library. I didn't "get it". I was bored beyond belief. It was like a depressing musical that didn't go anywhere.

Then, a crazy thing happened...

I started watching the supplements and the interviews and eventually even watched Terrence Davies in the 1992 episode of the South Bank Show and couldn't get my eyes off this guy. He's so intelligent and interesting! I understood what he was saying and how he suffered as a child in his upbringing and how this film was deeply personal. This was far more interesting than the film, that is all I can say.

I'm glad I watched this first because I would have regretted purchasing this at the Criterion sale. It's not a film I could watch a 2nd time and even the first time it was hard to enjoy and take in.

Yeah that's why I don't blind buy Criterions (that and because $20 is too much for me for a blind buy).

[starman15317]

My five essentials (not necessarily my top 5 favorites):

City Lights
Seven Samurai
The Royal Tenenbaums
The Wages of Fear
M

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by Freder Fredersen

My Essential List is going to look so random, but here goes:




Note: I would have placed Army of Shadows or Playtime somewhere, if they were not OOP. Also, Children of Paradise would have made the list, if it had a better transfer!

Not to criticize, I'm genuinely curious, but why The Blob? I don't think there is a Criterion release I got less out of.

[Scottie]

I've been watching Martin Scorsese's World Cinema Project. So far I have watched Touki Bouki, Redes, and A River Called Titas and I thought all of them were solid.

I respect Scorsese for seeking out these films for preservation. While they may not be the most compelling things out there, they are definitely entertaining watches. Not to mention, it is nice to see films from other, less talked about countries.

I wouldn't recommend blind buying the set, but I think you should watch them if given the opportunity.

Originally Posted by jw007

[Show spoiler]

I watched The Long Day Closes last night for the first time on the DVD that I borrowed from the library. I didn't "get it". I was bored beyond belief. It was like a depressing musical that didn't go anywhere.

Then, a crazy thing happened...

I started watching the supplements and the interviews and eventually even watched Terrence Davies in the 1992 episode of the South Bank Show and couldn't get my eyes off this guy. He's so intelligent and interesting! I understood what he was saying and how he suffered as a child in his upbringing and how this film was deeply personal. This was far more interesting than the film, that is all I can say.

I'm glad I watched this first because I would have regretted purchasing this at the Criterion sale. It's not a film I could watch a 2nd time and even the first time it was hard to enjoy and take in.

I like the film for the fact that it's practically Davies' own autobiography about his life. Movies had a magical power over him and thus led him to a career in the pictures. The film also does a good job at showing how hard life can be and how the simple things in life can be the most rewarding.

Overall, though, I agree with what you said. It was hard to swallow at times and it is definitely not a film I would want to see again.

[Page14]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

The Swimmer is such a great movie.

I'll buy just about anything with Burt Lancaster or Kirk Douglas. Both of those actors owned it during the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s.

Originally Posted by oildude

Burt Lancaster owned it in the 1970s too, with great performances in films such as Zulu Dawn, Go Tell the Spartans, and Ulzana's Raid.
<snip>

Here's something you might enjoy. What a great era in Hollywood.

[Show spoiler]

Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster performing at the Oscars® - YouTube

[Polaroid]

The Long Day Closes with Debbie Reynolds' Tammy - YouTube

Love this sequence

-

Time to watch Scanners

EDIT...

Not exactly blown away by the transfer tbh - tempted to get the other version to compare (used in those shot comparisons)... Some parts are really well presented and others look like they have been a tad neglected/ignored o,o

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by jw007

I watched The Long Day Closes last night for the first time on the DVD that I borrowed from the library. I didn't "get it". I was bored beyond belief. It was like a depressing musical that didn't go anywhere.

Then, a crazy thing happened...

I started watching the supplements and the interviews and eventually even watched Terrence Davies in the 1992 episode of the South Bank Show and couldn't get my eyes off this guy. He's so intelligent and interesting! I understood what he was saying and how he suffered as a child in his upbringing and how this film was deeply personal. This was far more interesting than the film, that is all I can say.

I'm glad I watched this first because I would have regretted purchasing this at the Criterion sale. It's not a film I could watch a 2nd time and even the first time it was hard to enjoy and take in.

It's a weird film. I've never taken to Davies, but I was encouraged to check out TLDC, and I'm glad I did. It's a film that I found myself thinking back to repeatedly in the days that followed my initial screening of the film, in spite of me feeling slightly underwhelmed whilst actually watching it. I wound up revisiting it just a few days later.

The South Bank Show episode on the disc is fantastic too.

[manunited1]

My five essentials would be as follows. Keep in mind this is just my tastes from what I have seen. These are in no order.

1. Seven Samurai
2. la Haine
3. Seventh Seal
4. The Thin Red Line
5. Zatoichi set

I have not watched my copy of Persona yet so that may be added later.

Honorable mention to Investigation of a citizen.., Life Aquatic, Thief and Antichrist.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by manunited1

My five essentials would be as follows. Keep in mind this is just my tastes from what I have seen. These are in no order.

1. Seven Samurai
2. la Haine
3. Seventh Seal
4. The Thin Red Line
5. Zatoichi set

I have not watched my copy of Persona yet so that may be added later.

Honorable mention to Investigation of a citizen.., Life Aquatic, Thief and Antichrist.

YES. I like you A LOT

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by brandon_260

Not to criticize, I'm genuinely curious, but why The Blob? I don't think there is a Criterion release I got less out of.

I've always loved The Blob, simply because I grew up watching it. It's fun to watch the 1950s mindset and the actors, and it's even better just to enjoy the sheer Blobitude of the whole thing. I can't really explain it, but it just rules.

[aes3728]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I've been watching Martin Scorsese's World Cinema Project. So far I have watched Touki Bouki, Redes, and A River Called Titas and I thought all of them were solid.

I respect Scorsese for seeking out these films for preservation. While they may not be the most compelling things out there, they are definitely entertaining watches. Not to mention, it is nice to see films from other, less talked about countries.

I wouldn't recommend blind buying the set, but I think you should watch them if given the opportunity.

I'm very much intrigued with the set and world cinema in general. Even with sale happening you wouldn't recommend me picking it up?

[Jakamarak]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

It's a weird film. I've never taken to Davies, but I was encouraged to check out TLDC, and I'm glad I did. It's a film that I found myself thinking back to repeatedly in the days that followed my initial screening of the film, in spite of me feeling slightly underwhelmed whilst actually watching it. I wound up revisiting it just a few days later.

The South Bank Show episode on the disc is fantastic too.

I had never heard of the film when Criterion announced it. I found an awful dub of a VHS online and watched it in anticipation of the release. I was completely blown away and exhilarated by it. Even with the horrible PQ I was dazzled by the way Davies used picture and sound. I bought the Criterion with a coupon the weekend after the release and watched the film (with beautiful PQ and sound) and all the special features. I'm excited to revisit it.

The storytelling (for lack of a better word) is unusual and I get why that would throw viewers off, but this film is a singular experience. Davies has a wonderfully original way of making movies -- one that I find very satisfying.

And the clip posted above is tremendous.

[TomN245]

My top 5 Criterions are
1) YiYi
2) The Organizer
3) A Citizen Above Suspicion
4) The Earrings of Madame De...
5)...

Well... I only have four Criterions. They're OK, but I prefer Masters of Cinema, as they're cheaper, more collectable (there is over 600 CCs, which is a collection that is pretty much impossible to complete unless you are rich or have no friends), and have a better selection of blind-buy films.

Being British, I think Terrance Davies is a great director. Distant Voices Still Lives is a better place to start from than The Long Day Closes.

(Happy Fourth of July, shouldn't you be celebrating by eating thousands of tons of McDonalds and shooting your redneck guns while shouting GOD BLESS 'MURICA' Y'ALL?)