The Criterion Collection

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by R o d

I just received my copy of Picnic at Hanging Rock. I've never seen it. I was surprised to find a paperback of the novel included in the package and I'm wondering if I should read the book before watching the film. What do you think?

Definitely read the book first.

I had watched the old Criterion DVD of Picnic at Hanging Rock several times, but I read the book that came with this Blu-ray edition before watching the Blu-ray. The book and the film are great for different reasons, but the book enhanced my enjoyment of the film.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Definitely read the book first.

I had watched the old Criterion DVD of Picnic at Hanging Rock several times, but I read the book that came with this Blu-ray edition before watching the Blu-ray. The book and the film are great for different reasons, but the book enhanced my enjoyment of the film.

So reading the book beforehand didn't ruin some of the suspense of the film? I remember thinking, "Am I glad that I chose to watch the film first," after watching the film for the first time a couple years ago.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

You should take a look at Early Summer and An Autumn Afternoon they are both excellent too and are available in HD on Hulu.

Hopefully one of those is next when the time comes for more Ozu

An upgrade of that Floating Weeds double feature wouldnt be half bad either.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

So reading the book beforehand didn't ruin some of the suspense of the film? I remember thinking, "Am I glad that I chose to watch the film first," after watching the film for the first time a couple years ago.

I can't imagine the book ruining the suspense of the movie. The visuals of the movie make it a haunting experience in a different sort of way, so the adaptation is its own reward. The adaptation benefits from paring down the comparably expansive story in the novel.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I can't imagine the book ruining the suspense of the movie. The visuals of the movie make it a haunting experience in a different sort of way, so the adaptation is its own reward. The adaptation benefits from paring down the comparably expansive story in the novel.

I'll try to run an experiment based on your thesis. My brother hasn't consumed either the book or the film, so I'll have him consume them in that order and note the results.

[BladeRunner2007]

Is it true that some Criterions play on a region B player with the stop+top menu trick?

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

An upgrade of that Floating Weeds double feature wouldnt be half bad either.

That's my most wished for BD release.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

An upgrade of that Floating Weeds double feature wouldnt be half bad either.

I have the MOC blu, but would like a Criterion upgrade for the Ebert commentary.

Similarly, I have the Ugetsu MOC, but would love a Criterion upgrade for The Life of A Film Director.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

You should take a look at Early Summer and An Autumn Afternoon they are both excellent too and are available in HD on Hulu.

Hopefully one of those is next when the time comes for more Ozu

I actually just went through the entire Hulu catalogue on the computer and made a list of films I want to see. Both are on there.

[AnamorphicWidescreen]

If Midnight Cowboy is ever released on a Blu Criterion, hopefully they'll be able to enhance the PQ. Though this is a great film, the Blu version that's already out there isn't really an improvement over the regular DVD print...

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I can't imagine the book ruining the suspense of the movie. The visuals of the movie make it a haunting experience in a different sort of way, so the adaptation is its own reward. The adaptation benefits from paring down the comparably expansive story in the novel.

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I'll try to run an experiment based on your thesis. My brother hasn't consumed either the book or the film, so I'll have him consume them in that order and note the results.

I might be wrong, but it is the film that put the story on the map, no? Therefore, I will definitely see the film first. Although, I can never really enjoy a novel after seeing the film that was inspired by it. I will always make mental images of the actors and the places that were in the film, so on second thought - I'll see the film and the book will probably not get opened.

[bwdowiak]

happy about My Darling Clementine. it came up in conversation a few months ago and my interest piqued. will blind buy.

I really liked The Vanishing, but don't feel compelled to own it.

La Dolce Vita deserves a second look. Hopefully my library will get the blu.

[blu-bry]

The Vanishing will be one of the ones I pick up first. I saw it for the first time recently and liked it.
My Darling Clementine is very good - I already own the DVD, so that may be second in line.
I also own the DVDs of M. Hulot's Holiday and Mon Oncle, and I'm not real fond of Playtime. I'm going to have to think a while about the Tati set. I haven't seen any of the others in that set.
I have La Dolce Vita on DVD and am going to have to decide if I want to upgrade or not. It doesn't get a lot of replay from me.

[bwdowiak]

Can anybody recommend the film Johnny Guitar? It is referenced in a few Godard films and I seem to recall that it may have been cited by some other director as a major influence. Wondering what the fuss is about...

[Vinyl]

It's always interesting to hear what people view as worth purchasing or just watching.

There are some movies I have watched multiple times but do not own, yet movies I own and have yet to watch.

The vanishing is interesting because everyone who has seen it considers it to be a good film, yet some will buy it immediately and others will not get it at all. I think the reasoning is the replay-ability. It plays out a difficult subject matter that turns off some people immediately. I myself watched and enjoyed The Vanishing years ago, but have no interest in buying it probably because of the difficult subject matter and the replay-ability. Now, I would like to watch it again if the chance presented itself, but won't buy it because I have an itch to watch it after X number of years it has been.

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

Can anybody recommend the film Johnny Guitar? It is referenced in a few Godard films and I seem to recall that it may have been cited by some other director as a major influence. Wondering what the fuss is about...

OMG don't get me started the movie has everything! It is a western, noir, soap opera. I waited for a decent DVD for so long and Olive finally got us a BLU. While the BLU transfer doesn't floor me it doesn't dissapoint me either. The less you know about the film the more you will enjoy it.. just pop it in and watch. Great lines of dialogue IMO

[silverlakephil]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

Can anybody recommend the film Johnny Guitar? It is referenced in a few Godard films and I seem to recall that it may have been cited by some other director as a major influence. Wondering what the fuss is about...

For me it has a hign camp factor, with two prominant female characters, namely Joan Crawford dressed in highly masculine cowboy garb half the time and Mercedes McCambridge (The voice of pazuzu in The Exorcist!) who has it out for her. People read into it as some vague lesbian plotppoint, but who knows? I'm not an authority on Weterns, but I don't think it's one of the greats, but it's alot of fun to watch.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

OMG don't get me started the movie has everything! It is a western, noir, soap opera. I waited for a decent DVD for so long and Olive finally got us a BLU. While the BLU transfer doesn't floor me it doesn't dissapoint me either. The less you know about the film the more you will enjoy it.. just pop it in and watch. Great lines of dialogue IMO

ok. you sold me on this post. having a bit of everything, as you put it, is maybe why it was such an inspiration for Godard. I like a little camp once in a while, too.

will have to see if I can get a good price on it!

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

Can anybody recommend the film Johnny Guitar? It is referenced in a few Godard films and I seem to recall that it may have been cited by some other director as a major influence. Wondering what the fuss is about...

A great film and very educational.

[Ausjdm]

Only have budgeted 5 more CC buys this month. Going for-

Au Revior les Enfants
Scanners
Insomnia
Antichrist
Pickpocket

Anyone see/buy/recommend breaking the waves? I liked antichrist and just blind bought Nymphomanic. I remember being bored of breaking the waves but I also was like 16 when it came out... Wait a sec why was I watching that so young.. Nm lol. My life experience is much larger now so I was thinking of giving it a second run.