The Criterion Collection

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by RBBrittain

Back on topic: I recall reading elsewhere of a graphic in the Criterion newsletter which was interpreted as meaning It Happened One Night is coming to Criterion, but it's not in the latest announcement. (That just happened to coincide with AMPAS announcing the LA premiere of a new 4K restoration, presumably made for a BD release.) Any idea if & when that might happen?

Nope. Sometimes it can be a loooong wait between the clue being revealed and the Blu emerging. No hints at a date yet.

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

You are welcome, blkhrt. It is a fantastic release, quite possibly the best looking from Criterion this year.

Wow! That is great news!

[Vriess]

Just watched The Ice Storm. I enjoyed it and thought the performances were all really good, especially Klein.

[Tin Drum]

I'm well into my Bergman journey but, somehow, I had never seen Persona and what a way to see it for the first time. Cinema would have been grand, but a beautiful blu-ray transfer is second best, obviously. Another mind-blowing film from Bergman.

Liv Ullmann gets more praise as an actress (technically she is, IMO, a better actress), but in this particular film, Bibi Andersson is phenomenal. She'd helped by being the only one speaking for 95% of the film but the way she ravages the screen with Bergman's words is otherworldly.

I loved the interview on the disc where Bergman talks about 'experiencing' something moreso than trying to 'understand' and over-analyze it. This type of film has been studied for years, but I agree with Bergman, it's okay to interpret a piece of art in certain ways but to search for an absolute is futile.

[oliver_67]

Originally Posted by Tin Drum

I'm well into my Bergman journey but, somehow, I had never seen Persona and what a way to see it for the first time. Cinema would have been grand, but a beautiful blu-ray transfer is second best, obviously. Another mind-blowing film from Bergman.

Liv Ullmann gets more praise as an actress (technically she is, IMO, a better actress), but in this particular film, Bibi Andersson is phenomenal. She'd helped by being the only one speaking for 95% of the film but the way she ravages the screen with Bergman's words is otherworldly.

I loved the interview on the disc where Bergman talks about 'experiencing' something moreso than trying to 'understand' and over-analyze it. This type of film has been studied for years, but I agree with Bergman, it's okay to interpret a piece of art in certain ways but to search for an absolute is futile.

Bibi was a Bergman regular when Persona was made and Ullman was new. Both actresses were great in this but Bibi was just superior.

[Tin Drum]

Originally Posted by oliver_67

Bibi was a Bergman regular when Persona was made and Ullman was new. Both actresses were great in this but Bibi was just superior.

I knew this, yes, but I was speaking more of their careers as a whole.

[oliver_67]

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...

Yes. Absolutely.

[oliver_67]

Originally Posted by Tin Drum

I knew this, yes, but I was speaking more of their careers as a whole.

I like both, and also Ingrid Thulin. Sometimes I feel Ullman was over praised. She was definitely not the best thing in Cries and Whispers as many critics tried to lead us to believe.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Clare2904

May I quickly point something out here? "Not interested" or "nothing for me this month" means, in terms of Criterion and whenever I mention a particular film here, I will not be buying. At $23 a pop for me in Canada is too expensive to buy unless I am very keen.

My Darling Clementine & La Dolce Vita are 2 films I have heard of and may watch one day, just that I will not be buying the Criterion version. My thoughts on Tati still stand though, wouldn't take that box set if it was free with $50 stuck to the side.

Sorry for any confusion

I think this tangential discussion is just odd and unproductive. I have no problems with your choices. If a month from now, Criterion made their November announcements, which consisted of:

The Original Star Wars Trilogy (original versions)
Scorsese's Age of Innocence
Paul Thomas Anderson's There Will Be Blood
Friday the 13th
and an upgrade of Beastie Boys Video Anthology

it would be my turn to say, "Meh, not interested in any of them," even though most people here would probably be thrilled with at least one of them. And I wouldn't find it the least bit weird, or offensive/upsetting, that anyone expressed surprise that I wasn't interested in any of those titles.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Clare2904

My thoughts on Tati still stand though, wouldn't take that box set if it was free with $50 stuck to the side.

Sorry for any confusion

Forgive me for my ignorance but what is it about Tati's films you don't like? Do you actually "hate" his movies? If so, please explain why. I assume you've seen at least a few of his movies in order for you to make this judgement, correct?

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Ausjdm

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.

I just picked Breaking the Waves up from the library today! I got the dual-format edition with the blu-ray (the first time I ever discovered a Criterion blu-ray from the library). Going to watch this one tonight. Will let you know what I thought.

[jw007]

Well, it took me almost 24 hours but I have to post this.

Last night I watched George Washington. Rather than posting my initial impressions, I slept on it. Today I still feel about the same way. I do NOT think this is a great movie. Yes, there, I said it. I just cannot see this as anything special. Sure, its a good movie, but its not a great one. I guess you can say its great for a first movie from a new director, but knowing that David Gordon Green was highly influenced by Terrence Malick's The Thin Red Line, I couldn't help but think George Washington was somewhat pretentious. The editing is fantastic though...and so is the cinematography. But its a story that drifts through the lives of these young characters, never really meshing together, but instead breaking apart, which is probably intentional. I was not impressed with the acting. I was not engaged in the story. I liked the morality tale behind the story but this is an overrated movie I hate to say. Looking at Director Green's track record ever since, he hasn't made a single movie that is anything spectacular. I challenge anyone to prove this to me otherwise. If anything, George Washington is highly disturbing at times and if that is the most effective element of the film ("disturbing"), then there's something to be had there. *shrugs*

Please tell me I'm not the only one who didn't really like George Washington.

[myka22]

I can totally understand not liking Tati. I enjoyed Playtime but it is a little absurd and quirky. It goes on and on and it's more about watching situations unfold from a distance then actually having a story told in a direct way. Everyone has different taste. Criterion has such an incredible variety of films that there are gonna be plenty of people who don't like certain releases.

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by jayembee

I think this tangential discussion is just odd and unproductive. I have no problems with your choices. If a month from now, Criterion made their November announcements, which consisted of:

The Original Star Wars Trilogy (original versions)
Scorsese's Age of Innocence
Paul Thomas Anderson's There Will Be Blood
Friday the 13th
and an upgrade of Beastie Boys Video Anthology

it would be my turn to say, "Meh, not interested in any of them," even though most people here would probably be thrilled with at least one of them. And I wouldn't find it the least bit weird, or offensive/upsetting, that anyone expressed surprise that I wasn't interested in any of those titles.

The first 2 of them would get me THRILLED!

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by jw007

Well, it took me almost 24 hours but I have to post this.

Last night I watched George Washington. Rather than posting my initial impressions, I slept on it. Today I still feel about the same way. I do NOT think this is a great movie. Yes, there, I said it. I just cannot see this as anything special. Sure, its a good movie, but its not a great one. I guess you can say its great for a first movie from a new director, but knowing that David Gordon Green was highly influenced by Terrence Malick's The Thin Red Line, I couldn't help but think George Washington was somewhat pretentious. The editing is fantastic though...and so is the cinematography. But its a story that drifts through the lives of these young characters, never really meshing together, but instead breaking apart, which is probably intentional. I was not impressed with the acting. I was not engaged in the story. I liked the morality tale behind the story but this is an overrated movie I hate to say. Looking at Director Green's track record ever since, he hasn't made a single movie that is anything spectacular. I challenge anyone to prove this to me otherwise. If anything, George Washington is highly disturbing at times and if that is the most effective element of the film ("disturbing"), then there's something to be had there. *shrugs*

Please tell me I'm not the only one who didn't really like George Washington.

I could not agree more. The praise for the film is beyond me.

[Tin Drum]

Originally Posted by oliver_67

I like both, and also Ingrid Thulin. Sometimes I feel Ullman was over praised. She was definitely not the best thing in Cries and Whispers as many critics tried to lead us to believe.

I just feel that Ullmann has the range as an actress to go anywhere in terms of emotion and do it with a technical prowess. The scene where she walks into, out of and back into Alma's room (almost floating) is very symbolic not only in the film but also of her acting style: she is so very effortless that it's as if she is not acting at all.

[RojD]

Originally Posted by Clare2904

I have noticed that it is hit and miss regarding the Thanks button. One day it is there, after a refresh, gone.

EDIT - I can now no longer see the button

Mine's back now! Guess I got yours. Thanks!

[Mr. Dan]

Anyone have any info about "Three Films by Hiroshi Teshigahara" coming to blu-ray? I'm tempted to get the DVDs, but would hate to see the blu announcement days later. Thanks!

[jshaide]

Any opinions in the World Cinema Scorsese set? I'm thinking of going for it.

[Scottie]

Add me to the list of people who do not care much for George Washington. I do not think that the film is bad by any means, but I definitely think it is over hyped and over praised.

I watched all of the short films included in the release prior to watching the feature film, so I definitely saw a huge improvement over the ideas that DGG was originally toying with. Furthermore, the film is beautifully made. No one can take that away. Overall, though, I just thought it was a decent coming-of-age film and with that being said, there are a lot better ones out there, too.