The Criterion Collection

[thecalm_7]

Several pages back the question of collecting vs watching and whatnot was asked. So, my reply.
I both collect and watch. My brother who was not a part of my life was a huge film buff. I never knew him that well. He passed away recently and I have inherited his collection to join my collection. To my surprise, he owned all of the criterion collection on DVD up to 640. LD CRITERION COllection is near complete as well. So I own that now. I've seen 400ish of the cc films and I own from my purchases 500 or so. A college professor got me into samurai films and who better than a professor to say " here's $50 go buy something by Kurosawa and watch it, we will discuss it next week" and like a crack head, I was addicted. All Japanese then French then Italian then German then the rest as I could.
Theatrically, Ben button, the Wes Anderson films, and Solaris are all I've seen on the big screen.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

That poster is perfect, just perfect.

Agreed. Been wanting it for so long, but held off because of the custom framing cost. It was worth it.

[Thebunk]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I'm not a fan of Brazil. I saw it at a theater when I was in college, and, although it was interesting, I have no desire to pick up the Criterion Blu-ray.

Don't get me started on Interpol. Interpol's Turn on the Bright Lights is my favorite album of the 2000s, and I also love their subsequent releases. I've seen all 10 of Interpol's Atlanta concerts, including their first gig here at a small club venue that was only half full at the time, and a radio promotional gig where only 100 of us were allowed inside. I've met the band members in person a few times, and they're good people. I'll be seeing Interpol for the 11th time this November, since I grabbed my ticket this past payday (the same day that I bought a ton of Criterions...that was a rough day for the wallet).

The new Interpol song is quite good. Interpol are sort of like Boston in that they can record the same song about a hundred times and somehow make it work every single time. I just love their sound.

I still prefer Joy Division, though. I grew up listening to Joy Division and New Order.

Off topic to music, here is how I look at it:

JD - easy top 10 song of all time for me in LWTUA
NO - probably the best pop band from a singles perspective with them really only being challenged by the Smiths. But seriously, Bizzare Love Triangle, Temptation, Ceremony, Blue Monday (my least favorite of their singles but still good), Love Vigilantes, and I can go on and on.
Interpol - Best album from a beginning to end perspective. They took the JD blueprint and perfected it.

It's actually interesting to see how many indie bands these days utilize the NO influence where as in the early 00s the JD influence was the "in" thing.

[Thebunk]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Well,

1. Brazil and Rashomon still hold up for me.
2. Interpol has nothing on Joy Division (or any Post-Punk band they were inspired by)

1a) Brazil - super dated which is the danger for any film that trys to portray a near futuristic world with technology that is dreamt up (I.e. the crazy wire closets, message delivery system, the single person side car vehicle, Etc.
1b) Rashomon- Innovative story telling but some of the worst acting in the collection. Yeah, I will just flair around and cry and/or scream and grunt in a stereotypical fashion.

2. Again, love JD, but I can separation nostalgia to know Turn on the Bright Lights is on of the best albums of the last 20 years easily and IMO better then Unknown Pleasures or Closer.

At the end of the day though I would rate all of the bands in question. (taking into account their whole catalog (New Order > JD >>>>>>> Interpol).

[AgentOrange]

Originally Posted by joe6pack

I've gone mad. 28 titles in 23 days. Total Criterion collection now 71 titles. I've watched 29.

Is there anyone else out there buying these films without the time to watch them?

This month's haul (so far)

All That Heaven Knows
Blow Out
Breaking the Waves
Broadcast News
Crumb
Down by Law
Fanny and Alexander
The Great Beauty
A Hard Day's Night
Hunger
Insignificance
Insomnia
Investigation of a Citized Above Suspicion
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
Kagemusha
King of the Hill
The Life Aquatic
Nashville
Pale Flower
Paths of Glory
Picnic at Hanging Rock
Il Sorpasso
Summer with Monika
Tess
Thief
Tokyo Story
The War Room
Wild Strawberries

I did that a couple of years ago, and it took me months (or even up to a year) to catch up. Not just in terms of Criterions, but overall. I'm pretty much caught up on my Criterion Collection (and have rewatched many of them several times) - but I actually still have at least a good 20 or 30 blu-rays that are totally unwatched.

I realized that was a stupid thing to compile unwatched movies, so this year I've been good and have actually been actively "trimming" my collection. I only bought about 6 Criterions with this sale, and not that many other blu-rays either except for a handful of Twilight Time titles and a few other random purchases I was curious about. Basically I'm trying to watch more movies than I buy, rather than the other way around. I'm sure during November/December that will be impossible for me, but during the rest of the year I'm trying to keep my purchases to an absolute minimum.

[SilentDawn]

So, I picked up my final Criterion of the sale, which is Repo Man.

I love me some cult cinema, and with Harry Dean Stanton, I figured it was a pretty safe blind-buy. Plus, the Criterion art-work is just incredible.

[AgentOrange]

Originally Posted by Thebunk

1a) Brazil - super dated which is the danger for any film that trys to portray a near futuristic world with technology that is dreamt up (I.e. the crazy wire closets, message delivery system, the single person side car vehicle, Etc.
1b) Rashomon- Innovative story telling but some of the worst acting in the collection. Yeah, I will just flair around and cry and/or scream and grunt in a stereotypical fashion.

2. Again, love JD, but I can separation nostalgia to know Turn on the Bright Lights is on of the best albums of the last 20 years easily and IMO better then Unknown Pleasures or Closer.

At the end of the day though I would rate all of the bands in question. (taking into account their whole catalog (New Order > JD >>>>>>> Interpol).

I think the "dated" nature adds to the comedic value, which was intended in the first place anyway as part of it's social commentary. I'm not sure I'd even consider it a high technology "sci-fi" picture. I mean would you say that the "dated" look of vehicles or CRT screens take away from something like Total Recall when watching it in modern times? I've never thought so, and Brazil is not even close to that same category of sci-fi.

That being said, I've never been a fan of Brazil as a picture either. But to me, it's shortcomings (viewing it now) have nothing at all to do with the portrayal of dated technologies. For me it has more to do with it's almost juvenile social commentary, and the fact that the attempts at humor just miss the mark for me (sometimes awkwardly so).

I kind of liked it the 1st time, and I thought it would be the type of film I'd appreciate it more with additional viewings as I picked up more jokes/underlying sattire. But I've unfortunately found the opposite to be true. I just find it boring now.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Thebunk

1a) Brazil - super dated which is the danger for any film that trys to portray a near futuristic world with technology that is dreamt up (I.e. the crazy wire closets, message delivery system, the single person side car vehicle, Etc.
1b) Rashomon- Innovative story telling but some of the worst acting in the collection. Yeah, I will just flair around and cry and/or scream and grunt in a stereotypical fashion.

2. Again, love JD, but I can separation nostalgia to know Turn on the Bright Lights is on of the best albums of the last 20 years easily and IMO better then Unknown Pleasures or Closer.

At the end of the day though I would rate all of the bands in question. (taking into account their whole catalog (New Order > JD >>>>>>> Interpol).

Thanks for elaborating. I find the "dated" designs of Brazil to be quite endearing. Actually, "retro-futurist" (just tossing words together at this point) type of stuff at large like Buck Rodgers, for example, aways do it for me, so that's no surprise.

As for the acting in Rashomon...well, lets just agree to disagree. That's a very big topic to get into at this moment. I mean, it's Friday afterall.

Re: Post-punk and all it's mutations...as long as no one throws my sacred cows under the bus ( The Talking Heads, Wire, Gang of Four, Midnight Oil, The Minutemen, The Replacements, etc), I'm okay.

[JeffTheMovieGuy]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

yep, I agree. Oscar bait that was a swing and miss. saw it once in the theater, never need to see it again.

I like Benjamin Button and I'm a Fincher fan, however the only aspect of the entire movie that I actually enjoyed was

[Show spoiler]His relationship with his Mother Queenie and his non existent relationship with his Father until it was too late (been there done that)

and out of all the people who deserved to win an Oscar was Taraji P. Henson she really brought some love to her character.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by SilentDawn

So, I picked up my final Criterion of the sale, which is Repo Man.

I love me some cult cinema, and with Harry Dean Stanton, I figured it was a pretty safe blind-buy. Plus, the Criterion art-work is just incredible.

It's not really a safe blind but at all. Now, Sid and Nancy...THATS a good Alex Cox film to blind buy.

[tisdivine]

Im literally 2 hrs into World On A Wire and I felt the need to pause the movie pick up my phone & post...

Does Eva look exactly like a young Michelle Pfeiffer or am i losing my mind lol

That is all...

[Clare2904]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

Just picked this up from a custom framing shop.

If you don't mind me asking how much was the framing ?

[RojD]

Originally Posted by Thebunk

1a) Brazil - super dated which is the danger for any film that trys to portray a near futuristic world with technology that is dreamt up (I.e. the crazy wire closets, message delivery system, the single person side car vehicle, Etc.

1b) Rashomon- Innovative story telling but some of the worst acting in the collection. Yeah, I will just flair around and cry and/or scream and grunt in a stereotypical fashion.

I'm trying to find a nice way of saying this, but using this definition of "dated," I guess we should kiss Metropolis goodbye, too? I know more than a few people would, but their numbers wouldn't include me.

For me, I've found Brazil to hold up far better than most films from the 80s. Government uses fear of terrorism to erode civil rights: How contemporary does that theme sound? Maybe dumb luck on Gilliam's part, but everything from oppression by bureaucracy to ridiculous consumption by rich elite seems timely to me. (Broadcast News nailed a few future issues a couple of years later, too.)

I can understand how the art direction might not appeal to everyone (they probably don't like PlayTime either), but I've watched Brazil many times and just don't get tired of the restless creativity I see at work. Or the wonderful ending.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by Clare2904

If you don't mind me asking how much was the framing ?

$270. It's why I'm very reluctant to pull the trigger on various posters. I have to really love the print to commit.

You can't really tell from the picture because the lighting is pretty terrible, but the framing itself is a blue-ish tone. It really blends in well with the poster. The woman was very thorough in trying to find the right size/color to make the poster work (which I greatly appreciated; never had that attention to detail from other shops.)

It's somewhat noticeable here:

[Show spoiler]

[WalterNeff]

[QUOTE=AgentOrange;9496506]I think the "dated" nature adds to the comedic value, which was intended in the first place anyway as part of it's social commentary. I'm not sure I'd even consider it a high technology "sci-fi" picture. I mean would you say that the "dated" look of vehicles or CRT screens take away from something like Total Recall when watching it in modern times? I've never thought so, and Brazil is not even close to that same category of sci-fi.

That being said, I've never been a fan of Brazil as a picture either. But to me, it's shortcomings (viewing it now) have nothing at all to do with the portrayal of dated technologies. For me it has more to do with it's almost juvenile social commentary, and the fact that the attempts at humor just miss the mark for me (sometimes awkwardly so). [\QUOTE]

Juvenile? I'd say simple, but not juvenile. Hell it's sad to say, but Gilliams "predictions" have come kinda true.

[Clare2904]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

$270. It's why I'm very reluctant to pull the trigger on various posters. I have to really love the print to commit.

You can't really tell from the picture because the lighting is pretty terrible, but the framing itself is a blue-ish tone. It really blends in well with the poster. The woman was very thorough in trying to find the right size/color to make the poster work (which I greatly appreciated; never had that attention to detail from other shops.)

It's somewhat noticeable here:

[Show spoiler]

Yikes that is a huge chunk of change. I would have to go for a cheaper frame

[MitchA17]

So, I've ultimately picked up:

All That Heaven Allows
George Washington
Paths of Glory
12 Angry Men
Marketa Lazarova
Nashville
King of the Hill
Red River
A Hard Day's Night
Scanners

These bring me to a total of 71 Criterions. Combined with pulling the trigger on Shout! Factory's Werner Herzog collection (along with Flicker Alley's Chaplin's Mutual Comedies and StudioCanal's Mulholland Drive steelbooks), this is probably the most I've spend on movies in a single month. No regrets .

I wish Y Tu Mama Tambien hadn't fallen JUST outside the sale window . But oh well. Just means I'll have to trust myself to save up enough for that, Eraserhead, The Tati Box, and anything else that catches my fancy for the next sale .

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Thanks for elaborating. I find the "dated" designs of Brazil to be quite endearing. Actually, "retro-futurist" (just tossing words together at this point) type of stuff at large like Buck Rodgers, for example, aways do it for me, so that's no surprise.

If anything, I think the retro-tech of Brazil is what keeps it from being "dated". Movies tend to look dated when they try to imagine the future, and end up being shortsighted. The computer technology in 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) looks archaic compared to what we were actually using in 2001. And 2010 (1984) looks even worse compared to actual 2010 technology.

Gilliam deliberately using a retro design counterintuitively, but emphatically, keeps it from looking like a wrong-headed look at future tech. Max Headroom borrowed this idea successfully a few years later.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by RojD

I'm trying to find a nice way of saying this, but using this definition of "dated," I guess we should kiss Metropolis goodbye, too? I know more than a few people would, but their numbers wouldn't include me.

For me, I've found Brazil to hold up far better than most films from the 80s. Government uses fear of terrorism to erode civil rights: How contemporary does that theme sound? Maybe dumb luck on Gilliam's part, but everything from oppression by bureaucracy to ridiculous consumption by rich elite seems timely to me. (Broadcast News nailed a few future issues a couple of years later, too.)

I can understand how the art direction might not appeal to everyone (they probably don't like PlayTime either), but I've watched Brazil many times and just don't get tired of the restless creativity I see at work. Or the wonderful ending.

It's funny that you should say that about Brazil right after talking about Metropolis, given that Lang's film was about the rich elite living off the backs of the lower classes, with a non-existent middle class.

[The Great Owl]

I'm enjoying my Criterion Blu-ray of The Complete Jean Vigo tonight.

So far, I've watched A propos de Nice, Taris, and Zero de conduite. I've also been watching each one a second time through with the commentary tracks (I'm listening to the commentary track for Zero de conduite right now while I post.). These first three features are fun to watch mostly because of the aspect of observing life in the early 1930s. I also like how the technical tricks that Vigo developed in A propos de Nice and Taris are applied so well in Zero de conduite.

I won't get around to L'Atalante until tomorrow morning after my run, because I'm a little sleepy now, and I want to be 100% alert going into this main feature film for my first viewing. I'm looking forward to it, though!