The Criterion Collection

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Steamboat, Bill Jr.

I finally started The Buster Keaton Collection box set earlier tonight, and I just finished the first disc, which consists of Keaton's first few short films. I have not laughed this hard in a while, and I'm really blown away by the physical comedy and props that went into these films. The short film, "One Week", is really something else.

It'll be a while before I make it to Steamboat Bill, Jr., but I'm in for a treat if the feature films are anywhere near as engaging as these short films.

This is a Kino set and, therefore, not directly Criterion-related, but it seems to go hand in hand with a few of my Criterion favorites from Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd.

[aes3728]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I finally started The Buster Keaton Collection box set earlier tonight, and I just finished the first disc, which consists of Keaton's first few short films. I have not laughed this hard in a while, and I'm really blown away by the physical comedy and props that went into these films. The short film, "One Week", is really something else.

It'll be a while before I make it to Steamboat Bill, Jr., but I'm in for a treat if the feature films are anywhere near as engaging as these short films.

This is a Kino set and, therefore, not directly Criterion-related, but it seems to go hand in hand with a few of my Criterion favorites from Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd.

I'm jealous that you get to watch Sherlock Jr. for the first time. Without a doubt his masterpiece in my eyes.

[RojD]

Originally Posted by Coen

I live less than an hour from SF and have been hundreds of times, but I never get tired of it. Other than NYC, San Francisco is certainly my favorite city to have films set in - especially old black and white films that show different parts of the City. Vertigo is undoubtedly the Granddaddy of them all, but I also highly recommend Experiment in Terror and of course Guess Who's Coming To Dinner. Are there any Criterion titles set in SF other than The Game?

Thought of another character-city: Bad Lieutenant, Interview with the Vampire, Pelican Brief, Streetcar Named Desire, Suddenly Last Summer.....and The Big Easy. Yeah, New Orleans!

But even with this list, I guess we don't see NOLA all that often. But when she's present, she's big.

[JJJ225]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

The UK Passion Of Joan Of Arc is perfection, well worth an import for those of thee that are region free.

Is that a regular sized case (just thicker)? The landscape style cover art is throwing me.

[LPMA]

Originally Posted by JJJ225

Is that a regular sized case (just thicker)? The landscape style cover art is throwing me.

It looks around the size of the Criterion dual-format releases.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by RojD

Thought of another character-city: Bad Lieutenant, Interview with the Vampire, Pelican Brief, Streetcar Named Desire, Suddenly Last Summer.....and The Big Easy. Yeah, New Orleans!

But even with this list, I guess we don't see NOLA all that often. But when she's present, she's big.

Yes, totally agree

To add to your list, my favorite Jarsmusch film, Down by Law.

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZP2tqJTSfgU

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

Yes, totally agree

To add to your list, my favorite Jarsmusch film, Down by Law.

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZP2tqJTSfgU

Down by Law is not only my favorite Jim Jarmusch film, but it was also my first experience with any of his catalogue. It definitely has great acting and a very heartfelt story.

As a side comment about the film, I could not breathe during the ice cream scene. I was roaring with laughter.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I finally started The Buster Keaton Collection box set earlier tonight, and I just finished the first disc, which consists of Keaton's first few short films. I have not laughed this hard in a while, and I'm really blown away by the physical comedy and props that went into these films. The short film, "One Week", is really something else.

It'll be a while before I make it to Steamboat Bill, Jr., but I'm in for a treat if the feature films are anywhere near as engaging as these short films.

This is a Kino set and, therefore, not directly Criterion-related, but it seems to go hand in hand with a few of my Criterion favorites from Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd.

You are because they are.

[pro-bassoonist]

All That Jazz Blu-ray REVIEW



I think it is very easy to tell that this release was meant to be the definitive home video release of Bob Fosse's masterpiece. It should be a mandatory purchase for everyone

Pro-B

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by JJJ225

Is that a regular sized case (just thicker)? The landscape style cover art is throwing me.

The outer case is around the size of a Criterion digipack, but on its side (the spine remains the same as the other Masters Of Cinema releases, so it looks neat on shelf). The outer case is made from very thick cardboard. If you've seen their Late Mizoguchi or Mabuse box-sets you'll have an idea of what the box is like. Inside is a 100 page book and a choice of either regular amaray or steelbook packaging. It's pretty much the most lavish packaging I've ever seen for a home video release.

[jw007]

Just finished watching The Great Beauty for the first time. The only word that immediately came to mind as soon as the credits rolled was "deep". There is so much subtext in this film, it feels mandatory to watch this a second time to just get an initial impression. This film is at times meditational and hypnotic and half the time I don't even understand what is going on and if its parody or sincerity. Sorrentino surely has a lot on his mind and it is all right here.

[GentleGiant]

Originally Posted by Tin Drum

Il Sorpasso is such a fun film but with an extremely jarring ending. I understood the need for it but I didn't want it to happen all the same! I'm still reeling from that last minute. Reminds me of another film in the collection (I won't say which one as it would give away the ending to this film) but more incomprehensible (not a negative against the film) given the carefree tone beforehand.

I really did enjoy the film though and am glad I have it in my collection. I will revisit it sooner rather than later that is how good it was. Excellent performances (Vittorio Gassman is amazing). Way ahead of its time, too.

I also rewatched Fantastic Mr. Fox and The Great Beauty this weekend. The former is such a joy and the latter transcendent. I love the way the camera moves in this film. Sleek and smooth as silk. Toni Servillo is absolutely amazing. And I love kicking up the home theater with those party scenes.

I loved Il Sorpasso - it's one of those films you can watch over and over again and not get bored.

[GentleGiant]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

The Innocents is still insanely creepy even by today's standards.

Let's just put it this way...

My favorite haunted house movies are...

1. The Haunting (1963)
2. The Innocents (1961)
3. The Uninvited (1944)
4. The Legend of Hell House (1973)
5. The Changeling (1980)

The Innocents and The Haunting switch places from time to time, though. They both pack a punch.

I could count The Shining on the above list, of course, although it's a hotel and not a house. A haunted hotel is one thing, though, but there's just something about an actual haunted house that is scary, because our houses are where we call home and where we let our guard down in private. Other haunted house standouts include Poltergeist, Ju-On: The Grudge, The Hearse, House on Haunted Hill, Burnt Offerings, The Amityville Horror (1979), Stir of Echoes, and The Sentinel.

My Blu-ray of The Legend of Hell House arrived in the mail yesterday, so I'm going to watch it on my day off tomorrow. Woo hoo!

I'd have to disagree. Watched this film a couple of months back or so and was hugely underwhelmed. It wasn't creepy or scary in the least, and the ending just completely missed the mark for me. I felt that it could have turned out a much better film had it been directed by somebody else (like Hitchcock, for example).

[GentleGiant]

Originally Posted by nondiatonic

I wasn't amazed by Eyes Without A Face (blasphemy, I know). But I need to give the soundtrack another listen.

I wasn't bowled over by it either, to be honest. I was very much creeped out by it, though, that's for sure!
Eyes Without A Face is a great film, no doubt about that. Very dry, to the point and almost completely devoid of melodrama. It contains some of the creepiest scenes in a classic pre-1970s movie I've ever seen. I really admired Franjou's clinical style which I think works perfectly for horror films in general, and consists more in methodically creating a tangible atmosphere of impending dread rather than relying on habitual and rather blunt "gory monster" imagery

[GentleGiant]

Sad news coming from Lithuania...
Donatas Banionis has passed away today at the age of 90. Anyone who watched Andrey Tarkovsky's Solaris have known him well as a great actor.
RIP.
http://dialmformovies.net/2014/09/04...-died-aged-90/

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by GentleGiant

Sad news coming from Lithuania...
Donatas Banionis has passed away today at the age of 90. Anyone who watched Andrey Tarkovsky's Solaris have known him well as a great actor.
RIP.
http://dialmformovies.net/2014/09/04...-died-aged-90/

Sad news. A friend and I saw Tarkovsky's Solaris on the big screen at a theatrical showing this past spring. So amazing...

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by RojD

Thought of another character-city: Bad Lieutenant, Interview with the Vampire, Pelican Brief, Streetcar Named Desire, Suddenly Last Summer.....and The Big Easy. Yeah, New Orleans!

But even with this list, I guess we don't see NOLA all that often. But when she's present, she's big.

Criterion: Don't forget Easy Rider, Down by Law and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

[GentleGiant]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Sad news. A friend and I saw Tarkovsky's Solaris on the big screen at a theatrical showing this past spring. So amazing...

Indeed, and that magical opening shot - wow, such a tangible breath of mystery in there.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by RojD

Thought of another character-city: Bad Lieutenant, Interview with the Vampire, Pelican Brief, Streetcar Named Desire, Suddenly Last Summer.....and The Big Easy. Yeah, New Orleans!

But even with this list, I guess we don't see NOLA all that often. But when she's present, she's big.

My favorite movies set in New Orleans...

Panic in the Streets
Live and Let Die
Cat People (1982)
A Streetcar Named Desire
Easy Rider
Tightrope
Hard Target (I'm dead serious.)


This brings me to my own home turf. My favorite movies set in Atlanta...

Gone with the Wind
Sharky's Machine

I also like Driving Miss Daisy alright. I've been running with a local marathon training group on Saturday mornings since 2008, and the house from Driving Miss Daisy is right there along one of our most popular routes.

[ravenus]

Before some of the rabid members here jump on my throat, remember these are Frank (Basket Case) Henenlotter's remarks, not mine; and I am sure they're made at least partly in jest. These are screens taken from a pretty interesting documentary called Rewind This, which explores the stature of VHS in the world of home video: