The Criterion Collection

[JoeBuck]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

I think it's far more accessible than virtually anything he did after, but I guess it depends how you define complex. Persona is probably his most out-there movie in terms of people not understanding it, but the later stuff like Cries and Whispers or Autumn Sonata is probably the hardest for the average filmgoer to deal with. Then he has Fanny and Alexander and Scenes from a Marriage which are less lacerating but way too long for most to handle. I think seventh seal is his most accessible movie other than Wild Strawberries to someone in a film class.

Smiles Of a Summer Night is on the phone, it would like to have a word with you
Definitely with you on the fact of it being one of his "lighter" films, at least compared to most of his 60's and 70's stuff.
Can definitely throw Winter Light to the list of heavies too!

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by JoeBuck

Smiles Of a Summer Night is on the phone, it would like to have a word with you
Definitely with you on the fact of it being one of his "lighter" films, at least compared to most of his 60's and 70's stuff.
Can definitely throw Winter Light to the list of heavies too!

The summer ones are simpler and lighter but also probably less interesting to a newcomer. Smiles of a summer night is a good one though!

[jlk5844]

These are all the Bergmans we'll be watching:
Summer with Monika (1953)
The Seventh Seal (1957)
Wild Strawberries (1957)
Through A Glass Darkly (1961)
Winter Light (1963)
The Silence (1963)
Persona (1966)
Scenes from a Marriage (1973) (TV version)
From the Life of Marionettes (1980)
Fanny and Alexander (1982) (TV version)

and these others mixed in:
The 400 Blows (Francois Truffaut, 1959)
Recommended additional viewing: The Phantom Carriage (Victor Sjostrom)
Ma Nuit Chez Maud (Eric Rohmer, 1969)
Hannah and Her Sisters (Woody Allen, 1986)
Songs from the Second Floor (Roy Andersson, 2001) or You the Living (Roy Andersson, 2007)

I've seen none of these before this class, and the bolded ones are the ones I've since seen.

[BTTF_]

Originally Posted by jlk5844

These are all the Bergmans we'll be watching:
Summer with Monika (1953)
The Seventh Seal (1957)
Wild Strawberries (1957)
Through A Glass Darkly (1961)
Winter Light (1963)
The Silence (1963)
Persona (1966)
Scenes from a Marriage (1973) (TV version)
From the Life of Marionettes (1980)
Fanny and Alexander (1982) (TV version)

and these others mixed in:
The 400 Blows (Francois Truffaut, 1959)
Recommended additional viewing: The Phantom Carriage (Victor Sjostrom)
Ma Nuit Chez Maud (Eric Rohmer, 1969)
Hannah and Her Sisters (Woody Allen, 1986)
Songs from the Second Floor (Roy Andersson, 2001) or You the Living (Roy Andersson, 2007)

I've seen none of these before this class, and the bolded ones are the ones I've since seen.

Good line up. Even the non-Bergman's. Summer with Monika is my least favorite Bergman film on that list. Through a Glass Darkly is a gem. Smiles of a Summer night is definitely one to check out as well, when time allows.

[cakefactory]

You should definitely watch cries and whispers, I'm surprised you're watching so many but skipping that one. I think it's his best that I've seen and it's definitely one of his best known.

[jlk5844]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

You should definitely watch cries and whispers, I'm surprised you're watching so many but skipping that one. I think it's his best that I've seen and it's definitely one of his best known.

No Blu-ray for that one yet.

[jlk5844]

Originally Posted by BTTF_

Good line up. Even the non-Bergman's. Summer with Monika is my least favorite Bergman film on that list. Through a Glass Darkly is a gem. Smiles of a Summer night is definitely one to check out as well, when time allows.

Yeah Monika seems to be on the lower end of most people's lists. I liked that one so I guess it'll only get better!

And will do, once I see how this class finishes and these other films treat me.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by jlk5844

Yeah Monika seems to be on the lower end of most people's lists. I liked that one so I guess it'll only get better!

Not on mine! It was the first Bergman I saw so maybe that's part of it's appeal for me but also that "when life gets to be too much, run away to a secluded island" fantasy I've always had.

I went to Costco today and saw some of the same titles that were there earlier in the Summer but they also had recent releases like All That Jazz and The Big Chill. I ended up passing on those in favor of A Hard Day's Night. All were $19.99.

Earlier this week my daughter sent me:

Amarcord
Picnic at Hanging Rock
Persona
The Great Beauty
Riot in Cell Block 11
Il Sorpasso
Red River
Thief
Insomnia
Stagecoach
L'Eclisse
Ivan's Childhood
Letter Never Sent

These were all from the July B&N sale plus the non-CC Under the Skin.

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by thecalm_7

Not Judex, but what is "ON"? I have yet to watch my copy

ON = Original Negative?

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by iScottie

At this point in time, I've seen 1/4 of Bergman's film catalogue, and I personally think that The Seventh Seal is his most difficult one.

I haven't seen it the film in a couple of years so I don't feel too comfortable discussing specific details of it. I do recall it being incredibly dark and mentally draining, though. That being said, the final image of the dance is still burned into my brain. It has to be one of the most memorable scenes from any film.

Not sure if this is a spoiler but:
Love and Death

[Show spoiler]contains an homage to Seventh Seal.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Not sure if this is a spoiler but:
Love and Death

[Show spoiler]contains an homage to Seventh Seal.

Woody Allen was definitely influenced by Ingmar Bergman, so I am not surprised.

I need to see that film and another half (more or less) of Woody's catalogue. Unfortunately the ones I haven't seen are only available on DVD. No online video services.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Woody Allen was definitely influenced by Ingmar Bergman, so I am not surprised.

I need to see that film and another half (more or less) of Woody's catalogue. Unfortunately the ones I haven't seen are only available on DVD. No online video services.

The word on the street is Twilight Time will release it in early 2015.

[StLouisRibs]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Woody Allen was definitely influenced by Ingmar Bergman, so I am not surprised.

I need to see that film and another half (more or less) of Woody's catalogue. Unfortunately the ones I haven't seen are only available on DVD. No online video services.

Zelig, Sleeper, and Radio Days are all being added to Netflix on the 1st...

[aes3728]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

I went to Costco today and saw some of the same titles that were there earlier in the Summer but they also had recent releases like All That Jazz and The Big Chill. I ended up passing on those in favor of A Hard Day's Night. All were $19.99.

Earlier this week my daughter sent me:

Amarcord
Picnic at Hanging Rock
Persona
The Great Beauty
Riot in Cell Block 11
Il Sorpasso
Red River
Thief
Insomnia
Stagecoach
L'Eclisse
Ivan's Childhood
Letter Never Sent

These were all from the July B&N sale plus the non-CC Under the Skin.

You have one wonderful daughter

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

The word on the street is Twilight Time will release it in early 2015.

Oh, excellent!

Originally Posted by StLouisRibs

Zelig, Sleeper, and Radio Days are all being added to Netflix on the 1st...

Nice! Zelig is up there with Annie Hall and Manhattan as my top films.

[The Bronx Bull]

Originally Posted by iScottie

At this point in time, I've seen 1/4 of Bergman's film catalogue, and I personally think that The Seventh Seal is his most difficult one.

I haven't seen it the film in a couple of years so I don't feel too comfortable discussing specific details of it. I do recall it being incredibly dark and mentally draining, though. That being said, the final image of the dance is still burned into my brain. It has to be one of the most memorable scenes from any film.

I've been watching quite a bit of Bergman lately, and found it interesting that while some of his films are accessible and understood on the first go-around, others leave me completely perplexed by the time the credits roll.

So far, from what I've watched, here is the most accessible Bergman to the least accessible:

1. Smiles of a Summer Night
2. Fanny and Alexander
3. Through a Glass Darkly
4. Autumn Sonata
5. Winter Light
6. The Seventh Seal
7. Wild Strawberries
8. Persona
9. The Silence

The most notable transition in accessibility happened when I watched the faith trilogy, since it went from a relatively straight-forward, but serious take on mental illness (Through a Glass Darkly) to one of the most perplexing films I've seen (The Silence).

I still own, but have yet to watch: Summer with Monika, Summer Interlude, Scenes from a Marriage, and The Magician. I also plan on seeking out Cries and Whispers, The Virgin Spring, Hour of the Wolf, and Shame.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by jlk5844

These are all the Bergmans we'll be watching:
Summer with Monika (1953)
The Seventh Seal (1957)
Wild Strawberries (1957)
Through A Glass Darkly (1961)
Winter Light (1963)
The Silence (1963)
Persona (1966)
Scenes from a Marriage (1973) (TV version)
From the Life of Marionettes (1980)
Fanny and Alexander (1982) (TV version)

and these others mixed in:
The 400 Blows (Francois Truffaut, 1959)
Recommended additional viewing: The Phantom Carriage (Victor Sjostrom)
Ma Nuit Chez Maud (Eric Rohmer, 1969)
Hannah and Her Sisters (Woody Allen, 1986)
Songs from the Second Floor (Roy Andersson, 2001) or You the Living (Roy Andersson, 2007)

I've seen none of these before this class, and the bolded ones are the ones I've since seen.

How did Songs from the Second Floor get mixed in with this group? I saw this at Roger Ebert's film festival a long while back. It is the type of film that you will either a) think it is absolutely stupid - ridiculous and absurd (that was my opinion) or b) think it is some kind of genius laugh riot (that was my best buddy's opinion)

report back on that one, please.

[soarinsteven]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Woody Allen was definitely influenced by Ingmar Bergman, so I am not surprised.

I need to see that film and another half (more or less) of Woody's catalogue. Unfortunately the ones I haven't seen are only available on DVD. No online video services.

Not sure of all you've seen, but definitely seek out Husbands and Wives and The Purple Rose of Cairo in particular if you haven't anyway. Who knows when we'll see blu-ray upgrades, and they are essential.

[belcherman]

Haven't seen this posted before, so here goes.

This is a heads up that the TCM shop appears to be having a sale on some Criterion blu's right now. Prices on several titles MSRP $39.99 now $18.99, including:

Tess
IL Sorpasso
The Great Beauty
Thin Red Line
All That Heaven Allows
Ace in The Hole


and about a dozen more. Also, Red River and On The Waterfront, MSRP $49.99 are now $23.99.

Finally, free shipping on orders over $59 with code VIPSHIP.

[jscoggins]

Just came across a store where someone had dumped a bunch of discontinued titles:

Army of Shadows
Le Cercle Rouge
Chungking Express
Howards End
Leon Morin
Playtime

I wonder why Playtime is so cheap on Amazon?

Alas, no sign of The Man Who Fell to Earth.