The Criterion Collection

[oildude]

Originally Posted by SlickDamian

I'm currently in Louisiana for work for a couple of weeks. Living on an old oil rig that's tied up at a dock, training for my job offshore. Very interesting culture here. I can't wait to check out New Orleans next weekend.

Anyone know of any Criterions (preferably blu-ray) that were filmed or set in Louisiana?

Down by Law is the only one I can think of right now.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by jw007

You might just love TNG more if you decide to start watching it. Esp. if you grew up in the 80s and 90s like I did. ;-)

Not sure I ever grew up but my "formative years" were the late '50s-'60s. I've tried several times with TNG and other Trek series but they just don't click for me.

[jw007]

I just watched Riot in Cell Block 11. It's a fantastic and very tightly scripted prison drama. With so many prison dramas focused on "escape" or "escaping the prison", this story is all about improving the conditions inside the prison from the views of the prisoners (though its really about completely controlled anarchy). It's totally original and as I have the 60 minute audio excerpt of the 1953 NBC radio broadcast "The Challenge of our Prisons" playing in the background right now, there is so much synchronicity with the timing of the film's release in light of all the problems happening at the time with prison crises.

I do have to admit though that I'm highly disappointed with the supplements on this disc, as all 3 supplements are audio-based and there is nothing in the form of video or film footage. Even a short 10 minute Criterion interview with a scholar would have been a good addition, so I'm not sure I got my money's worth for this 80 minute film. Nevertheless, though I don't see this as an essential film to own, as brilliant as the film is, its well worth watching.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by jayembee

I grew up in the 60s. Watched TOS religiously at the time, and in syndication over the next couple of decades. I find it hard to watch most episodes these days without groaning.

TNG, for me, is a bell curve. I thought the first two seasons were poor overall, the third and fourth seasons were terrific, the fifth season was mostly still good, but not as good as the previous two, and the last two seasons were rather forgettable. DS9 is the only Trek series I can still watch all the way through.

As for the movies, I like maybe half of them, though it seems that some of the ones I like other people dislike (The Motion Picture and Insurrection) while ones that other people like, I don't (The Search for Spock and The Voyage Home). Love both of the JJ Abrams films, though.

We should take this conversation into some of the Star Trek blu-ray threads, but since we're Criterion thread folks, I can tell you that the Robert Wise directed Star Trek: The Motion Picture is highly underrated. Just take that 1979 film and put it alongside the new Abrams' Star Trek from 2009 (30 years later) and I can watch the Robert Wise film a thousand times more often (and its because the themes are far more mature in that film, unlike the new Trek which is catered towards teenagers and video game enthusiasts). The Original Series is all about the human condition, and Roddenberry, who I share birthdays with, knew that every episode was a morality tale in disguise. This is the power of Star Trek, that it was able to convey social messages to every single person, regardless of their race or religion, and transcend our Earthly matters and make us dream of a positive future of humanity, unlike all of our current dystopian (sci fi) TV shows today. So I have to disagree with you about the Abrams' Treks, but they sure made more money than other other Trek movie. Too bad we couldn't have more films like the Wrath of Khan though.

[jw007]

Hey guys, the new review for Macbeth is up and some of the supplements look frickin' stunning! This 61 min. interview in particular kicks ass (Toil and Trouble: Making Macbeth). I AM DEFINITELY buying this one!

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by jw007

We should take this conversation into some of the Star Trek blu-ray threads, but since we're Criterion thread folks, I can tell you that the Robert Wise directed Star Trek: The Motion Picture is highly underrated. Just take that 1979 film and put it alongside the new Abrams' Star Trek from 2009 (30 years later) and I can watch the Robert Wise film a thousand times more often (and its because the themes are far more mature in that film, unlike the new Trek which is catered towards teenagers and video game enthusiasts).

Now, see, I really, really like TMP, but given a choice, I'd rather watch the ST2009. It's too easily dismissed for being fast and loud, but I think it has more heart than people give it credit for. I think it's done a better job than any of the TOS episodes or movies to explain just what is so special about the Kirk/Spock relationship. I also confess that it's the only time in the past 50 years that I ever actually liked Kirk as a character.

What's interesting to note about Wise's film in a post-Star Wars world is the Enterprise doesn't fire more than one shot at anyone or anything, and the one shot it does fire is at an asteroid. And the only other time in the movie that a shot is fired by anyone else is when the Klingons fire at V'ger in the opening sequence. And speaking of that, I still maintain that TMP has one of the best opening scenes of any movie ever, the composition, the music (Jerry Goldsmith is my very favorite film composer), everything about it works beautifully.

Too bad we couldn't have more films like the Wrath of Khan though.

I've always maintained that WOK was the best of all the Trek movies (TOS, TNG, or neo-Trek), but I have to say that after a recent rewatch of The Undiscovered Country -- which I always maintained was the second best of the movies -- I'm tempted to give it a slight edge over WOK.

[Scottie]

Macbeth Blu-ray REVIEW

[LPMA]

Originally Posted by Clare2904

You do seem to have a very good local library

I have recently moved to the next town up but now have access to the whole of the Montreal library collection. Whilst I will not necessarily look for Criterion, I do hope it allows me to expand my viewing

Lots of Criterions at the BAnQ.

[Scottie]

I wonder how much longer it will take for The Night Porter cover to be unveiled.

[spargs]

Originally Posted by dwk

Yesterday, Criterion posted the following on their instagram account: http://instagram.com/p/tMAs6fyzdr/?modal=true

Oh wow, spine #1 coming back?!?! If Criterion's been able to reacquire the rights to some, if not all, of the Studio Canal films that went OOP... best news of the year!!!

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by spargs

Oh wow, spine #1 coming back?!?! If Cr iterion's been able to reacquire the rights to some, if not all, of the Studio Canal films that went OOP... best news of the year!!!

I've always wondered if they can sub-license from Lionsgate on a per title basis.

Unrelated - if anyone has been considering that German Lynch blu set, it's currently $21 shipped to the US from Amazon.de.

[The Great Owl]

The Criterion Blu-ray of Douglas Sirk's 1955 romantic drama, All That Heaven Allows, is another stunning high definition presentation of a 1950s Technicolor feature that ranks right up there with Hitchcock's The Trouble with Harry on any list of most beautiful autumn season movies. As with the Criterion transfers of Bigger Than Life or The Blob, the colors pop out of the screen with remarkable vividness. Frank Skinner's grand sweeping score comes across wonderfully well on the audio front.

The basic plot of All The Heaven Allows, where a wealthy widow, played by Jane Wyman, falls for a younger gardener, played by Rock Hudson (who resembles a young Elvis Presley on steroids), is pure melodrama, and I can imagine that John Hughes was paying attention when he wrote his screenplay for the 1986 teen film, Pretty in Pink. The social themes of this Sirk film and its indictment of 1950s materialism, however, could apply just as well now in 2014, where many people work at jobs that they hate in order to buy things that they do not need in order to impress people whom they do not like. The stifling inclination to "keep up with the Joneses", the notion of television sets as an inferior substitute for real life, and idea that most people lack the courage to follow their hearts are all addressed with the subtlety of a jackhammer here, and the film even treats us to the cinematic equivalent of a flashing highway sign during a scene where Wyman sits down with a copy of Henry David Thoreau's Walden to read the quote, "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation."

I've never had trouble putting myself into the frame of mind to enjoy 1950s films on their own terms, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of taking All That Heaven Allows at face value during last night's viewing, as opposed to treating it as a campy film like many current viewers are inclined to do. My advice to contemporary viewers is simply to surrender to Sirk's undeniable storytelling talents and to let the visual and audio cues do their work. The idea of letting the unimportant things fall by the wayside while living our lives simply for the enjoyment of doing what we love is certainly one that never becomes obsolete.

The new commentary track by John Mercer and Tamar Jeffers-McDonald is superbly informative and entertaining. A handful of supplements centered around the work of Douglas Sirk are also welcome additions to the set. I was personally not too keen, however, on the 1992 documentary, Rock Hudson's Home Movies, which assembles random clips of the actor's films to showcase cues about his sexuality, because I prefer for the dialogue of movies to be accepted in the context of the films themselves instead of being cobbled together in soundbites to pander to tabloid culture. This documentary provides an interesting viewing, but its inclusion on this Blu-ray does not seem particularly relevant to the main feature. I have always been an enthusiastic fan of Rock Hudson's films, and I think that his acting talents speak for themselves in the great cinema that he left behind for the rest of us.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by SlickDamian

I'm currently in Louisiana for work for a couple of weeks. Living on an old oil rig that's tied up at a dock, training for my job offshore. Very interesting culture here. I can't wait to check out New Orleans next weekend.

Anyone know of any Criterions (preferably blu-ray) that were filmed or set in Louisiana?

not Criterion, but I'd say:

watch Panic in the Streets
AND
READ A Confederacy of Dunces!!

the latter is INCREDIBLE!

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by SlickDamian

Anyone know of any Criterions (preferably blu-ray) that were filmed or set in Louisiana?

Easy Rider features a few pivotal scenes that are set in New Orleans.

On the non-Criterion front, I echo bwdowiak's recommendation for Panic in the Streets, because that is my personal favorite New Orleans flick.
A Streetcar named Desire is also a brilliant non-Criterion title.

This reminds me that the Clint Eastwood film, Tightrope, is still in my unwatched Blu-ray stack. I think that I might watch this tonight, and then kick myself in the tail for not getting around to it sooner. I've always loved this film.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by spargs

If Criterion's been able to reacquire the rights to some, if not all, of the Studio Canal films that went OOP... best news of the year!!!

My copy of The Third Man would go on eBay immediately

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

My copy of The Third Man would go on eBay immediately

It's been long-rumored to be coming back. If that's the case, mine will be up, as well.

[TJS_Blu]

from Indiewire:

Last week we commented on how the race for the foreign language Oscar was looking increasingly queer this year, and mused that France could make it even more so if they chose to enter "Blue Is The Warmest Color," which controversially fell into this year's eligibility period in the end. Well, France has made their final call, and while it's not "Blue," it's still a queer tale.

For those wondering, the queer film submitted is Saint Laurent.

Wonder if this means we'll get the CE of Blue sooner rather than later?

[jw007]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Now, see, I really, really like TMP, but given a choice, I'd rather watch the ST2009. It's too easily dismissed for being fast and loud, but I think it has more heart than people give it credit for. I think it's done a better job than any of the TOS episodes or movies to explain just what is so special about the Kirk/Spock relationship. I also confess that it's the only time in the past 50 years that I ever actually liked Kirk as a character.

What's interesting to note about Wise's film in a post-Star Wars world is the Enterprise doesn't fire more than one shot at anyone or anything, and the one shot it does fire is at an asteroid. And the only other time in the movie that a shot is fired by anyone else is when the Klingons fire at V'ger in the opening sequence. And speaking of that, I still maintain that TMP has one of the best opening scenes of any movie ever, the composition, the music (Jerry Goldsmith is my very favorite film composer), everything about it works beautifully.



I've always maintained that WOK was the best of all the Trek movies (TOS, TNG, or neo-Trek), but I have to say that after a recent rewatch of The Undiscovered Country -- which I always maintained was the second best of the movies -- I'm tempted to give it a slight edge over WOK.

The Undiscovered Country is a really good film, in fact I appreciate it more and more now because of its socio-political themes on war and peace. It's without a doubt the most "mature" Star Trek film of all, hands down. And I dig that. It just doesn't have the powerful ending that Wrath of Khan had, that was not just a tear jerker but very moving as well on the theme of youth and innocence.

You're right about The Motion Picture too, and that makes it the least violent of all the movies. But how can one forget that single photon torpedo shot at the asteroid! And even the beginning with the photon torpedos being shot from the Klingon Battle Cruisers. That's what makes it so remembered and iconic that one can do so much more with the "less is more" theme. The new Trek doesn't believe in that and prefers that "more is more" is better. The music in the opening sequence of The Motion Picture is pure elegance, grace and panache. It's a meditational film in many ways too.

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by spargs

Oh wow, spine #1 coming back?!?! If Criterion's been able to reacquire the rights to some, if not all, of the Studio Canal films that went OOP... best news of the year!!!

Perhaps, but until it is confirmed I wouldn't hold your breath. Criterion has a long history of posting about things that they aren't releasing or rereleasing, and they just started using Instagram, so it is too early to say for certain what a specific post means.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by jw007

The Undiscovered Country is a really good film, in fact I appreciate it more and more now because of its socio-political themes on war and peace. It's without a doubt the most "mature" Star Trek film of all, hands down. And I dig that. It just doesn't have the powerful ending that Wrath of Khan had, that was not just a tear jerker but very moving as well on the theme of youth and innocence.

Fans always mysteriously wonder "Why were the Even-Numbered Treks the good ones?", to near superstitious proportions, and it never occurs to them to look at the credits: "Written by Nicholas Meyer".

(Anyone who could write and direct Time After Time, classic TOS Trek is a piece of cake. Even if Leonard Nimoy directed The Voyage Home, Meyer's script influence is still there.)

You're right about The Motion Picture too, and that makes it the least violent of all the movies. But how can one forget that single photon torpedo shot at the asteroid! And even the beginning with the photon torpedos being shot from the Klingon Battle Cruisers. That's what makes it so remembered and iconic that one can do so much more with the "less is more" theme. The new Trek doesn't believe in that and prefers that "more is more" is better. The music in the opening sequence of The Motion Picture is pure elegance, grace and panache. It's a meditational film in many ways too.

And comes from the days when uber-cerebral 2001 was coin of the realm for all sci-fi movies everywhere. Especially from a director who had never seen the TV show in his life.