The Criterion Collection

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

Why ignore the director's cut? You don't like INXS?

He ruined the film with the directors cut, it explained everything and it lost the mysteriousness. The enjoyment with DD is understudying and piecing together the puzzle and everything - the Directors cut just ruined all that and completely changed the feel of the film. He shouldn't have touched it tbh :/

I like INXS but the original music/score, I felt suited the scenes better, maybe I just got used to the older music but it became uncomfortable.

There were some added scenes that I loved like the poem, but no for me the director's cut just took away the mystery and darkness, it didn't need explaining throughout the film. Also a lot of the added scenes felt out of place and didn't fit well with it, it was too obvious what changes were made and for me, it should blend in and work with the existing content, not conflict.

With the original we are following this guy who is struggling to connect and understand, the story has these characters that subtly help and guide him to follow this path - we a a viewer are in same boat and trying to understand it and again the other characters are giving us clues and helping us. It feels like a waste of time when at each chapter point everything is pretty much explained to us - how are we meant to understand Donnie and connect with him when we know stuff he doesn't (I can't word it very well or explain)...

I have also really struggled to enjoy his other films, I think he just got lucky with Donnie Darko which is a shame because it was an incredible film, I wanted to like his other stuff but it just didn't work.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

Why ignore the director's cut? You don't like INXS?

Anybody who doesn't like INXS is dead to me. They're one of my all-time top five bands.

I've never seen the director's cut of Donnie Darko, though. I like the standard cut of the movie, but I don't love it. The soundtrack is the best asset, although I'd take the original Tears for Fears version of "Mad World" over the Gary Jules cover any day of the week.

The trend of slow, somber, overwrought artists covering classic 1980s songs needs to stop right this second. I've seen this sort of thing on several movie soundtracks over the past decade or so. (The Skylar Grey cover of "Addicted to Love" is particularly godawful, and the Sia cover of "Under the Milky Way" is almost as bad.)

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by jw007

My favorite doomsday/post-apocalyptic films are:
[snip]
The Day After (1983) (Chilling possibility of nuclear catastrophe that is frightfully realistic)
[snip]

If you like The Day After, you should hunt down the better, contemporaneous film Testament

Of course there are other great post-apocalyptic films such as Waterworld, The Matrix, The Road Warrior, The Omega Man, Children of Men, Dr. Strangelove, Invasion of the Body Snatchers and On the Beach, but I can't include everything after all.

I'm not sure I'd call Dr. Strangelove "post-apocalyptic", since none of it takes place after the apocalypse. But if you're going to include it, you should also include Fail-Safe (1964 and 2000).

Oh, and Miracle Mile (1988), The War Game (1965), and Threads (1984).

[Polaroid]

What films in collection relate to cults (not the cult film genre) - Things Like, Kill List, Martha Marcy May Marlene, Wicker Man (not the remake) etc?

I can't think of any in collection off hand >.<

[pro-bassoonist]

Hello guys

I received these discs today (see below) and I am attaching the requested packaging shots (with more in the reviews). Our review of La Dolce Vita will be up tomorrow.

La Dolce Vita Blu-ray









The Vanishing Blu-ray









Have a wonderful weekend, everyone

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Thank you! I'm really looking forward to this.

You are welcome, Owl. I hope you enjoy the film.

Pro-B

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

You are welcome, Owl. I hope you enjoy the film.

Pro-B

I will. I've already seen The Vanishing about a million times, by way of the old Fox Lorber DVD and the Criterion DVD.

In fact, I'm convinced that it's impossible to wear out DVDs, because, if it were, then I would have worn out both of my old DVDs of The Vanishing several times over from multiple viewings.

I'm really looking forward to seeing the improvements in picture quality and sound quality on this new Blu-ray for such a marvelous film.

[oildude]

Originally Posted by jw007

I haven't read Cormac McCarthy's novel yet but I've been meaning to do so, so I will not be able to make any comparisons. I'm sure the book is stronger, as 99% of the time the book is always stronger than the film adaptation, however without any bias, The Road on its own is a strong film, albeit minimalistic in terms of post-apocalyptic films (at least in my opinion).

My favorite doomsday/post-apocalyptic films are:

[Show spoiler]28 Days Later (2002) (Unbelievably terrifying stuff and could be the best zombie film)
Dawn of the Dead/Day of the Dead (1978/1985) (I had to include both of these since they are Romero's finest work)
I Am Legend (2007) (This one just stands out for me still and is great entertainment)
The Stand (1994) (Counts as a television mini-series but it really is a guilty pleasure for me with atrocious acting).
The Book of Eli (2010) (I enjoyed this far more than The Road, even though it was in the vein of Mad Max)
The Road (2009) (A very realistic post-apocalyptic film based on Cormac McCarthy's book)
12 Monkeys (1995) (Still a fantastic vision for a film from Gilliam's own brain)
The Day After (1983) (Chilling possibility of nuclear catastrophe that is frightfully realistic)
The Terminator (1984) (Still a classic and original film from Cameron of a future controlled by AI)
Soylent Green/Logan's Run (1973/1976) (Visceral in their own subtle ways, this pair of 70s classics are essential viewing)

Of course there are other great post-apocalyptic films such as Waterworld, The Matrix, The Road Warrior, The Omega Man, Children of Men, Dr. Strangelove, Invasion of the Body Snatchers and On the Beach, but I can't include everything after all.

I still haven't seen The Quiet Earth, Stalker, A Boy and his Dog, Melancholia, The Rover, When the Wind Blows, The Last Man on Earth and Last Night.

From a Criterion point of view, could anyone name any films in the collection that have a doomsday/post-apocalyptic theme to them?

You need to watch A Boy and His Dog ASAP- freakin' awesome post-apocalypse movie. I first saw it on a VHS tape in the early 90s as a blind rental and became an instant fan. The ending is one of those you won't ever forget. The Blu-ray from Shout is outstanding and a revelation in terms of picture quality. I always placed this on my Criterion wishlist until Shout released it....no complaints with the result.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

He ruined the film with the directors cut, it explained everything and it lost the mysteriousness. The enjoyment with DD is understudying and piecing together the puzzle and everything - the Directors cut just ruined all that and completely changed the feel of the film. He shouldn't have touched it tbh :/

I like INXS but the original music/score, I felt suited the scenes better, maybe I just got used to the older music but it became uncomfortable.

There were some added scenes that I loved like the poem, but no for me the director's cut just took away the mystery and darkness, it didn't need explaining throughout the film. Also a lot of the added scenes felt out of place and didn't fit well with it, it was too obvious what changes were made and for me, it should blend in and work with the existing content, not conflict.

With the original we are following this guy who is struggling to connect and understand, the story has these characters that subtly help and guide him to follow this path - we a a viewer are in same boat and trying to understand it and again the other characters are giving us clues and helping us. It feels like a waste of time when at each chapter point everything is pretty much explained to us - how are we meant to understand Donnie and connect with him when we know stuff he doesn't (I can't word it very well or explain)...

I have also really struggled to enjoy his other films, I think he just got lucky with Donnie Darko which is a shame because it was an incredible film, I wanted to like his other stuff but it just didn't work.

Not sure I understand. Isn't the info at the chapter points from a book that Donnie has in his Posession in the film?

[jedidarrick]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

The soundtrack is the best asset, although I'd take the original Tears for Fears version of "Mad World" over the Gary Jules cover any day of the week.

The trend of slow, somber, overwrought artists covering classic 1980s songs needs to stop right this second. I've seen this sort of thing on several movie soundtracks over the past decade or so. (The Skylar Grey cover of "Addicted to Love" is particularly godawful, and the Sia cover of "Under the Milky Way" is almost as bad.)

Agreed 100%. Why do movie soundtracks today have a hard on for turning classic pop songs into emo bullshit? It's nothing new (as seen with Donnie Darko), but the trend has drastically increased and it needs to STOP. NOW.

[StLouisRibs]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

They had these fold out booklets during their DVD releases, so no surprises.

More than 80% of time I find the essays in the booklets to be useless, more than half the time it is a film critic giving his interpretation of the film, very few get the essence of the film.

So I'm the only one who found this comment jarring?

Yes, the point is it's film criticism and it gives the individual's perspective of the film. To "get the essence" is entirely subjective, and the person's allowed to have a different opinion then you. Criticism is great because it exposes you to different, contradictory opinions; it's the one Criterion feature I always have time for, sometimes the only extra I find the time to go through. I love, love, love getting perspectives on just what the film is saying to different people.

What I utterly hate are the "essays" that are just a lengthy history of the film (and/or its legacy, though that at least is a bit more informative to what's so spcieal about it). Production history is an important part of criticism but I'd rather have actual analysis with history as an afterthought than the inverse.

And I really am upset this isn't a massive booklet. I really love how a really special film (Rules of the Game is the one that comes to mind) can get a massive booklet (I think Rules... is 70+ pages?) that goes a long way to furthering the package's value (to me, anyway).

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

What films in collection relate to cults (not the cult film genre) - Things Like, Kill List, Martha Marcy May Marlene, Wicker Man (not the remake) etc?

I can't think of any in collection off hand >.<

Seconds, kind of.

[Roninblues]

Originally Posted by soarinsteven

So I watched Il Sorpasso on hulu this morning. Loved it, and easily one of the funniest films I've watched in all of the Criterion collection. Vittorio Gassman (the movie had me chuckling from the get go when his name appeared in the opening credits ) walks a pretty fine line of making Bruno an obnoxious, self-destructive jerk, but still so charming and irresistible it's easy to see how the bookish, shy Roberto (Jean-Louis Trintignant) goes along for the ride.

[Show spoiler]That ending tho Should have seen it coming, but still jarring.

Enjoyed the film but Speaking with Gassman makes me ant to find more Risi interviews.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

What films in collection relate to cults (not the cult film genre) - Things Like, Kill List, Martha Marcy May Marlene, Wicker Man (not the remake) etc?

I can't think of any in collection off hand >.<

Rosemary's Baby

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

What films in collection relate to cults (not the cult film genre) - Things Like, Kill List, Martha Marcy May Marlene, Wicker Man (not the remake) etc?

I can't think of any in collection off hand >.<

Let's see... Charismatic leader, devoted followers... I'm thinking Last Temptation of Christ.

[The Great Owl]

I just finished watching Buster Keaton's The General, and I am floored at how good this movie is. I'll have to kick one of my favorites off my list of top five silent films. Onward to College...

I love watching destruction in movies, and that's a big reason why I'm enjoying Buster Keaton's films.

(I know that this is the wrong thread for Keaton discussion, but it seems to go hand in hand with a lot of Criterion fare.)

[mallomar]

Originally Posted by StLouisRibs

So I'm the only one who found this comment jarring?

No, I did too. The booklets are my favorite extra. I love reading the essays in bed after watching the movie. And personally, I've been amazed at how often they do get the essence of a film, often better than I did myself. If Criterion switches to these pamphlets I'll be very disappointed. And in the case of the long-awaited La Dolce Vita the foldout feels like some kind of personal insult. Crazy, I know, but I feel like one of my favorite movies has been slighted!

Now, all that said, am I more excited about this movie coming to the collection than disgruntled about the booklet? You bet.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

What are your opinions on Melancholia and Donnie Darko (IGNORE THE DIRECTORS CUT)?

As you may or may have not noticed, I included Melancholia on my list of films I've yet to see. I plan on seeing it asap.

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Things to Come is an awesome post-apocalyptic Criterion title. I wouldn't exactly call it a "doomsday film", although that figures into the equation.

A conversation came up in the Scream Factory thread recently when I mentioned that I'd like to see the 1984 British television movie, Threads, on Blu-ray someday. A few of us agreed that this film is probably too serious for Scream Factory, but that it would be a perfect candidate for a Criterion release.

Things to Come does indeed qualify as a post-apocalyptic film! At least according to the list on Wikipedia! Great link by the way!

Originally Posted by Polaroid

La Jetée (inspired 12 Monkeys)?

I would argue The Qatsi trilogy has thematic elements relating to doomsday/post-apocalypse. Not obvious or in your face but it's defiantly got the idea of it in the films.

Yes, I forgot that one! It does indeed count at least according to that link from Wikipedia (as one of 20 post-apocalyptic films made between 1960-69).

Originally Posted by jayembee

If you like The Day After, you should hunt down the better, contemporaneous film Testament

I'm not sure I'd call Dr. Strangelove "post-apocalyptic", since none of it takes place after the apocalypse. But if you're going to include it, you should also include Fail-Safe (1964 and 2000).

Oh, and Miracle Mile (1988), The War Game (1965), and Threads (1984).

I know of Miracle Mile and saw it (didn't like it so much). Threads is one I need to check out. Dr. Strangelove definitely counts as post-apocalyptic though! As stated on the link I included above. Or if anything it can be pre-apocalyptic. It's in the same ballpark. I will seek out Testament! Thank you.

Originally Posted by oildude

You need to watch A Boy and His Dog ASAP- freakin' awesome post-apocalypse movie. I first saw it on a VHS tape in the early 90s as a blind rental and became an instant fan. The ending is one of those you won't ever forget. The Blu-ray from Shout is outstanding and a revelation in terms of picture quality. I always placed this on my Criterion wishlist until Shout released it....no complaints with the result.

Okay, great, this is the next movie I'm checking out (along with Melancholia, Threads and Testament).

[jw007]

I just got back from the theater and saw a new 35 MM print of Don't Look Now! This was such a bizarre film! I had no idea this movie was even playing here and I was just looking up movies playing locally literally a few hours before I rode my bicycle to the theater with my friend. The film reminded me at times of Rosemary's Baby, as it has an atmospheric quality to it or as Roger Ebert wrote: "working not with fright, which is easy, but with dread, grief and apprehension."

I must say though that Donald Sutherland appeared at times like a 1970s softcore porn actor with that moustache during that strangely edited sex scene.

I'm not sure yet if this is my favorite Nicholas Roeg film but since it appears to be coming out in the Criterion Collection in 2015, I'll probably go for it.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I just finished watching Buster Keaton's The General, and I am floored at how good this movie is. I'll have to kick one of my favorites off my list of top five silent films. Onward to College...

I love watching destruction in movies, and that's a big reason why I'm enjoying Buster Keaton's films.

College is...okay, but it's not Harold Lloyd's Freshman. (For one thing, Buster's big game at the end is for the rowing team.)

Now, Three Ages, Seven Chances or Cops, OTOH...

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by EricJ

College is...okay, but it's not Harold Lloyd's Freshman. (For one thing, Buster's big game at the end is for the rowing team.)

Now, Three Ages, Seven Chances or Cops, OTOH...

I really enjoyed College, but not quite as much as The General, Seven Chances, Sherlock Jr., Our Hospitality, Battling Butler, or One Week. It's tough to compare it to Lloyd's The Freshman, because both movies stand out in different ways.

Up next is Steamboat Bill, Jr.