The Criterion Collection

[Blu-Velvet]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

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.

I never used to like COLLEGE much, but appreciated it much more when seeing the new Blu-ray edition (partly due to passage of time and partly due to the substantially higher image quality). I still prefer Lloyd's THE FRESHMAN, however (keeping this on a Criterion topic somewhat).

STEAMBOAT BILL, JR is one of my favorite Keaton features, along with THE GENERAL and SHERLOCK, JR. The new Blu-ray edition is excellent, with three different music scores (two on one cut of the film and one on the other), but my favorite score is still the classic Gaylord Carter pipe organ score that is on the old 1999 Kino DVD edition (and my old 16mm film print), and there's another DVD with an odd but sometimes interesting Alloy Orchestra score. I was lucky enough to see STEAMBOAT BILL, JR shown in an old movie palace a few decades ago with a live Wurlitzer organ score and a packed house that responded wonderfully to the action and gags.

The Blu-ray also has a fascinating comparison between the two different cuts of the film, which seem virtually identical (other than the music scores) if you think back on them, but have minor subtleties in performances because different takes were used. It's like seeing a stage play on two different nights.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by EricJ

Rear Window came on Blu a month or two ago--
If you don't like Hitch on his own terms from THAT movie, there's something seriously wrong with you, and you've freely admitted as much.

Not even heard of that film! Had a boxset which I got my dad and saw some stuff in there, maybe I just didn't enjoy them cause I was younger and didn't care so much about film? I dunno, can give it a try ^^

Originally Posted by soarinsteven

Whaat?! Dunst's performance is one of the most heartbreaking, authentic feeling portrayals of depression I've seen onscreen. She should have won the Oscar that year, but sadly, tho not surprisingly missed on a nomination. Streep won for The Iron Lady that year.

Also Dunst should have been nominated for Marie Antoinette, tho 2006 was an atypically strong year for best actress. Helen Mirren for The Queen swept everything I believe, but Streep for The Devil Wears Prada, Winslet for Little Children, Dench for Notes on a Scandal, Cruz for Volver were also nominated. All strong performances. Naomi Watts for The Painted Veil was a favorite performance that year that unfortunately flew under the radar.

Agree'd! She was incredible, she portrayed depression so well and was so empty and cold, even her subtle facial expressions showed her pain and agony and I've not really seen her do that! She was good in Virgin Suicides but didn't connect as well as she did in Melancholia.

[Helikaon]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Not even heard of that film! Had a boxset which I got my dad and saw some stuff in there, maybe I just didn't enjoy them cause I was younger and didn't care so much about film? I dunno, can give it a try ^^

Dude! Rear Window is one of all time favourites! Check it out ASAP!

[deepbreathsanddeath]

Does anyone here own the eureka and the criterion releases of Red River?
I'm considering getting it but can't decide which one to go for. I know Criterion's comes with a book, 2 cuts of the film and more extra's but after looking at dvdbeaver's cap comparisons, I'm finding it hard to pick Criterion over Eureka.

Sometimes dvdbeaver's caps aren't entirely accurate so I thought I'd ask some people here if the caps there are accurate representations of how the two look. It's quite a bummer that I'm seriously leaning towards Eureka's, even with how much more content Criterion is offering. Usually it's Eureka giving us a noticeably lighter/brighter transfer while Criterion's is darker, has richer blacks etc.

I love extra's but ultimately the movie comes first, and as it is, I think the Eureka transfer looks considerably better based on dvdbeaver caps. I would really love some input from people who own both though in case there's something else I should know.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by Blu-Velvet

I never used to like COLLEGE much, but appreciated it much more when seeing the new Blu-ray edition (partly due to passage of time and partly due to the substantially higher image quality). I still prefer Lloyd's THE FRESHMAN, however (keeping this on a Criterion topic somewhat).

STEAMBOAT BILL, JR is one of my favorite Keaton features, along with THE GENERAL and SHERLOCK, JR. The new Blu-ray edition is excellent, with three different music scores (two on one cut of the film and one on the other), but my favorite score is still the classic Gaylord Carter pipe organ score that is on the old 1999 Kino DVD edition (and my old 16mm film print), and there's another DVD with an odd but sometimes interesting Alloy Orchestra score. I was lucky enough to see STEAMBOAT BILL, JR shown in an old movie palace a few decades ago with a live Wurlitzer organ score and a packed house that responded wonderfully to the action and gags.

The Blu-ray also has a fascinating comparison between the two different cuts of the film, which seem virtually identical (other than the music scores) if you think back on them, but have minor subtleties in performances because different takes were used. It's like seeing a stage play on two different nights.

Those films are my favorite Keaton films. The blu-rays for The General and Steamboat Bill Jr. are great (the two I own).

I also enjoy the different scores on the silent films. There are some original modern scores that give the film a different atmospheric feel. Most of time, I prefer the original score, but some of the newer scores are pretty good. For example Kino's The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari DVD, Rainer Viertblöck's modern, at times atonal, score puts a great spin to the classic.

I guess it is not new to put modern scores on classic films (exp. Phillip Glass), but I enjoy this concept once in awhile.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Im gonna be hated here for this but I can't be doing with Hitchcock - I've tried watching his films snd they do nothing for me :/ I know he did some great stuff in his film which I appreciate and acknowledge but I just don't like his films :/

Would love to like them but given up and not tried in year s- if you had to suggest a film to watch of his what would it be?

I would think if you like La Jetee, Vertigo would be the one.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

I would think if you like La Jetee, Vertigo would be the one.

I need to revisit Hitchcock I think >.<

Whats the film he did with the long take at start?

[Nafoty]

I just picked up Foreign Correspondent, The 39 Steps, The Man Who Knew Too Much, and The Lady Vanishes on Blu. Fantastic presentations.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by Nafoty

I just picked up Foreign Correspondent, The 39 Steps, The Man Who Knew Too Much, and The Lady Vanishes on Blu. Fantastic presentations.

Enjoy!! 39 Steps is my favorite, but all are great.

[jw007]

I watched Howards End the other night and had no issues with the blu-ray even though it was a Sonopress pressed disc. The movie was lovely and it was my first introduction to James Ivory. I hope to seek out Remains of the Day next as it seems like a sequel to this film. Overall, I'm not a huge fan of these types of movies and even can say some of Ivory's latter day films are boring (just by reading the description of them). Yet, the acting was exquisite in Howards End and the cinematography was beautiful at times, so this was a surprisingly engaging film for me.

[pedromvu]

Just finished watching Ali: Fear eats the Soul, wow, i thought it was so much better than All that Heaven Allows.

Which version do you all who have seen both prefer?

I felt underwhelmed by Sirk version to be honest, but i still enjoyed it, it just felt too much like a conventional melodrama, while Ali just conveyed the problems on a more natural and realistic way that i also think make it more universal.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

Just finished watching Ali: Fear eats the Soul, wow, i thought it was so much better than All that Heaven Allows.

Which version do you all who have seen both prefer?

I felt underwhelmed by Sirk version to be honest, but i still enjoyed it, it just felt too much like a conventional melodrama, while Ali just conveyed the problems on a more natural and realistic way that i also think make it more universal.

All That Heaven Allows is my favorite Sirk film and one of my favorite films of all time. While I do appreciate Ali: Fear Eats the Soul as a more modern telling of the story, there is no contest for me.

[Polaroid]

I never knew they were based on same story o,o

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

I never knew they were based on same story o,o

I think it is not officially a remake, and the story is not the same, but the theme and how it plays out is pretty similar.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

I think it is not officially a remake, and the story is not the same, but the theme and how it plays out is pretty similar.

Ah ok - I wanted to see Ali but not had chance yet, All the heaven didn't appeal to me at all though >.<

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by bruceames.

Harold Lloyd is by far my favorite silent comedian. I'm so glad Criterion is releasing his movies on Blu-ray. I've tried watching Keaton but haven't been able to connect with that stoic face. I'd love to get that box set and probably will if it drops again to under $150, but I'll probably enjoy it more for other reasons than his humor.

I thought it was just me. I admire the hell out of Keaton as a filmmaker -- the camerawork, the stuntwork, and so on. But I don't find his films nearly as enjoyable as Lloyd's or Chaplin's.

[RandyK]

I'm thinking about taking a class on French cinema next semester. It's called Classics of French Cinema and was wondering if anyone might take a guess as to some of the films I would be watching. I'm positive Breathless will be in there. Here's the course description:

Introduction to the study of the cinema and to French film classics. Students will explore cinema as an art form, the social and cultural history of France as it relates to the cinema, and the qualities that make individual films cinematic masterpieces. Taught in English.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

I also enjoy the different scores on the silent films. There are some original modern scores that give the film a different atmospheric feel. Most of time, I prefer the original score, but some of the newer scores are pretty good. For example Kino's The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari DVD, Rainer Viertblöck's modern, at times atonal, score puts a great spin to the classic.

Same here. There are a number of silent films where I have two or three different editions just for the different scores.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

I need to revisit Hitchcock I think >.<

Whats the film he did with the long take at start?

Rope.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by jw007

I watched Howards End the other night and had no issues with the blu-ray even though it was a Sonopress pressed disc. The movie was lovely and it was my first introduction to James Ivory. I hope to seek out Remains of the Day next as it seems like a sequel to this film. Overall, I'm not a huge fan of these types of movies and even can say some of Ivory's latter day films are boring (just by reading the description of them). Yet, the acting was exquisite in Howards End and the cinematography was beautiful at times, so this was a surprisingly engaging film for me.

I like Ivory's work overall, but Howards End was, I think, his pinnacle. It was one of those perfect storms of cinema, where everything just falls into place, seemingly effortlessly. The earlier work by Ivory, Merchant, and Jhabvala (she's just as important a part of the "Merchant Ivory" brand as Merchant and Ivory) was all over the map, but once they settled into the period costume drama with The Bostonians, they really found their niche. The Remains of the Day is excellent, but the two I would recommend most are A Room with a View and Maurice.