The Criterion Collection

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Did you update Good Reads? I think we're friends on Good Reads, if we are, I'm sorry for so much spam because I read so much.

Also, any day is a good day for Vonnegut

Not yet. I don't do progress updates, just updates when a book is read. Last book read was It Can't Happen Here.

[starman15317]

I decided to get the Criterion laserdisc of Godard's Alphaville on eBay. It was worth it.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

Thanks. I plan to have a good weekend. Trust me. I'm going to go with Godard first, and see where the rest leaves me.

The Innocents and Repulsion would be good together as double feature ^^ throw in Rosemary's baby too lol

Also find it amusing you are going to watch weekend over the weekend lol

[ElliesDad]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Stat is short for Statuatory Holiday: http://www.statutoryholidays.com/

[Show spoiler]

And agree with the Vonnegut statement. I was very happy when Benedict Cumberbatch read the letter he wrote to the Drake High School in North Dakota's Board of Education when they burned Slaughterhouse-Five, back in the summer at the Hay Festival. I think I was the only one who was more excited about the Vonnegut portion, rather than the Cumberbatch portion.

Not gonna happen, as my dad can't just change his vacation. Disappointing, but, I can still afford the shipping and 5% GST. I was just hoping to avoid it. #firstworldproblems

Checked the page because I was pretty sure that Remembrance day was at least a Federal Stat holiday right across the country (and surprised that it wasn't a provincial stat holiday in all provinces, except in Quebec of course, as well). Noticed this little tid-bit toward the bottom of the page. So how do people actually get all those weird false stereotypes and misconceptions about Canadians?

"Thanksgiving, of course is turkey season, which we, the editors, don't like or understand. Why are millions of animals killed every year on the day we give thanks to what we have and bless the fall harvest? Please consider saving a turkey next year. You can buy a few beers instead."

A bit off-topic, but I think that ship has sailed anyway...

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Not yet. I don't do progress updates, just updates when a book is read. Last book read was It Can't Happen Here.

I used to do status updates, and still do the rare ones, but I usually mark a book when I begin it, and then mark it complete once I'm finished. I tend to start several books at once though. I finished off The Accursed Kings series by Maurice Druon (well, at least the first 6 as the 7th one is finally being released in English in January), and I highly recommend it.

I think I'll watch Kagemusha, Life Aquatic, Harakiri, and the film titled Naked by Mike Leigh this weekend, with breaks for Doctor Who and Downton Abbey. Might get some reading in, as I joined Netgalley, and some of the books I started today have time limits on them. I'll finish them way before the due date, but I just need to read them.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by ElliesDad

Checked the page because I was pretty sure that Remembrance day was at least a Federal Stat holiday right across the country (and surprised that it wasn't a provincial stat holiday in all provinces, except in Quebec of course, as well). Noticed this little tid-bit toward the bottom of the page. So how do people actually get all those weird false stereotypes and misconceptions about Canadians?

"Thanksgiving, of course is turkey season, which we, the editors, don't like or understand. Why are millions of animals killed every year on the day we give thanks to what we have and bless the fall harvest? Please consider saving a turkey next year. You can buy a few beers instead."

A bit off-topic, but I think that ship has sailed anyway...

Nope, it's not a Stat across the board. Manitoba, Quebec, and Ontario don't consider it a Stat, and in NS it's been under provincial legistlation since we began allowing Sunday Shopping. The company I work for initially wasn't going to give us the day as a Stat, but just last week they changed their minds. Makes sense for it to be a Stat due to the industry I'm in.

And do not get me started on turkeys. Many people around here were trying to start a boycott on turkeys becase the turkey board decided to shut down a local shop up in Pictou county. The man had been in business for over 50 years, but they decided right before Thanksgiving that he wasn't following health regulations. Therefore, everyone decided to gang up on the grocery stores and also claimed that soon we would not be able to grow our own vegetables in a personal garden, or hunt, because of the fascist government regulations. Totally ridiculous and overblown. I agree they were kinda dickish to the guy with the shop, but the rest is ridiculous. We should be focusing on more important issues here.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

I used to do status updates, and still do the rare ones, but I usually mark a book when I begin it, and then mark it complete once I'm finished. I tend to start several books at once though. I finished off The Accursed Kings series by Maurice Druon (well, at least the first 6 as the 7th one is finally being released in English in January), and I highly recommend it.

I think I'll watch Kagemusha, Life Aquatic, Harakiri, and the film titled Naked by Mike Leigh this weekend, with breaks for Doctor Who and Downton Abbey. Might get some reading in, as I joined Netgalley, and some of the books I started today have time limits on them. I'll finish them way before the due date, but I just need to read them.

You read very quickly. Once I took a speeding course and read War and Peace. It concerns Russia.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

You read very quickly. Once I took a speeding course and read War and Peace. It concerns Russia.

I used to tape Twenty Minute Workout and play it back at high speed so it only took ten minutes. I got a really good workout.

[ElliesDad]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

You read very quickly. Once I took a speeding course and read War and Peace. It concerns Russia.

I seem to recall someone advising some months back that they had read the Game of Thrones five-volume set in two weeks, a claim that I've never been able to get my mind around. I started the books at about the same time and am currently two-thirds of the way through book five.

As for the turkey story, it has local colour, whimsical characters, an evil government agency, a compelling underdog, and a raft of contemporary social issues. I say do up a screenplay, arrange production, and sell the product as an exclusive to the folks at Criterion.

[Meek12345]

Originally Posted by blu-bry

Well, I'm nearly through my Zatoichi boxed set. I have only 2 more films to go. It has taken a while - I try to watch one each weekend, but that pattern was interrupted duing the big July sale.
I have to say that I am somewhat disappointed in the last several that I have watched. I really enjoyed the set right from the beginning. It seemed that the films, in general, got better as I went through the first two-thirds of the set. Then, after "Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo" I started to get less and less impressed with the films. I'm anxious to hear what others think.
The last several that I have watched seem more "Americanized" for lack of a better term. The comedy has turned to the ridiculous, some of the extra comedic actors are wildly over-acting, there is a lot more blood and arterial spurts but it's exaggerated and fake looking, makeup (especially hairpieces) is more visible, and there is some brief but unnecessary nudity. Maybe it's just me, but the next time I feel like going through this set I'll stick to the earlier films.
As for my minor complaints that involve appearances, I do understand that these were never expected to be scrutinized in high definition on home screens, but still, the earlier movies just worked better for me.

I agree with your post from back in August. Sorry for the late reply. I think the series starts to decline somewhat starting with Zatoichi the Outlaw(#16).

[Show spoiler]The main villain's head is chopped off and is of course followed by a tremendous arterial spurt

. The violence definitely becomes more over-the-top around #16. Although, Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival(#21) is actually one of my favorite films in the series. I don't think I will ever watch films 22-25 again. Zatoichi in Desperation is too dark and gritty for me.

[Show spoiler]It will be hard to get that image of Ichi being stabbed thru both hands out of my head though

. However, I don't think there is a bad or completely unwatchable film in the set and it is still my favorite blu-ray purchase of the year. Even the Bond series has some clunkers(A View to a Kill, Die Another Day) right?

[The Great Owl]

After revisiting the Criterion Blu-ray of The Blob (1958) last night, I was able to chase it down this evening with the 1988 remake, since that Blu-ray arrived in the mail today.

Both movies are marvelous, but for different reasons. I had a great time going through the 1988 movie for the first time since I was in high school, and I like the differences in subtext of this story 30 years after the original. Although I prefer the 1958 original by a slim margin (I'm probably in the minority.), the 1988 remake does a superb job of paying homage while following a distinct path of its own. The remake is worth the price of admission because of a phone booth sequence which involves actress Candy Clark from The Man Who Fell to Earth...and because of Shawnee Smith, who was a teenage crush of mine all those years ago.

[Lordy]

Is there any news on a B&N Criterion sale next month? I haven't seen a thing.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by ElliesDad

I seem to recall someone advising some months back that they had read the Game of Thrones five-volume set in two weeks, a claim that I've never been able to get my mind around. I started the books at about the same time and am currently two-thirds of the way through book five.

As for the turkey story, it has local colour, whimsical characters, an evil government agency, a compelling underdog, and a raft of contemporary social issues. I say do up a screenplay, arrange production, and sell the product as an exclusive to the folks at Criterion.

Actually, it was more like 11 days looking at Good Reads. If it's something that appeals to me, I'll devour a book. I read The Blood of Olympus in about 3 hours or so, whereas it took me an eternity to read From Here to Eternity, because I didn't enjoy it, or find it captivating. The film was much more enjoyable, even though I had the uncensored 60th anniversary edition.

[jshaide]

Anyone who knows about Les Blank think I should pick up the set and explore?

[jshaide]

Originally Posted by hariseldon

Reported today that it should start 11/11 and run for 3 weeks

There's also a 40 percent off Blu ray sale starting 12/16 and running for one week. I can pick up Safe and Tootsie I guess!

[jw007]

Originally Posted by starman15317

I decided to get the Criterion laserdisc of Godard's Alphaville on eBay. It was worth it.

oh, and how will you play that laserdisc? u got an old LD player?

[starman15317]

Originally Posted by jw007

oh, and how will you play that laserdisc? u got an old LD player?

I do (I got it for the unaltered letterbox Star Wars trilogy). I have about 20 titles. My only other Criterion is the old King Kong disc (with the first ever commentary!)

[jw007]

Originally Posted by starman15317

I do (I got it for the unaltered letterbox Star Wars trilogy). I have about 30 titles. My only other Criterion is the old King Kong disc (with the first ever commentary!)

Wow, that's pretty retro... hope it plays well.

by the way, I haven't seen u on my forum in some time..maybe its time for another post?

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by jw007

oh, and how will you play that laserdisc? u got an old LD player?

Back around 2005 or so my university had a laser disc player. Sadly at the time that was my only means of watching The African Queen.

They wheeled out a TV and laser disc player for me because they were under the impression it was for educational purposes. I was taking 2 film classes at the time but it wasn't for class.

[starman15317]

Originally Posted by jw007

Wow, that's pretty retro... hope it plays well.

by the way, I haven't seen u on my forum in some time..maybe its time for another post?

Yeah, I've been busy with school but I'll get around to posting over there more often.

And here's my small laserdisc collection if anyone wants to take a look. I actually have 20.

http://www.lddb.com/login.php?from=collection.php