The Criterion Collection

[spencerf]

Originally Posted by italy12

Can anyone who has seen either of these two films let me know how they are? A Christmas Tale and Summer Hours. I know I can look up reviews and such, but I've been getting a good vibe from comments on here from you all...so, I thought it'd be a good idea to ask first...

Thanks!!

-Dave

Both of these movies were great. I would have to say buy both. Summer Hours was a beautiful movie about the lose of a loved one and learning how to move on knowing that person will no longer be there. A Christmas Story, a disfuctional family getting together for the Christmas holiday. If you have ever seen the movie The Family Stone, it has similarities to that.

I would have to say buy both if you can afford it. If you can only buy one for now I say start with Summer Hours. If you are like me and you have two movies in your hand and you keep going over and over in your head on which one to get between the two. Then there is an old wise saying....eeny meeny miny mo.

[also]

Originally Posted by italy12

Just watched Revanche earlier this evening. Another incredible blind buy for me...that's like, I don't know, 7 or 8 in a row! And that is why I keep buying CC Blus!

I was in B&N last night and picked up 3 more: Vivre sa vie, Gomorrah, and Paris, Texas.

Can anyone who has seen either of these two films let me know how they are? A Christmas Tale and Summer Hours. I know I can look up reviews and such, but I've been getting a good vibe from comments on here from you all...so, I thought it'd be a good idea to ask first...

Thanks!!

-Dave

I haven't seen Xmas Tale, but I watched Summer Hours not long ago and loved it. It is about family, memory, and loss and is gratifyingly unpretentious about it. One of the very best blind buys I ever made.

[italy12]

Thanks guys!!

-Dave

[Bruce Morrison]

Originally Posted by TJS_Blu

um, isn't Grand Illusion a title that reverted to Studio Canal?

Yes that's true for Europe but I'm not sure about North America.

The link below shows that Grand Illusion is tentatively scheduled for a December 2010 release in the UK (and presumably elsewhere in Europe) in the Studio Canal Collection.

http://www.releaselists.com/BLURAYInternational.html

[rezpekt]

There is no reason for pointless speculations. Criterion lost rights for Grand Illusion and the DVD has been out of print for months now.

[tyrone_slothrop]

Originally Posted by italy12

Just watched Revanche earlier this evening. Another incredible blind buy for me...that's like, I don't know, 7 or 8 in a row! And that is why I keep buying CC Blus!

I was in B&N last night and picked up 3 more: Vivre sa vie, Gomorrah, and Paris, Texas.

Can anyone who has seen either of these two films let me know how they are? A Christmas Tale and Summer Hours. I know I can look up reviews and such, but I've been getting a good vibe from comments on here from you all...so, I thought it'd be a good idea to ask first...

Thanks!!

-Dave

Loved Summer Hours. A great old fashioned family drama that's surprisingly light (in the best way) given the subject matter. The film has a lot to say about how we view and value art. If that is a theme that interests you at all, do not hesitate to purchase this film. This is at the top of my list for the next B&N sale - can't wait to watch it again.

[capnnarcolepsy]

Originally Posted by rezpekt

There is no reason for pointless speculations. Criterion lost rights for Grand Illusion and the DVD has been out of print for months now.

Exactly. All one need do is look at the Criterion website where you can purchase the movies and it clearly says out of print. They have mentioned in all of the OOP newsletters that they will make attempts to regain the rights to the movies they lose, so it might not be gone forever, but as of right now, its definitely gone.

[neo78956]

Just rewatched The Thin Red Line and I gotta say, I can't wait to dig into the Criterion blu-ray in September. Day one purchase for me. It's too bad New Line still holds the rights to The New World, which I would love to see a Criterion treatment of, as well as Badlands.

[Belloche]

Originally Posted by neo78956

Just rewatched The Thin Red Line and I gotta say, I can't wait to dig into the Criterion blu-ray in September. Day one purchase for me. It's too bad New Line still holds the rights to The New World, which I would love to see a Criterion treatment of, as well as Badlands.

I agree with you on Badlands but The New World already has a perfectly good blu-ray release. There are plenty of movies with awful or non-existent DVDs that I would rather see.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by neo78956

Just rewatched The Thin Red Line and I gotta say, I can't wait to dig into the Criterion blu-ray in September. Day one purchase for me. It's too bad New Line still holds the rights to The New World, which I would love to see a Criterion treatment of, as well as Badlands.

The New World is really the black sheep among Malick's films for me. Really the one Malick film that didn't work for me.

[ShellOilJunior]

Saw Close-Up yesterday and was really impressed. The tale of a man who impersonates a famous director. It's a drama but has the feel of a documentary at times. I like how the film is never heavy-handed. Plus, Kiarostami does some fascinating things with the lighting throughout the film. Will definitely watch this one again.

Anyone getting this on Tuesday?

[ChadFL]

It's now been 6 days since my Mystery Train Blu "allegedly" shipped from Deep Discount and still no sign of it. Wonder how much longer it's gonna take.

Seriously, does Deep Discount have some special arrangement worked out with UPS to guarantee their shipments take longer to arrive than any other method of delivery known to man?

[retablo]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

It's now been 6 days since my Mystery Train Blu "allegedly" shipped from Deep Discount and still no sign of it. Wonder how much longer it's gonna take.

Seriously, does Deep Discount have some special arrangement worked out with UPS to guarantee their shipments take longer to arrive than any other method of delivery known to man?

The ship using USPS Media Mail, which usually takes 7-14 days, typically.

[neo78956]

Originally Posted by Belloche

I agree with you on Badlands but The New World already has a perfectly good blu-ray release. There are plenty of movies with awful or non-existent DVDs that I would rather see.

True, New Line did a great job with the blu-ray of The New World Extended Cut, but the film absolutely screams Criterion. Especially since it's Malick's most underrated film, but for my money, one of the best films of the last decade. I feel like in time people will look back on it and think better of it. It actually appeared on a lot of Best of the Decade lists last year, believe it or not.

Originally Posted by ChadFL

The New World is really the black sheep among Malick's films for me. Really the one Malick film that didn't work for me.

Have you seen the extended cut? It's far superior to the theatrical version in almost every way. The pacing is much better, the characters more developed, etc. The New World extended cut was actually my introduction to Terrence Malick, and it blew me away. Since then, I made a point of watching Badlands, Days of Heaven, and The Thin Red Line, and I've never once wished I could go back. Every time I watch a Terrence Malick film I feel like my life is richer for it. The Thin Red Line is probably my favorite, but The New World holds a special place in my heart as the film that introduced me to one of the great visionary directors of our time. I can't wait to see The Tree of Life and own the Criterion blu-ray of The Thin Red Line.

P.S. Cool little fact I just learned. Terrence Malick actually lives just a few miles away from me in Austin, TX.

[Kenneth M]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

It's now been 6 days since my Mystery Train Blu "allegedly" shipped from Deep Discount and still no sign of it. Wonder how much longer it's gonna take.

Seriously, does Deep Discount have some special arrangement worked out with UPS to guarantee their shipments take longer to arrive than any other method of delivery known to man?

Haha! No doubt.

My order for "The Prisoner" (The Complete Series) shipped on the 9th. It's the 20th and still has yet to arrive.

[ChadFL]

Have you seen the extended cut? It's far superior to the theatrical version in almost every way. The pacing is much better, the characters more developed, etc. The New World extended cut was actually my introduction to Terrence Malick, and it blew me away. Since then, I made a point of watching Badlands, Days of Heaven, and The Thin Red Line, and I've never once wished I could go back. Every time I watch a Terrence Malick film I feel like my life is richer for it. The Thin Red Line is probably my favorite, but The New World holds a special place in my heart as the film that introduced me to one of the great visionary directors of our time. I can't wait to see The Tree of Life and own the Criterion blu-ray of The Thin Red Line.

No, I have never seen the extended cut. Just theatrical. Maybe I'll try the extended cut sometime.

Originally Posted by neo78956

P.S. Cool little fact I just learned. Terrence Malick actually lives just a few miles away from me in Austin, TX.

And I'll bet nobody in Austin has ever actually seen him before. Snap a picture of him if you ever see him and it'll probably be worth a fortune.

[neo78956]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

No, I have never seen the extended cut. Just theatrical. Maybe I'll try the extended cut sometime.

I can't recommend it enough. It reminds me of the difference between the theatrical cut of Kingdom of Heaven, which was a run of the mill action period piece, and the much longer Director's Cut, which was a brilliant epic about religious conflict and a fresh examination of the crusades.

And I'll bet nobody in Austin has ever actually seen him before. Snap a picture of him if you ever see him and it'll probably be worth a fortune.

No joke, the guy is like Obi-Wan Kenobi.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by neo78956

I can't recommend it enough. It reminds me of the difference between the theatrical cut of Kingdom of Heaven, which was a run of the mill action period piece, and the much longer Director's Cut, which was a brilliant epic about religious conflict and a fresh examination of the crusades.



No joke, the guy is like Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Kinda weird Malick did exactly one film between 1978 and 1998. Now he's in pre-production for his 4th film since 1998. Guess he's got 20 years worth of catching up to do.

[neo78956]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Kinda weird Malick did exactly one film between 1978 and 1998. Now he's in pre-production for his 4th film since 1998. Guess he's got 20 years worth of catching up to do.

Yeah I think he went to live in the forests for those 20 years. I'm thoroughly excited to see him working again. His films quite literally changed my life.

The Days of Heaven interview with Richard Gere is fantastic. One of the most insightful interviews/commentaries I've listened to. It's too bad Malick never does interviews or commentaries on his films, I would kill to find out what makes him tick. The Sam Shepard interview is also very good, if a bit short, though I do like his analysis into his character as a Citizen Kane-like loner. The man who has everything, and nothing. Fascinating stuff. The idea of the voice-over being a redundant narration of things we already know, can see, or can infer was really interesting too, which explains the existential nature of the voice-overs in Malick's films. They offer something more insightful and thought-provoking. Malick is a philosopher after all. But what really strikes me about his films is how much they challenge you and still manage to envelope you in this visceral experience. In a sense, his films are the epitome of the notion that film is a visual medium, not a written one.

[Volume11]

Originally Posted by italy12

Just watched Revanche earlier this evening. Another incredible blind buy for me...that's like, I don't know, 7 or 8 in a row! And that is why I keep buying CC Blus!

I was in B&N last night and picked up 3 more: Vivre sa vie, Gomorrah, and Paris, Texas.

Can anyone who has seen either of these two films let me know how they are? A Christmas Tale and Summer Hours. I know I can look up reviews and such, but I've been getting a good vibe from comments on here from you all...so, I thought it'd be a good idea to ask first...

Thanks!!

-Dave

I'd say skip A Christmas Tale and buy Summer Hours.