The Criterion Collection

[SlickDamian]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

What are some great 'life changing' films in collection? This will obviously be a bit personal and vary - just want to see more films that make you think, and question yourself and your life, I know it sounds corny but oh well :P

It's hard to explain, but like something that questions everything you believe and makes you see things on a different scale...

I'm not looking for a list of your fave films in collection, but something more than that, even if its just one film . Even if its a certain scene form a film, let me know which or post a clip!

Will be exciting to see what people suggest!

Paris, Texas really struck a chord with me and was probably the first film that made me fully understand that films can evoke real, deep-seated emotions. As a father who has had to spend extended time away from his children (I work offshore), this film really hit home.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

What are some great 'life changing' films in collection? This will obviously be a bit personal and vary - just want to see more films that make you think, and question yourself and your life, I know it sounds corny but oh well :P

It's hard to explain, but like something that questions everything you believe and makes you see things on a different scale...

I'm not looking for a list of your fave films in collection, but something more than that, even if its just one film . Even if its a certain scene form a film, let me know which or post a clip!

Will be exciting to see what people suggest!

Late Spring, at the time I bought the Blu-ray, I was the same age as the protagonist, and from certain family members, under the same pressures to marry and pop out a few kids (still am, two years later). It's definitely a film that is timeless.

Rosetta, that film was utterly depressing and really stuck with me for awhile, and made me appreciate the life I have, even though shit happens.

Ali: Fear Eats the Soul, newer one, as I only just watched it for the first time in September, but it really struck me how nothing has really changed all that much from when Fassbinder first made the film. Where I live, there's a lot of controversy over the foreign worker program, racism, and immigration, so again, a universal theme and a timeless film.

Originally Posted by WonderWeasel

I told myself I was done with Criterion purchases until after Christmas, but I talked myself into buying 'Kagemusha' and blind buying 'The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp'. Okay, now I'm done until after Christmas lol.

Has anyone seen 'Col. Blimp'? I haven't seen much Powell & Pressburger ('Black Narcissus' several years ago is the extent of my exposure), but the plot really grabbed my attention.

Colonel Blimp is fantastic. Deborah Kerr plays 3 different roles, and it's one of my favourite films of hers. I do rank Black Narcissus slightly higher than Blimp, but it's still one of the top P&P films.

I thought I was done buying Blu-rays until after Christmas as well, but NOPE. I went and smashed the screen on my S3, and thus had to make up 10 bucks worth of purchases for free shipping while ordering a replacement screen from Amazon. Criterions are stupidly priced on Amazon Canada, so I ended up upgrading Brothers Grimm and Holy Grail (I blame Owl, with all the Gilliam talk :P), and ordering my mother the combo pack of Noah because as she said, "the combo pack is basically the price of a film ticket right now, so even if I don't like it, 13 bucks isn't much money, and I do want to see it."

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

I have no issue with Time Bandits artwork, I love it and I love the typography, yes it looks dated but I think its quite ironic seeing the theme of the film is time lol. Also with that new cover thingy they have it add that retro feel to it and I think it compliments each other.

I don't have an issue with the Time Bandits artwork per se, I love that poster. It's the new font that Criterion have used which is my sole complaint (the original is far cooler).

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Every Man for Himself, I don't know the film so not sure how the cover reflect the film themes and story, but its a bit 'easy' it feels like the designer got a bit stuck for ideas and thought to cut and paste elements over each other and play with transparency, its just annoying and coming from Graphic Design at Uni, you see a lot of students try be out there and experimental and do stuff like that which is actually pretty meaningless and pointless. Now it may relate to the films themes and if so I will retract my comment son this one.

Every Man For Himself is notable for a number of sequences that play out in slow motion. The image on the cover is from one of the slow motion scenes, and the cover captures the stuttering nature of slowed down film running through a projector. It's a great encapsulation of a unique movie in a single image.

Originally Posted by Polaroid

An Autumn Afternoon, it feels like that are trying to keep theme running with the other artworks for this director and its not as strong as Tokyo Story, its not awful but just feels like they ran out of ideas so they went for the grid of images approach. I mean it can work and works for the other covers but yeah I am sure they could have created something a bit more fresh.

This is an old design, from the Criterion DVD so doesn't really apply to this idea that new artwork is suffering.

Originally Posted by Polaroid

It Happened One Night, Its ok, but nothing spectacular, I don't mind the imagery and the typography just feels a bit odd, it doesn't work for me. I like the image they chose for the cover, but something bugs me about the typography - budget wise, this wouldn't have taken long to design, Place a few different images and just place a bit of text and play with different types.

The typography is the best thing about it (it's a VERY nice reference to a couple of key moments in the film)! I'm 99% certain that if you'd seen the film you'd feel differently. The image is beautiful too. It's not actually taken from the film, but is a set-shot promo image, and one that I'd never seen prior to it featuring on this release. It's from the most famous scene in the film, which is in itself one of the great moments in American comedy. It's bona-fide iconic. It also fulfils a number of important legal obligations still in place from the time of the film's production regarding the stars faces and prominence of their names on promotional material.

As I've said in an earlier comment this is my favourite piece of artwork all year, I can't fault it (excellent release too).

Originally Posted by Polaroid

L'AVVENTURA, Sam Smiths poster design (which is for sale on the website) would have been a better choice IMO, I like the image but it feels more like something for in the booklet... When I look at the cover its just some women who's enjoying the wind too much lol, and may be looking for her umbrella as it looks like it may rain!

I love the poster, but I don't think every poster translates well when shrunk down to Blu-ray case size. I think the Blu-ray case actually captures the tone of the film impressively well (which is a favourite of mine) and is an impressive and striking image in it's own right.

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Safe, I love the design, but its not exactly something that will take ages to design and come up with, now I haven't looked into it or seen the alternate designs, which may have had more time spent on them, but any designer can over lay a few screenshots and add a bit of type. It works beautifully but time/budget wise I can't see it being expensive.

I think you're rather naively looking at this, if you think it's just a case of taking a couple of screenshots and some type and throwing it together. Have you seen the film? As a number of people have said in this thread, this cover particularly really captures what it is that's going on in the movie. It's a very clever piece of artwork.

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Also, we all love different things, the things I see and dislike or feel are weak, may be very strong in your eyes and I respect that.

Of course, but I do think that in some of these cases (a couple I've outlined above, a degree of understanding about what a certain film is about can really benefit ones appreciation of a work, subjective opinion on the technical merits aside. Safe is one such example for me personally actually. I wasn't too fond of it when Criterion first announced the film, but now that I've seen the film I appreciate it a great deal.

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Oh and also, I have NO IDEA what Criterion's briefs are for each design and what they discuss with the designer so again its a bit hard to truly judge and be so critical.

Criterion Designs offers a really good insight in to this. It's actually made me look at a number of covers that I felt indifferently to in a different light, appreciating them for what the artist was aiming to achieve, rather than impressing my own ideas of how I feel a film should look upon an idea I'm initially wary of.

[Vinyl]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

What are some great 'life changing' films in collection? This will obviously be a bit personal and vary - just want to see more films that make you think, and question yourself and your life, I know it sounds corny but oh well :P

It's hard to explain, but like something that questions everything you believe and makes you see things on a different scale...

I'm not looking for a list of your fave films in collection, but something more than that, even if its just one film . Even if its a certain scene form a film, let me know which or post a clip!

Will be exciting to see what people suggest!

Late spring, Ikiru, The Royal tenenbaums, 8 1/2, Amarcord, the red balloon

[fahrenheit290]

On Life-changing Criterions. I'm going to mention two that haven't been cited yet.

1. The Battle of Algiers -- simply one of, if not THE greatest war film ever made. It's unprecedented, how you see a revolution begin, executed from both sides, and ultimately succeed over the course of a film. Bold storytelling. Terrific and inspiring filmmaking that remains relevant today and shows us that ambitious stories and concepts can work under an unrelenting, prescient vision. Pontecorvo's moving camera, his staging (everything was shot for the film--no documentary footage), Morricone's score, the incredible cast (Ali La Pointe in particular, a non-professional actor). It's one of my all-time favorite films. How can you top it? Few films in the genre come close.

2. Wild Strawberries -- a wonderful meditation on life and one person's decisions and relationships, the impact they had, the regrets. I love the power of nostalgia, done so carefully and meticulously here as Professor Borg walks the lands of his old home. The power and hold of place on the individual...and people from our past. Sjostrom's face is so powerful; he's perfectly cast. Few films make flashbacks/reflections on the past work so elegantly and so poignantly.

[fahrenheit290]

And two more:

3. The Passion of Joan of Arc, not on BD yet -- This is an extraordinary film and may arguably represent silent cinema at its peak. The power of the close-up, the human face, and the expressionistic style. It changes you to watch The Passion of Joan of Arc. You emerge from the experience as a changed person, having taken the journey of Joan's final days with the mesmerizing Maria Falconetti, a performance for all time. I loved the score by Richard Einhorn, "Voices of Light." The film is deeply spiritual and a true masterpiece of the art form. In comparison to the wave of current religion projects on film and television, they just retell familiar stories; this is transcendent, a completely religious experience.

4. Seven Samurai -- a monumental directorial triumph. Certainly a pillar in the Criterion Collection. I'm in awe of so much of what Kurosawa accomplished...how he showed the passage of time in the village and on the samurai faces, how he made us fall in love with them before the battles. This is extraordinary storytelling from beginning to end...every scene and moment has a purpose. The action is wonderfully staged, and Kurosawa's use of slow motion changed the language of cinema. I'm a huge fan of his cinematography here and the staging of actors. Even in a chase sequence you can feel the influence of Asian art as the camera tilts vertically, capturing a dramatic landscape. And like for any real conflict, the consequences here are felt by the villagers, the samurai, and the audience.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by fahrenheit290

On Life-changing Criterions. I'm going to mention two that haven't been cited yet.

1. The Battle of Algiers -- simply one of, if not THE greatest war film ever made. It's unprecedented, how you see a revolution begin, executed from both sides, and ultimately succeed over the course of a film. Bold storytelling. Terrific and inspiring filmmaking that remains relevant today and shows us that ambitious stories and concepts can work under an unrelenting, prescient vision. Pontecorvo's moving camera, his staging (everything was shot for the film--no documentary footage), Morricone's score, the incredible cast (Ali La Pointe in particular, a non-professional actor). It's one of my all-time favorite films. How can you top it? Few films in the genre come close.

Not only is Battle of Algiers as relevant today as it was at the time, I believe an argument can be made that it is even more relevant now.

Sadly, I only have it on DVD.

Originally Posted by fahrenheit290

3. The Passion of Joan of Arc, not on BD yet -- This is an extraordinary film and may arguably represent silent cinema at its peak. The power of the close-up, the human face, and the expressionistic style. It changes you to watch The Passion of Joan of Arc. You emerge from the experience as a changed person, having taken the journey of Joan's final days with the mesmerizing Maria Falconetti, a performance for all time. I loved the score by Richard Einhorn, "Voices of Light." The film is deeply spiritual and a true masterpiece of the art form. In comparison to the wave of current religion projects on film and television, they just retell familiar stories; this is transcendent, a completely religious experience.

This.

As someone who isn't really spiritual at all, the fact that this film can have such a profound effect on me with each viewing should tell you something. I don't believe that there was ever a greater, more potent, more accomplished film made in the silent era. There's a reason Godard chose this particular film to use in the theater scene in Vivre sa vie.

[Polaroid]

Great suggestions on the life changing film guys need to check some of those out asap!

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

[Show spoiler]I don't have an issue with the Time Bandits artwork per se, I love that poster. It's the new font that Criterion have used which is my sole complaint (the original is far cooler).



Every Man For Himself is notable for a number of sequences that play out in slow motion. The image on the cover is from one of the slow motion scenes, and the cover captures the stuttering nature of slowed down film running through a projector. It's a great encapsulation of a unique movie in a single image.



This is an old design, from the Criterion DVD so doesn't really apply to this idea that new artwork is suffering.



The typography is the best thing about it (it's a VERY nice reference to a couple of key moments in the film)! I'm 99% certain that if you'd seen the film you'd feel differently. The image is beautiful too. It's not actually taken from the film, but is a set-shot promo image, and one that I'd never seen prior to it featuring on this release. It's from the most famous scene in the film, which is in itself one of the great moments in American comedy. It's bona-fide iconic. It also fulfils a number of important legal obligations still in place from the time of the film's production regarding the stars faces and prominence of their names on promotional material.

As I've said in an earlier comment this is my favourite piece of artwork all year, I can't fault it (excellent release too).



I love the poster, but I don't think every poster translates well when shrunk down to Blu-ray case size. I think the Blu-ray case actually captures the tone of the film impressively well (which is a favourite of mine) and is an impressive and striking image in it's own right.



I think you're rather naively looking at this, if you think it's just a case of taking a couple of screenshots and some type and throwing it together. Have you seen the film? As a number of people have said in this thread, this cover particularly really captures what it is that's going on in the movie. It's a very clever piece of artwork.



Of course, but I do think that in some of these cases (a couple I've outlined above, a degree of understanding about what a certain film is about can really benefit ones appreciation of a work, subjective opinion on the technical merits aside. Safe is one such example for me personally actually. I wasn't too fond of it when Criterion first announced the film, but now that I've seen the film I appreciate it a great deal.



Criterion Designs offers a really good insight in to this. It's actually made me look at a number of covers that I felt indifferently to in a different light, appreciating them for what the artist was aiming to achieve, rather than impressing my own ideas of how I feel a film should look upon an idea I'm initially wary of.

Yah I email designers and ask what their brief was and what they are trying to portray with their design and usually they are every helpful and explain and give a brilliant rational. Sam Smith usually posts alternate designs as well which i every exciting, I loved his alternate Qatsi Trilogy films .

Really appreciate your comments and agree partially with some, but I still stand by how I feel and what I said, but I respect your opinions and response .

Im saving up for the book, can't wait to get though :, I don't mean to come across as I hate every design and that they all suck, I do love some of the ones I listed i Just feel more could have gone into it, or some minor tweaks would improve it.

Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN had a really great first cover and the typography was perfect but they change sit last minute and the type looks weaker now than it did on the original design. But as a whole the package is very beautiful and well made.

Also I haven't seen all the films I listed so my opinion can change when I see the film and its mor in context, but I still think L'AVVENTURA looks like she's enjoying wind too much :P and I still prefer this design:

[Vinyl]

2 movies that made a significant impact when I was younger were pi: faith in chaos and requim for a dream. I loved the story telling and the great soundtrack of pi. Mixing Kabbalah and mathematics felt so natural. That and the acting was spectacular. I saw requim later and decided I didn't want to see it again because it was so powerful and disturbing.

[AaronJ]

See, I think the L'Avventura design is perfection. It reflects the film's content well, and is beautiful on its own.

The one that you posted, I think anyway, is very misleading as to the content of the film.

[simonjamesconstable]

Originally Posted by Vinyl

2 movies that made a significant impact when I was younger were pi: faith in chaos and requim for a dream.

Where have you got 'Faith in Chaos' from?

[simonjamesconstable]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN had a really great first cover and the typography was perfect but they change sit last minute and the type looks weaker now than it did on the original design.

Would you be able to post the original please?

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by simonjamesconstable

Would you be able to post the original please?

I prefer it so much, they didn't change much - but I just really like this one lol

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

[Show spoiler]I have no issue with Time Bandits artwork, I love it and I love the typography, yes it looks dated but I think its quite ironic seeing the theme of the film is time lol. Also with that new cover thingy they have it add that retro feel to it and I think it compliments each other.

A few I find that have had poor execution are:

Cries and Whispers, just no, its a mess. Her head wasn't even cut out from background well! Look at the edges especially in bottom left corner lol

Don't Look Now, I love the concept behind it and how its a fresh take of he design and not been used like this for the film, but it just feels a bit tacky or cliche, if that makes any sense.

Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant, now I love the illustration but the backdrop is so bland and weakens the beautiful image and just makes it a bit lifeless and empty.

Every Man for Himself, I don't know the film so not sure how the cover reflect the film themes and story, but its a bit 'easy' it feels like the designer got a bit stuck for ideas and thought to cut and paste elements over each other and play with transparency, its just annoying and coming from Graphic Design at Uni, you see a lot of students try be out there and experimental and do stuff like that which is actually pretty meaningless and pointless. Now it may relate to the films themes and if so I will retract my comment son this one.

An Autumn Afternoon, it feels like that are trying to keep theme running with the other artworks for this director and its not as strong as Tokyo Story, its not awful but just feels like they ran out of ideas so they went for the grid of images approach. I mean it can work and works for the other covers but yeah I am sure they could have created something a bit more fresh.

I mean look at the Qatsi trilogy artwork, Sam Smith created some beautiful imagery by overlapping and blending multiple images, rather than sticking every nice shot in a grid.

Sword of Doom, I think this is just a re use of the DVD artwork? The imagery is beautiful but the typography feels a tad dated, seeing as it was taken straight from an older piece of design. I think hey could have used some newer typography to bring ti to life and give it a fresh look?

Tootsie, just a quick indesign job lol, hardly have to explain it in technical details, but not seen the film so not sure if the cover design is there to make fun of itself in a way?

It Happened One Night, Its ok, but nothing spectacular, I don't mind the imagery and the typography just feels a bit odd, it doesn't work for me. I like the image they chose for the cover, but something bugs me about the typography - budget wise, this wouldn't have taken long to design, Place a few different images and just place a bit of text and play with different types.

L'AVVENTURA, Sam Smiths poster design (which is for sale on the website) would have been a better choice IMO, I like the image but it feels more like something for in the booklet... When I look at the cover its just some women who's enjoying the wind too much lol, and may be looking for her umbrella as it looks like it may rain!

Safe, I love the design, but its not exactly something that will take ages to design and come up with, now I haven't looked into it or seen the alternate designs, which may have had more time spent on them, but any designer can over lay a few screenshots and add a bit of type. It works beautifully but time/budget wise I can't see it being expensive.

I love that they used the original artwork for Time Bandits and Watership Down, adds that nostalgia, maybe they should have taken a few elements from the Don't Look Now posters and maybe incorporated them into it, I don't know.

I may have come across as saying most the designs are crap, maybe I worded it wrong, there are nice designs, but what I meant it they don't look or feel like a lot of time has been use don them. I know I haven't seen the designers alternate works so it is unfair to really judge.

Also, we all love different things, the things I see and dislike or feel are weak, may be very strong in your eyes and I respect that. I am not claiming to be a design god either, yes I studied it but I gave up working in design because I feel I am weak and not so good at it lol (hell you saw the Cries an Whisper posters I did on here haha!).

Oh and also, I have NO IDEA what Criterion's briefs are for each design and what they discuss with the designer so again its a bit hard to truly judge and be so critical.

I don't know, just some of these designs I think they could have put a little more into, but thats my opinion :P

(aso I am crap at writing and explaining myself so sorry if this makes no sense haha)!

what would be the cliche that is evident in the Don't Look Now cover? If it is the color red being used as a symbol for blood and danger, then you have to fault the film as well as the artwork. I don't know if another release will top that cover for me in 2015. I like when they create artwork that is outside of the posters and other P.R. stuff for the film that already existed.

have you seen L'Avventura? give the wind an Academy Award for its appearance in this film. (it would be its second, btw - Black Narcissus being the other ) with that being said, it is, thematically, a very important part of the film. ...and the ambiance it creates in those early scenes is so tangible, so thick - it's wonderful! I half agree with Aaron. I don't think it is necessarily misleading, but Monica Vitti's face just looking pretty above a shot of the island doesn't coincide much at all with the themes of the film.

I think there were some duds, to be sure, but your arguments and the ones you singled out, P... not so good.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

have you seen L'Avventura? give the wind an Academy Award for its appearance in this film. (it would be its second, btw - Black Narcissus being the other ) with that being said, it is, thematically, a very important part of the film. ...and the ambiance it creates in those early scenes is so tangible, so thick - it's wonderful! I half agree with Aaron. I don't think it is necessarily misleading, but Monica Vitti's face just looking pretty above a shot of the island doesn't coincide much at all with the themes of the film.

Perfect way of putting it. I wish I had thought of that.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

what would be the cliche that is evident in the Don't Look Now cover? If it is the color red being used as a symbol for blood and danger, then you have to fault the film as well as the artwork. I don't know if another release will top that cover for me in 2015. I like when they create artwork that is outside of the posters and other P.R. stuff for the film that already existed.

have you seen L'Avventura? give the wind an Academy Award for its appearance in this film. (it would be its second, btw - Black Narcissus being the other ) with that being said, it is, thematically, a very important part of the film. ...and the ambiance it creates in those early scenes is so tangible, so thick - it's wonderful! I half agree with Aaron. I don't think it is necessarily misleading, but Monica Vitti's face just looking pretty above a shot of the island doesn't coincide much at all with the themes of the film.

I think there were some duds, to be sure, but your arguments and the ones you singled out, P... not so good.

Its MY opinion, as I said you may disagree and like them, but its my personal opinion.

And as I said I haven't see L'AVVENTURA yet. Feel free to buy me a copy and send if you want to change my mind :P lol

Don't Look Now cover for me doesn't really reflect the film as well as it could - it remind me of this:



It's taken a certain element and just blown it up and in a way made it quite deceiving lol

[simonjamesconstable]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

I prefer it so much, they didn't change much - but I just really like this one lol

Yeah you're right, it is a little better, I wonder why they altered it.

[*DrStrangelove*]

Just finished A Women Under The Influence. Rowlands and Falk's performance were equally outstanding. This is the third film I've seen in the Cassavetes set and must say, every film gets better than the next. The Killing of a Chinese Bookie is next. So glad I got the set. Cassavetes is becoming one of my favorite directors. His films aren't necessarily easy to watch but are important works that need to be seen IMO.

[Polaroid]

I hate Netflix.... UK version is crap, I have watched all the good films lol.

I wanted to watch Safe tonight but alas it is not there...

...Well we have this:

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

I hate Netflix.... UK version is crap, I have watched all the good films lol.

How do you know that all of the ones you haven't watched aren't good?