The Criterion Collection

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by Josh B

Wise Blood
Seconds
Red Desert
My Dinner with Andre

These any good?

Red Desert is a masterpiece in my opinion, but I'm a big fan of both Antonioni and Vitti.

My Dinner With Andre is definitely a ... love it or hate it film.

I'm just not familiar enough with Seconds to comment. But it definitely sounds pretty cool.

[Josh B]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

Red Desert is a masterpiece in my opinion, but I'm a big fan of both Antonioni and Vitti.

My Dinner With Andre is definitely a ... love it or hate it film.

I'm just not familiar enough with Seconds to comment. But it definitely sounds pretty cool.

Thanks. Have you seen The Seventh Seal?

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by Josh B

Thanks. Have you seen The Seventh Seal?

Yes, I've seen it multiple times but not for a long while. My opinion is basically that it's worth the fame it has garnered over the decades, but it's nowhere near Bergman's best.

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by Josh B

Wise Blood
Seconds
Red Desert
My Dinner with Andre

These any good?

I can recommend Seconds. I bought it as a blind buy for Rock Hudson and loved every minute of the film. One of those great 60's thrillers, that crosses in to science fiction. It's a great premise and a great performance by Rock Hudson. I highly recommend Seconds.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by lordmorpheus72

I can recommend Seconds. I bought it as a blind buy for Rock Hudson and loved every minute of the film. One of those great 60's thrillers, that crosses in to science fiction. It's a great premise and a great performance by Rock Hudson. I highly recommend Seconds.

Oh, wonderful. Something ELSE I don't have the money for!

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by Josh B

Wise Blood
Seconds
Red Desert
My Dinner with Andre

These any good?

I have the original, non-Criterion DVD release of Seconds, and think highly enough of the film that I plan on upgrading to the Criterion blu-ray. John Frankenheimer's direction is taut, the story is thought-provoking (and deliberately disturbing), and James Wong Howe's black and white cinematography was deservedly nominated for an Academy Award. I believe I've read somewhere that of all the films in which he appeared, that Rock Hudson was most proud of his performance in this film, and I can see why: it's a complicated, mature role and he plays it very well indeed.

[Josh B]

I'll certainly pick up Seconds, then.

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by jmclick

I have the original, non-Criterion DVD release of Seconds, and think highly enough of the film that I plan on upgrading to the Criterion blu-ray. John Frankenheimer's direction is taut, the story is thought-provoking (and deliberately disturbing), and James Wong Howe's black and white cinematography was deservedly nominated for an Academy Award. I believe I've read somewhere that of all the films in which he appeared, that Rock Hudson was most proud of his performance in this film, and I can see why: it's a complicated, mature role and he plays it very well indeed.

Well worth an upgrade and I completely agree in regards to Hudson's performance. It is astounding.

[Vinyl]

Originally Posted by Josh B

Thanks. Have you seen The Seventh Seal?

The blu Ray release of The Seventh Seal is very good, it has amazing PQ and AQ as well as great supplements including Bergman Island, a full length documentary about Bergman.

[lordmorpheus72]

So while this is not quite Criterion related, I wanted to share my first viewing of the Masters of Cinema blu-ray of Birth of a Nation. I finished Birth of a Nation late last night. Watching the movie I was continually amazed at what were firsts for film making at that time. From a technical aspect, it was quite amazing to watch. Taking out the historical inaccuracies, it was still an amazing feet of film making, and a movie that held my interest for the 3 plus hours it runs.

The blu-ray itself looks and sounds amazing, I was very surprised at how well the movie looked... all in all a very enjoyable film viewing. Being from the South it was especially interesting to see Griffith's take on Lincoln, Senators, and the Clan. A very controversial movie, but at the same time, a very important movie.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by jw007

Polaroid,

If you're out there listening, can you make a mockup of a Solaris 2002 Criterion artwork cover for me? He he.

Or a more simple:







I dunno lol, this is one idea off the top of my head - had a few ideas done, might upload later.

Another idea I was playing with was these: I loved the similar, yet contrasting shots, and for me they were a part of the film I really remembered.

I haven't messed with th type/colour much but was an rough idea - the type obviously isn't right, and I don't think these images really represent the the films entirety and themes to new eyes, maybe if you knew the film yes, but I dunno lol:




Did in style of my Interstellar poster lol.



I have just got off a 12 hour shift, so will revisit at a later date and put more into it bit tired haha also sorry for the big images, no idea how to make them appear smaller on this site!

(also the image of the women is low res as I couldn't get any hi res images at the moment!)

Also here is a good video discussing and comparing the two versions:

The Remaker - Episode 06: Solaris (1972) vs. Solaris (2002) - YouTube

[balthazar_bee]

Originally Posted by Josh B

Wise Blood
Seconds
Red Desert
My Dinner with Andre

These any good?

I know Red Desert has its ardent supporters, but I found it rather inert.

Very fond of the other three though. Wise Blood would be one I'd love to see bumped up to blu -- along with another late Huston gem, Under the Volcano.

[filmmusic]

With all this talk about Seconds, I decided to watch this in a few minutes.
First time on Bluray. (previous first viewing was on DVD)

[Helikaon]

Just tried to watch The Palm Beach Story, but I found it painfully unfunny and quite dull to be honest. Couldn't finish it. A real shame, because I loved Claudette Colbert in It Happened One Night.

[Deep]

Originally Posted by Helikaon

Just tried to watch The Palm Beach Story, but I found it painfully unfunny and quite dull to be honest. Couldn't finish it. A real shame, because I loved Claudette Colbert in It Happened One Night.

That's unfortunate. I've always loved Preston Sturges movies - especially this one which I think is one of the funniest movies ever. But a lot of other so-called funny movies don't do anything for me. To each his/her own I guess.

Speaking of Claudette Colbert I am hoping Criterion also gets hold of her other comedy classic - Midnight.

-D

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by Helikaon

Just tried to watch The Palm Beach Story, but I found it painfully unfunny and quite dull to be honest. Couldn't finish it. A real shame, because I loved Claudette Colbert in It Happened One Night.

"The Weenie King"=

Give it a chance. I think it and The Lady Eve are hilarious. Sturges films are hot and cold for me. I've never warmed up to Sullivan's Travels or Hail the Conquering Hero and find the funniest thing about The Miracle of Morgan's Creek to be Betty Hutton's character name.

[obscurelabel]

Originally Posted by Josh B

Wise Blood
Seconds
Red Desert
My Dinner with Andre

These any good?

I will speak up for Wise Blood, but boy you need to be on the right wavelength to appreciate this deadpan blacker-than-black comedy. I'm a fan of Flannery O'Connor and in my opinion John Huston does a remarkable job of recreating the same type of morbid Southern Gothic tone in the film. But it is a comedy and there are jokes all the way through if you're ready. Great cast - inspired casting of Brad Dourif (best role of his career), reliable Ned Beatty, Harry Dean Stanton playing Harry Dean Stanton (a good thing), William Hickey as Dourif's street preacher competition, Dan Shor and Amy Wright are fine too. Try reading some of the IMDB reviews -- I wouldn't worry about spoilers, you could know the entire plot and it wouldn't really make that much difference, it's the characters, atmosphere and jokes that make the film.

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by Helikaon

Just tried to watch The Palm Beach Story, but I found it painfully unfunny and quite dull to be honest. Couldn't finish it. A real shame, because I loved Claudette Colbert in It Happened One Night.

I'm so sorry you didn't enjoy it. But perhaps one day the mood will strike you, and you'll be open to giving it another try. I was predisposed to like it because in addition to Colbert, I love Joel McCrea and especially, Mary Astor.

One thing I can promise you ... you'll be hard-pressed to find a comedy that has a more zany, ridiculous, absurd and unexpected ending ... and I mean that in a good way.

[StonesEGF]

Originally Posted by obscurelabel

I will speak up for Wise Blood, but boy you need to be on the right wavelength to appreciate this deadpan blacker-than-black comedy. I'm a fan of Flannery O'Connor and in my opinion John Huston does a remarkable job of recreating the same type of morbid Southern Gothic tone in the film. But it is a comedy and there are jokes all the way through if you're ready. Great cast - inspired casting of Brad Dourif (best role of his career), reliable Ned Beatty, Harry Dean Stanton playing Harry Dean Stanton (a good thing), William Hickey as Dourif's street preacher competition, Dan Shor and Amy Wright are fine too. Try reading some of the IMDB reviews -- I wouldn't worry about spoilers, you could know the entire plot and it wouldn't really make that much difference, it's the characters, atmosphere and jokes that make the film.

I agree. The movie is quite good. But if one must prioritize, definitively read the O'Connor novel. Then read everything else she wrote. She was amazing.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

[Show spoiler]

Or a more simple:







I dunno lol, this is one idea off the top of my head - had a few ideas done, might upload later.

Another idea I was playing with was these: I loved the similar, yet contrasting shots, and for me they were a part of the film I really remembered.

I haven't messed with th type/colour much but was an rough idea - the type obviously isn't right, and I don't think these images really represent the the films entirety and themes to new eyes, maybe if you knew the film yes, but I dunno lol:




Did in style of my Interstellar poster lol.



I have just got off a 12 hour shift, so will revisit at a later date and put more into it bit tired haha also sorry for the big images, no idea how to make them appear smaller on this site!

(also the image of the women is low res as I couldn't get any hi res images at the moment!)

Also here is a good video discussing and comparing the two versions:

The Remaker - Episode 06: Solaris (1972) vs. Solaris (2002) - YouTube

POLAROID! YOU'RE A F#*%ING GENIUS! Amazing! I love it, love it, love it, love it, loveeee ittttttt. Oh god, I wish the folks at Criterion would see all this artwork right now. Man, I really love the cover with Natasha McElhone 4x. She's stunning. I might have to dump Scarlett now as my avatar and make a Natasha avatar from Solaris. Or maybe I can combine both women into one avatar somehow. Might have to pull a Frankenstein here.