The Criterion Collection

[oildude]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

I'm sure you'd still be able to get Head if you really wanted it, you'd just have to pay more to get it.

I guess the lesson here is if you think you want Head, get it while you can.

But where to draw the line? I think I can safely predict that if you enjoy Head enough to pay a lot to get it, then you will no doubt want to get Naked with 3 Women and try The 400 Blows which will result in a whole lot of White Material in your future.

[Show spoiler]Welcome to the hidden code to the pervy side of the Criterion Collection

[fancyclaps]

Originally Posted by jw007

I finally watched The Curious Case of Benjamin Button a few nights ago for the very first time. I still am not sure how I feel about this film. At times it reminded me a bit of Forrest Gump for some odd reason. David Fincher is such a dark-minded director, and the film wasn't exactly as warm as it could have been. Sure, it was incredibly epic. But even though the Criterion sells for super cheap ($10 or something?!), I don't feel the need to add this to my collection. The adaptation from F. Scott Fitzgerald was good but I just didn't resonate with this film. It's got some amazing special effects at times, but Brad Pitt's character was so distancing and cold and talked oddly low-key for most of the time. He seemed lethargic for some reason. It added to the "coldness" of Fincher's film. Yet, there were times I was genuinely moved emotionally and was in awe of the filmmaking. It brought back tragic/depressing memories of women who I passed up or lost my opportunity with because of bad timing or personal stupidity. That discomfort alone empowered my experience of the film that I can't quite justify, and I guess this is what makes it so brilliant. Yet at the same time, I was left more empty and cold at the end of the story and for that reason I cannot say its a movie I would want to watch multiple times.

I love Fincher, this is my least favorite film of his. I felt like his "medical" condition was not used as well as it could have been. A lot of missed opportunity - it just seemed like a guy's ordinary life, without build up or payoff. Maybe that was the point, but it bored me (much like Boyhood, but Boyhood is worse).

[pedromvu]

I was listening to a podcast were they were talking about the first film they have seen by Antonioni and it gave me the idea to try it on this thread, specifically from the films on the Criterion Collection to see how much their films have influenced your tastes.

So which is the first film you have seen by your favorite Directors? and your original thoughts on it (and current thoughts if has been revisited).

Just one case would be enough, but here are a few examples of mine:

Bergman: Wild Strawberries
I thought it was really heavy stuff, had to put 100% attention to get what was going on, but at the end i was ready for more, and went for The Seventh Seal and now there is rarely a film of his i don't like.

Powell/Pressburger: The Red Shoes
The first time i liked it but nothing more, then after seeing Black Narcissus i decided to take another look and enjoyed much more, specially that dance sequence.

Truffaut: The 400 Blows
First time i really didn't get why it was ranked so high, then after seeing a lot of other films and seeing it was on blu-ray by CC i decided to give it another chance, and it is one of my biggest changes of appreciation for a film I've had, this gave me the proof that you can't always judge a film by the first time watch, there's always outside factors that can affect your appreciation of a film (and probably can boost it too).

Antonioni: Red Desert
This probably caught me on the perfect mood, or it creates it so well because i loved it even if i wasn't completely sure what i just watched.


The first time i saw most of these i wasn't even aware of the Criterion Collection, i just looked for them based on imdb ratings at the time.

Anyway these are all examples of directors which after seeing a few movies i decided to watch all the films i can see of them, because their films have left a lasting impression on me, which is why the work of the Criterion Collection is so important for me.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by fancyclaps

I love Fincher, this is my least favorite film of his. I felt like his "medical" condition was not used as well as it could have been. A lot of missed opportunity - it just seemed like a guy's ordinary life, without build up or payoff. Maybe that was the point, but it bored me (much like Boyhood, but Boyhood is worse).

Good points made. I feel like an epic movie like this that spans an entire life of a character is a bit too ambitious for my tastes. I like going for movies that focus on smaller time spans, maybe even a full 24 hours of a character's life. It's just too much to take on, investing 2 and a half hours into a guy who lives about 70 or 80 years, growing younger as he ages. I mean, that whole unnatural, unrealistic idea of such a human mutation has never occurred in general as far as I know. It's a good fantasy, a good idea but it should just stay at that and not become an epic film.

[monorail91]

Just watched Valerie and Her Week of Wonders, which I had never even heard of til it got announced yesterday (and the rest of this message board was really jazzed about it!). Very creepy film, and definitely one that a viewer would get more out of the second time.

Does it remind anyone else of House? Both seemed to have that really dreamy quality, and the feeling of having no idea what's happening.

[Spanish Scott]

Originally Posted by monorail91

Just watched Valerie and Her Week of Wonders, which I had never even heard of til it got announced yesterday (and the rest of this message board was really jazzed about it!). Very creepy film, and definitely one that a viewer would get more out of the second time.

Does it remind anyone else of House? Both seemed to have that really dreamy quality, and the feeling of having no idea what's happening.

Just finished watching it myself on Hulu, for the same reasons, haha.

Wonderful music. It grabbed me from the opening scenes and remained strong until the end. The sexual content weirded me out a little though at times; from what I understand, the actress was 14 when they filmed it.

Definitely going to buy the Blu Ray though. On the whole I enjoyed it quite a bit. The film is dreamy in just the right ways; reminded me a bit of Cocteau's Beauty and the Beast at times.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by jw007

Good points made. I feel like an epic movie like this that spans an entire life of a character is a bit too ambitious for my tastes. I like going for movies that focus on smaller time spans, maybe even a full 24 hours of a character's life. It's just too much to take on, investing 2 and a half hours into a guy who lives about 70 or 80 years, growing younger as he ages. I mean, that whole unnatural, unrealistic idea of such a human mutation has never occurred in general as far as I know. It's a good fantasy, a good idea but it should just stay at that and not become an epic film.

I adore Benjamin Button, I love the mystery and fantasy to it, it's has that realism to it but with that hint of magic.

I think it's nice the focus wasn't always on his medical condition, but more his life and his wncounters. I felt the film had so many layers to it, it's not perfect but I think he balanced it out quite well.

I also found it a very sad film, I loved the cast as well :-)

I quite like it when a film does divide though - can have great discussions from all points of views :-)!

[pro-bassoonist]

Odd Man Out Blu-ray REVIEW





Pro-B

[granty]

i see the japanese pre-order of stalker (1979) up there in the deals taunting me. why-o-why hasnt criterion released this yet?

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Hiroshima, mon amour is coming this summer!

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=259083

Finally!

This is said to be a "deluxe" release. Might it include Night and Fog?

[Yami]

I really don't think that Criterion would demote Night and Fog to being an added extra, though I could see them upgrading that in tandem. Criterion probably make quite a bit from educational sales of Night and Fog.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by Yami

I really don't think that Criterion would demote Night and Fog to being an added extra, though I could see them upgrading that in tandem. Criterion probably make quite a bit from educational sales of Night and Fog.

If it doesn't get upgraded with Hiroshima it may never see a blu-ray release.

The ideal release is a 'box' for Hiroshima. 2 blu-rays. 1 for Hiroshima and extras and 1 disc for Night and Fog and Resnais shorts.

[Feiereisel]

Curiously, Criterion's Third Man blu-ray is listed as temporarily out of stock at Amazon, rather than currently unavailable. Glitch, or what?

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by Feiereisel

Curiously, Criterion's Third Man blu-ray is listed as temporarily out of stock at Amazon, rather than currently unavailable. Glitch, or what?

Good catch. I placed an order. Let's see what comes of this.

[ShadeRF]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Good catch. I placed an order. Let's see what comes of this.

I also placed an order. Fingers crossed!

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by ShadeRF

I also placed an order. Fingers crossed!

Raise your hand if you ordered more than 1.

[ShadeRF]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Raise your hand if you ordered more than 1.

Guilty, LOL

[monorail91]

Originally Posted by Spanish Scott

Definitely going to buy the Blu Ray though. On the whole I enjoyed it quite a bit. The film is dreamy in just the right ways; reminded me a bit of Cocteau's Beauty and the Beast at times.

Ooh good call - the visual style reminded me almost of black-and-white films. I noticed several shots where

[Show spoiler]the weasel/monster would be in a dark corner, unseen due to his black cloak, and swoop out into a brighter, more colorful part of the frame; none of it typical horror movie "jump moment" fashion, though, he would glide out silently.

[Feiereisel]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Raise your hand if you ordered more than 1.

I placed an order, too, but if this is actually happening I may end up canceling it and going through Criterion's site store instead. All of the other StudioCanal OOPs are still listed as unavailable and default to marketplace offers, though.

[Roninblues]

Originally Posted by oildude

But where to draw the line? I think I can safely predict that if you enjoy Head enough to pay a lot to get it, then you will no doubt want to get Naked with 3 Women and try The 400 Blows which will result in a whole lot of White Material in your future.

[Show spoiler]Welcome to the hidden code to the pervy side of the Criterion Collection

A Day in the Country on An Autumn Afternoon you can Ride The Pink Horse but The Confession of such can lead to Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant. Don’t forget the Sword of Doom AKA The Soft Skin, which brings many Cries and Whispers as you Make Way for Tomorrow. Don’t Look Now, but there is The Thin Blue Line between being in the Limelight and a Dinner with Andre which will end with you being The Odd Man Out for your Five Easy Pieces and thrown from The Bridge into The River by The Friends of Eddie Coyle where even The Fisher King couldn’t help you. But hey, it’s Every Man For Himself.