The Criterion Collection

[Scottie]

You guys are killing me. If it was a battle between Ozu and Kurosawa, I would probably have to choose Ozu. The man was that good.

Also, make sure to catch the documentary, Tokyo Ga, by Wim Wenders. It's a feature on Late Spring and it's phenomenal.

[grim_tales]

Originally Posted by Feiereisel

The info on Criterion's page for it specifies that it is indeed "Brian De Palma's preferred unrated version." (link)

Thanks It has different extras to the French "Pulsions" but sounds like a good upgrade because of the new transfer

[Vinyl]

As for Ozu, what I realized was that he is timeless. By that I mean his way of filmmaking never changed drastically over his very long career.

At the time he made his most internationally known and acclaimed movies he kept his low static camera while other directors were going wild with the camera. Simple stories and simple camera angles made him one of the most renowned directors in the world.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by ijustblumyself

Completely agree; Ozu is probably my favourite director of all time (along with maybe Herzog and Antonioni).
Favourite 'curtain shots'? Mine would have to be in Early Summer. It happens when

[Show spoiler]the mother has just finished discussing the death of their son during war-time, she pauses for a second and looks upwards, and as she does this Ozu cuts to a shot of a flag, waving peacefully in the wind. Perfection.

What Ozu are you starting with?

Who wants to take their love of Ozu pillow shots to the NEXT LEVEL!

[nondiatonic]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

Here's my guilty, humiliating admission for the day:

I've never seen a film by Ozu.

You definitely owe it to yourself to change that. Good starting points for those not accustomed to his style and rhythm would be Late Spring, Tokyo Twilight, or Floating Weeds.


Now, here's my guilty, humiliating admission for the day:

I've never seen a film by Naruse.

But, I've got Hulu, so I plan on correcting that in the next few days. I'm thinking When a Woman Ascends The Stairs. Thoughts?

[JoeBuck]

Originally Posted by nondiatonic

You definitely owe it to yourself to change that. Good starting points for those not accustomed to his style and rhythm would be Late Spring, Tokyo Twilight, or Floating Weeds.


Now, here's my guilty, humiliating admission for the day:

I've never seen a film by Naruse.

But, I've got Hulu, so I plan on correcting that in the next few days. I'm thinking When a Woman Ascends The Stairs. Thoughts?

When a Woman Ascends the Stairs is a phenomenal movie, its been a while since I've seen it but remember really enjoying it.
Definitely give it a shot!
I havent seen any of his stuff outside of it and need to see more myself.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by JoeBuck

When a Woman Ascends the Stairs is a phenomenal movie, its been a while since I've seen it but remember really enjoying it.
Definitely give it a shot!
I havent seen any of his stuff outside of it and need to see more myself.

Yeah it's a great film. I think it might be the only Naruse film I've seen

[jlk5844]

Originally Posted by jmclick

I Am Number Four.

#5 here.

And I even bought Tokyo Story last July. Would that not be a good starting point?

[nondiatonic]

Originally Posted by jlk5844

#5 here.

And I even bought Tokyo Story last July. Would that not be a good starting point?

It's an extremely beautiful film. It is one of the few films that directly affected my life. Specifically my relationships with my family. However, it took me two viewings to really feel that way about it.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by jlk5844

#5 here.

And I even bought Tokyo Story last July. Would that not be a good starting point?

I don't think there's a wrong starting point with Ozu. Much of his films are about the same kind of themes, and his style really doesn't change much throughout his career. Tokyo Story is his most acclaimed work, so it's definitely a fine point to begin. With that said, my first two were The Story of Floating Weeds, and the remake Floating Weeds (Criterion DVD set). Both are different from the bulk of his films as they don't take place in Tokyo, and it doesn't center around a family. Floating Weeds is definitely my favorite of his, and the Ebert commentary that accompanies it on the Criterion disc is excellent.

I should also add, that I feel his movies get better with subsequent viewings.

[ijustblumyself]

I'd also recommend Early Summer. It's my favourite of his.

[Roninblues]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

Who wants to take their love of Ozu pillow shots to the NEXT LEVEL!

Too late, I bought it Oct last year.

[Roninblues]

Originally Posted by nondiatonic

You definitely owe it to yourself to change that. Good starting points for those not accustomed to his style and rhythm would be Late Spring, Tokyo Twilight, or Floating Weeds.


Now, here's my guilty, humiliating admission for the day:

I've never seen a film by Naruse.

But, I've got Hulu, so I plan on correcting that in the next few days. I'm thinking When a Woman Ascends The Stairs. Thoughts?

I'm wishing for a Criterion Blu-ray upgrade for mine.

[lordmorpheus72]

Almost picked up An Autumn Afternoon today, but ended up holding off on buying anything until the weekend. I loved Tokyo Story, so I'm betting I won't be disappointed.

[Fabs]

Originally Posted by nondiatonic

I've never seen a film by Naruse.

But, I've got Hulu, so I plan on correcting that in the next few days. I'm thinking When a Woman Ascends The Stairs. Thoughts?

That's where I started, and Naruse is my favorite director after going from that film to his others. It captures Naruse's work pretty well, and it fairly easy to digest while still showing you his style. I think Floating Clouds is his best, so after Woman definitely see that one. Also, we're all so lucky to have Hulu because most of this masterworks are on there. Repast, Flowing, Yearning, and Scattered Clouds are not to be missed and they are all 10/10 IMO.

Originally Posted by ijustblumyself

Favourite 'curtain shots'?[/SPOILER]

This is probably one of the hardest things to think on. With Ozu, even little shots of a Japanese sign or a hallway or a tree can cause my eyes to get watery. Pretty much every film of his from Late Spring to An Autumn Afternoon has so many which I would call a favorite.

That said... If I really have to narrow it down, it would have to be in Tokyo Story. All the shots of the sea and their village after

[Show spoiler]the mother dies

. They exemplify what those shots are all about.

[Roninblues]

Originally Posted by jlk5844

#5 here.

And I even bought Tokyo Story last July. Would that not be a good starting point?

or An Autumn Afternoon, also a Criterion Blu-ray.

[Fabs]

Originally Posted by ijustblumyself

I'd also recommend Early Summer. It's my favourite of his.

It's very underrated. A lot of people like it, but it gets forgotten when talking about his greatest works. Yet, Early Summer has my favorite opening of his (that beach shot and breakfast with Setsuko Hara), and it has some of his most beautiful moments (the beach scene at the end, the family photo, eating cake at night, Setsuko Hara eating dinner alone as Ozu films her from the hallway). It's definitely right there in his Top 5.

[nondiatonic]

Originally Posted by lordmorpheus72

Almost picked up An Autumn Afternoon today, but ended up holding off on buying anything until the weekend. I loved Tokyo Story, so I'm betting I won't be disappointed.

That's one I haven't seen, but I plan on getting it along with the Eclipse sets Three Crime Dramas and Late Ozu during the July sale.

Really wanting an upgrade to Tokyo Twilight. One of my favorites of his and the first Ozu I saw--thus beginning my eternal worship.

[The Great Owl]

I've seen Ozu's Late Spring and Tokyo Story. These films both had an emotional hold on me that left me quite affected when they were over. I've got An Autumn Afternoon in my unwatched stack, but I might save it for an autumn afternoon...no, seriously...because I generally indulge in lighter fare during the summer.

I've never seen a Satyajit Ray film before, though, and I've never seen a Rainer Werner Fassbinder film before (although I recently acquired World on a Wire, and it is sitting in my unwatched stack).

[Edward J Grug III]

I've not seen an Ozu film yet either, but it'll happen soon.