The Criterion Collection

[klauswhereareyou]

Originally Posted by diskspinner

I have see both Heat & Thief...Have not seen Eddie Coyle. But if Heat is high on your list, then Thief is a safer buy. Do you like ambient music (Tangerine Dreams)? IMO it creates a big atmosphere in Thief, so if you like that type of music, you have more chance of loving it.

Thief is the better leaner movie. I like Heat, but it does have it's moments of bad acting (preaty much all the women in the film) and soap opera hijinks....oh and the horribly composited shot of De Niro and Amy Madigan on the balcony, looks like the background from a Tekken game for the original Playstation.

[Reddington]

Thoughts on Ugetsu? Most of my Criterion are blind buys, and I'm not usually one to solicit opinion up front - but from the synopsis, this film is not my usual cup of tea. However, Scorsese's comments are intriguing...and it is sale time after all.

Also, any word of an upgrade on the horizon?

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

here's where I drop the ball on you, Ray J (and on myself, too) I haven't seen Heat . but if you consider yourself a big fan of Mann, Thief sounds like it might be the way to go.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by Reddington

Thoughts on Ugetsu? Most of my Criterion are blind buys, and I'm not usually one to solicit opinion up front - but from the synopsis, this film is not my usual cup of tea. However, Scorsese's comments are intriguing...and it is sale time after all.

Also, any word of an upgrade on the horizon?

The Sixth Sense of its time.

Great movie if you like older Japanese films.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by buffetfroid

Someone on ebay called me "greedy and vile" for listing Last Year at Marienbad at its current market value. I think it might be Polaroid.

Originally Posted by jmclick

I think the sellers on eBay who are "greedy and vile" (not to mention foolish) are the clowns who are listing $40.00 Criterion titles for $50.00 ... in the middle of the Barnes & Noble 50% off sale! Ah, well, whatever ...!

when I see those listings, I often think to myself "that will NEVER move at that price." the only time I see people pay more than they'd have to on eBay is if it is through one of the very large merchants - probably because they feel more secure purchasing through them.

re: 'greedy and vile' remark.. that's just laughable. people don't understand simple economics and the laws of supply and demand. so I should sell it to you for $25 while a market exists that consists of people willing to pay $70? what's to stop you from taking it from me at the "good guy" price and turning around to sell it for more? things just don't work that way.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by diskspinner

I have see both Heat & Thief...Have not seen Eddie Coyle. But if Heat is high on your list, then Thief is a safer buy because mood is somewhat similar. Do you like ambient music (Tangerine Dreams)? IMO it creates a big atmosphere in Thief, so if you like that type of music, you have more chance of loving it.

God bless you.

...that's all I needed to hear.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Are you referring to the controversy regarding the change in Atticus Finch's character? I'm surprised that some people are getting so worked up about it. It was written three years before To Kill a Mockingbird and put aside when Lee decided to write a new novel from the perspective of Scout as a kid rather than as an adult. So if there's any "reassessment" of the character of Atticus, it's a change from Go Set a Watchman to the character as we know him from To Kill a Mockingbird.

I had pulled out our copy of Mockingbird to re-read it (for the first time in 45+ years) before reading the new one, but hadn't managed to find the time recently. I just picked up Watchman, and I think I'm going to read that first, to see how she revised her thoughts about the characters from the earlier (written) book to the later.

It's not so much that I have a problem with Atticus Finch's character. I'm just curious as to whether or not the writings in Go Set a Watchman were shelved for good reason.

Harper Lee's sister served as her attorney and adviser for many years, and she made sound decisions to protect Harper's legacy until she passed away last year. I'm suspicious that, since her sister's passing, the elderly Harper Lee is now being taken advantage of by different attorneys and advisers who do not have her best interests at heart. An official investigation by the state of Alabama asserted that Harper Lee is still in full control of her mental facilities, and that she is excited about the book finally being in print, but the timing of the publication still sets off my spider-sense.

I'm basically curious about whether or not Go Set a Watchman was a "prototype" work that was ultimately discarded when the decision was made to flesh out the characters in a different sense altogether for To Kill a Mockingbird. Authors do this quite a bit, by going down one particular road of prose only to realize that one of the side roads turns into a better story. If Go Set a Watchman was merely a stepping stone in the thought process that led to the masterpiece that was To Kill a Mockingbird, then I'm not sure if I want to read it.

On the subject, I was quite amused by this article from The Onion.

[SammyJankis]

For those that like the cover art of The Black Stallion enough to hang it on your walls, Mondo will be selling prints of it tomorrow sometime before 2 CST.

[Show spoiler]

EDIT: Whoops, this was today.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

when I see those listings, I often think to myself "that will NEVER move at that price." the only time I see people pay more than they'd have to on eBay is if it is through one of the very large merchants - probably because they feel more secure purchasing through them.

re: 'greedy and vile' remark.. that's just laughable. people don't understand simple economics and the laws of supply and demand. so I should sell it to you for $25 while a market exists that consists of people willing to pay $70? what's to stop you from taking it from me at the "good guy" price and turning around to sell it for more? things just don't work that way.

Not to mention, you could have paid $70 for it yourself and are now just looking to recoup what you paid out.

[ccg1978]

for some reason I was expecting Criterion's next round of announcements today...is it next week?

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Good stuff.

I am a BIG fan of Michael Mann.

...would you say Thief is as good as Heat?

If you're a big fan of Mann you NEED to buy Thief immediately.

[SkyAntoine]

Watched "Thin Blue Line" last night and started "Wild Strawberries" before I started dozing off and my 10 year old got tired of hearing Swedish yapping.

I was more impressed with Thin Blue Line than I expected. I knew it set the stage for the crime shows that are common place now and its role in the outcome in the subject case. However, the storytelling and production was remarkable compared to what we see on tv now days.

I'm going to dig into Bergman more after watching Persona this weekend. Here's the order I'm following of the Criterions...let me know if you have suggestions to swap them around:
- Persona (watched)
- Wild Strawberries (watching now)
- The Seventh Seal (re-watching)
- Summer with Monika
- Smiles of a Summer Night
- Fanny & Alexander (long version)
- Cries and Whispers
- The Magician
- Through a Glass Darkly (Trilogy)
- Winter Light (Trilogy)
- The Silence (Trilogy)
- Autumn Sonata
- Summer Interlude

[funtom]

How long will the BN 50% sale will last? What is the deadline for ordering?

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by ccg1978

for some reason I was expecting Criterion's next round of announcements today...is it next week?

Should be tomorrow. Rule of thumb: Criterion's announcements are on the 15th of the month, or the first non-holiday weekday if the 15th falls on the weekend. Of course, there are times when Criterion delays the announcements for some other (unknown to us) reason.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by funtom

How long will the BN 50% sale will last? What is the deadline for ordering?

It's through the 27th. Presumably, the deadline for ordering will be round about 11:59pm Eastern (maybe Pacific, I don't know, as I never order from B&N on-line) on the 27th.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

If you're a big fan of Mann you NEED to buy Thief immediately.

I'm on it!

[amacken]

Any predictions about tomorrow's announcements? Hoping for TWO FOR THE ROAD (1967) and ONE TWO THREE (1961) since they seemed to be hinted at in the New Years' drawing.

[Nailwraps]

Any 15th they announced The Truman Show and/or The Elephant Man will be a happy day to me.

[buffetfroid]

Originally Posted by krugerindustrial

eddie coyle, diabolique, naked, malkovich or yi yi? I have seen diabolique and eddie coyle before. So that would make either one a safe bet, but i'm kinda in the mood for going balls first and taking a risk.

naked

[Ray Jackson]

I'll be pretty peeved if Mulholland Drive isn't announced sometime soon.

...they shouldn't tease people with that blue key if it's not already set up for release.