The Criterion Collection

[nondiatonic]

Originally Posted by RestlessEye

Yes, I'm buying brand new copies of titles that were released year(s) ago - unfortunately they don't look brand new. I guess its bad luck on my part.

Sounds like bad luck with the shipping process. I don't think it has anything to do with the fact that those titles were released earlier.

[ijustblumyself]

Originally Posted by jayxrico

I will say 'Late Autumn' closely resembles 'Late Spring'.

I actually like Late Autumn even more than Late Spring (both masterpieces IMO). I think Setsuko Hara has a lot to do with it.

[Fabs]

Originally Posted by ijustblumyself

I actually like Late Autumn even more than Late Spring (both masterpieces IMO). I think Setsuko Hara has a lot to do with it.

The colors of Late Autumn are gorgeous.

[nondiatonic]

Originally Posted by jayxrico

I will say 'Late Autumn' closely resembles 'Late Spring'.

Originally Posted by ijustblumyself

I actually like Late Autumn even more than Late Spring (both masterpieces IMO). I think Setsuko Hara has a lot to do with it.

Originally Posted by Fabs

The colors of Late Autumn are gorgeous.

Are we actually talking about Late Autumn or An Autumn Afternoon? The transition was so subtle.

[ijustblumyself]

Originally Posted by Fabs

The colors of Late Autumn are gorgeous.

Definitely. Ozu in colour is gorgeous.
There's something heartbreaking and beautiful about watching an aged Hara take the role of Ryu. Her final scene is one of Ozu's best.

And I think it's Late Autumn now. A transition almost as subtle as an Ozu film.

[nondiatonic]

Originally Posted by ijustblumyself

Definitely. Ozu in colour is gorgeous.
There's something heartbreaking and beautiful about watching an aged Hara take the role of Ryu. Her final scene is one of Ozu's best.

And I think it's Late Autumn now. A transition almost as subtle as an Ozu film.

I haven't seen Late Autumn. I think I'll watch it right this moment! (thanks Hulu)

P.S. Where is that Floating Weeds upgrade!!

[TomN245]

Originally Posted by Fabs

Some of the best films from Japan aren't on Blu Ray, yet alone even an English friendly DVD, which makes me a bit sad. A film that's fairly unknown, called Typhoon Club, is one of those which anyone who's into Asian film should see. I watched it on youtube, last year, and it blew me away. It's one of those films that has that strange feeling, where every theme you like in movies is rolled into one.

Castle of Sand is the film that blew me away, but I also like the Obayashi stuff. The bad acting, crazy effects and the schmultzy music works really well imo. I enjoyed The Drifting Classroom way more than any human should

I will check out Typhoon Club now I have incentive. Although Oshima spoilt the ending on his 100 years of Japanese Cinema documentary.

[Ray Jackson]

[harpolini]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

there is not a chance on God's green earth that that film is better than any of the 4 you mentioned from Truffaut or Godard..

all a matter of opinion, though, and you are entitled to yours.

I think Hiroshima is better than those four, and I love Jules and Jim so much. Hiroshima is just a better combination of technical merits, important context/subject matter and writing. Not to mention the performances, the dreamlike direction. If you buy it, check out that Cashier's roundtable discussion where Godard and Rohmer pretty much drool over this film (Better yet, buy the Cashier du Cinema comp book because the entire roundtable is excellent).

[Blu Titan]

Went to B&N and almost purchased The Thin Red Line. Thing is that I own the DVD and I stopped watching the film after 10 minutes. I could not get into the movie. Maybe just maybe I should try watching the DVD again ?!

[waxHead]

After reading through all of the positive comments about An Autumn Afternoon and Late Spring, both jumped up on my "must-buy-soon" Criterion list... right behind Hiroshima Mon Amour.

[waxHead]

Originally Posted by Blu Titan

Went to B&N and almost purchased The Thin Red Line. Thing is that I own the DVD and I stopped watching the film after 10 minutes. I could not get into the movie. Maybe just maybe I should try watching the DVD again ?!

At least watch it until they're off the island.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by waxHead

After reading through all of the positive comments about An Autumn Afternoon and Late Spring, both jumped up on my "must-buy-soon" Criterion list... right behind Hiroshima Mon Amour.

I hope you enjoy Hiroshima as much as I did.

Blind bought Thief last week and loved it.

...LOVED IT!!!!

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by RestlessEye

Yes, I'm buying brand new copies of titles that were released year(s) ago - unfortunately they don't look brand new. I guess its bad luck on my part.

How strange. Well, I've heard other stories of people having problems with ordering online from Barnes & Noble and receiving goods that were damaged in shipping due to poor packaging; knock on wood, I've placed large orders with them twice, and had no problems whatsoever.

As far as Amazon Direct goes, they're one of my favorite retailers because they always make it right; I have had problems with some of their third party vendors, but in every instance, Amazon has stepped in resolved the issue for me.

Three alternatives you might want to try: Barnes & Noble brick and mortar stores, where you can see what you're buying before you pay for it; eBay, where you can research a seller's reputation before you buy and will always have the PayPal quality guarantee to ensure that you don't get gypped; and the Buy/Sell/Trade Forum right here at blu-ray.com, where you can also research a seller's reputation before you buy from them.

Hope that helps!

[harpolini]

Originally Posted by Blu Titan

Went to B&N and almost purchased The Thin Red Line. Thing is that I own the DVD and I stopped watching the film after 10 minutes. I could not get into the movie. Maybe just maybe I should try watching the DVD again ?!

No, toss that DVD! The blu-ray is amazing, and the extra's are very good. It's a film worthy of a great hdtv/projector.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by harpolini

No, toss that DVD! The blu-ray is amazing, and the extra's are very good. It's a film worthy of a great hdtv/projector.

I believe it's one of the most well-regarded transfers out there.

But if you don't like the movie, then what's the point?

I don't have that problem.

...Thin Red Line is in my top ten.

[waxHead]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I hope you enjoy Hiroshima as much as I did.

Blind bought Thief last week and loved it.

...LOVED IT!!!!

I wasn't sure what you thought about Thief until I reached the exclamation points. I have to watch it again soon, every post about a Criterion film makes me think about it.

I'm excited to see Hiroshima, it sounds fantastic... I just need to buy it first

[Martin_31]

I have recently read on this forum that the B&N sale will be extended. Also, no one seems that interested in the Eclipse Series because not many mention it. In the past flash sale from Criterion, I bought the Raymond Bernard Eclipse Series 4. This past weekend, July 18 through the 19, I watched Wooden Crosses and Les Miserables. This set was a blind buy. As of today, I own only 23 DVD’s and Blu-ray’s from Criterion. All of them have been a blind buy. I enjoy buying movies that I have never heard about. There’s something enjoyable about discovering a movie. Not even the film classes mention Raymond Bernard. The only French cinema that exists to my professor’s is Godard, Truffaut, etc. basically the New Wave.
Wooden Crosses is a black and white film released in 1932. The only thing I knew about this movie was from what I read on the back. The New York Times wrote on its release “one of the great films in motion-picture history.” Movies weren’t that old compared to today. Those words posted by The New York Times are true. Wooden Crosses is one of the best movies I have seen to date. I thought the battle sequence in Stanley Kubrick’s Paths of Glory was amazing, but the battle sequence in Wooden Crosses is breathtaking and realistic. I felt as if I was in the trenches. I read that the actors were veterans from WW1. The director chose to hire only war veterans.

[Show spoiler] On my search to find out more about this movie, I found out that when it was shown in the 60’s in television a WW1 veteran committed suicide because this movie depicted what he had exactly experienced. That’s terrifying. That’s how powerful this movie is.

Les Miserables is on a whole other level. I was hesitant to “tackle” a 4 hour and 41 minute black and white French movie. I don’t mind reading subtitles but the thought put me off a bit. Thankfully, I understand French a bit. I still haven’t read the novel but that will soon change. I fell in love with the movie and because of that I have to read the novel. It blew my mind! It has become one of my favorite movies. The way the story unfolds. The expressionistic sets and cinematography are riveting. The actors are phenomenal especially Harry Bauer, Charles Vanel, and Charles Dullin.
I just wanted to add my two cents about this set on the forum. If you haven't bought this set, I highly recommend you buy it. You will enjoyed these movies.

[Vinyl]

Originally Posted by Blu Titan

Went to B&N and almost purchased The Thin Red Line. Thing is that I own the DVD and I stopped watching the film after 10 minutes. I could not get into the movie. Maybe just maybe I should try watching the DVD again ?!

Hahaha. Yes, that would be the wise move. Smart move holding out on upgrading. I have a few on dvd also, but don't watch them much, so not interested in upgrading. I have been tempted to upgrade Seven Samurai, but yet again haven't been watching it much.

[KillDaWabbit]

I am going to watch The Night of the Hunter tonight. Bought this from a member a few weeks back and am just now getting around to watching it. I need to finish a few things first, and cook some dinner, which should make the 93 minute run time perfect for a weekday work night!