The Criterion Collection

[AaronJ]

I would adore anything by Sofia Coppola since she's easily one of my favorites. But I would actually throw a party if Criterion were to release Marie Antoinette. There's no Region A release for some bizarre reason, and it really irritates me. Same goes for The Virgin Suicides.

It's criminal that these aren't available.

[RojD]

Originally Posted by Banned User

....

I know I'm starting to sound like a broken record, but if anyone here hasn't seen Harakiri they are missing out. Pale Flower is also a extremely great film, but seems to be a mixed bag around here. Many find it dull in its build up to the finale, but boy what a finale that is.

Pale Flower might be the biggest revelation of the Collection to me. I was blown away that a film of that quality existed and that I hadn't even heard of it.

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by zafisher94

I just blind bought Haxan on DVD and I was wondering what version you guys recommend I watch: the original 1922 version, or the 1968 version?

Definitely the 1922 version, no question about it. I watched them both, and each has its virtues, but the original silent version is vastly superior. I felt the narration in the 1968 edited version was a detriment.

[Fabs]

Originally Posted by nondiatonic

Harakiri has been high on my list to see for a while. I think you'll be proud to know that this comment pushed me to finally watch it.

Damn. What a great film. Completely engrossing, unique and yet subtle cinematography (although the fish eye lens was strange in a few of the tracking shots), and perfectly edited

[Show spoiler] (the timing of Tsugumo's story revaluations as juxtaposed to the main plot progression could not have been better)

.

However, the best praise I can give this film is how pertinent the themes are today. Truly a timeless film and one that I believe can be enjoyed by all (not just cinephiles).

Thanks to all who suggested it (especially Banned User for giving me the final push).

Harakiri is one of those films I always admired, but could never truly get into. Maybe I'm not a huge Kobayashi fan, but I just bought The Human Condition. Everything people have said, and what I've seen, has me thinking this may be my thing.

[JoeBuck]

So stoked to hear the sale is being extended as Im going to be in LA next weekend and will finally have a bit of money
Gonna use this opportunity to pick up Cries and Whispers and The Soft Skin (hopefully).

[zafisher94]

Originally Posted by jmclick

Definitely the 1922 version, no question about it. I watched them both, and each has its virtues, but the original silent version is vastly superior. I felt the narration in the 1968 edited version was a detriment.

Thanks! I'll probably check it out tonight.

[soarinsteven]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

I would adore anything by Sofia Coppola since she's easily one of my favorites. But I would actually throw a party if Criterion were to release Marie Antoinette. There's no Region A release for some bizarre reason, and it really irritates me. Same goes for The Virgin Suicides.

It's criminal that these aren't available.

This. So much. If I had an opportunity to get them to release any modern film not on blu-ray MARIE ANTOINETTE would be my first choice.

[prior]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

I would adore anything by Sofia Coppola since she's easily one of my favorites. But I would actually throw a party if Criterion were to release Marie Antoinette. There's no Region A release for some bizarre reason, and it really irritates me. Same goes for The Virgin Suicides.

It's criminal that these aren't available.

The Virgin Suicides would be a great addition to the Criterion collection.

Originally Posted by Fabs

Harakiri is one of those films I always admired, but could never truly get into. Maybe I'm not a huge Kobayashi fan, but I just bought The Human Condition. Everything people have said, and what I've seen, has me thinking this may be my thing.

Samurai Rebellion is another Kobayashi you might try if you haven't watched it. Its title doesn't do it justice. It's more drama than Samurai film, it pretty much deconstructs the genre.

[Vinyl]

Originally Posted by prior

The Virgin Suicides would be a great addition to the Criterion collection.



Samurai Rebellion is another Kobayashi you might try if you haven't watched it. Its title doesn't do it justice. It's more drama than Samurai film, it pretty much deconstructs the genre.

Plus it has Mifune vs. Nakdai 😀

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by prior

Samurai Rebellion is another Kobayashi you might try if you haven't watched it. Its title doesn't do it justice. It's more drama than Samurai film, it pretty much deconstructs the genre.

Another deconstructive samurai film worth checking out (not from Criterion, but from Twilight Time) is Yôji Yamada's The Twilight Samurai.

[Ray Jackson]

Harakiri is as good as any Japanese film that's ever been made imo.

...wouldn't disagree with anyone who said it's the BEST.

[myka22]

Harakiri is a masterpiece. One of the darkest movies I've ever seen.

[oildude]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

As far as my own new place goes, I do not own any evil cats, and there's no dead aunt to be found.

Dead-aunt.....dead-aunt.....dead-aunt dead-aunt dead-aunt.......dead-aaaauuuuunt

Reminds me that I need to move the Pink Panther series on Blu-ray to the top of my wish list. MGM really needs to expedite this one.

Not Criterion related except that because of my sudden jones for Inspector Clouseau, I will add Blake Edwards to the list of directors missing in the collection.

[BAMJoe]

If we are talking about things we would like to see in the collection, I would love for Arsenic and Old Lace to come out. They released a version on LD.

[aes3728]

Originally Posted by Will G

In dire need to see more Polish cinema represented in the collection...

The Hourglass Sanatorium (Wojciech Has)
The Saragossa Manuscript (Wojciech Has)
Night Train (Jerzy Kawalerowicz)
Mother Of Joan Of Angels (Jerzy Kawalerowicz)
Ashes & Diamonds (Andrzej Wajda)
The Promised Land (Andrzej Wajda)
Interrogation (Ryszard Bugajski)

...would all be excellent choices.

Ashes & Diamonds is already in the collection

[The Great Owl]

I bought Harakiri during a past Barnes & Noble sale, but have not yet made my way to watching it. I really should prioritize this movie after reading the raves here.

This time around, I did not spend nearly as much as usual during the Barnes & Noble sale. I bought The Killers, The Bridge, The Black Stallion, Le Silence de la Mer, and Hiroshima Mon Amour. After that, I left the sale alone. There is a handful of classic-era film noir movies coming out from Kino Lorber in a week or two, so I wanted to set my budget aside for those.

My haul from this sale is quality instead of quantity, though. The Bridge was a fantastic blind buy, but I'm familiar with the rest of the films, and I love them dearly.

[WonderWeasel]

Originally Posted by Will G

In dire need to see more Polish cinema represented in the collection...

The Hourglass Sanatorium (Wojciech Has)
The Saragossa Manuscript (Wojciech Has)
Night Train (Jerzy Kawalerowicz)
Mother Of Joan Of Angels (Jerzy Kawalerowicz)
Ashes & Diamonds (Andrzej Wajda)
The Promised Land (Andrzej Wajda)
Interrogation (Ryszard Bugajski)


...would all be excellent choices.

I saw a really entertaining Polish comedy called Teddy Bear a few months back that I think would make a great addition. It's an excellent skewering of life under the Soviet regime in Poland. I'm surprised it made it through the censors.

[WonderWeasel]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I bought Harakiri during a past Barnes & Noble sale, but have not yet made my way to watching it. I really should prioritize this movie after reading the raves here.

The Bridge was a fantastic blind buy, but I'm familiar with the rest of the films, and I love them dearly.

Yes, you should prioritize its viewing! Nakadai is great in it. I had it in my hand today, ready to buy... but the disc was loose in the case, so I ended up with A Hard Day's Night and The Fisher King instead. Since they extended the sale, I'll have one more haul next Friday, and will probably grab it then.

The battle scenes in The Bridge look great on blu. I'm so glad I picked it up.

[ravenus]

Lots of Harakiri love up there, but like with someone else that said it, it was a film I admired more than liked, and I thought the melodrama was rather drawn out. Nakadai is great of course, but is Nakadai ever not great? Found Samurai Rebellion much more interesting as a film about the hypocrisy of Samurai code.

[Will G]

Originally Posted by WonderWeasel

I saw a really entertaining Polish comedy called Teddy Bear a few months back that I think would make a great addition. It's an excellent skewering of life under the Soviet regime in Poland. I'm surprised it made it through the censors.

I've been wanting to see that for a while, looks like I'll need to make it a priority.