The Criterion Collection

[SkyAntoine]

I watched The Killing last night for the first time. Easy to see its influences on Reservoir Dogs.
Because it was Kurbrick I was expecting it to be a little more of a highbrow story, but it was enjoyable and straight forward. The ending was especially great.

I'm thinking about watching Macbeth and then Throne of Blood next. But, I can't seem to get excited about Macbeth due to the length and reviews I've seen. Any fans of the film?

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by SkyAntoine

I watched The Killing last night for the first time. Easy to see its influences on Reservoir Dogs.
Because it was Kurbrick I was expecting it to be a little more of a highbrow story, but it was enjoyable and straight forward. The ending was especially great.

I'm thinking about watching Macbeth and then Throne of Blood next. But, I can't seem to get excited about Macbeth due to the length and reviews I've seen. Any fans of the film?

If my opinion is allowed - then Macbeth is a great film and I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you are worried about the length just split the viewing . But I loved it.

[Yami]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Also the last point you made isn't good enough, this is not an important film - its very forgettable. Just because Saul Bass, Matthew Barney etc made great film coming from an art/design background doesn't mean all artists are great film makers. The only skills from his background that shows in the film are his character designs for 'F.R.I.E.N.D.S'.

That depends entirely on your definition of important, which Criterion clearly finds flexible enough to release films as different as La Grande Illusion and Tiny Furniture. The first film from the founder of the superflat movement can easily be deemed 'of importance' without needing to be critically acclaimed or, indeed, any good at all. Ironically, there is no 'criterion' to fulfil to be in the collection.

I don't think Rotten Tomatoes is of much use here, since it doesn't take into account the domestic, Japanese reviews. Now, I don't know if they're any good either but I'd say that their perspective is important.

P.S.

The good news is that this is the first film in a planned trilogy - so we can presumably look forward to two more Murakami releases from Criterion!

[InTheMood]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Seriously... I made one post with my opinion after a viewing and the other was a response.

I love how others are allowed to fill this place up with repetitive posts and include their opinions but whenever I do it or even post to share something that amy be of interest I am just ignored and told to pretty much shut up and go away.

Fed up of it.... cant be bothered anymore, you guys enjoy your little conversations and whatever and I'll just sit back and watch.

I don't want to upset you but over the last two months you've made numerous posts about your hate for the film.

I love reading your posts where you praise a film and how you've fallen in love with a film but I cannot understand why spread such hate.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

I am guessing Criterionforum.org

No, it's not them.

[buffetfroid]

Originally Posted by jmclick

Great list! And yes, The Major and the Minor is delightfully subversive! It's a movie Lubitsch might have made, since he was so fond of presenting characters who aren't exactly what or who they appear to be.

I'm ashamed to admit that I've never seen Avanti!, although I own the DVD. I'm going to have to unwrap it and watch it, based on your ranking. I wish I had a little more love for The Lost Weekend; although I respect its place in film history and admire the performances, particularly those of Ray Milland and Frank Faylen, I think the script is a bit weak and the resolution a little too pat. Some unforgettable moments, for sure!

Avanti is flawed--it's certainly overlong and even Wilder thought it lacked edge (he said it would have been better to have Lemmon's father in a gay relationship instead), but I think it has charm nonetheless, in a large part due to its locale.

I hear you on The Lost Weekend. I used to have it on VHS but now have nothing and don't have plans to get that Eureka edition. I was big into Wilder 20 years ago and have seen all he's directed except a few (Kiss Me, Stupid, Irma La Douce, Emperor Waltz, and Spirit of St Louis) but probably won't upgrade anything else after Avanti on my list.

[octagon]

Killer's Kiss is well worth a watch or two. I expecting a much rougher, student film kind of thing but it's fairly polished and works very well. It's not an A-list film by any stretch but it could probably hold its own against other Late, Late Show type movies.

[jw007]

I ran back to B&N just now and bought one final film during the 50% off sale! Today is the last day... I wanted to purchase Simon of the Desert but it was nowhere in stock and wasn't even available in their warehouse.

So instead I bought The Confession which I feel is a good companion piece to State of Siege which I bought a few weeks ago during the sale. I'm into political thrillers and this one is right up my alley.

[SkyAntoine]

Originally Posted by stevieray44

But, I digress: let me just suggest that if you enjoyed The Killing, that you seek out a little film he did before that called Killer's Kiss. It's not quite a heist movie, nor is it (in my opinion) nearly as great a work as The Killing, but they do share a bit of the same stylistic ideas. It's just a little film that's close to my heart, and if you pick up the Criterion blu-ray of The Killing, Killer's Kiss comes along with it as a bonus feature.

I have the blu-ray and will watch this. At only 67 minutes it will be a quick watch.

Whether anyone buys into the analysis or not, Room 237 on Kubrick and the meaning of The Shining is fascinating. It discusses that there are no accidents in Kubrick's films. Every shot, every background image, etc. is by design.

I would like to watch Kutrick's films in chronological order to see the change in his movies. The direction of The Killing was good, but I'm used to seeing deeper movies of his.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by jw007

I ran back to B&N just now and bought one final film during the 50% off sale! Today is the last day... I wanted to purchase Simon of the Desert but it was nowhere in stock and wasn't even available in their warehouse.

So instead I bought The Confession which I feel is a good companion piece to State of Siege which I bought a few weeks ago during the sale. I'm into political thrillers and this one is right up my alley.

I thought about buying The Confession myself, but heard some mixed reviews about it here.

I'm sure it's very interesting, but some folks said it was very slow.

Slow isn't necessarily bad, but sometimes it is.

[jw007]

I can handle slow-paced films...I've built up my sensitivity/stamina/endurance/resistance/immunity/tolerance (did I find the right word here?) with these types of films.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by SkyAntoine

I have the blu-ray and will watch this. At only 67 minutes it will be a quick watch.

Whether anyone buys into the analysis or not, Room 237 on Kubrick and the meaning of The Shining is fascinating. It discusses that there are no accidents in Kubrick's films. Every shot, every background image, etc. is by design.

I would like to watch Kutrick's films in chronological order to see the change in his movies. The direction of The Killing was good, but I'm used to seeing deeper movies of his.

Room 237 is a great watch, a lot of the analysis are wrong,b ut that doesn't bother me really as I love hearing others peoples views and takes on certain elements in film. Its more personal.

My main fault with the documentary is some of the points the narrators make aren't very clear to us the viewer, for example, one narrator discusses an image appearing in the sky yet we have no visual to go with it so it leave us having to guess or try find ourselves. Also it wasn't clear who was narrating. I would have preferred it to have been more obvious as we are just relying on hearing the different voice overs which for me became a bit confusing.

But I love the documentary it self, it brings up some great points and discussion and I loved the visual presentation (would have been better had they added those small bits the narrators were referencing).

I am sure any fan of Kubrick's work would enjoy this doc despite it's innacuracys, but tbh as I said people take different meaning from film so its fascinating to see what people come up with. When I discussed this documentary with Jan Harlan he did say some of the theories were very out there and were completely wrong but who cares.

I do recommend it

[skylinekiller]

Criterion has the best quality releases

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by skylinekiller

Criterion has the best quality releases

Not always

[bwdowiak]

"highbrow" is not a term I would ever associate with Stanley Kubrick

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Room 237 is a great watch, a lot of the analysis are wrong,b ut that doesn't bother me really as I love hearing others peoples views and takes on certain elements in film. Its more personal.

My main fault with the documentary is some of the points the narrators make aren't very clear to us the viewer, for example, one narrator discusses an image appearing in the sky yet we have no visual to go with it so it leave us having to guess or try find ourselves. Also it wasn't clear who was narrating. I would have preferred it to have been more obvious as we are just relying on hearing the different voice overs which for me became a bit confusing.

But I love the documentary it self, it brings up some great points and discussion and I loved the visual presentation (would have been better had they added those small bits the narrators were referencing).

I am sure any fan of Kubrick's work would enjoy this doc despite it's innacuracys, but tbh as I said people take different meaning from film so its fascinating to see what people come up with. When I discussed this documentary with Jan Harlan he did say some of the theories were very out there and were completely wrong but who cares.

I do recommend it

As do I. I just watched this film again a few months ago after having not seen it since I saw it in the arthouse theater a few years back. There is so much to study in Kubrick's films and this documentary gives audiences inspiration to go back and revisit The Shining along with other films of his.

I agree with you too, Polaroid, about the confusion in the narration in Room 237. I really would have found this to be even more interesting if they actually showed the faces of these people who were giving us these conspiracy theories and obsessive ideas they've discovered from watching the film. These disembodied voices didn't really distract from the film, but it would have been nice on occasion to put a face to the voice. Some of the interviewees were also a bit unclear and subtitles would have helped because a few of the people were mumbling/rambling on incoherently almost.

Anyway, I can never get enough of Kubrick.

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by skylinekiller

Criterion has the best quality releases

I've been introduced to many amazing films through Criterion and bought a ton of their films all of amazing quality. Then I saw the screenshots of Dressed to Kill and now absolutely hate Criterion and will never buy another film from them.

/hyperbole

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by jw007

As do I. I just watched this film again a few months ago after having not seen it since I saw it in the arthouse theater a few years back. There is so much to study in Kubrick's films and this documentary gives audiences inspiration to go back and revisit The Shining along with other films of his.

I agree with you too, Polaroid, about the confusion in the narration in Room 237. I really would have found this to be even more interesting if they actually showed the faces of these people who were giving us these conspiracy theories and obsessive ideas they've discovered from watching the film. These disembodied voices didn't really distract from the film, but it would have been nice on occasion to put a face to the voice. Some of the interviewees were also a bit unclear and subtitles would have helped because a few of the people were mumbling/rambling on incoherently almost.

Anyway, I can never get enough of Kubrick.

Other people word things so much better than me haha. I get so muddled.

Its a documentary I can revisit over and over because of all the details, same as you said about Kubricks films. It for too bugs me that everyone bangs on about 2001 all the time yet his other works never get the attention they deserve. The Shining is in my opinion higher than 2001, it has so many more details and just works so much better. Both are great. It saddens me we will never see his version of Eyes Wide Shut, but I am mad about that film, its so good but I would love to see what Kubrick wanted to really say about it.

Kubrick was pretty cruel to Shelley Duvall but she gave an incredible performance for it - that's why i think The Shining is one of his best films over 2001, it has incredible performances, nearly every scene is perfect and even the flawed scenes lead and create a better scene after. I also love how Kubrick portrayed a haunted hotel without the need for all those horror cliches and who he made the hotel become alive without shoving it down our throats. The story is pretty easy to follow as well so in a way its more enjoyable as you don't have to try analyse the film as much as you would say 2001.

Plus I am so thankful they codlin afford to do the hedges coming alive :P would have been a bit tacky on screen I think.

We need more Kubrick docs and I know its over said but he is one of the best, his film are very hard to fault.

Talking about Kubrick and his films makes me want to study film so bad, for my Graphic Design essays + dissertation I focused on Kubrick, tutors didn't mind but it was so fun - I just don't have time or money to go back and study film. Everything I know is self taught (hence I am never as technical as other who post here and come across stupid).

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

It saddens me we will never see his version of Eyes Wide Shut, but I am mad about that film, its so good but I would love to see what Kubrick wanted to really say about it.

I have heard this said before... what do you mean by this?

there are definitely horror cliches in The Shining, although I do like it a lot.

...and I'd disagree about people bangin' on about 2001 and not his other titles. his other works get plenty of attention. it's just that the type of people who have 2001 on their short list of greatest films (no offense, folks) are exactly the type of people who will bang on about this kind of film/subject matter.

it really isn't much different than the types who bang on about The Tree of Life. and I don't mean any offense there either, P, as I know that you are leading the march.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I have heard this said before... what do you mean by this?

there are definitely horror cliches in The Shining, although I do like it a lot.

...and I'd disagree about people bangin' on about 2001 and not his other titles. his other works get plenty of attention. it's just that the type of people who have 2001 on their short list of greatest films (no offense, folks) are exactly the type of people who will bang on about this kind of film/subject matter.

it really isn't much different than the types who bang on about The Tree of Life. and I don't mean any offense there either, P, as I know that you are leading the march.

Well I don't know how true it is anymore as everything gets a bit twisted with the Kubrick conspiracy theories, but apparently the version Kubrick submitted before his death was different and the studio had edited it - be it to hide secrets about the illuminati or just because the studio wanted to reach a different audience - we will never know :P! But I do love the film as it is.

I probably didn't word myself well, but what you said is more lf what I meant to say.

No I totally get what you mean, I do bang on about Tree and for me it is my favourite film from Malick, but I am aware his older works are peoples favourites and they would argue Badlands or Days of Heaven are better than Tree of Life, I do respect that. (also Thin Red Line which I agree is another one of his best!).

I just get a bit over passionate and obsessive over certain film makers/films an dI know its clear - I can't really help that .

Just wish we would see more of Kubricks film in the limelight rather than just 2001 if that makes any sense. I rarely see people discuss Lolita or even Eyes Wide Shut. Maybe thats just me not exploring enough?

I know my writing is a mess and hard to follow, I can't really help that, my head i just a mess lol so I struggle to get thoughts down... I am better at explaining in person :P go easy on me