The Criterion Collection

[silverlakephil]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

I know, not many of the old timers left but Olivia de Havilland is still here at 99, Setsuko Hara is 95, and Lupita Tovar (Dracula '31 Spanish version) is 105!

Maureen O'Hara-94
Kirk Douglas-98!

[Polaroid]

Just watched two Days, One Night and really enjoyed it, kind of watched it with no knowledge on the film. Will be picking this one up :-) it's not perfect but MC was brilliant to watch.

[Shout92]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

I know, not many of the old timers left but Olivia de Havilland is still here at 99, Setsuko Hara is 95, and Lupita Tovar (Dracula '31 Spanish version) is 105!

Originally Posted by silverlakephil

Maureen O'Hara-94
Kirk Douglas-98!

Sidney Poitier at 88!

[Ausjdm]

Originally Posted by stevieray44

That's actually a fantastic comparison! Only, if my memory serves me right, Elaine actually walks out of the theater (although I could very well be wrong on that). In our case, we watched the whole thing. All 2.5 hours.

They were laughing though, at how much they genuinely disliked it. Whereas I was laughing at how much they were laughing. It was one of the most genuinely backwards movie experiences I've ever had, and it was wonderful.

Originally Posted by Bob Kramer

Speaking of those lenses:



From an ebay listing, circa 2004, from Gallo himself. It's even better if you read it in his voice.

Cool Im gonna go call Vincent Gallo real quick and ask if we can go grab a beer in NYC and make fun of Hollywood lol.

Oh also a comment from earlier about scary CC titles. I know it's been talked about a million times before but I still say the first time I saw in the theater Mulholland Dr. The Alley scene, that scared the crap out of me!

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by malakaheso

High and Low is brilliant and gets better with repeated viewings. The last scene is devastating.

The most powerful last shot in movie history imo.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Depends on what you're defining the term as. He definitely makes intelligent films that smart people love to dissect. They're still Hollywood movies though, sure, so if your definition requires some kind of niche cred then I guess they're not. I don't think highbrow and niche are the same thing though, really.

I'm not the one who used the term, so I'm not eager to define it. I know that the OP didn't mean anything by it, but 'highbrow' to me, has a negative connotation.

I just googled a definition for it, so perhaps I had the wrong idea... I would have thought that some synonyms for highbrow were snobby, condescending, elitist.. words like that.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

The most powerful last shot in movie history imo.

I'm gonna have to google this because I have seen this movie and I don't know what you're talking about.

EDIT: please tell me in spoiler tags, because I can't find it online and I have forgotten.

[filmmusic]

I wanted to ask something:

My favourite Ghibli anime film is Only Yesterday!
I have seen in many reviews of it they say it reminds of Ozu films.

What is the best Ozu for someone to start who hasn't seen a single film of his?

By the way, I think you should check out Only Yesterday, even if you don't like anime!
And it's ideal for summer viewing.

trailer:

[Show spoiler]

ONLY YESTERDAY (1991) Trailer - YouTube

[the sordid sentinel]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

The most powerful last shot in movie history imo.

Yeah..love that ending as well. Chilling and sad at the same moment. Mifune's reaction to what was taking place in front of him was amazing. His character was a totally different man at that point than when that story begins. Anyway, my 5...

1. Ikiru
2. Seven Samurai
3. High and Low
4. Throne of Blood
5. Stray Dog

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

The most powerful last shot in movie history imo.

Really? I never really got that from it, I think there are other films with more powerful ends, but each to their own

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Really? I never really got that from it, I think there are other films with more powerful ends, but each to their own

I can't believe that anyone could watch that scene and not be extremely moved by the final shot.

...whether you think it's the most powerful shot to close a film is a matter of personal opinion.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I can't believe that anyone could watch that scene and not be extremely moved by the final shot.

...whether you think it's the most powerful shot to close a film is a matter of personal opinion.

I never said I wasn't moved by it or it didn't affect me - I can just think of other films endings that stick with me longer and on a more emotional level.

But as you said its a very personal thing I didn't me to come across as dismissing your opinion on the end

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

I never said I wasn't moved by it or it didn't affect me - I can just think of other films endings that stick with me longer and on a more emotional level.

But as you said its a very personal thing I didn't me to come across as dismissing your opinion on the end

No I wasn't offended or anything.

Just for me personally, I think it's as close to a perfect last shot as any film I've ever seen.

To see

[Show spoiler]the killer stripped of his bravado as he finally realizes he doesn't want to die, while Mifune sits there trying to hold back the sympathy he has for the man who almost destroyed his life as the window cover comes down and the screen fades to black

is extremely powerful for me.

...I get a lump in my throat every time.

It cuts to the heart of what that film is all about.

Just out of curiosity, what would you say is the most powerful last shot in a film?

[Rich Pure Doom]

Originally Posted by the sordid sentinel

Yeah..love that ending as well. Chilling and sad at the same moment. Mifune's reaction to what was taking place in front of him was amazing. His character was a totally different man at that point than when that story begins.

I like the final scene in High and Low but I don't find it moving nor do I see how Mifune's character should be changed by it. The man is an awful, weak person who has no other reason than jealousy to commit horrible crimes? If Mifune has any sympathy whatsoever for this person, then he too, is emotionally weak and has the emotional timber of a teen girl. I'd cast this person off without ever thinking about him again. Again, just my opinion.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by Rich Pure Doom

I like the final scene in High and Low but I don't find it moving nor do I see how Mifune's character should be changed by it. The man is an awful, weak person who has no other reason than jealousy to commit horrible crimes? I'd cast this person off without ever thinking about him again. Again, just my opinion.

I think Kurosawa is trying to suggest that if you can find the humanity in even the most seemingly immoral people, then you strengthen your own humanity, which Mifune's character was losing touch with at the beginning of the film.

We never really learn much about the background of the killer.

...but I think it's safe to say that he did not have a very happy childhood.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

No I wasn't offended or anything.

Just for me personally, I think it's as close to a perfect last shot as any film I've ever seen.

To see

[Show spoiler]the killer stripped of his bravado as he finally realizes he doesn't want to die, while Mifune sits there trying to hold back the sympathy he has for the man who almost destroyed his life as the window cover comes down and the screen fades to black

is extremely powerful for me.

...I get a lump in my throat every time.

It cuts to the heart of what that film is all about.

Just out of curiosity, what would you say is the most powerful last shot in a film?

There are so many.

A few from (a few posters here will roll their eyes but oh well):

Dogville
Dancer in the Dark
I Saw the Devil
Koyaanisqatsi
The Fall
Miss Julie (Liv Ullmans's)
The Seventh Continent
Irreversible
2001 A Space Odyssey
Morvern Callar

There are probably more obvious choices but watched so many films over the last couple days my heads a bit of a mess :P

Most of my choices are down to how the film works the music with the imagery, and how the entire journey of the film si summer dup in the final shot/sequence and most of these ends are so rewarding, a certain one is more shocking and like noooooo but that is what made that one memorable for me

The Fall ending is a little more fun and that is why I find it so memorable it is a bit of a cheat but its great, I wouldn't say this spoils the film btw its more of a little treat to us film fans, especially fans of the silent film stunts:

The Fall last scene - YouTube

[Rich Pure Doom]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I think Kurosawa is trying to suggest that if you can find the humanity in even the most seemingly immoral people, then you strengthen your own humanity, which Mifune's character was losing touch with at the beginning of the film.

We never really learn much about the background of the killer.

...but I think it's safe to say that he did not have a very happy childhood.

I totally understand Kurosawa's intention but I think it would've resonated better if the audience too, could sympathize with a murderer and child abductor. I just couldn't, personally. The killer gives no legitimate justification for his crimes either, just petty, immature jealousy.

[bwdowiak]

ok.. got it now. thanks, RayJ.

great scene for sure.. great 'final shot'? for my money, it is The Third Man

[Rich Pure Doom]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

ok.. got it now. thanks, RayJ.

great scene for sure.. great 'final shot'? for my money, it is The Third Man

I gotta agree here.

Some others:

Paddling to shore in Jaws

Aguirre: The Wrath of God - Circling shot of Aguirre

The 400 Blows

The Searchers and John Wayne's famous, framed exit.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by Rich Pure Doom

I totally understand Kurosawa's intention but I think it would've resonated better if the audience too, could sympathize with a murderer and child abductor. I just couldn't, personally. The killer gives nearly no legitimate justification for his crimes either, just petty, immature jealousy.

He's not a sympathetic character, that's for sure.

But I think there are a lot of people in this world who had the capacity to do good things, but were beaten down by life in various ways and lost their humanity in the process.

We're all capable of going down the path to the dark side.