The Criterion Collection

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by jayembee

There are so many good movies to see, that I don't make a point of deliberately watching ones that I'm pretty sure are going to be bad, even if they're of the "so bad they're good" variety. I do, however, occasionally see a movie that looks like it might be reasonably good, turns out to be bad, but is somehow enjoyable despite being utter nonsense, and will watch it any number of times. A example would be Independence Day.

Sometimes I've been watching or reading stuff that's so heavy, I just need something mindless.

And yeah, ID4 is loads of fun and totally idiotic.

[Scottie]

The third time's the charm for me with Fritz Lang's M.

The first time I watched it, I thought it was decent, but I never saw the major significance to the film.

The second time I watched it in school and I was extremely tired so I was rather put off by it, while simultaneously finding some more redeeming qualities to it.

Tonight was the third time I watched it and I absolutely loved it. Excellent from start to finish!

[the sordid sentinel]

Originally Posted by iScottie

The third time's the charm for me with Fritz Lang's M.

The first time I watched it, I thought it was decent, but I never saw the major significance to the film.

The second time I watched it in school and I was extremely tired so I was rather put off by it, while simultaneously finding some more redeeming qualities to it.

Tonight was the third time I watched it and I absolutely loved it. Excellent from start to finish!

Lorre is amazing in that film. The breakdown at the end is always riveting.

[SkyAntoine]

Originally Posted by iScottie

The third time's the charm for me with Fritz Lang's M.



The first time I watched it, I thought it was decent, but I never saw the major significance to the film.



The second time I watched it in school and I was extremely tired so I was rather put off by it, while simultaneously finding some more redeeming qualities to it.



Tonight was the third time I watched it and I absolutely loved it. Excellent from start to finish!

M is one of my favorite Criterion titles. Very few films make my skin crawl like when I hear the whistling. The real terror is what is implied throughout.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by jayembee

The late, lamented Cinefantastique's review of Attack of the Killer Tomatoes included the comment, "When it deliberately sets out to be bad, can you really blame it if it succeeds?"

I think Roger Corman said "You don't make a cult film; the audience makes a cult film." That's how I felt when I first saw Killer Tomatoes-they tried too hard and the damn thing just wasn't funny weather intentional or unintentional.
You're right about Cinefantastique-it was on a different level than the other magazines back then. I think Tim Lucas got his start there and Video Watchdog is a fine successor to It.

[darkness2918]

Originally Posted by Norbie

Looks at this lovely package Barnes & Noble has sent me....


Attachment 122613

.... who knew that Barnes & Noble deals with second hand items?

The history......

During the Criterion sale I ordered this set as well as the 3 Rossillini with Bergman one. The Rossillini set was fine, it came with the same issues that we all are familiar with when it comes to this style of digipack and it included the regular blu-ray sticker that comes with every item.

But this.... No blu-ray sticker and not the original cellophane covering the set. This is the third or fourth time they have done this to me. I believe they think they can do this because I'm an international customer (Australia) and it will be a ***** to deal with their "customer service" people.

Has there been anyone who is an international customer dealt with B&N because they sent an item like the one above? Did you ask for a refund or for them to replace the item? Was it a ***** dealing with them?

I bought Thief during the sale in July. First it had no signed sticker by Michael Mann, the wrapping looked a bit off, the back of the case has a very small puncture hole & the DVD disc has some very light scratches. BD was fine though. I kept it since I didn't wanna go all the back to the store & was out of town until after the return period.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by iScottie

The third time's the charm for me with Fritz Lang's M.

The first time I watched it, I thought it was decent, but I never saw the major significance to the film.

The second time I watched it in school and I was extremely tired so I was rather put off by it, while simultaneously finding some more redeeming qualities to it.

Tonight was the third time I watched it and I absolutely loved it. Excellent from start to finish!

Originally Posted by the sordid sentinel

Lorre is amazing in that film. The breakdown at the end is always riveting.

Originally Posted by SkyAntoine

M is one of my favorite Criterion titles. Very few films make my skin crawl like when I hear the whistling. The real terror is what is implied throughout.

Another of my old Criterion DVD titles I need to upgrade. I'd like to see Lorre's Mad Love or some of those fun films he made at Warner's when he was teamed with Sydney Greenstreet make it to Blu-ray.

[Banned User]

TCM is having a "Up to" 40% off Criterion sale for those interested. Like The uninvited 16.99 Red River 31.99. etc

**EDIT** there's a few good deals, but some are still pretty high in price. Though there are a few eclipse sets at 28.00

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by jmclick

I definitely think she's a keeper! And Happy Birthday, friend.

Thanks!! And yes, I was quite impressed.

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by Norbie

Looks at this lovely package Barnes & Noble has sent me....


Attachment 122613

[Show spoiler].... who knew that Barnes & Noble deals with second hand items?

The history......

During the Criterion sale I ordered this set as well as the 3 Rossillini with Bergman one. The Rossillini set was fine, it came with the same issues that we all are familiar with when it comes to this style of digipack and it included the regular blu-ray sticker that comes with every item.

But this.... No blu-ray sticker and not the original cellophane covering the set. This is the third or fourth time they have done this to me. I believe they think they can do this because I'm an international customer (Australia) and it will be a ***** to deal with their "customer service" people.

Has there been anyone who is an international customer dealt with B&N because they sent an item like the one above? Did you ask for a refund or for them to replace the item? Was it a ***** dealing with them?

The horror.... the horror.

Sorry to see that, I know how you feel when that happens. Had to stop buying box sets online all together. Even Amazon has issues more often than not.

[SkyAntoine]

I followed up Day for Night with watching Jules and Jim last night. It may be an unpopular opinion, but I cannot even put it in the same league as D4N or 400 Blows. I really did not enjoy the story and was most pleased with the ending when it was finally over. It seemed fitting for everyone.

I am going to view the supplements because I really want to know more about all the fuss over this film.

So in my limited viewings of Truffaut:
1. 400 Blows
2. Day for Night
Distant 3. Jules and Jim

[llj]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

Which other Truffaut films have you seen?

I find that the number of people who are coming out saying that they are not fans or that they have had a hard time connecting with his films to be baffling as his films are very accessible - especially when compared to some of the French directors you mentioned.

Or maybe you have your answer right here. Maybe that poster preferred the more 'challenging' directors of the New Wave.

Me, I like Truffaut all right. I'm not in love with him but I've enjoyed his films to varying degrees.

Strangely enough, even though it's considered sexist by many viewers today, The Man Who Loved Women is one of my favorites of his. I can't even entirely defend the 'sexist' accusation either, and I wouldn't deny it's nowhere near his best, but I'm sure there are some hardcore fans of Truffaut out there that could.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by llj

Strangely enough, even though it's considered sexist by many viewers today, The Man Who Loved Women is one of my favorites of his. I can't even entirely defend the 'sexist' accusation either, but I'm sure there are some fans of Truffaut out there that could.

It's a good film. I haven't seen it in a while but I remember getting a chuckle out of the pickup artist crashing his car to meet a woman.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by SkyAntoine

I followed up Day for Night with watching Jules and Jim last night. It may be an unpopular opinion, but I cannot even put it in the same league as D4N or 400 Blows. I really did not enjoy the story and was most pleased with the ending when it was finally over. It seemed fitting for everyone.

I am going to view the supplements because I really want to know more about all the fuss over this film.

So in my limited viewings of Truffaut:
1. 400 Blows
2. Day for Night
Distant 3. Jules and Jim

Around this neck of the woods, it is actually an unpopular opinion to love Jules and Jim.

Jules and Jim is an absolute masterpiece. Of course everyone is entitled to their opinions, but I'm convinced that there is a reason - something that is turning people off about this wonderful movie. One idea is that the opening narration is impossible to follow. Yes, it is "impossible," I said it. Maybe French viewers had a slightly easier time with it, but when you have to read subtitles and you don't know which one is Jules and which one is Jim yet, it is extremely difficult to catch all of the info that is given. ...and then there is Moreau's Catherine character who, it seems, just about everybody despises. I did, too, on my first viewing.

Having the luxury of watching it on home video, I'd watch, then pause, then let it roll some more, then pause, until I understood what is being said at the beginning. Regarding Catherine, the second time I made more of an effort to understand the mens' attraction to her and also what her character might have been feeling. ...and (and I apologize because I'm sounding like a broken record on this thread,) the music just knocked me out the second time through after I hardly noticed it the first time.

speaking of Truffaut and 'accessible,' this is probably one of his least accessible. but man, what a rewarding 2nd watch. I did a complete 180 on it and would probably say it is one of my all-time favorite films.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by llj

Or maybe you have your answer right here. Maybe that poster preferred the more 'challenging' directors of the New Wave.

Me, I like Truffaut all right. I'm not in love with him but I've enjoyed his films to varying degrees.

Strangely enough, even though it's considered sexist by many viewers today, The Man Who Loved Women is one of my favorites of his. I can't even entirely defend the 'sexist' accusation either, and I wouldn't deny it's nowhere near his best, but I'm sure there are some hardcore fans of Truffaut out there that could.

I haven't seen that one yet, but read good things about it.

Ebert pointed this out regarding Truffaut's female characters:

"He has two kinds of women in his movies. There are the bright, pleasant, vapid little things, like the various girls in the life of his autobiographical character, Antoine Doinel. And then there are the obsessed, sometimes insane women whose neurotic or incomplete ideas about sexuality drive them in to fatal relationships with men."

he later goes on to say...

"Tormented by a sexuality that gives them little release, all of these women try to manipulate, possess and destroy the men in their lives.
It is apparently a theme Truffaut finds fascinating, and you have to look very closely through his films to find a normally developed woman (the Jacqueline Bisset character in "Day for Night" comes close)."

EDIT: he said this in his review of The Story of Adele H. The review was written in 1976. Fanny Ardant's character in Finally, Sunday certainly doesn't fall into this category, but that film came later. I can't remember much about Deneuve's character in The Last Metro.

[SkyAntoine]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

Around this neck of the woods, it is actually an unpopular opinion to love Jules and Jim.

Jules and Jim is an absolute masterpiece. Of course everyone is entitled to their opinions, but I'm convinced that there is a reason - something that is turning people off about this wonderful movie. One idea is that the opening narration is impossible to follow. Yes, it is "impossible," I said it. Maybe French viewers had a slightly easier time with it, but when you have to read subtitles and you don't know which one is Jules and which one is Jim yet, it is extremely difficult to catch all of the info that is given. ...and then there is Moreau's Catherine character who, it seems, just about everybody despises. I did, too, on my first viewing.

Having the luxury of watching it on home video, I'd watch, then pause, then let it roll some more, then pause, until I understood what is being said at the beginning. Regarding Catherine, the second time I made more of an effort to understand the mens' attraction to her and also what her character might have been feeling. ...and (and I apologize because I'm sounding like a broken record on this thread,) the music just knocked me out the second time through after I hardly noticed it the first time.

speaking of Truffaut and 'accessible,' this is probably one of his least accessible. but man, what a rewarding 2nd watch. I did a complete 180 on it and would probably say it is one of my all-time favorite films.

As I work through my collection I am approaching each title with an open mind to appreciate the direction/acting/influences/technique/soundtrack/etc. What is most interesting to me about this title now that I've watched it is why I am so disconnected to it. I realize that I have a conservative slant on everything, but it wasn't just the romantic arrangements that put me off. If opposing viewpoints affected my movie watching that much, then there would actually be very few films I would enjoy.

I just never could relate to any of the characters to develop an interest in where this was going. I will finish the supplements tonight and like I said previously hope to get a little more appreciation for the film.

[Scottie]

The problem that I have with Jules and Jim is that I do not care about any of the characters and cannot bring myself to care about any of them whether they are friends, lovers, enemies, etc.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by iScottie

The problem that I have with Jules and Jim is that I do not care about any of the characters and cannot bring myself to care about any of them whether they are friends, lovers, enemies, etc.

in order of sympathy , I feel for Jules, then Jim, and even Catherine, but third, of course.

[Namuhana]

It's been a while since I last saw Jules and Jim, but it's definitely my favorite film of Truffaut's (followed very closely by Day for Night). I wasn't able to connect with The 400 Blows, though I do need to watch it again as it's been some time. Shoot the Piano Player and The Soft Skin were pretty "meh" for me.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

Around this neck of the woods, it is actually an unpopular opinion to love Jules and Jim.

Jules and Jim is an absolute masterpiece. Of course everyone is entitled to their opinions, but I'm convinced that there is a reason - something that is turning people off about this wonderful movie. One idea is that the opening narration is impossible to follow. Yes, it is "impossible," I said it. Maybe French viewers had a slightly easier time with it, but when you have to read subtitles and you don't know which one is Jules and which one is Jim yet, it is extremely difficult to catch all of the info that is given. ...and then there is Moreau's Catherine character who, it seems, just about everybody despises. I did, too, on my first viewing.

Having the luxury of watching it on home video, I'd watch, then pause, then let it roll some more, then pause, until I understood what is being said at the beginning. Regarding Catherine, the second time I made more of an effort to understand the mens' attraction to her and also what her character might have been feeling. ...and (and I apologize because I'm sounding like a broken record on this thread,) the music just knocked me out the second time through after I hardly noticed it the first time.

speaking of Truffaut and 'accessible,' this is probably one of his least accessible. but man, what a rewarding 2nd watch. I did a complete 180 on it and would probably say it is one of my all-time favorite films.

I can see how Jules and Jim and the 400 Blows were innovative and influential films for that time period.

But I find them both to be fairly dull and pedestrian compared to early new-wave films like Hiroshima Mon Amour and Vivre Sa Vie.