The Criterion Collection

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by kwillard37

Hasn't there been a criterion sale in November in prior years? Anyone know if that's happening this year?

Yes, at Barnes & Noble.

[Namuhana]

Originally Posted by kwillard37

Hasn't there been a criterion sale in November in prior years? Anyone know if that's happening this year?

There are two 50% off sales at Barnes & Noble for Criterion titles; they're always in July and November.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Today was rainy and depressing across the board here in my neck of the woods. After my soaked morning run, I headed to the theater to see two movies back-to-back. I cannot remember the last time that I enjoyed a double feature at a theater.

I saw Ridley Scott's The Martian...

Anyway, my point in sharing this here on the Criterion thread is to say that, while watching The Martian, I thought of Robinson Crusoe on Mars quite a few times!

I ended up seeing The Martian on Friday night in 3D at the 10pm showing in the small arthouse theater a few blocks from my house. I also thought it was similar to Robinson Crusoe on Mars! Yet, I only give The Martian 3 out of 4 stars because the film lacked some imagination and was purely predictable and science-driven. I liked that it was engrossed with the human condition and ingenuity, but I still favor Interstellar for the type of recent sci fi I dig. But The Martian is a very good space-survival film that can stand alongside Gravity and Apollo 13.

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

I know I am late to the party, but just watched Night and the City, I am not much of a film-noir fan, so after having loved Ride the Pink Horse, I wasn't expecting this to top that, but I was wrong.

These 95 minutes fly, there doesn't seem to be any breaks in the script to reflect or just to create atmosphere although it still has one, the script is very tight and there is always something important going on, oh and that wrestling scene was pretty heart pounding.

What surprises me as with Pink Horse, is that after checking reviews it doesn't seem to be as well regarded film as I thought, I just have seen this and Rififi, but surely need to check out more of Dassin work.

Night and the City's reputation has steadily grown over the years, and continues to do so. In Leonard Maltin's brand new "Classic Movie Guide 3rd Edition" (out last month), he gave the film a fresh review and upped the star rating from **1/2 to ***1/2. Steven Scheuer's old guide had also raised the original rating from **1/2 to ***1/2 some years before. I've watched Night and the City's reputation grow over the years with a great deal of personal satisfaction and no small sense of vindication ... I've always thought it was a fantastic film, and have always particularly admired Richard Widmark's bravura performance.

[CriterionBlues]

Originally Posted by Namuhana

There are two 50% off sales at Barnes & Noble for Criterion titles; they're always in July and November.

Not to mention a flash sale usually in October .. which could be this week.

[CriterionBlues]

Whit Stillman confirms on Twitter that Barcelona coming to Criterion.

At least that looks like confirmation to me.

I have not seen enough Stillman. Has anyone seen this one?

[oildude]

Originally Posted by CriterionBlues

Whit Stillman confirms on Twitter that Barcelona coming to Criterion.

At least that looks like confirmation to me.

I have not seen enough Stillman. Has anyone seen this one?

I have never seen Barcelona so cannot comment on it. However, I own both Stillmans currently out on Criterion Blu-ray: The Last Days of Disco and Metropolitan. These were blind buys and, while watchable, I wish I liked them more. I have to say based on them I am not a fan of Stillman. Set in New York City in different eras about 10 years or so apart, both feature young people (college students or recent grads) trying to find their place in life. Both explore themes of urban alienation, group acceptance, and living up to expected social structures in a changing world that the characters barely understand.

As a pair of films, they are interesting in their differing approaches to journeys of self-discovery. Both films have elements that interest me. Stillman doesn't shy away from making his characters unappealing, which I suppose is one reason why I don't like these two movies all that much. Also, Stillman's dialogue is highly refined and intellectually stylized in a way that often seems unauthentic.

Another reason why I find these films hard to really like is that both are set in eras that bookend my own young self and, while I find the themes and questions universal, the way Stillman presents them in his landscape of upscale youthful yuppie-ism is totally alien to my own experience in the 1980s-mid 1990s. Yes, I can appreciate a different viewpoint on self discovery, but that doesn't mean I relate to it or like it. That is just me, of course.

Of the two, I think Metropolitan is the better overall film, but I dig on the music of The Last Days of Disco (making it the more rewatchable of the two).

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by CriterionBlues

Whit Stillman confirms on Twitter that Barcelona coming to Criterion.

At least that looks like confirmation to me.

I have not seen enough Stillman. Has anyone seen this one?

I've seen Barcelona and it is my favorite of Stillman's "doomed bourgeois" trilogy. This is mostly due to Chris Eigerman -- he steals the movie whenever he's in it.

[Namuhana]

I recently watched The Last Days of Disco, my first Stillman film, and I don't think I really liked it all that much. The music was certainly the best part of the film, but I didn't ever seem to connect to the characters or care that much about their problems. There were a few funny one liners, but I wasn't that engaged in the story/characters.

But, for fans of Stillman and his films, I'm glad to see that the middle film of his trilogy will be released for those who want it.

[pedromvu]

I recently watched Damsels in Distress, and it is as weird as his previous films, I wouldn't say I am a fan of him, but I still enjoyed his films, and Barcelona is the only one I am missing so I am ready to give that one a try too.

[jmclick]

Last night I took a break from watching corny, grade Z horror films and watched a film that I have always been curious about, The Battle of Algiers. I was lucky enough to find it and Sansho the Bailiff last week at a used bookstore for $15.00 each.

Suffice it to say that The Battle of Algiers justified its impeccable critical reputation; I honestly kept forgetting that it wasn't a documentary. I can't think of another film I've seen that was so completely without artifice of any kind. Everything seemed so real and true-to-life. And the film is certainly as topical and relevant today as it was 49 years ago when it was first released.

Happily, Criterion's transfer is superb. I only made it through the supplements on the first blu-ray disc; there are literally hours of bonus materials, making this one of the most satisfying and immersive titles in the Criterion canon. I'm looking forward to watching the second disc next weekend, after I've had time to digest what I've experienced so far. Highly recommended; this is truly a masterful, must-see film with content and technique that encourage multiple viewings by anyone who is a devotee of film at its finest.

[schan1269]

Originally Posted by oildude

I have never seen Barcelona so cannot comment on it. However, I own both Stillmans currently out on Criterion Blu-ray: The Last Days of Disco and Metropolitan. These were blind buys and, while watchable, I wish I liked them more. I have to say based on them I am not a fan of Stillman. Set in New York City in different eras about 10 years or so apart, both feature young people (college students or recent grads) trying to find their place in life. Both explore themes of urban alienation, group acceptance, and living up to expected social structures in a changing world that the characters barely understand.

As a pair of films, they are interesting in their differing approaches to journeys of self-discovery. Both films have elements that interest me. Stillman doesn't shy away from making his characters unappealing, which I suppose is one reason why I don't like these two movies all that much. Also, Stillman's dialogue is highly refined and intellectually stylized in a way that often seems unauthentic.

Another reason why I find these films hard to really like is that both are set in eras that bookend my own young self and, while I find the themes and questions universal, the way Stillman presents them in his landscape of upscale youthful yuppie-ism is totally alien to my own experience in the 1980s-mid 1990s. Yes, I can appreciate a different viewpoint on self discovery, but that doesn't mean I relate to it or like it. That is just me, of course.

Of the two, I think Metropolitan is the better overall film, but I dig on the music of The Last Days of Disco (making it the more rewatchable of the two).

Hhhmmm

A Harvard educated filmmaker that uses Ivy-League characters seems...at times, out of touch...and wordy.

[CriterionBlues]

I thought I had not watched much Stillman, but my wife reminded me of watching Metropolitan together. The plot synopsis sounds vaguely familiar, but I guess that speaks to my takeaway. Or maybe I just watch too many films.

Either way, I've heard enough good things about Barcelona that I'm intrigued.

[SlickDamian]

Originally Posted by jw007

I ended up seeing The Martian on Friday night in 3D at the 10pm showing in the small arthouse theater a few blocks from my house. I also thought it was similar to Robinson Crusoe on Mars! Yet, I only give The Martian 3 out of 4 stars because the film lacked some imagination and was purely predictable and science-driven. I liked that it was engrossed with the human condition and ingenuity, but I still favor Interstellar for the type of recent sci fi I dig. But The Martian is a very good space-survival film that can stand alongside Gravity and Apollo 13.

Can't wait to see The Martian. I'm reading the book now, and it's one of the best that I've read in a long while.

[SlickDamian]

Recently watched Watership Down for the first time. I really enjoyed it. I think it kind of scared the shit out of my son, though.

[theater dreamer]

Hey everybody, I started my Criterion collection a little over five months ago, and I'm really enjoying the films I have picked up thus far (see my signature for a link to my current collection). It looks like I am one of the rare few that didn't get into Criterion until the Blu-ray era.

I have a list of films I would like to add within the next six to eight months. However, after reading some discussion about picture quality of recent releases like The Fisher King, I have to wonder if any of these films I am contemplating buying have similar picture issues. I've read the reviews, but I'd appreciate input from any of you.

The movies I'm looking to add:

The Night of the Hunter
Belle De Jour
Fanny and Alexander
Kiss Me Deadly
Shoah
Paths of Glory
Day For Night
Rashomon
Days of Heaven
Yojimbo
Sanjuro
Breathless
M
Hoop Dreams
Autumn Sonata
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Rosemary's Baby
The Red Shoes
Tess
Modern Times
A Night to Remember
Black Narcissus
Kagemusha
The Trilogy of Life
The Last Temptation of Christ
Vivre sa vie
L'Avventura
Hunger
L'eclisse
Dinner With Andre
Summer Interlude
3 Films by Roberto Rossellini Starring Ingrid Bergman
Three Colors
Macbeth
Rules of the Game
Sweet Smell of Success
Diabolique
The Wages of Fear
The Third Man
Last Year at Marienbad
Summer With Monika
The 39 Steps
Being John Malkovich
Odd Man Out
My Beautiful Laundrette

Of course, all of these have been released. There are films coming out soon that I also want to add (including Mulholland Drive, Ikiru, and In Cold Blood), but I will wait to see the overall impressions from our members. I guess I want to be sure that I'm buying the definitive version of these films, as far as picture and sound quality goes. I love the extras that Criterion includes with their Blu-ray releases, but ultimately, the film is what matters, and I want the best quality possible.

Thank you in advance!

[octagon]

Originally Posted by SlickDamian

Recently watched Watership Down for the first time. I really enjoyed it. I think it kind of scared the shit out of my son, though.

Eh, don't worry about it. When I was like five my parents me and my younger siblings into the car and we all saw Torture Garden at the drive-in. And on the way home my little brother ate the packet of grass seed they were giving away as a promotion and my jokester of a father told us it was poison and he was going to die.

And I'm just fine.

[Groot]

Originally Posted by octagon

Eh, don't worry about it. When I was like five my parents me and my younger siblings into the car and we all saw Torture Garden at the drive-in. And on the way home my little brother ate the packet of grass seed they were giving away as a promotion and my jokester of a father told us it was poison and he was going to die.

And I'm just fine.

That's hilarious and awful.

[schan1269]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

Hey everybody, I started my Criterion collection a little over five months ago, and I'm really enjoying the films I have picked up thus far (see my signature for a link to my current collection). It looks like I am one of the rare few that didn't get into Criterion until the Blu-ray era.

I have a list of films I would like to add within the next six to eight months. However, after reading some discussion about picture quality of recent releases like The Fisher King, I have to wonder if any of these films I am contemplating buying have similar picture issues. I've read the reviews, but I'd appreciate input from any of you.

The movies I'm looking to add:

The Night of the Hunter
Belle De Jour
Fanny and Alexander
Kiss Me Deadly
Shoah
Paths of Glory
Day For Night
Rashomon
Days of Heaven
Yojimbo
Sanjuro
Breathless
M
Hoop Dreams
Autumn Sonata
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Rosemary's Baby
The Red Shoes
Tess
Modern Times
A Night to Remember
Black Narcissus
Kagemusha
The Trilogy of Life
The Last Temptation of Christ
Vivre sa vie
L'Avventura
Hunger
L'eclisse
Dinner With Andre
Summer Interlude
3 Films by Roberto Rossellini Starring Ingrid Bergman
Three Colors
Macbeth
Rules of the Game
Sweet Smell of Success
Diabolique
The Wages of Fear
The Third Man
Last Year at Marienbad
Summer With Monika
The 39 Steps
Being John Malkovich
Odd Man Out
My Beautiful Laundrette

Of course, all of these have been released. There are films coming out soon that I also want to add (including Mulholland Drive, Ikiru, and In Cold Blood), but I will wait to see the overall impressions from our members. I guess I want to be sure that I'm buying the definitive version of these films, as far as picture and sound quality goes. I love the extras that Criterion includes with their Blu-ray releases, but ultimately, the film is what matters, and I want the best quality possible.

Thank you in advance!

Several of those Crit are OOP. I think all the OOP are on Hulu.

Otherwise, Last Year in Marienbad from the UK almost pays for a multi-region player...

By itself.

[SlickDamian]

Originally Posted by octagon

Eh, don't worry about it. When I was like five my parents me and my younger siblings into the car and we all saw Torture Garden at the drive-in. And on the way home my little brother ate the packet of grass seed they were giving away as a promotion and my jokester of a father told us it was poison and he was going to die.

And I'm just fine.

You're giving me too many ideas!