The Criterion Collection

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by Rich Pure Doom

L'Eclisse is like watching paint dry. Red Desert is a masterpiece.

Maybe it is weird, but I somewhat agree, I too prefer Red Desert and also La Notte, L'Eclisse feels too vague at least on my first viewing, I don't remember any particularly great scenes in it, but if the paint that is drying painted Monica Vitti, then I think it is still worth it in some way.

[fancyclaps]

When does the next flash sale usually show up?

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

Maybe it is weird, but I somewhat agree, I too prefer Red Desert and also La Notte, L'Eclisse feels too vague at least on my first viewing, I don't remember any particularly great scenes in it, but if the paint that is drying painted Monica Vitti, then I think it is still worth it in some way.

"feels too vague at least on my first viewing, I don't remember any particularly great scenes in it"

That's interesting.

Personally I would say the same thing about Red Desert.

...I also prefer the classic black and white look of L'Eclisse.

[Cocophone]

I found L'Eclisse to be my type of film. Also, plenty of stuff happens.

[Show spoiler]L'Eclisse is about a young woman who breaks up with an older lover and then has an affair with a confident young stockbroker whose materialistic nature eventually undermines their relationship.

[popcorntreect]

Originally Posted by KubrickKurasawa

I just ordered these on DVD from Amazon.

Anyone have any idea if/when they'll be released as Region 1 or Region Free in USA? Much appreciated.(!)

Ugetsu will be announced because you just bought it but the eclipse set may likely never be released.

[prior]

Originally Posted by Rich Pure Doom

L'Eclisse is like watching paint dry. Red Desert is a masterpiece.

Originally Posted by pedromvu

Maybe it is weird, but I somewhat agree, I too prefer Red Desert and also La Notte, L'Eclisse feels too vague at least on my first viewing, I don't remember any particularly great scenes in it, but if the paint that is drying painted Monica Vitti, then I think it is still worth it in some way.

Red Desert is indeed a masterpiece. Found it to be stronger than La Notte, which isn't as incisive as I had hoped for, except for the last 10 minutes (particularly compared to other films centering around marriage). Haven't seen the other two yet.

[JoeBuck]

Originally Posted by fancyclaps

When does the next flash sale usually show up?

February.
The barns and noble sale should be starting in a couple of weeks though and theres usually some coupons floating around you can use.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by KubrickKurasawa

I just ordered these on DVD from Amazon.

Anyone have any idea if/when they'll be released as Region 1 or Region Free in USA? Much appreciated.(!)

Those *are* the Region 1 releases.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by prior

Red Desert is indeed a masterpiece. Found it to be stronger than La Notte, which isn't as incisive as I had hoped for, except for the last 10 minutes (particularly compared to other films centering around marriage). Haven't seen the other two yet.

I believe the complete opposite.

...La Notte is the only Antonioni film that really speaks to me.

[pedromvu]

Does anybody actually love all four in the let's say Antonioni-Vitti series?

I would rank them like this:

Great
Red Desert
La Notte

Good
L'avventura

Ok
L'eclisse

[darkness2918]

Id also love an BD upgrade of Le Samourai. Would also like Un Flic by Melville or other films with Alain Delon in it.

[jordan-r]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

Does anybody actually love all four in the let's say Antonioni-Vitti series?

I love all four of them and they have pride of place in my collection, but L'Eclisse is a shade above the other three.

[Bob Kramer]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I believe the complete opposite.

...La Notte is the only Antonioni film that really speaks to me.

Have you seen The Passenger, Blow Up, or Zabriskie Point?

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I might consider that as a blind buy next month.

How would you describe it as a movie?

Good?

Great?

Classic?

...horror feel to it?

If you've seen Kuroneko the film is extremely similar, especially in the mood of the piece, though I find Onibaba the better of the two films. Its a beautifully shot film with some simply amazing black and white cinematography. To describe the film in one word it is haunting and one of the main characters is these chilling wind swept marshes of 7 foot high grass swaying and whipping around in the wind under a dark overcast sky while the drumbeats of the sound track keep the viewer uneasy. These 7 foot high fields of grass allow the main characters, two women, to hide and lay and wait for retreating Samurai. Murdering the wounded Samurai in order to sell their clothes and weapons for survival. The majority of this film is about these 3 characters and their interactions.

The themes of passion and jealousy, as well as survival at all costs, are the over arching characteristics of this interaction. The film itself could be described as a erotic-horror character study. Don't expect a overly deep plotline with many subplots. The story is focused on the main characters with their individual fears, needs and desires driving them.

This is one of my favorite films for its use of the supernatural. Like The Innocents or Dreyers Day of Wraith the film can be seen as having a supernatural element or not having one and this perception is left to the viewer to decide. Like most great horror films the ghostly otherworldy element is left ambiguous and feeling all the more real for it. As such it lingers in your mind long after watching.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by Banned User

If you've seen Kuroneko the film is extremely similar, especially in the mood of the piece, though I find Onibaba the better of the two films. Its a beautifully shot film with some simply amazing black and white cinematography. To describe the film in one word it is haunting and one of the main characters is these chilling wind swept marshes of 7 foot high grass swaying and whipping around in the wind under a dark overcast sky while the drumbeats of the sound track keep the viewer uneasy. These 7 foot high fields of grass allow the main characters, two women, to hide and lay and wait for retreating Samurai. Murdering the wounded Samurai in order to sell their clothes and weapons for survival. The majority of this film is about these 3 characters and their interactions.

The themes of passion and jealousy, as well as survival at all costs, are the over arching characteristics of this interaction. The film itself could be described as a erotic-horror character study. Don't expect a overly deep plotline with many subplots. The story is focused on the main characters with their individual fears, needs and desires driving them.

This is one of my favorite films for its use of the supernatural. Like The Innocents or Dreyers Day of Wraith the film can be seen as having a supernatural element or not having one and this perception is left to the viewer to decide. Like most great horror films the ghostly otherworldy element is left ambiguous and feeling all the more real for it. As such it lingers in your mind long after watching.

Exactly what I was trying to say before, only I'm crap at writing haha.

Great write up

Awesome film.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Rich Pure Doom

L'Eclisse is like watching paint dry. Red Desert is a masterpiece.

That must be some phenomenal paint.

[Namuhana]

I think I might be confusing Red Desert and Identification of a Woman (I haven't seen one of them), but I didn't like that one, whichever one it is, as much as the Trilogy. L'Avventura is my clear favorite of the three, but I found L'Eclisse to be very good (with La Notte in third place).

[Namuhana]

On an unrelated note, my copy of The Innocents I received from the flash sale arrived damaged (the case has a crack about two inches long). I emailed orders@criterion.com about it, but I was wondering if anyone else had this happen to them. I figure it would be easier to just send a replacement case rather than a whole new package, but I don't know. Has this happened to anyone else? What happened?

[nikon76]

"Split" from 1989, directed by Chris Shaw would be a nice release from Criterion based on its early pioneering CGI methods alone. It's a funny film and very detailed beneath a veil of B-Movie characteristics. Worth investigating.

[Scarface32]

Oh how I love when Criterions go on sale <3

Got this for only $14.99