The Criterion Collection

[SkyAntoine]

Originally Posted by CriterionBlues

Just finished my re-watch of Mulholland Drive and it looks better than I've ever seen it before (in fairness, haven't seen it theatrically). Even though it had been many years and I have seen it numerous times, I was still as riveted as day one. Few 2.5 hour movies make me long for another 2.5 hours.

I watched this last night for the very first time. Wow! The build up to the film was not over-hyped at all. I didn't get to bed last night until almost midnight and could not sleep tossing around everything in my head for at least another 45 minutes. Then, got up at 5 am still thinking about it. That is the mark of a good movie!

I will be going back and revisiting soon. As much as I watched closely my first viewing I do regret that I'll never have that first time experience again.

Other than knowing this was a Lynch film and reading that Persona, Three Women and this were all closely related, I'm glad I went in knowing very little about the film. I still consider Persona a top 5 film (10/10), but this is a very solid 9/10 for me.

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by darkness2918

Slasher films are awesome, love them as you can see from my collection I love horror in general. As long as it's not too slow or boring that is. The higher the body count & the more gory it is the better I say.

I can watch slasher films and enjoy them for the most part, but they are just not on the top of my list. The same recycled plots mostly and while the different kills are interesting and there is some campy humor to enjoy I still prefer more gothic atmospheric movies or movies with a supernatural twist. If it helps I watched Tucker and Dale vs Evil again last night. That's a horror movie I can get behind.

Originally Posted by Race Bannon

Another huge fan of the Val Lewton films and The Black Cat here. I would love to get all of them on blu. (All Lugosi/Karloff films and all Lewton productions).

The Val Lewton DVD set is probably one of my top 5 boxsets. Been dying to hear of a Bluray release. I love all those old horror films with a passion.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Banned User

I can watch slasher films and enjoy them for the most part, but they are just not on the top of my list.

As I got older, I gradually lost my taste for horror films (and horror fiction, as well). Well, I should rephrase that. I lost my taste for most modern horror films, whose primary agenda seems to be in displaying creative ways to torture, maim, and/or kill people.

I never really got into slasher films. Oddly enough, I still think that Carpenter's Halloween is the scariest horror film I've ever seen. While it is generally consider the film that kicked off the 70s/80s run of slasher films, it really isn't one itself. There's almost no blood in it, and Carpenter took a page from Hitchcock by using judicious editing to create his thrills rather than buckets of blood (something Carpenter completely forgot when he made the first sequel).

There are some of those early post-Halloween horror films that I found enjoyable. My friends' and my rule of thumb was that if they had Jamie Lee Curtis in them, they were worth seeing: Prom Night, Terror Train, and Road Games were all terrific. On the other hand, I haven't seen any of them in over 30 years, so I don't know if I think they'd hold up.

The Val Lewton DVD set is probably one of my top 5 boxsets. Been dying to hear of a Bluray release. I love all those old horror films with a passion.

I'm with you there. The Universal Monster films from that period are more popular, but give me the Lewton ones any day. My favorite one, though, is the least horrific: The Curse of the Cat People. The Body Snatcher and I Walked with a Zombie are my next two favs.

They don't make 'em like that anymore. Almost literally, in the case of I Walked with a Zombie. Ever since Romero made Night of the Living Dead, I can't recall a single "zombie" film that used the old "dead person reanimated by voodoo" concept that it originally was. They're now all "it's a virus infecting people" thing.

[Namuhana]

Originally Posted by SkyAntoine

I still consider Persona a top 5 film (10/10), but this is a very solid 9/10 for me.

It's one of my all-time favorite films, as well. Certainly within my top 10 favorites.

[The Great Owl]

Jacques Tourneur's I Walked With a Zombie (from the Val Lewton box set) is almost like a horror version of Jane Eyre, and that multi-layered approach is what makes it so effective.

If the Val Lewton horror films are released on Blu-ray someday, then I'm putting everything else aside to watch them.

Starting tonight, though, I'm going back through the Universal Monsters Blu-rays, because I had so much fun seeing the theatrical showing of Dracula on Sunday night.

As far as Criterion horror goes, I love that Bergman's Persona has been likened to a vampire film by a handful of critics.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

On the contrary I found Goodbye To Language to be one of the most riveting cinematic experiences of my life when I saw it last year (and in IMAX to boot!). It's a beautiful mesh of spectacle and ideas, and features the single-most impressive shot I've seen in some time. I've seen it a couple of times theatrically, and the audience has literally gasped in unison each time.

I don't think it's as simple as writing off everything post-Weekend either. Every Man For Himself, for example, is far more accessible than Weekend.

Late Godard is challenging, but it's wonderful and incredibly rewarding.

I was very much looking forward to seeing it and it held me for about 3 minutes. I don't know which shot you are talking about as I didn't make it that far. I suppose that if you look at it strictly as art, then one could make a case for it. I like my art films to at least be held together by something. I don't need linear narratives, conventional narratives, or even non-abstract presentations.

I'm sure I'm selling it short as I didn't watch much of it, but it felt like film running... and nothing more.

I'll try EM4H. I'll get it from the library.

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by CriterionBlues

Just finished my re-watch of Mulholland Drive and it looks better than I've ever seen it before (in fairness, haven't seen it theatrically). Even though it had been many years and I have seen it numerous times, I was still as riveted as day one. Few 2.5 hour movies make me long for another 2.5 hours.

had you seen other Blu-ray versions?

[wondervamp]

Originally Posted by callmestu

Has there been any news about the 'special edition' of BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOUR? Not sure how much longer I want to wait before settling for the Artificial Eye version.

What do you mean about the artificial eye version?

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by wondervamp

What do you mean about the artificial eye version?

apparently this, no?



https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Blue-...Blu-ray/88477/

I didn't know this existed myself. Might not be a bad pickup.. can probably get it for 10 bucks or so.

[CriterionBlues]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

had you seen other Blu-ray versions?

I haven't. For what it's worth since there is picture quality debate going on, I didn't notice anything awry. I thought it looked fantastic.

[mja345]

Originally Posted by CriterionBlues

I haven't. For what it's worth since there is picture quality debate going on, I didn't notice anything awry. I thought it looked fantastic.

I got my copy yesterday and popped it in and thought it looked terrific. I haven't seen the StudioCanal version, but I can't imagine it being any better given SC's history. Didn't get to watch the whole thing because I was watching the World Series game, but I checked out certain sections and it was of the highest quality. I'm sure certain members of this board will find something to complain about, but this is a fantastic presentation of a great film.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by CriterionBlues

I haven't. For what it's worth since there is picture quality debate going on, I didn't notice anything awry. I thought it looked fantastic.

Really, there is no "debate." A few people got riled up (naturally) over screen caps before they'd even seen the disc, but it looks fantastic in motion.

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I was very much looking forward to seeing it and it held me for about 3 minutes. I don't know which shot you are talking about as I didn't make it that far. I suppose that if you look at it strictly as art, then one could make a case for it. I like my art films to at least be held together by something. I don't need linear narratives, conventional narratives, or even non-abstract presentations.

I'm sure I'm selling it short as I didn't watch much of it, but it felt like film running... and nothing more.

I don't look at films strictly as art either. Primarily perhaps, but I also like to be entertained in some capacity (This is why my threshold for much experimental cinema is pretty low). My point is that there is far more to Adieu au langage than you uncovered in the opening 3 minutes.

The film was well-received in most quarters, so it's not like I'm defending some misunderstood or under-appreciated work here.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

I don't look at films strictly as art either. Primarily perhaps, but I also like to be entertained in some capacity (This is why my threshold for much experimental cinema is pretty low). My point is that there is far more to Adieu au langage than you uncovered in the opening 3 minutes.

The film was well-received in most quarters, so it's not like I'm defending some misunderstood or under-appreciated work here.

I've been putting this off because I was under the impression it *needed* to be seen in 3D. Would you agree, or is it still worth viewing in boring old 2D?

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by mja345

I got my copy yesterday and popped it in and thought it looked terrific. I haven't seen the StudioCanal version, but I can't imagine it being any better given SC's history. Didn't get to watch the whole thing because I was watching the World Series game, but I checked out certain sections and it was of the highest quality. I'm sure certain members of this board will find something to complain about, but this is a fantastic presentation of a great film.

Blasphemy, so you are not following Lynch rules eh? why do you think it doesn't have chapter selection in the first place

[blonde_devil]

I find their choices to be a little weird at times. I get what their purpose is but here is a great example - Inside Llewyn Davis is a new film, it had a Blu-ray release already and yet they are releasing a version next year.

http://www.amazon.ca/Criterion-Colle...ion+collection

Why this film? I would understand if it was a released in just a barebones version but the Coen blu-rays are not exactly known for their special features so that isn't unusual. Why not spend the money on a different film that needs it or wait until this is out of print and do one? It isn't like they keep their releases out there forever - eventually it will be out of print too. I like the Coens work but this is just another one that makes me wonder what their criteria is because for every old or foreign film they release, you get something like this or The Rock that makes no sense.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

I don't look at films strictly as art either. Primarily perhaps, but I also like to be entertained in some capacity (This is why my threshold for much experimental cinema is pretty low). My point is that there is far more to Adieu au langage than you uncovered in the opening 3 minutes.

The film was well-received in most quarters, so it's not like I'm defending some misunderstood or under-appreciated work here.

I'll give it another chance some time. I know that it was well received. I don't think that there are very many fans of the film on this thread, but that's neither here nor there.

I want to like it. Maybe if I know who the heck he's talking about in the beginning of the film, I can move past that part.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by blonde_devil

because for every old or foreign film they release, you get something like this or The Rock that makes no sense.

Or you know, realistically, for every hundred or two.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by blonde_devil

I find their choices to be a little weird at times. I get what their purpose is but here is a great example - Inside Llewyn Davis is a new film, it had a Blu-ray release already and yet they are releasing a version next year.

http://www.amazon.ca/Criterion-Colle...ion+collection

Why this film? I would understand if it was a released in just a barebones version but the Coen blu-rays are not exactly known for their special features so that isn't unusual. Why not spend the money on a different film that needs it or wait until this is out of print and do one? It isn't like they keep their releases out there forever - eventually it will be out of print too. I like the Coens work but this is just another one that makes me wonder what their criteria is because for every old or foreign film they release, you get something like this or The Rock that makes no sense.

I don't necessarily have the answer for "why this film?", but a few things should be pointed out:

1) there are no other Coen films in the collection

2) the CC release has an insane amount of supplements

3) please do not ever compare this film (any Coen brothers film) w/ The Rock or any Micheal Bay film. that's ridiculous and I don't feel I need to elaborate on that point. I will say, though, that ILD makes my 'best of 2013 list' somewhere near the top.

4) and most importantly... The Criterion Collection is a company.. a business. You cannot just say that "they should have spent their money elsewhere" because you are not considering their costs and expected profit margins.

I'd bet that most CC employees would say that the 2015 release they are most proud of is The Apu Trilogy. I'm sure it cost a s**t ton of dollars for all the restoration work. I'd bet my entire collection, however, that they make more money from each of the following releases: The Brood, Moonrise Kingdom, and Inside Llewyn Davis.

so they NEED to have releases like this one. it seems like they will be doing justice to this release and even throwing a bone (via the supplements) to those who like folk music.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I don't necessarily have the answer for "why this film?", but a few things should be pointed out:

1) there are no other Coen films in the collection

2) the CC release has an insane amount of supplements

3) please do not ever compare this film (any Coen brothers film) w/ The Rock or any Micheal Bay film. that's ridiculous and I don't feel I need to elaborate on that point. I will say, though, that ILD makes my 'best of 2013 list' somewhere near the top.

4) and most importantly... The Criterion Collection is a company.. a business. You cannot just say that "they should have spent their money elsewhere" because you are not considering their costs and expected profit margins.

I'd bet that most CC employees would say that the 2015 release they are most proud of is The Apu Trilogy. I'm sure it cost a s**t ton of dollars for all the restoration work. I'd bet my entire collection, however, that they make more money from each of the following releases: The Brood, Moonrise Kingdom, and Inside Llewyn Davis.

so they NEED to have releases like this one. it seems like they will be doing justice to this release and even throwing a bone (via the supplements) to those who like folk music.

Man, I was going to reply but nope, that covers it. Nice job.