The Criterion Collection - Page 6850 - Blu-ray Forum

CriterionBlues · 11-11-2015, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

I don't know anyone who has made it the whole way thru the set myself! I've seen a couple of them but don't think they're anything special.

I am going through slowly, currently 2/3 through the set. They are not the best of Japanese cinema of the time, but better than I expected. They are often formulaic and up and down in quality, but also easy to watch.

llj · 11-11-2015, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

I certainly didn't mean to misrepresent your opinion. You said that you found "the kid's monologue at the end to be overly articulate and slightly pompous coming from a kid who up to that point spoke more with glances and body language". To me that indicated that you felt that someone who spoke rarely, or frequently relied on non verbal communication, would be inarticulate when they did speak. If you were simply surprised due to his age, I'm not sure what the point was of mentioning his communication habits displayed in the film prior to that point.

Ive known lots of kids that age, or even.younger, who were extremely articulate, and those usually weren't the kind of kids that were always talking. Frequently those kind of kids (and people really) dont bother to talk unless they feel they have something worth saying.

I feel like there's some offense taken with the way I framed my initial post, when it was not my intention to prejudge or assume he was "inarticulate" just because he was nonverbal up to that point. I just thought that going from what we knew of him as a curious silent kid with a camera throughout the film to the Next Great Presidential Speechwriter was too big of a leap of logic.

It was both the fact that he was a little kid AND his nonverbal way of communicating. I didn't think I needed to point out his age since it was obvious, but I wanted to add further weight to my argument that it doesn't ring true by adding that I just don't "buy" that kind of speech coming from a VERY young kid who did very little reading, writing, or talking throughout the film. It's inconsistent with what we know of him, and I don't think it was meant to be such a surprise to audiences when he came out with it.The speech was too polished, too slick, too "worked over" to ring true to me as genuine. Which of course, is actually true because Yang did mention that he spent some time agonizing over how to frame the speech at the end. Even if the kid WERE a budding literary genius, the speech read more like something an adult professional writer would have spent days editing and rewriting, and I felt like the film wants you to think he just came up with that in an hour or so.

The other problem I have with it is intent. Was the purpose of this speech to show that the child was actually wiser than everyone around him? Or was it Yang speaking through the kid to sum up the themes in the film? I just felt there could have been a more subtle way to show it at the end.

Like I said though, I love YiYi, so it doesn't ruin it for me. But it still feels like a false note to me in a film with very few missteps.

Scottie · 11-11-2015, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CriterionBlues

I am going through slowly, currently 2/3 through the set. They are not the best of Japanese cinema of the time, but better than I expected. They are often formulaic and up and down in quality, but also easy to watch.

The films are definitely repetitive, but their light humor is what sold me.

bwdowiak · 11-11-2015, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by llj

I feel like there's some offense taken with the way I framed my initial post, when it was not my intention to prejudge or assume he was "inarticulate" just because he was nonverbal up to that point. I just thought that going from what we knew of him as a curious silent kid with a camera throughout the film to the Next Great Presidential Speechwriter was too big of a leap of logic.

It was both the fact that he was a little kid AND his nonverbal way of communicating. I didn't think I needed to point out his age since it was obvious, but I wanted to add further weight to my argument that it doesn't ring true by adding that I just don't "buy" that kind of speech coming from a VERY young kid who did very little reading, writing, or talking throughout the film. It's inconsistent with what we know of him, and I don't think it was meant to be such a surprise to audiences when he came out with it.The speech was too polished, too slick, too "worked over" to ring true to me as genuine. Which of course, is actually true because Yang did mention that he spent some time agonizing over how to frame the speech at the end. Even if the kid WERE a budding literary genius, the speech read more like something an adult professional writer would have spent days editing and rewriting, and I felt like the film wants you to think he just came up with that in an hour or so.

The other problem I have with it is intent. Was the purpose of this speech to show that the child was actually wiser than everyone around him? Or was it Yang speaking through the kid to sum up the themes in the film? I just felt there could have been a more subtle way to show it at the end.

Like I said though, I love YiYi, so it doesn't ruin it for me. But it still feels like a false note to me in a film with very few missteps.

I'd like to have yours or anyone's explanation of

[Show spoiler]

All in all, however, I think it is a great movie, with, like you said, a few missteps.

kuro_sawa · 11-11-2015, 07:48 PM

The packaging and booklet for My Own Private Idaho is stunning in person, beautiful stuff.

Sifox211 · 11-11-2015, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lordmorpheus72

... I really want to pick up the Zatoichi box set. I know I should've with those, but need another pay check first. Anyone get that box set sent to them from BN? How did arrive? They say they can have it sent to the store and it'll be in better shape.

I got it from the November sale last year and it was sent in a big stout box swaddled in air pillows. Excepting a major incident, if it went into that box in good shape it'd be good when it reached you.

SammyJankis · 11-11-2015, 08:06 PM

The closing moments of Yi Yi have never rung false for me. Taken out of context, it seems too neat for its own good. But it's completely in line with the film's ways, and it's certainly fitting for a kid that devotes his own time to allowing people to see a side of life that he thinks is overlooked. It's the perfect emotional note to go out on, one that not only gives closure, in a sense, to the happenings of little Yang-Yang, but to a family that has spent an entire year in their own little separate bubbles.

I adore it (obviously). It's one of thew few films that I revisit for a proper and beneficial insight into life.

pedromvu · 11-11-2015, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by octagon

Yeah, if I were going to be stuck on an island I would go crazy without at least one movie about food. Something like Babette's Feast or Blue is the Warmest Color. Secret of the Grain, maybe. Or Blue is the Warmest Color.

Alone in an island forever?

Yeah I would also try to get Blue is the Warmest Color saying it is because of the food

Forneverland · 11-11-2015, 08:40 PM

I know this is so off topic here, but am I the only who would love Criterion releases of 'Dancer in the Dark', 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch' and 'Pink Floyd's The Wall'. I feel like they're all fitting films seeing that many other films like them Criterion has done. Plus Criterion would be the only studio to put them out...

Also I'd love a 'Grand Budapest', but I know that one is eventually going to see the light of day seeing as Wes Anderson has his entire library so far on Criterion...I just felt the fox Blu Ray for 'TGBH' was very bare bones...

Ray Jackson · 11-11-2015, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forneverland

I know this is so off topic here, but am I the only who would love Criterion releases of 'Dancer in the Dark', 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch' and 'Pink Floyd's The Wall'. I feel like they're all fitting films seeing that many other films like them Criterion has done. Plus Criterion would be the only studio to put them out...

Also I'd love a 'Grand Budapest', but I know that one is eventually going to see the light of day seeing as Wes Anderson has his entire library so far on Criterion...I just felt the fox Blu Ray for 'TGBH' was very bare bones...

A Criterion release of The Wall would be the coolest thing ever.

...second only to a Criterion release of Blade Runner.

ParaOK · 11-11-2015, 08:50 PM

I got in to an interesting conversation about Haneke with the guy at the B&N counter yesterday while I was making some 50% off purchases (Carlos, Night and the City, and Tie Me Up! Time Me Down). He mentioned that Code Unknown was out and I responded that even though I respect Haneke as a filmmaker and loved a couple of his films (Cache, The White Ribbon, specifically), I can never bring myself to purchase his films. I just never find myself in the mood to re-watch his movies. Just curious, if any one had any similar views about other directors in the collection?

Polaroid · 11-11-2015, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ParaOK

I got in to an interesting conversation about Haneke with the guy at the B&N counter yesterday while I was making some 50% off purchases (Carlos, Night and the City, and Tie Me Up! Time Me Down). He mentioned that Code Unknown was out and I responded that even though I respect Haneke as a filmmaker and loved a couple of his films (Cache, The White Ribbon, specifically), I can never bring myself to purchase his films. I just never find myself in the mood to re-watch his movies. Just curious, if any one had any similar views about other directors in the collection?

See I find Hanake's film great to rewatch, they are full of emotion and so human - when I feel depressed and low I will watch one of his films, or even lars Von Trier, when you are in that state of mind you can really connect and sympathise with the film and its characters...

Maybe that's just me, but if I am feeling depressed the last thing I want to see is other people happy and going about business with no problems, it's bit of a kick in the face lol.

Even looking past Hanake's raw emotion in his film, surely his technical skills as a director and all the other components in the film are worth a rewatch? His film are breathtaking and full of so much hard work - I don't think it deserves 1 or 2 viewings, I feel the work goes into creating these worlds deserves many viewing despite the mood it puts you in.

There are many film I actually dislike overall but will own and rewatch because there is a moment I really connect with and can appreciate and it deserves multiple viewings.

Polaroid · 11-11-2015, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forneverland

I know this is so off topic here, but am I the only who would love Criterion releases of 'Dancer in the Dark', 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch' and 'Pink Floyd's The Wall'. I feel like they're all fitting films seeing that many other films like them Criterion has done. Plus Criterion would be the only studio to put them out...

Also I'd love a 'Grand Budapest', but I know that one is eventually going to see the light of day seeing as Wes Anderson has his entire library so far on Criterion...I just felt the fox Blu Ray for 'TGBH' was very bare bones...

Dancer in the Dark. YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES.

Hell, Get The Idiots, Medea and Dogville in there too! Manderay is good, but Dogville is more deserving

OR OR OR Criterion can fund Lars Von Trier's Wasington and they can then release a boxset of all three films!

-

Also, Love features a really cool scene with 'Is There Anybody Out There'.. Just saying...

CriterionBlues · 11-11-2015, 10:29 PM