The Criterion Collection

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

Then definitely don't watch Pink Flamingos! which was part of the Collection back in the Laserdisc era.

We should all chip in and get Ray a copy of Pink Flamingos for X-Mas. I think that's probably right up his alley!

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

We should all chip in and get Ray a copy of Pink Flamingos for X-Mas. I think that's probably right up his alley!

$10 new on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...vies-tv&sr=1-1

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

We should all chip in and get Ray a copy of Pink Flamingos for X-Mas. I think that's probably right up his alley!

I really enjoy John Waters underground films. They would seem like a natural fit for an Eclipse set but I have no clue who has the rights to them. Only problem with an Eclipse release would be no Waters commentaries which are real treats in themselves.

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I just finished watching Apur Sansar, the final film of The Apu Trilogy.

[Show spoiler]Considering that Satyajit Ray reportedly did not intend to make sequels to Pather Panchali, it's surprising how well these three films come together as a single cohesive entity. I thought that I was finished with the emotional rollercoasters after the first two films, but this third one had an equal mix of tragedy and joy. Pather Panchali is one of the best films that I have seen about childhood. Aparajito is a superb depiction of adolescence and of the discoveries of one's self during that time. Apur Sansar is a great movie about love in general.

I'm going through the extras on this final disc now.

Satyajit Ray's films have been a blind spot in my collection of Criterion titles, so I'm glad that I finally took a leap of faith by buying this box set. It'll probably be a little while before I get around to buying the others, though. I'd like to kick these three films around in my mind for a while, like I did with Ozu's Late Spring and Tokyo Story. It's like when a python swallows a large animal and does not need to eat anything else for a year or so. It takes me a while to "digest" these films, in a sense.

Thanks to Criterion for a job well done with restoring these masterful movies for old and new audiences alike.

I've been thinking a lot this week about the magic Criterion worked on The Apu Trilogy. Although I haven't watched it yet, I've seen the examples of the restoration, and they are amazing.

There's another film that I wish Criterion would restore and release, which would be a challenge for them. In fact, I watched it again tonight, and became more firmly convinced than ever that it would be a gift from Criterion to film aficionados everywhere. It's Luchino Visconti's directorial debut, Ossessione, the first ... and wholly unauthorized ... screen adaptation of James M. Cain's The Postman Always Rings Twice, made in Italy during World War II.

The film has a fascinating history. It premiered in Italy in 1943, and shortly thereafter, the original negative was destroyed by the Fascists per the order of Benito Mussolini. Nonetheless, Visconti managed to secretly hide a print. Some 15 years later, a truncated version finally turned up in Sweden, and soon after, partial prints with varied running times from 104 minutes to 118 minutes began surfacing in Europe. Finally, a new cut was reassembled which extended the running time to 134 minutes.

The film was banned completely in the United States because of copyright issues until 1976, when it finally premiered at the New York Film Festival. It had a very limited theatrical run in the US the following year, and then became available for licensed showings. Additional footage was found, and the film was eventually restored to 140 minutes. Image Entertainment released a problematic DVD in 2002 which left a lot to be desired in terms of audio and picture quality; in addition to its flawed transfer, it was poorly subtitled. It is currently OOP, and I've lost track of which company now owns the video rights in North America (it may be in the public domain for all I know).

Today, Ossessione is widely celebrated as the film which launched the Italian neo-realist movement. Even disregarding its place in film history, it remains a taut piece of potent drama featuring smouldering, sensual performances by Clara Calamai and Massimo Girotti in the roles later played by Lana Turner / Jessica Lange and John Garfield / Jack Nicholson. I personally consider the Visconti version to be the best of the three, and I am not alone in that opinion. If you've never seen it, it's a "must" ... particularly if you're a fan of James M. Cain and/or Luchino Visconti.

Here's hoping that somehow, someday, some way, Criterion will take it on!

[mja345]

Originally Posted by iScottie

$10 new on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...vies-tv&sr=1-1

Gotta love the quote on the cover haha. "One of the most vile, stupid and repulsive films ever made." Ray should watch "Salo" and "Pink Flamingos" as a double feature for Thanksgiving. Maybe throw "Sweet Movie" in there as well, which also contains plenty of poop-related content.

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

We should all chip in and get Ray a copy of Pink Flamingos for X-Mas. I think that's probably right up his alley!

Stop picking on my friend Ray!

Ray, if you ever decide to expose yourself to people feasting on scatological edibles in the cinema, start slowly with something more benign and less traumatic than Salo or Pink Flamingos (neither of which I have seen, and am not sure I could stomach).

I would suggest The Help.

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by iScottie

$10 new on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...vies-tv&sr=1-1

Put it in a Top Gun cover...

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

We should all chip in and get Ray a copy of Pink Flamingos for X-Mas. I think that's probably right up his alley!

you people are sick!

...dirty sick freaks!!!!!!!!!

Should I pm you my address?

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

Put it in a Top Gun cover...

That is not funny.

...that is just cruel.

Have you no sense of decency?

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by iScottie

$10 new on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...vies-tv&sr=1-1

Originally Posted by hoytereden

I really enjoy John Waters underground films. They would seem like a natural fit for an Eclipse set but I have no clue who has the rights to them. Only problem with an Eclipse release would be no Waters commentaries which are real treats in themselves.

Originally Posted by mja345

Gotta love the quote on the cover haha. "One of the most vile, stupid and repulsive films ever made." Ray should watch "Salo" and "Pink Flamingos" as a double feature for Thanksgiving. Maybe throw "Sweet Movie" in there as well, which also contains plenty of poop-related content.

Originally Posted by jmclick

Stop picking on my friend Ray!

Ray, if you ever decide to expose yourself to people feasting on scatological edibles in the cinema, start slowly with something more benign and less traumatic than Salo or Pink Flamingos (neither of which I have seen, and am not sure I could stomach).

I would suggest The Help.

Aww, you know Ray loves it!

I've see parts of Salo over the years, but I've never seen it from beginning to end. I saw Pink Flamingos years and years ago, but I don't even remember the circumstances. I can't imagine any of my friends would have chosen it. So, I wonder how I saw it?

I think The Help gets unfairly maligned, and it's worth it for the central performances alone. But yeah, there's a much milder, much more mainstream approach.

[hanshotfirst1138]

I live in the most suburban place imaginable, I was shocked as hell to see Salo at a local Barnes and Noble. Then again, I once saw The Gospel According to Saint Matthew at a Catholic bookstore once and mused amusingly that the people selling it probably had no idea about fascinating life and politics of the man behind it.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

Aww, you know Ray loves it!

I've see parts of Salo over the years, but I've never seen it from beginning to end. I saw Pink Flamingos years and years ago, but I don't even remember the circumstances. I can't imagine any of my friends would have chosen it. So, I wonder how I saw it?

I first saw Pink Flamingo in, of all places, Georgetown D.C. which was a hippie hangout in the '70s. It got lots of publicity not only due to its content but also the public battle between Waters and the Maryland Censor Board which was the last such state censorship board overseeing film releases at that time. A friend and I kind of dared each other to go see it at a midnight showing. It was wonderfully weird but that ending..........

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by jmclick

Stop picking on my friend Ray!

Ray, if you ever decide to expose yourself to people feasting on scatological edibles in the cinema, start slowly with something more benign and less traumatic than Salo or Pink Flamingos (neither of which I have seen, and am not sure I could stomach).

I would suggest The Help.

Make em stop J!!!!!!!

...please make them stop.

[silverlakephil]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

I really enjoy John Waters underground films. They would seem like a natural fit for an Eclipse set but I have no clue who has the rights to them. Only problem with an Eclipse release would be no Waters commentaries which are real treats in themselves.

If Criterion ever releases any John Waters films, I hope it's Female Trouble, Pink Flamingos, & Polyester (with the mandatory scratch & sniff card). Desperate Living is the only Waters film I couldn't force myself to completely watch. That movie was dire..

[kwillard37]

This Barnes & Noble sale has been terrorizing my wallet. Finally picked up Dazed & Confused , Fear and Lothing in Las Vegas, Being John Malkovich, Traffic, and Carlos. My god how good is Carlos? I'm intrigued but somewhat skeptical about picking up Che too, is it worth it?

[mja345]

Originally Posted by kwillard37

This Barnes & Noble sale has been terrorizing my wallet. Finally picked up Dazed & Confused , Fear and Lothing in Las Vegas, Being John Malkovich, Traffic, and Carlos. My god how good is Carlos? I'm intrigued but somewhat skeptical about picking up Che too, is it worth it?

"Carlos" is awesome. I like part 1 of "Che" quite a bit more than part 2, but I think it's a worthwhile pickup. It's flawed, but it's definitely worth owning.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by kwillard37

This Barnes & Noble sale has been terrorizing my wallet. Finally picked up Dazed & Confused , Fear and Lothing in Las Vegas, Being John Malkovich, Traffic, and Carlos. My god how good is Carlos? I'm intrigued but somewhat skeptical about picking up Che too, is it worth it?

I've only seen Che once, a few years ago, and I found Carlos to be a lot more entertaining to watch.

As I remember, Che is very long and somewhat slow.

That being said, it goes deeper into Che Guevara the man than any other film that's ever been made about him.

...and many people think it's a work of genius.

...I don't know that they're wrong.

[D2Girls]

I wonder what percentage of the movies I own are criterions.
it's probably inappropriately high... i need to get on getting some more classic newer releases from the past 20 years.

anyone else excited for the graduate release? i'll be getting it when it comes out, and it will also be my first time viewing it!

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by D2Girls

I wonder what percentage of the movies I own are criterions.

You own 11,1% criterions!

Go to your Bluray collection-->statistics and then you'll see it in studios.

edit: Hmmm...
that shouldn't be right.
I see you have 55 Criterions out of 169 movies.
https://www.blu-ray.com/community/co...ction=overview

i wonder what happened here.

edit 2:
Oh, i know.
The Entertainment One Canada studio that appears in the statistics is Criterion too.
So, you own: 11,1 +30,6= 41,7% Criterions!!
That sounds more like it.
or no?
Hmm. It should be around 30%.
What are those EOne Blurays?
are they Criterions and something else?

[AaronJ]

I seem to be at 18.5% Criterion, followed closely by WB at around 15%.