The Criterion Collection

[kuro_sawa]

Originally Posted by applemac

I think the criterion still had better PQ when I was trying to look this up recently, but its no where near $80+ better PQ.

Originally Posted by octagon

There are three 'generations' of releases in play now.

Criterion released The Third Man on BD in 2008 and Studio Canal released it in 2010. Of those two, the Criterion was pretty widely believed to have an edge.

In addition to those releases, BDs based on a brand new 4K restoration are available overseas and the reviews of those releases have been glowing to say the least.

This is the best release of the film, region free. It's usually around $15 delivered.

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by MKej

I am an only child from a family that has almost never experienced much conflict. When I was young, I often wondered why my friends would fight with their siblings so often. Sure, squabbles for a parent's attention or for getting an equal share of something have a certain degree of psychological rationality to them, but at the end of the day, the fighting seemed to be completely habitual, as if it was ingrained in the genetic make-up of the ceaselessly feuding siblings.

What I love about this film is the way it illustrates the patent absurdity of these family feuds without ever trivializing the emotions that fuel them.

[Show spoiler]Henri continually pleads Elizabeth to give him a reason for why she banished him, and in the letter he writes to Elizabeth, he suggests that Elizabeth's ill feelings towards him have been caused by a myth that neither him nor her understands. The Nietzche quote that the father reads near the end of the film sheds light on how Elizabeth could have such unwavering disdain for her brother for so long. As a seeker of knowledge and rational ways to explain the world, Elizabeth has sought to avoid the irrational, inherent discord that lies at the heart of her relationship with Henri. In rejecting experience with her brother, she failed to take any steps towards better understanding herself by reconciling this fraught relationship, preferring instead to exist in the imaginary world of her plays. Her melancholy persists, because she is unable to embrace the world as it is and seeks out the myth as escape from her people in her life who are not bound by the understandable rules and noble intentions that exist in her fantasy world.

Elizabeth justifies her banishment of Henri by saying that she was trying to protect her son, as if Henri was a dragon that she refused to conquer. (spoilers) The film beautifully ends with Henri and Elizabeth's son, Paul, exercising together, and Henri hilariously blaming Elizabeth's depressive nature for Paul's psychological problems. Turns out the dragon wasn't the problem after-all, but rather the mother herself.... or at least that's what the dragon would have you believe. So the discord between Henri and Elizabeth is not be over, but the close proximity between them might bring them to some moment of forgiveness ... or not. Just as Henri refuses to show his mother the outcome of the coin toss, Desplechin refuses to give us a final meeting between Henri and Elizabeth. Whether or not Elizabeth and Henri can overcome their discord is unknown, but as long as Elizabeth accepts Henri being her a part of her family, there is hope for reconciliation, and possibly even hope that Elizabeth can one day better know herself by engaging with her family, rather than engaging with the family myth.

While I appreciate your perspectives regarding the sibling relationships in the film (and can accept them gratefully ... you make sense), they don't begin to touch on the dysfunction that characterizes the relationships between parents and children, the romantic and sexual entanglements between couples and outside parties, the religious issues, etc.

In the "making of" supplement, the director stated that he screened Only Angels Have Wings for the cast as a template for what he was trying to achieve. And of course in the film we have clips from, and oblique references to, Reinhardt and Dieterle's A Midsummer Night's Dream, DeMille's sound remake of The Ten Commandments, and Donen's Funny Face. That alone is a mulligan stew that I found to be unpalatable. Then consider Amalric's comment about about new pages of dialogue being delivered each morning before the day's shooting and juxtapose it with Deneuve's observation that the actors were told to make the scenes as open to interpretation as possible (do the characters mean what they're saying, or do they not?) ... what is one to make of such a jumble? I also objected to the characters breaking the fourth wall and addressing the camera (and therefore, the audience) directly.

There are many films about dysfunctional families being thrown together during the holidays. One of my favorites is The Cheaters from 1945, a film that deserves to be rescued from obscurity; and I admit that I love the inane antics of the Griswalds in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. The film I am familiar with that is most comparable to A Christmas Tale is probably Jodie Foster's bittersweet comedy-drama, Home for the Holidays; I much prefer it to Desplechin's film. Sometimes simplicity and clarity are virtues. Maybe that's just me.

[Ray Jackson]

I wish Criterion would release La Strada in blu-ray.

Watched it last night on TCM for maybe the 3rd or 4th time.

Such an incredible film.

...the ending is just devastating.

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I wish Criterion would release La Strada in blu-ray.

Watched it last night on TCM for maybe the 3rd or 4th time.

Such an incredible film.

...the ending is just devastating.

We're in 100% agreement. I think that film features Anthony Quinn's greatest performance and Giulietta Masina is nothing short of superb. It's one for the ages, and it holds up beautifully over repeated viewings.

[filmmusic]

Now that you were discussing A Christmas Tale, it would be nice if Criterion had released a Christmas movie for this Christmas, but I don't see any in my wishlist that could be "Criterion material" anyway...

[Show spoiler]The Homecoming: A Christmas Story (1971) (pilot of The Waltons)
One Magic Christmas (1985)
A Muppet Family Christmas (1987)
In the Good old Summertime (1948)
The Lion in Winter (1968)
Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas (1977)
All Mine To Give (1957)
The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942)
Holiday Affair (1949)
I'll be Seeing You (1944)
Prancer (1989)
A Child's Christmas in Wales (1987)

(maybe "The Lion in Winter")
I don't know if you have anything else in mind that could be released.

[adamhopelies]

I too am very much in the pro-F For Fake camp. I think of it as one of Welles' best.

Seeing as some of us are talking storage solutions, this is my current set-up. Books and journals fill the bookcase on the left hand side, Criterions fill the middle one (which is also home to a couple of big box-sets; the Rohmer one, Tout(e) Varda, and my lego cinematheque), and the one on the right houses my complete Masters Of Cinema collection and other Region B boutique labels. I have a fourth book case which has regular Blu-ray releases, while I store my DVDs sans packaging in a couple of aluminium flight cases designed to hold CDs. This all takes place in my home office; my wife has banned discs from the living room!

[Fabs]

Originally Posted by jmclick

Just to be contrary, I'm also going to list my three least favorite blind buys, films that for one reason or another simply didn't "click" with me on the first viewing:

01. House
02. Insignificance
03. Kagemusha

Each of those films had outstanding elements, but they just didn't "jell" with me as a whole.

House is definitely a film you need to see more than once, to actually get a feel for the film. The first time I saw it, I didn't like it. I was overwhelmed by its style. The second time around, you already know what happened so you can sit back and just enjoy it. It's now one of my favorite films

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

Now that you were discussing A Christmas Tale, it would be nice if Criterion had released a Christmas movie for this Christmas, but I don't see any in my wishlist that could be "Criterion material" anyway...

[Show spoiler]The Homecoming: A Christmas Story (1971) (pilot of The Waltons)
One Magic Christmas (1985)
A Muppet Family Christmas (1987)
In the Good old Summertime (1948)
The Lion in Winter (1968)
Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas (1977)
All Mine To Give (1957)
The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942)
Holiday Affair (1949)
I'll be Seeing You (1944)
Prancer (1989)
A Child's Christmas in Wales (1987)

(maybe "The Lion in Winter")
I don't know if you have anything else in mind that could be released.

I would have loved for Criterion to have released Mitchell Leisen's Remember the Night starring Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray, but the TCM Archives Collection got it. They admittedly did a fine job, particularly with the blu-ray edition, which was remastered (as opposed to their original DVD release, which was not remastered). Maybe when TCM's rights expire, Criterion will pick it up, as we believe/hope they are doing with Only Angels Have Wings.

One little-known holiday treasure that should be released on blu-ray is the 2007 Finnish film, Joulutarina (Christmas Story), which tells the story of Santa Claus' origins. It's simple, but heartwarming and absolutely charming. If you haven't seen it, it's available on DVD at Amazon for less than $5.00 and is well worth that price.

Another of my favorites ... and I can see Criterion releasing this one ... is the superb French film set on a World War I battlefield, Joyeux Noël, starring Diane Kruger and Benno Fürmann. An Oscar nominee for Best Foreign Language film of 2005, it's based on an actual historical incident in which a group of German, French and Scottish infantrymen declared an unauthorized truce on Christmas Eve, laid down their weapons, and celebrated together. It's aces all the way around, and the potential supplements that Criterion might provide would be a real gift. Available here in North America on DVD, it's been released on blu-ray in Region B for those who are region-free.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

I too am very much in the pro-F For Fake camp. I think of it as one of Welles' best.

Seeing as some of us are talking storage solutions, this is my current set-up. Books and journals fill the bookcase on the left hand side, Criterions fill the middle one (which is also home to a couple of big box-sets; the Rohmer one, Tout(e) Varda, and my lego cinematheque), and the one on the right houses my complete Masters Of Cinema collection and other Region B boutique labels. I have a fourth book case which has regular Blu-ray releases, while I store my DVDs sans packaging in a couple of aluminium flight cases designed to hold CDs. This all takes place in my home office; my wife has banned discs from the living room!

That's beautiful.

The color of the wood and the carpet really gives it a warm feeling.

[scottpcusa]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I wish Criterion would release La Strada in blu-ray.

Watched it last night on TCM for maybe the 3rd or 4th time.

Such an incredible film.

...the ending is just devastating.

Originally Posted by jmclick

We're in 100% agreement. I think that film features Anthony Quinn's greatest performance and Giulietta Masina is nothing short of superb. It's one for the ages, and it holds up beautifully over repeated viewings.

Yes!!! I have been...and continue to be... anxiously awaiting a Criterion announcement of La Strada on blu-ray!

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by jmclick

I also watched a film last night that is one of my least favorite blind buys: A Christmas Tale. Despite the presence of a great cast headed by Catherine Deneuve and Mathieu Amalric, I felt that none of the characters was likable, their relationships were unfathomable, and there were too many of them vying for attention. Plus the whole movie struck me as vaguely unpleasant. Imagine my surprise when I watched the trailers afterwards and read some of the glowing critical blurbs that described the film as "Joyful", "Exhilarating", etc. The supplement with Deneuve, Amalric, and director Arnaud Desplechin discussing the film didn't help, either ... the movie they said they made was not the movie I watched.

Maybe it was just me, but I'd have to give this one a "thumbs down." Anyone else have an opinion on it?

The first time I saw this I was disappointed, I guess I was expecting more of a typical Christmas movie, and this definitely isn't.

Later I decided to give it another chance now knowing the type of movie it is, and I enjoyed it much more, I don't really have a problem with unlikable characters, it is not quite as good for me to own it but I still think it is a solid addition to the collection and would recommend to others just as long as they don't go with wrong expectations.

[joie]

If you're shelving by genre, do you buy two copies when a movie belongs to two genres?

[Lutz]

Originally Posted by joie

If you're shelving by genre, do you buy two copies when a movie belongs to two genres?

I just group the two genres together on the shelf.

For example I group my Japanese and Czech movies together under the "vaguely racist" category.

[D2Girls]

when is the digipack of salo going oop, or is it oop already?
ps. im putting some pretty big brakes on my blu spending, saving up for a 1dx camera. ;p
sorry if I only pop my head around here only occasionally.

[D2Girls]

Originally Posted by joie

If you're shelving by genre, do you buy two copies when a movie belongs to two genres?

lmao... why would you buy two copies simply for cataloging purposes? plus so many movies have cross genres... you'd be buying copies for so many movies.

[Quinni]

Thinking about checking out Hulu's Criterion films. There's a few there I've wanted to watch for a good while.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by D2Girls

when is the digipack of salo going oop, or is it oop already?

What makes you think it's going oop?

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by D2Girls

lmao... why would you buy two copies simply for cataloging purposes? plus so many movies have cross genres... you'd be buying copies for so many movies.

This weekend I watched In Cold Blood and Code Unknown, both pretty good movies, have to agree with the praises I have read on here about former, it is simply engaging from start to finish.

As for Code Unknown, it has Haneke written all over it from his other films I have seen, except I somehow felt more emotionally involved with his characters in this one (his other films tend to left me cold), maybe the acting of Binoche had something to do, I mean she is always good, but in this she was incredible, and she didn't get even an Oscar nomination? seriously?

Anyway the movie left a lot of unanswered questions like:

[Show spoiler]from who is the letter that gets Anne so upset? what does it say? who is that dead child Francoise? why does the Black man goes back to Africa? was the Anne video segment an audition? and what is up with Georges not being able to enter his apartment at the end?

Edit: ok after reading and discussing it a bit, I think I just missed something, here is what I think happened:

[Show spoiler]Apparently that child Francoise is the girl at the beginning who is afraid from his own family because of domestic abuse (the screams Anne hears), so she is the dead child, and the letters was presumably asking Anne for help (although she mentions the letter has grown up letter).

The Anne video segment was so disturbing and effective the same as the pool scene, so I think that is part of the movie she is filming, she did say it's a type of thriller.

And finally in the last scene she just probably changed the code because of her experience on the subway, she just didn't felt safe and the first thing she probably would do is take a bath.

[SkyAntoine]

Watched The Phantom Carriage today. Made in 1921 this is Criterion's oldest title. This movie had to completely amaze audiences at the time and the ghost video is more visually effective today than 90% of what I see today.
I intended to watch this after seeing Wild Strawberries several months ago, but I have to be in a silent mood to watch these older films.
There is no wonder Bergman watched this over 100 times. 9/10

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by SkyAntoine

Watched The Phantom Carriage today. Made in 1921 this is Criterion's oldest title. This movie had to completely amaze audiences at the time and the ghost video is more visually effective today than 90% of what I see today.
I intended to watch this after seeing Wild Strawberries several months ago, but I have to be in a silent mood to watch these older films.
There is no wonder Bergman watched this over 100 times. 9/10

The Phantom Carriage is pretty great, while it is at times pretty slow, the last act makes it all worth it.

It was my selection last year to see for New Years day, previous one was The Gold Rush, wonder what I could see this year, doesn't come to mind any other Criterion release, wish Criterion could release Strange Days, that would be a great if a bit weird movie to watch with the family for New Year