The Criterion Collection

[myka22]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I plopped down $60 for a UFC ppv last night night, only to see my beloved Jose Aldo get knocked out in 13 seconds.

I hadn't bought a ppv in several years.

It was a last minute impulse buy.

I could've bought 3 Criterions during the 50% off sale with that money.

...I feel sick right now.

Right there with you. That was rough. I enjoyed Weidman vs Rockhold at least.

[pro-bassoonist]

Jellyfish Eyes is nowhere near close to being a bad film, but it is quite an overwhelming one.

The biggest problem is that it wants to be a couple of different things at the same time. Much like Sion Sono's Himizu, which was also inspired by the tragic events in Japan in 2011, it attempts to raise various red flags and bring awareness to serious issues. Sono's film is also a hybrid of sorts, and also a bizarre one. On the other hand, Jellyfish Eyes also enters the same territory Takashi Miike's Yatterman visits. Because of Murakami's past, I think that it is where Jellyfish Eyes is most comfortable. However, the truth is that both Sono and Miike are much better directors and stylists, and when they go in hyper-drive mode their work is typically very effective.

Murakami also mentions in one of the feauturettes on the Blu-ray that he played with the narrative so that the film would appeal to Japanese viewers (obviously those that like the type of films mentioned above) as well as foreign viewers. With the type of material Jellyfish Eyes deals with, finding the right balance can be a very difficult thing to do.

Jellyfish Eyes is a good first film. It is just a bit too busy for my taste.

Pro-B

[mja345]

Originally Posted by Knaldskalle

I haven't seen Jellyfish Eyes, but the essay comes across as some sort of apologia to me. There is remarkably little about the film itself and the comparisons to Warhol and Schnabel are merely of the "other artists who've made movies" type, i.e. there's no real comparison. And what little the essay actually has to say about the movie seems remarkably non-specific (apart from the synopsis).

And then it tops it all off with a classic: "If you don't understand the movie it's because you're not supposed to understand it, not because it doesn't make sense". Oh really? And how do I tell the difference between a movie that doesn't make sense and a movie where I'm not supposed to be able to make sense of it?

True, there doesn't seem to be much justification of the film itself, more of the pattern of artists in other arenas making films. All I can say is watch the movie for yourself. I found it incredibly awful, but maybe others will feel differently. Pro-B obviously didn't think it was that bad, so to each his own.

[jmclick]

Heads Up! Amazon is offering a handful of Criterion titles at 50% off, for those of you who may be interested. They've been adding a new title every few hours. Right now, Belle de Jour, The Earrings of Madame de ..., The Fisher King, The Night Porter, and the Three Colors Trilogy are all available at half the MSRP.

[I KEEL YOU]

A Safe Place must be the worst movie in the Criterion Collection because of the undisputed fact that it's the worst movie of all time. But I understand why it's in the CC because it's part of BBS and it wouldn't make sense to have a BBS set without including it.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by Martin_31

The same!!!!!!!! I couldn't believe it!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by myka22

Right there with you. That was rough. I enjoyed Weidman vs Rockhold at least.

I could've lived with spending that kind of money to see Aldo get crushed if the fight had at least gone a round or two.

But damn...$60 for 13 seconds...after all that buildup?

Never again.

[Scottie]

Jellyfish Eyes is the greatest film ever made.

[Cinematt]

Originally Posted by jw007

4. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (It was a sad and tragic film and frankly I'm not sure why and how this film belongs in the Criterion Collection. It's flawed, overlong and ponderous.)

Fincher directing, Pitt and Blanchett starring, 13 Oscar nods including 3 wins, and a $300+ million box office performance, I'm sure Criterion were very happy to be putting it out, it must have made them a fortune, even if public opinion seemed to shift very fast away from the positive reception it started with.
I love Fincher, but this is the only one of his films I've still only seen once. I don't find it massively out of place in the collection because I think he's an important director and there's something to be said for making any work by a good director available, even if it's their worst effort. Similarly Killer's Kiss isn't a great film, but I'm really glad they included it with The Killing or we might still be waiting to get it on BD at all.

[filmmusic]

Since the next announcement is near, and the new year's drawing, i wanted to ask: has everything (except for The New World) been released from the previous new year's drawing?

[Show spoiler]

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Jellyfish Eyes is the greatest film ever made.

I could be wrong, but I don't think you really mean that.

[Ray Jackson]

I'm thinking about getting Night and the City during the upcoming 40% off sale.

I would like to have at least one Criterion film noir in my collection.

Plus the cover art for this one is pretty sick.

I saw The Killers on TV a few months ago and was underwhelmed by it.

It's a good little film, bu not something I would feel the need to watch more than once.

Night and the City looks good to me, but only has a 79% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

...what do y'all think is the best film noir in the Criterion collection?

[Vidya]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

Since the next announcement is near, and the new year's drawing, i wanted to ask: has everything (except for The New World) been released from the previous new year's drawing?

Not sure, but was it ever confirmed whether or not the plans held by the master builder hinted at Spinal Tap?

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

...what do y'all think is the best film noir in the Criterion collection?

Probably The Third Man.

[diskspinner]

Originally Posted by Vidya

Probably The Third Man.

Ok, you might be right...but poor Ray just lost $60...gone in 13 seconds...Let's not suggest something that is OOP...

[Vidya]

Originally Posted by diskspinner

Ok, you might be right...but poor Ray just lost $60...gone in 13 seconds...Let's not suggest something that is OOP...

Ray's in luck this time! The superior StudioCanal release is region free!

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by diskspinner

Ok, you might be right...but poor Ray just lost $60...gone in 13 seconds...Let's not suggest something that is OOP...

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by Vidya

Ray's in luck this time! The superior StudioCanal release is region free!

I have The Third Man on my dvr.

...I'm good with that.

[SlickDamian]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I'm thinking about getting Night and the City during the upcoming 40% off sale.

I would like to have at least one Criterion film noir in my collection.

Plus the cover art for this one is pretty sick.

I saw The Killers on TV a few months ago and was underwhelmed by it.

It's a good little film, bu not something I would feel the need to watch more than once.

Night and the City looks good to me, but only has a 79% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

...what do y'all think is the best film noir in the Criterion collection?

Sweet Smell of Success
Pale Flower
The Night of the Hunter

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

what do y'all think is the best film noir in the Criterion collection?

The Killing

On edit: If you want to include laserdiscs, then The Asphalt Jungle.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

...what do y'all think is the best film noir in the Criterion collection?

The Killers
Odd Man Out
Sweet Smell of Success
The Third Man

/thread

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by Cinematt

Fincher directing, Pitt and Blanchett starring, 13 Oscar nods including 3 wins, and a $300+ million box office performance, I'm sure Criterion were very happy to be putting it out, it must have made them a fortune, even if public opinion seemed to shift very fast away from the positive reception it started with.
I love Fincher, but this is the only one of his films I've still only seen once. I don't find it massively out of place in the collection because I think he's an important director and there's something to be said for making any work by a good director available, even if it's their worst effort. Similarly Killer's Kiss isn't a great film, but I'm really glad they included it with The Killing or we might still be waiting to get it on BD at all.

I don't think the reception of Benjamin Button changed that much, at least outside Criterion circles where it gets some complaints for being in the collection, it still has a positive reception overall.

For me his worst effort easily has to be Alien 3 followed by The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, but for me Benjamin Button is in one of the top even if it is very different stylistically to almost all his other works.