The Criterion Collection

[SkyAntoine]

Busy weekend and I only had a chance to watch one film: Wings of Desire.
Paris, Texas is my only other Wenders film (a top 20 for me) and I had very high expectations. Much to my surprise I was not a fan.

Beautifully shot and interesting dialogue. Reminded me of Hiroshima mon Amour the way it was constructed. Reflections on the cities also made the two comparable. IMO a mediocre 7/10.
Once again the non-traditional narrative is a turn off for me. I'm beginning to think it is the way my brain is wired.

From the age of 12 I always thought I was going to be an architect. When I took the architecture test at UK I realized that it wasn't the creative design that I wanted to do, but the precision of civil engineering. Symmetry, feasibility, efficiency. Those are things I look for in construction. Not necessarily the aesthetics.

Does the hard wiring of your brain tend to affect everyone else's movie watching? Am I destined to only like traditional narratives?

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by SkyAntoine

Busy weekend and I only had a chance to watch one film: Wings of Desire.
Paris, Texas is my only other Wenders film (a top 20 for me) and I had very high expectations. Much to my surprise I was not a fan.

Beautifully shot and interesting dialogue. Reminded me of Hiroshima mon Amour the way it was constructed. Reflections on the cities also made the two comparable. IMO a mediocre 7/10.
Once again the non-traditional narrative is a turn off for me. I'm beginning to think it is the way my brain is wired.

From the age of 12 I always thought I was going to be an architect. When I took the architecture test at UK I realized that it wasn't the creative design that I wanted to do, but the precision of civil engineering. Symmetry, feasibility, efficiency. Those are things I look for in construction. Not necessarily the aesthetics.

Does the hard wiring of your brain tend to affect everyone else's movie watching? Am I destined to only like traditional narratives?

I had high expectations when I watched Wings of Desire a couple of years ago, but I was let down.

I plan on rewatching it again soon, though, and I suspect my opinion will change. Something about reflections of the past that gets me every time.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

By now, I assume that everybody has seen Best Buy has put a large part of their Criterion Blus on sale 50% off.

If not, have fun.

No Jellyfish Eyes at 50% off = No sale from me.

[filmmusic]

Paris-Texas has a non-traditional narrative?
What do you mean?
Because I didn't think so..
it seemed pretty straightforward to me.

[Bandit Tajomaru]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

No Jellyfish Eyes at 50% off = No sale from me.

No Speedy either

[Sifox211]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

No Jellyfish Eyes at 50% off = No sale from me.

B&N 40% starts tomorrow, I believe. I got a 25% coupon by email today too, that is valid for the 15th. Will probably snag Yojimbo/Sanjuro at the same time so the coupon goes against that!

All this hate for Jellyfish Eyes is almost putting me off, but I'm still intriuged enough for a blind buy...

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

Paris-Texas has a non-traditional narrative?
What do you mean?
Because I didn't think so..
it seemed pretty straightforward to me.

I think he meant Wings of Desire, although I don't remember it being non-traditional, at least it is linear.

I saw Wings of Desire before Paris, Texas and while they are very different I thought both are excellent, but if I had to choose one Wim Wenders, it would be Paris, Texas.

[pedromvu]

As for tomorrow predictions, I never guess anything right, so I just hope they finally upgrade some dvd, or two.

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

I think he meant Wings of Desire

oh, yes, you're right. I read it wrong!

[filmmusic]

This isn't exactly 100% proven, but I have a pretty good feeling that Waking Life might be announced soon. Here's my evidence.

A few months ago this was posted...
sir_luke wrote:
I'm attending a presentation tonight on Criterion's cover art legacy which will feature their art director Eric Skillman.

...and later on that same day, this was posted...
sir_luke wrote:
The best part of the night was learning that we're apparently getting another animated film soon.

And just earlier this month, Arrow Video (aka Criterion's British doppelganger) announced a Waking Life dual-format edition...as a UK-only release. That said, I think it's pretty obvious Criterion is going to handle the US-only release (plus, it's Linklater, so it was bound to happen eventually, right?)

http://www.criterionforum.org/forum/...rt=650#p529852

I'll add: maybe that "here's your life" clue was a double clue for "Waking Life" too.
It was a breakfast + life, so.. "Waking Life".

Although I'd prefer if it was another animation film since I don't have a problem with regions.

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by Bandit Tajomaru

No Speedy either

Or Mulholland Dr. or Ikiru

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

As for tomorrow predictions, I never guess anything right, so I just hope they finally upgrade some dvd, or two.

Wow, I just realized that tomorrow's announcement day again.

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Wow, I just realized that tomorrow's announcement day again.

it was you who predicted all the releases last time a couple of hours prior, based on the phantom pages, right?
We'll be waiting for your report tomorrow!

[Scottie]

Give me Bicycle Thieves and Carnival of Souls and I will never ask for anything again...

...until next month.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

it was you who predicted all the releases last time a couple of hours prior, based on the phantom pages, right?
We'll be waiting for your report tomorrow!

I'll try my best. I have a couple of finals tomorrow.

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I'll try my best. I have a couple of finals tomorrow.

oh, never mind then.
Break a leg!

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

haven’t had much time recently to post thoughts on some recent CC titles that I have seen… here goes…

Night and the City: it’s pulpy, it’s “late night” movie-ish… both qualities one would expect from a film-noir. This one, however, also felt cheap and compared to Dassin’s Rififi, this film has the quality of a B-side track. Gene Tierney is wasted in a role that just requires her to be a stereotypical film-noir “dame.” Richard Widmark’s Fabian really needs to be punched in the face,

[Show spoiler]so those of you who have seen it can understand why I enjoyed the end when he gets dumped in the river.

I’ve only seen Widmark a few times. I think I prefer him more as a good guy. N&TC isn’t terrible, but it isn’t as good as Kazan’s Panic in the Streets (another noir in which Widmark stars,) either.

Ray - here's what I thought about N&TC immediately after having seen it for the first time.

The Third Man is the best noir in the collection. Outside of that, Rififi is in my top 10 Criterion releases and would top my 'favorite non-OOP CC noir' list.

[kuro_sawa]

Tomorrows announcement will be a new streaming service featuring only Jellyfish Eyes 2, early digital release. Merry Christmas.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

http://www.criterionforum.org/forum/...rt=650#p529852

I'll add: maybe that "here's your life" clue was a double clue for "Waking Life" too.
It was a breakfast + life, so.. "Waking Life".

Although I'd prefer if it was another animation film since I don't have a problem with regions.

I just want Waking Life to part of a Before Trilogy box set.

[ajburke]

A Safe Place was mentioned in a lot of posts a couple of pages back as being among the worst titles in the CC. I definitely get this sentiment, but I enjoyed it more than Drive, He Said, at least by a degree. Does anyone have any thoughts on why Drive, He Said is being spared from the negativity directed at A Safe Place? A Safe Place doesn't have much going for it, but it does have Jack, and I did get marginal enjoyment from the goofy usage of La Mer.

Thanks!