The Criterion Collection

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I thought it was really good.

Didn't punch me in the gut like the Apu Trilogy, but it confirmed my suspicion that Ray is one of the greatest, most underappreciated directors of all time.

...now I just have to get my hands on a copy of The Music Room.

As far as Ozu, which film do you like more--Tokyo Story or Late Spring?

...

Originally Posted by pedromvu

Late Spring for me, but I liked Early Summer even more, hoping for an upgrade soon.

Anyway you should also get Tokyo Story at some point, so it all depends on which you plan to see in the near future.

As for Sword of Doom I was not a fan, not sure why, didn't hate it either, but I love Harakiri.

Can anyone recommend the Takashi Miike remake? I saw that it was on Netflix the other day, but not sure if it is worth the time.

[silverlakephil]

I decided to purchase the John Cassavetes box set, since any Cassavetes film has been lacking in my collection. Only film he directed I'm familiar with was Gloria.

[Ray Jackson]

Just got back from Barnes and Noble with the final haul for this sale.

-Repulsion
-Odd Man Out
-Sword of Doom
-Late Spring

Was going to get Tokyo Story, but both store copies of the digibook had that "disc is out of the case" sound and I got spooked.

Was able to successfully return the copy of The Big City I bought, even though it was unwrapped. I explained to the cashier that it was an obvious rewrap job and there were visible signs of damage on the case and, therefor, I felt entitled to exchange it for something else--considering the fact that no other copy was currently available in their warehouses.

The guy called over the manager and the manager said it's against store policy to do that, but agreed to make an acception. What he didn't accept was the fact that it had clearly been opened and rewrapped for an in-store resell. I explained the blatant signs of rewrapping--cheap, saran wrap-style wrapping poorly applied, no blue sticker on the wrapper etc.--but he only responded by saying that sometimes discs get damaged in transit and it's not their fault.

I chose not to argue with him, because he was giving me what I wanted.

I'm pretty sure I'm right about this.

...but who knows?

[Scottie]

Just watched my Blu-ray of The Manchurian Candidate. Absolutely incredible film! I literally "HOLY SHIT-TED" out loud at several moments.

If there's one movie that will make you paranoid about the world we live in, this is the ones, folks.

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Just watched my Blu-ray of The Manchurian Candidate. Absolutely incredible film! I literally "HOLY SHIT-TED" out loud at several moments.

If there's one movie that will make you paranoid about the world we live in, this is the ones, folks.

I'm so glad you enjoyed it! You had the same overall reaction I had after my first viewing. So what did you think of the performances?

[Purplenoon]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I thought it was really good.

Didn't punch me in the gut like the Apu Trilogy, but it confirmed my suspicion that Ray is one of the greatest, most underappreciated directors of all time.

...now I just have to get my hands on a copy of The Music Room.

As far as Ozu, which film do you like more--Tokyo Story or Late Spring?

Tokyo Story

[oildude]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Was able to successfully return the copy of The Big City I bought, even though it was unwrapped. I explained to the cashier that it was an obvious rewrap job and there were visible signs of damage on the case and, therefor, I felt entitled to exchange it for something else--considering the fact that no other copy was currently available in their warehouses.

The guy called over the manager and the manager said it's against store policy to do that, but agreed to make an acception. What he didn't accept was the fact that it had clearly been opened and rewrapped for an in-store resell. I explained the blatant signs of rewrapping--cheap, saran wrap-style wrapping poorly applied, no blue sticker on the wrapper etc.--but he only responded by saying that sometimes discs get damaged in transit and it's not their fault.

I chose not to argue with him, because he was giving me what I wanted.

I'm pretty sure I'm right about this.

...but who knows?

So you opened your copy of The Big City even though it looked to you like a "saran wrap job", thought about taking it back, decided to watch the disc and had no problems with it, then took it back to the store for an exchange for a different Criterion.....got it. Yeah, you were right.

And just so you know, not all Criterions are created equal when it comes to the plastic wrap and blu stickers. Some titles have a looser wrap than most, where you can open it quickly with your thumb at the back of the case. Not all come with blu stickers either; most do, but some do not. That doesn't mean they are re-wrap jobs.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by jmclick

I'm so glad you enjoyed it! You had the same overall reaction I had after my first viewing. So what did you think of the performances?

They completely knocked it out of the park.

Frank Sinatra easily stole the show, but the performances by Laurence Harvey and especially Angela Lansbury made the movie what it was. Also, the supporting role by Janet Leigh had me questioning her motives until the end of the film. It definitely added to the paranoiac-feel of the whole movie.

That ending! I can't stop thinking about it.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by oildude

So you opened your copy of The Big City even though it looked to you like a "saran wrap job", thought about taking it back, decided to watch the disc and had no problems with it, then took it back to the store for an exchange for a different Criterion.....got it. Yeah, you were right.

And just so you know, not all Criterions are created equal when it comes to the plastic wrap and blu stickers. Some titles have a looser wrap than most, where you can open it quickly with your thumb at the back of the case. Not all come with blu stickers either; most do, but some do not. That doesn't mean they are re-wrap jobs.

If you'd seen the damage to the case--dents and marks all over--and if you'd seen the wrapping and how it had been applied--you might think differently.

If this wasn't a re-wrap job, then re-wrap jobs don't exist.

Is that what you're saying?

...re-wrapped cases don't exist?

Yeah I bought it thinking it had been already opened and re-wrapped. But there was no way to tell just how extensive the damage to the case was until the wrapping had been taken off.

I inspected it thoroughly in the store, but was still very surprised by the condition it was in after I opened it.

It's not like I wanted to return the movie--which I liked quite a lot--and it's not like I didn't try to see if they could order a new copy from their suppliers...which they couldn't because no new copies were available.

So I feel fine about what I did.

[Arch Stanton]

Is The Vanishing good? I've seen the remake (didn't know it was a remake) and didn't like it very much, but I put that down to execution more than concept.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Arch Stanton

Is The Vanishing good? I've seen the remake (didn't know it was a remake) and didn't like it very much.

The original version of The Vanishing is one of my favorite Criterion titles, and one of my favorite movies of all time.

It was also one of the first Criterion films that I saw, because I watched it on cable TV back in the early 1990s shortly after its release on these shores.

It's the best Alfred Hitchcock movie that Alfred Hitchcock didn't direct, if that makes sense.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by Arch Stanton

Is The Vanishing good? I've seen the remake (didn't know it was a remake) and didn't like it very much.

I thought it was just okay myself.

It's a an interesting idea for a film and the ending is great.

But it's not that great to look at and the music is pretty weak imo.

And it kind of drags in the middle.

...I never really felt unnerved or disturbed by it at any point.

But that's just me.

Some people think it's a masterpiece.

[oildude]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

If you'd seen the damage to the case--dents and marks all over--you might think differently.

If this wasn't a re-wrap job, then re-wrap jobs don't exist.

Is that what you're saying?

...re-wrapped cases don't exist?

Yeah and I bought it thinking it had been already opened and re-wrapped. But there was no way to tell just how extensive the damage to the case was until the wrapping had been taken off.

I inspected it thoroughly in the store, but was still very surprised by the condition it was in after I opened it.

You could have contacted Criterion directly, explained the situation, and they would have sent you a replacement case, if the case was really so badly damaged that you felt you could not keep it. Instead you chose to watch the film anyway and return it for something else. But it seems the point is sailing right over your head.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by oildude

You could have contacted Criterion directly, explained the situation, and they would have sent you a replacement case, if it was really so badly damaged that you felt you could not keep it. Instead you chose to open it, watch the film, and return it for something else. But it seems the point is sailing right over your head.

Actually it appears as though the salient point of the matter is sailing over your head sir.

The case had CLEARLY been opened and re-wrapped and then put on shelves in far less than mint condition. You may not believe that to be the case and you're entitled to your opinion on that. But unlike you, I actually know what I saw and thus I feel completely confident in my opinion.

It was sitting on the shelf at Barnes and Noble...they were the ones selling it and therefor I have no problem holding them accountable for it.

If it's true that Criterion will eat the cost of mailing out replacement cases and I don't have to pay anything to send them the damaged case, then I'll remember that if this ever happens again.

And again, because you seem to be suggesting otherwise...I did NOT want to return the movie.

I wanted a copy that could accurately be described as being in "like new" condition.

...and this was not even close.

[theater dreamer]

Originally Posted by Aardvark_DK

Hm, are you sure? I'm reasonably certain that Ozu never used pan shots.

You're absolutely right. That's my mistake. I was so shocked to see the camera move at all, I just got all excited. The motion wasn't the result of the camera being turned, it was a long shot on a dolly. The scene I'm thinking of is after Shukichi and Tomi have come back from the spa, before he goes out drinking, and she goes back to stay with Noriko. I'm almost certain there was a second, albeit shorter motion shot. I need to go back and watch that part again.

Talk about polar opposites, as far as directorial styles are concerned. After I posted about Tokyo Story last night, I loaded up Ingmar's Persona. First time ever seeing it.

Here's a play by play of my Persona experience.

"So looking forward to seeing this masterpiece by Ingmar Bergm....was that a ___??"

"Man, this is such a beautifully shot film."

"Did my disc just skip? Wait, I'm not watching a Blu-ray."

"Great movie! What the blank did I just watch?"

That one, too, is going into the collection.

[Page14]

Originally Posted by belcherman

<snip>
As I said in an earlier post, James Mason is a revelation in Odd Man Out. I've always associated him with sad middle-aged types like Norman Main and Humbert Humbert, but when he was young he was as cool and sexy as James Dean. No wonder he was considered one of the best actors of his generation. I need to seek out more of his early work.

I blind bought Odd Man Out solely because of James Mason and the glowing reviews he received for that film. Off the top of my head, I can't think of any James Mason movie that I didn't like.

[theater dreamer]

Originally Posted by iScottie

They completely knocked it out of the park.

Frank Sinatra easily stole the show, but the performances by Laurence Harvey and especially Angela Lansbury made the movie what it was. Also, the supporting role by Janet Leigh had me questioning her motives until the end of the film. It definitely added to the paranoiac-feel of the whole movie.

That ending! I can't stop thinking about it.

I'm torn. Part of me wants to watch The Manchurian Candidate again, while another part wants to just wait until the Criterion comes out. I don't know if I can make it that long, however.

[oildude]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Actually it appears as though the salient point of the matter is sailing over your head sir.

The case had CLEARLY been opened and re-wrapped and then put on shelves in far less than mint condition. You may not believe that to be the case and you're entitled to your opinion on that. But unlike you, I actually know what I saw and thus I feel completely confident in my opinion.

It was sitting on the shelf at Barnes and Noble...they were the ones selling it and therefor I have no problem holding them accountable for it.

If it's true that Criterion will eat the cost of mailing out replacement cases, then I'll remember that if this ever happens again.


" Instead you chose to watch the film anyway and return it for something else."

Once again, if you're implying that I was trying to put one over on the store, then I'll say it again, just in case you missed it the first time: I didn't want to return the movie. I LIKED the movie and wanted a copy that could accurately be described as "like new."

...this was not even close.

You have gone back and edited your posts. My responses were to the original ones. Now you have added information to explain your innocent intentions and sound less like you pulled a fast one with no conscience about it. I missed nothing the first time.

Glad you got some good movies. That is what we are all about as Criterion fans.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by oildude

You have gone back and edited your posts. My responses were to the original ones. Now you have added information to explain your innocent intentions and sound less like you pulled a fast one. I missed nothing the first time.

Glad you got some good movies. That is what we are all about as Criterion fans.

Nothing you just said has any bearing whatsoever on the substance of the issue.

...red herrings don't change the facts.

They do however suggest an unwillingness to accept them.

I'll let it go at that.

Take care.

[SkyAntoine]

Have a free afternoon so I'm trying to squeeze in 4 films today. First was Beauty and the Beast. I've put off this classic far too long. Gotta admit I'm a Disney fan because we take our kids to WDW often. Despite the lack of a live action "Be Our Guest" number I would give this an outstanding 9/10.

2nd film was Late Spring. I had not seen this but put it on the list for today after seeing a few mentions lately. I would say this is my 2nd favorite Ozu film now. I have 3 daughters so wishing them happiness hits close to home with this movie. Another 9/10.