The Criterion Collection

[diskspinner]

Originally Posted by octagon

Is encouraging you to get the David Lean set too what you had in mind?

If so, get the David Lean set too.

If not, well, get the David Lean set too.

(did we already do this? was that you the other day in the sale thread?)

Yes, it was me there...

I will...but I feel unprepared for it now...Choosing 1 from these 13 boxes is not so easy...

[Show spoiler]
Martin Scorsese World Cinema
Tati
Demy
David Lean
Rosselini
Qatsi
Trilogy of life
Monterary Pop
Yojimbo/Sanjuro
Gregory/Wallace
Les Blank
Pierre Etaix
Samurai Trilogy

[octagon]

Originally Posted by diskspinner

Yes, it was me there...

I will...but I feel unprepared for it now...Choosing 1 from these 13 boxes is not so easy...

Yeah, there's definitely a lotta gold in them thar hills.

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by diskspinner

Yes, it was me there...

I will...but I feel unprepared for it now...Choosing 1 from these 13 boxes is not so easy...

[Show spoiler]
Martin Scorsese World Cinema
Tati
Demy
David Lean
Rosselini
Qatsi
Trilogy of life
Monterary Pop
Yojimbo/Sanjuro
Gregory/Wallace
Les Blank
Pierre Etaix
Samurai Trilogy

I would recommend the Pierre Etaix boxset, mainly because it seems very few people have seen those movies, the main 3 full length movies (The Suitor, Yoyo and Le Grand Amour) are pretty good and different from each other, I didn't enjoy the shorts or documentary as much and doesn't come super packed with supplements but it's also one of the cheapest considering the total running time.

[PipesDonatello]

A little off topic, but Universal is finally releasing Howard The Duck on blu-ray. See what you missed out on, Criterion?

[diskspinner]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

I would recommend the Pierre Etaix boxset, mainly because it seems very few people have seen those movies, the main 3 full length movies (The Suitor, Yoyo and Le Grand Amour) are pretty good and different from each other, I didn't enjoy the shorts or documentary as much and doesn't come super packed with supplements but it's also one of the cheapest considering the total running time.

I borrowed the disc 2 from library today.

[CriterionBlues]

Originally Posted by diskspinner

oh...no...you cannot miss some 50-60 posts Ray Jackson made asking about everybody's opinion on Odd Man Out...He did not watch it before...

May be he felt sleepy...may be he got scared...

Ok, I am going to get that Tati set right now...Please encourage/discourage me before it's too late...

It looks like we talked him into a good night's sleep.

As for Tati ... ENCOURAGE!

[oildude]

Originally Posted by diskspinner

Ok, I am going to get that Tati set right now...Please encourage/discourage me before it's too late...

In my opinion, the Tati box is a "desert island" Criterion release. Watching Jacques Tati's character Monsieur Hulot is for me a total riot, an inspired character who captures the wonderful humor of silent film comedies. I also can't help but think Tati's Hulot was an influence on Peter Sellers. Whatever you do, take time to watch the supplements, they add so much to the ultimate enjoyment of the films, especially PlayTime, one of the most ambitious and brilliant movies I have ever seen.

I would also highly recommend The Essential Jacques Demy set. I think these two sets compliment each other very well. This past summer I watched both sets back to back and it was one of the best viewing experiences of my life. I have since revisited select films from both sets and am more convinced than ever this is the finest one-two box set punch in the Criterion Collection.


This past summer I wrote a post about the Tati set, with particular emphasis on the weakest film Parade. Here is what I wrote:


The Tati set is a joy to watch. In my opinion, all the films are good to great, with the best being PlayTime, Mon Oncle, and Monsieur Hulot's Vacation. Parade is the weakest film, and also the most different, in a wonderful box set. It also has the worst PQ, since it was was mostly filmed on video for Swedish television, but if anyone can make video look decently good, it is Criterion. The colors were surprisingly vibrant on my plasma. But it is still mostly video so no getting around that.

After watching the entire set in release order, I have become a huge admirer and ardent fan of Tati. His short films and movies are like a throwback to the silent era. So much merriment, charm, and brilliance are present in his homages to silent comedies with their slapstick and absurd situations. There is a love of life that just spills over the screen in all of Tati's work.

I think the change in tone we see in Parade, and to a lesser extent in Trafic, are the lingering results of his bankruptcy over PlayTime. So sad, because I realized after watching PlayTime in this set (my second viewing after the stand alone release from a couple of years ago), that it really is a masterpiece and one of the most stunningly choreographed, complex, and amazing films ever made. Watching the special features afterward and learning that every single item in that film was part of a magnificently constructed movie set, from the office buildings and escalators to the city streets to the dazzling interiors, just blew me away. Nine years in the making, nothing on such a scale had ever been attempted in France before. PlayTime was a cinematic marvel.... and a colossal commercial failure that ruined him financially. Tati's horizons were much smaller afterward.

I enjoyed Parade solely for what it is: a TV variety show featuring acrobats, jugglers, clowns, musicians, trained animals, silly skits starring Tati as himself, all with audience participation. Entertaining though it may be, it drags a bit here and there especially in the last half, and is only mildly funny. It's no Carol Burnett show (my go-to-example of a variety comedy skit show I grew up loving in the 1970s also shot on video) but in a kind of parallel universe, its heart comes from the same place. It's just that Tati's heart was well over 60 years old and no longer capable of filling the screen with big dreams anymore. The charm is there, in a more intimate setting, but Parade, when compared to Tati's previous films, reminds me of what happens to American stars whose best days are behind them and who wind up their careers appearing nightly in Las Vegas. But for all that, the biggest let down about Parade is that I was watching Tati the variety show host and not Tati as Monsieur Hulot, a character I have come to love over the past month of viewing all of his films. Hulot was done, and Tati would never put him on the screen again.

And then something happens right at the end of the film that made me realize Parade had actually been worth it, that this may be lesser Tati but it is still something I will always treasure as part of his works. The two little kids from the audience seen throughout the film come on stage after the show is over and begin playing with the props as the actors are breaking down the sets. So simple a closing scene, yet so heartwarming, beautiful, and, I felt, the most absolutely perfect curtain drop on Jacques Tati's film career. Life goes on. Another generation is coming after. And they will be inspired. What a wonderful way to end it.

Vive Jacques Tati

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

As for the releases of the year, it is weird no one picked Mulholland Dr. not even Svet who gave it 5 across the board, which is not all that common.

definitely got one thing right, though...

two reviewers included Munich which is, IMO, Spielberg's best film and is a darn near masterpiece.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by mja345

I'm a big fan of his early stuff. "Spanking the Monkey", "Flirting With Disaster" and "Three Kings" are all very good. I'd love to see "Flirting With Disaster" get a Criterion release, as it's one of the best comedies in the past 25 years IMO. I really disliked "American Hustle" FWIW. "The Figher" and "Silver Linings Playbook" were okay, but certainly not great.

Haven't seen Spanking the Monkey, strongly disliked Flirting with Disaster, and quite liked Three Kings. I have American Hustle and Silver Linings Playbook on the shelf, but haven't gotten to them yet. His new one, Joy looks interesting.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

definitely got one thing right, though...

two reviewers included Munich which is, IMO, Spielberg's best film and is a darn near masterpiece.

I completely forgot that was even on the release schedule this year.

[diskspinner]

Originally Posted by oildude

[Show spoiler]In my opinion, the Tati box is a "desert island" Criterion release. Watching Jacques Tati's character Monsieur Hulot is for me a total riot, an inspired character who captures the wonderful humor of silent film comedies. I also can't help but think Tati's Hulot was an influence on Peter Sellers. Whatever you do, take time to watch the supplements, they add so much to the ultimate enjoyment of the films, especially PlayTime, one of the most ambitious and brilliant movies I have ever seen.

I would also highly recommend The Essential Jacques Demy set. I think these two sets compliment each other very well. This past summer I watched both sets back to back and it was one of the best viewing experiences of my life. I have since revisited select films from both sets and am more convinced than ever this is the finest one-two box set punch in the Criterion Collection.


This past summer I wrote a post about the Tati set, with particular emphasis on the weakest film Parade. Here is what I wrote:


The Tati set is a joy to watch. In my opinion, all the films are good to great, with the best being PlayTime, Mon Oncle, and Monsieur Hulot's Vacation. Parade is the weakest film, and also the most different, in a wonderful box set. It also has the worst PQ, since it was was mostly filmed on video for Swedish television, but if anyone can make video look decently good, it is Criterion. The colors were surprisingly vibrant on my plasma. But it is still mostly video so no getting around that.

After watching the entire set in release order, I have become a huge admirer and ardent fan of Tati. His short films and movies are like a throwback to the silent era. So much merriment, charm, and brilliance are present in his homages to silent comedies with their slapstick and absurd situations. There is a love of life that just spills over the screen in all of Tati's work.

I think the change in tone we see in Parade, and to a lesser extent in Trafic, are the lingering results of his bankruptcy over PlayTime. So sad, because I realized after watching PlayTime in this set (my second viewing after the stand alone release from a couple of years ago), that it really is a masterpiece and one of the most stunningly choreographed, complex, and amazing films ever made. Watching the special features afterward and learning that every single item in that film was part of a magnificently constructed movie set, from the office buildings and escalators to the city streets to the dazzling interiors, just blew me away. Nine years in the making, nothing on such a scale had ever been attempted in France before. PlayTime was a cinematic marvel.... and a colossal commercial failure that ruined him financially. Tati's horizons were much smaller afterward.

I enjoyed Parade solely for what it is: a TV variety show featuring acrobats, jugglers, clowns, musicians, trained animals, silly skits starring Tati as himself, all with audience participation. Entertaining though it may be, it drags a bit here and there especially in the last half, and is only mildly funny. It's no Carol Burnett show (my go-to-example of a variety comedy skit show I grew up loving in the 1970s also shot on video) but in a kind of parallel universe, its heart comes from the same place. It's just that Tati's heart was well over 60 years old and no longer capable of filling the screen with big dreams anymore. The charm is there, in a more intimate setting, but Parade, when compared to what came before, reminded me of what happens to American stars whose best days are behind them and who wind up their careers appearing nightly in Las Vegas. But for all that, the biggest let down about Parade was that I was watching Tati the variety show host and not Tati as Monsieur Hulot, a character I have come to love over the past month of viewing all of his films. Hulot was done, and Tati would never put him on the screen again.

And then something happens right at the end of the film that made me realize Parade had actually been worth it, that this may be lesser Tati but it is still something I will always treasure as part of his works. The two little kids from the audience seen throughout the film come on stage after the show is over and begin playing with the props as the actors are breaking down the sets. So simple a closing scene, yet so heartwarming, beautiful, and, I felt, the most absolutely perfect curtain drop on Jacques Tati's film career. Life goes on. Another generation is coming after. And they will be inspired. What a wonderful way to end it.

Vive Jacques Tati

Thanks...while you were writing this...(yet to read)...I got it

[Show spoiler]WP_20151223_15_11_00_Pro.jpg

[jw007]

Originally Posted by llj

I love Pacino in Heat PERIOD, don't get me wrong. But it's definitely one of the examples (along with "Hoo-hah!") which people point to when charting the start of Pacino's career turn to more overacted roles. It's unfair to use those examples though since he already showed signs of that even earlier, like in Sea of Love (another favorite of mine. Ellen Barkin was really hot here!)

I wish Heat was a Criterion title...just a random dream of mine. I once wrote a 20 page essay on this film in college...one of my favorite films in general.

Furthermore I can do a spectacular impression of Pacino's "HOO-HA".

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by diskspinner

Thanks...while you were writing this...(yet to read)...I got it

[Show spoiler]Attachment 131049

looks great on your dash... and it also looks warm where you're at. so that's doubly nice.

[llj]

Originally Posted by Arch Stanton

How can you only watch half an hour of a film? Or had you seen it before?

Heh. Confession time for me: 50% of the time I don't watch movies in a single sitting. It's a blasphemous way to watch movies, but a fairly common situation for me is I get a movie, come home at around 9:00pm or 10:00pm, watch around 30-40 minutes, stop and go to sleep, watch another 20-25 minutes the next morning, go to work, come home and finish movie.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by llj

Heh. Confession time for me: 50% of the time I don't watch movies in a single sitting. It's a blasphemous way to watch movies, but a fairly common situation for me is I get a movie, come home at around 9:00pm or 10:00pm, watch around 30-40 minutes, stop and go to sleep, watch another 20-25 minutes the next morning, go to work, come home and finish movie.

I try not to split films up too often (unless I've already seen it, then all bets are off) but I'll definitely turn things off and live to fight another day if I'm not feeling it at that particular moment.

In fact, that's one of the things I love about having a collection/library/whatever in the first place.

[The Great Owl]

This Jacques Tati discussion is compelling me to watch the movies in my box set at long last. Someday...

While I was organizing my collection by genre a couple of weeks back, it became clear to me that my stack of still-unwatched Blu-rays is embarrassing. I've been buying Blu-rays at the same rate, but I've also been spending less time at home watching movies and more time devoted to running outdoors.

I'm not going to stop purchasing new Blu-rays, but 2016 is going to be a year of prioritizing. Gilda will be a day one purchase, for example, because I'm all about the classic-era film noir, but everything else on the Criterion January queue can wait until a big sale...or even until a big sale a couple of years from now.

I'm brainstorming the idea of limiting my 2016 purchases mainly to classic-era film noir and to limited edition releases that may not be around for long. ...at least until I get a handle on the unwatched stack. We'll see how long that goes for me. Haha.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

This Jacques Tati discussion is compelling me to watch the movies in my box set at long last. Someday...

While I was organizing my collection by genre a couple of weeks back, it became clear to me that my stack of still-unwatched Blu-rays is embarrassing. I've been buying Blu-rays at the same rate, but I've also been spending less time at home watching movies and more time devoted to running outdoors.

I'm not going to stop purchasing new Blu-rays, but 2016 is going to be a year of prioritizing. Gilda will be a day one purchase, for example, because I'm all about the classic-era film noir, but everything else on the Criterion January queue can wait until a big sale...or even until a big sale a couple of years from now.

I'm brainstorming the idea of limiting my 2016 purchases mainly to classic-era film noir and to limited edition releases that may not be around for long. ...at least until I get a handle on the unwatched stack. We'll see how long that goes for me. Haha.

how many in your unwatched stack?

I've got about 20 in my unwatched and blind bought stack.. about 12% of my titles

..and around 30 in my unwatched but seen before stack. those #s wouldn't be that high except for the fact that I added like 20 titles since November 1.

[KillaCam]

Originally Posted by diskspinner

Thanks...while you were writing this...(yet to read)...I got it

[Show spoiler]Attachment 131049

Did you happen to use 25% coupon and the member discount? I'm planning to stop by B&N and am wondering what that ended up costing you.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

how many in your unwatched stack?

Let's see....

Most of the Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman box set
David Lean Directs Noel Coward
The Complete Jacques Tati
The Essential Jacques Demy
John Cassavetes: Five Films
...plus several assorted single-movie releases

Non-Criterion...

Most of Star Trek: The Original Series
Batman: The Complete Series
The Magnificent Seven Collection
...plus several assorted single-movie releases

Probably around 200 movies, total. Maybe more.

I do not sort my collection on this site by "Watched" or "Unwatched", because that feels too much like a job. Instead, I simply look at my collection, randomly decide that something strikes my fancy, and then dive into it. Unless, of course, a new purchase arrives that I'm just dying to watch on day one.

I tend to watch film noir and horror releases shortly after they arrive at my doorstep, but everything else just gets watched as soon as I get around to it.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Let's see....

Most of the Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman box set
David Lean Directs Noel Coward
The Complete Jacques Tati
The Essential Jacques Demy
John Cassavetes: Five Films
...plus several assorted single-movie releases

Non-Criterion...

Most of Star Trek: The Original Series
Batman: The Complete Series
The Magnificent Seven Collection
...plus several assorted single-movie releases

Probably around 200 movies, total. Maybe more.

I do not sort my collection on this site by "Watched" or "Unwatched", because that feels too much like a job. Instead, I simply look at my collection, randomly decide that something strikes my fancy, and then dive into it. Unless, of course, a new purchase arrives that I'm just dying to watch on day one.

percentage wise, that isn't too bad as it comes in at about 15% of your collection.