The Criterion Collection

[monorail91]

Originally Posted by Brad1963

Nice surprise in the mail today.


Attachment 132746

Fare thee wellllllll, my honey! Can't wait til Tuesday. Still undecided whether to watch this, or Gilda, or both that night.

[ravenus]

Thanks to a friendly relative coming in from the US, I managed to get my hands on the stuff I'd ordered during the October sale at Criterion's website.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

I know this is not Criterion related but had to do this, just watched Top Gun for the first time and wow .

Sorry Ray, but most people here were right, it's really bad, if you like aerial combat scenes go watch Wings(1927), the actors actually operated the cameras while flying for real on that one, beat that Top Gun

I know it was you pedro.

...you broke my heart.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV_glMmHaQI

[llj]

It's been a while since I last watched Top Gun, but I did like Hot Shots!, lol.

[pedromvu]

Lol, didn't know most people liked Top Gun, for me, it came out the year I was born, so it never was something I watched as a kid, I guess it's one of those nostalgia movies, like the other day I saw Gremlins and was disappointed too although not as much.

While I liked the aerial scenes, I didn't really care for the characters, also for most of the movie the stakes aren't even that high, the plot is quite thin, and for some reason I didn't like the soundtrack, it was like they used the same music over and over and it never stopped, it was more like a videogame I felt.

Now I just need to watch Ghostbusters, Karate Kid and Predator to complete my 80's biggest hits list.

Originally Posted by llj

It's been a while since I last watched Top Gun, but I did like Hot Shots!, lol.

I remember loving Hot Shots! as a kid, not sure which part I saw, but need to revisit

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

Lol, didn't know most people liked Top Gun, for me, it came out the year I was born, so it never was something I watched as a kid, I guess it's one of those nostalgia movies, like the other day I saw Gremlins and was disappointed too although not as much.

While I liked the aerial scenes, I didn't really care for the characters, also for most of the movie the stakes aren't even that high, the plot is quite thin, and for some reason I didn't like the soundtrack, it was like they used the same music over and over and it never stopped, it was more like a videogame I felt.

Now I just need to watch Ghostbusters, Karate Kid and Predator to complete my 80's biggest hits list.


I remember loving Hot Shots! as a kid, not sure which part I saw, but need to revisit

You see this Pedro?

This is our friendship.

...this is what I'm doing with it.

[Scottie]

From Criterion's Instagram

Film technicians at the new Hong Kong branch of L’Immagine Ritrovata repairing original 35mm negatives of Chinese films. - See more at: https://www.instagram.com/accounts/l...auth/authorize

[CriterionBlues]

Originally Posted by iScottie

From Criterion's Instagram

"Film technicians at the new Hong Kong branch of L’Immagine Ritrovata repairing original 35mm negatives of Chinese films."

Coincidental with the King Hu phantom page going up?

[filmmusic]

Oh, I would hope these included some early Zhang Yimou films, but I guess not, since some of them have already been released restored on foreign Blurays.

On another note:
Could anyone please recommend any Criterion films (or maybe others) that the main character has depression and finds no meaning in life?
I've read the plot of Anomalisa, and it seems along those lines.

[Yami]

Originally Posted by CriterionBlues

"Film technicians at the new Hong Kong branch of L’Immagine Ritrovata repairing original 35mm negatives of Chinese films."

Coincidental with the King Hu phantom page going up?

I'd imagine the King Hu is for the Touch of Zen restoration, in which case it would be coincidental as it was restored by the Taiwan Film Archive

[CriterionBlues]

Originally Posted by Yami

I'd imagine the King Hu is for the Touch of Zen restoration, in which case it would be coincidental as it was restored by the Taiwan Film Archive

Maybe it is wishful thinking, but I am hoping for Come Drink With Me or Dragon Inn. I'd be thrilled with Zen too of course. Actually a box of all three would be great.

[CPinheiro]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

On another note:
Could anyone please recommend any Criterion films (or maybe others) that the main character has depression and finds no meaning in life?
I've read the plot of Anomalisa, and it seems along those lines.

The Fire Within and Taste of Cherry. Btw, would love if criterion upgraded both.

[Fabs]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

Oh, I would hope these included some early Zhang Yimou films, but I guess not, since some of them have already been released restored on foreign Blurays.

Me too. I think the only film restored though is Ju Dou. I think Raise the Red Lantern is an upscale?　

I'm not sure what they would release beyond those that are from China. And I don't know why they'd post images of people restoring film if they are referring to King Hu, as his films are already restored and release by Masters of Cinema and Celestial Pictures. I'd imagine they just put up a picture of the actors, or a film still

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

Lol, didn't know most people liked Top Gun, for me, it came out the year I was born, so it never was something I watched as a kid, I guess it's one of those nostalgia movies, like the other day I saw Gremlins and was disappointed too although not as much.

While I liked the aerial scenes, I didn't really care for the characters, also for most of the movie the stakes aren't even that high, the plot is quite thin, and for some reason I didn't like the soundtrack, it was like they used the same music over and over and it never stopped, it was more like a videogame I felt.

Now I just need to watch Ghostbusters, Karate Kid and Predator to complete my 80's biggest hits list.

I remember loving Hot Shots! as a kid, not sure which part I saw, but need to revisit

I am with you on Top Gun, though I find Gremlins holds up quite well.

Ghostbusters is still mostly good, haven't watched Karate Kid in decades, but Predator is a masterpiece. THAT is a movie that should be in the Criterion Collection.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

I am with you on Top Gun, though I find Gremlins holds up quite well.

Ghostbusters is still mostly good, haven't watched Karate Kid in decades, but Predator is a masterpiece. THAT is a movie that should be in the Criterion Collection.

The Karate Kid is a great flick, and it looks marvelous on Blu-ray.


In other news, I just finished watching Larry Cohen's 1976 horror/sci-fi film, God Told Me To. I kept thinking that Tony Lo Bianco looked familiar, and, about halfway through the film, I remembered that I had recently seen him in the Criterion title, The Honeymoon Killers. He was a criminally underrated actor, and it's a shame that he's not a lot more famous these days.

[shadedpain4]

In preparation for Criterion's eventual release of A Brighter Summer Day, I watched my 2nd Edward Yang film by finally digging into my blu of The Terrorizors. I liked it just as much as Yi Yi and I learned that

[Show spoiler]in 1986 everyone in Taiwan wore white shirts as often as possible

. I'm even more excited about A Brighter Summer Day than I was before, which is saying something. I usually buy all my Criterions during the sales, but ABSD will be a day one purchase.

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

In preparation for Criterion's eventual release of A Brighter Summer Day, I watched my 2nd Edward Yang film by finally digging into my blu of The Terrorizors. I liked it just as much as Yi Yi and I learned that

[Show spoiler]in 1986 everyone in Taiwan wore white shirts as often as possible

. I'm even more excited about A Brighter Summer Day than I was before, which is saying something. I usually buy all my Criterions during the sales, but ABSD will be a day one purchase.

I saw it a few days ago and while I thought it was pretty good, is not on the same level as Yi Yi for me, although it's close now that I think about it, this sequence was amazing though:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scvAmGMpAn0

I don't remember where I have heard that song before, now I can't forget it.

Edit: just checked and it probably was from The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant.

[Al_The_Strange]

You know you have a favorite movie on your hands when you find yourself thinking about it, gravitating towards it when you see it on the shelf, and inevitably popping it in the player.

Thus, after hemming and hawing over whether to pop in Quadrophenia or La Haine or Gomorrah, I wound up picking Breaking the Waves again. This would be my third or maybe even my fourth time seeing it, and this would probably make it my most-watched Criterion movie right now (which is sad considering how much I love Seven Samurai and The Third Man, but never get a chance to sit down and watch 'em).

At first glance, BTW is not a movie I should love - it's long, the plot is subtle, and the film itself (with the faux-Dogme-95 thing going for it) is purposefully rough around the edges. And yet, the premise elicits controversy and deep thought alone. Something about the acting, filming style/editing, and pacing makes this a pretty easy-going drama. It also manages to stick with me long after watching.

A few specific things I find myself loving more and more would be Emily Watson's performance, which is great - you take one look at that character and can't help but to love her right away. I also love the old man who breaks a glass with his bare hands - that scene is awesome, it's like classic villainy, and it's all a good "show don't tell" moment. The settings and the culture are very interesting (I love Scotland as it is). Of course, the film has its ugly parts as it goes on, but it never comes off as wholly distasteful to me personally (especially when compared to Antichrist or Nymphomaniac).

Ultimately, the sum of the parts add up to a very intriguing, thoughtful, and stylish experience. I think it sticks with me the most for its characterizations, and for presenting themes that demand critical analysis. I don't remember if this was a blind-buy for me or not, but it's definitely money well spent at this point.

As it is, I still favor Antichrist a little more for its imagery, Nymphomaniac for its fusion of style and substance, and Dancer in the Dark for all its gut-wrenching character payoff. Despite being my fourth-favorite Trier film, BTW might be the one that incites me the most for some odd reason. Heck, I even love the digipak cover and booklet. I hope Criterion gets their hands on more of Trier's films sooner or later.

[Makarov]

Wow Harakiri was such a good blind buy, think it might take the spot as my #1 samurai movie that I've seen... better than Seven Samurai possibly. Next up I'm going to watch Throne of Blood which I saw a long time ago but forgot most of it.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Makarov

Wow Harakiri was such a good blind buy, think it might take the spot as my #1 samurai movie that I've seen... better than Seven Samurai possibly. Next up I'm going to watch Throne of Blood which I saw a long time ago but forgot most of it.

Harakiri is also one of the best blind-buys I made.

Throne of Blood is great, might be my favorite adaption of MacBeth to date.