The Criterion Collection

[tallrichard]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Ray did get a vote or two for Member of the Year in the poll.

I would have bet he got one vote...but you can get two votes when you can vote for yourself more than once.

LOL

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by ckyrico

I was just thinking of some movies I would love for Criterion to pick up for a blu-ray release, and I was curious if anyone knew (based on the companies involved) how possible it would be for that to happen in the future:

1. BIRTH (2004) - New Line DVD
2. BLOODY SUNDAY (2002) - Paramount DVD
3. THE VIRGIN SUICIDES (1999) - Paramount DVD
4. SECRETS & LIES (1996) - 20th Century Fox DVD [they've already released 3 Mike Leigh films from the 90s, might as well do this too]
5. BARTON FINK (1991) - 20th Century Fox DVD

That weird vibrating sound in Birth REALLY bothered me - what even was it!?

Even so, superb film, love the mystery to it and great acting!

Virgin Suicides would be great... and Lost in Translation :P

[AaronJ]

Well, considering that Sofia Coppola is my favorite director I'm all for The Virgin Suicides. And Birth is freakin' brilliant. All of Glazer's work is brilliant.

[bwdowiak]

To those of you who love La Dolce Vita: how many viewings dd it take before you felt you had a real grasp on its themes, symbolism, characters, etc?

I just finished my 2nd watch and while the story didn't glaze over my head like it did when I saw it 15 years ago or so, I think it is a challenging watch. It's incredibly long. The narrative is somewhat unconventional in that each subsequent scene builds on what's come before it thematically, but not really in a plot sense. There are hundreds of characters (seemingly.) Some speak English and their dialogue is occasionally difficult to pick up in the cacophony of nightlife noise. I found some of the film great (the scenes w/ Marcello's father) and some of it just plain uninteresting.

I also think the symbolism isn't quite as easy to pick up as Ebert wrote about in his 1961 review. I'd have maybe concluded what he was able to, but it certainly would have taken several watches.

Anyone else have similar struggles with this film?

[Arch Stanton]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

To those of you who love La Dolce Vita: how many viewings dd it take before you felt you had a real grasp on its themes, symbolism, characters, etc?

I just finished my 2nd watch and while the story didn't glaze over my head like it did when I saw it 15 years ago or so, I think it is a challenging watch. It's incredibly long. The narrative is somewhat unconventional in that each subsequent scene builds on what's come before it thematically, but not really in a plot sense. There are hundreds of characters (seemingly.) Some speak English and their dialogue is occasionally difficult to pick up in the cacophony of nightlife noise. I found some of the film great (the scenes w/ Marcello's father) and some of it just plain uninteresting.

I also think the symbolism isn't quite as easy to pick up as Ebert wrote about in his 1961 review. I'd have maybe concluded what he was able to, but it certainly would have taken several watches.

Anyone else have similar struggles with this film?

I think a lot of that stuff deals with Fellini's career up until that point and other social/political/religious related themes exclusive to Italy in that era so it can be very difficult. I don't even think it's especially important, though. The film has a real kind of wash-over effect even if you're not familiar with the contextual things.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

To those of you who love La Dolce Vita: how many viewings dd it take before you felt you had a real grasp on its themes, symbolism, characters, etc?

I just finished my 2nd watch and while the story didn't glaze over my head like it did when I saw it 15 years ago or so, I think it is a challenging watch. It's incredibly long. The narrative is somewhat unconventional in that each subsequent scene builds on what's come before it thematically, but not really in a plot sense. There are hundreds of characters (seemingly.) Some speak English and their dialogue is occasionally difficult to pick up in the cacophony of nightlife noise. I found some of the film great (the scenes w/ Marcello's father) and some of it just plain uninteresting.

I also think the symbolism isn't quite as easy to pick up as Ebert wrote about in his 1961 review. I'd have maybe concluded what he was able to, but it certainly would have taken several watches.

Anyone else have similar struggles with this film?

I "got" La Dolce Vita a lot more during my most recent viewing than I did several years ago when I used to watch the Koch Entertainment DVD.

The final scene is so beautiful, and so heartbreaking in an offbeat way. The girl symbolizes the innocence and purity that Marcello will never have again.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

To those of you who love La Dolce Vita: how many viewings dd it take before you felt you had a real grasp on its themes, symbolism, characters, etc?

I just finished my 2nd watch and while the story didn't glaze over my head like it did when I saw it 15 years ago or so, I think it is a challenging watch. It's incredibly long. The narrative is somewhat unconventional in that each subsequent scene builds on what's come before it thematically, but not really in a plot sense. There are hundreds of characters (seemingly.) Some speak English and their dialogue is occasionally difficult to pick up in the cacophony of nightlife noise. I found some of the film great (the scenes w/ Marcello's father) and some of it just plain uninteresting.

I also think the symbolism isn't quite as easy to pick up as Ebert wrote about in his 1961 review. I'd have maybe concluded what he was able to, but it certainly would have taken several watches.

Anyone else have similar struggles with this film?

It took me two full watches before I completely appreciated the film as one of the greatest of all-time (it'd be in my Top 10 films of all-time if I had one).

My passion for the film lies within the character of Marcello. It's as if he's on an odyssey of sorts to find meaning within himself and his world, which is so corrupted by the mundane. Echoing Owl's sentiments, the final scene is one of the most beautiful scenes in cinema for me. The world may appear ugly and disgusting, but there is still so much beauty and innocence in it.

[Lino11]

After a little digging concerning the Zatoichi box set, here's some results:


DVDlist.com has it listed as "discontinued."

http://dvdlist.kazart.com/queryDVDList2.php3?id=251579


According to blu-ray.com member HD Goofnut, Zatoichi is OOP.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=257543


Elsewhere on our forums, member jscoggins wrote: "Zatoichi is being re-released by Lionsgate with a Digital Copy."


On the Criterion.com forums, two members had this to say:

"Since Criterion still has the rights, I'd guess this is getting broken up into separate, simpler packaged Blu-ray only and DVD only editions."

"Three 3-disc blu-ray sets at $79.99 each I would guess."

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by Lino11

After a little digging concerning the Zatoichi box set, here's some results:


DVDlist.com has it listed as "discontinued."

http://dvdlist.kazart.com/queryDVDList2.php3?id=251579


According to blu-ray.com member HD Goofnut, Zatoichi is OOP.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=257543


Elsewhere on our forums, member jscoggins wrote: "Zatoichi is being re-released by Lionsgate with a Digital Copy."


On the Criterion.com forums, two members had this to say:

"Since Criterion still has the rights, I'd guess this is getting broken up into separate, simpler packaged Blu-ray only and DVD only editions."

"Three 3-disc blu-ray sets at $79.99 each I would guess."

Criterion.com has forums?

Thanks for all sluething Lino, but unfortunately none of that seems like anything more than guesses and rumors.

[llj]

Originally Posted by WonderWeasel

Does anyone happen to have the Jean Vigo release? I've seen L'Atalante, but was wondering if the short films are worth watching as well, or if they were more just curiosities thrown in just for the sake of completion.

I don't like them as much as I like L'Atalante, but they are very much worth watching, displaying many interesting cinematic experiments and techniques. Zero for Conduct has many fans, as mentioned by someone earlier, and Taris, roi de l'eau is a fascinating experiment in filming motion in water.

[Ray Jackson]

After watching Inherent Vice for the second time last week, I decided to go through my PTA catalog in reverse chronological order.

So I watched The Master last night.

This film is so freaking brilliant.

This might very well be my favorite PTA film and one of the best films of the last 20 years imo.

Joachim Phoenix's performance is simply remarkable.

Genuinely one of the best acting performances I've ever seen.

...that's some De Niro-in-his-prime level stuff right there.

If I could vote for one PTA film to be released by Criterion, I think it would be The Master.

[Arch Stanton]

What's the point, though? It'll never look any better than it already does and obviously has a release.

Punch-Drunk and Hard Eight don't even have a BD release which is beyond crazy. Hoping both of those get the Criterion treatment.

[Rich Pure Doom]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

After watching Inherent Vice for the second time last week, I decided to go through my PTA catalog in reverse chronological order.

So I watched The Master last night.

This film is so freaking brilliant.

This might very well be my favorite PTA film and one of the best films of the last 20 years imo.

Joachim Phoenix's performance is simply remarkable.

Genuinely one of the best acting performances I've ever seen.

...that's some De Niro-in-his-prime level stuff right there.

If I could vote for one PTA film to be released by Criterion, I think it would be The Master.

I agree. It's easily the best film by PTA.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by Rich Pure Doom

I agree. It's easily the best film by PTA.

I don't know if I'd say easily.

There Will Be Blood is a film that's been on the verge of cracking my top 20 for a few years now.

It's brilliant in its own right.

...but I've come to the conclusion that The Master is just a little bit more brilliant.

[pedromvu]

PTA talk again , since I recently rewatched Boogie Nights this is my new list:

1.-Magnolia
2.-There Will Be Blood
3.-The Master tied with Boogie Nights

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

PTA talk again , since I recently rewatched Boogie Nights this is my new list:

1.-Magnolia
2.-There Will Be Blood
3.-The Master tied with Boogie Nights

I will have to revisit Magnolia some time soon.

I remember not liking it very much when it first came out, but time can change a man.

...but I can't imagine liking it more than The Master.

Though Tom Cruise's "respect the C" monologue became the guiding philosophy for my life during my 20s.

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I will have to revisit Magnolia some time soon.

I remember not liking it very much when it first came out, but time can change a man.

...but I can't imagine liking it more than The Master.

Though Tom Cruise's "respect the C" monologue became the guiding philosophy for my life during my 20s.

Have you liked everything else?

For some reason, before Inherent Vice came out, Boogie Nights was the only film of his I didn't really liked much when I saw it like 8 years ago, but everything changed this time around.

That means I need to revisit Inherent Vice in about 8 years to see if I like it.

[Lino11]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

Criterion.com has forums?

Thanks for all sluething Lino, but unfortunately none of that seems like anything more than guesses and rumors.

For sure, clearly just internet rumors. Just showing how possible disinformation could be spreading.

And my fault, not criterion.com forums.... but criterionforum.org

However, I had tried to buy the set a few weeks ago on criterion.com and it was not available at that moment. I'm trying to recall if it had certain verbiage for why it wasn't available, but I can't remember now. It directly made me start watching a few eBay items and paying attention to the trends.

So when I noticed it was then for sale again at criterion.com, I thought I'd mention it here. HD Goofnut and those OOP threads are usually pretty accurate... I wonder where they got that info.

[CriterionBlues]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Year End Poll Results

15 Ballots submitted

Criterion thread member of the year
iScottie (3 votes)

All Receiving mention:
jmclick
Jon Mulvaney
Ray Jackson
ShellOilJunior
The Great Owl
CriterionBlues
jayambee
TJS_blu

As someone who doesn't post as often as I'd like, I am thrilled to be considered alongside such esteemed company. Especially Jon Mulvaney. LOL. We need to get him posting more.

I voted for iScottie, but considered many in this list and many others. Pedromvu, diskspinner, and many others are worthy (and sorry for forgetting some). And yes, even Ray Jackson even if I'll never dare suggest a blind buy again. His emotions!

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by CriterionBlues

As someone who doesn't post as often as I'd like, I am thrilled to be considered alongside such esteemed company. Especially Jon Mulvaney. LOL. We need to get him posting more.

I voted for iScottie, but considered many in this list and many others. Pedromvu, diskspinner, and many others are worthy (and sorry for forgetting some). And yes, even Ray Jackson even if I'll never dare suggest a blind buy again. His emotions!

It's really sad when people let their own personal anti-Top Gun bias get in the way of their objective analysis.

...I'll see you in Hell CB.