The Criterion Collection

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Another label worth checking out is Cinema Guild. About a third of them are documentaries, the rest dramas.

I haven't seen any of the documentaries (I'm not a big fan of docs, unless they're about subjects I'm especially interested in), though a couple -- from their trailers -- look to have stunning cinematography.

Of the ten (so far) dramas, I have five, In descending order of how much I enjoyed them:

Bela Tarr's The Turin Horse can test one's patience, but I found it fascinating from beginning to end.

Nuri Bilge Ceylan's Once Upon a Time in Anatolia is another slow-moving, but rewarding film.

Aleksandr Sokurov's Early Masterworks has one film on BD and two others on DVD, plus a number of his short films (all in standard def).

Tsai Ming-liang's Stray Dogs

Manoel de Oliveira's The Strange Case of Angelica -- I just got this from Amazon today, and haven't watched it yet, but it looks fascinating.

I've also seen two other films from them on Netflix:

Robbie Pickering's Natural Selection is an odd little film, but turned out quite enjoyable.

Kleber Mendonça Filho's Neighboring Sounds is the only Cinema Guild title I've seen, and didn't get completely sucked in. It wasn't bad, just not exceptional, either. I may have to give it another try.

Museum Hours is also a Cinema Guild film right? I really enjoy that film.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Saw Youth last night. God damn I wish Criterion was releasing this... Had a few scenes that were not really done well and came across a bit poor but the overall films is majestic. I wouldn't say it's better than The Great Beauty but I left cinema very emotional, it has some very memorable and powerful moments, Rachel Weisz in particular had some very memorable moments. I wasn't too keen on the comedy elements of the film but I guess it did lighten the mood.

Also some moments did feel a bit forced but it kinda worked with the themes so wasn't too bad. Sublime music and imagery though.

Can't wait to watch again.

Any movie that uses Godspeed You! Black Emperor music gets a thumb up from me on the soundtrack.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

Any movie that uses Godspeed You! Black Emperor music gets a thumb up from me on the soundtrack.

I didn't like that he had Paloma Faith in it though - kind irked me (and a certain scene that involves her....)

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by NomadRunAmok

I'm in the market for the Criterion Blu Ray The Man Who Fell To Earth (Factory Sealed/Brand New). Anyone know how much I should reasonably pay? Any way to gauge authenticity? Thanks!

Unfortunately, I think Bowie's passing has increased the demand for that item, and therefore prices. Looks like $150 and up is as good as it gets right now for VG+ copies, new is probably $200+.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

I didn't like that he had Paloma Faith in it though - kind irked me (and a certain scene that involves her....)

I had never heard of her so maybe that helped me in that regard?

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

Unfortunately, I think Bowie's passing has increased the demand for that item, and therefore prices. Looks like $150 and up is as good as it gets right now for VG+ copies, new is probably $200+.

Amg really? I might look to sell my copy with case : o

Omg its gone up LOADS : o!

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

I had never heard of her so maybe that helped me in that regard?

Probably! But I found the music video in it sooooo out of place and annoying!

[SkyAntoine]

Watched Ugetsu last night and was underwhelmed for #50 on the Sight & Sound poll. A good movie, but I preferred Kwaidan and Ballad of Narayama much, much more than this for movies in the Japanese folklore vein.
Very telegraphic in how it was all going down from the opening 2 minutes. I haven't seen any supplements or read much about it so maybe it was ground breaking or there are other reasons it is celebrated. 7/10

Any big Ugetsu fans?

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by SkyAntoine

Watched Ugetsu last night and was underwhelmed for #50 on the Sight & Sound poll.

Any big Ugetsu fans?

Among the few Mizoguchi films I've seen it's the only one I really like (and not typical of his other output, which seems to consist mainly of sob stories with women characters). Sure. there's no surprises, but I'd argue that about most of the stories in Kwaidan as well. It's shot and edited with a terrific lyrical flow.

[monorail91]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Saw Youth last night. God damn I wish Criterion was releasing this... Had a few scenes that were not really done well and came across a bit poor but the overall films is majestic. I wouldn't say it's better than The Great Beauty but I left cinema very emotional, it has some very memorable and powerful moments, Rachel Weisz in particular had some very memorable moments..

She was the highlight of the film for me too - the scene of

[Show spoiler]her and Michael Caine getting mud baths and she delivers that emotional monologue in one take

was stellar.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Amg really? I might look to sell my copy with case : o

Omg its gone up LOADS : o!



Probably! But I found the music video in it sooooo out of place and annoying!

Well it wasn't really

[Show spoiler] a music video, it was a nightmare right? Sounds like it was perfect for that =)

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by monorail91

She was the highlight of the film for me too - the scene of

[Show spoiler]her and Michael Caine getting mud baths and she delivers that emotional monologue in one take

was stellar.

Yes! One of my favorite scenes! She flawed it!

So gutted Janus dropped this :/ was there any real reason?

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

Well it wasn't really

[Show spoiler] a music video, it was a nightmare right? Sounds like it was perfect for that =)

Haha yeah perfect then!

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

So gutted Janus dropped this :/ was there any real reason?

You would think they were interested. Probably just got outbid by Fox Searchlight.

[wonkavision]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Manoel de Oliveira's The Strange Case of Angelica -- I just got this from Amazon today, and haven't watched it yet, but it looks fascinating.

I'd like to hear your thoughts on this after you watch it. Manoel de Oliveira is not super accessible for most people.

[SkyAntoine]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Among the few Mizoguchi films I've seen it's the only one I really like (and not typical of his other output, which seems to consist mainly of sob stories with women characters). Sure. there's no surprises, but I'd argue that about most of the stories in Kwaidan as well. It's shot and edited with a terrific lyrical flow.

It was a late night viewing where I fell asleep and had to go back and re-watch the last 30 minutes. I'm sure it affected the flow with me. I also experienced some 16th century fatigue with the film since I viewed the Samurai Trilogy last week. I wanted to view the film because of its acclaim. In hindsight it may have been an ill-timed viewing.

I don't have the Mizoguchi Eclipse set so this is his only film I have seen. I'll try to revisit this at another point.

[llj]

Originally Posted by Knaldskalle

Heightened sexuality/sleaze, a focus on bloody murders (ideally with a knife-wielding murderer and bright red gushing blood), amateur sleuths and dumb cops, intrusive characteristic scores, weak psychological explanations for why the killer is the way he (or she) is and women in peril at least once in the movie along with other fetishistic elements. The term you're looking for is "giallo". Dressed to Kill is an American giallo. And a good one at that, imo.

No, that wasn't exactly what I was reaching for.

I wasn't really referring to the thriller stuff, although I agree that the overall structure of the film is pretty much an American giallo. I had the museum scene in my mind when I was writing that post. The music ebbs and flows according to Kate's emotional state. The music starts off romantic, as the flirtation starts, but when she thinks she's "lost" the joe in the museum, the music rises to an anxious crescendo. That's the "heightened" state I was talking about, that sort of subjective, histrionic kind of cinema.

That kind of thing used to be more common in the 1940s. You'd have scenes of someone maybe standing around doing nothing, but the music is always there, and it lowers and swells according to what the character in the scene is "feeling". Sometimes the emotions can be trivial, but to the characters it is far from trivial. Like the museum scene I mentioned--it's just a woman and a guy flirting with each other with cat and mouse games. Not really a big deal in the bigger scheme of things. But the overpowering music underlines that at this point in time, to Kate, it IS a big deal. That's the kind of subjective feeling I'm talking about. The appropriate generic term is "melodrama", but that is too broad a term as well--melodramatic cinema still exists today, but not in the exact state as I was talking about above.

The kind of cinema I'm talking about doesn't really exist anymore. It's generally considered unsubtle to underline emotions like that today, but when used effectively, can create a sort of subjective cinema that can draw the viewer in, if they can accept it. Even Todd Haynes' periodic appropriation of Douglas Sirk films doesn't quite go that far.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by jw007

Greetings people...

Question. Does anyone else besides me go through Criterion phases?

For instance, I'm currently not watching any films at all (for the past few weeks), and instead have been totally absorbed with LOST, the legendary TV series that I've finally gotten around to watching. During which time, I stopped watching all films on my blu-ray player completely and spend a few hours every night watching 2 or 3 episodes of LOST. For years, I put off watching this popular show, but I finally caved in and now I go into withdrawal if I can't get at least a few episodes in every night. I'm currently just in the first half of season 3, so there is still a lot left to go.

After I get through this show, I plan on resuming on opening up some sealed Criterions I need to get around to watching. Apologies to anyone who have missed me in this forum.

Prepare to be disappointed.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Prepare to be disappointed.

That's what some people have told me. I'm prepared.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by SkyAntoine

Watched Ugetsu last night and was underwhelmed for #50 on the Sight & Sound poll. A good movie, but I preferred Kwaidan and Ballad of Narayama much, much more than this for movies in the Japanese folklore vein.
Very telegraphic in how it was all going down from the opening 2 minutes. I haven't seen any supplements or read much about it so maybe it was ground breaking or there are other reasons it is celebrated. 7/10

Any big Ugetsu fans?

Very telegraphic?

You're saying you knew

[Show spoiler]Lady Wakasa was only a spirit and the guy's wife was really dead at

the end?

...I suppose you knew

[Show spoiler]Bruce Willis was dead

the whole time as well.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Prepare to be disappointed.

I wasn't disappointed in the least. And frankly, never quite understood why others were. But that's a discussion for a different part of the forum, I guess.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by jw007

That's what some people have told me. I'm prepared.

I wasn't disappointed with Lost tbh was enjoyable!



Don't forget Ray loves Top Gun....