The Criterion Collection

[Namuhana]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I much prefer the two kino WKW films to the ones in the Collection. In the Mood For Love always struck me as a rehash of Happy Together...only with straight people.

But yeah, for the sake of everyone that doesn't own those two OOP Blurays, I hope they get another release too.

Originally Posted by jayembee

Happy Together is one of my favorite WKW films. But since I have the Kino editions of those two, I'd rather see Criterion release -- if they release another WKW film -- 2046.

I'm one who doesn't have that BD, so I'd be happy to see Criterion release it. I boarded the WKW train a bit late, so I'm still exploring most of his filmography. Happy Together is definitely my favorite of the three I've seen (The Grandmaster is great, though I'd like to see the original version not the Weinstein edit, as is In the Mood for Love, though I think I like that one more for its style).

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

Make sure to snag this if you haven't already!

I've had it in my cart for months and am definitely picking it up very soon!

[Knaldskalle]

Originally Posted by Namuhana

I'm one who doesn't have that BD, so I'd be happy to see Criterion release it. I boarded the WKW train a bit late, so I'm still exploring most of his filmography. Happy Together is definitely my favorite of the three I've seen (The Grandmaster is great, though I'd like to see the original version not the Weinstein edit, as is In the Mood for Love, though I think I like that one more for its style).

I found Happy Together to be harrowing experience. Those two guys were so mean to each other I don't think I want to see it again. YMMV.

[bwdowiak]

I love both of the Criterion WWK titles and tried to watch Fallen Angels. I was turned off so much by the absurdity of the early minutes of the film (I remember something about vanilla ice cream cones... ??), that my curiosity, so high after seeing the first two, went to zero.

so, am I making a mistake? should I try another one?

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

I knew who this was as soon as I saw this opinion.

Nice to see you again, Abdrewes.

Haha. Likewise, Sammy.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I love both of the Criterion WWK titles and tried to watch Fallen Angels. I was turned off so much by the absurdity of the early minutes of the film (I remember something about vanilla ice cream cones... ??), that my curiosity, so high after seeing the first two, went to zero.

so, am I making a mistake? should I try another one?

Takeshi Kaneshiro's character is hilarious in the film. The ice cream cone scene is probably the standout scene for me besides the ending.

From the five films I've seen, I'd rate them as the following:

In the Mood for Love (my favorite film of all-time)
Chungking Express
Happy Together
Fallen Angels
My Blueberry Nights

I really, really, really need to watch As Tears Go By and Days of Being Wild (if they're still on Netflix, that is).

[Fabs]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I much prefer the two kino WKW films to the ones in the Collection. In the Mood For Love always struck me as a rehash of Happy Together...only with straight people.

I feel like In the Mood For Love and Happy Together are very different.

[Show spoiler]Happy Together features the two main characters getting back together and breaking up over and over again. Whereas that never happens in Mood, and when it does get close to happening Tony Leung decides to leave.

Originally Posted by iScottie

I really, really, really need to watch As Tears Go By and Days of Being Wild (if they're still on Netflix, that is).

Days of Being Wild is incredible. You have to watch it ASAP.

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I love both of the Criterion WWK titles and tried to watch Fallen Angels. I was turned off so much by the absurdity of the early minutes of the film (I remember something about vanilla ice cream cones... ??), that my curiosity, so high after seeing the first two, went to zero.

I love the feeling of Fallen Angels,

[Show spoiler]where the characters just roam about an almost empty Hong Kong at night doing random things and meeting new people.

[olivianewtonyawn]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Sorry to go off topic but I can not get The Neon Demon out of my head, I defo preferred the second half but was an incredible experience.

It's not a perfect film but it defo has some pretty mesmerizing sequences and I wasn't expecting it to have this much affect on me, need to go see it again! Only thing that really bugged me was I felt Elle Fanning was miscast, she's not ugly at all and looked very striking when in model mode, but to me I struggled to believe what the other characters said about her... and at times it felt like she didn't believe the words she was saying as well... but I guess you could argue that is her character and she is trying to put this image on herself and trying to believe it herself?

Would have been interesting had he casted Cara Delavingne? Not sure what her acting skills are like but she is talented and naturally pretty flawless in terms of her appearance...

The soundtrack blew me away as well!

To me, casting of Elle Fanning was about primarily youth. Cara Delvigne, while beautiful, is 5 years older and I'm not sure could convincingly portray the age of the character or the wide-eyed, blankness that was required. I almost thought he could have cast an even younger address. I thought about Kiernan Shipka, only 16, but even she does not have that Elle Fanning innocence or whatever thing going on.

Agreed on the soundtrack. Incredible. Speaking of soundtracks, what would your favorites be of films in the collection? (See what I did there? Brought us right back on topic!)

[ckt]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I'm an odd duck, I know. The Passenger, and Blow-Up, and everything else that hasn't been released is fantastic, but Zabriskie Point...Man, I can get drunk off the style alone. The soundtrack ain't no slouch either (Pink Floyd and Jerry Garcia!)

Antonioni's perspective of America in Zabriskie Point was really interesting. And I would love to see more texture in the desert scenes. The soundtrack is great. I'm a big fan of Floyd, and I really like the tracks they did, especially the "Love Scene" tracks.

I also like The Passenger a lot too. There's a lot of 'desert'ish/'rock' scenes in it I think would also benefit from added texture from higher resolution.
— I know there's a Spanish Blu, but it's poor quality. Does anyone have any idea of the rights situation with either of these films?

I would buy both immediately.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by olivianewtonyawn

To me, casting of Elle Fanning was about primarily youth. Cara Delvigne, while beautiful, is 5 years older and I'm not sure could convincingly portray the age of the character or the wide-eyed, blankness that was required. I almost thought he could have cast an even younger address. I thought about Kiernan Shipka, only 16, but even she does not have that Elle Fanning innocence or whatever thing going on.

Agreed on the soundtrack. Incredible. Speaking of soundtracks, what would your favorites be of films in the collection? (See what I did there? Brought us right back on topic!)

Yeah Elle Fanning is very baby face lol - Ah well, still a great experience!

Krzysztof Kieślowski's films have some of the best soundtracks in the collection IMO.

Zbigniew Preisner - Preisner's Music - YouTube

This man is a genius.

-

Although it is more sound effects and used for dread, Antichrist has a very effect soundtrack.

antichrist (2009) film soundtrack-train - YouTube

antichrist (2009) film soundtrack-foetus - YouTube

-

And of course:

The Thin Red Line

THE THIN RED LINE - Journey to the line - YouTube

God Yu Tekkem Laef Blong Mi Soundtrack The Thin Red Line By Hans Zimmer - YouTube

Sorry last video:

Picnic at Hanging rock:

Picnic at Hanging Rock - theme soundtrack - Gheorghe Zamfir 'Doina Sus Pe Culmea Dealului' - YouTube

Picnic at Hanging Rock (The Ascent Music) - YouTube

[The Bronx Bull]

Had TWO interesting coincidences happen the past couple of evenings in the film arena.

I picked up the following titles from the B&N sale this week:

The American Friend
Bicycle Thieves
A Brighter Summer Day
Dr. Strangelove
Gilda
In a Lonely Place
The Manchurian Candidate

I watched Bicycle Thieves for the first time, and in the film the main character is hanging

[Show spoiler]a poster of Rita Hayworth in Gilda when his bicycle is stolen

!

Then this morning, I watch The American Friend, and it turns out that Nicholas Ray (director of In a Lonely Place) has a starring role in the film as a counterfeit painter.

Very strange that I pick up seven Criterions, and four of them are in some way related to another in the bunch!

Side note - The American Friend is fantastic.

[ckt]

Originally Posted by olivianewtonyawn

Speaking of soundtracks, what would your favorites be of films in the collection?

Ryuichi Sakamoto, "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence." It's one of my favorite original soundtracks—ever. Transporting, transcending, ethereal, just beautiful.

Criterion linked to a "deep cuts" Sakamoto compilation recently, which is pretty good too. It begins with the main theme from "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence."

[Nielsb90]

Thank you for the answers regarding Picnic at Hanging Rock. I am at a loss as to what my final title should be besides Apu, Carnival of Souls & The New World.

Persuade toward one of the following if y'all have an opinion: Breaker Morant, A Brighter Summer Day, Diabolique and Picnic at Hanging Rock. I've seen none of them but they stand out to me!

[Gusto-Guus]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

What a great Friday!

The Bridge sounds like a very interesting movie.

[malakaheso]

Does anyone on here think A Brighter Summer Day is absurdly overrated? It doesn't come close to justifying its running time. It is a simple loss of innocence story that tries to go the allegory route and completely fails. I have no problem with films that use a country's socio-political turmoil to frame a story and add more resonance, but it didn't work for me in this context, it simply alienated me. Don't get all the talk about the film's visual poetry either. I'm very much on the look out for that in films and A.B.S.D underwhelmed me visually. Then again, so do the films of Tsai Ming Liang that aren't Goodbye Dragon Inn or Stray Dogs. Just taste I guess.

I much prefer Yi Yi to A.B.S.D anyway. It is warmer, more engrossing and it also looks better.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Gusto-Guus

The Bridge sounds like a very interesting movie.

It is. It is a marvelous war film. Highly recommended!

[callahan09]

Originally Posted by olivianewtonyawn

[spoiler]

buy ikiru asap.

Out of everything I said, Ikiru gets the only vote? Just curious why so? I will probably pick it up today though! Looking for other holes in my collection as well.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Hey Al, these are great picks.

If you really like Riot in Cell Block 11, also consider Olive's Try and Get Me!. It is every bit as good as Siegel's film, and the recent release is also sourced from a fantastic new restoration

Part of the Olive BOGO sale at Deep Discount. Cheapest you'll probably find Olive titles.

[llj]

Originally Posted by malakaheso

Does anyone on here think A Brighter Summer Day is absurdly overrated? It doesn't come close to justifying its running time. It is a simple loss of innocence story that tries to go the allegory route and completely fails. I have no problem with films that use a country's socio-political turmoil to frame a story and add more resonance, but it didn't work for me in this context, it simply alienated me. Don't get all the talk about the film's visual poetry either. I'm very much on the look out for that in films and A.B.S.D underwhelmed me visually. Then again, so do the films of Tsai Ming Liang that aren't Goodbye Dragon Inn or Stray Dogs.

I much prefer Yi Yi to A.B.S.D. it is warmer, more engrossing and it also looks better.

I prefer A Brighter Summer Day to Yi Yi. I've been hearing quite a bit lately about people who fell in love with YiYi who didn't like ABSD. Didn't have the same feel-good "feeling" they fell in love with. While your criticisms are generally all valid, I still prefer ABSD's angrier tone and naive ambition. I really like YiYi, but there are parts in it that feel treacly to me, especially the scenes with the kid. YiYi is a far more polished film, but I don't quite buy into its more generous sentimental philosophy. More of a personal thing there. Yes, it's a warmer film for sure, but I prefer the anger of ABSD because it feels more immediate and genuine to me, even if its clunkier as a film.

[malakaheso]

Originally Posted by llj

I prefer A Brighter Summer Day to Yi Yi. I've been hearing quite a bit lately about people who fell in love with YiYi who didn't like ABSD. Didn't have the same feel-good "feeling" they fell in love with. While your criticisms are generally all valid, I still prefer ABSD's angrier tone and naive ambition. I really like YiYi, but there are parts in it that feel treacly to me, especially the scenes with the kid. YiYi is a far more polished film, but I don't quite buy into its more generous sentimental philosophy. More of a personal thing there. It's a warmer film for sure, but I prefer the anger of ABSD because it feels more immediate and genuine to me, even if its clunkier.

I tend to prefer colder, 'angrier' films too, but for me when Yang goes in that direction it feels empty to me personally. That's how I felt about The Terrorizers after the initial effect wore off. I know what you mean about Yi Yi's sentimentalism, but the film is still quite cold at times, just not as cold as A.B.S.D or Tapei Story.

A Brighter Summer Day has some great things in it, and I enjoyed many scenes in the film, especially towards the end, but it just took too goddamn long to get moving, and I'm generally not the sort of person that requires a plot to move at all. As I suggested earlier, the boy's actions and the problems of the nation seemed tenuously connected at best. It would have worked better as a polemic, but I don't believe that's what Yang was going for. Instead we get a protracted descent that goes on forever with a lot of contextual stuff that seems indulgent.

Each to their own, but I expected big things from A Brighter Summer Day and felt let down. Maybe I should revisit it sometime in the future.