The Criterion Collection

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I got the same impression he got from your post

that I thought the scene was inappropriate given the context of the TV show?

[theater dreamer]

Not really. Again, those two statements are inconsonant.

You can't say that tv is stupid, and then say "but I'm sure all these shows people are listing are great." Which is it? TV is garbage, or TV "must have some great shows". You're talking out of both sides of your mouth.

Three different people read your statement that way. Perhaps, just perhaps, you need to accept that you didn't do a good job of expressing what you meant to say here, and let it go. It happens.

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

does that clear it up?

[theater dreamer]

No, I've never seen those shows. And regardless, I wouldn't say that "TV is stupid" because two shows I'd been exposed to were awful. That's an awfully small sample size to make a definitive declaration that "TV is garbage."

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

my comment that "tv is garbage" came in the context of bringing up two TV shows... one is called Naked and Afraid and the other, Naked Dating. care to defend the merits of those two shows?

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

btw.. I don't know if I've ever said so, Jay, but you are my favorite poster here. the intellect, the encyclopedia knowledge of who owns rights to what, your recommendations.

don't know how to articulate beyond that, but I hold what you say in higher regard than anyone else here. so, The Wire is now something I'll try to see.

I don't know what to say. "Thanks" doesn't seem enough.

One other thing I can say about The Wire is that -- unlike literally any other show I've ever watched in my life -- I was captivated by it from its very first scene, a cautionary tale about some poor soul with the street name "Snotboogie". And it only went up from there.

OK, another thing. It also has some of the most compelling characters. The standout is Idris Elba's Stringer Bell, but a very close second is Michael K. Williams's Omar Little. And enough cannot be said about Felicia Pearson's portrayal of Snoop. Pearson was essentially playing herself, and was in equal turns terrifying and heartbreaking.

All five seasons are terrific, but Season 4 (which deals with the educational system) is, in my opinion, the best.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Banned User

This has been pissing me off for years. They lock away a ton of amazing titles that Region A people will never get to see for no reason. Wouldn't it be better if SC made something off these films instead of leaving them parked with Lionsgate which has no intention of releasing them. Criterion would release an amazing Ran Bluray I'm sure. Not to mention a favorite of mine The Raven by Cocteau or The Fallen idol. As a consumer I should not be forced to buy UK discs to see these amazing films.

As I understand it, the reason why Criterion and StudioCanal parted ways was because StudioCanal wanted a partner that would pay for the rights to their catalog as a whole. Criterion didn't want to do that. Lionsgate was willing to, and so they got the US rights to the SC catalog. After a handful of titles stretched over a couple of years, they presumably decided that the physical media releases weren't selling enough, and focused on digital platforms for that catalog.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I vote for the original series of The Twilight Zone as the best science fiction show in television history.

In fact, I vote for the original series of The Twilight Zone as the best show in television history, period.

Every time I revisit this series, I'm stunned at how relevant the episodes still are. I mean, we Americans are practically experiencing a real-life incarnation of "The Monsters are Due on Maple Street" these days.

"The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street" is far and away my favorite episode of that show. It never seems to stop being relevant.

It's funny that I tend not to think of The Twilight Zone in terms of "science fiction". I think of it more as a series of parables that sometime often resemble science fiction.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

Not really. Again, those two statements are inconsonant.

You can't say that tv is stupid, and then say "but I'm sure all these shows people are listing are great." Which is it? TV is garbage, or TV "must have some great shows". You're talking out of both sides of your mouth.

Three different people read your statement that way. Perhaps, just perhaps, you need to accept that you didn't do a good job of expressing what you meant to say here, and let it go. It happens.

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

No, I've never seen those shows. And regardless, I wouldn't say that "TV is stupid" because two shows I'd been exposed to were awful. That's an awfully small sample size to make a definitive declaration that "TV is garbage."

I do not know how that is a definitive declaration given the statement came with context. It also came on the heels of mentioning a movie that aired on LMN. Have you ever seen any of that stuff? It's terrible.

I think you have chosen to take my words literally because feelings got hurt.

I don't know what else to tell you.

And I recall now... Yesterday you made a comment about expanding my vocabulary. 2 times I self-deprecated and admitted that joie got me on a word that I wasn't all that familiar with.

So, yeah, you should have probably accepted the fact that you hadn't read everything before posting and let it go. (which you didn't) That happens.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by Banned User

This has been pissing me off for years. They lock away a ton of amazing titles that Region A people will never get to see for no reason. Wouldn't it be better if SC made something off these films instead of leaving them parked with Lionsgate which has no intention of releasing them. Criterion would release an amazing Ran Bluray I'm sure. Not to mention a favorite of mine The Raven by Cocteau or The Fallen idol. As a consumer I should not be forced to buy UK discs to see these amazing films.

I think this is exact problem, SC already got money when Lionsgate bought the rights. It's Lionsgate now who inexplicably doesn't seem interested in recouping their investment.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by jayembee

"The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street" is far and away my favorite episode of that show. It never seems to stop being relevant.

My favorite episode of The Twilight Zone is "The Hitch-Hiker."

Incidentally, a certain Criterion title is quite similar to that episode.

[Show spoiler]Carnival of Souls

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

My favorite episode of The Twilight Zone is "The Hitch-Hiker."

Incidentally, a certain Criterion title is quite similar to that episode.

[Show spoiler]Carnival of Souls

that is a very good one. my favorite is Perchance to Dream.

[pedromvu]

If you like TV or not, you guys should watch Black Mirror, they are more like mini movies in that the episodes are not related much like The Twilight Zone (anthology series is what they call it), the common theme seems to be new technologies, so at least any sci-fi fan should check it out.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

If you like TV or not, you guys should watch Black Mirror, they are more like mini movies in that the episodes are not related much like The Twilight Zone (anthology series is what they call it), the common theme seems to be new technologies, so at least any sci-fi fan should check it out.

I've seen the show, except for the Christmas Special. Like with any anthology show, the episodes vary from good to less-than, but over all, it's worth checking out. The first episode was especially interesting, given the later "Piggate" scandal.

[jw007]

In terms of the best science fiction TV series, my vote goes to Star Trek: The Next Generation, hands down.

And today is the release of the new Star Trek: Beyond film. Hip hop hooray!

[Martin_31]

On Wednesday I watched Zatoichi and the Doomed Man , and I felt like it picked up after being left disappointed with Zatoichi's Revenge. I watched in the morning Zatoichi and the Chess Expert. I'm not sure if I'm alone in this but I get confused with the characters names and motivations in these films. Sometimes I'll pause the movie and try to figure out who is who. For some reason the story involves numerous character that I can't seem to distinguish apart; in reality, the stories are simply and straight forward. This collection is my favorite so far from all the other Criterion releases I own. 13 for films to go!

[johnmccabe]

Originally Posted by belcherman

I generally avoid watching TV shows because I'm afraid of getting wrapped up in a series when I could be spending that valuable view time chopping away at my embarrassingly large pile of unwatched blu rays. Of the series I've seen Mad Men is at the top of the list. It may not be perfect and some episodes (and seasons) are better than others but it is really unlike anything else. In addition to being well-written and acted, it beautifully captures the zeitgeist of its depicted era. Ironically, one of the things that makes this current era so promising for televised content is that, with the advent of cable and internet programming, producers are no longer slaves to advertisers.

Criterion's The Golden Age of Television set is a document of television in its infancy, when it still held promise of bringing original drama and intelligent entertainment into homes across the nation. Network television got away from that early promise but now, with expanded programming options, that promise is returning. Not that everything is wonderful -- Sturgeon's Law still applies ("90% of everything is crud.") but what is good is really good and much better than what you'll find most nights at your local cineplex.

I'm also a big fan of Louie, although I haven't seen every episode.

I hear you. It's tough balancing everything let alone tv shows and movies. I'm just finding a lot of well written and directed shows and I'm finding I'm having to make time for movies these days.

[johnmccabe]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

If you like TV or not, you guys should watch Black Mirror, they are more like mini movies in that the episodes are not related much like The Twilight Zone (anthology series is what they call it), the common theme seems to be new technologies, so at least any sci-fi fan should check it out.

I agree completely on Black Mirror - very interesting and edgy tv. I hope netflix maintains the quality for season 3.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by octagon

I had some problems with 12 Monkeys (not the least of which is I have a real hard time with post-apocalyptic worlds in which everyone has perfectly straight white teeth) but yeah, she was pretty fantastic.

Just because it's a post-apocalyptic world doesn't mean we all have to become Britain, does it?

[ZeTi]

Not usually one that keeps tickets but how often do one has the chance to see "BICYCLE THIEVES" on the big screen. Also just in ... the Blu-Ray, surprisingly fast this time around from B&N.

[diskspinner]

Originally Posted by ZeTi

Not usually one that keeps tickets but how often do one has the chance to see "BICYCLE THIEVES" on the big screen. Also just in ... the Blu-Ray, surprisingly fast this time around from B&N.

[Show spoiler]

I watched Altman's 'The Player' today & couple of characters in that movie watched Bicycle Thieves in theater...

[Show spoiler]what happened after that was not good

Also today's prominent topic has TV series, went to B&N today and saw a book titled '1001 TV Shows You Must Watch Before You Die'...virtually every TV series I have heard about is there...I was like is there more than 1001 TV shows till now??? What's the point?

[oildude]

I had to scroll back to the top of the page to make sure I am in the Criterion thread.

While I realize this thread frequently goes off topic, for pages at a time, I want to nip in the bud this growing dogpile on bwdowiak's opinion of TV shows. Ya'll want to debate and argue his opinion please take it elsewhere. Some of you seem particularly ornery today for some reason.

I think pages of TV discussion unrelated to Criterion, while entertaining and interesting to read, is beginning to outlast its welcome. There are TV threads in the forums, and some of these topics and opinions would be great to read there.

Thanks for understanding.