The Criterion Collection

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by RalphoR

It's a good thing no one on this site ever makes fun of typos or bad math. We're just a bunch of fun loving movie collectors.

My existence on Blu-ray.com is a constant battle between wanting to correct the grammar of other posters and wanting to have friends here.

The trade-off is that people sometimes have to correct my math errors (and my occasional grammar errors, for that matter).

The ground is a lot harder when I fall off of a high horse, yessiree.

[Abdrewes]

Gus Van Sant'a Psycho is only less than stellar once Vaughn takes over the picture as Norman Bates. But Everything with Anne Heche is sublime--from her performance to the gorgeous pastel hues in the sets and costuming (most notably her dress).

[mja345]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Gus Van Sant'a Psycho is only less than stellar once Vaughn takes over the picture as Norman Bates. But Everything with Anne Heche is sublime--from her performance to the gorgeous pastel hues in the sets and costuming (most notably her dress).

Vaughn in the "Psycho" remake is one of the worst casting decisions of all-time. I can't think of an actor who comes off as more of a smug, insincere dick onscreen than Vince Vaughn, which is the absolute last quality you want in an actor trying to pull off a character like Norman Bates.

[RalphoR]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Just remember: always preafrood your comments before posting.

Stamn draight!!

[RalphoR]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

My existence on Blu-ray.com is a constant battle between wanting to correct the grammar of other posters and wanting to have friends here.

The trade-off is that people sometimes have to correct my math errors (and my occasional grammar errors, for that matter).

The ground is a lot harder when I fall off of a high horse, yessiree.

I hear ya. Every time I want to correct a post all I have to do is look at one of my own and keep my mouth shut.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by mja345

Vaughn in the "Psycho" remake is one of the worst casting decisions of all-time. I can't think of an actor who comes off as more of a smug, insincere dick onscreen than Vince Vaughn, which is the absolute last quality you want in an actor trying to pull off a character like Norman Bates.

That persona works for him in Wedding Crashers and Swingers, but definitely not in the Psycho remake.

---

To all, what's the likelihood of a Zhang Yimou or a Jia Zhangke film to enter the Collection?

[malakaheso]

Originally Posted by mja345

Vaughn in the "Psycho" remake is one of the worst casting decisions of all-time. I can't think of an actor who comes off as more of a smug, insincere dick onscreen than Vince Vaughn, which is the absolute last quality you want in an actor trying to pull off a character like Norman Bates.

Vaughn plays like more like a retard than a neurotic psycho. It was terrible judgement on his or Van Sant's part.

[mja345]

Originally Posted by malakaheso

Vaughn plays like more like a retard than a neurotic psycho.

Haha yeah. He's simply awful in that film.

[the sordid sentinel]

Got through the Lone Wolf and Cub set tonight. Great stuff. I recognized a few locations from the Zatoichi series. These definitely make great companion pieces. Shogun Assassin was interesting and you can see why it has always been popular. The energy in that one is relentless. Still, I definitely prefer the long form undubbed versions. Had a blast watching these over the last week.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by mja345

Vaughn in the "Psycho" remake is one of the worst casting decisions of all-time. I can't think of an actor who comes off as more of a smug, insincere dick onscreen than Vince Vaughn, which is the absolute last quality you want in an actor trying to pull off a character like Norman Bates.

Unless you are going for the characterization from the novel, which was radically changed for the film.

[mja345]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

Unless you are going for the characterization from the novel, which was radically changed for the film.

Yeah, I've read the novel. Norman's a nastier dude in the novel than in the film. Also, an alcoholic with a virulent hatred for women. But Vince Vaughn is a not an actor who projects a nasty streak, more just smugness. And his performance doesn't reflect any nastiness. There are plenty of actors Van Sant could have cast if he wanted an angrier, nastier Norman. Just not Vaughn.

[NolanvsNathan]

Hey folks, so my copy of A Brighter Summer Day just arrived and I can't wait to give the film a second viewing.

Now I know Edward Yang never placed an intermission in the film because he wanted it viewed in one sitting, and I want to give this film the viewing it deserves but unfortunately I just physically can't sit through a movie for four hours uninterrupted.


What would you recommend as a good intermission point for the film? A quick scene description or even timecode would be much appreciated!

[malakaheso]

Originally Posted by mja345

Yeah, I've read the novel. Norman's a nastier dude in the novel than in the film. Also, an alcoholic with a virulent hatred for women. But Vince Vaughn is a not an actor who projects a nasty streak, more just smugness. And his performance doesn't reflect any nastiness. There are plenty of actors Van Sant could have cast if he wanted an angrier, nastier Norman. Just not Vaughn.

He wasn't convincing at the time, which was years before he fully developed his comedic persona and became a household name. Now he's just laughable in that role.

[theater dreamer]

While I definitely understand what you're saying, no matter how hard Billy Wilder, or any other director tried, they could never make Barbara Stanwyck look "skanky". Doesn't matter to me if Barbara was hustling an insurance man, or an heir to a brewery fortune, she was always a Betty, to me.

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

The biggest misstep of the Double Indemnity remake is that Samantha Eggar's Phyllis Dietrichson is too conventionally attractive. In the original Double Indemnity, Barbara Stanwyck's Phyllis Dietrichson is skanky-sexy, with her dyed blonde hairstyle that probably looked sort of ridiculous even in 1944. Billy Wilder's choice to give Stanwyck the cheesy blonde wig was spot-on intentional. The original Double Indemnity, as such, is a great ode to every otherwise intelligent man who has let his sex drive do the thinking for him and who has thrown his life away for short-term pleasure with a low-hanging-fruit skanky woman who just happened to push his buttons in the right way. This sort of situation mirrors contemporary real-life stories of wealthy and successful family men who got caught with hookers from Craigslist.com.

[Knaldskalle]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

To all, what's the likelihood of a Zhang Yimou or a Jia Zhangke film to enter the Collection?

I don't know what the likelihood is, but early Zhang Yimou would definitely fit right in. Raise the Red Lantern, Not One Less, Qui Ju, To Live, Red Sorghum...

I'm not as familiar with Zhangke, but Platform or Still Life would seem to fit Criterion. I really liked A Touch of Sin, but for some reason don't picture it as a Criterion release.

[Akibiyori]

Originally Posted by Fabs

Likewise. I may pick the DVD up. It's just disappointing that Milestone have had the license for Maborosi for years yet haven't done anything with it.

Because Milestone is waiting for the rights holders in Japan to actually finish the work they're supposed to be doing on it. They got burned when they did the DVD; at the time they were forced to rely on the theatrical materials in America, then the superior scan was done in Japan very shortly afterwards unbeknownst to them.

[C. Anton]

Have any of you seen The Blood of A Poet?

[atlantajoseph]

Originally Posted by C. Anton

Have any of you seen The Blood of A Poet?

Yes, saw this just the other day and absolutely love it. This would be an avant garde film even today... Cocteau has my undying admiration for bringing this to life in the early 1930's.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Gus Van Sant'a Psycho is only less than stellar once Vaughn takes over the picture as Norman Bates. But Everything with Anne Heche is sublime--from her performance to the gorgeous pastel hues in the sets and costuming (most notably her dress).

It didn't hurt that Christopher Doyle was the D.P.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by jayembee

It didn't hurt that Christopher Doyle was the D.P.

Doyle is one of 3 cinematographers that will cause me to watch a movie for no other reason other than their involvement.