The Criterion Collection

[Marlow27]

The fact that filmstruck will likely never come to Australia makes me sad every time I hear people talk about it. And yet I still follow their updates on social media.

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by tisdivine

Just watched the special features on my Ghost World blu. The commentary track on the full clip of the dance scene from Gumnaam, (the movie Enid is watching and dancing to in her graduation robe at the start of GW) made me really really want to watch this film. It just looked so cool. I've seen GW like ten times and never thought twice about what film the scenes were from but seeing it as a whole take...it just looked awesome.

In a literal If You Give A Mouse A Cookie way I started thinking what other films from India Ive seen. Other than Ray's films that CC have already released I don't think I've seen any other true Indian films. That makes me very sad.

Your post made me remember when I was watching Knight of Cups, there is a party scene with a cool song which apparently is actually Pakistani:

[Show spoiler]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STZTkBQjoeg

Since there were several Indian movies on Netflix I decided to give them a try and over 2 years I have watched several of them, must confess that have had to endure some quite bad ones specially newer ones, but have also found and enjoyed quite a lot of them for their very different kind of cinema.

Several specially older ones have musical numbers in that particular style but looks like the style is constantly evolving, I don't really enjoy the newer ones which suddenly pause the movie to show a modern style musical video which has nothing to do with the plot.

Here is my list of non-Ray ones I enjoyed:

[Show spoiler]1953-Do Bigha Zamin
1955-Devdas
1957-Pyaasa
1975-Sholay
1994-Hum Aapke Hain Koun
1995-Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
1998-Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
1998-Salaam Bombay!
2001-Monsoon Wedding
2002-Devdas
2003-Kal Ho Naa Ho
2004-Khakee
2004-Swades
2005-Water
2005-Black
2006-Rang De Basanti
2009-Dev.D
2010-Guzaarish
2010-Band Baaja Baaraat
2011-Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
2012-Barfi
2012-Eega
2012-Talaash
2014-Queen
2016-Dear Zindagi

I know a lot of them are quite popular in India and are definitely not very artistic movies, and sure some are quite cheesy or overly corny, with some weird and childish humor, but then there is also some very memorable songs, good music and imaginative musical numbers oh and some very pretty actresses , I guess I found them really enjoyable in the way some people enjoy their big Hollywood blockbusters, for me I can't stand a lot of those but found some of this movies really entertaining.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

They are barely $100. If you can afford 5 blu-rays, you can afford a region-free player.

Originally Posted by jayembee

If I did that, then I wouldn't have those five blu-rays.

But then you'd have to spend more money on TT blu-rays with dated masters and meagre extras instead of getting the same films in better looking or more stacked editions and for cheaper from Arrow or Eureka.

[scottpcusa]

Originally Posted by iScottie

My exact thoughts about every De Palma film.

I, on the other hand, have never grown tired of repeat viewings of Phantom of the Paradise.

[The Great Owl]

I spent the past week plowing through the Twin Peaks box set, and watching the series for the first time. I watched both of the original seasons, and then watched Fire Walk with Me, followed by The Missing Pieces feature. (I own the poor man's nine-disc set instead of the 10-disc set.)

Fire Walk with Me is amazing, and I think that it's criminally underrated. It was a stroke of genius to start the film with a shot of a television being destroyed by an ax. It's a literal demonstration of how the movie is going to deconstruct the tone of the Twin Peaks television show by bringing the real story of Laura, a story that we distantly viewed from a rearview mirror standpoint during the series, into the living forefront. The movie also downplays the "demon" plot line of the series, and focuses more on the actual evil that is present inside all of us.

If Fire Walk with Me is released by Criterion, as is rumored, then I hope that it is released as a stand-alone film, apart from the television series. On its own terms, removed from the series, it's a bewildering film, but it's also a brilliant and oddly beautiful sort of bewilderment brought to the screen in a way that only David Lynch can do. It would make an interesting double feature with the Criterion Blu-ray of Bigger Than Life, a film that also deconstructs the idyllic image of an American family.

I'm curious as to how I would have perceived Fire Walk with Me had I seen it without seeing the two original Twin Peaks seasons first. I'd like to think that I would be puzzled, but that I would also be amazed, just as I was amazed and confused the first time that I saw Mulholland Drive.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by ravenus

But then you'd have to spend more money on TT blu-rays with dated masters and meagre extras instead of getting the same films in better looking or more stacked editions and for cheaper from Arrow or Eureka.

UK blus are usually so much cheaper than US ones that you end up coming out ahead of the game very quickly.

[theater dreamer]

Oh yes, please! Save me from importing Paper Moon, which I almost bought last night. Opted instead for the re-release of Shane, and The Phantom Carriage.

Originally Posted by postmodel

I do not have a subscription to Film Struck yet, but they do have an "Early Bogdanovich" section....could this finally be a set in Criterion's future?

https://watch.filmstruck.com/#!/bundle/1520000213

[easydreamer]

Originally Posted by DaBargainHunta

The $99 annual package is obviously the best value, but I don't want to jump into that sight unseen.

Do you know how many Criterion movies are included in the $6.99 plan and how often they rotate in and out? With so many great Criterion films, I don't mind having a limited selection as long as that selection changes each month. The way I figure it, the Criterion library is so strong that I'll always have something to watch even with a limited selection.

Honestly I have no idea, but you could use the FilmStruck app too see which films are included in either plan. My iPhone app allows you to browse/search both FilmStruck & Criterion channels even if you don't subscribe to anything.

[Scottie]

TCM will be airing Chungking Express at 2 A.M. EST on June 19.

If you want to enrich your lives, set your DVR to record it.

[DaBargainHunta]

Originally Posted by easydreamer

Honestly I have no idea, but you could use the FilmStruck app too see which films are included in either plan. My iPhone app allows you to browse/search both FilmStruck & Criterion channels even if you don't subscribe to anything.

I did this, and while they don't always make it obvious what's Criterion and what it isn't (some unexpected movies are in the Criterion section), this was very helpful - thanks!

[javy]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I spent the past week plowing through the Twin Peaks box set, and watching the series for the first time. I watched both of the original seasons, and then watched Fire Walk with Me, followed by The Missing Pieces feature. (I own the poor man's nine-disc set instead of the 10-disc set.)

Fire Walk with Me is amazing, and I think that it's criminally underrated. It was a stroke of genius to start the film with a shot of a television being destroyed by an ax. It's a literal demonstration of how the movie is going to deconstruct the tone of the Twin Peaks television show by bringing the real story of Laura, a story that we distantly viewed from a rearview mirror standpoint during the series, into the living forefront. The movie also downplays the "demon" plot line of the series, and focuses more on the actual evil that is present inside all of us.

If Fire Walk with Me is released by Criterion, as is rumored, then I hope that it is released as a stand-alone film, apart from the television series. On its own terms, removed from the series, it's a bewildering film, but it's also a brilliant and oddly beautiful sort of bewilderment brought to the screen in a way that only David Lynch can do. It would make an interesting double feature with the Criterion Blu-ray of Bigger Than Life, a film that also deconstructs the idyllic image of an American family.

I'm curious as to how I would have perceived Fire Walk with Me had I seen it without seeing the two original Twin Peaks seasons first. I'd like to think that I would be puzzled, but that I would also be amazed, just as I was amazed and confused the first time that I saw Mulholland Drive.

I got about nine or ten episodes into season 2 and quit from boredom. Judging by what you just said I'm gonna go ahead and pop Fire Walk With Me in soon.

[senseabove]

Originally Posted by javy

I got about nine or ten episodes into season 2 and quit from boredom. Judging by what you just said I'm gonna go ahead and pop Fire Walk With Me in soon.

Watch the last two hours/episodes of Season 2 and read summaries of the episodes in between where you quit and there, then go to FWWM. The last episode is one of the best—and truly astonishing to think it was aired, on TV, in the early 90s—but you need a little bit of the set up from the alright preceding episode.

[senseabove]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

UK blus are usually so much cheaper than US ones that you end up coming out ahead of the game very quickly.

This is the thing. I've said it before:

Originally Posted by senseabove

I've more than made up for the cost of the region free player with the absurdly cheap deals the UK seems to get. I don't really understand why there's such a disparity between the pricing of US labels and UK labels. But I've picked up the Eureka Imamura box and both the AE Truffaut boxes for <$100 shipped total (probably closer to $90, but I'll be generous).

So, for less than/close to the sale cost of the 5 available Criterion blus of Vengeance is Mine, The Soft Skin, The Last Metro, Jules & Jim, and The 400 Blows, I've also gotten blus of Pigs & Battleships, The Insect Woman, Shoot the Piano Player, Stolen Kisses, Bed & Board, and Love on the Run (plus Antoine & Collette) (which are all Criterion but still only DVD), as well as blus of Anne and Muriel, A Gorgeous Girl Like Me, The Woman Next Door, and Finally, Sunday from Truffaut, and Stolen Desire, Ballad of Narayama, Profound Desire of the Gods, and Nishi-Ginza Station from Imamura, and the DVD of A Man Vanishes.

Hypothetically, if Criterion upgraded and/or released all of those, it would cost another $290 to get them during a sale, after the $80 for the currently-available four (and not buying the currently-available 400 Blows on the assumption that the whole Doinel set will eventually got upgraded and stay the same price).

And I paid $70 for my Seiki.

[javy]

Originally Posted by senseabove

Watch the last two hours/episodes of Season 2 and read summaries of the episodes in between where you quit and there, then go to FWWM. The last episode is one of the best—and truly astonishing to think it was aired, on TV, in the early 90s—but you need a little bit of the set up from the alright preceding episode.

Was it you who already recommended me to do this. Anyway I'll do that.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by javy

I got about nine or ten episodes into season 2 and quit from boredom. Judging by what you just said I'm gonna go ahead and pop Fire Walk With Me in soon.

There are starving children in China who do not get to have Twin Peaks Blu-ray box sets, so you'd better finish watching those episodes!

I was engaged all through Season Two, although I'll admit that there was a noticeable dip in momentum when Laura Palmer's killer was identified. That season picks up pretty nicely during the last few episodes, so they're worth seeing.

The final Season Two episode is of relevance to Fire Walk with Me, but, like I posted above, it would be interesting to see the movie without having seen any of the shows first.

[javy]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

There are starving children in China who do not get to have Twin Peaks Blu-ray box sets, so you'd better finish watching those episodes!

Lol. I thought the first 16 episodes were amazing. MacLachlan is a stud and loved Fenn's character. I just lost interest. But ok I'll finish the show for cryin' outs!

[senseabove]

Originally Posted by javy

Was it you who already recommended me to do this. Anyway I'll do that.

Ha Sorry. I tend to be not the best about keeping track of who said what on message boards. It's a bad lack of a habit of mine.

[Scottie]

Janus is promoting the 4K restoration of Monterey Pop, which hits theaters this month.

I wonder if this means we'll see a re-release on Blu-ray?

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by javy

MacLachlan is a stud and loved Fenn's character.

That's another minor complaint that I have about the final half of Season Two of Twin Peaks.

[Show spoiler]The sexual tension subplot between Agent Cooper (MacLachlan) and Audrey Horne (Fenn) withered away. In the interviews and extras on this box set, the reasons for this are not divulged, but merely alluded to in a vague sense. This could have been due to a lack of chemistry between the actors, but I don't know for sure.

I loved that plot line, though. Audrey was such a femme fatale.

Oh...and speaking of femme fatale, the story line about James ending up at the rich couple's house, fixing the Jaguar for the sexy wife, and all... That was truly a "WTF?" subplot, but it was richly steeped in classic era film noir.

[javy]

Gorgeous.
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