The Criterion Collection

[malakaheso]

I agree mostly that 'tastes are subjective', but quite often opinions are based on misunderstandings. For example, if you watch a Bresson film and think it could have been better with more plot and conventionally dramatic acting and fault him for that, then you have clearly missed the point. But if you said 'I get what he is doing but the style is a bit too dry for my taste' then that's a different story altogether. The former tends to be favoured over the latter unfortunately when it comes to film criticism, especially on message boards.

[Doctor Jack]

Originally Posted by MassiveMovieBuff

So only read positive reviews for every movie basically because that means every movie is great in other words? That makes a lot of sense. I had no idea CHIPS was a great film. Guess I'll have to watch it now based on your logic

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

No, he simply thinks that They Live by Night is unquestionably great, and that people who don't think so have poor tastes, and their opinions should be ignored. It wasn't a general statement about ignoring all movie's negative reviews.

I believe you were negative about They Live By Night, but only after watching like 30 minutes I think?

I was merely saying it's a great movie. Being a bit sarcastic and kidding around about not reading others reviews. Read and follow whatever reviewers you want. I don't care. I was just trying to tell the original commenter that they should watch it and love it.

[MassiveMovieBuff]

Lately I've just noticed a lot of attacking on these forums when someone doesn't like a film that someone else likes and things go as far as criticizing someone's blu ray collection to "Oh you are wrong and I am right". It's just silly and ridiculous. I've read posts from people who hate the first 2 Godfather films which are the greatest films ever made IMO and I could care less if those people don't like them. I'm not going to attack the person for not liking them or tell them they have crap tastes in films. All opinions are subjective. There is no fact whatsoever to the contrary whether a film is good or not. It's however the film affects the specific viewer whether it's a generally respected film or not. It just seems silly to me. Can nobody have an opinion without being attacked or told they are wrong? I get there are funny posts where people post gifs saying "Wrong" and things like that and I get that it's all in good fun but I just get angry sometimes with this stuff.

I've been attacked numerous times brutally on these forums including this one for no reason whatsoever other than posting my opinion if I didn't like a film and I always do it respectfully.

[Baron Blood]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I watched about 30 minutes of it last night before falling asleep.

It's cool, but my god, James Taylor and Dennis Wilson were two of the worst actors in movie history.

...just hideous.

I'm sure that Monte Hellman would try to spin the decision to cast them by throwing out some pretentious nonsense about wanting to use non-actors for the authenticity they brought to the roles or whatever. But that's complete BS.

The only logical reason why they were in the movie is because they were famous musicians who could bring some shine to a small film.

...at least it has Warren Oates.

Monte is no stranger to stunt casting but I personally don't think he had the box office solely in mind.
I can't imagine Taylor being a huge draw for any film.

I haven't seen this film but sprinkling films with non-actors has worked well for films like Bonnie & Clyde giving them a home-spun vibe.
However, they weren't leading roles.
Perhaps he was thinking of Kris Kristofferson (an actor I have trouble with)

And speaking of Kris...I, personally would love Criterion to release Hellman's best film (imo) China 9, Liberty 37 with the "stunt casting" of Sam Peckinpah.

[Baron Blood]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

Some people like Rembrandt. Others think Dogs Playing Poker is a hoot.

Sure, Art is subjective but often the problem lies in someone telling others the Dog Art is better Art over a Rembrandt.
He/She might prefer the Dogs but don't tell me its better as if to set me straight
And worse don't say Rembrandt sucks in a Rembrandt thread to get a reaction.
A better post would be to admit a dislike for Rembrandt and maybe explain why.

If someone prefers Plan 9 From Outer Space over a film like The Godfather it doesn't make it a better film by film standards
Not all Art is created equal.

btw~ this is not aimed at anyone or any post.

[demonx]

Greed 1924 in Blu-ray?

[Knaldskalle]

Originally Posted by demonx

Greed 1924 in Blu-ray?

Yes, please! And if we could get the 4 hour "reconstructed" version (inserting still images from the set to represent missing scenes) with it, it would be even better.

[baheidstu]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

Guys, let's all try to demonstrate respect for each other's opinions on film, ok? We all have different tastes, and what might be enthralling to one of us might bore another to tears. We can provide constructive input on the films being discussed without impugning another member's tastes. A film's "greatness" is completely subjective. If you like a movie, trying to convince another member of it's merits will always be appreciated.

Some people like Rembrandt. Others think Dogs Playing Poker is a hoot. There's room for everybody here without being dismissive. The more information we provide, the better equipped we all are to build the kind of collections we can enjoy.

Unless I missed something, it doesn't look like anybody's being disrespectful at all.

[Akijama]

Well, Straight Time is definitely with CC. So is Welcome to Dollhouse.

Posted on Criterionforum.org.

Complete list of films premiering on the Criterion Channel for August:

August 1:

Straight Time, Ulu Grosbard, 1978
Welcome to the Dollhouse, Todd Solondz, 1995

[baheidstu]

Originally Posted by Akijama

Well, Straight Time is definitely with CC. So is Welcome to Dollhouse.

Posted on Criterionforum.org.

Straight Time is an amazing film. So underrated but it's one of Hoffman's best.

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by baheidstu

Straight Time is an amazing film. So underrated but it's one of Hoffman's best.

Agree with all of this, also I could always use more M. Emmet Walsh in the collection!!!!!!

[flyry]

as I was telling another poster the two titles I purchased so far were permanent staples of Hulu and now Filmstruck.

The title I almost purchased today is as well. And I literally only have room for a few more blu-rays so I passed since I know it will always be on filmstruck.

I know that may be blasphemous to say in this thread but it is what it is. How many times am I realistically going to watch Purple Noon again?

Just some thoughts

[olivianewtonyawn]

Originally Posted by Akijama

Well, Straight Time is definitely with CC. So is Welcome to Dollhouse.

Posted on Criterionforum.org.

I have been waiting patiently for Welcome to the Dollhouse on blu. Super excited it could come out from Criterion!!! This film is the one that got me interested in indie cinema as a thirteen year old. Well, also Slackers and a not as well known film called, Suburbia (1996). Anybody?

[olivianewtonyawn]

What film was your gateway into the appreciation of cinema beyond blockbusters? Follow up question: what film opened you up to exploring the Criterion Collection?

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by olivianewtonyawn

What film was your gateway into the appreciation of cinema beyond blockbusters?

2001: A Space Odyssey, back when "blockbuster" didn't quite mean what it means today. It was the film that made me see that movies were capable of being art, and not just stories told in pictures and sound.

Follow up question: what film opened you up to exploring the Criterion Collection?

I suppose it would have to be Blade Runner, as that was the first Criterion title (laserdisc) I ever bought.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by olivianewtonyawn

What film was your gateway into the appreciation of cinema beyond blockbusters? Follow up question: what film opened you up to exploring the Criterion Collection?

The first part's difficult to answer, because I was watching a lot of films that weren't blockbusters as a very young child. And I have a hard time remembering last week.

It was probably something I saw on "Bill Kennedy at the Movies" which used to show in the afternooons on channel 50 here in the Detroit area, as I grew up. The first two that I recall having a real impact on me were Casablanca and Rebecca. Now, obviously, those are mainstream films. But as a 7 year-old or whatever, they were not what I was used to seeing.

As for in the theater, I'm also not sure. And it depends on what we mean by "blockbuster." Were Alien, The Shining, or Excalibur blockbusters? They don't seem to have been at the time. I saw all of those between the ages of 10-12 in the theater. I remember vividly seeing 2001: A Space Odyssey at an old rep theater that used to exist here (*sigh*). My friend and I were about 12 or 13, and that one sort of blew my mind. I was thinking about it for the rest of the school year.

I'm almost certain that the first Criterion Collection titles I purchased were either the "Wrong Men and Notorious Women" Hitchcock box-set, or the "Three Films by Ingmar Bergman" set. Both on DVD, obviously. But that was long enough that I can't remember which was first, or why I necessarily went for either of those in particular.

[StarDestroyer52]

Originally Posted by olivianewtonyawn

What film was your gateway into the appreciation of cinema beyond blockbusters? Follow up question: what film opened you up to exploring the Criterion Collection?

This really isn't an easy question for me to nail it down to one film. I'm going to say watching a lot of TCM imports and growing up watching a lot of Westerns and old films.

[italy12]

Originally Posted by olivianewtonyawn

What film was your gateway into the appreciation of cinema beyond blockbusters? Follow up question: what film opened you up to exploring the Criterion Collection?

I don't know if it was a particular film, even though the first one I owned was largely responsible for me being "drawn in" if you will. The story on how I came to own that first title is what is more interesting for me.

I used to live in NJ and would visit Times Square in NY a few times each summer on my own, just to walk around and experience the city. It was a 45 minute bus ride and well worth it! One of my frequent stops was Tower Records. I was very upset when I learned of its closing one year, seemingly out of nowhere. But I did get to understand why it closed several years later, and it made sense...

Anyway, I would go there and spend a good hour or so staring at the Criterion Collection DVD wall they had in their movie section. I didn't know much about these movies, except that there was a whole collection of films, most of which I had not ever heard. I was in love with the packaging and spent what seemed like hours reading the synopsis of each one. Of course, being who I was at the time, I was drawn to the Criterion editions of The Rock and Armageddon. These titles fascinated me because I didn't think they fit in with everything else I was looking at...

One day, while doing some research online regarding the CC, I stumbled across some guy on ebay selling Criterion's The Rock with a free copy of The Vanishing. I pulled the trigger and while I don't remember when I actually watched that edition of The Rock, I remember popping in The Vanishing and falling in love!!

While I didn't go overboard and purchase any of the other Criterion DVDs, save for Armageddon, I did start following them closely as their collection grew, their logo changed, and they adopted Blu ray.

I remember picking up a few Blu rays during a B&N sale soon after Criterion turned blu, and my first haul was small: The Man Who Fell to Earth and Repulsion. The first I had seen (thanks to the DVD version I had purchased at Tower Records), but Repulsion I had not. I ended up loving it and decided I would buy more.

By the time The Third Man was announced as going out of print, I snagged a copy for $50 and decided I was going to collect (and watch, or course) every Criterion Blu ray.

Today, I am close to completion, and have watched a good chunk of what I own. My viewing habits have slowed down since my wife and I had three children after I started collecting, but every now and then, I do enjoy putting on a film I've never seen before and getting lost in it. Actually, just last night, I enjoyed a viewing of Hitchcock's The Lodger.

And these B&N sales kill me every time!!!

[Sifox211]

Originally Posted by olivianewtonyawn

What film was your gateway into the appreciation of cinema beyond blockbusters? Follow up question: what film opened you up to exploring the Criterion Collection?

With me it was seeing either A Canterbury Tale or A Matter of Life and Death on the BBC when I was a teenager; without at the time being aware they were made by the same people, I was completely drawn in by their cinematic magic, unlike anything I had ever seen before (I remember another draw for me were reruns on BBC2 or the original Flash Gordon series and stuff like Fred & Ginger). Of course in those days blockbusters didn't yet exist and I don't think I made the distinction between mainstream fare and whateverwecallthis until I was a student a few years later.

When I started collecting DVDs in 2000 I read some posts by Michael Brooke (then on the DVD Forums, now the DigitalFix) about a superb release of The Red Shoes on something called the Criterion Collection. That's when it all started

Edit: In those days, a common forums question was "Who is Michael Brooke and what is the Criterion Collection?"

[KillDaWabbit]

Originally Posted by olivianewtonyawn

What film was your gateway into the appreciation of cinema beyond blockbusters? Follow up question: what film opened you up to exploring the Criterion Collection?

Awesome question. Will be very interesting to see everyone's responses. What would be your answers to the questions you've asked?

It's tough to really put my finger on a single film that moved me to enjoy film beyond the blockbusters, but it was probably a foreign film. I would guess City of God (2002), as I was in high school then and just starting to enjoy the storytelling that films could portray. The stories that were told in that movie of kids who lived a very different life had a profound impact on me, including discovering how awesome "movies with subtitles" could be.

My introduction to the Croterion Collection happened right around the same time. I had a drivers license, which meant I could get myself to blockbuster video and back. I spent a LOT of time watching movies in high school, so I inevitably ran through the new release inventory fairly quickly and found my way to Seven Samurai (though I did own The Rock and Armageddon Criterion DVD's). Fast forward a few years to finishing college, getting a job, etc meant I could invest in a nice TV and start collecting blu-rays and I naturally gravitated towards having an interest in the Criterion Collection due to wanting Seven Samurai and other films I had discovered since (12 Angry Men, Battle of Algiers, Stagecoach, Dazed and Confused, others).

Now I am close to owning 50 or so titles and show no signs of slowing down.