The Criterion Collection

[hYPE]

Picking up Stagecoach & My Darling Clementine today at B&N, both blind buys. Anyone have any thoughts on both films?

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by hYPE

Picking up Stagecoach & My Darling Clementine today at B&N, both blind buys. Anyone have any thoughts on both films?

Both films are good. I don't think you'll be disappointed, especially if you enjoy westerns.

[hYPE]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Both films are good. I don't think you'll be disappointed, especially if you enjoy westerns.

I definitely do so I think it should be a win for me!

[Baron Blood]

For an American Western that might be over-looked by many... I highly recommend RIDE IN THE WHIRLWIND and THE SHOOTING to a lesser extent.
Unfortunately Criterion didn't do any cleaning and over-sharpened the films.
Still, it's the best the films ever looked on home video.

[hYPE]

Originally Posted by stevieray44

Stagecoach (1939) is one of the great westerns, and the film that made John Wayne a star. Ford's cinematography is wonderful (as per usual), and I remember Claire Trevor being fantastic in her supporting role. There is also some (literal) death-defying stunt work in one of the chase sequences!

My Darling Clementine (1946) is a film I never warmed up to, for whatever reason. Although I love westerns and am a huge fan of Henry Fonda, I saw it once and it didn't quite click with me. But as far as I'm concerned, all that really means is I have to watch it again

Even more excited to watch both now

[ShellOilJunior]

John Wayne's first appearance in Stagecoach is especially memorable.

[20th Century Boy]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

Well, the entire Rohmer catalog was released on blu years ago in France. I have the set and it's fantastic. So the masters have been around for a while.

Do you know why the last three titles are on DVD in that set?

Also other companies are doing their own masters of a few of the titles. Well at least one has in the last 3 years.

[20th Century Boy]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

In honor of Jeanne Moreau, The Film Forum in NYC will be screening the new restoration of Elevator to the Gallows again, from August 4-10. Hopefully Criterion will release it soon too, I expected it for like a year now.

http://filmforum.org/film/elevator-t...ows-3rd-screen

Just walked by there a few hours ago and heard about it.

[20th Century Boy]

Originally Posted by hYPE

Picking up Stagecoach & My Darling Clementine today at B&N, both blind buys. Anyone have any thoughts on both films?

Got both in my collection. Great buys. Clementine looks very good. Whether you enjoy it may come down to how you like the film's handling of the relationship between Earp & Holliday (most films approach it from one of two ways), but Fonda is in great form as usual.

[hYPE]

Originally Posted by 20th Century Boy

Got both in my collection. Great buys. Clementine looks very good. Whether you enjoy it may come down to how you like the film's handling of the relationship between Earp & Holliday (most films approach it from one of two ways), but Fonda is in great form as usual.

I'm sure I'll appreciate it no matter how it shakes out for me personally

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by hYPE

Picking up Stagecoach & My Darling Clementine today at B&N, both blind buys. Anyone have any thoughts on both films?

It's probably not a stretch to say that about a third of the movies that have been released since Stagecoach were influenced by that movie. It was a game-changer in every sense.

[Hoke Moseley]

sooooo Branded to Kill or Tokyo Drifter?

Better movie? Better starting point for someone unfamiliar with Suzuki?

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Hoke Moseley

sooooo Branded to Kill or Tokyo Drifter?

Better movie? Better starting point for someone unfamiliar with Suzuki?

Tokyo Drifter is the better of the two, in my opinion.

Imagine Kill Bill with a catchy theme and bullets.

[senseabove]

Originally Posted by Hoke Moseley

sooooo Branded to Kill or Tokyo Drifter?

Better movie? Better starting point for someone unfamiliar with Suzuki?

Originally Posted by iScottie

Tokyo Drifter is the better of the two, in my opinion.

Imagine Kill Bill with a catchy theme and bullets.

And I'd say Branded to Kill by a mile.

I do need to see Tokyo Drifter again, though...

Branded is definitely further out there than Tokyo. So whether your preferences lean toward or away from the artier/wackier could be a better determiner.

Something like Youth of the Beast might be a better transition from more traditional yakuza/borderless action films to Suzuki's particular breed of out-there.

[trentdiesel]

Originally Posted by senseabove

And I'd say Branded to Kill by a mile.

I do need to see Tokyo Drifter again, though...

Branded is definitely further out there than Tokyo. So whether your preferences lean toward or away from the artier/wackier could be a better determiner.

Something like Youth of the Beast might be a better transition from more traditional yakuza/borderless action films to Suzuki's particular breed of out-there.

This, all 3 are awesome and essential, Branded to Kill is the best of the bunch in my opinion

[WonderWeasel]

Originally Posted by Baron Blood

For an American Western that might be over-looked by many... I highly recommend RIDE IN THE WHIRLWIND and THE SHOOTING to a lesser extent.
Unfortunately Criterion didn't do any cleaning and over-sharpened the films.
Still, it's the best the films ever looked on home video.

Jubal is another underappreciated American western that's an interesting Othello adaptation, as well. They also did the gorgeous Technicolor justice with a nice transfer.

[BenOswald]

All this Western talk makes me long for a BD upgrade of The Furies.

[llj]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Tokyo Drifter is the better of the two, in my opinion.

Imagine Kill Bill with a catchy theme and bullets.

Tokyo Drifter is in some ways a more daring and visually inventive film, but unfortunately I don't like Tetsuya Watari very much and he lets it down for me some. He has a perpetual "deer in headlights" look which makes his badassery at the end completely unbelievable. I just don't buy him as a gangster. Suzuki even complained about Watari's terrible acting ability and his tendency to freeze up when saying his lines. I can only imagine the number of takes it took for his scenes, and it's not like Marilyn Monroe where at least she finally nailed it eventually. With Watari, it seemed like any scene he got all his lines out was the take they used. The only reason he got this part is that he can sing (kinda) and Japanese girls loved him at the time. FEH.



Branded to Kill works better as a film overall because the direction and acting are both top notch and they work in tandem. Jo Shishido, even while carrying around 20 lbs of completely ridiculous cheek plastic surgery, has far more screen presence than Watari and can certainly act circles around him as well. Plus, Shishido simply "gets" Suzuki.

Every time I look at my Tokyo Drifter BD I can't help lamenting the fact that Shishido wasn't the star instead. Hell, I would have settled for Yujiro Ishihara.

Don't get me wrong, either film is great for your collection and I would recommend both. But Tokyo Drifter is so frustrating to me because it does nearly everything awesome except for one thing.

(I'd like to add that I am very aware that Watari became a better actor later on and I actually do like him in some of his later stuff when he got over his stage fright. I just wish he didn't have to go through his growing pains on Tokyo Drifter)

[DaBargainHunta]

On Amazon (from LetsGetATaco in the Amazon's Irresistible Criterion Deals, Pt. II thread):

Originally Posted by LetsGetATaco

Tati set is $60.02 with $17.02 off at check out. $45.96 total for me.

https://smile.amazon.com/Complete-Ja...dp/B00LUSUWSQ/

I blind-bought it.

[senseabove]

Originally Posted by llj

Tokyo Drifter is in some ways a more daring and visually inventive film, but unfortunately I don't like Tetsuya Watari very much and he lets it down for me some. He has a perpetual "deer in headlights" look which makes his badassery at the end completely unbelievable. I just don't buy him as a gangster. Suzuki even complained about Watari's terrible acting ability and his tendency to freeze up when saying his lines. I can only imagine the number of takes it took for his scenes, and it's not like Marilyn Monroe where at least she finally nailed it eventually. With Watari, it seemed like any scene he got all his lines out was the take they used. The only reason he got this part is that he can sing (kinda) and Japanese girls loved him at the time. FEH.



Branded to Kill works better as a film overall because the direction and acting are both top notch and they work in tandem. Jo Shishido, even while carrying around 20 lbs of completely ridiculous cheek plastic surgery, has far more screen presence than Watari and can certainly act circles around him as well. Plus, Shishido simply "gets" Suzuki.

Every time I look at my Tokyo Drifter BD I can't help lamenting the fact that Shishido wasn't the star instead. Hell, I would have settled for Yujiro Ishihara.

Don't get me wrong, either film is great for your collection and I would recommend both. But Tokyo Drifter is so frustrating to me because it does nearly everything awesome except for one thing.

(I'd like to add that I am very aware that Watari became a better actor later on and I actually do like him in some of his later stuff when he got over his stage fright. I just wish he didn't have to go through his growing pains on Tokyo Drifter)

Seconded, on pretty much all of this (except that I haven't seen later Watari).

Sidenote: how are there NO gifs of Shishido blissing out to the smell of rice. Someone with a BD drive on their computer, please fix this pronto.

I think I'm gonna go watch Branded to Kill now...

Originally Posted by DaBargainHunta

On Amazon (from LetsGetATaco in the Amazon's Irresistible Criterion Deals, Pt. II thread):



https://smile.amazon.com/Complete-Ja...dp/B00LUSUWSQ/

I blind-bought it.

You're in for one of the greatest treats in the history of cinema. Tati was a gateway drug for me, per that recent conversation about how we all got pushed beyond mainstream film.

Start with M. Hulot's Holiday and work your way forward, then go back to Jour de Fete, which is better appreciated in retrospect, especially from the vantage point of Parade, Tati's final film and homage to the vaudeville/circus world he came from. Then go back and rewatch Playtime.

Then watch it again. Then rewatch Mon Oncle. Then Playtime again. And probably one more time for good measure, marveling yet still at all the minute details, the background actions, the precision and timing... Then rewatch Traffic and realize that it's better than you remembered but people always compare it to the pinnacle of 20th Century physical comedy that is Playtime.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

Or maybe I'll watch some Tati...

Decisions, decisions...