The Criterion Collection

[malakaheso]

I recall The Breakfast Club being very typical of American youth films of the past in that it pretends to be peering under the hood and valuing the individualism of its characters but ultimately produces a rather conformist view of the world. i.e Ringwald's characters acceptance is largely based on her transforming her appearance. But hey it was the 80's, what do you expect?

Hughes was OK at making teen films but the idea that he is a great American film maker is seriously a joke.

[mja345]

Originally Posted by yarulbcool

Everyone on Earth has heard of The Breakfast Club. Most casual movie viewers haven't heard of a single film from your list. This release isn't about upgrading a transfer of a film. I thought you understood that when you said you get why they're releasing it. Most of the films you've listed are films that Criterion fanboys would love. That's not who they're trying to appeal to with The Breakfast Club.

Really? Two Scorsese films and a Kubrick? And one of the most well-respected gangster films of all-time. Also, two Hitchcocks, which always sell well. I interpreted your question as, "What films that could potentially sell relatively well would be alternatives?" Not as, "Which films would sell as well as "The Breakfast Club"? Obviously, none of those titles would sell remotely as well as "The Breakfast Club". It's not like I listed a bunch of Czech new wave films or some Bela Tarr movies or something. These are fairly well-known titles by directors with large followings.

[malakaheso]

^^Let's hope the profits are used to release Satantango and/or The Red and The White

[Val Lewton]

Originally Posted by malakaheso

I recall The Breakfast Club being very typical of American youth films of the past in that it pretends to be peering under the hood and valuing the individualism of its characters but ultimately produces a rather conformist view of the world. i.e Ringwald's characters acceptance is largely based on her transforming her appearance. But hey it was the 80's, what do you expect?

Hughes was OK at making teen films but the idea that he is a great American film maker is seriously a joke.

You can feel however you like about THE BREAKFAST CLUB as a film, but you can't deny the cultural impact of it. Isn't part of Criterion's purpose to release "culturally important" films?

Also, I'm not sure what was "very typical" about THE BREAKFAST CLUB at the time of it's release in 1985. I was around in the 80's. Teen films from major studios involved tits, getting drunk, going to spring break, getting high, tits, getting laid, partying, and tits. PORKY'S, SPRING BREAK, and UP THE CREEK were typical of teen movies at the time. I love those films and others like it, but the BREAKFAST CLUB was something completely different.

It's actually a minor miracle that this even got made - it takes place in one location, it's dialog heavy, it relies almost solely on the talent and believably of the actors, and there's no tits. No matter how you feel about Hughes as a filmmaker, I still see his influence today in everything from small independent pictures to large studio ones and everything in-between.

[malakaheso]

^^Yes I understand why it was selected and have no problems with it being in the collection. I don't think it's a bad film.

It was different in the sense that it was more 'serious', but in essence I'd argue it wasn't. Kind of like how Revenge of The Nerds makes its point by having the nerds take the reigns of power. i.e their acceptance is based on playing the game and winning, not on their actual 'difference' per se.

[malakaheso]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I always thought that Pauline Kael was gratuitously snide, derisive and obnoxious in many of her bad reviews.

If it's that easy for you to tear down a film that someone else invested years of their time to making, then maybe you should write or direct a movie of your own.

...If you think filmmaking is so simple as to warrant scorn and mockery when someone's work doesn't live up to your lofty standards.

She often went for the quick quotable line, but she was skilled at it.

I think she was very good at writing about individual films, but she was pretty useless when it came to thinking about film, as an actual medium. For example, her criticism of auteur theory was mostly shallow and trivial.

[Buscemi]

The thing about Kael was that she wasn't afraid to speak her mind. That alone makes her better than the mountains of shill critics that populate Rotten Tomatoes who are more interested in the swag and perks (though those AICN guys getting busted recently might have finally killed that style of criticism).

And I have to give Criterion credit for locating the deleted scenes for The Breakfast Club (the only reason to really double-dip, though I also give them credit for not filling it with retrospectives from every hack and annoying "best decade ever/stuck in the 80's" talking head that's ripped off the film). But I don't believe it to be the best Hughes film. That honor goes to Planes, Trains and Automobiles, which showed he could do more as a filmmaker while still giving us what we came to admire about him. Maybe Criterion will locate those deleted scenes.

[theater dreamer]

When I was a kid, I'd lie awake the night before Christmas dreaming of what would be under the tree, with thoughts of having my whole family under the same roof. Now, as an adult (just a few years removed from those childhood memories, right?), I lie awake the night before a Criterion Flash sale, trying to make sense of my want list. How do I pick out enough films to satiate my film addiction without absolutely breaking the bank?

It starts out as, "I'm just going to buy six, maaaaybe seven films."

Then, a little devil pops up on one shoulder.

"You can afford it. Go nuts. What good is money if you can't enjoy life? You know you want to."

Suddenly, a little angel appears on the other shoulder.

"For shame, Bill. I'm surprised at you. Christmas is coming. If you exercise some control now, you'll have more money to spend on your parents, and your girlfriend."

Then, that little pointy eared bastard speaks up again.

"Ah, don't listen to that jagoff. Look at those Scanavos. You won't get another chance until next year!"

And the angel pipes in again.

"If you lay one finger on your credit card, you'll despise yourself when your next statement comes."

What to do? What to do?

[Namuhana]

The Pabst films look kind of interesting, but the only January title I'm definitely getting is I, Daniel Blake. It'll be a hard pass on The Breakfast Club and an eventual library rental of Young Mr. Lincoln.

[Purplenoon]

I'm absolutely elated about the new Eclipse set and the two Pabst flicks coming in January. Bravo, Criterion: happy new year!

[DeathlyGeneral]

Are all Criterion titles locked to Region A? Does this mean that if Lambs comes out in the USA I'll need a Region A player to play it? Of course, I would suspect they might release it in the UK, but I don't want to get my hopes up.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by DeathlyGeneral

Are all Criterion titles locked to Region A? Does this mean that if Lambs comes out in the USA I'll need a Region A player to play it? Of course, I would suspect they might release it in the UK, but I don't want to get my hopes up.

Typically yes. Even most of the titles they released in two territories were separately encoded as A & B.

[kwisatzhaderach]

Originally Posted by malakaheso

Hughes was OK at making teen films but the idea that he is a great American film maker is seriously a joke.

Hughes was a great populist American filmmaker. No shame in that.

[Markgway]

Originally Posted by malakaheso

i.e Ringwald's characters acceptance is largely based on her transforming her appearance.

It was Sheedy who got the makeover and I agree that's the film's one obvious mis-step.

But hey it was the 80's, what do you expect?

80s movies rock.

[JoelGoodsen]

Day 1 for The Breakfast Club!!

Hopefully similar films follow suit.

Nice work, Criterion!

[Reddington]

It doesn't bother me in the slightest that Criterion is releasing The Breakfast Club, and I'm happy for those looking forward to it. I'm just not sure the economic argument that it will help fund more esoteric titles down the road passes muster - especially when the SRP is $39.95, and the current 30th Anniversary edition can be had for $5.99.

Of course, Amazon will retail it in the $25 range, and it will be discounted by 50% a couple of times a year. But is it not likely that the vast majority of the fanbase already has an existing BD release, and is quite content with it? Perhaps a release of this nature benefits Criterion more from a PR perspective, as opposed to volume sales?

[Rory]

Originally Posted by BagheeraMcGee

I went region-free at the beginning of the year, and my only regret is that I didn't do it sooner.

Me too! In fact, I now think the region encoding of discs undemocratic.

Free the discs!

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Rory

Me too! In fact, I now think the region encoding of discs undemocratic.

Free the discs!

Freeing the player is easier.

[andantelise]

Originally Posted by BagheeraMcGee

I went region-free at the beginning of the year, and my only regret is that I didn't do it sooner.

Originally Posted by Rory

Me too! In fact, I now think the region encoding of discs undemocratic.

Free the discs!

Where can one purchase a region-free player? I've been meaning to get one and now that The Thing is being released, I've made up my mind to get one.

[Rory]

Originally Posted by andantelise

Where can one purchase a region-free player? I've been meaning to get one and now that The Thing is being released, I've made up my mind to get one.

I got both of mine from 220 Electronics. They have good prices and customer support. The first player I bought from them is over two years old now and I haven't had any problems with it.