The Criterion Collection

[Rich Pure Doom]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Powell/Pressburger's A Matter of Life and Death just underwent a 4K restoration by Sony.

I wonder if this means Criterion will release the film in the future given their relationship with Sony.

https://filmforum.org/film/a-matter-...and-death-film

God I hope so. This is my most wanted Blu.

[thatguamguy]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

However, it's a very quirky and entertaining movie, so if you are able to look past your normal dislike of musical performances, you might still enjoy it.

Yeah, just to be clear, I love Nashville, but I am a fan of Robert Altman and musicals (although I don't personally think of this as a musical, even though he does call it one). But for someone who doesn't like singing in movies, rent before you buy, and I hope you can enjoy it!

[jedidarrick]

Purchased Jabberwocky, Limelight and Hausu today. Two are blind buys from directors I love, and the other is Hausu.

[Rich Pure Doom]

Originally Posted by CRM 114

I'm someone who really hates singing in movies, whether it be musicals or just someone performing on stage or something of the like. I was looking into blind buying Nashville but I noticed this when scrolling through the IMDB page.



IMDB also lists "Music" as one of the main genres for the film. How much singing is in Nashville and is it a solid blind buy?

Although it is one of my top 5 favorite films of all time, Nashville is not for everyone. Proceed with caution.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by CRM 114

I'm someone who really hates singing in movies, whether it be musicals or just someone performing on stage or something of the like. I was looking into blind buying Nashville but I noticed this when scrolling through the IMDB page.

[Show spoiler]

IMDB also lists "Music" as one of the main genres for the film. How much singing is in Nashville and is it a solid blind buy?

I can't stand musicals myself.

I couldn't watch The Umbrellas of Cherbourg or La-La Land for more than ten minutes without turning them off.

But I LOVE Nashville.

It's not a musical, but rather a film about a music town with numerous country music live performances. But not performances where the music is a stand-in for dialogue, like in a traditional musical. The entire film is a brilliant send up/satire of not just the 70s country music scene, but the American political/cultural landscape of that time period.

A lot of it is still relevant to this day.

[SuperFlyHighGuy]

I stuck through Umbrellas of Cherbourg to the end, but it was tough. I really liked everything but the singing - photography, art direction, story - but in the end couldn't get on board. Can't imagine ever watching again, nor will I ever see Lala Land.

[20th Century Boy]

Originally Posted by SuperFlyHighGuy

I stuck through Umbrellas of Cherbourg to the end, but it was tough. I really liked everything but the singing - photography, art direction, story - but in the end couldn't get on board. Can't imagine ever watching again, nor will I ever see Lala Land.

+1

Just can't hang with musicals, unless it's a Beatles or Monkees film.

[tisdivine]

My Jabberwocky arrived today. It is a blind buy BUT Im yet to watch a Gilliam I havent liked so I guessed I would be safe lol

[Mike0284]

Got in one more order from the B&N sale.

[mja345]

I watched "Sundays and Cybele" for the second time last night and it's such a magnificent film. A true masterpiece that should be in more collections on here. I've seen several articles that have criticized this film for things that are supposedly "icky" given our modern sensibilities, including by the AV Club's resident idiot Mike D'Angelo. Serge Bourguinon deliberately altered the source material so that certain uncomfortable elements would be removed. I guess these people who criticize this film have never heard of taking source material and putting your own stamp on it. I'm a very liberal dude, but the overly PC shit has to stop.

Anyway, it's such a brilliant and heartbreaking film. It highlights how the best human relationships are often very pure, devoid of societal constraints. The two main characters are people looking for some kind of connection. It makes me think that if a similar film that far more people are familiar with, "Leon the Professional", were made today, could it be accepted? Or would the PC police be out for that as well? There's something very visceral about people connecting on an emotional, pure level, with nothing sexual or inappropriate attached, but it's being taken away by people who feel it's offending their culturally-affected sensibilities. Absolute horse shit. Rant over, but please see this film if you haven't.

[thinredline]

Originally Posted by mja345

I watched "Sundays and Cybele" for the second time last night and it's such a magnificent film. A true masterpiece that should be in more collections on here. I've seen several articles that have criticized this film for things that are supposedly "icky" given our modern sensibilities, including by the AV Club's resident idiot Mike D'Angelo. Serge Bourguinon deliberately altered the source material so that certain uncomfortable elements would be removed. I guess these people who criticize this film have never heard of taking source material and putting your own stamp on it. I'm a very liberal dude, but the overly PC shit has to stop.

Anyway, it's such a brilliant and heartbreaking film. It highlights how the best human relationships are often very pure, devoid of societal constraints. The two main characters are people looking for some kind of connection. It makes me think that if a similar film that far more people are familiar with, "Leon the Professional", were made today, could it be accepted? Or would the PC police be out for that as well? There's something very visceral about people connecting on an emotional, pure level, with nothing sexual or inappropriate attached, but it's being taken away by people who feel it's offending their culturally-affected sensibilities. Absolute horse shit. Rant over, but please see this film if you haven't.

Reading your post, this film came to mind:
Eternity and a Day by Theo Angelopoulos, Palme D'or winner in 1998.
Unfortunately there is only a highly priced Japanese Bluray of it without English subtitles.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0156794/

Maybe you should watch it someday.

[Dragon Ranger]

What were your first ever Criterion purchases (on Blu ray)?

Mine were....



and....

[thinredline]

Originally Posted by Dragon Ranger

What were your first ever Criterion purchases (on Blu ray)?

the film of my username!
In fact that's how I discovered Criterion.

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by mja345

I watched "Sundays and Cybele" for the second time last night and it's such a magnificent film. A true masterpiece that should be in more collections on here. I've seen several articles that have criticized this film for things that are supposedly "icky" given our modern sensibilities, including by the AV Club's resident idiot Mike D'Angelo. Serge Bourguinon deliberately altered the source material so that certain uncomfortable elements would be removed. I guess these people who criticize this film have never heard of taking source material and putting your own stamp on it. I'm a very liberal dude, but the overly PC shit has to stop.

Anyway, it's such a brilliant and heartbreaking film. It highlights how the best human relationships are often very pure, devoid of societal constraints. The two main characters are people looking for some kind of connection. It makes me think that if a similar film that far more people are familiar with, "Leon the Professional", were made today, could it be accepted? Or would the PC police be out for that as well? There's something very visceral about people connecting on an emotional, pure level, with nothing sexual or inappropriate attached, but it's being taken away by people who feel it's offending their culturally-affected sensibilities. Absolute horse shit. Rant over, but please see this film if you haven't.

I watched this last week for the first time and was amazed by it. I am looking forward to revisiting it soon.

[RCRochester]

My first Criterion blu-ray was an upgrade of my first Criterion DVD (which I bought twice, because the first release of THAT was non-anamorphic):

[koberulz]

[thatguamguy]

"Brazil", "Days of Heaven", and I think the third was "Paths of Glory" but I'm not 100% sure on that. There was something else on that order for sure.

[postmodel]

I'm about 99% positive these were my first Criterion Blu-Rays that I bought at the same time:





These really helped cement a beautiful cinematic love affair with Cronenberg.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by mja345

I watched "Sundays and Cybele" for the second time last night and it's such a magnificent film. A true masterpiece that should be in more collections on here. I've seen several articles that have criticized this film for things that are supposedly "icky" given our modern sensibilities, including by the AV Club's resident idiot Mike D'Angelo. Serge Bourguinon deliberately altered the source material so that certain uncomfortable elements would be removed. I guess these people who criticize this film have never heard of taking source material and putting your own stamp on it. I'm a very liberal dude, but the overly PC shit has to stop.

Anyway, it's such a brilliant and heartbreaking film. It highlights how the best human relationships are often very pure, devoid of societal constraints. The two main characters are people looking for some kind of connection. It makes me think that if a similar film that far more people are familiar with, "Leon the Professional", were made today, could it be accepted? Or would the PC police be out for that as well? There's something very visceral about people connecting on an emotional, pure level, with nothing sexual or inappropriate attached, but it's being taken away by people who feel it's offending their culturally-affected sensibilities. Absolute horse shit. Rant over, but please see this film if you haven't.

Sundays and Cybele is such a great film. It makes for a fine double feature with Rapture, which also stars Patricia Gozzi. Both movies deal with human emotions in an uncluttered and straightforward way that I find refreshing.

There are a handful of films in my collection that would probably never be made today.

The Blue Lagoon, starring Brooke Shields, is one such example. In my review of this movie, I stated that, while watching it these days from an adult perspective, I do not find it even remotely titillating or exploitative. It's just a cool adventure story about two kids stranded on an island, and coming to terms with life and maturation when they are unfamiliar with the conventions of society.

[mande2013]

The first Criterion blu-ray I owned was Red Desert. Pierrot Le Fou was the second I think. Beyond that it's a bit of a blur.