The Criterion Collection

[CinemaBlu]

1-The Red Shoes
2-La Dolce Vita
3-Vivre Sa Vie
4-Seven Samurai
5-Barry Lyndon
6-Blow Out
7-L'Avventura
8-Mulholland Drive
9-Rosemary's Baby
10-The Last Temptation of Christ

[cropduster]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Between this list and your recommendation, I'll make sure both films make it to the top of my filmstruck queue. Thanks!

You're welcome. I would say if you like the b&w Japanese films like Onibaba, Kuroneko, Kwaidan, etc., you will dig Pitfall. Likewise, if you enjoy Frankenheimer's Seconds, then you'll probably dig The Face of Another.

[TajSamKojiJesam]

My top 10:

1) L'eclisse
2) Barry Lyndon
3) Double Suicide
4) Woman in the Dunes
5) House
6) Intentions of Murder
7) The Double Life of Veronique
8) Persona
9) Harakiri
10) The Ballad of Narayama

[Al_The_Strange]

Ah, so it's not too late to pitch in my top 10? Awesome.

1. Koyaanisqatsi
2. Seven Samurai
3. The Passion of Joan of Arc
4. Eraserhead
5. The Third Man
6. Bicycle Thieves
7. Brazil
8. The Kid
9. Harakiri
10. Breaking the Waves

[repulsed]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

BTW, the Dardenne brothers' film, The Unknown Girl, is now on Netflix.

I know what I'll be doing fairly soon.

Originally Posted by Trace17

Thanks for mentioning this! Perfect timing with days off coming up real soon...

Been in my cart in amaz.uk for months. Finally joined Netflix (mail) again to rent stuff and cut down on blind buying. That was one of the first on my list. Good to see I can just watch it streaming now.

If I had known/remembered it was a Dardenne film I surely would had just bought it cause I enjoyed all four movies I have seen of theirs.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

1. Koyaanisqatsi

Ah. The thought of some day owning a standalone release...

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by English Patient

Maybe this has been talked about before, but I wonder what Criterion title people have been most disappointed with, at least regarding the amount/quality of special features? For me, it would be Heaven's Gate - it was great to have the movie restored and in high def, but the special features were sparse and very much a letdown (understandable, given that Michael Cimino had to approve everything and probably didn't want any of the features to address the movie's financial issues).

I was very disappointed with Night Train to Munich. The only extra being a 30-minute talking head discussion. It seems like Criterion was mailing it in with that one.

[koberulz]

I don't understand how the qatsi trilogy is a thing. Isn't it just a camera stuck somewhere filming random timelapse?

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by koberulz

I don't understand how the qatsi trilogy is a thing. Isn't it just a camera stuck somewhere filming random timelapse?

Sorta. The filmmakers had $40K to blow, so they started off filming some landscapes (mostly Utah). It was kinda boring to start with, so they moved on to other things, but added more footage to the project as years went on and they got a hold of better equipment. The time-lapse effects came in much later, but added the "language" to the project that Reggio felt was missing.

Honestly, there are just a few things that keeps the movie from being just a bunch of random and dull shots strung together: the editing and the music. Together, they are capable of sculpting something moving out of something that's otherwise quite bland. Tack on some words in the end, and boom, we have a theme. That's enough to satisfy my brain cells and heart muscles.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by koberulz

I don't understand how the qatsi trilogy is a thing. Isn't it just a camera stuck somewhere filming random timelapse?

Have you watched any?

[Gerby]

Originally Posted by koberulz

I don't understand how the qatsi trilogy is a thing. Isn't it just a camera stuck somewhere filming random timelapse?

Personally i prefer both Bakara & Samsara, watch them on the biggest screen possible for a beautiful experience.

[koberulz]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Have you watched any?

I haven't, thus the question. From the reviews, I'm disinclined to blow $40 on trying it.

[duggie walker]

Originally Posted by koberulz

I don't understand how the qatsi trilogy is a thing. Isn't it just a camera stuck somewhere filming random timelapse?

I don't understand how Australia is a thing. Isn't it just a bit of land with some people and some stuff on it?

[koberulz]

I'm not putting it on any top ten lists either.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by koberulz

I haven't, thus the question. From the reviews, I'm disinclined to blow $40 on trying it.

Trying before buying is probably wise for these. Koyaanisqatsi is a movie that should be seen and experienced once in a lifetime, but it won't suit everybody. Powaqqatsi is pretty nice, but not quite as heavy-hitting. Naqoyqatsi came off as gaudy and messy to my eyes.

As Gerby mentioned, Baraka and Samsara are the more polished and more beautiful films, and are more palatable as blind-buys. Chronos isn't bad either.

[koberulz]

I refer you to my previous rant about the inability to try any of these films.

I was actually quite pleased to see the amount of overlap between Criterion's catalog and the 90th Anniversary UA DVD set I have. Which I still haven't opened, but at least it lets me try those. Particularly things like Satyricon and Persona, which I'd be very hesitant to blind-buy.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by koberulz

I refer you to my previous rant about the inability to try any of these films.

Okay, I missed out on that rant before.

If it helps, parts of the films are on Youtube.

Originally Posted by koberulz

I was actually quite pleased to see the amount of overlap between Criterion's catalog and the 90th Anniversary UA DVD set I have. Which I still haven't opened, but at least it lets me try those. Particularly things like Satyricon and Persona, which I'd be very hesitant to blind-buy.

Now that's a monster of a set, looks like lots of good titles throughout.

[koberulz]

Rant was here:

Originally Posted by koberulz

When every single film is a blind-buy and they cost so much, not to mention the hassle of importing, these sorts of lists become very annoying.

They get less blind as you go through them and get an idea of what to expect from specific directors, actors, etc. but having something like FilmStruck available here (although I'm not sure how much of the Criterion library is on there) would be a much better situation.

I hate living here sometimes.

Did a quick search on Netflix on the off-chance (I did see Blue is the Warmest Color on there a couple days ago), but it came up empty.

As for the UA set....yes, yes it is. I can't even lift the thing.

[Namuhana]

Top 10 (in alphabetical order):

Frances Ha
Jules and Jim
Modern Times
Moonrise Kingdom
The Night of the Hunter
Persona
The Red Shoes
A Special Day
Trilogía de Guillermo del Toro
Weekend (2011)

[Namuhana]

And on a side note, I just ordered a DVD copy of Muriel's Wedding, so I think we can all expect an announcement for a Criterion edition on Friday/Monday.