The Criterion Collection

[captveg]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Incidentally, I'm seven episodes into the new season three of Twin Peaks right now, and I'm loving it. David Lynch's endearing brand of "WTF?" is still intact, but he can ramp up the momentum during intense scenes like few other directors can. I'm having a blast with all of the actor cameos in this season from the likes of Naomi Watts, Robert Forster, Laura Dern, Caleb Landry Jones, Matthew Lillard, and Amanda Seyfried.

Just wait until you see Episode 8, aka one of the greatest pieces of art ever presented on Television.

[senseabove]

Originally Posted by SkyAntoine

I would wholeheartedly recommend watching in this order:

Season 2 Episode 7 first
S3 E8
S3 E18
Missing Pieces
S2 Episodes 8-14
FWWM
Rest of S2
Season 1

You forgot to put the rest of Season 3 before FWwM. Not to mention the international pilot, which should be watched at least two years in advance of anything else, so it can seep deep into your subconscious, be forgotten, and haunt your daydreams and waking nightmares long before you know who killed Laura Palmer or what color Diane's hair is.

[jonmayo15]

My big Criterion wish for 2018 is an edition of the 1951 Scrooge with Alistair Sim and an upgrade to Blu of Equinox. Love that crazy movie.

Also I'd love to find any of the OOP Studio Canal titles for a semi-decent price.

[bradnoyes]

This is probably the lamest question to ask in this thread but I only own a handful of Criterion discs (Mulholland Drive, Blue is the Warmest Color, and Bottle Rocket) but I'm really starting to get back into cinema after not watching many movies over the last decade and I'd like to add more of the Collection to my...*ahem*...collection.

Any recommendations of 4-5 movies to start with? I'm completely open to films from any place and time. Mostly just looking to broaden my horizons. And thanks again in advance for any responses.

[Rzzzz]

Originally Posted by bradnoyes

This is probably the lamest question to ask in this thread but I only own a handful of Criterion discs (Mulholland Drive, Blue is the Warmest Color, and Bottle Rocket) but I'm really starting to get back into cinema after not watching many movies over the last decade and I'd like to add more of the Collection to my...*ahem*...collection.

Any recommendations of 4-5 movies to start with? I'm completely open to films from any place and time. Mostly just looking to broaden my horizons. And thanks again in advance for any responses.

1. Its A Mad Mad Mad Mad World (watch the theatrical version first)
2. Brazil
3. Repulsion
4. House
5. The Naked Prey (DVD)

That should do it (Im assuming you have already seen Eraserhead...).

[javy]

Originally Posted by MeMynonsense

Revisited Blast Of Silence this Xmas and it has lost none of its hardboiled charm.

I wonder if Criterion has any plans to upgrade Blast of Silence to blu-ray? And Pickup on South Street...and Wise Blood..

[senseabove]

Originally Posted by bradnoyes

This is probably the lamest question to ask in this thread but I only own a handful of Criterion discs (Mulholland Drive, Blue is the Warmest Color, and Bottle Rocket) but I'm really starting to get back into cinema after not watching many movies over the last decade and I'd like to add more of the Collection to my...*ahem*...collection.

Any recommendations of 4-5 movies to start with? I'm completely open to films from any place and time. Mostly just looking to broaden my horizons. And thanks again in advance for any responses.

Have 8, for a wide-ranging grabbag of horizon-broadening:
A Brighter Summer Day
All That Heaven Allows
Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles
Kiss Me Deadly
Late Spring
McCabe & Mrs. Miller
Vampyr
Videodrome

With a cherry on top:
Sweet Smell of Success

[Rzzzz]

Originally Posted by senseabove

Have 8, for a wide-ranging grabbag of horizon-broadening:
A Brighter Summer Day
All That Heaven Allows
Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles
Kiss Me Deadly
Late Spring
McCabe & Mrs. Miller
Vampyr
Videodrome

With a cherry on top:
Sweet Smell of Success

Aww, Sweet Smell of Success, one of my most cherished Criterions. I have been a huge Tony Curtis fan since childhood, for reasons I don't fully understand. I would love to see more of him in the Collection.

[latehong]

Originally Posted by bradnoyes

This is probably the lamest question to ask in this thread but I only own a handful of Criterion discs (Mulholland Drive, Blue is the Warmest Color, and Bottle Rocket) but I'm really starting to get back into cinema after not watching many movies over the last decade and I'd like to add more of the Collection to my...*ahem*...collection.

Any recommendations of 4-5 movies to start with? I'm completely open to films from any place and time. Mostly just looking to broaden my horizons. And thanks again in advance for any responses.

I tried to pick easy-to-follow fiction films (hence no 'modern' cinema, no documentary, no experimental film) among individual Blu-ray releases (hence no box set, no DVD-only release). This not to say that they are any less ambitious or innovative.

The Hidden Fortress: Rashomon, Seven Samurai, Ikiru, Throne of Blood or High and Low might be more common/prominent recommendations among the works of Akira Kurosawa, but since it's Star Wars season... and it's a fun and spectacular action adventure film, so if you're not used to 'foreign,' 'arthouse' cinema, this could be an easy start. (next: Yojimbo & Sanjuro)

The Night of the Hunter: Crème de la crème of Criterion collection. The most beautiful black and white film, period. A film noir fairytale about the battle between good (sinister, reptilian preacher Robert Mitchum) vs evil (Lilian Gish, the first lady of cinema) and the innocents between them.

The Red Shoes: No, no, no, no, no, no, please don't pass this 'ballet movie.' I couldn't care less for ballet itself, but this flamboyant, devastating story of a female artist torn between two men (or more precisely, her career/artistic ambition and the male-dominant view of love and family) never fails to break my heart (and many of my friends). Black Swan cannot hold a candle to this horror musical romance.

Rififi: Alpha and Omega of all caper movies.

Speedy: Have to recommend at least one silent film and it's not Chaplin and not Safety Last!. They don't need my recommendation. This and The Girl Shy (to be released from Criterion, I presume?) are my favorite Harold Lloyd.

[theater dreamer]

First of all, good for you for wanting to broaden your horizons. And for getting back into film. Your question's not lame at all. We welcome the opportunity to make some suggestions to those who want to learn, and enjoy films they might not have otherwise seen.

Ok, so five movies to start with. Only five. That's tough. I skimmed through what others have suggested, so I'll try to come up with some others not already listed. No guarantees, as I might miss something.

1.) Vivre sa vie

2.) It Happened One Night

3.) Anatomy of a Murder

4.) Paths of Glory

5.) Trois couleurs: Bleu

Originally Posted by bradnoyes

This is probably the lamest question to ask in this thread but I only own a handful of Criterion discs (Mulholland Drive, Blue is the Warmest Color, and Bottle Rocket) but I'm really starting to get back into cinema after not watching many movies over the last decade and I'd like to add more of the Collection to my...*ahem*...collection.

Any recommendations of 4-5 movies to start with? I'm completely open to films from any place and time. Mostly just looking to broaden my horizons. And thanks again in advance for any responses.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

5.) Trois couleurs: Bleu

Funny you mentioned the one that's mis-framed. Not Criterion's fault as they didn't make the master, but its not available separately, anyway.

[Namuhana]

Originally Posted by bradnoyes

This is probably the lamest question to ask in this thread but I only own a handful of Criterion discs (Mulholland Drive, Blue is the Warmest Color, and Bottle Rocket) but I'm really starting to get back into cinema after not watching many movies over the last decade and I'd like to add more of the Collection to my...*ahem*...collection.

Any recommendations of 4-5 movies to start with? I'm completely open to films from any place and time. Mostly just looking to broaden my horizons. And thanks again in advance for any responses.

Here's ten:

Beauty and the Beast
City Lights
Frances Ha
Jules and Jim
The Night of the Hunter
Persona
Rebecca
The Red Shoes
Trilogía de Guillermo del Toro
Weekend (2011)

[PBateman87]

Originally Posted by bradnoyes

This is probably the lamest question to ask in this thread but I only own a handful of Criterion discs (Mulholland Drive, Blue is the Warmest Color, and Bottle Rocket) but I'm really starting to get back into cinema after not watching many movies over the last decade and I'd like to add more of the Collection to my...*ahem*...collection.

Any recommendations of 4-5 movies to start with? I'm completely open to films from any place and time. Mostly just looking to broaden my horizons. And thanks again in advance for any responses.

Here are five Criterion favorites of mine that I'm so happy I checked out:

3 Women (1977, Robert Altman)
Repulsion (1965, Roman Polanski)
In the Mood for Love (2000, Wong Kar Wai)
Naked (1993, Mike Leigh)
Eyes Without a Face (1960, Georges Franju)

And a few bonus ones: Le Samourai (1967); Purple Noon (1960); Safe (1995)

[plateoshrimp]

Originally Posted by javy

I wonder if Criterion has any plans to upgrade Blast of Silence to blu-ray? And Pickup on South Street...and Wise Blood..

Pickup on South Street and Wise Blood would be great to have on blu-ray. Also Pandora's Box, The Virgin Spring and Alphaville.

Originally Posted by bradnoyes

Any recommendations of 4-5 movies to start with? I'm completely open to films from any place and time. Mostly just looking to broaden my horizons. And thanks again in advance for any responses.

I suggest City Lights, It Happened One Night, Vivre Sa Vie, The Night of the Hunter and Days of Heaven.

[The Great Owl]

There's an official site review up for Elevator to the Gallows, and it sounds like everything that I've been hoping for.

If this disc didn't earn high marks for audio quality, then I was going to stomp my foot like an angry child. The Miles Davis score deserves the best treatment in the world.

[StarDestroyer52]

I'm going to repeat my wishes for 2018:

Pandora's Box
The Cameraman
Chungking Express
and well any Studiocanal owned film would be too good to be true

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by bradnoyes

This is probably the lamest question to ask in this thread but I only own a handful of Criterion discs (Mulholland Drive, Blue is the Warmest Color, and Bottle Rocket) but I'm really starting to get back into cinema after not watching many movies over the last decade and I'd like to add more of the Collection to my...*ahem*...collection.

Any recommendations of 4-5 movies to start with? I'm completely open to films from any place and time. Mostly just looking to broaden my horizons. And thanks again in advance for any responses.

Hard to limit it to just 5, but here goes.

1. Chaplin. No collection is complete without some Chaplin. My favorite is The Gold Rush, but Modern TImes and City Lights are also essential.
2. Classic American comedy: It Happened One Night, His Girl Friday or The Philadelphia Story. The latter two both star Cary Grant who is essential in any collection. My pick is The Philadelphia Story.
3. Hitchock: Any of the Criterion Hitchcocks would be great, but I'd start with The Man Who Knew Too Much. It contains many of the techniques Hitch would use throughout his career and also features the wonderful Peter Lorre.
4. Noir: The Killers, The Asphalt Jungle, The Breaking Point, In a Lonely Place, They Live by Night and The Killing are all worthy. I'd start with The Killing since that would also check your Kubrick box.
5. Western: Stagecoach, My Darling Clementine, Red River, and McCabe and Mrs. Miller are all great. I'd start with Stagecoach -- classic Ford and the first modern Western.

I've left so many great films off the list and haven't even touched the non-English language films. Good luck exploring!

[20th Century Boy]

Originally Posted by StarDestroyer52

I'm going to repeat my wishes for 2018:

Pandora's Box
The Cameraman
Chungking Express
and well any Studiocanal owned film would be too good to be true

CC wishes for 2018?

Sixteen Candles

Weird Science

Chinese cut of WKW's The Grandmaster

blu upgrades of Masculine Feminin and Made in the USA

Whatever Bergman extravaganza they got planned.

Also: I don't care who puts it out, but for gawd's sake Young Guns II, Dragonslayer and Young Sherlock Holmes on blu. What's it take? Ye gads.

And finally: I hope Gilliam's Quixote flick is as great as expected and that CC puts it out.

2018, don't let me down.

[20th Century Boy]

5 horizon broadening recommendations:

1. They Live By Night (Get into Ray)
2. Dekalog (Polish cinema rocks. Although this was a TV series)
3. Eating Raoul (Corman-era humor)
4. A Touch of Zen (King Hu's films are wonderful and more are being restored each year)
5. Apu Trilogy (Get into the other Ray)

[20th Century Boy]

I'm kinda serious though: I wish CC would devote a line to blu upgrades. A place we could check in on progress of upgrades without taking away from the announcements of new releases.