The Criterion Collection

[jw007]

Michael Moore might be pretty hated around these parts, but I'm glad Criterion is releasing probably his best and most important documentary film, Bowling for Columbine, in the wake of the gun shooting massacres occurring on a regular basis in the USA these days. He might be a left-wing radicalized nut job to some, but to me he's a courageous and fearless filmmaker whose films should be at least acknowledged for bringing up awareness and important social issues in the Western world.

With that said, there is nothing in the June announcements that I'll prob. purchase, but my thanks goes to the Criterion Collection for continuing to release important films.

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by jacobsever

Day 1 purchase for me.

LOVE Michael Moore and his documentaries. Bowling for Columbine was one of the first documentaries I watched and really enjoyed. Started and sparked a passion for documentaries and politics in my young self.

I'm glad that seeing Michael Moore's films inspired you to see more documentaries. I fear that people's first exposure to documentary will be a Michael Moore film and come away thinking that is what the genre is all about: cheap-shot agitprop centered not on people or issues, but on Michael Moore.

BTW, politically I'm probably in agreement with Moore on most issues. I just don't like the way he pushes his agenda. He gives us left-wing nut-jobs a bad name.

[DaBargainHunta]

Bowling for Columbine was made by a less mature, more radical Moore, who often made even his sympathetic "characters" look bad or into the butt of a joke in some way - but you can't deny the movie is entertaining, thought-provoking, and sadly now more relevant than ever before.

[CBHampson]

Originally Posted by JoeBuck

It further perpetuates the myth that he is a good documentary filmmaker. I definitely will be avoiding, of course.

I agree with Moore politically, for the most part. But I have to agree with your assessment of him as a documentarian.

Artist, provocateur, etc....fine. But he stretches the bounds of subjectivity well beyond any acceptable level.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by JoeBuck

I share a lot of his views but ends don't justify the means and how he treats his subjects can also be detrimental to the craft as other people can look at his way of filmmaking and be more hesitant to ever agree to interviews. It was an issue with Shoah and Lanzmann's secret filming too.

To me there's also a difference in asking someone to do something and outright staging a news clip and passing it off as real the way he did with Roger and Me.

He'll always be a shitstain in my eyes. They should've put out Canadian Bacon instead.

I don't disagree with that. It's a point I also meant to make in the earlier post of mine but I forgot to. That is, when facts are manipulated or outright lies are presented as facts then you run the risk of having your entire argument discredited, even the portions that are true. And that's why a lot of people, even those who agree with his politics, don't like him because it makes their job so much harder.

[burningfool]

Looking forward to adding Bowling For Columbine to my collection. I hope that Criterion releases more Michael Moore films, especially Sicko, and Roger & Me, with the (currently unavailable) sequel Pets Or Meat included as a bonus.

[DaBargainHunta]

Originally Posted by DaBargainHunta

Bowling for Columbine was made by a less mature, more radical Moore, who often made even his sympathetic "characters" look bad or into the butt of a joke in some way - but you can't deny the movie is entertaining, thought-provoking, and sadly now more relevant than ever before.

Just to add to what I said earlier, I think Moore's best film is Where to Invade Next. Moore gets out of his own way for once, presents some genuinely good ideas, and it's positive and constructive, not snarky and gimmicky like some of his earlier work.

[Bates_Motel]

It's interesting that The Virgin Spring is listed as having a "new" 2K digital restoration, as this was one of the handful of his films at the recent retrospective to NOT have a new DCP restoration and played on regular 35mm. My guess would be it's the same scan they used for the DVD, just a new master. We'll see.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

It's interesting that The Virgin Spring is listed as having a "new" 2K digital restoration, as this was one of the handful of his films at the recent retrospective to NOT have a new DCP restoration and played on regular 35mm. My guess would be it's the same scan they used for the DVD, just a new master. We'll see.

It played in both 35mm and DCP restoration, according to FilmForum.

(1960) In 13th century Sweden, pregnant Gunnel Lindblom, in thrall to the old religion and envious of virginal Birgitta Pettersson, slips a toad into the bread she carries to church, beginning a brutal cycle of rape, murder, revenge, and atonement. DCP restoration (35mm at 2:30 screening). Approx. 89 min.

https://filmforum.org/film/the-virgi...g-bergman-film

[themp3000]

In for Female Trouble, The Virgin Spring and El Sur.

[Scottie]

I wonder if June will see a re-release of Persona in a single-disc edition.

[Vinyl]

Originally Posted by DaBargainHunta

Bowling for Columbine was made by a less mature, more radical Moore, who often made even his sympathetic "characters" look bad or into the butt of a joke in some way - but you can't deny the movie is entertaining, thought-provoking, and sadly now more relevant than ever before.

Originally Posted by belcherman

I'm glad that seeing Michael Moore's films inspired you to see more documentaries. I fear that people's first exposure to documentary will be a Michael Moore film and come away thinking that is what the genre is all about: cheap-shot agitprop centered not on people or issues, but on Michael Moore.

BTW, politically I'm probably in agreement with Moore on most issues. I just don't like the way he pushes his agenda. He gives us left-wing nut-jobs a bad name.

While I think he isn’t nearly the best documentary filmmaker, especially in an obviously biased movie, you can’t deny the cultural impact of Columbine and this documentary about it. Also fascinating is his discussion with Marilyn Manson, who was made the scape goat instead of addressing the real reasons for the perpetrators actions. I also find it sad that nearly 20 years after the fact the same events are occurring.

My wife bought this used years ago on dvd. She is obsessed with mass killings, be it serial killers, shootings, or events such as the Titanic sinking. Stepping back, this obsession with death and specifically mass killings is not good for the psyche of our society. I believe that message is what Michael Moore is trying to beat over our heads.

Either way I won’t be buying this unless my wife wants it due to her unhealthy obsession with mass killings.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by Scottie

It played in both 35mm and DCP restoration, according to FilmForum.

https://filmforum.org/film/the-virgi...g-bergman-film

Weird, every listing I saw for it only said 35mm. Good to know, thanks!

[cgpublic]

Well, for every person who refuses to purchase, or even watch, a film by Michael Moore, another person will applaud its release and give copies as gifts.

No, Moore isn't much of a documentarian, but we can all agree he's a filmmaker.

The funny bit, and just to be clear, I don't have a dog in this hunt, it was Roger & Me that explored many of the same themes articulated by Trump and later propelled him to the Presidency, specifically, the hollowing out of the middle class, the white flight from Rust Belt cities and the Buy American/America First ideology.

So, in that sense, Moore, regardless of your opinion of him, his films or his approach to filmmaking, has delivered a body of work that is worthy of Criterion imprint.

[omgkitty]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

They still could, and I'd be surprised if they don't (this year, next year, sometime in the future).

Both the Hitchcock and Del Toro box sets came only after each title came out individually.

Well the Hitchcock set is just all of those titles packaged together with a cardboard sleeve, just like the music films, the Whit Stillman set, the Andre Gregory and Wallace Shawn set etc

The Guillermo set came out the same month as Pan's and was only a package of 3 films. Who knows. Obviously if the box set exists, half of those titles are already on blu-ray, so it would make sense they would still break out the releases, but to do it the month before the 100th anniversary is weird for me.

[Lordy]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

This literally can be traced back to Flaherty's 1922 film Nanook of the North. I don't think people would be lobbying the same complaints if that film were to get an upgrade.

EDIT: Again, you're proving the point. It's an important film, despite what your knee-jerk emotional reaction suggests.

Michael Moore has been a leftist, Marxist loon for decades. It's certainly not a "knee-jerk emotional reaction". It's a well thought out intellectual argument made without any unharnessed emotions. The guy is a divider, a nut-job, and a goon.

[StarDestroyer52]

Nothing for me in June.

[sawdustandtinsel]

In for The Virgin Spring, has anybody seen Manila in the Claws of Light? Thoughts?

[BobbyMcGee]

Another excellent month of releases from Criterion.

Bergman on blu-ray always makes for a great month.

Not going to lie, I wish we were getting Spirit of the Beehive, but still interested in El Sur.

Excited for the Lino Brocka film.

[kirkman1987]

I would have much rather gotten Roger and Me.