The Criterion Collection

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by thebratpackwrangler

That release has been out for years

I am aware. Just an observation.

I wonder if the film recently underwent a restoration or it's merely celebrating its 30th anniversary.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Xtempo

for those that have seen Robinson Cureso on Mars and Things to Come. Which do you like better? I seem like Things to Come more than Robinson.

I value Things to Come as a kind of time capsule of 1930s sci-fi--the ideas of the time, the things folks thought of back then, the old-fashioned aesthetic. It's pretty neat, but the pacing always struck me as up and down. As a milieu story it does what it needs to just fine, but by necessity it chops up the story into vignettes that offer no real time for character and story development. The progress is the story, and not much else (by comparison, I think 1927's Metropolis accomplishes the same theme of progress but still offers meaty story and characterization).

So I probably lean heavier on Robinson Crusoe on Mars, since it's such a simple throughline I find myself caring more about. I think survival stories in general will catch my attention more than milieu ones anyway, given my appreciation for similar-themed films (especially Gravity and The Martian). I can't deny that RCoM looks a bit low-fi, but it's also quite spot-on with its depiction of a barren world. I find it more engaging to watch a guy struggling and triumphing over those kinds of conditions. I suppose I find the triumph of the individual interests me more than the triumph of overall society, which is the angle that Things to Come offers.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by Hellspawn28

Irreversible, Dogville, Happiness and Lars Von Trier's E Trilogy would be a dream come true for me. My current Criterion wishlist:

[Show spoiler]25th Hour
Blind Beast (1969)
Cemetery Man (Dellamorte Dellamore)
The City of Lost Childern (I don't trust Sony with it after how bad the 20th Anniversary Blu-Ray was)
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
Dogville
Drugstore Cowboy
Drunken Master
The Elephant Man
El Toppo
The Fly (1986)
Gummo
Holy Mountain
Irreversible
Kafka
Memories of Murder
Network
One-Armed Swordsman trilogy
Pi
Pink Floyd: The Wall
A Scanner Darkly
Singapore Sling
Tropic of Cancer
Under the Flag of the Rising Sun
Waking Life

Perhaps the biggest regret of my life, and there are many, is seeing that film.

I’ve never fully recovered from...the scene.

[Ray Jackson]

What are some of the best, most re-watchable documentaries in the collection?

Aside from For All Mankind, which I already own.

[Mr. Chaverria]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Perhaps the biggest regret of my life, and there are many, is seeing that film.

I’ve never fully recovered from...the scene.

It is a very powerful scene. Love the movie. It's hard but so damn good.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by Mr. Chaverria

It is a very powerful scene. Love the movie. It's hard but so damn good.

Powerful isn’t really the word that I would use to describe it.

...more like sickening.

But aside from that, the picture is pretty interesting.

[The Great Owl]

Vegetables before the dessert. I'm going to get the ball rolling with Permanent Vacation, which is featured as a supplement on this Blu-ray...



Aloysious Christopher Parker, who refers to himself as “Allie” when he is spray painting graffiti on walls and who idolizes the jazz legend, Charlie Parker, ambles aimlessly through the streets of a downtown Manhattan that seems almost as empty and desolate as his life purpose. Even when he interacts with his girlfriend and his institutionalized mother, he talks in a languid manner, as though he is looking at the world through a dream lens superimposed over his own unconventional pop culture influences. As he strolls through dilapidated neighborhood alleyways and the near-deserted ruins of old buildings, he crosses paths with an eclectic mix of characters and continues to withdraw into his own detached soul.

The experience of watching Permanent Vacation, the 1980 feature-length directorial debut of Jim Jarmusch (Stranger Than Paradise, Down by Law), is sort of like competing in a foot race against a snail and losing miserably. Interestingly enough, though, this 75-minute narrative of wanderings amid rubble-strewn landscapes serves to bring us closer to the mindset of its lead, played by Chris Parker, and into a decades-old New York City that is noticeably different than its current incarnation. I will not go so far as to say that this movie is riveting, but I found myself able to settle into its offbeat minimalist nuances comfortably well.

As with subsequent Jarmusch films, this one leans heavily on music to elicit emotions. Two of the more engaging sequences involve Allie listening to jazz or saxophone music, and the leisurely style of the setup allows us to lose ourselves in watching him lose himself.

There's not much of a plot here, but what we are left with is an assortment of scenarios that predate the musings of people in Terry Zwigoff's 2001 work, Ghost World, with helpings of J.D Salinger and James Joyce thrown into the fold.

This supplement on the Criterion Blu-ray of Stranger Than Paradise sports a great-looking high definition transfer with an audio presentation that shines to boot.

Next up...the main feature.

[BenOswald]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

What are some of the best, most re-watchable documentaries in the collection?

Aside from For All Mankind, which I already own.

Hoop Dreams

Vernon, Florida

Monterey Pop

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

What are some of the best, most re-watchable documentaries in the collection?

Aside from For All Mankind, which I already own.

Well, Koyaanisqatsi gets my vote by virtue of it being my all-time favorite film. Calling it a true documentary may be a stretch since it's more of a meditative experience lacking direct narrative and narration. But one of the many reasons I value it (and find it rewatchable) is that it captures images that are (were?) true, real-life locations and conditions and shows them in a unique way. It shows the world and its patterns in ways one could not have seen otherwise (ditto for its sequels and Ron Fricke's work).

I'm pretty sure I've seen my Blu-Ray copy a few times now. A product of the 70s, a combination of 35mm, 16mm, and stock footage, it'll probably never look pristine or perfect, but Criterion's disc is the best it can be (unless a UHD is possible, I dunno). Extras are pretty awesome on the disc, it even includes the demo version of the movie.

[Jobla]

My current Criterion want list:

PRIVATE PARTS (1972, Paul Bartel)
EYES WIDE SHUT
THE WEAVERS: WASN'T THAT A TIME (superb documentary)
M (1951)
THE LAST PICTURE SHOW (standalone)
WISE BLOOD (Blu upgrade)
A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE (1962, Sidney Lumet)
AFTER HOURS
BLOOD AND ROSES

[Xtempo]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

I value Things to Come as a kind of time capsule of 1930s sci-fi--the ideas of the time, the things folks thought of back then, the old-fashioned aesthetic. It's pretty neat, but the pacing always struck me as up and down. As a milieu story it does what it needs to just fine, but by necessity it chops up the story into vignettes that offer no real time for character and story development. The progress is the story, and not much else (by comparison, I think 1927's Metropolis accomplishes the same theme of progress but still offers meaty story and characterization).

So I probably lean heavier on Robinson Crusoe on Mars, since it's such a simple throughline I find myself caring more about. I think survival stories in general will catch my attention more than milieu ones anyway, given my appreciation for similar-themed films (especially Gravity and The Martian). I can't deny that RCoM looks a bit low-fi, but it's also quite spot-on with its depiction of a barren world. I find it more engaging to watch a guy struggling and triumphing over those kinds of conditions. I suppose I find the triumph of the individual interests me more than the triumph of overall society, which is the angle that Things to Come offers.

I do see where you are coming from. For me though RCOM seems more annoying at times and I love B movies but for some reason I have trouble getting into it. The whole helmet scenes (either wear the damn helmet or not but don't wear it and then take it off) annoy me to no end. His hairy crew member is very cute and I love the idea of having the two of them.

[Hoke Moseley]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

What are some of the best, most re-watchable documentaries in the collection?

Aside from For All Mankind, which I already own.

Gimme Shelter

[Lordy]

Originally Posted by Hoke Moseley

Gimme Shelter

I would recommend Grey Gardens and The Thin Blue Line.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

What are some of the best, most re-watchable documentaries in the collection?

Aside from For All Mankind, which I already own.

Koyaanisqatsi and Sans Soleil.

[regeyer]

Originally Posted by regeyer

I'm watching Sansho the Bailiff on the Criterion Channel with 5 minutes to go when the screen freezes, crashes, and then returns to the main Roku screen. When I go back to the Criterion Channel it doesn't recognize me. I can't log in so I have to go through the whole process again setting up the Roku. Ten minutes later I was able to watch the last 5 minutes. What a pain. Seems like the Criterion Channel is a little buggy. This isn't the first issue I've had.

Today my son and I were watching Modern Times. It happened again. Several times. But only once did I have to renter a code. The other times I just reloaded the app. A pain in the but though. I hope they fix this. Have not had this happen with any other streaming service, such as Prime, Netflix, and YouTube.

[pikachufan1336]

My hopes for this month are
Chungking Express
Happy Together
Neko z Alenky (Alice)
Akira (it could happen)
Bringing up Baby
Etc.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by Scottie

Koyaanisqatsi and Sans Soleil.

Is Sans Soleil really a true documentary?

I don’t know what it is exactly.

...but I know I love it.

[softunderbelly]

Originally Posted by ray jackson

what are some of the best, most re-watchable documentaries in the collection?

Aside from for all mankind, which i already own.

crumb

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by pikachufan1336

My hopes for this month are
Neko z Alenky (Alice)

2011 BFI release is pretty good, has a fabulous booklet and region-free, just sayin'

[fnvmaster]

I only own one Criterion release (Scanners) so I really want to go crazy on this upcoming sale. My want list is as follows:

Silence of the Lambs
Charade
Blue Velvet
Mulholland Drive
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me
Straw Dogs
Repo Man
The Complete Lady Snowblood
Videodrome