The Criterion Collection

[joy-division]

Originally Posted by jw007

The craziest thing is, I've only seen Saving Private Ryan once in my life, when it came out in theaters, while I've watched The Thin Red Line about 5 or 6 times since it was released. It's hard to compare 2 notable directors such as these. There is no doubt, Steven Spielberg is an amazing director, but to me he appeals to the masses. He makes Hollywood movies, and he makes them well. Terrence Malick is the opposite, he's known best to cinephiles and film buffs and his movies are anything but Hollywood movies.

Paths of Glory is one amazing film. Is it an anti-war film? Yes. I have no issues with anti-war films whatsoever. Strangely, an acquaintance of mine was reluctant to see 1917 because he said "I made it sound like an anti-war film" and that turned him off, because he wanted to see "Rambo in the trenches". I guess he loves war for the sake of war, the total opposite mindset of how I view war personally speaking. To each their own I guess.

Bottom line is, The Thin Red Line is probably my all-time favorite movie that has a war of some sort as the background character. The humanity and the hatred of war is what drives my love for that film. Is war a necessary evil to defeat evil? Ponder that question for eons, friends. No doubt, the USA didn't get involved in WWII because they were altruistic, but to save civilization as we know it. Terrence Malick's movie is deep, its challenging, and most importantly, it teaches us that dying isn't a fear any longer.

I watch probably every 6 months lol

[jw007]

Originally Posted by joy-division

I watch probably every 6 months lol

I need to watch it more often like you. I feel like when I don't see it for a long time, I really appreciate it more though. So I go years in between viewings.

[DreadStare]

What an amazing month. The Grand Budapest Hotel is my favorite WA movie. I've really wanted to see The Cremator and I love Destry Rides Again but I wasn't expecting Criterion to release it.

[mja345]

I'm watching my "A Face in the Crowd" BD and I finish the movie, go to the extras, and, much to my surprise, find that my high school teacher, Ron Briley, is interviewed for 20 minutes. I actually took a film history class from him in HS. He's a fantastic guy, one of the best teachers I've had at any level, who is as passionate about film as anyone as I've ever known.

[joy-division]

Originally Posted by jw007

I need to watch it more often like you. I feel like when I don't see it for a long time, I really appreciate it more though. So I go years in between viewings.

Need to watch it with the commentary.
Would you say it ranks amongst the best, if not the best anti-war films?

I guess many not deeply into films just see it as a war film

[Jr7936]

Its great that people are happy with releases this month but usually I am finding less and less releases to get excited about from criterion. The last one was the godzilla set and before that the bergman set. Also the war and peace film.

[Hazel Motes]

Originally Posted by joy-division

Oh yes, malick is definitely more for cinephiles than your regular movie goer
I imagine they were groaning because their butts were sore from sitting down so long
But I meant awards wise. While of course it was nominated, SPR was the safer/easier pick out of yhe two - if that makes sense

What would be the porn title of TTRL?

The New World still holds the record for most walkouts I've ever witnessed first hand. (And I saw The House That Jack Built at the cinema). For me The New World ranks as the 3rd best film I saw in the 00's. While Days of Heaven ranks as one of the 5 best films I've ever seen. Malick is an acquired taste for some I guess.

[joy-division]

Originally Posted by Hazel Motes

The New World still holds the record for most walkouts I've ever witnessed first hand. (And I saw The House That Jack Built at the cinema). For me The New World ranks as the 3rd best film I saw in the 00's. While Days of Heaven ranks as 1 of the 5 best films I've ever seen. Malick is an acquired taste for some I guess.

I think TNW may be my fave film of all time. The natural beauty of it is just heavenly.

I got my DoH criterion just a few weeks ago & saw the film for the first time. Maybe it's because it's new to me but it's in my least fave of his - not that there are many to choose from LOL
I only need TNW now until I have all his criterions

[Hazel Motes]

I'm pretty disappointed with yesterdays slate. Much of it stems from factors that are out of Criterion's control. Like the fact that I didn't want to wait 5 years and purchased the existing GBH disc when it came out. The other being that I already own the Melville disc from the first run. If it wasn't for those 2 factors, I would be ecstatic about the announcements. As it is I might upgrade Wes Anderson as I own the rest of his CC discs. And I might blind buy Destry Rides Again, because Marlene Dietrich.

[joy-division]

I watch my DVD copy of Traffic after watchibg the original series of Traffik(criterion should think about releasing that, maybe also as a boxset with Traffic) & I understand the time restrictions but can't help but feel how much better the original is
Caroline(the daughter) & Helen's(the wife) stories are so much better told. You hardly get either in Traffic
Also the Pakistani arc is way much better than the Mexican one & easier to follow.
You sympathis much more with Bill Paterson than you do with Douglas. Julia Ormond is great as Caroline & Lyndsay Duncan comes off as the money wanting wife that is Helen
Interesting how some lines are exact word-for-word too
The colour scheme on Traffic though is great makes me miss Mexico

[joy-division]

Originally Posted by Hazel Motes

I'm pretty disappointed with yesterdays slate. Much of it stems from factors that are out of Criterion's control. Like the fact that I didn't want to wait 5 years and purchased the existing GBH disc when it came out.

Get ready to wait the same time for Isle of Dogs

[Hazel Motes]

I don't think I'll buy Isle of Dogs no matter who releases it. I liked it well enough. Not something I care to own though.

[Hazel Motes]

Speaking of Malick and Criterion. Criterion better hurry the hell up and make with the Voyage of Time multiple cut disc.

[theater dreamer]

Originally Posted by ilenewoodsfan99

I'd add Jeanette MacDonald and Norma Shearer to that list as well. The good news about Miss MacDonald is that Kino is releasing a Blu Ray of Love Me Tonight, so one of her films will finally be in HD. Even so, Criterion has/had 3 of her films with the eclipse collection.

I considered adding Norma Shearer to my initial post. I’ve got A Free Soul, The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg, and The Divorcee saved-I’ve really been meaning to watch them for some time, as my exposure to her work is limited to Private Lives and The Women.

Jeanette MacDonald is another actress I’ve had little experience with, San Francisco being the only film I’ve caught. But she was real good in it. She held her own with Gable and Tracy. By the way, really strong film for anybody that hasn’t seen it. Clark Gable is a saloon owner on San Francisco’s Barbary Coast prior to the Great Earthquake of 1906. Spencer Tracy is a Priest (again, lol). The special effects they created for the film in 1936 are spectacular, and Gable and MacDonald have strong chemistry. MacDonald is one in a category with Kathryn Grayson and Ann Miller. All multitalented ladies that were big in their day, but might fly under the radar a bit now. Fans of Mulholland Drive will remember Miller. She had legs for miles.

If we’re going to push for more Norma Shearer, we need to do the same for the films of Lilian Gish, Mary Astor, Anita Page and Clara Bow. I know there are films from the period with surviving, acceptable elements. I’ve seen some on TCM. I would love to see more movies from the 1920s on blu-ray.

[nitin]

The Cremator is the big title for me from this month. I was waiting on their release as it is the from a new 4k restoration which the Second Run disc does not have.

Will also get Destry Rides Again, also been waiting on that as again the german disc uses an older HD master. And Miranda July’s film isn’t one I have seen but will pick in a sale to check out.

Already have Army of Shadows and fine with Fox’s release of the WA film.

[CinemaScope]

So...er, when are they releasing The Great Escape?

[Purplenoon]

Originally Posted by jw007

The craziest thing is, I've only seen Saving Private Ryan once in my life, when it came out in theaters, while I've watched The Thin Red Line about 5 or 6 times since it was released. It's hard to compare 2 notable directors such as these. There is no doubt, Steven Spielberg is an amazing director, but to me he appeals to the masses. He makes Hollywood movies, and he makes them well. Terrence Malick is the opposite, he's known best to cinephiles and film buffs and his movies are anything but Hollywood movies.

Paths of Glory is one amazing film. Is it an anti-war film? Yes. I have no issues with anti-war films whatsoever. Strangely, an acquaintance of mine was reluctant to see 1917 because he said "I made it sound like an anti-war film" and that turned him off, because he wanted to see "Rambo in the trenches". I guess he loves war for the sake of war, the total opposite mindset of how I view war personally speaking. To each their own I guess.

Bottom line is, The Thin Red Line is probably my all-time favorite movie that has a war of some sort as the background character. The humanity and the hatred of war is what drives my love for that film. Is war a necessary evil to defeat evil? Ponder that question for eons, friends. No doubt, the USA didn't get involved in WWII because they were altruistic, but to save civilization as we know it. Terrence Malick's movie is deep, its challenging, and most importantly, it teaches us that dying isn't a fear any longer.

I’d recommend two rarely seen war flicks, each (maybe) better than SPR, but not as good, artistically at least, as Thin Red Line:
MY WAY: a true Korean movie about two track stars who are conscripted to fight the Russians, one Korean and one Japanese, who both end up on the beach at Normandy, where the story really takes off. No kidding.
TAE GUK GI: Brotherhood of War - an amazing film about two brothers embroiled in the forgotten war: the Korean War.
Both flicks absolutely blew me away for different reasons. The first is out on bluray, but I don’t think the second one is. I could be wrong.

[FragnitoM]

Originally Posted by CinemaScope

So...er, when are they releasing The Great Escape?

In May or later...

[bwdowiak]

I saw Me and You and Everyone We Know at Roger Ebert's Overlooked Film Festival in 2005 and thought at the time that it was a perfect film for the Criterion Collection.

I'm having a hard time remembering, but I'm pretty certain I saw her follow up film, The Future, and made it appointment viewing because of MaYaEWK. I vaguely remember some kind of dancing in the presence of a cat... More whimsy than I could take. I forgot about Miranda July after that and it doesn't seem like she's done much since.

MaYaEWK is a good film. It just seems a little late.

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I saw Me and You and Everyone We Know at Roger Ebert's Overlooked Film Festival in 2005 and thought at the time that it was a perfect film for the Criterion Collection.

I'm having a hard time remembering, but I'm pretty certain I saw her follow up film, The Future, and made it appointment viewing because of MaYaEWK. I vaguely remember some kind of dancing in the presence of a cat... More whimsy than I could take. I forgot about Miranda July after that and it doesn't seem like she's done much since.

MaYaEWK is a good film. It just seems a little late.

July has also put out many interesting short films, some of which will make good supplements for the MaYaEWK release.