The Criterion Collection

[SteelyTom]

Originally Posted by Lordy

My recommendation to you is to go with Barry Lyndon first. It's an absolute masterpiece by Kubrick, and by far the best work Ryan O'Neal has ever done. Additionally, if another masterpiece by Kubrick, Paths of Glory, isn't already in your personal Criterion Collection, you need to grab that as well. Second, you'd do well to continue to supplement your Altman collection with Short Cuts. Thirdly, although it's kind of a toss-up, go with Hiroshima, Mon Amour to fill that directorial gap in your collection. My two cents.

Great advice, thanks!

[Sifox211]

Originally Posted by jw007

... But yeah, American cinema is not international, unless of course you're living in Japan or Brazil or South Africa or some other country where American cinema is more like "international cinema" in that perspective.

You might not have seen it in the States, but the BBC woman at the post party was interviewing Antonio Banderas and basically stated that it was good he focused on being in "subtitled films"... I was waiting for him to point out that they don't have subtitles for them in Spain but he was obviously too much of a gentleman to do that

[koberulz]

Saw a clip earlier today of someone asking the Parasite director why he chose to make it in Korean...

[Al3xanderdelag]

Did Target wise up or will Criterion/Arrow blus be available for the b2g1 sale?

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by koberulz

Saw a clip earlier today of someone asking the Parasite director why he chose to make it in Korean...

That's an odd question, but not as odd as one might think. Bong chose to make Snowpiercer in English, after all.

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by Sifox211

You might not have seen it in the States, but the BBC woman at the post party was interviewing Antonio Banderas and basically stated that it was good he focused on being in "subtitled films"... I was waiting for him to point out that they don't have subtitles for them in Spain but he was obviously too much of a gentleman to do that

A far cry from the days of Barry Norman and his Film... review show - which I used to watch religiously. Mind you, his "Oscars reporter" Tom Brook could ask the odd inane question or two.

[Mike0284]

Throwback to when Bong Joon Ho visited the Criterion Closet.

YouTube

[Gbpxl]

Originally Posted by Al3xanderdelag

Did Target wise up or will Criterion/Arrow blus be available for the b2g1 sale?

I think so. I shouldve taken advantage while I could. Granted I made out like a bandit last time they allowed it, getting them for almost 1/3 of what Barnes and Noble charges hehe

[thebalconyfool]

Originally Posted by Al3xanderdelag

Did Target wise up or will Criterion/Arrow blus be available for the b2g1 sale?

It seems like it, yes. I took serious advantage of it recently when they had the last one. Glad I did!

[MifuneFan]

I watched The Lower Depths (Donzoko) (1957) earlier. This has become one of my favorite Kurosawa films over the years. As it's based on a Russian Play, the film has a very stage-like feel to it, and takes place almost entirely in one room. The film is best described as a tragicomedy, having parts that are wildly amusing, and filled song and dance, to others that are real downers for lack of a better word. Most of the film does have a nice balance between its humor, and melodramatic parts, though the latter starts to take a firmer hold in the last act. The cast is stacked with talent, with Toshiro Mifune arguably giving one of his best performances here.

As much as I enjoy the film, it's hard to say whether your average Kurosawa fan, mostly familiar with his samurai films, would enjoy this very distinct work. I do think it has a lot of Kurosawa's trademarks, from its memorable characters, to its taut, and sharply-written script, so hopefully more people give it chance. I'd love for Criterion to upgrade it sooner than later, but based on the DVD's transfer, the film likely needs an extensive restoration. I should point out that the DVD set also comes with Jean Renoir's 1936 adaptation of the play (Les Bas-fonds). It's pretty cool to see the same original work adapted in very different, and culturally-specific ways. I'm not as fond of Renoir's film as Kurosawa's, but it's worth checking out as well.

[HillSprinter]

Originally Posted by Reddington

A far cry from the days of Barry Norman and his Film... review show - which I used to watch religiously. Mind you, his "Oscars reporter" Tom Brook could ask the odd inane question or two.

Good ol Barry. It’s fun to watch old episodes on YouTube on occasion to get a bit of contemporaneous perspective on, what are now, much older films.

[BenOswald]

Blind-rented Ride the Pink Horse recently and was pleasantly surprised to find such an interesting Noir. Lots of humanity behind the characters + the New Mexico setting was fresh. Interesting perspective to have an actor directing.

I liked it much more than Detour, which received so much buzz around it's recent release so I suppose it continues to go under the radar...

[nitin]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I watched The Lower Depths (Donzoko) (1957) earlier. This has become one of my favorite Kurosawa films over the years. As it's based on a Russian Play, the film has a very stage-like feel to it, and takes place almost entirely in one room. The film is best described as a tragicomedy, having parts that are wildly amusing, and filled song and dance, to others that are real downers for lack of a better word. Most of the film does have a nice balance between its humor, and melodramatic parts, though the latter starts to take a firmer hold in the last act. The cast is stacked with talent, with Toshiro Mifune arguably giving one of his best performances here.

As much as I enjoy the film, it's hard to say whether your average Kurosawa fan, mostly familiar with his samurai films, would enjoy this very distinct work. I do think it has a lot of Kurosawa's trademarks, from its memorable characters, to its taut, and sharply-written script, so hopefully more people give it chance. I'd love for Criterion to upgrade it sooner than later, but based on the DVD's transfer, the film likely needs an extensive restoration. I should point out that the DVD set also comes with Jean Renoir's 1936 adaptation of the play (Les Bas-fonds). It's pretty cool to see the same original work adapted in very different, and culturally-specific ways. I'm not as fond of Renoir's film as Kurosawa's, but it's worth checking out as well.

Kurosawa being considered only a samurai filmmaker is like Scorsese being considered a gangster movie filmmaker! Both have made 20+ movies in a variety of other genres and styles but it frustrates me no end when that is just ignored (not directed at you obviously MF).

[bsend]

Was hoping the flash sale was today. Maybe tomorrow we will get it.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by nitin

Kurosawa being considered only a samurai filmmaker is like Scorsese being considered a gangster movie filmmaker! Both have made 20+ movies in a variety of other genres and styles but it frustrates me no end when that is just ignored (not directed at you obviously MF).

It is frustrating for sure. I do think a lot of people associate him with his samurai films, but hopefully once they watch some of those they do seek out other films from him and realize how varied his output was. That's how it was for me at least. My first Criterion purchases were Seven Samurai, Hidden Fortress, and Yojimbo/Sanjuro in the DVD days, and I became a huge fan of his work after, and later bough titles like Ikiru, and Stray Dog, The Bad Sleep Well, etc..

[bonehica]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

It is frustrating for sure. I do think a lot of people associate him with his samurai films, but hopefully once they watch some of those they do seek out other films from him and realize how varied his output was. That's how it was for me at least. My first Criterion purchases were Seven Samurai, Hidden Fortress, and Yojimbo/Sanjuro in the DVD days, and I became a huge fan of his work after, and later bough titles like Ikiru, and Stray Dog, The Bad Sleep Well, etc..

I was opposite. My first exposure to Kurosawa was High and Low. Like you I bought it early on in the DVD days as I first jumped into the format. I did buy Seven Samurai that same day, but ended up watching High and Low first. It was also my first foray into "world" cinema. Haven't looked back and H&L is still my second favorite film of all time (Casablanca #1). Oh, and that Mifune guy sure can act!

[zackisthewalrus]

Originally Posted by bsend

Was hoping the flash sale was today. Maybe tomorrow we will get it.

It’ll be on a Tuesday.

[hariseldon]

Originally Posted by bsend

Was hoping the flash sale was today. Maybe tomorrow we will get it.

The Q1 sale has always been on Tuesday though Criterion has never been 100% reliable, but they do seem to key on certain new releases.

With 2 new releases 2/19 and 2 more on 2/26, I'm betting on one of those 2 dates. The last Tuesday in Feb has been the most common date ( 4 out of 8), Valentine's Tuesday twice, and early March twice.

I don't think there are any mass market type releases on 3/3 or 3/10 to key on and it seems the 2 huge releases on 3/31 seems a bit late

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by bonehica

It was also my first foray into "world" cinema. Haven't looked back and H&L is still my second favorite film of all time (Casablanca #1).

My first foray was Bergman's "Wild Strawberries" in high school. One of my absolute favorites.

[BenOswald]

Just noticed the DVD of Kurosawa's Stray Dog is 'Currently Unavailable' on CC website.

Maybe upgrade coming? Please?