Paris, Texas (1984)

[OhDamaso]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Did you finish it?

Admittedly, no I didn't. But I'll also say I'm not a fan of that dude who played Al on Quantum Leap, so that might have been a part of it.

I do usually like these types of movies. I might just not have been in the mood.

[Mobe1969]

Anyone seen the French version in comparison? One part on the criterion where I believe they dicked about with it was in the laundromat where it looks like they are trying to compensate brightness/color balance a sceme, as there was a strobing neon sign outside, and made a right mess of it.

[Monty70]

This is Wim Wenders' director approved special edition. I doubt that Criterion did anything to the film that Wim didn't want them to...

One of Criterion's best BD. (Man, I say that quite often it seems)

[Lope de Aguirre]

Originally Posted by JediFonger

does paris, tx have more of a narrative than wings of desire? i originally wanted to buy... but after renting it and watching no thanks. are all wim's movies all over the place w/the narrative?

No, "Paris, Texas" tells a straight story.

[Ray Jackson]

I'm thinking about buying this one for the last day of the Barnes and Noble 50% off sale, but I'm not sure if it's the kind of movie I'd watch over and over again.

I'm a big Terrence Malick fan--Days of Heaven and Badlands are two of my all-time favorites.

Is it fair to say that if I love those, I'll love Paris, Texas?

Or is it apples and oranges?

[filmmusic]

Since these don't resemble the current bluray and show more detail with better grain structure (as far as I can see from these small screenshots), i assume they're coming from the new restoration by Ritrovata/Eclair.






vs. old





vs old



http://wimwendersstiftung.de/en/film/paris-texas-en/

The old Criterion Bluray was supervised and approved by the director.
i wonder if this was too.
if it was, I guess this means that a director can change his mind many times.

[Vidya]

Nice. Is the new restoration available on blu-ray anywhere?

[Ray Jackson]

This film didn't do much for me the first time I saw it.

Don't know why that is exactly.

...haven't seen it since.

Blind bought The American Friend recently and liked it better.

[jlk5844]

Aha! I knew the current Criterion Blu-ray didn't look that good. I don't know what happened there but for a scan of the original 35mm camera negative it should've looked way better. Let's get this restoration out there on Blu-ray somewhere, hopefully region free. I'd happily upgrade. It's still worth hanging onto the Criterion for the extras. This is a fantastic film that deserves the best.

[The Great Owl]

I think that the Criterion Blu-ray of Paris, Texas looks outstanding. It's one of my favorite Criterion Blu-rays, in fact.

[Mandalorian]

I saw this for the first time last week, and loved it. I struggled to get into it at times, even towards the end, because characters are dropped from the story when they are no longer 'needed', and sometimes it jumps from one point to another, when I would've liked to see the in-betweens. But, even so, there's an underlying honesty to it all that I just found to be beautiful, and I can see myself enjoying it more on a rewatch down the line. I also had some issues with the transfer, but nothing egregious.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Mandalorian

I saw this for the first time last week, and loved it. I struggled to get into it at times, even towards the end, because characters are dropped from the story when they are no longer 'needed', and sometimes it jumps from one point to another, when I would've liked to see the in-betweens. But, even so, there's an underlying honesty to it all that I just found to be beautiful, and I can see myself enjoying it more on a rewatch down the line. I also had some issues with the transfer, but nothing egregious.

My initial viewing left me indifferent toward the film. However, since re-watching it several times, it is now one of the greatest of the greatest films I have ever seen.

[Darth Marcus]

Each time I watch this film

[AnamorphicWidescreen]

I first saw Paris, Texas in a college film course back in '93, and have a been a fan ever since. What a sublime & moving experience; it was especially interesting how a German director could make such a quintessentially American film. Though there isn't much dialogue, the story is compelling & the landscapes are incredible. This is definitely my top Wenders film.

I watched the Criterion BD for the first time a while back, and was floored - incredibly sharp picture, especially the open landscapes in the beginning. It was like seeing the film for the first time. The colors are amazing, as is the case with many great Blu's: Travis' red baseball hat really stands out as he trudges through the desert; NK's red sweater in the club/window scene is very vivid. Also, the green light in the empty parking lot is very pronounced

[Show spoiler](as Travis looks up at the hotel room window where Jane & Hunter are reunited).

I also liked how the film showed the diversity of the American landscapes: The wide open TX spaces/blue sky & the desolate tan Mojave desert; the urban, neon-lit landscape of L.A; the concrete canyons of Houston; the various paintings/graffiti on the buildings in L.A. & Houston.

[Show spoiler]The last scenes of Travis sadly driving away down the night highway while the Ry Cooder score played is one of favorite film endings of all time.

[Ray Jackson]

Reactions to Vim Venders films are perplexing to me.

There are people here who think Paris, Texas is one of the greatest films ever made, but The Road Trilogy does nothing for them and vice versa.

Personally I'm in the second camp.

Paris didn't do much for me, but I fell in love with all three films of the trilogy.

Except for a shockingly graphic and repugnant scene in King of The Road.

...I had trouble eating for several days after that one.

[cicada88]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Reactions to Vim Venders films are perplexing to me.

There are people here who think Paris, Texas is one of the greatest films ever made, but The Road Trilogy does nothing for them and vice versa.

Personally I'm in the second camp.

Paris didn't do much for me, but I fell in love with all three films of the trilogy.

Except for a shockingly graphic and repugnant scene in King of The Road.

...I had trouble eating for several days after that one.

I will trade you another copy of the Badlands CC for Paris, Texas

[Pyoko]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

Since these don't resemble the current bluray and show more detail with better grain structure (as far as I can see from these small screenshots), i assume they're coming from the new restoration by Ritrovata/Eclair.

The old Criterion Bluray was supervised and approved by the director.
i wonder if this was too.
if it was, I guess this means that a director can change his mind many times.

Those shots look very promising, hoping for a re-release on BD! Criterion's master never looked good, it's extremely low-res/low-pass filtered, noisy, and has bad ringing around edges.

I like the film but I wouldn't call it a favorite or anything. What I really love though is the soundtrack, perfect for listening on a hot summer day. The inclusion of Stanton's monologue is wonderful too. "I knew these people.... these two people..."

[DeadLikeMe]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

Since these don't resemble the current bluray and show more detail with better grain structure (as far as I can see from these small screenshots), i assume they're coming from the new restoration by Ritrovata/Eclair.

Paris, Texas special teal edition!

[UseY0ur1llusi0n]

Originally Posted by Pyoko

and has bad ringing around edges.

Days of Heaven next please!

[Pyoko]

Originally Posted by UseY0ur1llusi0n

Days of Heaven next please!

Oh yes! Another one of those transfers that's very far from the best it could look on Blu-ray.

These movies could well have haloing in the source due to some kind of lens or film effect, it's not that unusual to see stuff like this in older westerns for example, but the halos are never that clearly delineated so I have no doubt a lot of what's in Paris, Texas and Days of Heaven is due to digital "enhancement".