The 400 Blows (1959)

[assydingo]

Originally Posted by Jimbo976

Well there are only 5 out now with 3 more announced:

http://www.criterion.com/library/bluray

The above link shows them all. I have all the released ones except Bottle Rocket. My favorites are The Man Who Fell To Earth and Chungking Express.

Both of those seem great.

CE mentions a digipack. Are all Criterion releases in digipacks?

[Jimbo976]

Originally Posted by assydingo

Both of those seem great.

CE mentions a digipack. Are all Criterion releases in digipacks?

Yep. Not exactly the same as the Warner ones. There are some pics out there showing what it looks like:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/movie...97&show=review

1/2 way through the above review there are links to Pic1 through Pic7 which shows in detail what the package looks like.

[ccfixx]

If you do another search in the threads for "Criterion" you'll find a thread called "Criterion announces its first titles," or something like that... in there you'll find some pictures of the packaging posted by other members. Also, one of the blu-ray.com reviews has pictures of the packaging... if you feel like looking at this site's reviews of the Criterion blu-rays.

edit: There ya go... just what Jimbo says. Look at those pictures in the "Chungking Express" review to give yourself a better idea of the packaging.

CC

[assydingo]

I kind of like the packaging and I kind of don't. I guess I'll see.

[ccfixx]

Got an e-mail earlier from Amazon about the release date of "The 400 Blows" being pushed up to February, and I was wondering if anyone else that had pre-ordered from Amazon received the same thing? Below is from the e-mail.

"Hello from Amazon.com.

We are writing about the order you placed on January 09 2009 09:14 PST (Order# 103-3363221-4607425). The item(s) listed below will actually ship sooner than we originally expected:

"The 400 Blows [Blu-ray]" [Blu-ray]
Estimated arrival date: 02/12/2009"

CC

[Seretur]

Interesting.

Let's see how this plays out. The Criterion site still has it listed for March 24, and they're still selling it for $23.96. Amazon now lists it for February 10, and sells it for $26.99.

Weird, but weirder things have happened.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by Seretur

Let's see how this plays out.

I have not received an official note from the studio indicating that a new date has been set.

Pro-B

[Seretur]

I certainly wouldn't mind to see a new Criterion release in February.

[ccfixx]

I'm glad to see that "The 400 Blows" has dropped down to $22.49 on Amazon right now... much better than the previous $26.99.

CC

[Seretur]

Yep, and now I've preordered it. I'm perfectly okay with that price.

[online365daysayear]

Also just preordered at that price.

[Seretur]

Amazon has now corrected its release date. Those of us with preorders are being asked to approve it to what's always been listed on the Criterion site.

[Ray Jackson]

I recently watched the entire Antoine Doinel series on Hulu.

As outrageous as this may seem to some, I think The 400 Blows is my least favorite of the four feature-length films.

It's not nearly as fun to watch as the other three, when the character takes on a more mature and comedic quality. Watching Antoine as an adult, displaying some of the tendencies of a child, is more entertaining to me than watching Antoine as a child displaying some of the tendencies of an adult. In Stolen Kisses, Bed and Board and Love On The Run, the character blossomed into an almost pseudointellectual, Charlie Chaplin-like figure.

Much like Breathless, I feel as though The 400 Blows is a film whose viewing reality falls short of its reputation and historical importance.

...I'm sorry.

[spatafore]

2017 release with just 1 disc?
if YES great! I don't like the dual format, I hope they re-release all the dual formats in just one disc.

[AnamorphicWidescreen]

Recently re-watched The 400 Blows, but for the first time on Blu. This film is a masterpiece. I've seen it several times over the years, and obviously the best presentation is on this Criterion Blu. Superb, clean print.

This was definitely one of the most moving, poignant films I've ever seen. Brilliant story of a kid growing up, with all of the difficulties going along with this. Also really enjoyed the time & place; late 1950's Paris was as much of a character in the film as Antoine and his friend Rene. I've always enjoyed urban settings, and this was one of the best portraits of a city from this time period that I've seen.

Though the film was a drama, there were some amusing moments:

- The scene when the Antoine & Rene were trying to sell the stolen typewriter to that guy on the street, and then he tried to steal it from them

- The sequence when the small children were put into a fenced area on the grounds of the juvenile facility, presumably to "protect" them from the wild delinquents - LOL.

And, the end was fantastic; I've always liked uncertain endings in film, which I think makes them more interesting & leaves them open to interpretation.

[Show spoiler]In this case, it brings up some questions: Did Antoine eventually get captured & go back to the juvenile facility, or did he successfully escape and end up on the streets of Paris or another city? Obviously, he didn't go back to live with his parents. In any case, as far as I'm concerned this was a perfect ending to the film, and, though I was left wondering what happened, IMHO it didn't need any explanation.

I wish they had included the first "sequel" as a bonus feature on this disk, the short film Antoine & Colette (1962). I saw this years ago, and it was interesting - it took place three years after The 400 Blows (so, the time chronology was correct). Antoine was 17, estranged from his parents, and working in a record shop. He then falls in love with a young woman he met at a concert, and most of the film is focused on his pursuit of her.

I will also need to go back & re-watch the subsequent Antoine Doniel films (Bed and Board, Stolen Kisses, etc.). It's interesting that Truffault made sequels using the same actor. I don't think the later films are as interesting as The 400 Blows, but they're still worth seeing. It's also nice to see how Paris changes somewhat over the years as well.

[Worship.my.wreck]

I just picked this up from B&N. Is there a big difference between the newest version and the other 2? Is there anything on the dvd from the other releases that isnt on the blu ray?

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by Worship.my.wreck

I just picked this up from B&N. Is there a big difference between the newest version and the other 2? Is there anything on the dvd from the other releases that isnt on the blu ray?

There all the same. The Blu/DVD was just a dual format release and features exact same extras on each disc.

[gotBlu]

this movie does not play on my Oppo 203. The menu comes up but unable to select anything or play the movie at all. may buy a goodwill blu ray player so i can watch it.

[steel_breeze]

Originally Posted by gotBlu

this movie does not play on my Oppo 203. The menu comes up but unable to select anything or play the movie at all. may buy a goodwill blu ray player so i can watch it.

FWIW, I've watched several times on my Oppo 203 (including most recently on May 9th -- yes, I keep track!) and it plays just fine. Might want to try returning for a replacement.

[guizhang]

waits patiently for the blu version of the antoine doinel set