The Criterion Collection

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

Thanks, I hope so too. I love soap oper-y films!
I didn't like very much The Leopard that's why I was wondering.
But from what I remember it had much political background too, so maybe that's why I didn't like it. In any case, I should see it again this summer.

Also, just to be sure, I think I'll see Rocco too before purchasing the Eureka release.

By the way, I'm about to watch now Angelopoulos' Eternity and a Day(1998) which won the Palme D'Or. (it will be the 3rd Angelopoulos films I'll watch). Although I didn't get crazy about the other 2, their atmosphere was very appealing to me.
Let's see now.

I have said it many times, hope Criterion brings at least one Angelopoulos film in the collection, to represent Greece too.
At this point, with the Criterion releases I see, it seems to me a bit embarassing that it hasn't yet.

let us know what you think of Rocco when you see it.

I'll have to look into the Greek director you mention.. its several times now that I've seen that name, but I know nothing of him.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

Was a nice weekend for movie watching for me…

Breathless – was the third time that I’ve seen it… holds up well. great film, no doubt. I haven’t read any of it, but the booklet that comes with the release is beautiful.

Aparajito – finally had a chance to see the 2nd film. this is one that really stays with you. very haunting – I find myself thinking about scenes a couple days later here. I only wish that they would have been able to do more with the restoration during a crucial scene late in the film.. I suppose the darkness lends itself to the image quality, so it’s inherent in that sense, but it unfortunately comes across a bit rough.

Ride The Pink Horse – a very easy, light watch. I thought the ending (last 20 minutes or so) was great. by the time the film dots its I’s and crosses its T’s, it really sets itself apart from other noir films and that’s what I really liked about it. the supplemental interview w/ Imogen Sara Smith is fantastic. informational, fun, and she provides a great analysis of the film.

Have you seen The World of Apu yet?

That's my favorite of the trilogy.

...with Pather Panchali a close second.

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Have you seen The World of Apu yet?

That's my favorite of the trilogy.

...with Pather Panchali a close second.

While The World of Apu might be the most accomplished, in first viewing I just couldn't recover

[Show spoiler]from what happens in the middle, after such great romantic scenes I felt like punching the director in the face, just like Apu did to that guy, I guess I kept thinking about this and couldn't focus on what happened next, of course this is entirely my problem, and it just makes the power of this film more apparent on how it is able to do that on it's audience

, but I am sure a second viewing should fix that.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

While The World of Apu might be the most accomplished, in first viewing I just couldn't recover

[Show spoiler]from what happens in the middle, after such great romantic scenes I felt like punching the director in the face, just like Apu did to that guy, I guess I kept thinking about this and couldn't focus on what happened next

, but I am sure a second viewing should fix that.

That part you speak of is pretty devastating.

...I haven't been that upset by a movie since Goose died.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Have you seen The World of Apu yet?

That's my favorite of the trilogy.

...with Pather Panchali a close second.

No, I haven't seen it yet. I have to watch these and the Rossellini War Trilogy when I have a fresh brain, so it has to be early in the day on a day off.. I've got a few more coming up in January, so I'll see it before the month ends.

Obviously I don't know what you and Pedro are referring to, but I can't imagine

[Show spoiler]the storyline becoming any more devastating. When Durga died, I was actually ok with it. In spite of that plot point, there is a lot of joy in PP. The tone of the entire 2nd film is extremely melancholy. In retrospect, I'm almost a bit surprised that it worked as well as it did for me as it comes off very differently than PP. needless to say, tell me nothing about Apu Sansar. !!

[KubrickKurasawa]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

Oh, I would hope these included some early Zhang Yimou films, but I guess not, since some of them have already been released restored on foreign Blurays.

On another note:
Could anyone please recommend any Criterion films (or maybe others) that the main character has depression and finds no meaning in life?
I've read the plot of Anomalisa, and it seems along those lines.

This life...so full of regrets....will vanish....like the morning dew.

The Life of Oharu.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

Oh, I would hope these included some early Zhang Yimou films, but I guess not, since some of them have already been released restored on foreign Blurays.

On another note:
Could anyone please recommend any Criterion films (or maybe others) that the main character has depression and finds no meaning in life?
I've read the plot of Anomalisa, and it seems along those lines.

Antichrist.

Non Criterion - but should be in the collection - Some focus on depression but a lot are more depressing in terms of the themes and the story.

Lilya 4-Ever
The Hours
Virgin Suicides
Stay
Downloading Nancy
Miss Julie (Liv Ullmans)
The Bridge (documentary)
The Seventh Continent
Amour
Synecdoche, New York

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

No, I haven't seen it yet. I have to watch these and the Rossellini War Trilogy when I have a fresh brain, so it has to be early in the day on a day off.. I've got a few more coming up in January, so I'll see it before the month ends.

Obviously I don't know what you and Pedro are referring to, but I can't imagine

[Show spoiler]the storyline becoming any more devastating. When Durga died, I was actually ok with it. In spite of that plot point, there is a lot of joy in PP. The tone of the entire 2nd film is extremely melancholy. In retrospect, I'm almost a bit surprised that it worked as well as it did for me as it comes off very differently than PP. needless to say, tell me nothing about Apu Sansar. !!

If you thought

[Show spoiler]Durga's death

was devastating, then I suggest you consume a large cocktail of whiskey and anti-depressants before watching The World of Apu.

...I'm getting upset just thinking about it.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

If you thought

[Show spoiler]Durga's death

was devastating, then I suggest you consume a large cocktail of whiskey and anti-depressants before watching The World of Apu.

...I'm getting upset just thinking about it.

When ever I picture you now, I just see many different GIFs.

All those 'crying' GIFs that could be you.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

When ever I picture you now, I just see many different GIFs.

All those 'crying' GIFs that could be you.

This gif probably most accurately represents an average night in the life of Ray Jackson.

...except the woman is a blow-up doll.

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Antichrist.

Non Criterion - but should be in the collection - Some focus on depression but a lot are more depressing in terms of the themes and the story.

Lilya 4-Ever
The Hours
Virgin Suicides
Stay
Downloading Nancy
Miss Julie (Liv Ullmans)
The Bridge (documentary)
The Seventh Continent
Amour
Synecdoche, New York

What about the most obvious one: Melancholia I suppose he has seen that, but it fits the description perfectly.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

What about the most obvious one: Melancholia I suppose he has seen that, but it fits the description perfectly.

Oh derp! Of course haha, I think it is one of her best roles, better than Virgin Suicides!

[Page14]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

On another note:
Could anyone please recommend any Criterion films (or maybe others) that the main character has depression and finds no meaning in life?

Eraserhead is the film that immediately comes to mind for me. Or maybe I'm confusing depressing with disturbing.

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

The Hours

Another film that should definitely join the collection, and I'm surprised there isn't any US release yet.

Originally Posted by pedromvu

What about the most obvious one: Melancholia I suppose he has seen that, but it fits the description perfectly.

No, I haven't.
The only Trier I've seen are Dancer in the Dark and Dogville.

[Polaroid]

Umberto D. is meant to be depressing right? Still not got around to watching!

[mja345]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Umberto D. is meant to be depressing right? Still not got around to watching!

The ending of "Umberto D" is similar to the ending of "Bicycle Thieves", both by De Sica. They're not tragic, but profoundly depressing when you think about them. They're more commentaries/meditations on the callousness of humanity. "Umberto D" is a fantastic film though.

[Page14]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Umberto D. is meant to be depressing right? Still not got around to watching!

I watched Umberto D. not too long ago, so I'm a little surprised at myself that it didn't come to mind, as it fits the description of a film with a main character being depressed pretty much from the start.

Possibly a spoiler for those who haven't seen the film yet:

[Show spoiler]I saw Umberto D. as the story of an elderly man’s struggles and changed life after retiring from a well-to-do, long-standing job. In a broader sense, it can also be seen as the universal woes of how the elderly are treated, as well as the difficulty in keeping their dignity (over things they have no control over). Sadly, the depiction is a very real possibility. (I’ve seen it happen, and you probably have too).

[WonderWeasel]

Weather permitting, this is happening tomorrow night

[Nuck Horris]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Take one for the team and buy the DVD, so that Criterion will move it to the top of the upgrade queue.

But seriously, The Last Wave is a terrific, eerie, moody film. It's possibly my favorite Peter Weir film (still duking it out with Gallipoli and The Mosquito Coast), and definitely one of my favorite supernatural/fantasy films.

Well, I bought a used one so it's probably not going to move anywhere. And honestly, it probably has no business being upgraded unless they provide an isolated score.

The Last Wave can't hold a candle to Weir's Picnic At Hanging Rock or similar themed films like Walkabout, Where the Green Ants Dream, Ten Canoes and Charlie's Country.

I was surprised at how bad it was. The acting was mostly terrible and the cinematography was standard up until the very end as he was leaving the cave. Nothing about the story was even remotely convincing. The part where the branches bum rushed through the windows was unintentionally hilarious and had a "nice" B movie feel. And this sort of film is typically right up my alley but the delivery by the actors really ruined a lot of it for me. The directing was also very weak. He should've gave his script to Roeg...

I guess this is what I get for not downloading it first because I assumed I'd automatically like it. At least I didn't buy a new one... but I'm still pissed off that I bought it at all.

[theater dreamer]

Originally Posted by belcherman

I can imagine. I've already decided that my ceiling is $40 like new or better. Region-free is looking better all the time.

Be patient. In November, I knew of three copies for sale on the Criterion B/S/T, all at your price point. I got my brand new copy for $40. Check that topic every day. Maybe put that you're looking for it in your signature, too, and get active in the discussion here. I can't speak for anybody else, but if I had an extra copy of a film, and I knew somebody was looking to add it to their collection, and not just resell it for a profit, I'd be inclined to help them out.

Another place you might investigate is the Reddit Criterion group. I haven't been on there long, but it looks like a pretty good group of folks.

Good luck!