The Criterion Collection

[Narcissus]

Originally Posted by JHas

When did they discover that this was a perfect film, and did it knock "Showgirls" off the top 40 list?

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by Criterion Collector

The Thin Red Line is a great film, I really need to get around to upgrading my (non-Criterion) DVD copy.

All this talk of Seijun Suzuki has me checking out his work a bit, as it seems like he was doing some intersting/groundbreaking things in film. Unfortunately, he only has one film (Pistol Opera) streaming on Netflix at the moment, and it isn't one that is in the Criterion collection.

Anyway, for those that are familiar with his work, could you please "fill me in" on what types of films he makes? It looks (to me) as if his "gangster" pics are highly stylized and probably contain potent violence. These are positive attributes IMO.

I was just wondering if the dialogue in his films is similarly "stylized", or witty type dialoge (Tarantino type dialogue), or does his work resemble Godard's Breathless, in style? I understand that Breathless was the type of film that inspired Tarantino, but I found it to be a bit more "mellow" than Tarantino's work. Who, I am obviously a huge fan of.

Or, the third option is that I am WAY off course with my line of thinking.

Can someone fill me in on what Suzuki's films are like?

Isn't Pistol Opera a bit of a sequel to Branded to Kill?

I like Suzuki's films, from what I've watched of them so far. I'm hoping Criterion will upgrade and/or add more to the collection, although I'm going to check out some more on my own once I deal with Cul-de-Sac, Smiles of a Summer Night, and the 50 new PVRs I've added from TCM (just when I thought I had finished watching the previous ones, TCM had to go add more great movies).

Suzuki's films are highly stylised, and as I said in a previous post, Branded to Kill is a lot like Pierrot le fou on crack, and Suzuki has obviously been an influence on Tarantino in some way. They are films that I feel you should watch more than once. Tokyo Drifter is a bit more straightforward and makes more sense than Branded to Kill (at least as far as plot premise goes).

I was far more entertained by Tokyo Drifter and Branded to Kill than I was by Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill (1 and 2), and Inglorious Basterds, although those four films are entertaining in their own right.

As I stated previously, I enjoyed Tokyo Drifter a bit more than Branded to Kill. I think if I had watched Tokyo Drifter BEFORE Branded to Kill, I would have Branded to Kill much more, because I would have been more versed in Suzuki's style. I enjoyed the film greatly, but I just didn't really connect to it like I did with Tokyo Drifter, or other films that are off-kilter such as Pierrot le fou, Zazie dans le metro, Head, or Hausu.

I'm probably rambling, so I'll stop now.

[bundyblu]

I picked up Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Criterion last night at best buy for $4.99!!!

[Yami]

I received The 400 Blows, Complete Jean Vigo and The Killing this morning. Haven't watched early yet but they all look great! The 400 Blows is weak in comparison though. It's the old paper packaging which I'm ok about but I'm not sure about that booklet and I use the word booklet in the loosest sense. Couldn't they have found some more material?

[*DrStrangelove*]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Isn't Pistol Opera a bit of a sequel to Branded to Kill?

I like Suzuki's films, from what I've watched of them so far. I'm hoping Criterion will upgrade and/or add more to the collection, although I'm going to check out some more on my own once I deal with Cul-de-Sac, Smiles of a Summer Night, and the 50 new PVRs I've added from TCM (just when I thought I had finished watching the previous ones, TCM had to go add more great movies).

Suzuki's films are highly stylised, and as I said in a previous post, Branded to Kill is a lot like Pierrot le fou on crack, and Suzuki has obviously been an influence on Tarantino in some way. They are films that I feel you should watch more than once. Tokyo Drifter is a bit more straightforward and makes more sense than Branded to Kill (at least as far as plot premise goes).

I was far more entertained by Tokyo Drifter and Branded to Kill than I was by Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill (1 and 2), and Inglorious Basterds, although those four films are entertaining in their own right.

As I stated previously, I enjoyed Tokyo Drifter a bit more than Branded to Kill. I think if I had watched Tokyo Drifter BEFORE Branded to Kill, I would have Branded to Kill much more, because I would have been more versed in Suzuki's style. I enjoyed the film greatly, but I just didn't really connect to it like I did with Tokyo Drifter, or other films that are off-kilter such as Pierrot le fou, Zazie dans le metro, Head, or Hausu.

I'm probably rambling, so I'll stop now.

I have only seen two films in the Nikkatsu Noir set including one Suzuki (Take aim at the police van) and I enjoyed both a lot. However, these are simple films with pretty basic plot. Now this doesn't mean its a bad thing. IMO what makes these films so great is the style and cinematography. Now, even thou the influence is pretty obvious (and sometimes straight rip off) I feel a film like Inglorious Basterds is better. The thing about Inglorious Basterds is that it has the style of these older films but with a better plot and higher budget. Now I'm not saying a higher budget means a better film, Suzuki certainly did a great job for what he was given. I can only wonder what he would do with a higher budget. Also, I love Tarantino's dialogue. I know many hate it but to me it creates build up.
Tarantino might be ripping off a lot of the style of filmmakers like Suzuki, but I think, why not? IMO he's doing a great job at it. And if anything it is a homage to all these great directors.

[Yami]

Perhaps this month will finally see the announcement of Andrei Rublev

[scottpcusa]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Isn't Pistol Opera a bit of a sequel to Branded to Kill?

I like Suzuki's films, from what I've watched of them so far. I'm hoping Criterion will upgrade and/or add more to the collection, although I'm going to check out some more on my own once I deal with Cul-de-Sac, Smiles of a Summer Night, and the 50 new PVRs I've added from TCM (just when I thought I had finished watching the previous ones, TCM had to go add more great movies).

Suzuki's films are highly stylised, and as I said in a previous post, Branded to Kill is a lot like Pierrot le fou on crack, and Suzuki has obviously been an influence on Tarantino in some way. They are films that I feel you should watch more than once. Tokyo Drifter is a bit more straightforward and makes more sense than Branded to Kill (at least as far as plot premise goes).

I was far more entertained by Tokyo Drifter and Branded to Kill than I was by Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill (1 and 2), and Inglorious Basterds, although those four films are entertaining in their own right.

As I stated previously, I enjoyed Tokyo Drifter a bit more than Branded to Kill. I think if I had watched Tokyo Drifter BEFORE Branded to Kill, I would have Branded to Kill much more, because I would have been more versed in Suzuki's style. I enjoyed the film greatly, but I just didn't really connect to it like I did with Tokyo Drifter, or other films that are off-kilter such as Pierrot le fou, Zazie dans le metro, Head, or Hausu.

I'm probably rambling, so I'll stop now.

Originally Posted by *DrStrangelove*

I have only seen two films in the Nikkatsu Noir set including one Suzuki (Take aim at the police van) and I enjoyed both a lot. However, these are simple films with pretty basic plot. Now this doesn't mean its a bad thing. IMO what makes these films so great is the style and cinematography. Now, even thou the influence is pretty obvious (and sometimes straight rip off) I feel a film like Inglorious Basterds is better. The thing about Inglorious Basterds is that it has the style of these older films but with a better plot and higher budget. Now I'm not saying a higher budget means a better film, Suzuki certainly did a great job for what he was given. I can only wonder what he would do with a higher budget. Also, I love Tarantino's dialogue. I know many hate it but to me it creates build up.
Tarantino might be ripping off a lot of the style of filmmakers like Suzuki, but I think, why not? IMO he's doing a great job at it. And if anything it is a homage to all these great directors.

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

"Bad artists copy, great artists steal." I'm not sure which Tarantino is.

In his interviews, Tarantino often talks about the films that have inspired him. He is one who seems completely happy to say, "Yeah...I stole that shot from <insert filmaker's name here>!"

[Hawkguy]

If we're still listing titles carried at BB, add Charade and Paths of Glory to that list

(and cue a post saying 'we're not')

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by scottpcusa

In his interviews, Tarantino often talks about the films that have inspired him. He is one who is completely happy to say, "Yeah...I stole that shot from <insert filmaker's name here>!"

I like Tarantino, but I like the people he rips off much more. I don't think he's one of the greatest directors ever. I actually find that I'm liking him less the more I watch the films where he got his inspiration from. Tarantino's a lot like the Coen Brothers to me, they make entertaining films, and I am usually entertained by the films, but I can think of far better films and directors I'd rather watch repeatedly than Tarantino or the Coens. They're not exactly overrated like Fincher, Aronofsky, and/or Nolan, but they're getting there. My opinion of course.

[punisher]

Originally Posted by sc1957

what interests me about best buy's take on criterions is that they put most, but not all, of them under "c" for criterion. Sweet smell of success? Under c. Wages of fear? Under c. But a few random films are alphabetized correctly... Modern times is under m.

I asked a random clerk at my local store about this. He didn't know why they do it that way... Apparently they have shelving gnomes come in at night to arrange the stock on their shelves.

lol.......yeah you really got to roam the area to find things in BB

[italy12]

Originally Posted by sc1957

What interests me about Best Buy's take on Criterions is that they put most, but not all, of them under "C" for Criterion. Sweet Smell of Success? Under C. Wages of Fear? Under C. But a few random films are alphabetized correctly... Modern Times is under M.

I asked a random clerk at my local store about this. He didn't know why they do it that way... apparently they have shelving gnomes come in at night to arrange the stock on their shelves.

Over the summer, Best Buy stopped having its inventory team put out and sort the "media" themselves. They use a new company that comes in each morning, specifically Sundays for the ad set and Tuesdays for new releases. They usually have on white shirts and black pants, and they hover around the CD and movie sections.

I used to joke with the girl on our inventory team about why she put the Criterions with the Cs and she said that is where they go...without any further explanation. She also did not understand why Benjamin Button was a Criterion title but placed in the Cu section, rather than Cr. Also, it was in a Blu case!!!

Now, in our newly designed Blu ray area, our Criterions are still under the Cr section of the C's, except a select few titles: both Chaplins are under their correct alphabetical listing by title, Dazed and Confused (we have like 20 of these, and only 2-3 of the others), and Thin Red Line are also with their correct letter.

No idea why.

[italy12]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

There must have been some sort of anomalous chain-wide order or else they got some sort of special deal because all of the stores seem to have the foregin language May 2011 releases (Solaris, Diabolique, Pale Flower) but only Hollywood or Hitchcock films beyond that.



It's just because there are different people making $8 on any given day doing the shelving, and it's all the same to them. Every store seems to be like that. Since most are under "Cr", that's probably what staff have been instructed to file them under, but there are always your tearaways making things exciting.

According to the other poster, it is the same titles in my store that are not grouped with the other Criterions, i.e. Chaplin's films.

These media people actually make over $11/hr. One of them used to be a cashier with Best Buy, and one day I saw him in the B&W shirt/pant combo stocking media. He told me it paid much better for him to move away from the cashier position he once had.

[rkish]

Wim Wenders in the Criterion DVD/BD closet...I think Spidey would like his taste in films!

Wim Wenders' DVD Picks - YouTube

[jmcy2k]

Any word as to when April announcements will be made?

[moumou1210]

I just want to buy them all!

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

I like Tarantino, but I like the people he rips off much more. I don't think he's one of the greatest directors ever. I actually find that I'm liking him less the more I watch the films where he got his inspiration from. Tarantino's a lot like the Coen Brothers to me, they make entertaining films, and I am usually entertained by the films, but I can think of far better films and directors I'd rather watch repeatedly than Tarantino or the Coens.

I'd throw Tim Burton and the Coens in with reasons why I'm not impressed with Tarantino--In that all three are directors who'd rather fanboy-gush to you about the movies they have seen, rather than direct their own with any of their own particular cohesion, and the movies they think they're "cool" for having seen, well...who hasn't? (I'd throw Joe Dante in there too, but I'm being charitable.)
Tarantino wants to interrupt the WWII adventure of "Inglorious Basterds" to put a funny 70's-blaxploitation graphic up, and play the Giorgio Moroder theme from Cat People--Yeah, I saw 'em too, Q, will you just freakin' get back to the story? The Coens want to nudge us that they're such "flim buffs" as to have seen True Grit and Preston Sturges comedies, and you haven't--Wow, imagine that, they watch Turner Classic Movies, too!

Quentin's actually good in film docs, when he can fanboy-gush about pop film history on his own time. Otherwise, he's like the taxi driver who's more excited about talking to you about his one private hobby than on keepng his mind on the road, and keeps narrowly missing crashes.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by jmcy2k

Any word as to when April announcements will be made?

If by some miracle they actually did land Rosemary's Baby announcing it on Friday 13th would be pretty cool.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by rkish

Wim Wenders in the Criterion DVD/BD closet...I think Spidey would like his taste in films!

Wim Wenders' DVD Picks - YouTube

Why do they say DVD picks when he's holding a Blu-ray?

: sigh : one day DVD will be gone....

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by rkish

Wim Wenders in the Criterion DVD/BD closet...I think Spidey would like his taste in films!

Don't know about Spidey, but I LOVE those choices, myself! Was so pleasantly surprised at the Oshima pick

[Beta Man]

Criterion needs to remaster those "Closet" videos, or provide me with subtitles