The Criterion Collection

[rock, stone]

Originally Posted by EricJ

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.

I can actually think of few filmmakers who are less "fanboyish" than the Coens. They may love movies, but they seem exclusively interested in entertaining themselves with the movies they make. They aren't really invested in what we all think of them.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by billzfan

I watched The Thin Red Line last night. Easily the best looking blu-ray I now own. The sound is no slouch either but the best part is the film itself. It's an entire allegory on human conflict and the complete waste that it is. I was floored by it. Thanks to all who recommended it.

Might finally get my current wife to sit down and watch this with me..... she wants to see it, but the Run-Time usually makes it a prohibitive choice for her by the time we get around to settling in for a movie.

[nateynate87]

Originally Posted by Narcissus

"He chose you, honey! From all the women in the world to be the mother of his only living son!"
Oh Please Oh Please Oh Please

It would be great if they released this, the dvd needs a serious upgrade.

Plus out of morbid curiosity It would be great if they included "Look What's Happened To Rosemary's Baby.......

[rkish]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

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

LOL...I had to crank the audio to understand what he was saying...and it wasn't because of his accent either.

[rkish]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

Well, it is a closet...

Touché...

[RojD]

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. They're not exactly overrated like Fincher, Aronofsky, and/or Nolan, but they're getting there. My opinion of course.

I've been down on Tarantino for a long time, and after I watched the Suzuki films and the Nikkatsu Noir set, he sank further. Aside from being able to absorb a lot of hyper-stylized, Asian B-movie devices into a reasonably coherent story, Tarantino doesn't do much. Like you said, if it's gonna be about splash, I like my Suzuki at the source, where the story flat-out doesn't matter and the whole idea is to film a line of fire and smoke heading across the landscape (Take Aim at the Police Van). As a contrast, I think of Kurosawa, who absorbs film devices from Western cinema and then makes Throne of Blood, Ikiru or Ran, films full of significance.

I like the Coen Brothers, though; for me, their films deal with real questions. Although they're about as un-Southern as they could be, I think their best films look like cinematic Southern Gothic, like movies made by Carson McCullers or Eudora Welty. Blood Simple, Fargo, No Country....they're all about evil, about how everyday people can't understand it. Even that awful Serious Man would fit into that category.

I see a lot more going on in Coen Bros films than in Tarantino's

[jcs913]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Might finally get my current wife to sit down and watch this with me..... she wants to see it, but the Run-Time usually makes it a prohibitive choice for her by the time we get around to settling in for a movie.

Beta, I know this is OT, but this is the 2nd or 3rd time you have used this phrase over the years. Not to pry, but I assume this is a religious thing, or another slip of the tongue???? I assume your wife doesn't read your 50+ posts a day, so you are safe....

[HelmutNewton]

Originally Posted by greekak229

I don't see why we all don't deserve to pick a few free movies from their closet. The amount of money I have given Criterion in my young years, is, well, it's a lot.

Tell me about it. I've still got some old-school Criterion laserdiscs.

[TylerDurden]

So would you guys buy the regular edition of Traffic or get the CC? BB has it for 4.99 with DVD trade-in.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by jcs913

Beta, I know this is OT, but this is the 2nd or 3rd time you have used this phrase over the years.

Well she is

[jcs913]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Well she is

I can't argue with that....

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by TylerDurden

So would you guys buy the regular edition of Traffic or get the CC? BB has it for 4.99 with DVD trade-in.

How much are the extras worth to you? This is a case where the universal (that's the studio right??) version reportedly got a very nice transfer, so you'd be paying a lot for the supplemental materials (mostly)

[The Dark Uniter]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

The Godzilla packaging is pretty neat. I'm really getting interested in this release, even though I've never been much of a Godzilla fan.

Criterion Cast posted this interview with Criterion producer Curtis Tsui about the release. An interesting peak at how Criterion puts together releases even if you aren't interested in Godzilla.

I agree completely (except for not being a Godzilla fan, I'm a huge fan), this is easily the best release that The King of the Monsters has ever received, no other Godzilla release besides the Classic Media ones ever treated the series with respect. Everything from the special features to the packaging and the restorations, it's still mind-blowing that Criterion is releasing Godzilla, it's like a dream come true. The original film is really great, has a lot messages relating to the nuclear war and such and the human characters are so relatable. In my opinion, this film is way better than King Kong.

[DetroitSquirreL]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

The Godzilla packaging is pretty neat. I'm really getting interested in this release, even though I've never been much of a Godzilla fan.

Criterion Cast posted this interview with Criterion producer Curtis Tsui about the release. An interesting peak at how Criterion puts together releases even if you aren't interested in Godzilla.

I'm SOLD! I'm gonna buy the lizard film

[JHas]

Well I just had my first Fassbinder experience (watched Despair). The transfer is excellent, I was entertained for the majority of the film but was pretty confused by mid-point and lost my ability to stay with the plot. Will have to watch again soon and see if I can make some more sense out of it.

Looking forward to the World on a Wire release next month.

[greekak229]

The Gold Rush being announced on Friday would be a joyous occasion indeed.

[scorsetinogilliam]

Just got back from an incredible screening of a fresh new 35mm Janus Film pring of Truffaut's The Smooth Skin. Looks like a blu ray on the horizon!

[oildude]

I am keeping my fingers crossed (yet again) for my two most wanted upgrades: Le Samourai and The Cranes are Flying. With the March announcement of Letter Never Sent, maybe we will finally get Kalatozov's The Cranes are Flying upgraded to blu-ray soon.

My wish list is long, but I would be ecstatic to also get upgrades this year of Ballad of a Soldier, Picnic at Hanging Rock, and The Naked Prey. Oh, and also The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, and Andrei Rublev, and Bicycle Thieves, and some Ozu, and more Oshima, and more Bergman, and......

For 2012, it seems sach month around this time is a lot like Christmas. I keep hoping every present under the Criterion tree contains one of my wished-for toys, but instead I unwrap a couple of toys and several packages of socks. I just need to keep reminding myself that socks are good for me and I should learn to appreciate them more

[Narcissus]

Originally Posted by DetroitSquirreL

I'm SOLD! I'm gonna buy the lizard film

Jim Morrison Was Not A Monster.....Oh.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by JHas

Well I just had my first Fassbinder experience (watched Despair). The transfer is excellent, I was entertained for the majority of the film but was pretty confused by mid-point and lost my ability to stay with the plot. Will have to watch again soon and see if I can make some more sense out of it.

Looking forward to the World on a Wire release next month.

Even though I love Fassbinder's Despair, being the first Fassbinder wouldn't be recommended. Hopefully you stick with him and come back to Despair down the road.