The Criterion Collection

[octagon]

Originally Posted by *DrStrangelove*

Just curious, what would you consider your worst?

A Safe Place is definitely pretty bad. It's only saving graces are Nicholson, Welles and the sneaking suspicion that it wasn't trying too terribly hard to be, well, good.

Other than that I can't think of anything I really dislike.

There are several I haven't watched yet (Benjamin Button being one of them) and a handful I didn't exactly love (Howards End, House, Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence) but I can't really think of anything that's generated any serious buyer's remorse let alone any 'omg, wtf was I thinking'.

(If I had to pick one least favorite standalone I would probably give Howards End the nod over House because I still haven't finished House)

[retablo]

Originally Posted by octagon

A Safe Place is definitely pretty bad. It's only saving graces are Nicholson, Welles and the sneaking suspicion that it wasn't trying too terribly hard to be, well, good.

Other than that I can't think of anything I really dislike.

There are several I haven't watched yet (Benjamin Button being one of them) and a handful I didn't exactly love (Howards End, House, Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence) but I can't really think of anything that's generated any serious buyer's remorse let alone any 'omg, wtf was I thinking'.

(If I had to pick one least favorite standalone I would probably give Howards End the nod over House because I still haven't finished House)

I had buyers remorse with Pale Flower, Branded to Kill, In the Realm of the Senses, and Gomorrah. I have a suspicion I won't like House either, but I haven't watched it yet.

[Brad1963]

Originally Posted by *DrStrangelove*

Criterion just posted a pic on Facebook. Looks like everyone is saying its Being John Malkovich

I think along with Being John Malkovich; we should expect Summer with Monika and The Gold Rush as part of next week's announcement.

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by retablo

I had buyers remorse with Pale Flower, Branded to Kill, In the Realm of the Senses, and Gomorrah. I have a suspicion I won't like House either, but I haven't watched it yet.

From the sound of it you will not like it. It is way out there and somewhat silly and goofy. I can kind of agree with you except for Pale Flower.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by Brad1963

I think along with Being John Malkovich; we should expect Summer with Monika and The Gold Rush as part of next week's announcement.

and of course the best announcement of the bunch, Downey Sr. Eclipse (with hopefully a mainline release of Putney Swope).

[retablo]

Originally Posted by Banned User

From the sound of it you will not like it. It is way out there and somewhat silly and goofy. I can kind of agree with you except for Pale Flower.

I'm just not a fan of Japanese New Wave, apparently. Oh well.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by bladelia

Just had an email from Jon at Criterion regarding my faulty discs of Walkabout, 3 Colors White and Carlos, and because I live in the UK, he said not to send my discs back, and in about 3 weeks when the Carlos disc is ready, he will send out all the fixed discs. Great customer service.

took him awhile to get back to me, but I also got an email from Jon this morning - 'White' being sent out to me, and 'Carlos' eventually (no mention of the 3 week time frame though)

[Brad1963]

Originally Posted by SpiderBaby

and of course the best announcement of the bunch, Downey Sr. Eclipse (with hopefully a mainline release of Putney Swope).

I want some more Truffaut. His films are lacking on Criterion Blu. If not perhaps a pair of Godard, Weekend and Band of Outsiders upgrade.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

I think it's because not many people have even bothered to watch A SAFE PLACE. I know Border Radio and Tiny Furniture get plenty of hate but they cannot be worse than A SAFE PLACE.

It's almost comical it has a blu-ray release yet Bicycle Thieves does not. :/

Exactly. A Safe Place is the worst film in the entire collection. More people need to watch it so it can get the hate it truly deserves. Hell, please watch 5 minutes of it to hate on it. Seriously, it deserves more hate.

[keldons]

Originally Posted by unclemat

Re Blow Out being garbage. It always has fascinated me that people try to find redeeming qualities in movies with garbage scripts, which defy logic and are an insult to the viewer.

It also fascinates me when people fail to realize that maybe different people like different things. Bizarre, isn't it?

are all of the Carlos discs in the first run defective? I haven't had time to watch all of it since I got my copy (though I saw the whole series about a year ago) but I might swap out the disc just because of my OCD.

[zeroman987]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Exactly. A Safe Place is the worst film in the entire collection. More people need to watch it so it can get the hate it truly deserves. Hell, please watch 5 minutes of it to hate on it. Seriously, it deserves more hate.

I have to agree with you there. I was able to stomach 20 minutes of it before I did the dishes. I went back to see if it got any better. It didn't. It got even more awful.

Luckily, the rest of the movies in that set were good... or at least watchable in the case of Drive He Said.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by zeroman987

I have to agree with you there. I was able to stomach 20 minutes of it before I did the dishes. I went back to see if it got any better. It didn't. It got even more awful.

Luckily, the rest of the movies in that set were good... or at least watchable in the case of Drive He Said.

Yes! Another compulsive cleaner because of A Safe Place! I ended up vacuuming in the middle of my first watching. Second watching, I got a little further, but my friend called and I lost interest. Hence me saying 3rd time's the charm, so I can drink while I watch it. Looks like I'm staying home this weekend due to the weather, so I can stay up and watch it tomorow night, once I plough through those PVRs I let pile up while watching the Best Picture noms.

I also agree about Drive, He Said. Actually, I bought the set initially for Head, and saw the others as a very expensive bonus. I loved Five Easy Pieces, and The King of Marvin Gardens, The Last Picture Show was great, while Easy Rider was a bit of a let down, as it was only good. Drive, He Said was ok, but nothing to write home about, while A Safe Place is one of the worst films I've ever watched (although Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close has managed to make it an iota better on my worst rankings list. Caligula is the worst, followed by Forrest Gump, then EL&IC, and then A Safe Place).

[jcs913]

Originally Posted by unclemat

Re Blow Out being garbage. It always has fascinated me that people try to find redeeming qualities in movies with garbage scripts, which defy logic and are an insult to the viewer. Sure, not every single thing about this movie was bad (Travola's performance was good, feel of the time was shown pretty well indeed), still not enough to call it good movie by any measure.

In what way does Blow Out defy logic or insult the viewer? Seems like a fairly straight-forward suspense film that uses reasoning and good misdirection to keep you interested...

[jcs913]

Originally Posted by *DrStrangelove*

Criterion just posted a pic on Facebook. Looks like everyone is saying its Being John Malkovich

Yeah, you have to check 5 other websites and have 100% facts before you post any guesses about clues, or they will come and get ya.....

[octagon]

Originally Posted by jcs913

In what way does Blow Out defy logic or insult the viewer? Seems like a fairly straight-forward suspense film that uses reasoning and good misdirection to keep you interested...

Agreed. You can pick any thriller to pieces if you're so inclined but Blow Out didn't seem to require any great leaps in the suspension of disbelief category.

I mean, it's not like DePalma tried to off anybody with a crop dusting biplane or anything

[jcs913]

Originally Posted by octagon

Agreed. You can pick any thriller to pieces if you're so inclined but Blow Out didn't seem to require any great leaps in the suspension of disbelief category.

I mean, it's not like DePalma tried to off anybody with a crop dusting biplane or anything

It also had a great cast.. But then again Jimmy Stewart's pretty good too...

[hotFstop]

I'd love to see them release Satyricon on blu.

[Cinemach]

Originally Posted by Brad1963

I want some more Truffaut. His films are lacking on Criterion Blu. If not perhaps a pair of Godard, Weekend and Band of Outsiders upgrade.

So do I. I'm thinking The Soft Skin should be coming sometime soon due to the recent Janus print tour. Both Tirez sur le Pianiste and Jules et Jim are looong overdue in my opinion. Hulu+ has the Antoine Doinel films and Vivement Dimanche! as well, so perhaps that portends great things here.

RE: the Facebook picture...I was really hoping for Cronenberg's Crash - that was my first thought - but that's a wash as it's practically confirmed as Malkovich. Looks to be exciting to some people, that's cool, but there are 4-5 more slots to announce come Wednesday.

[jcs913]

Originally Posted by Cinemach

So do I. I'm thinking The Soft Skin should be coming sometime soon due to the recent Janus print tour. Both Tirez sur le Pianiste and Jules et Jim are looong overdue in my opinion. Hulu+ has the Antoine Doinel films and Vivement Dimanche! as well, so perhaps that portends great things here.

If I remember correctly, Shoot the Piano Player had a new print in early 2010 or somewhere around that time and was touring. I would prefer this to be released, as it's one of my favorites. But with any Truffaut, you cannot go wrong.

[Brad1963]

Originally Posted by Cinemach

So do I. I'm thinking The Soft Skin should be coming sometime soon due to the recent Janus print tour. Both Tirez sur le Pianiste and Jules et Jim are looong overdue in my opinion. Hulu+ has the Antoine Doinel films and Vivement Dimanche! as well, so perhaps that portends great things here.

RE: the Facebook picture...I was really hoping for Cronenberg's Crash - that was my first thought - but that's a wash as it's practically confirmed as Malkovich. Looks to be exciting to some people, that's cool, but there are 4-5 more slots to announce come Wednesday.

I think Godard's Weekend will be either May or June. I'm guessing The Soft Skin will be sometime this Summer or Fall. Perhaps along with another Truffaut title. I'm pretty sure The Gold Rush will be May with City Lights being saved for Fall.