The Criterion Collection

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Woot!

I would have loved to see The Tree Of Life on the big screen. I haven't seen The New World yet, but it's next on my list to watch.

Did I hit the nail on the head with my interpretation?

I certainly appreciate your take. You addressed many of the underlying themes, nonetheless, I want to ask you: Who's point of view the film chronicles & where exactly are we heading with the enigmatic final shot? I think there's much ambiguity, generally involving filmic techniques, that will keep one pondering for days.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by SethRet

Cant wait to see Koyaanisqatsi in HD. It was pretty mind blowing when I first watched it as a budding cinephile. Have you seen the other two yet?

I mostly liked Powaaqatsi, but Naqoyqatsi is different story. I found it heavy handed and most of all a horrid visual experience. I never would have thought it to be that bad, in fact it may be my least favorite Criterion (sorry Darjeeling Limited). I'd play A Safe Place a dozen times before I rewatch Naqoyqatsi.

A putrid ending to an awesome series.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I certainly appreciate your take. You addressed many of the underlying themes, nonetheless, I want to ask you: Who's point of view the film chronicles & where exactly are we heading with the enigmatic final shot? I think there's much ambiguity, generally involving filmic techniques, that will keep one pondering for days.

[Show spoiler]Well we do hear Jack and Mrs. O'Brien narrating frequently, but the whispering and distortedness makes me want to say it's God's point of view. He sits back and looks at his creations and shows the viewers how their lives panned out. As far as the last shot is concerned, I want to say we're heading toward a new life for Jack. It seems as if he found some closure and he can move on from the past.

[georgec]

Geez just a week until more announcements. Time flies!

[pro-bassoonist]

The Ballad of Narayama Blu-ray REVIEW



The 4K restoration by Shochiku is incredible, but there is some digital defect on my disc I have sent a note to the Criterion team and will update the review once I get a response.

Pro-B

[andsoitgoes]

Originally Posted by octagon

I wonder what God does about spoilers.

That's gotta suck, actually.

God, like the universe, is all existing all times. The past, present and future have occurred. We are playing our parts in the timeline, traveling through it going one direction, but right now all moments of time are playing, all at once, like an infinite number of record players playing every piece of music ever created. God already knows how good (bad) the Disney Star Wars films are. He knew what was in the box at the end of Se7en before Fincher's great great great great great great (etc) grandmother was born. He knows what happens at the end of Game of Thrones, and knew Snape was good ALL ALONG.

Simply put, God puts the spoiler into spoilers.

But I wonder, since everything is all existing all at once, and with God being all powerful, does it contain the power to relive an experience as a normal human? Can God truly experience something with no preconceived ideas?

And most importantly, and pardon the capitalization, DOES GOD KNOW THE TRUE ANSWER TO RASHOMON?!?!?

[andsoitgoes]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

The Ballad of Narayama Blu-ray REVIEW



The 4K restoration by Shochiku is incredible, but there is some digital defect on my disc I have sent a note to the Criterion team and will update the review once I get a response.

Pro-B

Do you ever sleep?

Can I have the contact info for the criterion team too?

And mostly, I am always blown away when a criterion movie releases with such scant extras. Especially when the films are so well regarded. These films have the potential to bring so much knowledge, so much history and so much awesomeness to the who, what, why and how... Does nothing else exist out there? Did criterion try, but fail, to get anything? Did they not feel this would be a substantial release?

I, sadly, first judge whether the extras are substantial before purchasing something. Commentaries, for me, are the most important. Having a good commentary is like giving me an extra film, and I would pay a decent chunk of change for that alone. Other extras are less important, though the amount of insight I've gotten through reading the booklets Criterion includes is stunning. I've yet to read one and say "Meh..."

Anyway, TL;DR - criterion, the company that DEFINED "Extras", should never show up to the table without at least a couple more things than this.


On another note, am I the only one who believes that the fact that there are Kurosawa films still not on blu ray is a travesty?

And while I know it is not nearly as popular, I'd kill to see Red Beard in HD.

Even more than that, Ikiru as a previous poster mentioned. The quality of the cut on Hulu was so terrible it made it hard to watch. It's far worse than many of his earlier films were, it seems. Was the DVD that bad? Was it released on DVD? Why am I asking here and not searching?

[ShellOilJunior]

Tree of Life is a very personal film for Malick whose life has been marked by a few unfortunate family tragedies.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by moklp

do most of us on here buy these Criterion releases to own another piece of the Criterion library, or buy them cause they know they will love the film and/or have seen it already and know it's a great film?

I only get those that I really enjoy, mostly because of the price they go for up here in Canada but also because while it's for sure each movie added to the collection is a good movie it does not mean it's interesting enough for me to own. I am very lucky however in that my cable provider as a channel that as foreign movie every night at 12 am, always in OAR and with subtitles so it's easy for me to see many of the others in the collection without the need to buy them

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I've been meaning to see this one for a while, hopefully I'll play it during the week.

Great movie, hope you get a chance to see it

[Daigoro]

Originally Posted by Cinemach

...except that David Lynch - inarguably one of the most important directors around right now (even if he's 'retired') - only has two of his films released on bluray in his own country. Doesn't seem like any 'major' distributor is in a rush to release his films.

Heck, La Dolce Vita will have more interest from a 'major' distributor to release than it appears Lynch's films do. Once the legal problems with that film are cleared up you can be damn sure a blu release will be imminent, as it was just recently restored.

good post, i agree. the notion that Lynch is too mainstream or not important enough to get a release or two from CC is crazy.

i find the lack of his films released on blu in the US very unfortunate. quite happy with the recent release or Blue Velvet though.

hopefully Criterion come through this year with something.

Originally Posted by rkish

I watched the next chapter of The Story of Film this morning and they dedicated a nice chunk of it to Kurosawa. I think Mark Cousins is a big fan of Japanese cinema, as he seems to hold Kurosawa, Mizoguchi, and Ozu in very high regard.

thanks for mentioning this. when i read your post i found out that it was streaming on netflix and its at the top of my queue now. looks like i have many hours of doc watching in my near future.

[deepbreathsanddeath]

I made this very same post in the books section of the forums but I have a feeling I might not get any answers there so I figured I would post it here to see if you film buffs could help me out too.

I couldn't find a thread about this which is weird considering which site I'm on. I'm sure they're there but I couldn't find them, nonetheless I'm hoping some of you can recommend some of your favourite books about films that you consider the best.

I'd like to add more to my small library and would really appreciate all of your input. I have an appreciation for just about every genre so books on any genre are welcomed. I am first and foremost a horror fan though so any books with high quality content in that genre or any others would be great.

So far my fairly small collection of books about movies are as follows:
-Horror Movies of the 1970s
-Horror Movies of the 1980s
-Horror Movies of the 1990s
-Terror Television, American Series: 1970-1999
-Zombie Movies: The Ultimate Guide
-Most of the Studio Ghibli "The Art of..." collection
-The Stanley Kubrick Archives
-Satoshi Kon: The Illusionist
-Something Like an Autobiography
-Starting Point: 1979-1996
-Firefly: A Celebration
-Showgirls, Teen Wolves, and Astro Zombies: A Film Critic's Year-Long Quest to Find the Worst Movie Ever Made
-Cannibal: The Most Sickening Consumer Guide Ever!

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by iScottie

[Show spoiler]Well we do hear Jack and Mrs. O'Brien narrating frequently, but the whispering and distortedness makes me want to say it's God's point of view. He sits back and looks at his creations and shows the viewers how their lives panned out. As far as the last shot is concerned, I want to say we're heading toward a new life for Jack. It seems as if he found some closure and he can move on from the past.

[Show spoiler]I think it could be Jack's point of view just before taking his own life. Thus explaining the fragmented editing, the early phonecall, and the final image of a bridge. He is reconciling with his past before he moves on to the afterlife. We witness not only his most cherished and pained memories but also his pleas with God.

The book of Job is about trials and tribulations, so the film is certainly details Jack trying to some sort of solace, although, I hope this interpretation is not centered around suicide, but rather a more peaceful reunion for the family.

Some of these details are left enigmatic, so we can connect with the sounds and images on our own level. The second viewing had me in tears as I related the themes to my relationships.

[The Great Owl]

A few random musings about The Tree of Life...

1. This movie has the best depiction of childhood that I've seen in any movie, except for, perhaps, Stand By Me. I love how the "highlight reel" of memorable instances from childhood that we can all relate to.

[Show spoiler]- first experience dealing with death
- defying one's parents for the first time
- moving to a new house and seeing the old house grow smaller in the back window of the car
- doing something *really bad* (stealing from someone's house, in the movie's case) and having that ominous "Uh-oh, I've really done it now." feeling where you want to turn back the clock and erase the deed, but cannot.
- the idle childhood summers of playing aimlessly.
- being a kid and doing kid stuff, then hearing your parents argue about an Important Issue (finances, etc.) from the corner of your ear, then ignoring it and going back to doing kid stuff.
- that gradual shift when your parents stop being your Heroes and you begin to grow rebellious.

2. Brad Pitt's character is priceless. He wanted to be a musician. He ended up turning to a more "practical" job that put food on the table, but it was also a soulless job that slowly sucked the life out of him. His anger at himself was sometimes directed externally at others. Sad to say, but I identify with his character in quite a few ways.
This made me think of my own father, because, when I was a very young boy, my father seemed like The Boss, The Toughest Man In The World, The Man Who Knew Everything, and so on. In truth, my father was a coach and schoolteacher whose superiors sometimes walked all over him and who was passed over for a couple of promotions because he did not have the political clout of others.

3. I first saw The Tree of Life on the big screen at an indie theater here in Atlanta. If you're a fan, and you get a chance to see this at the theater, take advantage.

4.

[Show spoiler] I've seen this movie several times now, but I have never really tried to analyze the final scenes. I simply become immersed and let the ending wash over me every time. For me, there's an ultimate serenity and acceptance portrayed in the scenes, and that's good enough. Crossing through a doorway (literally, a doorway) into the next world, with the joys, fears, insecurities, regrets, and love of the former world all interweaving together.

[Judex]

Originally Posted by octagon

A heads up for the Mizo fans in the audience, The Life of Oharu is airing on TCM at 1am central.

Damn, I wish the TCM channel here was that good, they never show any classic world cinema films.

Hopefully Criterion will announce the Blu of this soon.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

3rd floor, the woman in the window with the curtains and snow/frost watching Eraserhead climb the building.

Perhaps the proximity And the curtain metaphor suggests Mulholland Drive?

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

A few random musings about The Tree of Life...

1. This movie has the best depiction of childhood that I've seen in any movie, except for, perhaps, Stand By Me. I love how the "highlight reel" of memorable instances from childhood that we can all relate to.

[Show spoiler]- first experience dealing with death
- defying one's parents for the first time
- moving to a new house and seeing the old house grow smaller in the back window of the car
- doing something *really bad* (stealing from someone's house, in the movie's case) and having that ominous "Uh-oh, I've really done it now." feeling where you want to turn back the clock and erase the deed, but cannot.
- the idle childhood summers of playing aimlessly.
- being a kid and doing kid stuff, then hearing your parents argue about an Important Issue (finances, etc.) from the corner of your ear, then ignoring it and going back to doing kid stuff.
- that gradual shift when your parents stop being your Heroes and you begin to grow rebellious.

2. Brad Pitt's character is priceless. He wanted to be a musician. He ended up turning to a more "practical" job that put food on the table, but it was also a soulless job that slowly sucked the life out of him. His anger at himself was sometimes directed externally at others. Sad to say, but I identify with his character in quite a few ways.
This made me think of my own father, because, when I was a very young boy, my father seemed like The Boss, The Toughest Man In The World, The Man Who Knew Everything, and so on. In truth, my father was a coach and schoolteacher whose superiors sometimes walked all over him and who was passed over for a couple of promotions because he did not have the political clout of others.

3. I first saw The Tree of Life on the big screen at an indie theater here in Atlanta. If you're a fan, and you get a chance to see this at the theater, take advantage.

4.

[Show spoiler] I've seen this movie several times now, but I have never really tried to analyze the final scenes. I simply become immersed and let the ending wash over me every time. For me, there's an ultimate serenity and acceptance portrayed in the scenes, and that's good enough. Crossing through a doorway (literally, a doorway) into the next world, with the joys, fears, insecurities, regrets, and love of the former world all interweaving together.

Very well put. I never really analyzed the first part you highlighted, but it's so true. Makes me want to rewatch the movie again, even though the last time I watched it was last week.

[joie]

Since Malick has come up, I'll ask my question: Why does he use narration (interior monologue) instead of dialog? I know that there is some dialog, but still ... .

[ravenus]

^ His movies are more about stream of consciousness, and IMO beyond a point the characters don't really matter except as metaphors or puppets while the monologue is essentially Malick talking to the audience, expressing his thoughts/dilemmas or making a speech he wants to.

[joie]

Originally Posted by deepbreathsanddeath

I made this very same post in the books section of the forums but I have a feeling I might not get any answers there so I figured I would post it here to see if you film buffs could help me out too.

I couldn't find a thread about this which is weird considering which site I'm on. I'm sure they're there but I couldn't find them, nonetheless I'm hoping some of you can recommend some of your favourite books about films that you consider the best.

[...]

A Panorama of American Film Noir, with an introduction by James Naremore, translated from the French of Raymond Borde and Etienne Chaumeton by Paul Hammond -- City Lights Books, ISBN 9780872864122.