The Criterion Collection

[ZooTv]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Same. Le Samourai is my all-time favorite film.

+1

Excellent film which desperately needs a U.S. release.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by paul000

Isn't money one of the main reasons Jodorowsky didn't make Dune? The thing was shut down. From what I've read, the pre production and people involved were bloated, if that makes sense. It could've easily been a disaster on film. And as I said a bit back, it probably would be for anyone working under a studio who wants an adaptation of this material under 2 hours and accessible to an audience who doesn't know the background. I don't think staying true to your art has anything to do with it, I think it's about saving your ass so you can make art for a living in the future! Lynch's Dune was a 40 mil production

Jodorowsky said he had the financial backing for the production but no one wanted to distribute the final film so the production was stopped. Many of artists and production were used or inspired some the greatest sci fi films ever made. These films were mere shadows of what Jodorowsky's Dune film would have been. He did not want anything less than his vision of what Dune meant to him. I think he did not care how much profit he was going to make. Again honesty to his art (probably the hardest principle to have in the film industry)

I argue (with Pink Floyd making the score and many great artist working on the production: Dave O' Bannon, Moebius, Chris Foss, H.R. Giger; actors involved: Orson Wells, Mick Jagger, Salvador Dali to name a few) Jodorowsky's Dune could've easily been the greatest sci fi film ever made.

I would recommend you to look up some of these artist and what films they were involved.

[returnofthemack]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

Ennis has to be one of greatest comic writers of today (with Neil Gaiman) It's great to meet another fan. About a month ago I finished his Hellblazer run and Nick Fury Max. I think his best work is his war stories. He puts a lot of research in those stories.

Jodorowsky is another great surrealist director. El Topo and Holy Mountain are his masterpieces. These movies go beyond any contemporary film that is considered bizarre. Lynch and Aronofsky films are laughable compared to any Jodorowsky film. Check them out, especially if you are Ennis fan.

ennis and gaiman are both overrated if you ask me. do they have talent? sure but they dont compare to the works of morrison, moore or ellis.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

I think he did not care how much profit he was going to make. Again honesty to his art (probably the hardest principle to have in the film industry).

Um. that point holds if the money was coming out of his own pockets, not if he was taking studio backing. Also, the issue of finances is a dodgy one. Jodorowski had about $10 million in backing, of which more than $2 million was spent on pre-production alone. Lynch's film had a budget of $40 million, and Lynch was by no means an extravagant director. To me it is highly improbably that Jodorowsky would have been able to complete the film with the vision he was proposing within the budget he had.

[SammyJankis]

Finally got around to watching my copy of In the Mood for Love. The last couple of shots are just beautiful.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by returnofthemack

ennis and gaiman are both overrated if you ask me. do they have talent? sure but they dont compare to the works of morrison, moore or ellis.

I would agree with you if we were only talking about superheroe stories (yes, including Watchmen and V). I feel Ennis war stories is his real passion. Having read a lot about World War 2 and the Spanish civil war (historians Beevor and Keegan) books, I can say Ennis' depiction about the war in his stories are amazing and accurate (according to what I read). There are more to comics than superheroes.

I forgot to add Daniel Clowes to list of the greatest comic book writers, the Samuel Beckett of graphic novels. Like a velvet glove cast in iron is one of the greatest graphic novels.

[The Great Owl]

I am the proud owner of the Two-Lane Blacktop Blu-ray.

I took a lot of old DVDs to the used store down the street earlier today and used the trade-in money to buy quite a few Blu-rays. Two-Lane Blacktop was the only Criterion of the day, but the rest from my haul are no clunkers (High Noon, The Wizard of Oz, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, etc.).

Funnily enough, most of the DVDs that I have left in my collection are Criterion movies, movies that have not yet been released on Blu-ray, or movies that I have no interest in upgrading. I see things moving in that direction, where my DVD collection will soon consist entirely of über-obscure stuff.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by TJS_Blu

It's a great disc. Cheap too.

It's on its way to my doorstep. 13 American dollars. Not too shabby.



I sold my DVD of the movie today, so here's looking forward to the improved replacement.

[rkish]

Originally Posted by blkhrt

Have you seen Grave of the Fireflies?

I've seen both Forbidden Games and Grave of the Fireflies. I have to give the edge to "Grave". A very beautiful and tragic film. And directed by Takahata and not Miyazaki.

[rkish]

Pat... thanks for the heads up! I wound up buying the Kino "Fantomas"...got it for $20.51...learning how to play the price lottery on Amazon lately.

Got my eye on Judex...but it's a bit pricey on Amazon and Flicker Alley...if it drops closer to $20, I might jump on it. Do you (or anyone) own the FA
release of Judex?

[ElliesDad]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

It's on its way to my doorstep. 13 American dollars. Not too shabby.

[Show spoiler]

I sold my DVD of the movie today, so here's looking forward to the improved replacement.

Ordered my copy from Amazon.uk last night! Along with Lourdes, so my copy wouldn't be lonesome on that long trip. The Lourdes trailer on you-tube incidentally looks great. Spent some time there and the Ave Maria snippet brought a tear to my eye! Really looking forward to seeing both of these.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by rkish

Pat... thanks for the heads up! I wound up buying the Kino "Fantomas"...got it for $20.51...learning how to play the price lottery on Amazon lately.

Got my eye on Judex...but it's a bit pricey on Amazon and Flicker Alley...if it drops closer to $20, I might jump on it. Do you (or anyone) own the FA
release of Judex?

I do hope you enjoy it as much as I do, I always get a little nervous making recommendations because of how I am, such a easy casual fan and so I dislike that someone spend money on something I recommend and then that person just happen to hate it In the case of Fantomas I think it will be a very pleasant surprise for you or I hope so

I do not own the Judex set but I have seen so of the serial back in college. I suspect Flicker Alley must have done work on them, the print I saw in college were in rather bad shape. I did not get this set because I missed it back in 2004 and by the time I saw them they were out of print, they are going for $60+ up here. I might get a copy if I skip buy anything for a couple of week and get the $60 saved up.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

Finally got around to watching my copy of In the Mood for Love. The last couple of shots are just beautiful.

Another convert to the cause

Glad you enjoyed it. I really like watching this movie, it sort of have a calming effect on me. A lot of time when I am stress or depress I find myself watching it and the slow pace and the wonderful cinematography seem to just let me relax and be at peace

[mrjohnnyb]

Have any cyber clues been given in regards to next week's announcement? I have not seen anything since the New Year's hint.

[P@t_Mtl]

Probably some sort of clue in the last newsletter? Or was that in December?

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Another convert to the cause

Glad you enjoyed it. I really like watching this movie, it sort of have a calming effect on me. A lot of time when I am stress or depress I find myself watching it and the slow pace and the wonderful cinematography seem to just let me relax and be at peace

That's Yi Yi for me.

I can't wait for The Grandmasters to release.

[rkish]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

I do hope you enjoy it as much as I do, I always get a little nervous making recommendations because of how I am, such a easy casual fan and so I dislike that someone spend money on something I recommend and then that person just happen to hate it In the case of Fantomas I think it will be a very pleasant surprise for you or I hope so

I do not own the Judex set but I have seen so of the serial back in college. I suspect Flicker Alley must have done work on them, the print I saw in college were in rather bad shape. I did not get this set because I missed it back in 2004 and by the time I saw them they were out of print, they are going for $60+ up here. I might get a copy if I skip buy anything for a couple of week and get the $60 saved up.

I already have the Kino blu ray of Les Vampires and really enjoyed it a lot! I have been contemplating Fantomas for a while. I missed it the last time it was $19.99 and decided to use part of a gift certificate on it, as the price was amenable. It's got some nice supplements on it as well.

Amazon has Judex for $39.99...a little rich for my blood, as the Flicker Alley site has it for $34.99. I will wait on Amazon and won't jump on it, until it drops to at least the FA price. It supposedly shows wear, so I guess the source material must be showing it's age. It got a lot of positive reviews, just as Fantomas did.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

I do hope you enjoy it as much as I do, I always get a little nervous making recommendations because of how I am, such a easy casual fan and so I dislike that someone spend money on something I recommend and then that person just happen to hate it In the case of Fantomas I think it will be a very pleasant surprise for you or I hope so

I do not own the Judex set but I have seen so of the serial back in college. I suspect Flicker Alley must have done work on them, the print I saw in college were in rather bad shape. I did not get this set because I missed it back in 2004 and by the time I saw them they were out of print, they are going for $60+ up here. I might get a copy if I skip buy anything for a couple of week and get the $60 saved up.

"Nobody loses all the time"

Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (I am hoping this is the next criterion release)

[Lutz]

Originally Posted by rock, stone

One point though: you are the only one who is calling Starship Troopers subtle.

I think a lot of people labour under the assumption that the only true sophisticated ideas are those that are treated in a grave and serious manner.

Often a lesser director will need to mask his inability to deal head on with something by using a more subtle approach. When a director like Verhoeven who is so confident puts things together that are actually extremely complicated but in such an easy and light handed way then a lot of people tend to take it for granted.

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

"Nobody loses all the time"

Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (I am hoping this is the next criterion release)

I keep hoping for a US BLU release also. Warren Oates is one of the most underrated actors of that era.