The Criterion Collection

[*PREACHER*]

Originally Posted by iScottie

It feels very American History X like

Oh now I have to see this film....

[Scottie]

Time to watch Paths of Glory

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Time to watch Paths of Glory

I'm envious, Todays double feature consists of Alain Delon's Zorro and AGoodDayToDieHard

[*PREACHER*]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I'm envious, Todays double feature consists of Alain Delon's Zorro and AGoodDayToDieHard

I'm jealous...when I was a kid I wanted to "be" Zorro...now look at me...I own no Zorro....

[Scottie]

I have a feeling that The Spy Who Came In From The Cold will be announced soon for an upgrade.

[ZooTv]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I'm envious, Todays double feature consists of Alain Delon's Zorro and AGoodDayToDieHard

If you are seeing that in IMAX I recommend you bring a set of ear plugs.

[IronWaffle]

Originally Posted by ZooTv

If you are seeing that in IMAX I recommend you bring a set of ear plugs.

And a pair of suspenders for your disbelief.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by ZooTv

If you are seeing that in IMAX I recommend you bring a set of ear plugs.

And an eye mask so I'm told. I really don't want to go, maybe I'll see it tomorrow and watch Bela Tarr's Turin Horse instead

[Scottie]

I finished Paths Of Glory.

It was a good film, in my opinion. I enjoy war movies, but it was good to see a new perspective to the war genre. For starters, most war movies have been based on World War II and not on World War I, so this showed a good bit of history through the uniforms the wore, the weapons they used, etc.

What I truly liked about it was that it wasn't really a war movie too much. Sure there were action sequences, but the whole court trial was great. It really shows how ruthless some people can be and how war dehumanizes individuals - especially by bringing extreme, unnecessary, and silly charges upon somebody.

I think the last scene with the singer was the best part of the movie. It really demonstrated what war does to people. War, in my opinion, is always a losing battle in some way, shape, and form. The biggest downfall of war is that it isolates countries. By bringing the German and the French together, it showed how at the end of the day, we are all similar. Sure, we are from different parts of life and we have our own ideologies and values, but we're all similar in our own unique ways.

I really enjoy the descriptions on the back of each Criterion film. It really gives the viewer an in-depth look at the film and some of the elements that manifest themselves throughout it. With Paths Of Glory, specifically, it talked about the dehumanization aspect that manifests itself throughout Kubrick's career (which I can see). As a result, it's really great to see how certain directors have evolved over the years and explored new concepts.

[SammyJankis]

The ending to Paths of Glory works in that Grand Illusion-esque way well, yes, but I think the true power comes from the protagonist witnessing this incident. He's witnessed hell, both on the field and off. He's fed up with the ranks of power and nearly lost faith in everything he believed in. He's left with zero faith in humanity by the film's end. It's not until he witnesses a rambunctious sort in a bar who mock a woman of different ethnicity (played by an actress who would eventually become Stanley Kubrick's wife), assuming that she's some schmo that doesn't deserve attention. Once her angelic voice is carried throughout the room, the soldiers bring forth their emotions and cry uncontrollably. It's this moment that gives just a shred of humanity that the protagonist needed to carry on in not just his profession but his life. He sees that these people have a soul, that not everyone is like that blatant liar. There are people with a sense of humanity, even if it's not apparent on the surface.

It's the perfect ending to an already terrific film. It leaves me in tears and just in awe at how fitting an ending as such can be. It's the scene I constantly bring up whenever someone tosses out the tiresome Kubrick-is-cold criticism.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

The ending to Paths of Glory works in that Grand Illusion-esque way well, yes, but I think the true power comes from the protagonist witnessing this incident. He's witnessed hell, both on the field and off. He's fed up with the ranks of power and nearly lost faith in everything he believed in. He's left with zero faith in humanity by the film's end. It's not until he witnesses a rambunctious sort in a bar who mock a woman of different ethnicity (played by an actress who would eventually become Stanley Kubrick's wife), assuming that she's some schmo that doesn't deserve attention. Once her angelic voice is carried throughout the room, the soldiers bring forth their emotions and cry uncontrollably. It's this moment that gives just a shred of humanity that the protagonist needed to carry on in not just his profession but his life.

It's the perfect ending to an already terrific film. It leaves me in tears and just in awe at how fitting an ending as such can be. It's the scene I constantly bring up whenever someone tosses out the tiresome Kubrick-is-cold criticism.

That certainly is a fantastic analysis on the ending.

Thank you for that.

[Scottie]

To buy Chronicle Of A Summer and Sansho The Bailiff for ~$50 through Criterion with a coupon or no?

[georgec]

Well, thanks to hulu I watched 13 Criterion films in the past 4 days.

And I'll never touch hulu again (unless they do another free CC weekend).

[Hawkguy]

I guess On The Waterfront won't be priced lower than $35 on release.

Originally Posted by georgec

Well, thanks to hulu I watched 13 Criterion films in the past 4 days.

And I'll never touch hulu again (unless they do another free CC weekend).

I wish I got more in--I did watch a couple Fassbinder titles I hadn't seen, but there were..so..many..

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

I wish I got more in--I did watch a couple Fassbinder titles I hadn't seen, but there were..so..many..

Darn, why didn't they tell me they had Equinox, forgot that was a Criterion! Didn't have much time left after Kuroneko, and didn't have enough concentration for Phantom Carriage.
Oh well, they'll probably have another one next year.

[KrugerIndustrial]

Watched: Jean-Luc Godard's Weekend.

I absolutely adore Pierrot le fou, Le Mépris and Breathless. I tolerate Une Femme Mariée.

I have a pretty good understanding of European history and politics. And I believe I also understand what Godard is trying to accomplish here and what he has to say about French politics and the Government at that time and especially, the bourgeois society. This is Godard showing the middle-finger to all of them. Loud car honks -- silence and corpses. Shock. Godard showing he can do it - can you?

This is the Godard I do not enjoy.

[KrugerIndustrial]

I also started watching Roman Polanski's Knife in the Water. I was so tired that I actually fell asleep after 45 minutes and when I woke up, the Hulu deal was gone.

But from what I can remember, I enjoyed it tremendously. Reminded me of Clément's Plein soleil and distantly even Polanski's Cul-de-sac. Leon Niemczyk was amazing. I need to watch the rest of it as soon as possible.

[KrugerIndustrial]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I have a feeling that The Spy Who Came In From The Cold will be announced soon for an upgrade.

And personally, I wouldn't mind. It is also one of those Criterion's that is continually priced high.

[ccg1978]

On the Waterfront finally dropped a few bucks ($34.95)

[ccg1978]

Originally Posted by ccg1978

On the Waterfront finally dropped a few bucks ($34.95)

*looks at top of screen* $34.49 *goes back to work on PowerPoint*