The Criterion Collection

[Monty70]

Originally Posted by tonylopez

Finally got around to watching ISLAND OF LOST SOULS today. I enjoyed it very much. I love all types of films but I have a soft spot for the horror genre. This is a good adaptation of the novel "THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU". Laughton is fantastic as Moreau. I was surprised by all the sexuality in the movie from the panther women to Moreau's wanting a creation of his to straight up rape Ruth to even the subliminal facts like Laughtons own sexuality. The make up is for the most part fantastic and so are the sets. There are images in this film that just burn into your memory. I love in the "House of Pain" its vague in how Moreau actually conducts these experiments, not showing the goings on, leaving your mind to wonder the worst. These extras are just perfect. The discussion between Landis, Baker and Burns is fun. I always love hearing from David J Skal and Richard Stanley is great to hear from. I like how he envisioned the material and would have loved to have seen it. Trailers from that era I can watch for days on end. Even hearing from members of Devo and watching their short film just shows Criterion really hit a home run with this release. I was blown away by IofLS and I highly recommend it.

I'm glad you enjoyed the film. I absolutely love my Criterion BD of IoLS, as I had been waiting many years to get a worthy home video of this iconic pre-code classic. (and in HD from the big C!)

Now we just need Tod Browning's Freaks from the same year (1932) and we'll have a super pre-code horror double feature from the cinema heavens...

[Noetic Hatter]

Originally Posted by tonylopez

Finally got around to watching ISLAND OF LOST SOULS today. I enjoyed it very much. I love all types of films but I have a soft spot for the horror genre. This is a good adaptation of the novel "THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU". Laughton is fantastic as Moreau. I was surprised by all the sexuality in the movie from the panther women to Moreau's wanting a creation of his to straight up rape Ruth to even the subliminal facts like Laughtons own sexuality. The make up is for the most part fantastic and so are the sets. There are images in this film that just burn into your memory. I love in the "House of Pain" its vague in how Moreau actually conducts these experiments, not showing the goings on, leaving your mind to wonder the worst. These extras are just perfect. The discussion between Landis, Baker and Burns is fun. I always love hearing from David J Skal and Richard Stanley is great to hear from. I like how he envisioned the material and would have loved to have seen it. Trailers from that era I can watch for days on end. Even hearing from members of Devo and watching their short film just shows Criterion really hit a home run with this release. I was blown away by IofLS and I highly recommend it.

Are we not men??!!

Superb performance from Laughton (and Lugosi) and generally creepy atmosphere.

[IronWaffle]

Originally Posted by Thebunk

Thank you for the great reply. I have yet to check out Ozu but he has just been bumped up, along with Kor-Eda.

Re: Dardennes, Kid with a Bike was the first of theirs that I saw and I think one of their best (I have seen them all thus far except Lorna's Silence). The Son /Le Fils though is their high water mark in my opinion and Olivier Gourmet rightfully deserved the Best Actor Award at Cannes that year (which he did win). All I can say is try not to read anything about it before going in.

I'm looking forward to seeing any/all Dardennes and, like Ozu or any other director I have innate interest in after seeing any of their work, I won't be reading ANYthing about the films in advance (aside perhaps from a short plot blurb) before seeing them. I'll just take them in as I see them. The reading comes later.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Roninblues

+1 one of two CC blu-rays I got rid of.

What was the other one?

[retablo]

Originally Posted by brandon_260

You must have been looking in the wrong places, there were at least a dozen films that wowed all the way through.

Nope.

[Noetic Hatter]

Originally Posted by drbikeshorts

Hey, nice to see someone talking about The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.
It's a film that totally wears its heart on its sleeve, but it's just so lovely and enjoyable.
It pulls on your heart strings in a predictable and obvious way, but it's so easy to go along with. The cast is first class - you can't go wrong with Dench, Wilkinson, Nighy and Maggie Smith.

THIS. Or as I wrote on letterboxd: You don't put Judi Dench, Tom Wilkinson, Bill Nighy, and Maggie Smith into a film and not expect at least 3.5 stars from me. (Had they thrown in Jim Broadbent, I might have rated it 4 stars before I even saw it. I'm such a fanboy of these actors.)

Plus, I am a total sucker for learning-to-pull-head-from-arse-and-enjoy-life stories, even if they turn out to be pretty sappy (like this one). And it's a beautiful film, visually.

[ccg1978]

Seventh Seal is up next in the queue. Also White and Red from the 3 Colors Trilogy. Hope the wife can stay awake!

[Hendershot737]

I'll chime in on the best of 2012

I thought this year was pretty lacking...nothing really sank in with me nor resinated like films used to. Granted, I haven't seen everything released in 2012, but I do long for something that is worthy of me going bananas over...maybe I'm getting fazed with age

Let's start with the overrated:
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Moonrise Kingdom
Silver Linings Playbook
Django Unchained (I liked it...and Christoph Waltz & Leo were amazing...but yeah..)
Les Miserables
*gasp!*

Now what I enjoyed this year (and I'm noting ones that I wouldn't mind owning, which weeds out a few others):
The Raid: Redemption (yup)
Life of Pi (just a beauty to look at)
Lawless
Dark Knight Rises (despite its faults)
Prometheus (again, despite its flaws)
The Hobbit
The Master (despite how slow it was at times...and I love a simmering type of film, don't get me wrong)
Cloud Atlas (again, it has sits faults)
Looper
John Carter (Yes, I enjoyed this one...and I know I'm in the minority)
Zero Dark Thirty

Still need to see:
Killing Them Softly
Argo
Lincoln
The Sessions
As well as just about all of the highly-regarded foreign flicks


But with all of that, is it me or do most films this year feel empty and you don't leave the theater (or shut the player off) thinking, "wow, what a great film"...maybe just the state-side films...but many people are saying this is a strong year for films...but I have to disagree, to be honest

I'm trying to think of the last movie that left me in awe...The Tree of Life, I think...I'm probably forgetting something...

So great films of 2012? Please suggest some

[Scottie]

I forgot to add Lawless and The Words for 2012 for me.

The Words was fantastic. Bradley Cooper's performance was great, as was Jeremy Irons and Dennis Quaid.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by IronWaffle

I had a great time. I went with a friend who is devoted to the books and it made for lively conversation, but I found the movie to be a bit shapeless (though I'm told it adheres to a similar structure as FotR, which I last saw four years ago (though I see the Blu on my shelf daily!). While I like that trilogy, I can't say I love it; I also went in with low (not tempered... LOW expectations) which The Hobbit exceeded.

There's a lot to like, but most of it was spectacle. I loved the Smigel scene, which was the only time I felt the film really opened up, whereas the set pieces were claustrophobic in how they forced me along. I expect that in action movies but expected better here based on the Tolkien legacy.

Storywise I've forgotten much but I recall being bored by the prince trying to regain his throne through line which I'm told is at best a minor thread in the book. in the movie it feels TOO parallel to Aragorn (?).

I'll probably see the second, but my gut tells me this trilogy will deserve an "editor's cut" that pares it down into a digestible version of the children's book that will make it a stronger entry point for new, young viewers.

I'm with you on the Rings Trilogy. I'm not sure why Jackson is held in such esteem as a director. The films to me are grand spectacle. Linear plot movement, epic-speak, plenty of action and an abundance of medium shots. Jackson does a good job with the material, to be sure. I just won't confuse his direction with that of David Lean any time soon.

[ShellOilJunior]

IMO, one of the best films of the past couple years is Somewhere. It doesn't get discussed much and hardly anybody (I made sure to see it twice in the span of 2 weeks before it left the art house) saw it but it works for me. I love Sofia's patient direction (long takes!) and the film's relaxing and introspective feel.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Hendershot737

John Carter (Yes, I enjoyed this one...and I know I'm in the minority)

I love John Carter, and it comes in third place on my 2012 list behind The Grey and Skyfall. I rented this movie with low expectations last year, and was blown away. I did not have a Blu-ray player at the time, but I bought the Blu-ray/DVD combo package just the same with some foresight into the future. When I did finally get a Blu-ray player and HDTV, John Carter was a "demo disc" that I played later that day after I set everything up.

John Carter is a wondrous interpretation of the Edgar Rice Burroughs books. It has the grand, sweeping, larger-than-life feel of the older live-action Disney movies, like 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Treasure Island, or The Swiss Family Robinson, and it takes me back to the days of my childhood when I used to read those adventure stories under the cover with a flashlight after dark.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

IMO, one of the best films of the past couple years is Somewhere. It doesn't get discussed much and hardly anybody (I made sure to see it twice in the span of 2 weeks before it left the art house) saw it but it works for me. I love Sofia's patient direction (long takes!) and the film's relaxing and introspective feel.

I plan on importing The Virgin Suicides from France. Would you think the better option would be to buy the box set with Somewhere, Lost In Translation (which I already own), and Marie Antoinette?

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

IMO, one of the best films of the past couple years is Somewhere. It doesn't get discussed much and hardly anybody (I made sure to see it twice in the span of 2 weeks before it left the art house) saw it but it works for me. I love Sofia's patient direction (long takes!) and the film's relaxing and introspective feel.

Sofia has nothing on Bela Tarr's long takes
Turin Horse cracked my top 20 of last year

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I plan on importing The Virgin Suicides from France. Would you think the better option would be to buy the box set with Somewhere, Lost In Translation (which I already own), and Marie Antoinette?

Might as well go with the box set if you can play it.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I love John Carter, and it comes in third place on my 2012 list behind The Grey and Skyfall. I rented this movie with low expectations last year, and was blown away. I did not have a Blu-ray player at the time, but I bought the Blu-ray/DVD combo package just the same with some foresight into the future. When I did finally get a Blu-ray player and HDTV, John Carter was a "demo disc" that I played later that day after I set everything up.

John Carter is a wondrous interpretation of the Edgar Rice Burroughs books. It has the grand, sweeping, larger-than-life feel of the older live-action Disney movies, like 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Treasure Island, or The Swiss Family Robinson, and it takes me back to the days of my childhood when I used to read those adventure stories under the cover with a flashlight after dark.

You're losing art house cred owl

[The Great Owl]

I did see The Hobbit, because I had a free movie pass to do so.

And...

Years ago, I saw all three of Peter Jackson's movies in The Lord of the Rings trilogy multiple times at the theater, and revisited each of the extended editions countless times on DVD before I eventually became sick of watching them. After all this time, I'm still feeling the "Middle Earth hangover", and the idea of three more lengthy Tolkien adaptations by Peter Jackson just makes me want to curl up in bed and shut out the world.

The Hobbit was a good flick, and I started to feel the old magic when Gollum showed up on the scene, but...

I. Just. Can't. Get. Excited. About. This. Anymore.

I'll go see The Desolation of Smaug, just because I want to see the dragon set everyone straight after they try to steal his stuff.
In fact, I'm hoping that Peter Jackson radically changes the storyline so that the rest of the trilogy consists of Smaug rampaging around Middle Earth and setting everything and everyone on fire. That would be so, so much better than the battle scenes that are forthcoming in the films.

A few weeks ago, I sold my Extended Edition DVD Box Set of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, all three editions with the pretty green cover box and all, while I was streamlining my DVD collection at the nearby used store. I sold this to make room for buying the trilogy on Blu-ray, but I don't know or care when or if that will ever happen.
I'll probably shell out for the big Blu-ray box set of The Lord of the Rings when I see it for a freakishly low price somewhere...say $20 or so. Or when and if I become pumped up about revisiting the movies. I'm just not feeling it right now, though.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Might as well go with the box set if you can play it.

The site says it's Region Free, so I'm going to assume that it is

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Sofia...Blu-ray/21040/

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by James78

Just to warn you, the box set has imposed French subtitles according to this thread:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...rced+subtitles

Thanks for the heads-up

Looks like I will just wait for a U.S. release of The Virgin Suicides

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Thanks for the heads-up

Looks like I will just wait for a U.S. release of The Virgin Suicides

Amazon UK has a buy 3 blus for 17 (32 USD shipped) and Somewhere qualifies. thers over 800 titles total just be sure to check coding.