The Criterion Collection

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by FrankBlue

Okay. So, it doesn't matter whether it's a cut or uncut version - it still sees as a great movie.

The one quibble I have is that the Dialogue is in English. Other than that it is one of the most beautiful epics you will ever see.

Jon Rosenbaums review is spot on (note: contains minor spoilers)

http://www.jonathanrosenbaum.com/?p=7730

[Jett Rink]

[Show spoiler]

Originally Posted by shortmartin

yes it's a horrible experience for the viewer, but you're missing a point that Pasolini was trying to make and that reveals his creativity at work. he wanted to make a movie that doesn't simply 'represent' sadism; it is sadistic in itself, a movie that wants to punish the viewer and force the viewer to come to grips with the feeling of sadistic impulses.

the distant and static camera, the closed sets, the ugliness of the cast, all of this works to simultaneously repulse the viewer while at the same time impelling the viewer into a situation of wanting more - not more horror, but more control, more of a grasp on the film and its depiction of horror. the viewer is faced with the predicament of a pointless, useless movie.

in this way, it is a film about power, and the fascist tendency towards control that the viewer herself/himself comes to experience. the viewer wants a narrative, a purpose, an aim, a trajectory, a synthesis, something to hold onto and to provide the film with a meaning. but there is none to be found. it is a hopeless torment, like what is being depicted on the screen.

shot at a distance, with no real narrative, with no hope for one, and with one brutality piled on top of another, and yet lacking any of the atmosphere or effects that can make a horror movie alluring and frightening, the viewer of Salo comes to want anything else but this, and that basic desire for meaning and purpose is surely one that the victims of fascist brutality faced . . . but it is also a desire for control and power, which more standard cinematic fare satiates for the viewer.

Very good critique.

[billzfan]

Originally Posted by shortmartin

yes it's a horrible experience for the viewer, but you're missing a point that Pasolini was trying to make and that reveals his creativity at work. he wanted to make a movie that doesn't simply 'represent' sadism; it is sadistic in itself, a movie that wants to punish the viewer and force the viewer to come to grips with the feeling of sadistic impulses.

the distant and static camera, the closed sets, the ugliness of the cast, all of this works to simultaneously repulse the viewer while at the same time impelling the viewer into a situation of wanting more - not more horror, but more control, more of a grasp on the film and its depiction of horror. the viewer is faced with the predicament of a pointless, useless movie.

in this way, it is a film about power, and the fascist tendency towards control that the viewer herself/himself comes to experience. the viewer wants a narrative, a purpose, an aim, a trajectory, a synthesis, something to hold onto and to provide the film with a meaning. but there is none to be found. it is a hopeless torment, like what is being depicted on the screen.

shot at a distance, with no real narrative, with no hope for one, and with one brutality piled on top of another, and yet lacking any of the atmosphere or effects that can make a horror movie alluring and frightening, the viewer of Salo comes to want anything else but this, and that basic desire for meaning and purpose is surely one that the victims of fascist brutality faced . . . but it is also a desire for control and power, which more standard cinematic fare satiates for the viewer.

didn't you just reinforce my point by calling it a "pointless, useless movie." ???

[FrankBlue]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

The one quibble I have is that the Dialogue is in English. Other than that it is one of the most beautiful epics you will ever see.

Jon Rosenbaums review is spot on (note: contains minor spoilers)

http://www.jonathanrosenbaum.com/?p=7730

Cool. I'll be purchasing The Last Emperor today (at least before the Amazon.com promotion expires). I'm fairly curious with this movie, because it correlates with Chinese history, dated as far as the early 20th century toward the post-World War II.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by FrankBlue

Cool. I'll be purchasing The Last Emperor today (at least before the Amazon.com promotion expires). I'm fairly curious with this movie, because it correlates with Chinese history, dated as far as the early 20th century toward the post-World War II.

Yeah, if you're into Chinese history, youll like it.

Word of caution, it's a digipack, so hopefully it comes in undamaged.

[FrankBlue]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Yeah, if you're into Chinese history, youll like it.

Word of caution, it's a digipack, so hopefully it comes in undamaged.

I hope not. I'll keep an eye on it once the Amazon.com mail package arrives.

[billzfan]

Originally Posted by James78

Billzfan, you may know that Salo is based on the Marquis de Sade story, "The 120 Days of Sodom". How do you think Pier Paolo Pasolini should have adapted it?

Passolini's idea of taking ludicrous source material and trying to relate it to living under a Facist rule does nothing to draw us in. We don't relate to anyone in the picture because they are faceless, personality-less, and useless. They exist to merely be victims. I believe the spirit of man is far more layered than a black and white expression of sadism.

I am not anti-Passolini in any way. The Gospel According to Saint Matthew is a spellbinding and moving portrait, Mamma Roma is beautiful and heartbreaking, and Arbian nights has an interesting plot and development.

But, Salo strikes me as a cold exercise in sadism made by a filmmaker who is very angry but not very focused.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by BXR 1138

This is unrelated to the flurry of 50%-off sale posts, but Amazon has Army of Shadows back in stock for the list price of $39.95. Now is as good a time as any to get it I suppose, if you've been wanting it.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0047P5FSQ/

Sorry if this has already been mentioned.

I hope that more people jump on this one right now.

Army of Shadows was my favorite Blu-ray in my entire collection before I purchased The Twilight Zone box set last month. It's one of all-time top five movies as well.

The list price is steep, compared to the current sale, but it's awesome for an out-of-print title.

[billzfan]

Originally Posted by James78

Why is the source material ludicrous? For me, the Marquis de Sade shows us the darkest side of humanity, which is bound to be uncomfortable for the reader. Pasolini turned the story into a political allegory, which I think is astonishingly effective. I understand, however, that it's not for everyone!

I always love discussing film. If you got something out of Salo, I'm glad. I just felt it was a cold and empty experience.

[thebard]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I have never seen the longer cut. It would be a miracle if it ever becomes available on BluRay.

http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thaetrical & extended versions on separate discs. Plus a bonus disc (no english subtitles on the bonus features though).

2.35 AR on the film.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by thebard

http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thaetrical & extended versions on separate discs. Plus a bonus disc (no english subtitles on the bonus features though).

2.35 AR on the film.

So tempting....

[brandon_260]

If Army of Shadows was included in the 50% off sale, I'd be jumping on it right now. Factoring the import and shipping fees to Canada, I would rather just pull the trigger on three other titles from Barnes and Noble's B2G1 sale right now.

[tdwp117]

Originally Posted by JohnWayne

Ahh I forgot about The Blob and Godzilla, I'll definately have to pick those up during the B&N 50% off sale next month

Cronos is definitely worth a look; it was the first Criterion I bought and is one of my favs.

I'd also check out Antichrist; while incredibly graphic in some sequences, von Trier's haunting cinematography sets an intensely horrific mood.

Hope that helps.

[billzfan]

Originally Posted by tdwp117

Cronos is definitely worth a look; it was the first Criterion I bought and is one of my favs.

I'd also check out Antichrist; while incredibly graphic in some sequences, von Trier's haunting cinematography sets an intensely horrific mood.

Hope that helps.

Haven't seen Cronos but Antichrist is amazing. One of the best films dealing with anxiety ever made.

[tdwp117]

Originally Posted by billzfan

Haven't seen Cronos but Antichrist is amazing. One of the best films dealing with anxiety ever made.

Cronos is a fascinating look at what the vampire subgenre could be, dealing with the alienation of the "sickness" rather than the glamour of it *cough*Twilight*cough*

[The Great Owl]

When it comes to horror movies and Criterion, the best of the best are still on Criterion DVD.

The Vanishing, Vampyr, Carnival of Souls, Eyes without a Face, When Horror Came To Shochiku (Eclipse set), Equinox, Fiend without a Face, and a few others.

I'm hoping that these will eventually land on Blu-ray.

Incidentally, I just finished reading the new Stephen King novel, and am in that horror sort of mood.

[tdwp117]

How can I forget Obayashi's House? Crazy, funny, scary, and ridiculous.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Incidentally, I just finished reading the new Stephen King novel, and am in that horror sort of mood.

Which? I recently read 11/22/63 and The Wind Through the Keyhole and both were pretty good. I thought Under the Dome had a real 'been here, done this, have a drawer full of tshirts' feel to it but he rebounded pretty well with those two.

[RiFiFi1955]

Originally Posted by tdwp117

How can I forget Obayashi's House? Crazy, funny, scary, and ridiculous.

tdwp117, I have a quick question. I see you have Parkway's Killing with a smile as your avatar. On my copy of Killing with a smile the track knives pro guns show does not use the Die Hard snippet 'Yippie Ki Yay ...'. There is just a moment of silence before the breakdown that kicks in after that snippet. In concert and on the internet I heard the Die Hard snippet, does it actually appear on the album and I somehow get a clean version or something?

[SolidBlu]

will they also include the June releases in the sale? thanks