The Criterion Collection

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Rich Pure Doom

The Red Shoes should be on everyone's radar... it's awesome.

Yeah, fair enough. By not on my radar I meant it never got higher than the 'soft maybe' list at regular retailers and the used BD list at GoHastings (that's where I wound up getting those last two, btw).

Powell/Pressburger don't really excite me. By all rights they should (and they still might one day) but they really don't. Jack Cardiff was enough to keep it at least on the fringes of my interest.

And I might wind up loving it. For some reason The Lady Vanishes really clicked this time around.

[Rich Pure Doom]

Originally Posted by octagon

Yeah, fair enough. By not on my radar I meant it never got higher than the 'soft maybe' list at regular retailers and the used BD list at GoHastings (that's where I wound up getting those last two, btw).

Powell/Pressburger don't really excite me. By all rights they should (and they still might one day) but they really don't. Jack Cardiff was enough to keep it at least on the fringes of my interest.

And I might wind up loving it. For some reason The Lady Vanishes really clicked this time around.

I find Powell and Pressburger's films to be wholly cinematic, in the sense that the opera is wholly dramatic.

[zoodermin]

Since I bought a lot of Criterion in the Amazon sale, I'm going to buy just a few in the upcoming B&N sale:

Wild Strawberries
The Life of Oharu
The Devil's Backbone
Kiss me Deadly

If I get the buy two, get three promotion, I'll add Safety Last and Marketa Lazarova.

[Rich Pure Doom]

Originally Posted by Sherlock_Jr

For the most part, I agree, but that's also only thinking of traditional narratives.. However, there are plenty of pieces of art that stray form the norm that are (to some) perfectly amazing precisely because they are different. It's kind of like saying Pollock's paintings aren't good because they are abstract and don't replicate the real world.

It's certainly personal preference, but film is a visual medium, and I've occasionally been swept along with a film that relies more on visuals than a concrete story. Same with books — some people can thoroughly enjoy a plotless character study as long as the prose is imaginative and well-written.

I'd personalyl rather have a beautifully shot film with less story than an badly shot one with tons of story. Since, again, film is a visual medium first and everything else second.

I agree with everything you've written and everything I wrote in my previous post at the same time. I mean, just a couple days ago I was posting on how much I love Last Year at Marienbad then a day later claiming that visuals alone do not a film make. I guess it all depends on the viewer. Maybe the visuals in The Last Emperor didn't pique my interest enough? I've always thought film criticism boils down to how you feel about a film when it ends. Despite any flaws, if your opinion of the film was generally positive, you'll look for the reasons why. Likewise, if the film left you cold, you'll focus on all the reasons why and ignore the positive aspects. This is how the basis for a review is formulated.

[starman15317]

Originally Posted by jw007

Regarding U2, I saw them on their Popmart, Elevation, Vertigo and 360 tours. My first U2 concert was Pittsburgh Popmart at the old Three Rivers Stadium. I went by myself but I'll never forget how cool the stage was.



I recently considered buying the out of print Rattle and Hum BD, but I wonder if Criterion would pick that one up. I'm not sure that film is really an essential documentary unless one would think that a band at the height of their pretentiousness would make for an "important" film.


Yes, I was there! It was quite empty but I didn't notice cause I was standing on the floor (GA) with a lot of fans. I don't even remember the quality of the performance, but I did write a long, biased review back then (I was only 19) about how "extraordinary" it was. I just loved that giant screen and yellow Mcdonalds-shaped arch. Popmart was an utter failure but it sure was bold.

I doubt that Criterion would ever release Rattle and Hum but that would be awesome if they did. I still need to get the OOP Blu-Ray; it's the only U2 Blu-Ray I don't have.

Man, I wish I could have seen PopMart. And Elevation. That was an awesome tour too.

Ok, I wish I saw Vertigo too.

I think you may have missed out on Before Midnight. I don't think it's showing around here anymore.

[BondFan84]

My Criterion Collection is scarse (10) and I want to make a dent in that this year. I just applied for my 2 month free membership at B&N and have my eyes on a few titles. I'm thinking of getting 3 out of this list on my first trip.

- Kiss Me Deadly
- Pale Flower
- The Naked Kiss
- The Game
- Two Lane Blacktop
- Breathless
- The Bad Sleep Well
- Knife In The Water
- Repulsion

Any thoughts on Two-Lane Blacktop or Breathless? I love road movies and Blacktop seems up my alley. I've never seen anything of Goddard but always hear this one when watching DVD updates or reading on these threads. Thanks!

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by BondFan84

I've never seen anything of Goddard but always hear this one when watching DVD updates or reading on these threads. Thanks!

Then Breathless is the best starting point

[KRW1]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

When does the B&N sale start?
Anyway, I'll be able to afford 2 Blurays probably like last year, so:

1) Charade (for sure)
2) Badlands (haven't seen it) or Lady Vanishes or On the Waterfront.

I wish Seconds had been released to get this!

Pre-order it. You won't have to pay until it's shipped. I'll be preordering up to September if they'll let me

[BondFan84]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

Then Breathless is the best starting point

Alright sounds good!

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

To complete the Collection, I need:

*Most of June/July releases

•Tiny Furniture
•Fat Girl
•The War Room

If the overlap happens, what twohigher priced sets can I get along with Shoah? Cassavettes DVD set?...

Berlin Alexanderplatz or 4 by Agnes Varda are the two DVD sets I'd like to pick up.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by starman15317

I doubt that Criterion would ever release Rattle and Hum but that would be awesome if they did. I still need to get the OOP Blu-Ray; it's the only U2 Blu-Ray I don't have.

Man, I wish I could have seen PopMart. And Elevation. That was an awesome tour too.

Ok, I wish I saw Vertigo too.

I think you may have missed out on Before Midnight. I don't think it's showing around here anymore.

You're right! Before Midnight is no longer playing here! Oh well, I'll just look forward to it on blu-ray on my home theater.

You know, I wish there would be a blu-ray release of U2's ZooTV Live in Sydney concert. It's absolutely U2 at their peak. I wouldn't mind a BD of the Popmart Mexico concert too, but the ZooTV one really should be on blu-ray by now.

By far, the best U2 concert I saw was the 2001 Elevation concert here in Pittsburgh. I got into the heart and also had a photo pass so I was able to stand next to the walkway where Bono was performing. I captured some great photos of that show too. Feel free to read my review and check out the pics here on my site: http://u2station.com/tours/2001/05/m...llon-arena.php

Originally Posted by BondFan84

Any thoughts on Two-Lane Blacktop or Breathless? I love road movies and Blacktop seems up my alley. I've never seen anything of Goddard but always hear this one when watching DVD updates or reading on these threads. Thanks!

Definitely buy Two-Lane Blacktop during this upcoming sale. It could be the second greatest road movie next to Easy Rider from that period. The film is short on dialogue but big on existentialism. It's a tone poem and can be a meditation too. There are scenes in the film where its completely authentic. For instance, they shot in a rainstorm so there was no rain machine they used. I love movies that almost act as documentaries, and this is one of those kinds of films.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by brandon_260

Berlin Alexanderplatz or 4 by Agnes Varda are the two DVD sets I'd like to pick up.

Oooh, maybe I should pick up the former during the sale.

I agree--- the Varda set is great, and I would recommend it as well.

[Seamus McFly]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

When does the B&N sale start?
Anyway, I'll be able to afford 2 Blurays probably like last year, so:

1) Charade (for sure)
2) Badlands (haven't seen it) or Lady Vanishes or On the Waterfront.

I wish Seconds had been released to get this!

Get the Lady Vanishes. Then again, I'm a sucker for Hitchcock, so I may be a bit biased.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by brandon_260

Berlin Alexanderplatz or 4 by Agnes Varda are the two DVD sets I'd like to pick up.

Seen Vagabond and Cleo from the Varda set, so that's a great option. Really like Fassbinder aswell, so 'Berlin' may be a great option aswell. It's gonna be crazy watching it in one sitting

If the overlap does happen these along with a bunch of eclipse sets will be mine

[brandon_260]

Finally decided to drop $20 on the Andrei Rublev DVD. Can't wait for it to be announced this month now.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Seen Vagabond and Cleo from the Varda set, so that's a great option. Really like Fassbinder aswell, so 'Berlin' may be a great option aswell. It's gonna be crazy watching it in one sitting

If the overlap does happen these along with a bunch of eclipse sets will be mine

One sitting???

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

One sitting???

I will do my best

Edit: here are all my possible buys (to complete the collection:


Available 7/9:

•Fat Girl
•Life During Wartime
•Life of Oharu
•Marketa Lazarova
•Safety Last!
•Shoah
•Things to Come
•Tiny Furniture
•The War Room
•Wild Strawberries

Available 7/16:
•Lord of the Flies

Available 7/23
•Babette's Feast
•The Ice Storm

Available 7/30:
•The Devil's Backbone

($280 or less)

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I will do my best

Hmm..you'd have to start watching when you wake up and watch until you go to sleep at night...and do everything else during it. I wonder if that's ever even been done!

[Jett Rink]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I will do my best

Edit: here are all my possible buys (to complete the collection:


Available 7/9:

•Fat Girl
•Life During Wartime
•Life of Oharu
•Marketa Lazarova
•Safety Last!
•Shoah
•Things to Come
•Tiny Furniture
•The War Room
•Wild Strawberries

Available 7/16:
•Lord of the Flies

Available 7/23
•Babette's Feast
•The Ice Storm

Available 7/30:
•The Devil's Backbone

($280 or less)

These are the one's you should focus on.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

•Fat Girl
•Life During Wartime
•Life of Oharu
•Marketa Lazarova
•Safety Last!
•Shoah
•Things to Come
•Tiny Furniture
•The War Room
•Wild Strawberries

Available 7/16:
•Lord of the Flies

Available 7/23
•Babette's Feast
•The Ice Storm

Available 7/30:
•The Devil's Backbone

The bolded is pretty much all I'm getting during the sale (unless if I decide to get a DVD set). Can't really think of anything else I want.