The Criterion Collection

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Visco.

I really want to see Fruitvale Station. MBJ looks great in it.

He is great in it. Between his role in Chronicle and this one as Oscar Grant, he is shaping up to be one of our premier actors. I hope he recieves attention come awards season.

I was very reminded of The 25th Hour in terms of structure and even tone, to a degree. Do yourself a favor and see that Spike Lee film if you haven't already. I promise you that the film will contain several sequences that you will never forget, most notably the fantasy sequence at the end.

[Blu-Velvet]

Originally Posted by SlickDamian

Summer Interlude is beautiful and thought provoking. Just a very heartfelt, intriguing film. Godard once said that it was the most beautiful film that he had ever seen.

Yes, besides the obligatory THE SEVENTH SEAL and WILD STRAWBERRIES, among Criterion's Bergman releases SUMMER INTERLUDE is one of my favorites, and is a great precursor of the style and most of the themes he'd be treating for the rest of his career. I also love SMILES OF A SUMMER NIGHT, and SUMMER WITH MONIKA is very strong. THE MAGICIAN is good, but only after you've seen several other earlier Bergmans (especially THE SEVENTH SEAL and SMILES OF A SUMMER NIGHT, among others), so you can recognize his clever variations, if not outright parodies, of what he'd done before.

[monorail91]

Listening to the Weekend (2011) soundtrack... I am seriously always in the mood to watch that movie haha. Fantastic!

This is one of the few Criterions that I had never ever heard of beyond the Collection, so I'm so grateful they released it - I'd have probably never seen what has become one of my favorite movies without em!

[Danchez]

Originally Posted by monorail91

Listening to the Weekend (2011) soundtrack... I am seriously always in the mood to watch that movie haha. Fantastic!

This is one of the few Criterions that I had never ever heard of beyond the Collection, so I'm so grateful they released it - I'd have probably never seen what has become one of my favorite movies without em!

Argh, I imported that one literally seven days before its Criterion announcement, so now I'm torn between whether to double-dip or not. I just feel as though it belongs with my other Criterion titles on my shelf.

[Mr. Thomsen]

Originally Posted by 100pr00f

has any one had trouble with a criterion film?

My copy of Sansho The Bailife Blu-Ray disc has subtitle issues
The subtitles are out of place and are to far to the bottom of the screen
and are cut off at times

any known issues like this

[Show spoiler]

Have you checked whether your player has the option to move the subs up or down? I know it's possible on my own player (Oppo BDP-93).

Alternatively, is your TV perhaps set to zoom? Make sure it is set to play 4:3 material as 4:3.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by Blu-Velvet

Yes, besides the obligatory THE SEVENTH SEAL and WILD STRAWBERRIES, among Criterion's Bergman releases SUMMER INTERLUDE is one of my favorites, and is a great precursor of the style and most of the themes he'd be treating for the rest of his career. I also love SMILES OF A SUMMER NIGHT, and SUMMER WITH MONIKA is very strong. THE MAGICIAN is good, but only after you've seen several other earlier Bergmans (especially THE SEVENTH SEAL and SMILES OF A SUMMER NIGHT, among others), so you can recognize his clever variations, if not outright parodies, of what he'd done before.

Now, if only we could get some more of the DVD titles upgraded like Sawdust and Tinsel, Scenes From a Marriage, Cries and Whispers, A Film Trilogy by Ingmar Bergman box set, etc. I know, patience, patience!

[joie]

Originally Posted by 100pr00f

has any one had trouble with a criterion film?

My copy of Sansho The Bailife Blu-Ray disc has subtitle issues
The subtitles are out of place and are to far to the bottom of the screen
and are cut off at times

any known issues like this

[Show spoiler]

Back in the day, a lot of display hardware would overscan, so Criterion would essentially underscan DVDs and you'd see that they didn't fill the frame vertically (with hardware that does not overscan). They underscanned to prevent the problem you're seeing. They're not doing that anymore.

With Sony displays, there is a feature they call something like, "1:1 Pixel," which, if selected, will prevent the overscan. Other brands may have a different name for it.

[Antonmassacre1]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I'm starting my Hitchcock box set later this weekend. In keeping with my "start with the movie that I'm least enthused to watch" policy, though, I'm going to start with Family Plot.
I've seen almost all of the movies in the set before, so it won't hurt me to break from chronological.

Looking forward to it, at any rate!

Family plot has some great moments. I think Topaz and Torn Curtain are the weaker films.

[nametag]

Originally Posted by Blu-Velvet

Yes, besides the obligatory THE SEVENTH SEAL and WILD STRAWBERRIES, among Criterion's Bergman releases SUMMER INTERLUDE is one of my favorites, and is a great precursor of the style and most of the themes he'd be treating for the rest of his career. I also love SMILES OF A SUMMER NIGHT, and SUMMER WITH MONIKA is very strong. THE MAGICIAN is good, but only after you've seen several other earlier Bergmans (especially THE SEVENTH SEAL and SMILES OF A SUMMER NIGHT, among others), so you can recognize his clever variations, if not outright parodies, of what he'd done before.

Cool, sounds like Summer Interlude is a good next step, though I really should watch Seventh Seal again, I hardly remember any of it. The only one I had a bit of trouble with was Cries and Whispers, had some great moments but didn't grab me like the others.

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by ParticleDan

Also, don't forget that it was a bit of wish fulfillment in that

[Show spoiler]Anais said on many occasions that she wanted her 'first time' to be with someone she didn't love. This is also probably why she was so emphatic that she wasn't raped

Exactly.

[Show spoiler] Unlike the other characters, she seems to recognize the violence inherent in sexuality, which in a way explains her desires. It is almost if she wanted that violence to be a the forefront of her first sexual experience, because it would be more honest that way.

[100pr00f]

Originally Posted by Mr. Thomsen

Have you checked whether your player has the option to move the subs up or down? I know it's possible on my own player (Oppo BDP-93).

Alternatively, is your TV perhaps set to zoom? Make sure it is set to play 4:3 material as 4:3.

yea i found that out last night
i have oppo 103 and a firmware and installed a firmware update and it shifted the subtitles south -5 lol

[dannyfriar]

Originally Posted by Danchez

Argh, I imported that one literally seven days before its Criterion announcement, so now I'm torn between whether to double-dip or not. I just feel as though it belongs with my other Criterion titles on my shelf.

It's definitely worth the upgrade!

[dannyfriar]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I'm starting my Hitchcock box set later this weekend. In keeping with my "start with the movie that I'm least enthused to watch" policy, though, I'm going to start with Family Plot.
I've seen almost all of the movies in the set before, so it won't hurt me to break from chronological.

Looking forward to it, at any rate!

You'll have to let us know what the picture quality is like as the review on here wasn't brilliant.

[Thebunk]

Originally Posted by jw007

I agree with everything you said in bold.

I think the label "arthouse cinema" is a bit annoying. I've always been irked by that label because it does conjure up pretentious, stylized, stuffy films with little substance. The Three Colors Trilogy is anything but that. It's an amazing human achievement and should be ranked with the greatest films of all time. Yet, rarely do people ever mention this trilogy or these films in pop culture. These films belong in the upper echelon of greatest films ever made. Ok, I mentioned "greatest" a few too many times here, but I mean it. "Arthouse" is the kind of label that Guy Maddin films deserve to have. I am not a fan of Maddin's films whatsoever and if anything, that is what a true arthouse film really looks and sounds like.

Also Lars Von Trier totally makes arthouse films which I cannot stand.

Here is an interesting Wikipedia article on "art films". The Three Colors trilogy is mentioned too: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_film

Agreed on all counts.

Getting back to the Three Colors though, I am shocked it is not championed more as a great blindbuy or as a place to start for those looking to get into the Criterion Collection. Outside of the normal modern English speaking films in the collection (I.e. Fear and Loathing, Dazed and Confused, etc) I think it truly does showcase what lies within the collection and kind of accessible as well.

Anyway great set of films that in my mind are still very under appreciated and still get overshadowed by the traditional masters within the collection.

[monorail91]

Originally Posted by Danchez

Argh, I imported that one literally seven days before its Criterion announcement, so now I'm torn between whether to double-dip or not. I just feel as though it belongs with my other Criterion titles on my shelf.

Eh the special features are good but not amazing. If there were an audio commentary I'd definitely say to go for it...but there's not. Maybe this would be a good one to use for the $5 off $50 purchase coupon at B&N lol!

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I thought it was a very entertaining movie. I know many people don't find the story he tells about treating his Macular Pucker all that interesting, but I was hooked throughout. It was an oddly life affirming watch. I don't know how much Spalding made up, but I was quite mesmerized that This man could retain so many quotidian details. And Everything Is Going to be Fine is a much stronger film, but it is also radically different in form. Overall the two make a very nice pair.

Unrelated, but I wanted to give a shout out to Fruitvale Station. It owes alot to the realism of the Dardennes and Ramin Bahrani, and is a very worthy effort. Probably the best 2013 release I have seen thus far. It's very emotionally engaging, yet brutally honest and without an ounce of fat...well except for the dog scene and one poor movie reference (WallE was released in 2008 not 2007). It's one of the indies to see this summer.

I think I'm going to see Fruitvale Station tomorrow, along with Crystal Fairy. I've been spoiled with fantastic new releases the past few weeks.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by blkhrt

Actually, the ending fits perfectly with the rest of the film. To be brief , essentially

[Show spoiler] the film is about how gender and sexuality are inherently violent, and we see this played out in the ending.

Fair enough. You make a good point.

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

He is great in it. Between his role in Chronicle and this one as Oscar Grant, he is shaping up to be one of our premier actors. I hope he recieves attention come awards season.

I was very reminded of The 25th Hour in terms of structure and even tone, to a degree. Do yourself a favor and see that Spike Lee film if you haven't already. I promise you that the film will contain several sequences that you will never forget, most notably the fantasy sequence at the end.

Speaking of 25th Hour, wasn't there talks of Criterion releasing it?

Originally Posted by Danchez

Argh, I imported that one literally seven days before its Criterion announcement, so now I'm torn between whether to double-dip or not. I just feel as though it belongs with my other Criterion titles on my shelf.

Couldn't wait that extra week, eh?

You should double dip and get the Criterion version. You can always sell your Artificial Eye copy.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Speaking of 25th Hour, wasn't there talks of Criterion releasing it?

I sincerely hope they do. It's one of the most unforgettable films of the 2000's.

[brandon_260]

I've had 25th Hour on my watchlist for nearly a year now and haven't gotten around to it. I almost picked up the DVD for $2 the other day, but I ended up skipping it so I didn't have to debit only that.

[oildude]

Originally Posted by dannyfriar

You'll have to let us know what the picture quality is like as the review on here wasn't brilliant.

Even better, why not post and discuss it in the Hitchcock Masterpiece Collection thread. I sure wouldn't come to the Criterion thread if I wanted to discuss the Hitchcock box set. Just sayin'.