The Criterion Collection

[Mansinthe]

herzog did a movie about Ed gein?


is the universal monsters box worth picking up or is it possible that there will be a upgraded bigger boxset soon with more movies?




ive watched "the last emperor" last night. i dont mind that they changed the original aspect ratio, the bars are so small, i dont think there could be that much missing. the movie, i liked a lot, wish they would have made a chinese audio track as well for the whole movie.



.....
but acutally i dont care what criterion is releasing, there is a big chance that it could be a movie i have never ever heard of or would never have picked up if it wouldnt be part of the criterion collection.

the review of Marketa Lazarova & 400 blows sounds amazing !

400 blows is still in print ?

[jetthead]

Originally Posted by mrjohnnyb

I was going over my blu-ray inventory and came to Steven Spielberg, and how it would be great to have one of his films in the Criterion Collection. I know that Duel has not received a blu-ray treatment yet. I think that it would make a great addition to the collection.

Duel is a great movie! I'd love to see it on Blu-ray.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by MitchA17

I have, yes. I loved it. I actually watched it twice in a row (first as my first-time viewing, second with Herzog's commentary), and there are several moments that made me laugh in it, even as the film gets darker and darker.

[Show spoiler]Basically, the last half-hour of the film had me laughing uncomfortably (the realistic awkwardness of the barber robbery/turkey theft), and the ending left me in a state of simultaneous captivation and nervous laughter.

Though "We've got a truck on fire, can't find the switch to turn the ski lift off, and can't stop the dancing chicken. Send an electrician." is an outright hilarious line.

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Yes! I love that film.

I've spent time in Cherokee, NC before, and can totally understand the bleakness of the setting.

Thanks for the responses, Owl, Mitch, sounds pretty damn entertaining. I'll try to get to it in the next couple months. ( @ the dancing chicken line)

I pray we don't have to wait too long for Fitzcarraldo. I absolutely love that film. My jaw was on the floor for much of the central set piece..WOW!

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

It's one of the most disturbing, absorbing, and all-together fascinating documentaries I've seen in a while. It's difficult to adequately put it into words. It just needs to be experienced.

I think I'm going to see it when it comes out around here at the end of the month.

[MifuneFan]

Started watching Kurosawa's The Lower Depths (DVD) last night. It's been a few years since I've seen it last, but what a great movie. It's definitely one of his more underrated works. Would love to see it on BD, but it's likely behind a few other Kurosawa movies at this point.

The Lower Depths is actually a movie I'd like to remake, or see remade. It's something that can, and has been adapted to various times and people. Gorky wrote it about Russian life in the early 1900's, Renoir apapted it into a French setting in the 1930's, Kurosawa made it a Japanese tale in the 50's, and there's also an Indian, and Chinese adaptation. Originally my vision was about black people around the 1870's (i.e. post-slavery), but right now I'd like to write something that takes place in modern times.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

is the universal monsters box worth picking up or is it possible that there will be a upgraded bigger boxset soon with more movies?

Totally and unapologetically off topic, but I highly recommend the Universal Monsters box set UK edition, which I got for $43 a few months back.

The restorations on these discs are all amazing, especially with the Dracula and Frankenstein discs. The movies have never looked better, and they probably never will look better.

I had the Universal Legacy Collection DVD sets for the Universal Monsters, and initially intended to keep them on my shelf along with the Blu-ray set, since the Legacy sets have all of the sequels for each monster. I ultimately sold them for a good bit of cash, though, because I realized that, 99% of the time, when I'm in the mood to watch one of the Universal Monster flicks, I ended up revisiting the original first films anyway.

Just to keep this boat on course, be sure to purchase Criterion's Island of Lost Souls, because it's a great Paramount counterpart to the Universal Monsters films.

[Kevin Ridge]

Originally Posted by jw007

I watched Things to Come for the first time late last night and was silently blown away. The first half just seemed like any other movie but then once it went 100 years into the future, I was amazed at the set design, costumes, makeup/hair and props. It totally was futuristic for a 1936 film and though I should wrap this bit in spoilers, I loved that in those future sequences there was a clear plastic screen shaped in 16:9 aspect ratio! How on earth did they know back then we would be watching material on 1:78 screens?! Not only that there was more of a nature-oriented theme going on in that utopian future with plants and trees all over the futuristic city (that reminded me a bit of the 1970s film Logan's Run). I was quite amazed with this film. It truly is a visionary and ground-breaking movie. For those who own or have seen this film, please share your thoughts?

I've got about 25 plus Criterions still to watch but I have Things to Come as probably the one I'm most eager to see. Just been putting it off for the right time to watch. Probably one of my favorite covers for Criterion.

[Kevin Ridge]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

[Show spoiler]The Wages of Fear has a bleak fatalism from the beginning, with respect to the four major characters, and even to many of the peripheral characters, as evidenced by a suicide early in the film. These are not necessarily likeable characters, and the fact that they were basically willing to undertake what most of us would consider a suicide mission resonates for the entirety of their adventures once the journey begins. The way that I see it, death had already chosen the four characters from the start, and it was just a matter of each of them falling victim to the whims of randomness.

I was pulling for the characters to succeed once the trucks started rolling, because of the sheer spectacle and the displays of crazy courage, but, even during my first viewing, I could not quite envision any sort of bright future for any of these men. Mario escaped death so many times during the movie, but he was also quite reckless with himself and others while doing so. It was just a matter of time before death found him at last, and the timing reminds us that death is never "convenient" for anyone's schedule.

The bleak ending also drives home the points about the exploitation of these workers for the oil company in a sobering way.

The way that the Mario's fate plays out during the actual ending does look oddly comical, especially to today's viewers, but that's part of the bleak appeal. It seems to wonder, since there is no point to anything whatsoever, why not laugh your way over the edge of the cliff?

[Show spoiler]I understand things being bleak for these guys and how desperate they were to take on such a mission. Luigi already had physical issues and was given a death sentence by his doctor. Bimba was more than ready to die and had a shave to look presentable in death. Jo was more confusing as he originally seemed like someone not to mess with, did what he could to end up being one of the four and once there ended being a coward. He didn't want anything to do with the mission and was forced by Mario to continue on. Yes, he still went through things but if Mario had let him go he would have kept on running. Mario is the one I don't get though. He had a certain charisma that you would think he'd get a good opportunity at some point. He had a beautiful girl who was in love with him. Maybe he felt invincible for getting through the whole ordeal but I felt he was smarter than the complete reckless version of him at the end.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Kevin Ridge

[Show spoiler]I understand things being bleak for these guys and how desperate they were to take on such a mission. Luigi already had physical issues and was given a death sentence by his doctor. Bimba was more than ready to die and had a shave to look presentable in death. Jo was more confusing as he originally seemed like someone not to mess with, did what he could to end up being one of the four and once there ended being a coward. He didn't want anything to do with the mission and was forced by Mario to continue on. Yes, he still went through things but if Mario had let him go he would have kept on running. Mario is the one I don't get though. He had a certain charisma that you would think he'd get a good opportunity at some point. He had a beautiful girl who was in love with him. Maybe he felt invincible for getting through the whole ordeal but I felt he was smarter than the complete reckless version of him at the end.

I like your evaluation of the dynamics of each character.

[Show spoiler]Mario was charismatic, but also reckless during certain points of the story. On top of that, he had also been through a rather traumatic adventure and was probably insane from frayed nerves. The ending is certainly food for thought either day.

[The Great Owl]

I just finished watching my Blu-ray of Never Say Never Again, the 1983 Bond Thunderball remake starring Sean Connery. I had forgotten that Max von Sydow plays Blofeld in the movie. Pretty funny. Maybe a good double feature with Bergman's The Seventh Seal. Or maybe not. Max von Sydow does lend an element of cool to the story, though.

I mentioned in my review of Antonioni's Identification of a Woman that it would make an interesting double feature with For Your Eyes Only, but Never Say Never Again would also fit the bill when it comes to the overall look of the movie. I guess that a lot of early 1980s films that take place in Europe remind me of one another.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I mentioned in my review of Antonioni's Identification of a Woman that it would make an interesting double feature with For Your Eyes Only, but Never Say Never Again would also fit the bill when it comes to the overall look of the movie. I guess that a lot of early 1980s films that take place in Europe remind me of one another.

...Identification of a Woman and 8 1/2 for the win!

[vader4]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Excellent! That's definitely Herzog on a lighter note.

He's also in the American Dad! episode "Ricky Spanish".

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

...Identification of a Woman and 8 1/2 for the win!

I'm inclined to agree. That might be a little too much cerebral exercise for one night, though. I like the idea of doubling either of those movies with lighter fare. Same reason why I never watch more than one Terrence Malick film on the same day.

[mrjohnnyb]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I'm inclined to agree. That might be a little too much cerebral exercise for one night, though. I like the idea of doubling either of those movies with lighter fare. Same reason why I never watch more than one Terrence Malick film on the same day.

If I planned a Malick marathon, it would go like this:

Days of Heaven
Lanton Mills
The Tree of Life
The New World
The Thin Blue Line
To the Wonder
Badlands

while patiently waiting for Knight of Cups.

[Kevin Ridge]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I just finished watching my Blu-ray of Never Say Never Again, the 1983 Bond Thunderball remake starring Sean Connery. I had forgotten that Max von Sydow plays Blofeld in the movie. Pretty funny. Maybe a good double feature with Bergman's The Seventh Seal. Or maybe not. Max von Sydow does lend an element of cool to the story, though.

I mentioned in my review of Antonioni's Identification of a Woman that it would make an interesting double feature with For Your Eyes Only, but Never Say Never Again would also fit the bill when it comes to the overall look of the movie. I guess that a lot of early 1980s films that take place in Europe remind me of one another.

Wow, I haven't seen this in ages and it's cool to see that Max von Sydow was Blowfeld. Don't remember that. I only have the DVD version so I'll have to watch it again at some point. As far as the battle of Bonds for 83, I still think Octopussy was better.

[bayoozen]

Originally Posted by jw007

I watched Things to Come for the first time late last night and was silently blown away. The first half just seemed like any other movie but then once it went 100 years into the future, I was amazed at the set design, costumes, makeup/hair and props. It totally was futuristic for a 1936 film and though I should wrap this bit in spoilers, I loved that in those future sequences there was a clear plastic screen shaped in 16:9 aspect ratio! How on earth did they know back then we would be watching material on 1:78 screens?! Not only that there was more of a nature-oriented theme going on in that utopian future with plants and trees all over the futuristic city (that reminded me a bit of the 1970s film Logan's Run). I was quite amazed with this film. It truly is a visionary and ground-breaking movie. For those who own or have seen this film, please share your thoughts?

I watched this today. It is a blatant New World Order propaganda film which is what you can expect from HG Wells. Science and technology is what is bringing our society to the brink of disaster and eventually the one world government (which is shown to be a good thing in this film) will have total and complete control of our lives. We will have absolutely no freedom.

[Jett Rink]

I just finished watching White Dog, and it was a lot better than I thought is was going to be. There are symbols in the film early on that could portray what the film is going to be about. Or it is just me interpreting them in weird ways,

[Show spoiler]like the VW Beetle or the German (that is what I guessed) vets.

The music is really good, I always look for that in a movie. The dog is kind of scary in some scenes, you would not want to meet it on a dark street alone. Because of the subject matter, it may not be for everyone. Some of the acting is kind of corny, as it was made in the early 1980's.

[grahams76]

Originally Posted by Jett Blu

Some of the acting is kind of corny, as it was made in the early 1980's.

Eh? That makes no sense whatsoever. If anything, acting and certainly cinema was better in 1982 than it is now. And I'm not sure I even believe that statement.

[Jett Rink]

Originally Posted by grahams76

Eh? That makes no sense whatsoever. If anything, acting and certainly cinema was better in 1982 than it is now. And I'm not sure I even believe that statement.

You don't have to believe it, it is just my opinion.

[Kevin Ridge]

So, In the Realm of the Senses....

[Show spoiler]I knew enough going in that it would be graphic but I was still surprised with the end result especially since Japan is very strict in the showing of genitalia. They were sneaky is shooting in Japan but having it being edited in France. You can call it art but it still felt like a porno to me. The ending was really tough to watch as I was squirming big time.