The Criterion Collection

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

but is a single bluray enough for a full movie (136min) + over 200 mins of bonus features + commentary track? 0_0

Some of the bonuses are not 1080p. Also, Criterion fitted the entire TV version of Fanny & Alexander on to a single BD, without hugely apparent visual detriment. I assume Ozu's static camera and stately pace do not call for monster bitrates

[14728]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

[Show spoiler]The anti-war theme of the film points out many of the absurdities of war. This General, in his quest for promotion and attention, ordered this attack on what was, admittedly, a near-impossible mission. If it succeeded; he got the glory and all the things that go with it. if it failed; he would have still gotten the accolades for being bold and imaginative at a time in the war when, as was stated, there was very little going on battle-wise with both sides pretty well just hunkered down. This General's ego is so huge that when the battle turns so badly against his troops and they (in his eyes) perform as cowards he orders his own artillery to fire on them to get them out of the trenches. By this action alone it shows the extremes he would go to so why would executing 3 men be a big deal? An example made. They're like children, they want to be disciplined or so the reasoning goes. Watch this movie again. There's lots of little (and not so little) examples of the foolishness of war. The Wayne Morris character, for example, is the biggest true coward in the picture, and yet he, literally, gets away with murder. The irony there is that, in real life, Wayne Morris was a highly decorated flying Ace in WWII!

Never thought of that. Thanks!!

[14728]

Originally Posted by octagon

First off, yes it's an old movie but I would bet that even in here people who haven't seen it outnumber those who have and spoiler tags are really easy to use. I'm just saying...

As for your point,

[Show spoiler]Once Mireau decided to blame the failure of the attack on cowardice the punishment was a foregone conclusion. Refusing to carry out an attack because of cowardice is a ticket to a firing squad. Jail wasn't an option. His choices were admit the attack was a terrible idea doomed to fail before it even started or execute some grunts for cowardice.

Next time I'll put the spoiler sign. But anyways, thanks!

[Blu2u]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Tokyo Story Blu-ray REVIEW



Pro-B

Great review. Can you post pics of the packaging? A hot button topic has been what packaging they are going with for the dual format releases.

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

Not a Criterion title but I just ordered The Haunting. Sliding back into Criterion territory......I was watching Seconds last night and as much credit as Rock Hudson gets for his performance I don't think John Randolph gets nearly enough for his. He's terrific!!!

I just rewatched my DVD of The Haunting last night. As I was watching it I kept thinking about how much better the blu would look.

[Abdrewes]

Welcome, Meek.

I really love that you sent them the suggestion of Cairo Station. After seeing that film this summer, I believe I posted something brief about it here. It truly is a wonderful film that many will fall in love with should it get a Criterion release.

-AB

[Mansinthe]

ordered Seconds on 30.09.13 @ B&N. received it today

probably gonna watch that one later

[14728]

It would be awesome to see Criterion release the adaption of Fahrenheit 451. Then I can have a double feature with Seconds.

[Nighteyes]

Originally Posted by 14728

Criterion should release the adaption of Fahrenheit 451

Not a bad idea.

[Carletty]

Originally Posted by 14728

Criterion should release the adaption of Fahrenheit 451 so I can have a double feature with Seconds. It would be awesome to see it get a CC release.

And Alphaville...again.

[14728]

I've never seen the movie, but I have read the book. It's great. I highly reccomend it. But I did hear the movie was pretty good.

[tenia]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Some of the bonuses are not 1080p. Also, Criterion fitted the entire TV version of Fanny & Alexander on to a single BD, without hugely apparent visual detriment. I assume Ozu's static camera and stately pace do not call for monster bitrates

All bonuses on Criterion BDs are always either 1080i or 1080p.
Moreover, F&A TV version has compression issues compared to the theatrical cut, due to being clogged on one disc only.

However, you're right by saying that Ozu B&W static compositions, + the fact that the movie is 1.37 OAR, makes it much easier to encode.
Also, of course, one can always encode at a lower bitrate the extras to make some room for the movie.

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

ordered Seconds on 30.09.13 @ B&N. received it today

probably gonna watch that one later

Enjoy. In France, I'm still waiting for The Spy Who Came In From The Cold and Slacker, ordered on 30th of August and shipped on 17th of Sept...

[Meek12345]

Jw007, everyone on this forum seems so excited about Thief that I really look forward to watching it on Tuesday. Seems like it would be a good blind buy, but I'm glad it's coming on tv soon.

AB, I recorded Cairo Station off of TCM last week I believe. The 15 week Story of Film series that is going on right now has introduced me to many "new" films. It was my first Egyptian film and I found it very interesting. I still have quite a few films left to watch on my DVR including Cleo from 5 to 7, L'Eclisse, Le Notti Bianche, etc.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Meek12345

Good morning everyone,

I have been lurking on the Criterion forum here for a while. I just finished registering on blu-ray.com, so I could post on this forum.

Welcome aboard, Meek!

I am glad to see Quiz Show mentioned on your list. That is an outstanding film that I enjoyed watch multiple times back in the VHS days when it came out in the early 1990s.

[Scottie]

Welcome aboard, Meek!

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Tokyo Story Blu-ray REVIEW



Pro-B

Cannot wait! Thanks for the review!

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Welcome aboard, Meek!

I am glad to see Quiz Show mentioned on your list. That is an outstanding film that I enjoyed watch multiple times back in the VHS days when it came out in the early 1990s.

I have Quiz Show on my Watch List as it is available On Demand.

[TheHighRoller]

Originally Posted by TJS_Blu

That's a good thing. If only his supporters did the same.

I'm sure you mean "critics", or "skeptics".

[oildude]

Originally Posted by 14728

Hey. I'm about half way through Paths of Glory, and I have to admit, it's pretty good. The atmosphere is great, and the writing and directing are just brilliant. Though the acting is questionable. Like, Paul (the general) is a bit over acting, don't you think? And also, why does he want to kill 3 random men because they were scared of death? But I'm just nit picking. Pretty good.

Originally Posted by 14728

But still, did he have to

[Show spoiler]KILL people because they were scared of death. I can see him putting them in jail, but DEATH??? Umm...

As absurd as this seems today, it has historical precedent, and that is what the general in the film is exploiting. The word "decimation" originated with a practice by the Romans to instill discipline in units that had failed in some spectacular way to perform as expected in battle. If the perceived failure was grievous enough for a Roman general to fear it might infect the entire army, or legion, or whatever, or if he felt the honor of the unit was compromised, or in some cases to cover up for his own incompetence, then one extreme method of atonement was to exact a blood debt from the affected unit, paid by one man in ten chosen randomly for execution. Needless to say, this method of punishment proved motivating to the other nine men not selected.

Paths of Glory is a story that has its roots planted in historical events of early 1917, when the French army launched a massive attack all along its sector of the Western Front in what was to be a "final all out grand offensive" to push the Germans out of their trenches and out of France. The Germans knew about the upcoming attack well in advance, had months to prepeare, and shredded the French. Morale and discipline collapsed in many French units, thousands of poilus had finally had enough after more than three years of terrible casualties suffered in poorly planned offensives with meager results, to the point that mutinies broke out up and down the line. Out of fear that the mutinies would spread and that the Germans would find out and take advantage of the situation, the French army sacked the commander responsible for the failed 1917 offensive and began instituting a series of reforms.

In the initial days of the mutinies, before humane reforms were put in place, some over zealous incompetent commanders reverted to brutality to shame and discipline their units, thinking that blooding them by continually forcing them into the meatgrinder of German fire would make them stronger, or that shooting a few of their own men would make the remainder harder and more motivated. It did not work, obviously. It only made things worse; the soldier's refusals to continually engage in hopeless attacks and the outright mutinies spread like a virus, until the offensive was called off, the French army was placed on the defensive, and earnest work was done to improve their conditions and morale.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by oildude

As absurd as this may seem today, it has historical precedent, and that is what the general in the film is exploiting.
In the initial days of the mutinies, before humane reforms were put in place, some over zealous incompetent commanders reverted to brutality to shame and discipline their units, thinking that blooding them by continually forcing them into the meatgrinder of German fire would make them stronger, or that shooting a few of their own men would make the remainder harder and more motivated. It did not work, obviously. It only made things worse, the soldier's refusals to continually engage in hopeless attacks and the outright mutinies spread like a virus, until the offensive was called off, the French army was placed on the defensive, and earnest work was done to improve their conditions and morale.

Grand Illusion also plays up the idea that WWI was the last so-called "gentleman's war", where the aristocracy got first crack at the officer command, and talked casually and dismissively about the enlisted men being machine-gunned on the field, or succeeding or failing to make their strategic pushes, as if they were sharing drinks at a cricket game.
Hence the prevailing idea among the command, especially the French, that the unwashed, mostly blue-collar enlisted men were Made To Be Ruled, or at least granted the "honor" of being fed into the meatgrinder for King and country.

WWII, after most of the ex-monarchic sub-nobility was retired from Europe, wasn't a high-hatted affair of generals serving champagne to each other at the local requisitioned mansion-turned-HQ, or enemy biplane pilots saluting each other after the kill; it was a dirty, democratic affair where men got hurt; the system of war was just more aware of it by then, is all.
(A point Douglas richly hammers home by the climax.)

[ccfixx]

From criterionforum.org...

It looks like Mike Figgis has confirmed on his Twitter account that Criterion will possibly be releasing Leaving Las Vegas in 2014.

[TheHighRoller]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

From criterionforum.org...

It looks like Mike Figgis has confirmed on his Twitter account that Criterion will possibly be releasing Leaving Las Vegas in 2014.

I love when directors or people associated with certain pictures confirm things like this.