The Criterion Collection

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by jw007

If you want something boring and of Italian cinema, try Red Desert by Antonioni. Terribly boring.

Originally Posted by jw007

Hooray! I personally think this is WKW's best film hands down.

[jw007]

Okay, new question for everyone!

I am not even sure this has ever been asked!

Name five Criterion blu-ray or dvd releases that you think have the best "main menu" (in terms of visuals, music and sounds). This menu also has to be memorable and original too.

Here is my top 5:

1. Chungking Express (awesome Cranberries song and dynamic visuals)
2. Quadrophenia (very cool words/dialogue wrapping around the motorcycle wheel)
3. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (DVD version - the amazing calligraphy brush strokes writing out the title)
4. The Thin Red Line (beautiful and moving score by Zimmer with powerful images from the film)
5. TIED: The Game (freakish images in a tv/tube pattern) and Videodrome (bizarre television themed images)

Wild card: Bottle Rocket or The Royal Tenenbaums (great animations!)

I probably forgot a few others but these are the ones I came up with for now.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Not only is Antonioni my favorite director, that's my favorite film in the entire collection. I am terrible disappointed in you, JW.

Okay, maybe I just need to watch this one again... no problemo AB.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by jw007

Okay, new question for everyone!

I am not even sure this has ever been asked!

Name five Criterion blu-ray or dvd releases that you think have the best "main menu" (in terms of visuals, music and sounds). This menu also has to be memorable and original too.

Here is my top 5:

1. Chungking Express (awesome Cranberries song and dynamic visuals)
2. Quadrophenia (very cool words/dialogue wrapping around the motorcycle wheel)
3. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (DVD version - the amazing calligraphy brush strokes writing out the title)
4. The Thin Red Line (beautiful and moving score by Zimmer with powerful images from the film)
5. TIED: The Game (freakish images in a tv/tube pattern) and Videodrome (bizarre television themed images)
.

Videodrome, House and Paris, Texas are my top ones for sure...I'd have to try to remember what else..

[fdm]

Originally Posted by jayj15

Wow one star? I enjoyed this film quite a bit. I loved how it switched tones so suddenly.

Some people just get off on throwing around one star reviews around here. You liked it, that's all that matters. (And so did I. )

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by jw007

That's a bit low, don't you think? I mean, the film was well directed in my opinion. I'm guessing you're either not a fan of Italian 60s cinema or of older black and white movies?

I love B&W movies

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by fdm

Some people just get off on throwing around one star reviews around here. You liked it, that's all that matters. (And so did I. )

I believe it's probably only the second or third movie I think I've ever posted anything negative about; I'm sorry if that goes against some type of unwritten rule against not unconditionally praising something that's either

A) Criterion
B) B&W
C) Foreign

I found the movie dreadfully boring and slow. The description/plot summary made it sound very interesting but it was pretty off base. I'm not a fan of these slow building (or in this case, almost no building) films.

[The Keeper]

Originally Posted by smoss469

Revisited The Royal Tenenbaums for the first time in probably a decade. I guess my tastes have evolved; on my initial viewing I didn't care for it at all however a few days ago I saw it online, used for $2, yes $2 so I figured why not. (DVD, not BD but I wasn't out any real $$ if I didn't care for it).

On the second go'round, I really loved it. So many complex and flawed characters.

[Show spoiler]Ben Stiller and his safety fears, the struggle of losing a wife and trying to raise 2 kids when he didn't even have a father growing up. Luke Wilson, living a life of torment. Constantly knowing what he wants, he's never been able to have and the eerie foreshadowing of him trying to kill himself only to have his brother and co-star try the same thing years later. Let's not forget Paltrow... the outcast who was always reminded that she was never part of the family. Some of the best acting anyone involved has ever done and easily the hottest Gwyneth Paltrow has ever looked

A great movie with a fitting ending.

I just upgraded to the blu 2 weeks ago. All I can say is GET IT! The transfer is gorgeous. I was thinking that the dvd wasn't exactly great, especially for a Criterion title, when I was watching about a month ago. This is one of the most dramatic upgrades to blu that I have seen.

Keep your dvd, though; not all the supplements have carried over.

[Patrick M.]

Originally Posted by brandon_260

Just rewatched Chungking Express. The film is near perfect and I find the second story absolutely flawless. Tony Leung and Faye Wong have such an undeniable chemistry that is impossible not to be mesmerized by. The apartment scenes in particular are a thing of beauty.

I've been watching WKW's filmography in order and while Days of Being Wild shows the initial signs of what he will become as a director, Chungking Express is definitely where he really finds his footing.

Also, completely separate thought, but I would love Criterion to introduce some Hong Sang-soo into the collection.

I watched CE about a year ago for the first time and didn't really like it that much, then a couple of months ago I gave it another chance and fell in love it.

I could slap myself for not getting the Blu while I still had the chance.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by smoss469

I believe it's probably only the second or third movie I think I've ever posted anything negative about; I'm sorry if that goes against some type of unwritten rule against not unconditionally praising something that's either

A) Criterion
B) B&W
C) Foreign

I found the movie dreadfully boring and slow. The description/plot summary made it sound very interesting but it was pretty off base. I'm not a fan of these slow building (or in this case, almost no building) films.

So having said that, what did you think of Marketa Lazarova? I recently saw this film last week and found it nearly unwatchable and highly tedious. It's 1) a Criterion, 2) B&W and 3) Foreign. So it falls under all 3 of your criteria.

[ravenus]

I'm not quite a great owl , but for what it's worth, here's my take on Mahanagar aka The Big City:

It's a little sad that Satyajit Ray has a reputation as an arthouse film-maker, which to most audiences, especially Indians signifies a dry, intellectual exercise, difficult to digest or pretentious, because IMO more than anything else, his main interest has been in telling interesting stories in an interesting and clear manner. With a couple of songs and perhaps a dollop of slapstick, his film Mahanagar could easily sit amongst the popular middle-of-the-road sensibility Bollywood films of Basu Chatterjee or Hrishikesh Mukherjee.

The story is about how a conservative middle-class family in Calcutta is affected when financial circumstances require that the wife should also take up a job. The film looks at it from two aspects:
1) The impact on the other family members - the loving but traditional husband, his orthodox parents, the young child (They all have reservation to some extent, and the only unequivocal supporter is the husband's kid sister, who sees it as a projection of her own ambitions)
2) The changes in the woman herself - how she grows from a shy house-bound wife to a more confident worldly-wise person.
Without any arty pretensions, but with the sharpness of observation and empathy towards the characters which are his strongest assets, Ray paints a very tangible portrait of this little personal revolution in the traditional family. Of course he is here immensely aided by the marvelous chemistry between the gorgeous Madhabi Mukherjee and Anil Chatterjee as her husband - their spousal relationship is a very credible and heartwarming picture of romance and friendship, mischief and responsibility. While some reality-obsessed curmudgeons may find the film's end unduly optimistic, it is a very well-placed happy ending, representing the never-say-die spirit of hope over adversity that keeps humanity alive. Ray's touch is very much evident in the screenplay and the visuals - many times, more is conveyed than said, with the use of beautiful visual metaphor or plain restraint, allowing the sensibility of the audience to fill in the gap. For this film he also composed the score, which is lovely and worth hearing on its own. All in all, highly recommended, and screw the snobs who regard it as a "minor film in the Ray canon".

My recent watch of this film was on Criterion's blu-ray. Video-wise this is another amazing restoration (taking a 2K scan of the original negative) from RD Bansal / Pixion (Chennai). Kudos to them for making such a brilliant effort when so many classic Indian films, including some of the biggest box office blockbusters, look like complete shit on home video. Sometimes, the brightness levels seem very high, although there are no blown whites; it might have something to do with the intended look or the shooting conditions. The encode itself is excellent to mine eye, with no apparent digital artefacts. The mono sound is clear and robust and the music comes across quite nicely. I have not seen Kapurush, the short feature presented as an extra on this disc, but the other stuff is quite nice - a critic's video essay talking about the film, Madhabi Mukherjee reflecting on her experience, a vintage Films Division short by BD Garga on Satyajit ray, which briefly looks at the shooting of Mahanagar.

[Yami]

People here might be interested in Milestone Films' crowdfunding effort for NOTFILM - what sounds like a fascinating essay film/documentary on Samuel Beckett's FILM (starring Buster Keaton). There's some enticing rewards, such as a signed copy of Killer of Sheep (sadly not on Blu-Ray).

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by jw007

So having said that, what did you think of Marketa Lazarova? I recently saw this film last week and found it nearly unwatchable and highly tedious. It's 1) a Criterion, 2) B&W and 3) Foreign. So it falls under all 3 of your criteria.

Never saw it.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by ravenus

[Show spoiler]I'm not quite a great owl , but for what it's worth, here's my take on Mahanagar aka The Big City:

It's a little sad that Satyajit Ray has a reputation as an arthouse film-maker, which to most audiences, especially Indians signifies a dry, intellectual exercise, difficult to digest or pretentious, because IMO more than anything else, his main interest has been in telling interesting stories in an interesting and clear manner. With a couple of songs and perhaps a dollop of slapstick, his film Mahanagar could easily sit amongst the popular middle-of-the-road sensibility Bollywood films of Basu Chatterjee or Hrishikesh Mukherjee.

The story is about how a conservative middle-class family in Calcutta is affected when financial circumstances require that the wife should also take up a job. The film looks at it from two aspects:
1) The impact on the other family members - the loving but traditional husband, his orthodox parents, the young child (They all have reservation to some extent, and the only unequivocal supporter is the husband's kid sister, who sees it as a projection of her own ambitions)
2) The changes in the woman herself - how she grows from a shy house-bound wife to a more confident worldly-wise person.
Without any arty pretensions, but with the sharpness of observation and empathy towards the characters which are his strongest assets, Ray paints a very tangible portrait of this little personal revolution in the traditional family. Of course he is here immensely aided by the marvelous chemistry between the gorgeous Madhabi Mukherjee and Anil Chatterjee as her husband - their spousal relationship is a very credible and heartwarming picture of romance and friendship, mischief and responsibility. While some reality-obsessed curmudgeons may find the film's end unduly optimistic, it is a very well-placed happy ending, representing the never-say-die spirit of hope over adversity that keeps humanity alive. Ray's touch is very much evident in the screenplay and the visuals - many times, more is conveyed than said, with the use of beautiful visual metaphor or plain restraint, allowing the sensibility of the audience to fill in the gap. For this film he also composed the score, which is lovely and worth hearing on its own. All in all, highly recommended, and screw the snobs who regard it as a "minor film in the Ray canon".

My recent watch of this film was on Criterion's blu-ray. Video-wise this is another amazing restoration (taking a 2K scan of the original negative) from RD Bansal / Pixion (Chennai). Kudos to them for making such a brilliant effort when so many classic Indian films, including some of the biggest box office blockbusters, look like complete shit on home video. Sometimes, the brightness levels seem very high, although there are no blown whites; it might have something to do with the intended look or the shooting conditions. The encode itself is excellent to mine eye, with no apparent digital artefacts. The mono sound is clear and robust and the music comes across quite nicely. I have not seen Kapurush, the short feature presented as an extra on this disc, but the other stuff is quite nice - a critic's video essay talking about the film, Madhabi Mukherjee reflecting on her experience, a vintage Films Division short by BD Garga on Satyajit ray, which briefly looks at the shooting of Mahanagar.

Thank you for sharing that! To my discredit, I've never seen a Satyajit Ray film, and this is one of the notable gaps in my scope of classic cinema knowledge. The interpersonal aspects and relationships that you've described above intrigue me about this one.

[Judex]

Originally Posted by JJJ225

Yeah, I hate their box set packaging.

+1
They're so easily damaged. I wish they'd use a more sturdy card like MoC use on theirs.

Originally Posted by kuro_sawa

Are all the bfi john cassavetes blus region free?

Only Shadows, and Faces from BFI are region free.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by jw007

Name five Criterion blu-ray or dvd releases that you think have the best "main menu" (in terms of visuals, music and sounds). This menu also has to be memorable and original too.

Off the top of my head...

The Night of the Hunter - I love the river shots in the main menu.
Breathless - This menu captures the eternal hipness of the feature film quite well.
Repo Man - I love the punk 'zine imagery in the menu.
Sweet Smell of Success - The glow of streetlights and signs are a good teaser for the beauty of the feature film.
Stagecoach - The menu suits the iconic imagery of this sprawling Ford western.

The Videodrome main menu puts my hair up on end. I like to imagine that people who blindly purchase this film wonder what they got themselves into when the menu pops up.

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by jw007

Hooray! I personally think this is WKW's best film hands down. The reason this film succeeds is that it wasn't over-thought or over-directed, unlike In the Mood for Love, which took a very long time to film and edit. But I hear this film, Chungking Express, took like a month to make. It's totally "free" and spontaneous. I really did not enjoy ITMFL nearly as much as Chungking. Just two totally different types of films by the same director.

And oh, I think this is hands down the finest Criterion release for "main menu"! Yes, with that Cranberries song playing as soon as it comes on...its a rush of energy and excitement that really gets you "in the mood" for Chungking Express!

I think you're absolutely being to harsh on In The Mood for Love. While I enjoy Chungking Express more, I can't deny the fact that In The Mood for Love is a far better crafted film.

[geoffc]

Just placed a pre-order for 'City Lights' with Amazon.com.

As this is the first time I've pre-ordered any Criterion releases from them can anybody tell me when they usually ship?

Day of release?

Or is stock sometimes late arriving with them?

[italy12]

Originally Posted by geoffc

Just placed a pre-order for 'City Lights' with Amazon.com.

As this is the first time I've pre-ordered any Criterion releases from them can anybody tell me when they usually ship?

Day of release?

Or is stock sometimes late arriving with them?

It depends. Nobody without a paycheck from Amazon can answer that 100% accurately.

[geoffc]

I know its not possible to be 100% but was just asking what other members experiences are that's all.