The Criterion Collection

[hustlermane]

Least favourite? Their recent years films haven't been great - Frances Ha was a strange selection. I didn't think it did anything that Girls and Woody Allen films haven't done, and was a pretty boring use of B/W cinematography. Also, it would have had a fine blu-ray release anyway, not sure why Criterion felt the need to step in. Same with Gomorrah. Soderbergh's Traffic I thought was pretty average, and Bottle Rocket and Rushmore both sort of rub me the wrong way (the later Andersons I like though).

Also, completely with DumbHuman - I love Red Desert and L'Avventura, but L'Avventura is the more compelling, or dare i say it, accessible film of the two.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by jayj15

No one's fault but your own. You could of rented it, or got the Studiocanal version for cheap. Spending $150 plus on a blind buy? What do you mean by "amusement park ending"? Did you not like the ferris wheel scene or something? I hope you'll grow to like it, it is a great film.

I wasn't big on renting back in the day. I've pretty much been doing that with Hulu, On Demand, and regular cable. Also, right. If I recall correctly, I didn't like it.

[hustlermane]

At least you'll get a good price if and when you do sell it, or at the very least even if you don't like the movie itself, know you have a pretty rare commodity nowadays

[GenPion]

I agree with iScottie about The Third Man. It wasn't really a "bad" film but it is certainly an over-rated one. It's amongst my least favorite films from what I have seen in the Criterion collection. I just didn't connect to it much. The music was also jarring and felt out of place.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by GenPion

I agree with iScottie about The Third Man. It wasn't really a "bad" film but it is certainly an over-rated one. It's amongst my least favorite films from what I have seen in the Criterion collection. I just didn't connect to it much. The music was also jarring and felt out of place.

Glad to see that I'm not crazy.

Also, the music was the only thing I took away from it. We had Hurricane Sandy hit us last year and I found myself humming the tune for days due to boredom haha.

[shortmartin]

somebody a couple of pages back was talking about how or if to split up Heaven's Gate. I like it all in one big slog. And it's my favorite Western movie. So, yeah, check it out. my favorite part is the incredible rolling skating scene and the epic shots of immigrants trekking the land. the music alone is worth it. it really is a beautiful film.

[hustlermane]

I'd agree - I saw a recent theatrical showing of the full version that didn't have an intermission, and it was fine. Certainly a long film, but didn't feel like 4 hours (or 3:45 or whatever). I think < 4 hours as a rule can be one sitting. But I wouldn't tell anyone who felt like they needed a break midway that they were doing it wrong.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by shortmartin

somebody a couple of pages back was talking about how or if to split up Heaven's Gate. I like it all in one big slog. And it's my favorite Western movie. So, yeah, check it out. my favorite part is the incredible rolling skating scene and the epic shots of immigrants trekking the land. the music alone is worth it. it really is a beautiful film.

Also the scene

[Show spoiler]When Christopher Walken is bringing Kris Kristofferson back to his bunk. The immigrants are so crowded in they seem to be hanging like bats from the ceilings. Such squalor.

[oildude]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Glad to see that I'm not crazy.

Also, the music was the only thing I took away from it. We had Hurricane Sandy hit us last year and I found myself humming the tune for days due to boredom haha.

That's what two crazy people say when they meet each other.

The Third Man is superb film noir.

[shortmartin]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

Also the scene

[Show spoiler]When Christopher Walken is bringing Kris Kristofferson back to his bunk. The immigrants are so crowded in they seem to be hanging like bats from the ceilings. Such squalor.

i also like

[Show spoiler]the way that walken ends up going down in the end, such a great cinematic death, he really went down fighting

[jw007]

Originally Posted by jayj15

No one's fault but your own. You could of rented it, or got the Studiocanal version for cheap. Spending $150 plus on a blind buy? What do you mean by "amusement park ending"? Did you not like the ferris wheel scene or something? I hope you'll grow to like it, it is a great film.

Originally Posted by GenPion

I agree with iScottie about The Third Man. It wasn't really a "bad" film but it is certainly an over-rated one. It's amongst my least favorite films from what I have seen in the Criterion collection. I just didn't connect to it much. The music was also jarring and felt out of place.

Originally Posted by iScottie

Glad to see that I'm not crazy.

Also, the music was the only thing I took away from it. We had Hurricane Sandy hit us last year and I found myself humming the tune for days due to boredom haha.

Hey iScottie!

There, did I get your attention?

Well, guess what? You're NOT crazy!

I did the same thing you did. I blind-bought this film for $125 on Ebay (back in May) when I knew this was the most rare OOP Criterion film out there.

I did not enjoy watching this movie.

BUT...

I actually did borrow this film once at the library...about a year or two prior. I only had seen it once so to me it was like a blind-buy. I remember the film didn't blow me away, but it was still a very innovative movie for its time (with the use of the single instrument - zither - especially). But I didn't connect with it either (as GenPion wrote).

I guess the main reason I spent so much money on this film was because of its sheer value and obscurity since it was out of print. I am a sucker for "rare" or out of print movies on Blu-ray. I spent $50 on eBay on Akira soon after and now I see it has a new Blu-ray release coming out. I guess since the resale value is high too, I can always sell The Third Man and get some decent money for it, as long as it remains out of print.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by Dumbhuman

For my taste, L'Avventura is the much more compelling film of the two, but as with any opinion, I'm sure there are those who feel exactly the opposite.

Pure cinema, but Antonioni's best film is L'eclisse. Pure poetry

(Tracking down MOC's lovely DVD of Il Grido is also a good idea).

https://www.blu-ray.com/community/ga...pro-bassoonist





Pro-B

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by KrugerIndustrial

Just watched Egoyan's Exotica. What a film. Here's my mini-review.

A gay, exotic eggs smuggling pet shop owner who is into black in more than one way. A troubled tax inspector who makes him an desperate offer. Hypnotically beautiful Christina in a school girl uniform. Her jealous boyfriend with a secret or two. A room full of hotness, a room full of broken dreams. Oh seductive Exotica. Just don't touch. Everybody knows it's coming apart. Take one last look at this sacred heart before it blows and everybody knows.

Sounds like you are ready for this film, Matti

Tied - Trailer - YouTube

Pro-B

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by Debbie Downer

Yeah I enjoy Exotica too....whenever the Leonard Cohen song plays. It needed more footage of Mia Kirshner dancing to "Everybody Knows".

Then you want to see this film as well - plenty of exotic dancing and elegant tracks from Mr. Cohen (Good for Exotica fans as well).

By the way, the French disc, which is English-friendly, is one of the most beautiful and unusual I've seen for a DVD release. It has tiny pink stars that glow Maybe I could post a picture later on.

Nathalie... DVD Trailer - YouTube

Pro-B

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

How 'bout that Monica Vitti?

Very, very beautiful, but not a match for young Virna Lisi





Pro-B

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by jw007

Hey iScottie!

There, did I get your attention?

Well, guess what? You're NOT crazy!

I did the same thing you did. I blind-bought this film for $125 on Ebay (back in May) when I knew this was the most rare OOP Criterion film out there.

I did not enjoy watching this movie.

BUT...

I actually did borrow this film once at the library...about a year or two prior. I only had seen it once so to me it was like a blind-buy. I remember the film didn't blow me away, but it was still a very innovative movie for its time (with the use of the single instrument - zither - especially). But I didn't connect with it either (as GenPion wrote).

I guess the main reason I spent so much money on this film was because of its sheer value and obscurity since it was out of print. I am a sucker for "rare" or out of print movies on Blu-ray. I spent $50 on eBay on Akira soon after and now I see it has a new Blu-ray release coming out. I guess since the resale value is high too, I can always sell The Third Man and get some decent money for it, as long as it remains out of print.

Haha. Agreed on all points.

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Pure cinema, but Antonioni's best film is L'eclisse. Pure poetry

Amen to that. Even though I've only seen L'Avventura and L'Eclisse from Antonioni's trilogy, L'Eclisse is my favorite.

[jw007]

very good, iscottie! high fives for not diggin' the third man!

now i'm finally going to watch "house" (hausu) on the criterion dvd i borrowed from the library...did you see this film too? must be a good film to watch on halloween night judging from the dvd cover.

[Blu-Velvet]

Originally Posted by jw007

now i'm finally going to watch "house" (hausu) on the criterion dvd i borrowed from the library...did you see this film too? must be a good film to watch on halloween night judging from the dvd cover.

It's got a lot of Halloween-worthy sequences. Keep in mind that at heart it's a dark comedy at least as much as a horror film. It's also loaded with allusions to various filmmaking styles from silent cinema to classic Japanese ghost stories and gothic thrillers to TV commercials and music videos to avant-garde experimental films.

[amoergosum]

Originally Posted by Meek12345

I will continue to hope for a miracle with The Fountain or that Warner will change it's stance on licensing.

We should all send Warner & Criterion an email >>>

Like Darren Aronofski said:

"Aronofsky did say that, "at some point, hopefully, there'll be enough of a demand that they'll let me go in and do it. But we got to get there."

Source:
http://www.firstshowing.net/2008/dar...-the-fountain/

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Blu-Velvet

It's got a lot of Halloween-worthy sequences. Keep in mind that at heart it's a dark comedy at least as much as a horror film. It's also loaded with allusions to various filmmaking styles from silent cinema to classic Japanese ghost stories and gothic thrillers to TV commercials and music videos to avant-garde experimental films.

No kidding! i just finished watching House and still am wondering what the hell I just witnessed. It's more of a fantasy film (and experimental one) than horror as the director Obayashi himself said. It's a film seen through a child's perspective (or maybe of a 15 year old's). I cannot define this film whatsoever. I'm not sure I'd want to buy this one though since at best it would serve as a "novelty" to show off or shock new viewers. I can see this one playing in the background at a house party for 20 something's or under the influence of alcohol or psychedelics. This is the sort of film young people probably "understand" more than the older generations. It's totally crazy.