The Criterion Collection

[Scottie]

Just watched Red Desert. Not sure how I'm supposed to feel about it. There's definitely something there, I just can't really pick it out.

It doesn't help that I went in cold turkey - knowing barely anything about what it's about.

;_;

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

[Show spoiler]He was under the impression that the dog was in a kennel.

Really, it's nothing major, and this is coming from someone that can't even stand the thought of dog cruelty. One of the few reasons I haven't watched Amores Perros.

I haven't seen that one yet. Been meaning to, though.

I was bothered when I first saw what was on the screen. However, I read about it while watching Amores Perros that when the dogs were "fighting", they were actually playing. Also, when they were supposed to look dead, they were sedated under the ASPCA's guidance.

I hate animal cruelty, so that's why.

Also, you need to see Amarcord! One of my favorite films of all time. Fellini is great (even though I don't really like 8.5).

[jw007]

Originally Posted by blkhrt

I think you mean Steve James' film...

True... (embarrassed).

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by Gate

Thanks for the reply!

[Show spoiler]Is the "dog being euthanized" the boy's pet dog that ran away? (I've read the plot synopsis.)

Could you also tell me how it compares to Fellini's Amarcord, if you've seen that movie?

I'm a softy too, animal-wise, and it's not bad. I love the boy's "it could have been worse" attitude throughout the film.

[excellence]

Did Breathless on blu-ray go OOP? Why is it like $60 now?

I swear I saw it on blu-ray at the last B&N sale in-store... then again I haven't been keeping up with CC news since.

[Infernal King]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

I'm a softy too, animal-wise, and it's not bad. I love the boy's "it could have been worse" attitude throughout the film.

Ah, good to hear. I'll definitely be renting My Life as a Dog soon.

[KRW1]

Originally Posted by Gate

Okay, I'll give it a shot based on your input. Due to various tragedies I've endured, I'm very sensitive about seeing cruelty, violence or even lesser bad things happen to dogs and other animals. It's like, I've seen this happen in real life so why should I bother watching it happen in a film? I'll make exceptions sometimes (Cloud Atlas, off the top of my head) but there are always other films I'd rather see. I'm sure you understand.

And I didn't know dog cruelty occurred in Amores Perros! Guess I'll have to avoid that one.

As for Amarcord, I liked some parts of it (and one scene in particular was hysterically funny) but overall, I wasn't impressed.

If you, or anyone else, dislike dog cruelty, stay the hell away from 'Dry Summer' on the World Cinema Boxset released in December.

[SilentDawn]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

You chose wisely. If you have never seen Hoop Dreams, you are in for a treat. IMO, best documentary ever.

Yeah, I have never seen Hoop Dreams. Considering I love documentaries and basketball films, I can't believe this one slipped past my radar. I love More Than A Game even though they probably can't be compared besides their content.

I reserved them so I can pick them up later today, not sure which I will watch first; considering the shortest one (Paris, Texas) is 2.5 hours long. Might have to have an epic day with Heaven's Gate, Barry Lyndon and Ben-Hur as well.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by jw007

True... (embarrassed).

If you enjoy documentary films, Hoop Dreams is an absolute must see. I think that it is worlds better than his other film, The Interrupters, which failed to engage me and yes.. it's real life footage of street violence in Chicago is nothing anybody really needs or wants to see.

Hoop Dreams is incredible, though. St. Joseph, one of the high schools that is prominently captured in the film, is a school in the same conference as the high school I attended.. well, just fact checked and they have since moved to a different conference, but our basketball team used to play them regularly.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Just watched Red Desert. Not sure how I'm supposed to feel about it. There's definitely something there, I just can't really pick it out.

It doesn't help that I went in cold turkey - knowing barely anything about what it's about.

;_;

It's definitely, from what I've seen, Antonioni's most abstract film. It did absolutely nothing for me the first time I watched, but then I watched it again.. and again, and again. Now I adore it. The flachback to the beach really is the key scene.

Also, you need to see Amarcord! One of my favorite films of all time. Fellini is great (even though I don't really like 8.5).

Just like you need to watch Fanny and Alexander .

It sounds like something I'd like. Too many Criterions to watch..

[14728]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

You chose wisely. If you have never seen Hoop Dreams, you are in for a treat. IMO, best documentary ever.

I never thought about getting hoop dreams at the criterion sale! Hmm, maybe I will...
I saw part of it on ESPN on Christmas Morning, 2012. From the little I saw, it was pretty good. It would be nice if Hoop Dreams gets a BD update. Maybe I'll hold off on it...

[14728]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

Too many Criterions to watch..

Exactly!

[thechicken]

Is there any chance at all the Sony distribution deal could lead to region free releases, or is it something completely separate?

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

thinking about buying that one this sale with the zatoichi box and some other stuff.. not criterion releated but should i get citizen kane as well? it sounds promising and interessting.

not sure if i should get the ultimate collectors edition (cuz of the HBO movie) or the digipack release...

It's gotten to the point where it's almost difficult to recommend Citizen Kane because of all the baggage surrounding it as "the greatest film ever made". If you overpraise it, you run the risk of the recommendee thinking less of it if it doesn't completely blow his socks off.

The way I put it is this:

There are films that are as good or better than Kane when it comes to acting; as good or better when it comes to directing; as good or better when it comes to writing; as good or better when it comes to editing; as good or better when it comes to cinematography; and so forth. But there are no films that are better than Kane at all of these things.

In some respects, it looks somewhat archaic when compared to recent movies, but Welles (along with co-writer Herman Mankiewicz, editor Robert Wise, and cinematographer Gregg Toland) invented for Kane a lot of the cinematic language that's been used by so many great filmmakers since.

Even if you come away thinking "It's not that great," you'll be doing yourself a favor by seeing it.

As far as which edition: RKO 281 is a solid film, and worth seeing, but in the set it's only on DVD, not BD. If you can get the Ultimate set at a decent price, go for it.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

Hi, this is kind of CC related since the title is now OOP.

Just noticed that the arthouse selection of %50 off on B&N increased and now includes some studiocanal titles like Grand Illusion, That Obscure Object of Desire and Contempt.

The problem is i haven't seen Contempt but was wondering if it would be a good candidate for blind buy at $10.

The other Godard films i like are: Breathless, Band of Outsiders and Vivre sa Vie, but i totally hated Weekend and didn't care much for Pierrot le Fou.

Thanks.

For ten bucks? Go for it.

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by thechicken

Is there any chance at all the Sony distribution deal could lead to region free releases, or is it something completely separate?

That is separate. The region locking is part of the rights deals Criterion makes with studios, at least that is how I understand it.

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

If you enjoy documentary films, Hoop Dreams is an absolute must see. I think that it is worlds better than his other film, The Interrupters, which failed to engage me and yes.. it's real life footage of street violence in Chicago is nothing anybody really needs or wants to see.

Hoop Dreams is incredible, though. St. Joseph, one of the high schools that is prominently captured in the film, is a school in the same conference as the high school I attended.. well, just fact checked and they have since moved to a different conference, but our basketball team used to play them regularly.

I actually liked The Interrupters, but you are right, it doesn't hold a candle to Hoop Dreams, which is fantastic.

Originally Posted by 14728

I never thought about getting hoop dreams at the criterion sale! Hmm, maybe I will...
I saw part of it on ESPN on Christmas Morning, 2012. From the little I saw, it was pretty good. It would be nice if Hoop Dreams gets a BD update. Maybe I'll hold off on it...

As some people have been discussing, it is highly unlikely that Hoop Dreams will be upgraded. It was shot on tape, so there is no reason to upgrade, from a video standpoint. Of course, I would probably buy it again if they did upgrade it

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by excellence

Did Breathless on blu-ray go OOP? Why is it like $60 now?

I swear I saw it on blu-ray at the last B&N sale in-store... then again I haven't been keeping up with CC news since.

No, it has not gone OOP, though a lot of people seem to think it has. The problem is that the website criterionforum.org (not an official Criterion site) listed it as OOP.

The official Criterion site doesn't designate it as OOP, although now that I've checked it yet again, they don't seem to be offering the Blu-ray through the Criterion Store, but direct you to Amazon (the DVD, however, is still available from the Criterion Store). This suggests to me that maybe they're out of stock on it.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by thechicken

Is there any chance at all the Sony distribution deal could lead to region free releases, or is it something completely separate?

That's doubtful. In general, Criterion only has the BD/DVD rights in North American for any given film, and Sony's distribution deal wouldn't likely change that.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

well played, my man.. may have been speculation, but its not like what you described would be unheard of.

btw.. I, too, have no idea what the Hyman Roth reference was about.. sounds like cool movie name dropping to me.

Yeah, I should have spelled that out a little better.

Hyman Roth was a character in an obscure 70s crime drama. At one point in the move one of the other characters said that Hyman Roth was an old man in ill health and only had a few months to live. The main character - Michael something or other - scoffed at that diagnosis because he had heard it so many times over the years.

[ThePhantom]

Originally Posted by jayembee

The official Criterion site doesn't designate it as OOP, although now that I've checked it yet again, they don't seem to be offering the Blu-ray through the Criterion Store, but direct you to Amazon (the DVD, however, is still available from the Criterion Store). This suggests to me that maybe they're out of stock on it.

Amazon.com seems to be out of stock on the Breathless Blu-ray as well and all the third-party sellers have upped their prices ($64.97 is the current lowest price for a used copy, $69.97 new).

Just checked, it's even out of stock at Barnes&Noble.com, with the lowest prices from third-party sellers $89.44 used and $140.02 new.

Are we sure this isn't going out of print?

I may have to run to my local Barnes & Noble to grab a copy just to be safe.