The Criterion Collection

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by LegacyCosts

I think I would have really liked the tree of life if it wasn't for the persistant whispering and corny voice overs. I really hate that about him as a filmmaker, it isn't needed. Let the visuals speak for themselves.

while it was occasionally nice to look it, Tree of Life, is the Malick film that, for me, has removed his subsequent films from the category of 'must see'. I can not think of another film more pretentious than this one.

[jw007]

Well, I finally saw Pale Flower! I watched it last night and I thought the film was unlike anything I've ever seen from that era. It's true that it was the first Japanese film to use avant-garde music and there weren't many films in general at that time that looked and sounded like that. Some shots/sequences in the film could have honestly been shot today, esp. the very final scene. The cinematography was amazing. The truth is, though, I cannot see myself revisiting this film too often because the subject matter isn't something I'm drawn towards. The film is definitely unique and worth a purchase though. The director, Masahiro Shinoda, was the Godard of his country. It probably is the finest film about the Yakuza from its period (and even to date). Pale Flower was ahead of its time and the Japanese New Wave era was in full force. This film is what I'd call "modern" or contemporary cinema and looked and sounded nothing like the cinema of old.

[mrjohnnyb]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Singin' in the Rain is a magnificent film that looks beautiful on Blu-ray. It's old hat to say that an old movie looks as though it were filmed yesterday, but this one really does jump out of the screen with a fresh look. I last saw this Gene Kelly movie over two decades ago, and, while I'm generally not the biggest fan of musicals, I think that this one transcends the genre in so many ways. Watching it last night reminded me of how the biting sarcasm directed toward Hollywood still applies just as much today. More than anything, though, it's one of the most nonstop entertaining movies in history. I love Debbie Reynolds immensely in this movie. I always feel sort of sorry for Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) at the end of Singin' in the Rain, although I know that I shouldn't.

West Side Story has not aged quite as well as Singin' in the Rain, and Natalie Wood, bless her heart, is not quite convincing as a Puerto Rican character. The sheer physicality of this movie is still amazing to see, though, and props still go to the Leonard Bernstein score and the Saul Bass logo. I prefer Robert Wise's forays into the horror and sci-fi genres, but his director talents still ring true here. My favorite scene is the "Cool" dance sequence. Pow!

Two great films! Bernstein's and Bass's contributions were incredible, but I do think that Robert Wise's best film is The Sound of Music. Lina Lamont is a *****!

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by mrjohnnyb

Two great films! Bernstein's and Bass's contributions were incredible, but I do think that Robert Wise's best film is The Sound of Music. Lina Lamont is a *****!

The Sound of Music is in my stack of Blu-rays waiting to be watched, since I found it at Target last week. Watching my Blu-ray of Mary Poppins got me wanting to revisit this Julie Andrews flick as well.

It's funny that I basically quadrupled my collection of Blu-ray musicals with my recent purchases of Singin' in the Rain, West Side Story, The Sound of Music, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and to a faint extent, Nashville. This genre will never be featured prominently in my collection, but the above films demand attention.

Yeah, I know that Lina Lamont had it coming to her, but being laughed off the stage like that was pretty harsh.

[runnersdialzero]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

while it was occasionally nice to look it, Tree of Life, is the Malick film that, for me, has removed his subsequent films from the category of 'must see'. I can not think of another film more pretentious than this one.

I can, his next film, To the Wonder.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by jw007

Well, I finally saw Pale Flower! I watched it last night and I thought the film was unlike anything I've ever seen from that era. It's true that it was the first Japanese film to use avant-garde music and there weren't many films in general at that time that looked and sounded like that. Some shots/sequences in the film could have honestly been shot today, esp. the very final scene. The cinematography was amazing. The truth is, though, I cannot see myself revisiting this film too often because the subject matter isn't something I'm drawn towards. The film is definitely unique and worth a purchase though. The director, Masahiro Shinoda, was the Godard of his country. It probably is the finest film about the Yakuza from its period (and even to date). Pale Flower was ahead of its time and the Japanese New Wave era was in full force. This film is what I'd call "modern" or contemporary cinema and looked and sounded nothing like the cinema of old.

Pale Flower is a relentlessly bleak movie about how all of our efforts for emotional connection and devotion are ultimately futile. How can anyone not fall head-over-heels in love with this movie?

Mwahahaha.

I watched and reviewed Pale Flower shortly after starting my big film noir marathon, and it's really amazing how well the film succeeds at capturing the fatalist aesthetic of the American classic film noir era in the post-WWII years. I think that Akira Kurosawa pulled off film noir brilliantly with Drunken Angel, Stray Dog, and The Bad Sleep Well, but Masahiro Shinoda's Pale Flower sees that and raises it. It's a beautifully-filmed work that carries the noir vibe into avant garde territory.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by runnersdialzero

I can, his next film, To the Wonder.

ha! yeah, exactly. well, I haven't seen it and I may be going off topic a bit here, but I find it interesting that people who had doubts about The Deer Hunter felt their opinions were validated when Heaven's Gate came out and was blasted by critics. same thing (perhaps to a lesser extent) with Nicholas Refn and his films Drive and Only God Forgives. Malick seems to get a pass here, however. I know that many will say that he has made films that are monumentally better than The Deer Hunter or Drive and I (mostly) agree, but geez.. that was like in another lifetime.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Pale Flower is a relentlessly bleak movie about how all of our efforts for emotional connection and devotion are ultimately futile. How can anyone not fall head-over-heels in love with this movie?

You're entitled to view it that way, but I certainly don't. If it was yet another noir that wallows in fatalism, I would not be a fan of it. I think it's more of an isolated story about one particular dude being drawn back into a ruinous lifestyle even after serving a stint in prison. I don't see it as a film that provides a universal commentary about "all our efforts" in love and connection.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

You're entitled to view it that way, but I certainly don't. If it was yet another noir that wallows in fatalism, I would not be a fan of it. I think it's more of an isolated story about one particular dude being drawn back into a ruinous lifestyle even after serving a stint in prison. I don't see it as a film that provides a universal commentary about "all our efforts" in love and connection.

I was exaggerating in my post, but the story does extend the blanket of futility to the lead character's former lover whose devotion is wasted, the gangsters who waste their lives gambling and protecting turf, and a female character whose thrill-seeking personality leads to the ultimate desolation. The world described in this movie is, thankfully, only a microcosm of our universe, but most of us can sympathize with the characters and the emptiness of their existence in so many ways.

Fritz Lang's wonderful Scarlet Street, which I revisited last week, is the same way.

There's a good reason why I wanted to break up my film noir marathon with sporadic Disney flicks and buoyant musicals.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I was exaggerating in my post, but the story does extend the blanket of futility to the lead character's former lover whose devotion is wasted, the gangsters who waste their lives gambling and protecting turf, and a female character whose thrill-seeking personality leads to the ultimate desolation. The world described in this movie is, thankfully, only a microcosm of our universe, but most of us can sympathize with the characters and the emptiness of their existence in so many ways.

Fritz Lang's wonderful Scarlet Street, which I revisited last week, is the same way.

There's a good reason why I wanted to break up my film noir marathon with sporadic Disney flicks and buoyant musicals.

I gotcha.

Man, the ending of Scarlet Street is so bleak, but great. I was expecting second rate Lang, but it has grown to be one of my very favorites.

I agree about West Side Story. Despite the extraordinary choreography and lensing, That one has not aged well at all! Now, "Splendor in the Grass" is where it's at if you want a good Natalie Wood romance.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Singin' in the Rain is a magnificent film that looks beautiful on Blu-ray. It's old hat to say that an old movie looks as though it were filmed yesterday, but this one really does jump out of the screen with a fresh look. I last saw this Gene Kelly movie over two decades ago, and, while I'm generally not the biggest fan of musicals, I think that this one transcends the genre in so many ways. Watching it last night reminded me of how the biting sarcasm directed toward Hollywood still applies just as much today. More than anything, though, it's one of the most nonstop entertaining movies in history.

Just remember: Dignity. Always Dignity.

I love Debbie Reynolds immensely in this movie.

I love all the main characters (and several of the minor characters), but the one who impresses me the most no matter how many times I see this film is Donald O'Connor. I expect great singing and dancing from Kelly and Reynolds, but I grew up with O'Connor as the lead in the Francis the Talking Mule films, and it's always a revelation to see him holding his own with the other two.

[Mansinthe]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Pale Flower is a relentlessly bleak movie about how all of our efforts for emotional connection and devotion are ultimately futile. How can anyone not fall head-over-heels in love with this movie?

pale flower is really great. but ive not seen much other noir cinema yet (touch of evil was good, but not on the same level as pale flower is for me).
if he is the japanese version of godard i should really start watching my criterion godard of breathless.. i didnt like une femme marie that much.

japanese cinema was really great in the 50/60. i wonder if shinya tsukamoto will ever get a place in the criterion (or eclipse collection).

[bwdowiak]

which is a safer blind buy? The Leopard or The Red Shoes. I love epic films so I am interested in The Leopard and I love the old technicolor films in hi-def and I haven't seen anything yet from Powell and Pressburger... it seems that I should change that.

[Clare2904]

Originally Posted by Lorenzol

I took advantage of the B&N Criterion sale the past few years with a least one 30% or 40% coupon working for the initial purchase but I bought none this year since they wouldn't let you apply the coupons online to the Criterions.

I mean using gift cards to pay instead of a credit card / cash. You can buy e-gift cards that work online. With some of the gift cards you can save anywhere up to 20%. Only usually a couple of bucks but when you are spending a chunk of change it all adds up

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I gotcha.

Man, the ending of Scarlet Street is so bleak, but great. I was expecting second rate Lang, but it has grown to be one of my very favorites.

I agree about West Side Story. Despite the extraordinary choreography and lensing, That one has not aged well at all! Now, "Splendor in the Grass" is where it's at if you want a good Natalie Wood romance.

I want to see Splendor in the Grass, and it would make a fine Criterion title. Elia Kazan was in a class all his own.

That reminds me... Methinks I'm going to push Panic in the Streets to the top of my noir stack tonight.

Scarlet Street is one of the saddest movies that I've ever seen. I liked one online review of the film that described Edward G. Robinson's character as the ultimate "Average Frustrated Chump" (a term from the Neil Strauss book, The Game), and it was quite painful to watch all of the ways that he was manipulated. Here's to one of the most awesome character actors in the history of cinema, though.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

which is a safer blind buy? The Leopard or The Red Shoes. I love epic films so I am interested in The Leopard and I love the old technicolor films in hi-def and I haven't seen anything yet from Powell and Pressburger... it seems that I should change that.

As much as I love The Leopard, I'd treat myself to a Powell/Pressburger film if I were you. All three of the Powell/Pressburger films currently available on Criterion Blu-ray are five-star titles.

If you liked the Sicily scenes in The Godfather or if you liked the expansiveness of the Sergio Leone films, however, then The Leopard might be right up your alley.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

As much as I love The Leopard, I'd treat myself to a Powell/Pressburger film if I were you. All three of the Powell/Pressburger films currently available on Criterion Blu-ray are five-star titles.

If you liked the Sicily scenes in The Godfather or if you liked the expansiveness of the Sergio Leone films, however, then The Leopard might be right up your alley.

Thanks, Owl. I hold your opinion in high regard, (as it seems many do ), so one vote from you is like 2 votes from another poster.

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

pale flower is really great. but ive not seen much other noir cinema yet (touch of evil was good, but not on the same level as pale flower is for me).
if he is the japanese version of godard i should really start watching my criterion godard of breathless.. i didnt like une femme marie that much.

japanese cinema was really great in the 50/60. i wonder if shinya tsukamoto will ever get a place in the criterion (or eclipse collection).

If you loved the Asian Noir/New Wave stuff, check out:

http://www.criterion.com/boxsets/825...q=autocomplete

Several of the films, especially The Warped Ones and Black Sun really have the same feel and vibe as Breathless

[Arkadin]

anybody ever figure out why this appears on Criterion's website/store--

Buy at Amazon.com
Unfortunately, we are not able to offer this product for sale on Criterion.com. Please note that it is not out of print and is available at other retailers, like Amazon.com.

when you try to buy certain blu-ray titles?


It came up just now when I clicked on The 400 Blows blu-ray.
amazon doesn't have The 400 Blows for sale except through sellers.
all I can surmise is that it is being changed over to a dual release.

[UncleBuckWild]

Originally Posted by Arkadin

[Show spoiler]anybody ever figure out why this appears on Criterion's website/store--

Buy at Amazon.com
Unfortunately, we are not able to offer this product for sale on Criterion.com. Please note that it is not out of print and is available at other retailers, like Amazon.com.

when you try to buy certain blu-ray titles?


It came up just now when I clicked on The 400 Blows blu-ray.
amazon doesn't have The 400 Blows for sale except through sellers.
all I can surmise is that it is being changed over to a dual release.

It's most likely OOP for now.

But you can still buy it from Amazon Canada for CA$40 / €28.50.
http://www.amazon.ca/400-Blows-Blu-r.../dp/B001O549FC