The Criterion Collection

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by natureboy

Easy Rider and The Last Picture Show are classics.

I just caught The Last Picture Show on TCM last night. It was the first time I saw the non-edited-for-TV version. It really is a brilliant movie in so many ways. So many great performances (especially Cloris Leachman and Ben Johnson), and so many powerful images. It's a shame Bogdanovich peaked so early -- his career really seems like a case of wasted opportunity.

Of the others, I've seen, Five Easy Pieces and King of Marvin Gardens each have their moments, but they're both too dreary for me. The diner scene in 5EP is iconic, though, and helped cement Nicholson's rebel/wise-ass image.

Easy Rider is a sloppy drug-hazed mess, but if you think of it as the first flowering of Indie cinema and as a cultural time-capsule of post Woodstock/Altamont alienation and disenchantment, it's still an important film. With a great soundtrack (perhaps the greatest).

Head is a fun-filled goof party. Sort of like IAMMMMW for the acid generation. Don't take it seriously and enjoy it for what it is.

I haven't seen Drive, He Said or A Safe Place so I won't comment other than to add I generally enjoy Henry Jaglom, so I'd be curious to see A Safe Place.

America Lost & Found was on my shopping list for the recent flash sale, but fiscal caution won out, unfortunately. Maybe next time.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

for the better part of Black Narcissus, I wasn't quite sure what the film was about. I did like it though and when my wife and I reflected on it over dinner a few weeks ago, I realized that I loved it. I can't remember where I read it or heard it, but

[Show spoiler]when the nuns leave India somewhat defeated, it is symbolic (whether or not it was knowingly symbolic, I don't know) of the British rule ending in India. India got their independence from the U.K. in '47, I believe. So the nuns go there in an attempt to educate and 'civilize' them, but they finally leave and let India, for lack of a more articulate way to describe it..... be India. My wife is India born and raised, so it kinda makes me proud, I guess.

...and the way P&P handle the way in which the nun freaks out and how stunningly beautiful she looks when you first see her w/o her holy garb. its shocking in a 'this is totally bada$$ way!' and all the orange and purple light from the setting sun.. oh, man.. great stuff!!

Thanks for sharing that piece of information!

I never thought about it in that light before, but it certainly makes sense and connects some of the dots.

[Ctzalman]

Originally Posted by themp3000

I'll agree with this but go a step further and say virtually the entire BBS Story box set is probably the worst Criterion I own. The only one that came close to me liking was King of Marvin Gardens but still weak in every way. Nothing really jived with me, unfortunately.

Originally Posted by natureboy

Easy Rider and The Last Picture Show are classics.

^without a doubt. and don't forget about five easy pieces. how could one not like that film? to each their own, i guess...

[The Great Owl]

Here's how the America Lost and Found: The BBS Story set breaks down in my book...

Three masterpieces (The Last Picture Show, Five Easy Pieces, Easy Rider)

Three flawed, but engaging films (Head, The King of Marvin Gardens, Drive, He Said)

I watched it once. (A Safe Place)

[natureboy]

Originally Posted by Ctzalman

^without a doubt. and don't forget about five easy pieces. how could one not like that film? to each their own, i guess...

I like it as well, but the last few pages of this thread have reminded me just how much people's tastes vary and there is no objectivity when it comes to art.

[natureboy]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Here's how the America Lost and Found: The BBS Story set breaks down in my book...

Three masterpieces (The Last Picture Show, Five Easy Pieces, Easy Rider)

Three flawed, but engaging films (Head, The King of Marvin Gardens, Drive, He Said)

I watched it once. (A Safe Place)

Our tastes align very closely, it seems.

[HyperRealist]

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[manunited1]

A just scored a copy for Heaven's Gate for $20 shipped. It was a total blind buy for me on a film I have been conflicted with. This site gives it rave reviews while, as said review points out, is crapped on by all other outlets almost.

I am a sucker for westerns though, and Walken is always badass, so I pulled the trigger. Any thoughts about this film?

[SilentDawn]

Originally Posted by manunited1

A just scored a copy for Heaven's Gate for $20 shipped. It was a total blind buy for me on a film I have been conflicted with. This site gives it rave reviews while, as said review points out, is crapped on by all other outlets almost.

I am a sucker for westerns though, and Walken is always badass, so I pulled the trigger. Any thoughts about this film?

It's severely under-appreciated, and it's in my top 5 westerns.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by manunited1

A just scored a copy for Heaven's Gate for $20 shipped. It was a total blind buy for me on a film I have been conflicted with. This site gives it rave reviews while, as said review points out, is crapped on by all other outlets almost.

I am a sucker for westerns though, and Walken is always badass, so I pulled the trigger. Any thoughts about this film?

it is flawed, but some aspects are absolutely wonderful (e.g. cinematography, set design, things of that sort.) well worth your time. based on what you say, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

I think if the film came out now and didn't have the backstory of all the production nightmares and tales about Cimino's ego, it'd probably meet with generally positive criticism. I could see it getting a Best Picture nom... wouldn't win and wouldn't deserve to, but considering what is, in fact, nominated.. well, you get the point.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by TylerScruggs

I could sure use a blu-ray upgrade of My Dinner with Andre in the near future

It would be nice to see every Malle film upgraded to Blu-ray, including this one.

[jw007]

I watched Mon oncle Antoine (1971) last night for the first time and I had no idea just how famous this film was in Canada (both English and French Canada).

I had no idea who Claude Jutra was either before seeing this. How could I have not known that Jutra was Canada's most legendary filmmaker of all time?

I am still amazed at my ignorance of never having heard of Jutra or this film up until now.

It's a fine film by the way... I thought it reminded me a bit of an Ingmar Bergman film but upon closer inspection, it is nothing like that.

[manunited1]

Originally Posted by SilentDawn

It's severely under-appreciated, and it's in my top 5 westerns.

Nice! Thanks for the input. I am eager to check it out.

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

it is flawed, but some aspects are absolutely wonderful (e.g. cinematography, set design, things of that sort.) well worth your time. based on what you say, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

I think if the film came out now and didn't have the backstory of all the production nightmares and tales about Cimino's ego, it'd probably meet with generally positive criticism. I could see it getting a Best Picture nom... wouldn't win and wouldn't deserve to, but considering what is, in fact, nominated.. well, you get the point.

Lol I see what you mean. It would be the wolf of wallstreet of its academy year still a good movie but flawed. I am pretty sure I can get into it. I loved Deer Hunter but I am not expecting as good.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by Ctzalman

^without a doubt. and don't forget about five easy pieces. how could one not like that film? to each their own, i guess...

Any movie with Jack playing the piano in the back of someone else's truck on the freeway is awesome.

[The Stick]

Originally Posted by manunited1

A just scored a copy for Heaven's Gate for $20 shipped. It was a total blind buy for me on a film I have been conflicted with.

I avoided watching Heaven's Gate for years due to it's negative reputation...I mean, Heaven's Gate was as synonymous to "box-office failure" as Watergate is to "political scandal".

But an airing on TCM last year had me watching it just so I could see what the hubbub was about. Maybe because my expectations were so low - but I liked the movie from the opening scene. It's a gorgeous looking film as mentioned above. I was pulled into the film mainly in that regard. The sets & costumes.

But I too thought the story was interesting enough (with it's still-relevant theme of "foreigners invasion of native land") - to be icing on the cake.

I bought the blu-ray CC edition the following weekend and I was floored all over again ...it's one of my favorites now. I hope you enjoy it too.

[manunited1]

Originally Posted by The Stick

I avoided watching Heaven's Gate for years due to it's negative reputation...I mean, Heaven's Gate was as synonymous to "box-office failure" as Watergate is to "political scandal".

But an airing on TCM last year had me watching it just so I could see what the hubbub was about. Maybe because my expectations were so low - but I liked the movie from the opening scene. It's a gorgeous looking film as mentioned above. I was pulled into the film mainly in that regard. The sets & costumes.

But I too thought the story was interesting enough (with it's still-relevant theme of "foreigners invasion of native land") - to be icing on the cake.

I bought the blu-ray CC edition the following weekend and I was floored all over again ...it's one of my favorites now. I hope you enjoy it too.

Nicely said. The imagery seems very beautiful and that is what initially attracted me to it. I moved out to Colorado specifically for that reason so I always enjoy that type of western setting and history.

I am also planning on getting Paris, Texas during the next B&N sale.

Originally Posted by Roninblues

You require more?

And no i guess that is about enough...

[The Stick]

Originally Posted by manunited1

Nicely said. The imagery seems very beautiful and that is what initially attracted me to it. I moved out to Colorado specifically for that reason so I always enjoy that type of western setting and history.

There is a scene near the intermission that takes place on a hillside with a lake in the background and shadows of clouds moving across the landscape - just WOW.

[edcresdee]

Originally Posted by natureboy

For LCR, I have the Criterion DVD and the StudioCanal blu. I've had the DVD since it came out and I held out on upgrading for whatever reason so it went OOP before I got the chance. I like having the SC blu as a complement so now I have the extras on both versions and both prints in one format or the other.

I have the Criterion blu ray of Army of Shadows so I can't comment on the SC.

Cool, which print of LCR do you prefer? I've changed my mind and will probably be getting StudioCanal versions of both as they are approx £11-12 each which is pretty good. Also on an unrelated note, I like how your Blu-ray collection is ordered by director alphabetically. Is that an option available on the settings or something you did yourself?

[natureboy]

Originally Posted by edcresdee

Cool, which print of LCR do you prefer? I've changed my mind and will probably be getting StudioCanal versions of both as they are approx £11-12 each which is pretty good.

Toss up... when I look at side-by-side screen grabs people have posted I think that I might like the coloring on the Criterion a little better. But when I watch the SC blu on my tv (65" Panasonic plasma for the record) "in a vacuum" I think it looks fantastic so no complaints here. Def no need to shell out extra cash to buy an OOP copy when I have all the extras on the DVD.

Originally Posted by edcresdee

Also on an unrelated note, I like how your Blu-ray collection is ordered by director alphabetically. Is that an option available on the settings or something you did yourself?

Thanks. It's not exactly how my collection is organized on the shelf (I use filmaf.com for that), but since blu-ray.com doesn't allow co-mingling of DVDs and blu rays in our collection I thought it would be fun to sort in a different way. To answer your question, it's not a default setting - I actually went in and made specific categories for directors that I had 3 or more titles for. I still have a few "catch all" categories as well.

[SilentDawn]

Originally Posted by manunited1

Lol I see what you mean. It would be the wolf of wallstreet of its academy year still a good movie but flawed. I am pretty sure I can get into it. I loved Deer Hunter but I am not expecting as good.

The flaws are very minor IMO, it's a beautiful western with a great story, incredible acting and fantastic set-pieces. It's a film people love to hate, even though most of them haven't even seen it. Sure, it's bloated and over-long, but man look at that cinematography.