The Criterion Collection

[Tin Drum]

Decided to watch The Killing of a Chinese Bookie last night after not seeing it in years.

I gained a much greater appreciation for Ben Gazzara's performance this go round. He's phenomenal. The film itself is so very cerebral that all of the details within the film took a back seat to the overall feel of the movie the first time I watched it, but he's amazing here as is the cinematography (it's never polished which is what I really loved about Cassavetes style and films).

It's unfortunate that Gazzara was so underrated an actor to the general public.

I was going to continue my rewatch of the Cassavetes boxset but his films, IMO, require thought during and after viewing and are just too realistic in tone to be breezed through. I want to take my time.

I also caught Autumn Sonata for the first time ever (never picked up the dvd) and Bergman, yet again, hits it out of the park here.

I actually read a few reviews around the net saying this was one of his lesser works of this period, but I thought it worked quite well. Ullmann and Ingrid Bergman are fantastic as is the actress that played the younger sister. On the surface it's a simple story of a divided family but it packs a punch when the boiling point is reached. I can't wait to delve into that 3+ hour making of documentary.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by jw007

Our tastes are just more refined now. Every now and then though can be a time for a mindless Hollywood action film, it's just the question of whether or not these mindless Hollywood action films should be in our film libraries.

If I enjoy a film enough to watch it multiple times, then it belongs in my film library.

I make no distinction between the "refined" Criterion Collection Blu-rays in my collection and movies like Better Off Dead, Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, City Slickers, Clash of the Titans (1981), Ferris Bueller's Day Off, First Blood, Flash Gordon, The Goonies, the Indiana Jones movies, Iron Man, The Avengers, Logan's Run, Oblivion, Poltergeist, Pulp Fiction, Red Dawn (1984), The Sandlot, Taken, Top Gun, Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, and, of course, my James Bond movies. They're all just movies that I enjoy, pure and simple.

It's not uncommon for me to watch 8 1/2, Last Year at Marienbad, or Wild Strawberries back to back with movies like The Last Starfighter, Night of the Comet, or Sixteen Candles.

With respect to The Criterion Collection, there are quite few films that are pretty ridiculous in the grand scheme of things, and placing the big "C" on the cover does not make these movies any less ridiculous. The Blob (1958) is one such example. I love it, though.

I have a broader knowledge of cinema than I did 20 years ago, but my tastes are no more refined than they were back then.

[natureboy]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

If I enjoy a film enough to watch it multiple times, then it belongs in my film library.

I make no distinction between the "refined" Criterion Collection Blu-rays in my collection and movies like Better Off Dead, Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, City Slickers, Clash of the Titans (1981), Ferris Bueller's Day Off, First Blood, Flash Gordon, The Goonies, the Indiana Jones movies, Iron Man, The Avengers, Logan's Run, Oblivion, Poltergeist, Pulp Fiction, Red Dawn (1984), The Sandlot, Taken, Top Gun, Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, and, of course, my James Bond movies. They're all just movies that I enjoy, pure and simple.

It's not uncommon for me to watch 8 1/2, Last Year at Marienbad, or Wild Strawberries back to back with movies like The Last Starfighter, Night of the Comet, or Sixteen Candles.

With respect to The Criterion Collection, there are quite few films that are pretty ridiculous in the grand scheme of things, and placing the big "C" on the cover does not make these movies any less ridiculous. The Blob (1958) is one such example. I love it, though.

I have a broader knowledge of cinema than I did 20 years ago, but my tastes are no more refined than they were back then.

Agree with this statement completely. I love foreign, art house and independent films but I'm no snob. This weekend, here's what I watched (fiance was out of town so I gorged):

The Burning
The Fog (original)
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (extended roadshow cut)
Seconds
The Blues Brothers



Edit: Oh, I forgot - I also watched the Kubrick short docs Day of the Fight and Flying Padre. Was going to watch Fear and Desire but ran out of time.

[Member-167298]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I wish Criterion still had the rights to Nights of Cabiria. Phenomenal film.

I still have Juliet of the Spirits on my DVR. I may watch that sometime soon.

Nights of Cabiria is one of the best films I have ever seen. One of the releases I am desperately hoping for!

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Coen

Thanks to all who helped me. I think my next Criterion order will be:
Revanche
Vivre Sa Vie
Wild Strawberries

I'm a little late with responding to your original post, but my two cents about your Godard inquiry...

Vivre Sa Vie is an absolutely wonderful film. My 2nd fav Godard after Breathless. But Band of Outsiders is (to answer your question) THE MOST accessible Godard film. Tarantino named his production company after the French title of this film. Between BOA and VSV, it is easy to see where Tarantino aped so many of his ideas for Pulp Fiction. I'd see BOA first.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by jw007

I just finished watching The Red Shoes for the first time ever on my new pristine Criterion blu-ray disc. Holy moly, what a phenomenal experience! I am now looking forward to watching more Powell/Pressburger in the near future (The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp will be the next one). The Red Shoes is a landmark movie I think... there's so much to be said about this one, from the amazing cinematography to the dance performances to the character drama to the originality of the script, its just 5 stars across the board. Thank goodness for people like Martin Scorcese who was one of the restoration consultants for this film. Amazing.

here we go again, j dub - I, too, watched The Red Shoes for the first time this weekend. I, however, think that I stand on the side of the fence with jayembee. Not really a fan, and that was, for me, surprising. I can't say that I was underwhelmed or even disappointed because it is a wonderful looking film and the long ballet sequence is some kind of technical achievement.

[Show spoiler] I think that, as a director, you have to have some kind of balls and be uber-confident in what you have created to have that last line - "Julian, take off the red shoes." I admire that audacity. I thought it was totally bad-a$$ and it really worked for me.

BUT... there is no story for the first 100 minutes of this film!! Nothing! Just ballet and behind the scenes theater shenanigans. For many films, we frequently say, "oh you don't have to like sports to relate to this story," or "you don't have to be into God-speak to like Leon Morin," but for this one.. I feel that you have to have some kind of interest in ballet to get into it.

Now, I know, that nearly everyone will tell me that I am wrong. That is obvious by the amount of love that this film receives from posters on this thread. I was surprised, though.

Prior to seeing any of the P&P films, I really thought that a film about a group of nuns would be far less interesting, but I was wrong. Black Narcissus was great. The Red Shoes, for me, was 'ok' at best.

[CHEЯNOБLY!]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I wish Criterion still had the rights to Nights of Cabiria. Phenomenal film.

That stinks if they lost the rights to this. I don't see anyone else rushing to put this out, and there are few who would put in the same level of care for a BD upgrade anyway.

Getting the rights to La Dolce Vita would help me to move on.

[GenPion]

Originally Posted by jw007

Right on, brother. Our tastes are just more refined now. Every now and then though can be a time for a mindless Hollywood action film, its just the question of whether or not these mindless Hollywood action films should be in our film libraries.

Loving Criterion films and other classics doesn't mean you shouldn't be able to enjoy Indiana Jones.

Spielberg is my favorite filmmaker and will always likely be, but I do understand your viewpoints. (Maybe you just don't like Temple of Doom too much. A lot of people don't. I happen to enjoy it.)

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Roninblues

OK Owl, connect the dots on that statement. Preacher - Hitman

This admittedly went over my head, but it's been several years since I saw Ghost Dog.

The direct similarities between Le Samourai and Ghost Dog are apparent...

[Show spoiler](solitary characters with a professional code, affinity for birds, white gloves, etc.)

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by Coen

Thanks for the input. Anyone else have any thoughts on whether Vivre Sa Vie or Band of Outsiders should be my first Godard?

You really can't go wrong with either of them. I prefer Vivre Sa Vie. Although, if you get Band then you can see where Tarantino stole the dance sequence for Pulp Fiction

Anna is gorgeous in both, too.

[RandyK]

Thanks for the recommendation of Band of Outsiders. I loved Breathless and was going to pick up Vivre Sa Vie eventually. Guess I'll add Band of Outsiders to that list as well.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

You really can't go wrong with either of them. I prefer Vivre Sa Vie. Although, if you get Band then you can see where Tarantino stole the dance sequence for Pulp Fiction

Anna is gorgeous in both, too.

yes, SOJr. is right.. you really can't go wrong. just to be sure... VSV might be a bit more artsy, but it is not vague or inaccessible by any means.

and yes... Anna Karina... at least in these two films - a reason for living. will be seeing her in Alphaville on Wednesday night as the art theater in Chicago is showing it on the big screen! never seen it. can't wait!

[Rich Pure Doom]

Originally Posted by Coen

Thanks for the input. Anyone else have any thoughts on whether Vivre Sa Vie or Band of Outsiders should be my first Godard?

Vivre sa Vie is undoubtedly the better film. It's my third favorite Godard behind Weekend and Pierrot Le Fou.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Rich Pure Doom

Vivre sa Vie is undoubtedly the better film. It's my third favorite Godard behind Weekend and Pierrot Le Fou.

blu-rays for both of those films should be in my mailbox some time this week! PLF, I think, will be there waiting for me tonight. I haven't seen either.

[StLouisRibs]

I was getting concerned it was only a three-month thing, but it appears that Amazon has returned to pricing certain of the Dual-format new releases at $25, as that is the current pre-order price for Breaking the Waves, Cell Block 11, and Il Sorpasso. I haven't seen much pattern in how these are chosen (some are in digipaks, some in plastic; it seems to be English-language films being chosen before the foreign-language films, but there's still some foreign language ones), so there's no telling which of May's will be put at this fairly good price (though I do hope The Life Aquatic is one of them).

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

If I enjoy a film enough to watch it multiple times, then it belongs in my film library.

I make no distinction between the "refined" Criterion Collection Blu-rays in my collection and movies like Better Off Dead, Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, City Slickers, Clash of the Titans (1981), Ferris Bueller's Day Off, First Blood, Flash Gordon, The Goonies, the Indiana Jones movies, Iron Man, The Avengers, Logan's Run, Oblivion, Poltergeist, Pulp Fiction, Red Dawn (1984), The Sandlot, Taken, Top Gun, Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, and, of course, my James Bond movies. They're all just movies that I enjoy, pure and simple.

It's not uncommon for me to watch 8 1/2, Last Year at Marienbad, or Wild Strawberries back to back with movies like The Last Starfighter, Night of the Comet, or Sixteen Candles.

With respect to The Criterion Collection, there are quite few films that are pretty ridiculous in the grand scheme of things, and placing the big "C" on the cover does not make these movies any less ridiculous. The Blob (1958) is one such example. I love it, though.

I have a broader knowledge of cinema than I did 20 years ago, but my tastes are no more refined than they were back then.

I like to think that my tastes are more refined now than they were 20 years ago, but that doesn't mean I don't indulge in pure unadulterated fun when the mood strikes. It just means that I want there to be some qualitative distinction in what I watch. The Avengers franchise movies, for example, might just be silly superhero films, but they're damn good silly superhero films. Liking them doesn't mean I have to like every superhero movie that comes down the pike, or even be interested in seeing every superhero movie that comes down the pike.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by CHEЯNOБLY!

That stinks if they lost the rights to this.

There's no "if". They did lose the rights. Their DVD release has been OOP for ages.

[spargs]

Originally Posted by Coen

Thanks for the input. Anyone else have any thoughts on whether Vivre Sa Vie or Band of Outsiders should be my first Godard?

Band of Outsiders is his most accessible, and is a good entry point into Godard's films. It was for me, at least!

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by spargs

Band of Outsiders is his most accessible, and is a good entry point into Godard's films. It was for me, at least!

I'll second this (although VSV was my first Godard).

[The Great Owl]

I just grabbed my ticket to see Andrei Tarkovsky's Solaris at Midtown Art Cinema tomorrow night. Here's looking forward to seeing this one on the big screen at long last!