The Criterion Collection

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by jmclick

Interesting that TCM has included Fritz Lang's MINISTRY OF FEAR as one of the titles in their new "Dark Crimes, Volume 2" Vault Collection, which just began shipping. The Criterion edition was released just last year.

I've never seen it, and would be interested in hearing everyone's thoughts on the film itself, and Criterion's blu-ray edition ...

Ministry of Fear is a great little film noir from Fritz Lang, who is set milestones for his visual approaches to filmmaking. I think that it's one of the most underrated Criterion titles, and I've taken time to revisit it twice since my first viewing last year.

Although I already own Ministry of Fear by way of the Criterion Blu-ray, I've ordered TCM's Dark Crimes: Film Noir Thrillers, Volume 2, because I want the other three film noirs in the set. TCM shipped it the other day, so it should be on its way to me soon. Right now, I own all of the major film noir DVD sets from Warner Brothers, Fox, Columbia, Kino, and such, with the one glaring exception being Columbia Pictures Film Noir Classics III, because that third volume went out of print pretty quickly after its release, and I don't want to shell out the $300 asking price.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Just a little heads-up that Lifeboat, one of Alfred Hitchcock's masterpieces, as well as a long wished for title by many for The Criterion Collection treatment, will be on TCM on July 20.

whoa... easy, Scottie!

[Saucerful]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

L'Eclisse. It's apart of the trilogy and it's about as accessible as La Notte. I'd say it's better, and the ending is one of the greatest things of Antonioni's career. Plus, you know, Monica Vitti.

If you want to seek outside of Blu, I'd recommend the other film in the trilogy, L'Avventura. If you want to stick to Blu, go with Red Desert. It's my favorite of his, but it's not something I recommend for people just getting into Antonioni. You really have to be on his wavelength for this one.

Originally Posted by Rich Pure Doom

If you liked La Notte, then L'Eclisse is a very safe bet. I also find Red Desert to be a masterpiece, but it's not for everyone.

Thanks, folks. I think I'll pick up L'Eclisse first, and then if I get impatient waiting for L'Avventura to get upgraded, I'll go rent it or something. Then eventually I'll work my way up to Red Desert.

[jw007]

I had my 3rd haul from B&N yesterday and bought 4 new Criterions:

Il Sorpasso
The Great Beauty
A Brief History of Time
Black Narcissus

I used a 15% coupon on Il Sorpasso and the $5/50 coupon on the other 3 titles in 2 separate transactions.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by jw007

I had my 3rd haul from B&N yesterday and bought 4 new Criterions:

Il Sorpasso
The Great Beauty
A Brief History of Time
Black Narcissus

I used a 15% coupon on Il Sorpasso and the $5/50 coupon on the other 3 titles in 2 separate transactions.

All great choices, in my opinion, aside from A Brief History of Time. I found it to be extremely boring. Then again, I am not a Hawking fan by any means.

[dtyner92]

Originally Posted by Ausjdm

I'm holding you personally responsible now if I buy George Washington this month and don't like it lol. Anything Malick-like I'm in 100% guess I'll buy it with scanners next week

If you like Malick, definitely get George Washington! I will be dumb founded if you don't like it haha

[Ausjdm]

Originally Posted by dtyner92

If you like Malick, definitely get George Washington! I will be dumb founded if you don't like it haha

Awesome right on just bought on my lunch break! Can't wait!! I love Malick style of film making... So much so I even thought there was something redeeming with Spring Breakers, The "I watched too many Malick movies, MTV and tmz so I'm gonna make a movie about nothing." Film lol

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by Ausjdm

Awesome right on just bought on my lunch break! Can't wait!! I love Malick style of film making... So much so I even thought there was something redeeming with Spring Breakers, The "I watched too many Malick movies, MTV and tmz so I'm gonna make a movie about nothing." Film lol

I was skeptical but I really enjoyed this film - wish I had gotten sooner, it does indeed feel very Malick inspire, but its no way a copy

Have you seen The Great Beauty - they film reminded me of The Tree of Life, in terms of cinematography and the story - I really loved it

[Ausjdm]

Originally Posted by jw007

I had my 3rd haul from B&N yesterday and bought 4 new Criterions:

Il Sorpasso
The Great Beauty
A Brief History of Time
Black Narcissus

I used a 15% coupon on Il Sorpasso and the $5/50 coupon on the other 3 titles in 2 separate transactions.

JW I thought we said on Facebook at the start of the year we're cutting back on Criterions this sale... I guess we both failed miserably lol

[Page14]

Originally Posted by jw007

I had my 3rd haul from B&N yesterday and bought 4 new Criterions:

Il Sorpasso
The Great Beauty
A Brief History of Time
Black Narcissus

I used a 15% coupon on Il Sorpasso and the $5/50 coupon on the other 3 titles in 2 separate transactions.

I also added to my collection with this current B&N sale. I need to put the brakes on though, because I'm buying much faster than I'm able to watch them.

For those interested, this is what I bought from the sale so far and why. All (except AHDN) are blind buys:

[Show spoiler]

A Hard Day's Night - It's The Beatles ... that's the Reader's Digest reason ... 'nuf said.

Red River - A Howard Hawks/John Wayne/ Montgomery Clift classic.

Revanche - I keep reading high praise for this one, so have to see it for myself.

Shoah - Probably the most difficult title to choose. Hate the subject matter ... but everything I read says that this one is so great that it should be seen by everybody at least once. I'm not sure if I'll make it through the whole series, but I oddly feel like I at least have to try.

8 1/2 - I've never seen this one, but know that it's considered great. It popped up very highly when using the "References" tool in my profile, so I'm giving in to my curiosity.

All That Heaven Allows - I'm not exactly sure what drew me to this one, other than Rock Hudson, the colorful scenery shown in this site's review and this site's review itself. (Plus there was only 1 left on the shelf).

Breaking the Waves - I've only seen one Lars Von Trier film (Dogville), and found it really different and interesting. So I wanted to see another Von Trier film, much out of curiosity.

Sweet Smell of Success - I recorded this off of TCM a long time ago, but never watched it. This seems like too classic of a movie, not to have my first viewing of it be on bluray.


That's it. It's going to take me a long time to get through these ... especially since I recently bought a number of Twilight Time titles too. Time to give it a rest for a while. (Yeah right ... ).

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Just a little heads-up that Lifeboat, one of Alfred Hitchcock's masterpieces, as well as a long wished for title by many for The Criterion Collection treatment, will be on TCM on July 20.

A director may only have 1 masterpiece. The term means one's greatest achievement or work.

[Stig-Helmer]

I did watch Godard's "Pierrot le Fou" today (shortly after "Band of Outsiders"). I think I like the latter more. Le Fou felt a lot more playfull and experimental. But it also felt like stuff got thrown in here and there which made no sense some times. Perhaps it needs one or two more viewings to get a grip off.

[DaveyJoe]

Originally Posted by Stig-Helmer

I did watch Godard's "Pierrot le Fou" today (shortly after "Band of Outsiders"). I think I like the latter more. Le Fou felt a lot more playfull and experimental. But it also felt like stuff got thrown in here and there which made no sense some times. Perhaps it needs one or two more viewings to get a grip off.

I actually understood that movie less on my 2nd viewing.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by Ausjdm

I'm holding you personally responsible now if I buy George Washington this month and don't like it lol. Anything Malick-like I'm in 100% guess I'll buy it with scanners next week

Originally Posted by Ausjdm

Awesome right on just bought on my lunch break! Can't wait!! I love Malick style of film making... So much so I even thought there was something redeeming with Spring Breakers, The "I watched too many Malick movies, MTV and tmz so I'm gonna make a movie about nothing." Film lol

I'm assuming you've seen The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. Beautiful film; great score. Just a shame the current Blu-ray doesn't do it justice.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by iScottie

All great choices, in my opinion, aside from A Brief History of Time. I found it to be extremely boring. Then again, I am not a Hawking fan by any means.

I'm a big fan of astronomy and outer space so I'm hoping this is a documentary about science and Hawking, who I'm curious about. This was a risky blind-buy to say the least, but then again, I haven't opened it yet and still have the receipt, so I can always borrow it from the library and return this still if I don't dig the film.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Ausjdm

JW I thought we said on Facebook at the start of the year we're cutting back on Criterions this sale... I guess we both failed miserably lol

Oh yes, we failed miserably and cutting back on Criterions. I estimate I will have purchased about 20 Criterions during this sale when its all said and done.

[grim_tales]

Has there been any news of a Theif of Baghdad Blu Ray (I mean the 1940 one)? When I first saw that I enjoyed it a lot, but felt it did draw upon people's perception of the "East" at the time ("Beautiful Basra!" etc...) and the market place

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by jw007

I'm a big fan of astronomy and outer space so I'm hoping this is a documentary about science and Hawking, who I'm curious about. This was a risky blind-buy to say the least, but then again, I haven't opened it yet and still have the receipt, so I can always borrow it from the library and return this still if I don't dig the film.

Omg me to!!!!!! I am so excited for A Voyage Of Time.

I loved the documentary A Brief History of Time, need to rewatch, it focuses more on Hawkins than the book theories though which was a bit disappointing but its was brilliant, really need to watch... might watch tonight actually

I really loved it though

Oh its on youtube if you want to watch:

A Brief History of Time - YouTube

OH and its scored by Philip Glass!!!!! I forgot !!!!

This documentary actually made me buy the book - have yet to read lol :P

[Stig-Helmer]

Originally Posted by DaveyJoe

I actually understood that movie less on my 2nd viewing.

Haha yeah it will be interesting to watch it again, maybe I will feel the same thing too. BTW what do you think about other Godard movies like Breathless and Band of Outsiders?

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by Helikaon

I thought it was great! Some great set pieces, and very moody atmosphere. Of the top of my head I remember 5 fantastic scenes, including a bombing strafe that near misses the protagonist. Very rewatchable.

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Ministry of Fear is a great little film noir from Fritz Lang, who is set milestones for his visual approaches to filmmaking. I think that it's one of the most underrated Criterion titles, and I've taken time to revisit it twice since my first viewing last year.

Although I already own Ministry of Fear by way of the Criterion Blu-ray, I've ordered TCM's Dark Crimes: Film Noir Thrillers, Volume 2, because I want the other three film noirs in the set. TCM shipped it the other day, so it should be on its way to me soon. Right now, I own all of the major film noir DVD sets from Warner Brothers, Fox, Columbia, Kino, and such, with the one glaring exception being Columbia Pictures Film Noir Classics III, because that third volume went out of print pretty quickly after its release, and I don't want to shell out the $300 asking price.

Thank you both for responding. I value your opinions. They called from my B&N to tell me that my special order of Fish Tank arrived today, so I'll pick up Ministry of Fear along with it. (And knowing me as I do, probably a couple of other Criterions as well!)