The Criterion Collection

[jw007]

Originally Posted by geekesmind

is Down by Law Blu-ray



a good one to buy?

Yes, if you're a Jarmusch fan...its an awesome movie. Totally recommended.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by jw007

Well, it took me almost 24 hours but I have to post this.

Last night I watched George Washington. Rather than posting my initial impressions, I slept on it. Today I still feel about the same way. I do NOT think this is a great movie. Yes, there, I said it. I just cannot see this as anything special. Sure, its a good movie, but its not a great one. I guess you can say its great for a first movie from a new director, but knowing that David Gordon Green was highly influenced by Terrence Malick's The Thin Red Line, I couldn't help but think George Washington was somewhat pretentious. The editing is fantastic though...and so is the cinematography. But its a story that drifts through the lives of these young characters, never really meshing together, but instead breaking apart, which is probably intentional. I was not impressed with the acting. I was not engaged in the story. I liked the morality tale behind the story but this is an overrated movie I hate to say. Looking at Director Green's track record ever since, he hasn't made a single movie that is anything spectacular. I challenge anyone to prove this to me otherwise. If anything, George Washington is highly disturbing at times and if that is the most effective element of the film ("disturbing"), then there's something to be had there. *shrugs*

Please tell me I'm not the only one who didn't really like George Washington.

I watched it on Hulu and found it to be just ok. I kept thinking it seemed to be a "if Malick did a Stand By Me variation." After reading all the positive remarks about it I kept waiting for it to click and it never did. I love Malick and coming-of-age films so it seemed to be a natural fit but it just didn't work for me.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by jw007

Forgive me for my ignorance but what is it about Tati's films you don't like?

The question was not directed at me, but I just wanted to say here that I saw M. Hulot's Vacation, and was hugely underwhelmed after what the friend that lent it to me waxed about Tati (and his rep). It seemed like third-rate Chaplin, generally repetitive and quite unfunny for me. The second Mr. Bean film where that character takes a vacation in France was to my mind a lot better than this film. Also, I loved Sylvain Chomet's The Illusionist, which is supposed to be inspired by Tati's films.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by ravenus

The second Mr. Bean film where that character takes a vacation in France was to my mind a lot better than this film.

"Mr. Bean's Holiday" was by no means an accidental title choice...

[Blu-Velvet]

Originally Posted by jw007

True, but why not just like Terrence Malick's films instead? Even the worst Malick film is still eons better than George Washington! It's like a total ripoff of Malick in some scenes in George Washington. That's what got me angry actually. The first long sequence that is 6 or 7 minutes is beautiful but all I could think of in my brain was Malick, Malick, Malick. Ironically, both Green and Malick grew up in Texas too. Malick just does it better with this kind of storytelling in the end.

I felt GEORGE WASHINGTON was a decent film, especially by a young filmmaker on a low budget, but nowhere near any of Malick's films. As is common, I appreciated it much more after going through the bonus features.

As for PALE FLOWER, it's a beautiful and mesmerizing film that looks spectacular on Criterion's Blu-ray. And DOWN BY LAW is a great Jim Jarmusch title, though I liked MYSTERY TRAIN and DEAD MAN better.

[GentleGiant]

I just looked into the announcements for October, and holy smokes, they're just awesome!

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by jayembee

If a month from now, Criterion made their November announcements, which consisted of:

The Original Star Wars Trilogy (original versions)

it would be my turn to say, "Meh, not interested in any of them," ...

Originally Posted by octagon

If it was 20+ years ago, I'd be all over them like white on rice (in fact, I did have them on laserdisc). But I've just seen them too many times, and I burned out on them. They just don't work for me any more. I don't think I've seen any of them since the late 90s, and I don't miss 'em.

My wife has three different DVD sets of them, and she thinks I'm crazy. But then, she keeps telling me that my being crazy is why she married me, so...

[Polaroid]

Speaking of tattoos, heres mine based on Science Is Fiction cover art, slight changes to style (taken day after it was done), needs touching up nowbut yeah ....



Also had these posters printed recently - they are also VERY big haha!





And here is the most horrifying image you will ever see, this is what Customs did to my precious Thin Red Line!





However, Letter Never Sent was worse, it was like this but across the front and it went through to disc!!! lol

[Sifox211]

Originally Posted by minister_x

Yes, for some Panasonic players, and a selection of Region A titles (not just Criterions). However I don't know if there's a list of all the models or even if all the models work the same for all...

There is a list of the titles this works for at the Digital Fix:

Clicky

[jw007]

I just finished watching Breaking the Waves for the first time.

This was a HEAVY movie. That's the only word I can think of that I'm feeling right now. It's damn intense, its damn disturbing and its damn haunting. I think Lars Von Trier pushed this one as far to the limit as one could push and he succeeded by all means. Wow, I am not even sure what to think right now but this is basically a story of religion, sex and death that is unsurprisingly a pattern in his films. His films make me damn uncomfortable though. I didn't buy this movie. I borrowed it from the library. But now I cannot decide if I want to buy this now. I'm never in the mood to watch a film like this and if I buy this, I can see this sitting on my shelf for years without being viewed. Yet, its so damn good in some crazy way. I've used the word "damn" several times in this paragraph. This was a story about catharsis and redemption to me, and I have not seen a movie on this level of intensity in some time. The story is so terribly sad and yet is so fittingly alive and refreshing all the same. I could see this being a true story back in the 19th century as the men went out to sea while their wives lived alone back on land waiting for them to return. And maybe there was this unlucky, innocent woman who waited until marriage to lose her virginity and then the man suffers a debilitating accident out at sea and comes back paralyzed. And then the woman cannot live with this reality and tries to lose herself and redeem herself

[Show spoiler]and ultimately destroy herself

while all around her a highly close-minded Anglo Saxon community of devout religious people shun her from their lives and she is forced to deal with this suffering and tragedy on her own. And I bet this happened quite a bit, which makes this film all the more insanely realistic and horrific. Wow, if you want a horror film for Halloween, this is the one to see. But man, I'm just reeling still from this one.

Has anyone else felt the same way about Breaking the Waves too?

[orbital]

Originally Posted by Sifox211

There is a list of the titles this works for at the Digital Fix:

Clicky

Gee, first time I heard about this. I have a region free BD player but I have just checked with my region B LG player: Works like a charm, good to know. Thanks for the hint!

[svecaj]

Originally Posted by bstv69

What would you guys say are the best, English films shot in color? (Not Wes Anderson. I have paris, Texas and all of the pressburger/Powell films, I habe already seen all that heaven allows and liked it just would not purchase it). Thank you

- 3 Women
- Five Easy Pieces
- Antichrist
- Badlands
- Harold and Maude
- Kes
- Walkabout

[Sifox211]

Originally Posted by orbital

Gee, first time I heard about this. I have a region free BD player but I have just checked with my region B LG player: Works like a charm, good to know. Thanks for the hint!

My pleasure - and I haven't heard of this trick working on an LG player before! What model is it?

[Clare2904]

Originally Posted by jw007

Forgive me for my ignorance but what is it about Tati's films you don't like? Do you actually "hate" his movies? If so, please explain why. I assume you've seen at least a few of his movies in order for you to make this judgement, correct?

I enjoy a good comedy, I have a varied sense of humour.

I've seen Hulot's Holiday, which was the celluloid equivalent of a 24h flight delay, lost luggage, flea pit hotel and your Wife running off with the Waiter.

I watched part of Playtime and had to stop as I found it wasn't funny in the slightest and I found the main "character" to be a complete idiot.

Of course, respect to you all that will be buying the set, I just did not see anything in those two films that has me believe Jacques Tati is anything other than someone, professionally, I did not like.

[Jakamarak]

Originally Posted by Coen

Absolutely one of my favorite films in the Collection.

I recently watched DOWN BY LAW on Hulu. I enjoyed it, but opted not to buy it.

[blujazz]

Originally Posted by jw007

I just finished watching Breaking the Waves for the first time.

[Show spoiler]This was a HEAVY movie. That's the only word I can think of that I'm feeling right now. It's damn intense, its damn disturbing and its damn haunting. I think Lars Von Trier pushed this one as far to the limit as one could push and he succeeded by all means. Wow, I am not even sure what to think right now but this is basically a story of religion, sex and death that is unsurprisingly a pattern in his films. His films make me damn uncomfortable though. I didn't buy this movie. I borrowed it from the library. But now I cannot decide if I want to buy this now. I'm never in the mood to watch a film like this and if I buy this, I can see this sitting on my shelf for years without being viewed. Yet, its so damn good in some crazy way. I've used the word "damn" several times in this paragraph. This was a story about catharsis and redemption to me, and I have not seen a movie on this level of intensity in some time. The story is so terribly sad and yet is so fittingly alive and refreshing all the same. I could see this being a true story back in the 19th century as the men went out to sea while their wives lived alone back on land waiting for them to return. And maybe there was this unlucky, innocent woman who waited until marriage to lose her virginity and then the man suffers a debilitating accident out at sea and comes back paralyzed. And then the woman cannot live with this reality and tries to lose herself and redeem herself

[Show spoiler]and ultimately destroy herself

while all around her a highly close-minded Anglo Saxon community of devout religious people shun her from their lives and she is forced to deal with this suffering and tragedy on her own. And I bet this happened quite a bit, which makes this film all the more insanely realistic and horrific. Wow, if you want a horror film for Halloween, this is the one to see. But man, I'm just reeling still from this one.

Has anyone else felt the same way about Breaking the Waves too?

Heavy is the right word. Have you seen Dancer in the Dark? It's like von Trier killing Bambi. Slowly.

[blufellas]

I just ordered Rififi, it's a blind buy, can't believe I have never seen it.

[orbital]

Originally Posted by Sifox211

My pleasure - and I haven't heard of this trick working on an LG player before! What model is it?

It's a LG BD390. Older model (bought it 2009) and hardly in use these days but I thought I'd give it a try. Works as described in your previous post (substitute "Top Menu" button for "Disc Menu" on the LG remote control). The BD was Criterion's BRAZIL.

[filmmusic]

Although I had ordered 3 BLurays in this sale (Il Sorpasso, Days of Heaven, All that heaven Allows), I had money now to buy one more.
I was between Paris, Texas and Seconds.
I like the first film more with its photography and colors etc., but I love Rock Hudson so I ended up buying the second!

[R o d]

Originally Posted by jw007

[Show spoiler]I just finished watching Breaking the Waves for the first time.

This was a HEAVY movie. That's the only word I can think of that I'm feeling right now. It's damn intense, its damn disturbing and its damn haunting. I think Lars Von Trier pushed this one as far to the limit as one could push and he succeeded by all means. Wow, I am not even sure what to think right now but this is basically a story of religion, sex and death that is unsurprisingly a pattern in his films. His films make me damn uncomfortable though. I didn't buy this movie. I borrowed it from the library. But now I cannot decide if I want to buy this now. I'm never in the mood to watch a film like this and if I buy this, I can see this sitting on my shelf for years without being viewed. Yet, its so damn good in some crazy way. I've used the word "damn" several times in this paragraph. This was a story about catharsis and redemption to me, and I have not seen a movie on this level of intensity in some time. The story is so terribly sad and yet is so fittingly alive and refreshing all the same. I could see this being a true story back in the 19th century as the men went out to sea while their wives lived alone back on land waiting for them to return. And maybe there was this unlucky, innocent woman who waited until marriage to lose her virginity and then the man suffers a debilitating accident out at sea and comes back paralyzed. And then the woman cannot live with this reality and tries to lose herself and redeem herself

[Show spoiler]and ultimately destroy herself

while all around her a highly close-minded Anglo Saxon community of devout religious people shun her from their lives and she is forced to deal with this suffering and tragedy on her own. And I bet this happened quite a bit, which makes this film all the more insanely realistic and horrific. Wow, if you want a horror film for Halloween, this is the one to see. But man, I'm just reeling still from this one.

Has anyone else felt the same way about Breaking the Waves too?

Yeah, you pretty much nailed it.

Every once in a while you come across a movie that is disturbing, yet strangely hypnotic. Match Point comes to mind, and also the film depicted in your avatar.