The Criterion Collection

[mattardo]

I'd have to diagree with those who say the main point of The Wages of Fear was not political. Even the name points to it's political intentions - "The Wages of Fear are Death.." And that point is hammered home many times in the film: work for America, capitalism, money, you end up broken and eventually dead - no matter how successful you may become. How many characters come out of the film looking good in any possible way? None, that I can think of. Money perverts them all, twists them all, turns them into betrayers, *****s, murderers - it touches them all.

Now, I legitimately enjoyed the movie, setting the political intentions aside, but I don't think I could honestly say that the politics were not the main point. Sure, while you watch the movie - if you are not careful - you may confuse the film as a suspense film only, but this would only be temporary. In hindsight, the politics catch up with you once you re-examine the film. The director could have removed the entire nitro-glycerin truck sequence and the film's title and basic message would have remained the same. Of course, the nitro-glycerin truck sequence is what draws most people to see the film, but it's almost un-needed by that point in the film: I am well convinced, as a viewer, of what money does to people by that point.

I'm not a huge fan of censorship, but it's very obvious why this film was censored in the 1950's. Sometimes filmmakers use art as an excuse to get on the soapbox - and this was definately a huge example of that.
Despite all that - I did enjoy the film very, very much. Of course, the second the waltz begins playing near the end of the film it becomes a bit unbelievable, character-wise - unless we imagine the character has finally overcome fear and that causes his "waltzing".

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by mattardo

I'd have to diagree with those who say the main point of The Wages of Fear was not political. Even the name points to it's political intentions - "The Wages of Fear are Death.." And that point is hammered home many times in the film: work for America, capitalism, money, you end up broken and eventually dead

I think we meant it is evident but not really talked about, and the film isn't an annoying Michael Moore exercise in his own arrogance to further his dwindling career . (Just for the record I am a DEM but can't stand Moore's starvation for attention like a kid at someone else's birthday party.)

[Deadset]

Originally Posted by mattardo

I'd have to diagree with those who say the main point of The Wages of Fear was not political. Even the name points to it's political intentions - "The Wages of Fear are Death.." And that point is hammered home many times in the film: work for America, capitalism, money, you end up broken and eventually dead - no matter how successful you may become.

Is the quote you're referring to "The Wages of Sin is Death" ? I would kinda dig some religious overtones vs. political ones. Maybe it's the: the love money is the root of all evil theme?

Also, everyone pretty much ends up broke and dead in the long run, unless you are a celebrity - you'll just end up dead.

Anyhow, thanks for everyone weighing in on the movie, I'm going to rent it just to be sure.

[mattardo]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

I think we meant it is evident but not really talked about, and the film isn't an annoying Michael Moore exercise in his own arrogance to further his dwindling career . (Just for the record I am a DEM but can't stand Moore's starvation for attention like a kid at someone else's birthday party.)

Yes, it's an odd bird in that aspect. I had never seen it until the other day with my girlfriend, but here is how it struck me:
The movie focused on the truck and the nitro-glycerin and the fact that fear will change a man into something else - usually something worse then when he started. Sure there were scenes of squallor, betrayal and a difficulty in identifying with the characters sympathetically - but this all changed when the truck sequence began: the characters became more sympathetic and could be identified with. My girlfriend, up until that part, constantly commented "What an ass" or "What a jerk" or "What a spineless woman" and this was applied to every character.
On first viewing, of course the villain of all this is the oil company - evil, evil oil company. Nothing shocking, because we are living in a time when big business has had a bad reputation for many years from film: when is an oil company ever NOT evil in a movie lately?
So, the 1st viewing paints characters that are extremely flawed and unsympathetic, but ultimately identifiable on a personal basis as we share their fear of blowing into a million pieces.

Now, after the film... if you spend the time thinking of what the director was trying to say throughout the entire film, not just the truck sequences, it becomes an entirely different picture and the political motivations just jump out at you with a loud voice. I tend to forget the truck sequence when reviewing the film in my mind after the initial viewing, and the film takes on an entirely different light. Every character is an exercise in what capitalism does to the average person: it creates a mental and physical slave out of the barmaid (a complaint long voiced by Marxism), it creates class division (the bar owner and the entry of Jo into town), it makes men do demeaning and dangerous things and turns them into murderous, betraying, unfeeling creatures (almost every other character in the film). I could go on, and I MIGHT be reading too much into it - but I don't think so...

You are right, however, that it's not obvious unless you're looking for it. It takes time to sink into the consciousness.
And I think that is why I like this movie so much - it takes on deeper meanings even after you are finished watching it, and in the end isn't that something a good movie should do? Even if we don't agree with the message, the fact that it affects us after we are finished. Very nice.

[mattardo]

Originally Posted by Deads3t

Is the quote you're referring to "The Wages of Sin is Death" ? I would kinda dig some religious overtones vs. political ones. Maybe it's the: the love money is the root of all evil theme?

Also, everyone pretty much ends up broke and dead in the long run, unless you are a celebrity - you'll just end up dead.

Anyhow, thanks for everyone weighing in on the movie, I'm going to rent it just to be sure.

Definately watch it - it's very good. Wear Red while you do it, though.
That is the quote I was referring to, and apart from the title of the Film there are few religious references except for the barmaid praying at one point in the movie. There might be a few more, but it's definately not a theme of the movie, as far as I can tell...

[MovingPictureObsess]

Just receieved Repulsion from BN I don't have time to watch it and all the special features. You know that plastic security tab they put inside boxes well they put it on the actual disc. Anyone know if this will cause disc to skip and stop? Before I go return it I would guess nothing should be put on actual disc itself and they goofed up?

[zedd_117]

Originally Posted by MovingPictureObsess

Just receieved Repulsion from BN I don't have time to watch it and all the special features. You know that plastic security tab they put inside boxes well they put it on the actual disc. Anyone know if this will cause disc to skip and stop? Before I go return it I would guess nothing should be on actual disc itself?

Wow, I'd take it back. My guess is you'd have some mad skippin' goin' on, what with the extra weight on the one side of the disc. I'd be surprised if it'd even start up correctly.

I bet when it was shipped the glue on the back of the security thing melts, came loose, then re-adheared to the disc.
Crazy man!

[Kevtronn]

For those of you that own all or most of the Criterion Blu-rays with the cardboard boxes: How are you storing them?

Stacking them face up on top of each other or standing them straight up?

I'm curious which method is best to keep them mint. If standing them straight up will damage the bottom corners or if stacking them will smash them? As you can probably tell I lay awake at night worrying about these kind of things

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by Kevtronn

For those of you that own all or most of the Criterion Blu-rays with the cardboard boxes: How are you storing them?

Stacking them face up on top of each other or standing them straight up?

I store all of my movies, Criterion cardboard blu-rays included, standing them up on-end with the spines facing out. If you have them all in-line on a shelf and not packed so tightly as to crush them, then I don't see how the cardboard could get damaged.

CC

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by MovingPictureObsess

Just receieved Repulsion from BN I don't have time to watch it and all the special features. You know that plastic security tab they put inside boxes well they put it on the actual disc. Anyone know if this will cause disc to skip and stop? Before I go return it I would guess nothing should be put on actual disc itself and they goofed up?

I'd just peal the security sticker off.... and rub the adhesive off with my thumb.... assuming it's on the art-side, and not the "play" side of the disc......

It should come off fairly easily.....


As far as storing my Movies...... I have them all on the floor.... I've long lost the ability to store them in any organized manner.... I need to find a good rack-system, or perhaps build something. So they are all "Stacked up" laying on the floor, in piles of 30 or so I'd guess..... I try to keep the cardboard cases separate from other ones though... so they don't get lost on the bottom, and crushed by the weight.

[Kevtronn]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

I store all of my movies, Criterion cardboard blu-rays included, standing them up on-end with the spines facing out. If you have them all in-line on a shelf and not packed so tightly as to crush them, then I don't see how the cardboard could get damaged.

CC

Do you mix the cardbord blu-rays with the blu-ray cases or keep them seperate? I know this is all probably just preference, but I can not decide. Currently I have my Criterion Blu-rays seperated from the rest and the cardboard blu-rays seperated from the cases. I also have a very large blu-ray shelf that will hold over 1,000.

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by Kevtronn

Do you mix the cardbord blu-rays with the blu-ray cases or keep them seperate? I know this is all probably just preference, but I can not decide. Currently I have my Criterion Blu-rays seperated from the rest and the cardboard blu-rays seperated from the cases. I also have a very large blu-ray shelf that will hold over 1,000.

I have five sections of blu-rays... domestic U.S. releases, Criterions, imported blu-rays, music/concert, & TV. Other than that, everything is alphabetically organized in each section.

So, all of my Criterions are alphabetical... therefore, the cases are mixed in together.

CC

[ccfixx]

Yes? No? Simple?



CC

[o0Andy0o]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

Yes? No? Simple?

*Cover Art*

CC

I like! I think I'm gonna pick this one up, I love international cinema.

[jacobb1313]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

Yes? No? Simple?

CC

I love it. Simple with a great color scheme.

[Beta Man]

It should be the first really "Colorful" case in the Clear-plastic....... I wonder what "The Last Metro" will look like if they re-release it in the Clear-plastic.


By the way.... anyone get any updates from Criterion on the Clear-Case-Replacements?

[neo_reloaded]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

It should be the first really "Colorful" case in the Clear-plastic....... I wonder what "The Last Metro" will look like if they re-release it in the Clear-plastic.


By the way.... anyone get any updates from Criterion on the Clear-Case-Replacements?

The wording on Mulvaney's response re: case styles was ambiguous, so I would not think replacements are a fore-gone conclusion yet. He said "most Blu-ray releases" and "going forward," so we'll have to see exactly what he meant. But rest assured, if and when something is announced, it will be posted everywhere.

[Jimbo976]

I liked the old cases and I like the new ones as well. It's nice that they are different than standard Blu-rays.

[zedd_117]

Originally Posted by neo_reloaded

The wording on Mulvaney's response re: case styles was ambiguous, so I would not think replacements are a fore-gone conclusion yet. He said "most Blu-ray releases" and "going forward," so we'll have to see exactly what he meant. But rest assured, if and when something is announced, it will be posted everywhere.

Originally Posted by Jimbo976

I liked the old cases and I like the new ones as well. It's nice that they are different than standard Blu-rays.

Much like people, it's what's on the inside that matters most.

What?! Too sappy?

[zedd_117]

Ok folks, here it is, the grand poohbah of B&N lists (actually not really, some of you bought more). I know many of you have been waiting with baited breath, Oh wonder what Zedd bought, has probably crossed one or two minds out there. Here's the answer to your question:

001 Grand Illusion
017 Salo, or The 120 Days of Sodom
024 High and Low
030 M
047 Insomnia
056 The 39 Steps
057 Charade
061 Life of Brian
070 The Last Temptation of Christ
096 Written on the Wind
118 Sullivan's Travels
151 Traffic
171 Contempt
190 Throne of Blood
221 Ikiru
265 Short Cuts
288 F for Fake
364 Monsters and Madmen Boxset
-365 First Man Into Space
-366 The Atomic Submarine
-367 The Haunted Strangler
-368 Corridors of Blood
426 The Ice Storm
449 Missing
455 White Dog
465 Dodes'Ka-Den
469 The Hit
475 The Friends of Eddie Coyle
477 Bergman Island (yes I know it's on The Seventh Seal Blu)
*** The Red Balloon/White Mane

So now you can all rest easy, 31 Films in total, 26 Items purchased.