The Criterion Collection

[fkbrun]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

I suggest watching "Fish Tank" next.

Mine hasn't arrived yet! Sometimes it takes too long for amazon items to arrive in Brazil... Only "The double life of Veronique" has arrived from all the February titles. And none of the March titles has arrived as of yet. Well, patience is a virtue (or so they say)

[McCrutchy]

So I'm late to the party, but I finally watched Crumb last night, and I have to say, so far, it will not go down as a favorite for me. I found the Crumbs to be

[Show spoiler]inescapably depressing people, especially

[Show spoiler]Charles

, who, as the film notes, eventually

[Show spoiler]committed suicide in 1993

, a year after he was filmed

, and I swayed back and forth between feeling sorry for them and feeling that these were people I simply just did not need to know about.

As far as the documentary itself goes, it was well-made, but I still found myself questioning Zwigoff's goal: He seems to spend too much time on Crumb's family to ponder how the man himself came to create the things he creates, so is the point to say "Screwy people make screwy art"? And he seems unconcerned about analyzing Crumb's readership or enduring popularity, preferring instead to film excerpts of Crumb talking to the camera or his family and friends.

In the end, I came away not wanting to know anything more about Crumb or his family, and wanting instead to try to forget them and that I had seen the documentary. To me Crumb just seems like a sad, introverted, strange little man who happened to capture the consciousness of the youth with his eccentric drawings and stories.

Do the audio commentaries help to explain Zwigoff's motivations better than the documentary itself does? I don't know if I want to watch the film again but I might force myself to if hearing the commentaries would be worth it...

[repete66211]

I bought Au Revoir on Friday using a B&N coupon. The old lady played up the drama of the mystery discount. I felt like an idiot (and a little dirty) acting surprised when it was revealed to be a 50% discount. I did a better job of it when buying Play Time yesterday. I think the clerk was catching on though. She said, "There have been a lot more 50% coupons than there were last time." I just shrugged.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by fkbrun

This weekend I got to watch two of my unseen Criterion blu-rays: Chungking Express and Everlasting Moments.

The first one was a complete surprise. When I thought I was starting to get the hang of the story, it shifts to a completely different and, shall I say, more satisfying one. It simply left me amazed when it was over, I just love it when a movie has the power to leave me with a smile long after it's finished.

I blind bought Chungking Express a year ago. The first time I watched it was late at night and I worried I'd be too tired to enjoy it. It wasn't a problem at all and the film left me with a big smile on my face. Such a delightful film.
Even though my In The Mood For Love DVD upscales okay, it's definitely one I want to upgrade to blu-ray. I hope Criterion still have the rights to that one.
Since the topic is weekend watching, I watched The Thin Red Line blu-ray. This is such an impressive package from Criterion and it's probably my favourite film from the 90s.

[rock, stone]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

So I'm late to the party, but I finally watched Crumb last night, and I have to say, so far, it will not go down as a favorite for me. I found the Crumbs to be

[Show spoiler]inescapably depressing people, especially

[Show spoiler]Charles

, who, as the film notes, eventually

[Show spoiler]committed suicide in 1993

, a year after he was filmed

, and I swayed back and forth between feeling sorry for them and feeling that these were people I simply just did not need to know about.

As far as the documentary itself goes, it was well-made, but I still found myself questioning Zwigoff's goal: He seems to spend too much time on Crumb's family to ponder how the man himself came to create the things he creates, so is the point to say "Screwy people make screwy art"? And he seems unconcerned about analyzing Crumb's readership or enduring popularity, preferring instead to film excerpts of Crumb talking to the camera or his family and friends.

In the end, I came away not wanting to know anything more about Crumb or his family, and wanting instead to try to forget them and that I had seen the documentary. To me Crumb just seems like a sad, introverted, strange little man who happened to capture the consciousness of the youth with his eccentric drawings and stories.

Do the audio commentaries help to explain Zwigoff's motivations better than the documentary itself does? I don't know if I want to watch the film again but I might force myself to if hearing the commentaries would be worth it...

Interesting. For what it is worth, I love Crumb. I personally don't have much interest in or really like R. Crumb's artwork, but I've watched this movie a number of times. (I am, however, a big fan of his music) I tend to prefer documentaries that present their subjects more than they try to prove some sort of thesis, and I think Crumb certainly falls into the former category.

As far as the commentaries, I think that they prove that Zwigoff's focus really was on this bizarre family and how more out of luck of the draw than anything R. Crumb was able to escape the fates of his two brothers. There is also brief mention of the two Crumb sisters who declined to be filmed (one, reportedly a "militant lesbian separatist" threatened to sue Zwigoff if he even talked about her).

I think the story of Crumb is that of the three brothers and how one was saved by his celebrity. It doesn't really draw many conclusions about R. Crumb the artist. I think I prefer it that way.

[capnnarcolepsy]

For anyone that doesn't have it, amazon is selling the BBS Blu set for $66.99 this week. Pretty good deal, considering the usual price and the wealth of material/films inside.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by SpiderBaby

So you would or wouldn't otherwise?

There are folks that will buy everything issued by Criterion on Blu. Not everything Criterion puts out I agree with. . .

Sanders of the River (DVD), Drive He Said, A Safe Place--- all come to mind

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

There are folks that will buy everything issued by Criterion on Blu. Not everything Criterion puts out I agree with. . .

Sanders of the River, Drive He Said, A Safe Place--- all come to mind

I am the same way. I only buy the Criterion that I have an interest on and will see on repeat viewings. Criterion are mostly to expensive for me to buy each and everyone of them for the sake of having a collection.

I do try to rent most of them when I get the chance and see them however.

[italy12]

Originally Posted by repete66211

I bought Au Revoir on Friday using a B&N coupon. The old lady played up the drama of the mystery discount. I felt like an idiot (and a little dirty) acting surprised when it was revealed to be a 50% discount. I did a better job of it when buying Play Time yesterday. I think the clerk was catching on though. She said, "There have been a lot more 50% coupons than there were last time." I just shrugged.

My lady practically ****ed me when she saw that I had a 50% coupon. She was so happy because, as she stated, "I've only had 15's all day."

[repete66211]

Maybe this has been covered before, but is there any connection between Criterion and Turner Classic Movies? I ask because it seems some Criterion titles pop up on TCM fairly regularly(as expected), but sometimes a movie is scheduled on TCM about the same time a new Criterion Blu-ray is released. For example, Kiss Me Deadly is on this week, but in the past I've seen Black Narcissus, Black Orpheus, The Great Dictator, etc. Both being interested in older classic movies, TCM and Criterion are bound to have some overlap, but the timing seems a little uncanny sometimes. Anyone?

[keldons]

Originally Posted by italy12

My lady practically ****ed me when she saw that I had a 50% coupon. She was so happy because, as she stated, "I've only had 15's all day."

The cashier I had said "Wow, you got lucky." in the most deadpan voice I've ever heard. I don't know if he is just like that or if he was catching on.....

[SammyJankis]

It was so obvious that I knew I was going to get 50% off. The first Barnes and Noble I went to, the woman told me that almost everyone gets 15% off and the chances of me getting higher are extremely slim. I just brushed it off, not really knowing what to say to that. When she rang it up, she told me it was my lucky day. I just smiled and tried to act surprised. The second Barnes and Noble I went to, the woman rang me up and just stared at me. I asked if there was a problem. Her response was, "You got 50% off.." My response, "Oh, is that not common?"

I'm pretty sure she knew what I was doing.

[fdm]

Originally Posted by italy12

My lady practically ****ed me when she saw that I had a 50% coupon. She was so happy because, as she stated, "I've only had 15's all day."

Hope the dam things are still good today. Tried to get out on Saturday afternoon, figured I'd hit 3 or 4 stores. It's a rather long drive to any of them (and still somewhat of a drive between them). And ended up with a flat tire 10 miles from the house. Decided it would be best to call it a day at that point, so didn't even get close. Give it another shot today. After likely forking out some bucks to buy a new tire.

Guess I better practice my surprised look.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by fdm

Hope the dam things are still good today. Tried to get out on Saturday afternoon, figured I'd hit 3 or 4 stores. It's a rather long drive to any of them (and still somewhat of a drive between them). And ended up with a flat tire 10 miles from the house. Decided it would be best to call it a day at that point, so didn't even get close. Give it another shot today. After likely forking out some bucks to buy a new tire.

Guess I better practice my surprised look.

I think they were only good until yesterday.

[reallyagi]

So I went to Barnes and Noble yesterday to use my 50% off coupon on a Criterion blu-ray, but I found a Platinum Edition of Scrabble I couldn't resist.
Oh well...

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by reallyagi

So I went to Barnes and Noble yesterday to use my 50% off coupon on a Criterion blu-ray, but I found a Platinum Edition of Scrabble I couldn't resist.
Oh well...

haha nothing wrong with that. I used two coupons, one on Friday and one yesterday and got Au Revoir Les Enfants and The Double Life of Veronique, both for about $17 each.

[rkish]

Originally Posted by italy12

My lady practically ****ed me when she saw that I had a 50% coupon. She was so happy because, as she stated, "I've only had 15's all day."

Though I thought of other purchases after the fact (Chungking Express comes to mind), I had only planned on using the members coup once and the non-members coup once. My priority was Twilight Zone Season 3, as that's hard to get at a decent price. I always figure to be able to get CC stuff during their next sale...

My cashiers were more pleased than me as well!

[rkish]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

I am the same way. I only buy the Criterion that I have an interest on and will see on repeat viewings. Criterion are mostly to expensive for me to buy each and everyone of them for the sake of having a collection.

I do try to rent most of them when I get the chance and see them however.

Same here...and I've even given in to buying DVDs on films or directors that do not seem to be destined for blu versions of their films. Naruse comes to mind I've ordered the MoC Naruse boxset (region 2) and made the leap of faith and bought my first Eclipse...namely the Silent Naruse. He's about as close as you can get to Ozu, without actually being Ozu.

I'm working on Mizoguchi rentals now...though I think he is a bit closer to being like Kurosawa than Ozu. He seems to be another big fan of the Samurai stories...Naruse seems to be more family and "common man" centered.

Thanks to all for your feedback...your suggestions and NetFlix have been invaluable tools!

[rkish]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

It was so obvious that I knew I was going to get 50% off. The first Barnes and Noble I went to, the woman told me that almost everyone gets 15% off and the chances of me getting higher are extremely slim. I just brushed it off, not really knowing what to say to that. When she rang it up, she told me it was my lucky day. I just smiled and tried to act surprised. The second Barnes and Noble I went to, the woman rang me up and just stared at me. I asked if there was a problem. Her response was, "You got 50% off.." My response, "Oh, is that not common?"

I'm pretty sure she knew what I was doing.

LOL...thanks for my laugh of the day!

[rkish]

Sorry...I know this is four posts in a row...

I rented "Le Samourai" this weekend and really enjoyed it a lot. The supplemental material was great as well! Based on what most people consider to be "his greatest film", I'm kind of surprised that this didn't get the blu-ray nod after "Army of Shadows". I hope we see this next up on blu!