The Criterion Collection

[bingtau]

With Kurosawa I started with RAN first. I had always seen this on the shelves in the stores back around 2002 and always wanted to take a chance on it so finally I did and I was blown away. Instantly my top movie of the time. Then I saw the PBS special on Kurosawa so I immiediatley went out and grabbed SEVEN SAMURAI and that's when I fell in love with Toshiro Mifune and Kurosawa became my favorite director after just two films. Of course the rest is history, I've seen over 85% of his work and love most of them. My top 5 would be Ran, Seven Samurai, High and Low, Stray Dog, and Throne of Blood.

[oyboe]

Anyone know how to bring up the English subtitles in KES? I couldn't find it in the menus. Normally foreign language Criterions have automatic English subtitles, but this being an English movie maybe you have to select to show subtitles?

[RupertPupkin]

Originally Posted by oyboe

Anyone know how to bring up the English subtitles in KES? I couldn't find it in the menus. Normally foreign language Criterions have automatic English subtitles, but this being an English movie maybe you have to select to show subtitles?

I don't remember that there was a subtitle pop-up menu option on Kes.

But there are English [SDH] subtitles. Fortunately, because being French, it would have been a movie with some dialogues sometimes difficult to funderstand (accent) like on Fish Tank....
All you have to do is to press the "subtitle" button on your Blu-Ray player remote control...

[plattopus]

Originally Posted by oyboe

Anyone know how to bring up the English subtitles in KES? I couldn't find it in the menus. Normally foreign language Criterions have automatic English subtitles, but this being an English movie maybe you have to select to show subtitles?

I just pressed the "Subtitles" button on my remote.

[oyboe]

I have a universal remote without a subtitles button, but will try to figure it out. Thanks.

[keldons]

Originally Posted by bingtau

With Kurosawa I started with RAN first. I had always seen this on the shelves in the stores back around 2002 and always wanted to take a chance on it so finally I did and I was blown away. Instantly my top movie of the time. Then I saw the PBS special on Kurosawa so I immiediatley went out and grabbed SEVEN SAMURAI and that's when I fell in love with Toshiro Mifune and Kurosawa became my favorite director after just two films. Of course the rest is history, I've seen over 85% of his work and love most of them. My top 5 would be Ran, Seven Samurai, High and Low, Stray Dog, and Throne of Blood.

So I'm guessing High and Low is a must for any fan of noir?

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

Last summer it was July 13-August 1. No reason to believe they won't have another one.

See, they're be back in Canada by the 13th, They're gone from the 2nd to 9th, and I'm going home to look after the dogs. I assume the sale's in-store only? I know B&N will ship some movies and some books to Canada, even if they won't sell their Nook/Nook Colors to us.

[scottpcusa]

Anyone have any thoughts on The Makioka Sisters? I loved the book...but have never seen the film. I'm considering blind buying it when it's released in a couple of weeks.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

"He is also said to be such a fan of Zoolander, the 2001 send-up of the fashion world, that colleagues say he watches it regularly and likes to quote it. Ben Stiller, the star of the film, once dressed up in character and recorded him a special birthday video message."

Guess which Criterion-friendly director this quote is about.

Answer:

[Show spoiler]Terrence Malick[/url]

And here's Jacques Rivette talking about Showgirls:
http://archive.sensesofcinema.com/co...6/rivette.html

"... I prefer Showgirls (1995), one of the great American films of the last few years. It's Verhoeven's best American film and his most personal."

[keldons]

Just watched World on a Wire last night. Hopefully the restored print does the great set design and cinematography justice. The region B blu looks pretty rough, so I'm hoping Janus' print is a little sharper. But most importantly, great film, and I will definitely buy Criterion's edition.

[painted_klown]

I decided to watch Modern Times last night.

Blew it through my PJ and stayed up late watching it. For some reason, I just absolutely LOVE to watch black and white movies on the PJ, even more than modern films for some strange reason... I suppose part of it is because I can pretty much go see whatever new/modern film in the actual theater if I want to go out.

I like the idea of watching well restored b&w BDs on the PJ as I feel as if I am sort of re-creating the experience that audiences during the era would have had.

Anyway, on to my thoughts regarding the film.

First, I want to say that I am a little torn in how I feel about this film. I felt as if the "plot" of the movie only served as a way to get Chaplin to the next bit. Sure there was a bit of a story, but the story was completely inconsequential to the film. It could have replaced by ANY thin plot device to get him from scene to scene. This was easily the films biggest weak spot IMO.

This could have been easily overlooked however, if you really have a love for Chaplin and his comedy style. For me the comedy was a hit or miss affair. I will not run through all of the various setups and situations here, instead I will just mention some of the gags I thought worked best.

Easily my favorite section of the film was when he was in jail the first time and eats the "salt" left behind by another prisoner. This scene had me laughing VERY hard all the way through. Chaplin's manic persona was perfect for this type of physical comedy.

I also got a huge kick out of the department store section where he wanders into the toy section. I don't want to give it away but WOW!!! I had no idea Chaplin had those kind of skills. With the way he kind of waddles around in this movie (my first Charlie Chaplin movie so I am not sure if it's just the way the character walks or the way Keaton always walks) I never would have seen that coming.

I also liked the part when he puts on his bathing suit and jumps off the dock into the water. I totally didn't see what was coming and got some genuine chuckles out of it.

Another impressive segment was the final one as a waiter. I don't know if that was really him or a recording, but if it was really him it is yet another big WOW moment.

Now I would like to talk about the way the film was put together. It is a pleasing blend of silent film making techniques along side the more modern era "talkie" films, complete with some sound effects and even some dialogue. I think the reason Chaplin went this direction was because he was from the silent film era. That was his strong suit, his bread and butter so-to-speak. At the same time, he probably felt it was important to cater somewhat to the audiences of the day, who at that time were surrounded by films with sound and may not have fully embraced a completely silent film. I am just guessing/assuming all of this though, I do not know for sure and I never really watch the special features on movies.

As per Criterion's usual releases, this film has been restored/repaired/cleaned up and looks absolutely amazing on Blu-Ray! The films grain structure is still there, clarity is great, and it has a surprisingly high level of detail for a movie of its vintage.

Charlie Chaplin was a true performer/entertainer. This is very clear from watching only one of his movies. Although the comedy was a mixed bag for me, it definitely gets me interested in seeing more of his work. I am excited to see more of what made this classic film icon the legend he is today. For film buffs, or even just the curious uninitiated (as I was) I highly recommend checking out Criterion's release of Modern Times. As a historic document and showcase for Chaplin's enormous talent, it almost becomes "required viewing" for any moviegoer.

Overall I would give Modern Times a 2.75/4 stars. If you are already a Chaplin devotee, you can add an extra star to that score.

Thanks for reading.

-Dave

EDIT: There was a movie made about Charlie Chaplin that starred Robert Downey Jr. and the titular hero. I always thought that was an odd bit of casting until seeing Modern Times. It is almost uncanny how mush these two actors look like each other at times. Actually, I felt that Chaplin looked like a cross between Robert Downey Jr. and Mike Meyers.

[P@t_Mtl]

sorry painted_klown, you seem to be talking about Modern Times but you keep saying references to Keaton as if he is in the movie or I am just reading you wrong?

[painted_klown]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

sorry painted_klown, you seem to be talking about Modern Times but you keep saying references to Keaton as if he is in the movie or I am just reading you wrong?

Oops! Sorry about that, had a brain lapse there...I should have them all fixed now. That totally made me feel like an idiot...I don't know what I was thinking while typing...

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by painted_klown

I decided to watch Modern Times last night.
First, I want to say that I am a little torn in how I feel about this film. I felt as if the "plot" of the movie only served as a way to get Chaplin to the next bit. Sure there was a bit of a story, but the story was completely inconsequential to the film. It could have replaced by ANY thin plot device to get him from scene to scene. This was easily the films biggest weak spot IMO.

Pretty much: He was still basically improvising the central storylines out of specific routines on his early features as he filmed--And after solving the sound-transition problem on City Lights, he wanted to write the "Singing"-waiter routine as a climax for this film.

Easily my favorite section of the film was when he was in jail the first time and eats the "salt" left behind by another prisoner. This scene had me laughing VERY hard all the way through. Chaplin's manic persona was perfect for this type of physical comedy.

EDIT: There was a movie made about Charlie Chaplin that starred Robert Downey Jr. and the titular hero. I always thought that was an odd bit of casting until seeing Modern Times.

In fact, kind of makes you wonder how RDJ would have re-enacted the "salt" scene, from experience...

Now I would like to talk about the way the film was put together. It is a pleasing blend of silent film making techniques along side the more modern era "talkie" films, complete with some sound effects and even some dialogue. I think the reason Chaplin went this direction was because he was from the silent film era. That was his strong suit, his bread and butter so-to-speak. At the same time, he probably felt it was important to cater somewhat to the audiences of the day, who at that time were surrounded by films with sound and may not have fully embraced a completely silent film. I am just guessing/assuming all of this though, I do not know for sure and I never really watch the special features on movies.

Well, try. (Not sure if they kept the old French M2K features on the Criterion disks, but they're pretty extensive, and right up Criterion's snooty alley.)
And since you probably haven't seen the RDJ movie either, this might help clear up the question:

YouTube - ‪Clip from "Chaplin"‬‏

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by painted_klown

Oops! Sorry about that, had a brain lapse there...I should have them all fixed now. That totally made me feel like an idiot...I don't know what I was thinking while typing...

I was not sure but I am well known for my miss reading stuff in English here

Glad you liked it by the way it's a great movie. I suggest you have a look at The Great Dictator next if you never seen it.

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

I was not sure but I am well known for my miss reading stuff in English here

You're also known for your misspelling of the English word "misreading" in here, as well.

[Kevtronn]

With June coming up, was curious what everyone was excited about & had pre-ordered? Here's my lineup, although I will probably have to cancel one to stay within my blu-ray budget for the month. For some reason, I'm feeling a little bit more excited about July & August titles...

Makioka Sisters
Kiss Me Deadly
Zazie dans le Metro
Black Moon

[Cocophone]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

Insignificance and People On Sunday. I'm interested in both the Malle titles as I haven't seen either of them yet, so they will get rented at some point.

Have you seen Insignificance? I'm thinking of blind buying it since it looks intriguing. However, I still have several Criterions sitting on the shelf that I still need to watch.

[greekak229]

Kiss Me Deadly is the only Criterion title I'm really interested in for June. I'm just looking ahead to August, to be honest, but July has some really good ones too.

[SpiderBaby]

Just People on Sunday.