The Criterion Collection

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by rock, stone

Just watched Ride with the Devil for the first time. But I expect a lot from my westerns and as a film it didn't really feel very real or very dangerous.

I believe your movie genres are mixed up a bit. I would hardly, or not at all, consider Ride With The Devil, a movie that's focused on the American Civil War, part of the western film genre.

[rock, stone]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

I believe your movie genres are mixed up a bit. I would hardly, or not at all, consider Ride With The Devil, a movie that's focused on the American Civil War, part of the western film genre.

Yeah, I saw that coming. Plenty of westerns take place during the civil war. I think you think westerns are limited to gunfights at dawn. Outlaws bushwacking each other, hiding out, and falling in love with a backdrop of scenic americana? A western and a civil war movie are not mutually exclusive.

Did you want to respond to anything I said about the movie proper?

[keldons]

for those interested, the Josef von Sternberg set is an Amazon Gold Box deal for $35.99 right now.

[banjo!]

Originally Posted by keldons

for those interested, the Josef von Sternberg set is an Amazon Gold Box deal for $35.99 right now.

It shows that you can sell it back to amazon for $34.

[keldons]

Originally Posted by banjo!

It shows that you can sell it back to amazon for $34.

or for free you can not buy it and let someone that actually wants the films pick it up.

[rock, stone]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

Haven't seen Ride With The Devil (have never warmed to Ang Lee's films) but I wholeheartedly agree with you regarding Jeffrey Wright.

I like Ang Lee often, but when I look at a list of his films it almost alternates like Star Trek movies. Or David Fincher.

I just found out that Wright played Muddy Waters in Cadillac Records, so I'm going to see if that is any good. I wonder if Angels in America will ever make it to blue. That has a collection of performances good enough to make your eyes water.

[RipleyLV426]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

Beauty And The Beast is now up over at DVDBeaver.

Here is another review from Home Theatre Forum.

I'm so excited to see this... I will be there at Barnes and Noble to get it at the sweet sale price of $20 (actually free for me cuz I have a gift card)

[Monty70]

Just read an article on the new technology Criterion is using called Phoenix Finish. Criterion first used this equipment on the restoration of KES, and has since used it for The Music Room and The Killing. Follow the link below if you are interested.

http://www.creativecow.net/interstit...ry/866355&id=0

[Zacherywolf7]

Originally Posted by Monty70

Just read an article on the new technology Criterion is using called Phoenix Finish. Criterion first used this equipment on the restoration of KES, and has since used it for The Music Room and The Killing. Follow the link below if you are interested.

http://www.creativecow.net/interstit...ry/866355&id=0

It's good to see that they're constantly upgrading technology so that they can make their already beautiful transfers more beautiful.

[scottpcusa]

Originally Posted by rock, stone

I like Ang Lee often, but when I look at a list of his films it almost alternates like Star Trek movies. Or David Fincher.

I just found out that Wright played Muddy Waters in Cadillac Records, so I'm going to see if that is any good. I wonder if Angels in America will ever make it to blue. That has a collection of performances good enough to make your eyes water.

I would LOVE to see "Angels In America" released on BD! I agree...the acting was wonderful! I re-watched it on HBO on demand about a year ago. I would totally pick it up!

[oildude]

Originally Posted by rock, stone

Just watched Ride with the Devil for the first time. This is another movie I just couldn't convince myself to blind buy, and I have to say that was the right move. It was fine, but unremarkable. I have no need to see it again, but nothing bad to say about it.

The movie is very, very pretty so it might be worth it for the eye candy for some. I wish Jeffrey Wright was in more movies, or at least, more good movies. He really is one of the better actors working. And everyone else is good for the most part. Jewel was quite charming and crazy pretty. Rhys-Meyers was creepy, if mannered. But I expect a lot from my westerns and as a film it didn't really feel very real or very dangerous.

I would recommend this as a rental and not a blind buy, what with the sale coming up.

Ride With the Devil is one of my favorite Criterions, and one I highly recommend. For me it was a blind buy and I did not regret it. I wrote a few posts about it - not sure how to link to previous posts, but it was #25662 on page 1284, and a few additional posts over the following page. I have re-watched it since then and like it even more. This was after viewing the 2010 version of True Grit. There is a remarkable similarity to the feel of both movies, mostly in terms of language, cinematography, and period detail. So if someone liked 2010 True Grit (and for that matter the Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford) then I'd at least give Ride With the Devil a rent. I don't think they will be disappointed.

It has a western feel to it in that the story revolves around mounted guerrillas in the Missouri borderlands during the Civil War. This area was home to the future James and Younger gangs after the war, who also fought as Confederate irregulars. There are many details and nuances that Ang Lee and the film's writers captured exceptionally well, such as highlighting the particular visciousness of this backwater of the American Civil War, where former neighbors and friends turned on each other, killing each other with unspeakable savagery and lack of mercy for folks they knew, worshipped with, and sat at the same table with in peaceful times. It was America's own version of the 1990s Bosnia and Croatian conflicts.

The film also gets it right in its portrayal of recent European immigrant origins of many of the settlers in the Missouri-Kansas region. Irish and German immigrants made up a large number of the Northern soldiers throughout the war, in all the Union armies. This is what makes Tobey McGuire's character unique - and his loyalty suspect to some of his fellow guerrillas - in that he is born German but fights for the South, the only home he can remember. His father pays a price for this.

The depiction of the raid on Lawrence, Kansas, when the various guerrilla bands joined together to strike deep into Union territory is quite moving and haunts the viewer afterward. It is also historically accurate from what I have read, including the detail that the Confederates saw it as justified vengeance for what they percieved (mistakenly as it turned out) as an earlier atrocity. Regardless of their motives, the attack was one of the worst atrocities committed on American soil, and the movie pulls no punches in showing the ominous buildup to it, and the raid itself. In the aftermath, the Union redoubles its efforts to run the irregulars to ground as disillusionment sets in for some. For me, the film portrayed that danger in a very real and visceral way.

As for Ang Lee, I have not seen enough of his movies to make any judgements on his body of work as a whole. Based on the few I have seen, I thnk he is quite good. For a Hong Kong director to make such a startling and realistic period piece about one of the most savage and little known theaters of conflict in the American Civil War is remarkable in my book and I salute him for the achievement.

And, yes, Jeffrey Wright is fantastic as the taciturn, conflicted, and dedicated Southern partisan, as I mentioned in my earlier posts on the movie.

[ShellOilJunior]

Had the chance to view White Material this weekend and was really impressed. I loved the photography and the noir elements. Plus, the lead actress was excellent.

I hope more people get a chance to see this and not mistake it for a Charlie Sheen biopic.

[greekak229]

Starting the sale off right with a copy of Naked this week. Excellent.

[Zacherywolf7]

I just noticed Criterion started in 1984.
Anyone have a list of the VHS they released?

[Harry Caul]

Originally Posted by rock, stone

Yeah, I saw that coming. Plenty of westerns take place during the civil war. I think you think westerns are limited to gunfights at dawn. Outlaws bushwacking each other, hiding out, and falling in love with a backdrop of scenic americana? A western and a civil war movie are not mutually exclusive.

Did you want to respond to anything I said about the movie proper?

People are very limited in terms of what is a western. McCabe & Mrs. Miller is one of my favorite westerns. I think it's a expectation thing. Because of what people grew up and watched it's their view of what it' supposed to be.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by oildude

Ride With the Devil is one of my favorite Criterions, and one I highly recommend. For me it was a blind buy and I did not regret it. I wrote a few posts about it - not sure how to link to previous posts, but it was #25662 on page 1284, and a few additional posts over the following page. I have re-watched it since then and like it even more. This was after viewing the 2010 version of True Grit. There is a remarkable similarity to the feel of both movies, mostly in terms of language, cinematography, and period detail. So if someone liked 2010 True Grit (and for that matter the Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford) then I'd at least give Ride With the Devil a rent. I don't think they will be disappointed.

It has a western feel to it in that the story revolves around mounted guerrillas in the Missouri borderlands during the Civil War. This area was home to the future James and Younger gangs after the war, who also fought as Confederate irregulars. There are many details and nuances that Ang Lee and the film's writers captured exceptionally well, such as highlighting the particular visciousness of this backwater of the American Civil War, where former neighbors and friends turned on each other, killing each other with unspeakable savagery and lack of mercy for folks they knew, worshipped with, and sat at the same table with in peaceful times. It was America's own version of the 1990s Bosnia and Croatian conflicts.

The film also gets it right in its portrayal of recent European immigrant origins of many of the settlers in the Missouri-Kansas region. Irish and German immigrants made up a large number of the Northern soldiers throughout the war, in all the Union armies. This is what makes Tobey McGuire's character unique - and his loyalty suspect to some of his fellow guerrillas - in that he is born German but fights for the South, the only home he can remember. His father pays a price for this.

The depiction of the raid on Lawrence, Kansas, when the various guerrilla bands joined together to strike deep into Union territory is quite moving and haunts the viewer afterward. It is also historically accurate from what I have read, including the detail that the Confederates saw it as justified vengeance for what they percieved (mistakenly as it turned out) as an earlier atrocity. Regardless of their motives, the attack was one of the worst atrocities committed on American soil, and the movie pulls no punches in showing the ominous buildup to it, and the raid itself. In the aftermath, the Union redoubles its efforts to run the irregulars to ground as disillusionment sets in for some. For me, the film portrayed that danger in a very real and visceral way.

As for Ang Lee, I have not seen enough of his movies to make any judgements on his body of work as a whole. Based on the few I have seen, I thnk he is quite good. For a Hong Kong director to make such a startling and realistic period piece about one of the most savage and little known theaters of conflict in the American Civil War is remarkable in my book and I salute him for the achievement.

And, yes, Jeffrey Wright is fantastic as the taciturn, conflicted, and dedicated Southern partisan, as I mentioned in my earlier posts on the movie.

This is very vague - was the blu-ray package damaged or not?
But seriously, good write-up. I'm a fan of the film, but haven't seen it for a long time. I'd recommend people at least watch it, but not necessarily blind-buy it.
I'd happily call it a Western, but perhaps Civil War films are a sub-genre of the Western. Of course, that raises questions of where to place Dances With Wolves, The Outlaw Josey Wales, Gettysburg, or even The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.
What defines a Western more: its historical period, its locals, its characters, its events?

[keldons]

the comparison to Jesse James has sold me.

[pro-bassoonist]

REVIEW
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Naked.../23141/#Review

[KrugerIndustrial]

Any info whether Fellini's '8½' will receive english friendly European release anytime soon? Now only options seem to be Criterion or Gaumont.

[pro-bassoonist]

I have not seen any, Matti.