The Criterion Collection

[retablo]

Originally Posted by kazama

i perfectly understand your point, but they look so freakin' classy though. especially Seven Samurai, and its a really sturdy one, so i don't think you should be worried about it. definitely one of my fav digipacks.

I've watched my copy once and one of the corners of the box is already tearing. Classy looking or not, paper cases suck - they tear, get bent, arrive damaged.. I see no redeeming qualities in them, nor have I ever.

[Vriess]

I really love The Man Who Fell To Earth, it's fantastic visually and It quickly became one of my favorite Sci Fi's. I wish I had alot more old Sci Fi to look forward to on Blu Ray but I doubt many will surprise me as much as this one did.

[Monty70]

I am a bit surprised how many people come to this board to say they dislike Black Narcissus. For my money the film is a masterpiece, perhaps the most beautifully photographed film I have ever seen. (The scenes during sunset at the films conclusion are utterly breathtaking) IMO, every aspect of the film's production is exemplary, from the acting, to the direction, to the set design. (and the story is a powerful tale of the age old conflict of faith versus flesh)

To each their own, but I really don't get this one.

[Zen_Amako]

Seems like anything from Nicolas Roeg is at least worth a look. I just saw Don't Look Now last night (UK Blu-ray) and I thought that was great. I also really like The Man Who Fell to Earth and Walkabout. I watched Performance on DVD; that was a strange one. I'd check it out again if it were released on BD, especially since the DVD had an issue with the audio.

[AgentOrange]

My Top 10. Though I really just started with Criterion blu's recently. It's probably silly to even do a list considering I have about 10 more I need to watch from my sale "haul". But here goes...(edit: I forgot Yojimbo and Sanjuro which are definitely in my top 10 somewhere, so I guess now I have a list of 12)

-Seven Samurai
-The Third Man (DVD), missed chance to get blu, too expensive in 2nd hand market now =(
-Pale Flower
-Modern Times
-Yojimbo
-Sanjuro
-Repulsion
-Paths of Glory
-Seventh Seal
-Kiss Me Deadly
-Sweet Smell of Success
-Bottle Rocket (Blu) /Royal Tenenbaums (DVD) (would easily take place of Bottle Rocket if upgraded to Blu-ray)


Unless I missed anything, pretty sure I've only watched 2 other blus so far (big gap from my top 10, which all are AMAZING IMO).

-Bigger than Life = was "ok", but didn't really do anything for me either.
-Playtime = shocked at how little I enjoyed this, I was bored to tears by the end, tears were because I even bought this before the sale

[AgentOrange]

Originally Posted by Vriess

I really love The Man Who Fell To Earth, it's fantastic visually and It quickly became one of my favorite Sci Fi's. I wish I had alot more old Sci Fi to look forward to on Blu Ray but I doubt many will surprise me as much as this one did.

When I first started browing the list of Criterions on blu I noted that one as one I wanted, but was sadly disappointed to find it was out of print (and that resales are like $50-70).

Studio Canal I guess took the rights to release Third Man, wonder what the deal with TMWFTE is. Who is holding the rights? I'm hoping someday those both come back to criterion, no way I'm paying double for a 2nd hand copy.

[ShellOilJunior]

Viewed Marienbad tonite. It's probably the 5th or 6th time I've seen it yet before I somehow missed the Hitchcock "cameo" in my earlier viewings.

[wilky61]

Originally Posted by Monty70

I am a bit surprised how many people come to this board to say they dislike Black Narcissus. For my money the film is a masterpiece, perhaps the most beautifully photographed film I have ever seen. (The scenes during sunset at the films conclusion are utterly breathtaking) IMO, every aspect of the film's production is exemplary, from the acting, to the direction, to the set design. (and the story is a powerful tale of the age old conflict of faith versus flesh)

To each their own, but I really don't get this one.

Black Narcissus reminded me of The African Queen, and I don't mean that as a compliment (e.g., you've got actors smiling like jackasses in both movies). TAQ has redeeming qualities though (e.g., plot development/character development).

Come to think about it, though, I don't think I've ever seen a movie about faith that I liked. As such, I won't be blind buying Leon Morin Priest even though Melville is probably my favorite director.

[oildude]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

These are so many titles I'd like to see upgraded. It's kind of depressing.

I feel the same way. At the rate of two, maybe three, a month, it will take years, if ever, for all the upgrades I want. I really wish they would go on a tear and start releasing more upgrades each month along with the new spines.

[Monty70]

Originally Posted by wilky61

Black Narcissus reminded me of The African Queen, and I don't mean that as a compliment (e.g., you've got actors smiling like jackasses in both movies). TAQ has redeeming qualities though (e.g., plot development/character development).

Come to think about it, though, I don't think I've ever seen a movie about faith that I liked. As such, I won't be blind buying Leon Morin Priest even though Melville is probably my favorite director.

Sorry you did not like it. Like I said before, to each their own.

[whitesheik]

Originally Posted by Monty70

I am a bit surprised how many people come to this board to say they dislike Black Narcissus. For my money the film is a masterpiece, perhaps the most beautifully photographed film I have ever seen. (The scenes during sunset at the films conclusion are utterly breathtaking) IMO, every aspect of the film's production is exemplary, from the acting, to the direction, to the set design. (and the story is a powerful tale of the age old conflict of faith versus flesh)

To each their own, but I really don't get this one.

I'm with you. But then again, I can't watch Solaris, which I find to be one of the biggest bores of all time - the audience I endured it with at the Filmex Film Festival agreed, with about two-thirds of them leaving before it was over.

Black Narcissus, on the other hand, is one of those grand and glorious movies that I never ever tire of watching. Everything about it is perfection. Different strokes, I guess, but it's as incomprehensible to me as it is to you.

[whitesheik]

Originally Posted by wilky61

Black Narcissus reminded me of The African Queen, and I don't mean that as a compliment (e.g., you've got actors smiling like jackasses in both movies). TAQ has redeeming qualities though (e.g., plot development/character development).

Come to think about it, though, I don't think I've ever seen a movie about faith that I liked. As such, I won't be blind buying Leon Morin Priest even though Melville is probably my favorite director.

Wow, actors smiling like jackasses - and only in those two films, eh? What about all the actors in today's films who not only smile like jackasses but whose performances give jackasses a run for their money. Fond of those?

Yes, to each his own, indeed.

[wilky61]

Originally Posted by whitesheik

Wow, actors smiling like jackasses - and only in those two films, eh? What about all the actors in today's films who not only smile like jackasses but whose performances give jackasses a run for their money. Fond of those?

Yes, to each his own, indeed.

Like what for example? Maybe the recent Star Trek?
It's just as much hammy melodrama as TAQ or BN.

[oildude]

In no particular order, my top ten Criterion blu-rays (hard to narrow it down since not much separates these from quite a few others not on this list)

Paths of Glory
Wages of Fear
Still Walking
Secret of the Grain
Mystery Train
For All Mankind
Ride With the Devil
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence
Seven Samurai
Solaris

Honorable mention goes to The Third Man, Repulsion, Vivre Sa Vie, Revanche, Summer Hours, The Darjeeling Limitied, Yojimbo, Army of Shadows, Sweet Smell of Success, and Wings of Desire. I also have to mention Blow Out because I think Criterion did such an incredible job with the blu-ray transfer. Some of the scenes are breathtaking in their kaleidoscope of clarity, color, and detail.

In my stash of Criterions that I have not yet watched, there may be a few new favorites lurking among the following B&N sale blind buys:

Kes
Le Cercle Rouge
Diabolique
Pale Flower
White Material
Au Revoir les Enfants
People on Sunday

[Monty70]

Here is a excellent review of Black Narcissus written by Thomas M. Pryor of the NY Times in 1947.

http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/revi...BE66838C659EDE

[Dosto]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

Do you recall where you bought it? I'm wary of ordering it online but everywhere I see it in person it's digipak. Would just like to avoid the need to buy a replacement case. Thanks!

I bought it on eBay.

[Darkcritic]

An uncle is going to the US in the next couple of days and I plan to ask him for one title I am really interested in, Leon Morin, Priest. Does anyone recommend this film? I know the BD is going to be out tomorrow so probably more opinion/reviews are coming soon but I would really like someone's else opinion in the film itself. I already own Army of Shadows if that helps .

[chuckywang]

Just viewed The Double Life of Veronique .... what an amazingly beautiful film. I think I'm in love with Irene Jacob (from 20 years ago) Wow.

[Wildcat47]

Originally Posted by wilky61

Watched one of my CC blind buys today, Black Narcissus, and I guess I just didn't get it. I thought it was a dumb movie. The booklet glorifies the movie as though it's a magnificent depiction of repressed and unrequited emotions, but I didn't think that it really depicted much of this at all. I thought the plot and the characterizations were sparse... many characters are presented with little development over the course of a short movie. I was put off by the movie's filming style with the frequent dissolves and facial close-ups, and I was especially distracted by the rampant color flickering throughout the film that mostly affected blues (the sky) and whites (the sisters' garb and faces). 3/10, I will be selling this one.

It probably didn't help that I preceded it with a rewatch of Tarkovsky's dense and moody film Solaris earlier today. 9/10, that one. The transfer on the Criterion blu-ray looks magnificent!

What ya want for it? I've got 3 blus for trade or would consider buying for right price. My trades are listed in my collection.

[BohemianGraham]

Ugh, why does Criterion have to release so many interesting films? I thought I had my wishlist chopped down to 9 missing titles, but now it's closer to 30 because I decided to read up on all the films in the collection. I'm tapped out from the current sale, so here's hoping that the November Sale is going to happen.