The Criterion Collection

[Darkcritic]

Does anyone think Elephant by Gus Van Sant might get a future spine? Yesterday I saw Bowling for Columbine (Entertening documentary albeit pretty one-sided) and that made me remember my first viewing of Elephant. I enjoyed the film quite a bit, it packed some pretty strong moments overall, even thought the long shots were sometimes tiring. Would be interesting to see it in the Collection .

[Tom Hiddleston]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

I usually like Sean Penn as an actor, but I do think his role as Harvey Milk was badly overrated. Definitely didn't deserve Best Actor for that. Mickey Rourke deserved it and even Sean Penn admitted as much.

I usually do not care who wins, but that made me

[The Theory]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Worst - Senso, Life During Wartime, Leon Morin Priest, The Music Room, Zazie dans le Metro

Aw, this makes me a sad panda.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by The Theory

Aw, this makes me a sad panda.

Well, when I say "worst" it's speaking relatively. The only two out of those five I'd say I really didn't like were Senso and Life During Wartime. The Music Room was ok, just not as enjoyable for me as most Criterion releases.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

Yes.

EDIT: Also, after viewing it I rushed to Wikipedia to look up some of the people involved to see "where they are now." Pretty crazy.

It really is. The assassin was famous for the "Twinkie Defense" and due to the killing of the Mayor Diane Feinstein was elevated to Mayor of San Francisco, which launched her career to United States Senator, a job she's held for the past 19 years.

[Mr. Movie Fan]

FACTUALLY: The Last Emperor is the worst because the corresponding DVD edition has more stuff. Say what you will, thats laziness.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Well, when I say "worst" it's speaking relatively. The only two out of those five I'd say I really didn't like were Senso and Life During Wartime. The Music Room was ok, just not as enjoyable for me as most Criterion releases.

Senso is an opera without music ChadFL. Frankly, it would place very high among my own hypothetical list of best new spines for the year, although the top spot would still be a coin toss between Night of the Hunter and the Complete Jean Vigo. Both were brilliant choices by Criterion, and treated magnificently.

Worst would be House. Although sporadically entertaining as a whacked-out 'video happening', it was just so smuggly undisciplined I still don't think it deserves a place in this collection. Perhaps as a cottage label oddity for the bored, curious or over-medicated, but enshrined as a Criterion-calibre contribution to world cinema? Uhm...no way. Of course, not that Something Wild or The Curious Case of Benjamin Button were any better choices, but still...

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by Fanboyz

FACTUALLY: The Last Emperor is the worst because the corresponding DVD edition has more stuff. Say what you will, thats laziness.

Nice work coming in to nit-pick and complain since that isn't a 2011 spine, nor a "new addition" to the collection, so we'll assume you're just adding that info so everyone can rejoice in the negativity.....

I have to give you credit for not going after the beaten-to-death aspect-ratio angle on this one!

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

Senso is an opera without music ChadFL. Frankly, it would place very high among my own hypothetical list of best new spines for the year, although the top spot would still be a coin toss between Night of the Hunter and the Complete Jean Vigo. Both were brilliant choices by Criterion, and treated magnificently.

Worst would be House. Although sporadically entertaining as a whacked-out 'video happening', it was just so smuggly undisciplined I still don't think it deserves a place in this collection. Perhaps as a cottage label oddity for the bored, curious or over-medicated, but enshrined as a Criterion-calibre contribution to world cinema? Uhm...no way. Of course, not that Something Wild or The Curious Case of Benjamin Button were any better choices, but still...

I thought we were talking 2011 releases. House was released in 2010. I think Night of the Hunter was 2010 as well.

[Mr. Movie Fan]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Nice work coming in to nit-pick and complain since that isn't a 2011 spine, nor a "new addition" to the collection, so we'll assume you're just adding that info so everyone can rejoice in the negativity.....

I have to give you credit for not going after the beaten-to-death aspect-ratio angle on this one!

Well I was just trying to find a BD release that actually came up measurably short in some way. Oh wait, did I mention Disc 2 of Carlos lacks a surround left channel?

[Tom Hiddleston]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

I thought we were talking 2011 releases. House was released in 2010. I think Night of the Hunter was 2010 as well.

Night of the Hunter was 2010 I picked it up during the November B&N sale. I had to order it online, and it was slightly squished.

[Criterion Collector]

I agree that the documentary is better than the film of Harvey Milks political rise (IMO the movie was a bit over rated and I had expected more), and ultimately, his death. I too feel that the documentary was more dramatic than the movie was. Like I said though, I felt like the movie was just a remake of the documentary...more or less.

Just finished watching Lars Von Triers' Manderlay. It's actually a really good film. I particularly enjoyed the way it was filmed. If you haven't seen this one, the entire movie was filmed on a sound stage, and never any outside locations.

It is sort of like watching a really well done play, with better production values. That fact alone had me riveted from the very first scene. IMO, that was a really clever idea and gives the film a level of charm and intimacy that I do not believe it would have otherwise had.

I recommend at least watching the first "chapter" of the film to see what it's like. It does a nice job of setting the tone, and sucking you into the feel of what the director is trying to do.

By the way, if you decide to watch the entire film, the last chapter is really good, and one of the strongest sections of Lars Von Triers' creation.

Up next is The Boss of It All. I am hoping to have time to watch it in the next couple of days.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

I thought we were talking 2011 releases. House was released in 2010. I think Night of the Hunter was 2010 as well.

I bought it in 2011?

All I can say is, time sure flies when you're having fun! Guess it's a good thing I'm not voting, huh?

[Tom Hiddleston]

Originally Posted by Criterion Collector

Just finished watching Lars Von Triers' Manderlay. It's actually a really good film. I particularly enjoyed the way it was filmed. If you haven't seen this one, the entire movie was filmed on a sound stage, and never any outside locations.

It is sort of like watching a really well done play, with better production values. That fact alone had me riveted from the very first scene. IMO, that was a really clever idea and gives the film a level of charm and intimacy that I do not believe it would have otherwise had.

I recommend at least watching the first "chapter" of the film to see what it's like. It does a nice job of setting the tone, and sucking you into the feel of what the director is trying to do.

By the way, if you decide to watch the entire film, the last chapter is really good, and one of the strongest sections of Lars Von Triers' creation.

Up next is The Boss of It All. I am hoping to have time to watch it in the next couple of days.

I'll have to check it out, it's available on Netflix streaming if anyone else wants to see it.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

I bought it in 2011?

All I can say is, time sure flies when you're having fun! Guess it's a good thing I'm not voting, huh?

Ahh ok. That being said I do think Criterion's 2010 Blu-Ray releases overall were better than their 2011 releases. I'm not saying 2011 was bad, just not up to 2010 quality.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by Criterion Collector

I agree that the documentary is better than the film of Harvey Milks political rise, and ultimately, his death. I too feel that the documentary was more dramatic than the movie was. Like I said though, I felt like the movie was just a remake of the documentary...more or less.

Just finished watching Lars Von Triers' Manderlay. It's actually a really good film. I particularly enjoyed the way it was filmed. If you haven't seen this one, the entire movie was filmed on a sound stage, and never any outside locations.

It is sort of like watching a really well done play, with better production values. That fact alone had me riveted from the very first scene. IMO, that was a really clever idea and gives the film a level of charm and intimacy that I do not believe it would have otherwise had.

I recommend at least watching the first "chapter" of the film to see what it's like. It does a nice job of setting the tone, and sucking you into the feel of what the director is trying to do.

By the way, if you decide to watch the entire film, the last chapter is really good, and one of the strongest sections of Lars Von Triers' creation.

Up next is The Boss of It All. I am hoping to have time to watch it in the next couple of days.

First time I watched Manderlay my reaction to the first 10 minutes was "WTF"?!? I don't think I'd ever seen a film shot on a soundstage like that and almost stopped watching I was so confused. Glad I stuck with it as it turned out to be a really good film with a nice twist in the end. Helps that I love Bryce Dallas Howard.

[Criterion Collector]

Originally Posted by Tom Hiddleston

I'll have to check it out, it's available on Netflix streaming if anyone else wants to see it.

I recommend it highly if you are into unconventionally styled films.

Netflix is how I watched it as well.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by Fanboyz

Well I was just trying to find a BD release that actually came up measurably short in some way. Oh wait, did I mention Disc 2 of Carlos lacks a surround left channel?

That would be a suitable title to choose.

I would question though.... whether the disappointment with the technical error outweighs everything else????

Do you watch films to be entertained, educated, appreciation purposes, escapism, etc..... or do you watch them for analytical purposes, counting the number of specks you can find in the Joan of Arc print?

We shouldn't settle for mediocrity, so I don't want to suggest that....... but there is a difference in finding an error (like the Back To The Future audio issue) and saying "Oh, yeah, I noticed that! I thought it was fairly obvious/barely noticeable/whatever" and those who say "This is a travesty! This is unwatchable/Boycott!"

[Tom Hiddleston]

Originally Posted by Criterion Collector

I recommend it highly if you are into unconventionally styled films.

Netflix is how I watched it as well.

Sounds like a winner.

[Criterion Collector]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

First time I watched Manderlay my reaction to the first 10 minutes was "WTF"?!? I don't think I'd ever seen a film shot on a soundstage like that and almost stopped watching I was so confused. Glad I stuck with it as it turned out to be a really good film with a nice twist in the end. Helps that I love Bryce Dallas Howard.

HAHHAHA! That was sort of my reaction as well. It is also what I found to be most interesting initially.

Plus, I was happy to see Willem Dafoe pop up early on.