The Criterion Collection

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Cinemach

I'm so glad I picked this up for $75 bucks back in the summer. If I hadn't just pulled the trigger I'd be agonizing over spending more on a blu than a bluray player right now.

I just had this same conversation with a friend a few days ago. He was aghast when I told him I paid $60ish for a (hopefully decent, I haven't received it yet) copy of The Man Who Fell to Earth.

It's not going to go down and I'm not going to stop wanting it so...

[RojD]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

Let's be fair: it's a lemon, not an orange.
...
The point being: yes, it's a lemon being lit, but what else is it? What does one expect to see? What does one start seeing after their brain gives up any hope of a narrative or a change in the setting? Does the image begin to become abstract, and if so, what does one's brain start reinterpreting it as? How does this change as the lighting changes? (These are my interpretations as to "meaning," not Frampton's.)

Good point....good approach. I'd add, I wonder why Frampton would choose a lemon out of the universe of fruit? Why not an apple? or a pepper?

[Show spoiler]

Maybe Ceci n'est pas un lemon. Or maybe it (the film) is. I kinda like the idea, in both cases.

But kudos to whoever suggested letting it run on repeat during a party, like an arty room decoration or display. Great idea, and I'm thinking appropriate if the point's to see what else film can do. Gonna have to invite some people over just to make that happen.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by RojD

Good point....good approach. I'd add, I wonder why Frampton would choose a lemon out of the universe of fruit?
Maybe Ceci n'est pas un lemon. Or maybe it (the film) is. I kinda like the idea, in both cases.

It has a rather odd and (ahem) suggestive shape.
A lemon is, also, just a lemon.

[DLizzle]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

Not sure what your overarching point is, though. While MoC is the most likely UK counterpart of Criterion, they are decidedly smaller so the amount of output isn't a fair comparison, and yet with the exception of 2 or 3 titles everything on that slate is a "want" for me. Meanwhile, there are four or five "wants" in the bigger Criterion list.

The list was just for comparison purposes. If I have an overarching point, it's to suggest that those complaining about Criterion's output consider that maybe their tastes have just happened to line up with other distributors at this time, which is nothing to get sour about.

I think the list proves that Criterion "objectively" releases a greater number of great or interesting films, if it is possible to be objective about this sort of thing. I have no problem with someone commenting about their disappointment at this month's releases (I'm not particularly excited about them myself, but then I rarely recognize anything they put out and am satisfied with learning about and enjoying the films as they come), but I sense quite a bit of unwarranted negativity along with the comments, which I find highly obnoxious.

[RojD]

Originally Posted by EricJ

It has a rather odd and (ahem) suggestive shape.
A lemon is, also, just a lemon.

...and that was the least suggestive Weston I could find. Peppers are erotic little veggies in the right light.

[*DrStrangelove*]

Originally Posted by oildude

Intersting. Still Walking was my first foray into Japanese cinema beyond Kurosawa and the monster movies I loved as a kid. I loved Still Walking, and it has been one of the most influential films I have ever seen in terms of where it has led me since. I should also give a nod to Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, as I also very much enjoyed it when I first saw it on VHS, but even though it is by Oshima, I sort of mentally catalog it with films like Tora Tora Tora - also a great movie - as hybrid cinema, instead of Japanese cinema. However, MCML was my first Oshima, and he has since become one of the directors I am most eager to explore.

The Eclipse sets have many fantastic Japanese directors to discover in them. I just finished Oshima's Outlaw Sixties a week ago, and am getting ready to crack open the Warped World of Koreyoshi Kurahara. I also have the Nikkatsu Noir set and several others, but have not yet watched them.

My discovery of Japanese cinema and how much I like it has been the highlight of the past year's film watching. I have placed it alongside Australian New Wave and Soviet/Russian cinema as my favorite non-US/UK country for movies.

I just started watching a lot of Japanese cinema as well. I first started with Kurosawa then watched the Nikkatsu Noir films and enjoyed those alot. I started watching some Kuruhara recently as well and have enjoyed his stuff a lot. I recommend Intimidation. It's pretty short only about 1 hr 8min but its very enjoyable. Black Sun was kind of weird and I felt it was really racist but still enjoyable. I have The Warped Ones on my que on Hulu next so looking forward to that. After I'm gonna start watching some Oshima. Think ill watch Pleasures of the Flesh first. Is that a good one to start with?

[Yami]

I'd say 'Boy' is Oshima's best film. I also really enjoyed 'Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence', 'Diary of a Shinjuku Thief' and 'Cruel Story of Youth'. His most recent and most likely last film 'Taboo' is also well worth a watch, it's really hauntingly atmospheric.

[rkish]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Also if I may add (even if your choices are very good) Kenji Mizoguchi is also another one to have a look at. I really enjoy his movies

Agreed Pat! As per post 45218

[rkish]

Originally Posted by Yami

Thanks. We really need to get some Naruse on Blu-Ray.

I'm really shocked at the lack of treatment he has received on both DVD and BD. There is only the Silent Naruse Eclipse and When A Woman Ascends The Stairs in region A land. Criterion "might" get around to releasing "When A Woman" on blu..but that seems to be it. In region B land...BFI released a boxset of his films and MoC released a "Volume One" of his films, which is currently very OOP and is very expensive to buy these days. I was very lucky to have been able to purchase both, when they were considerably cheaper.

[rkish]

Originally Posted by RojD

I was able to download the book with no problem from the link on the List of all Pages page. I use Chrome.

And I can get to a good photocopier, too. (on weekends )

Glanced at the Table of Contents and am less intimidated by the 400 pages that I was originally. Looks like first 180 pages is bio and general comments on Ozu's aesthetics (which I'm mostly interested in) while the last half is a collection of observations on individual films. I'll just catch the second part as I watch.

Cool! I hope you get something out of it!

[RojD]

Originally Posted by oildude

The Eclipse sets have many fantastic Japanese directors to discover in them. I just finished Oshima's Outlaw Sixties a week ago, and am getting ready to crack open the Warped World of Koreyoshi Kurahara. I also have the Nikkatsu Noir set and several others, but have not yet watched them.

My discovery of Japanese cinema and how much I like it has been the highlight of the past year's film watching. I have placed it alongside Australian New Wave and Soviet/Russian cinema as my favorite non-US/UK country for movies.

Interesting that Japanese cinema has been important for several posters this year. In fact, I already have the Kurahara Eclipse set as my next watch. Been watching some Lubitsch this last week (Design for Living and the Kino box set); looking forward to going back to some Japanese next. Which I guess is why I was happy to see Ozu in the April releases.

And, DrS, I'll start with Intimidation. Thanks for the recommendation. Looks like my kind of movie.

[sskclickgeneral]

about to watch The Rules of the Game for the first time

[rkish]

Spidey...which of the Czech New Wave films is this book cover/picture from...I know you used it as an avatar at one time...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/ima...283155&s=books

[jcs913]

I have to chime in on Frampton comments. Although not on the top of my want list, I would suggest viewing a few of his film shorts. They are interesting and make your mind wander in different directions, which is what I believe Frampton wants. I am slightly surprised, as Criterion has always been involved in 'experimental' type cinema for many years. Next month has another 'experimental' film coming out in La Jetée/Sans Soleil. IMO, there are many different types of cinema and embracing them for what they are is what the director intended. There is no need to 'get' what he puts out on the screen, but rather what you 'get' out of it is the intent. I had a chance to watch Film Socialisme the other night. Although I understand what Godard was trying to put out there, it was not my cup of tea and held my attention here and there. It started to go in too many directions at times for me to care. It doesn't mean it was a 'boring' film, just means it was an experience I will not revisit. That is the way I think people should look at Frampton. I am not familiar with all the ages in this thread, except Rich and a few others, but when Hollis was around it was also the time of Pink Floyd, etc.. I would assume that not many find Pink Floyd boring, although Hollis' intent was similar to their music. That may help others understand a little history of his thought process. Just saying, you have to look at the background, before you make judgment. I would be willing to bet the supplements on that set will be fantastic, as that may open a door to what he was putting on the screen. Again, just my $.02....

[octagon]

Originally Posted by jcs913

...but when Hollis was around it was also the time of Pink Floyd, etc...

It's funny you say that - during this entire conversation two musical images (he said butchering the language) kept flashing through my head - The Moody Blues and this...

Jazz Odyssey - YouTube

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by rkish

Spidey...which of the Czech New Wave films is this book cover/picture from...I know you used it as an avatar at one time...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/ima...283155&s=books

Daisies.

Here is Second Run's trailer to give you a tiny idea what to expect:

Daisies - YouTube

[octagon]

Just to be clear, the Spinal Tap reference wasn't a shot at the Frampton set.

As I said in an earlier post, I have no idea whether it's toward the Moody Blues end of the experimentation spectrum (I'll pause briefly while many of you undoubtedly mutter 'uhh, d00d, that end kinda sucked too'...) or Spinal Tap Mark II.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

OK, I'm with you. Criterion definitely has something for everyone, and yes we sometimes come off like spoiled brats who didn't get their white iPhones for Christmas.

Short of people just keeping their opinions to themselves, it's going to go on ad infinitum. Just the fact that Criterion has such an extensive back catalog awaiting upgrade is going to be ammunition enough month after month.

I'll try to keep my comments positive going forward but I felt it relevant to point out how Criterion have some serious competition these days, especially for region-free folks, especially with titles they hold North American license to.

Geez, why don't you just marry him

[Monty70]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

You're just not drinking the right booze, or taking the right drugs.

Just finished watching Smiles of a Summer Night, and I really enjoyed it. It's still a bit depressing for a comedy, but then, I like comedies like that, as The Graduate is one of my favourite films. I'm moving on to Cul-de-Sac now, and I'm all caught up on my Criterion BDs until Gojira shows up.

I would love to hear what you thought of the film.

[greekak229]

As a lover of Japanese cinema, Toshiro Mifune and samurai films, I just now came across a film called Samurai Rebellion and shame on me, I suppose. Don't care if it's a DVD, I just had to order it.