The Criterion Collection

[octagon]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

What I deplore is the sense of perspective of many here and all over the Internet. There is a total lack of perspective and knowledge of movie history on peoples part that is sad, very sad.

How do you say 'these kids today...' in French?

Originally Posted by exolstice

I'm completely guilty of this. Although I use the phrase "Best Movie Ever" semi-ironically to describe any film that meets or exceeds my expectations.

I'm guilty of it too and I hope it never stops. I watch films for a lot of reasons but that completely visceral, unbridled 'holy **** that was good' reaction is definitely one of the things that keeps me coming back.

[rkish]

Originally Posted by oildude

I have many of these. I love the Eclipse sets. I have 14 so far and will pick up a couple more before the sale is over. Glad to see you got the Larisa Shepitko set, it is one of my favorites, with two very fine and emotionally powerful films.

If you don't already have Eclipse 13: Kenji Mizoguchi's Fallen Women, I highly recommend it. All the films are very good, especially Women of the Night and Street of Shame. SOS is one of the best films I have ever seen. Too bad Criterion chose not to make these main line blu-ray releases, but the DVDs look very good.

Since Artificial Eye released two films from the Mizo Eclipse, I'm hoping they release the other two films on blu in the near future.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by octagon

How do you say 'these kids today...' in French?

A cette jeunese aujourd'hui

Alright, alright I know I am sounding like Walter Matthau, I will stop being the grumpy old guy in the thread

[KubrickFan]

Originally Posted by blujazz

Re: Woody Allen

Midnight in Paris - Three reasons why I hated it.
1. The opening sequence of Parisian shots filmed through sepia for five minutes was way too much. Sure, it establishes the fantasy version of Paris but it felt like it was overselling itself.
2. The time travel idea was rather nice, but for some reason the namedropping felt like an exercise for literature students to flex their muscles.
3. The wife and the family of the Woody Allen surrogate was just so reprehensable and vile. Surely, they needn't to be that horrid for us to empathise with his hero?

I just thought the opening was a nice one setting the mood. We don't get that too often in modern movies, so it was a nice touch, I thought.
The namedropping was done on purpose, I believe. Since it's Gil's highly romanticized and frankly stereotypical but personal view of Paris in the 1920's, it would make sense that it's littered with people he, as a writer and a fan of the period, could name.
The last part I agree with you, but I wasn't bothered by it when I was watching it. It does make you wonder how and why the two fell in love with each other in the first place. Maybe Gil, being a screenwriter, was more their type of person before he got obsessed with Paris?

[rkish]

Originally Posted by oildude

I need to pick up the pace of my Eclipse set watching, especially the Japanese sets. I still need to watch Silent Ozu, Silent Naruse, Postwar Kurosawa, and the very first one I bought - Nikkatsu Noir. I have to add Late Ozu to the list, once it arrives. I had to order it on the first day of the sale since no B&N in the entire city had a copy.

Picked up Pearls of the Czech New Wave. This and the Ozu were my must buys, but I can afford a couple more.

Does anyone recommend - or not recommend - Eclipse 30: Sabu! ? I keep being tempted by this one every time I see it in the stores.

I'm picking up the Jean Gremillion Eclipse set today. Can't afford to buy much this sale. Trying to talk myself in the Czech New Wave set.

[DarkRyder]

Why is everyone liking the Criterion Facebook page now?! If they do something, they can't do it during the Barnes & Noble sale, because then it'd feel almost like nothing special!

[Show spoiler]Also, I won't have my money to buy more movies till a couple weeks after the Barnes & Noble sale ends

[blujazz]

Kubrickfan,

Yeah, good points. That's probably why Midnight in Paris didn't work for me - it was too romantic. Gil was too romantic.

[Halation]

I'd say the most overdue upgrades are The Passion of Joan of Arc (as well as every other Dreyer in the collection), Andrei Rublev, and L'Avventura.

[billzfan]

I asbolutely loved Badlands and consider it one of the best films of the 1970's. Unfortunately, I have not seen any other Malick films but was considering buying either Thin Red Line or Days of Heaven while the B & N sale is going on. Is there a film you'd recommend more than the other?

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by Halation

I'd say the most overdue upgrades are The Passion of Joan of Arc (as well as every other Dreyer in the collection), Andrei Rublev, and L'Avventura.

Vampyr!! Though I question the way it was filmed whether a HD upgrade would do much other then magnify the already hazy image. I'd still bite.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by rkish

I'm picking up the Jean Gremillion Eclipse set today. Can't afford to buy much this sale. Trying to talk myself in the Czech New Wave set.

You know what to do rkish.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by billzfan

I asbolutely loved Badlands and consider it one of the best films of the 1970's. Unfortunately, I have not seen any other Malick films but was considering buying either Thin Red Line or Days of Heaven while the B & N sale is going on. Is there a film you'd recommend more than the other?

Days of Heaven is the better of the two films.


... but you know the correct answer is both. Two great films and the PQ/AQ is top notch (especially on Thin Red Line which is reference quality or darn near close to it).

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by billzfan

I asbolutely loved Badlands and consider it one of the best films of the 1970's. Unfortunately, I have not seen any other Malick films but was considering buying either Thin Red Line or Days of Heaven while the B & N sale is going on. Is there a film you'd recommend more than the other?

Maybe Days Of Heaven but I might be the only one who would recommend it

Edit = Look's like Sheel actually agree with me

[Halation]

Originally Posted by billzfan

I asbolutely loved Badlands and consider it one of the best films of the 1970's. Unfortunately, I have not seen any other Malick films but was considering buying either Thin Red Line or Days of Heaven while the B & N sale is going on. Is there a film you'd recommend more than the other?

Badlands is the outlier among his films, but if you loved it then I'd recommend continuing with his films in order. I prefer The Thin Red Line, but they're both great.

Then again, I do know someone who reveres Badlands but dislikes everything else Malick's done, so...

[Cinemach]

Originally Posted by billzfan

I asbolutely loved Badlands and consider it one of the best films of the 1970's. Unfortunately, I have not seen any other Malick films but was considering buying either Thin Red Line or Days of Heaven while the B & N sale is going on. Is there a film you'd recommend more than the other?

Days of Heaven. It's easier to get into, more cohesive (as per Malick films go), and I believe it's his best film thus far (haven't seen Badlands, though there's no way it's going to live up to the constant hype it gets here, there, and everywhere). The cinematography is absolutely excellent and totally shines on blu as well.

---

In other news, per the recent Chungking Express/'90s cinema talk that came about recently - and the noise for In the Mood for Love, a title I'm interested in checking out - I picked up Chungking on my second B&N sale batch today. Really enjoyed it as a character/city 'snapshot' film, and I found many parallels with Double Life of Veronique: they're each largely plotless with twin story structures and colored by backgrounds of impending social/political change (fall of Communism for Veronique, end of British rule for Chungking).

Looking forward to In the Mood for Love and checking out some more of the director's output. And I feel a '90s arthouse marathon is now on the docket; been a second since I dusted off the Three Colors set.

[HyperRealist]

Forbidden Games, Studio Canal, France, November

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Again I have no problem with them enjoying The Dark Knight Rises, I enjoy plenty of style of movies. It's the whole notion that everything they see that is new from week to week "is the best ever" that I find ridiculous.

I know what you mean, but you shouldn't underestimate people. It seems as if my little brothers grow farther away from the fanboy claptrap. I indeed also find there are way too many fanboys buoying TDKR and Avengers into classic status. I wish we could pass a no reboots, sequels, or remakes rule! Think of the possibilities.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Maybe Days Of Heaven but I might be the only one who would recommend it

Edit = Look's like Sheel actually agree with me

+1. Easily one of the most beautiful films. But realize that I love every minute of every Malick film.... Yes even The New World!



Edit: I just read To the Wonder (his next)will be shown at the Toronto film festival this year!!!!

[TJS_Blu]

Originally Posted by AronofskyFan

Does anyone know if Criterion has any plans to release a Werckmeister Harmonies, Satantango, or Damnation?

If they do, they're keeping it secret. AFAIK, not even a whisper. If CinemaGuild wants to release them all, I wouldn't be too despondent over the lack of a wacky C.

Originally Posted by DarkRyder

Why is everyone liking the Criterion Facebook page now?! If they do something, they can't do it during the Barnes & Noble sale, because then it'd feel almost like nothing special!

I think we're all hoping they'll allow pre-orders.

[billzfan]

They mis-marked the Third Man as 50% off at B & N, so I picked it up. I just started to watch it and it looks great. I know everyone says the Criterion looks better but this is by no means a bad transfer.