The Criterion Collection

[TJS_Blu]

Originally Posted by Riddler The Slag

A film I would love to see get a full Criterion treatment for would be the 1953 version of War of the Worlds. It was given a full bare-bones release on DVD by Paramount and if ever there was a film screaming for a re-master and such this would be a prime candidate.

Thoughts?

Isn't this the film/DVD release where the wires holding the alien ships were visible? Unless they airbrush them out not sure HD is going to help all that much.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by TJS_Blu

Isn't this the film/DVD release where the wires holding the alien ships were visible? Unless they airbrush them out not sure HD is going to help all that much.

Are you thinking Plan 9 or something?

War of the Worlds (1953) was very well done. It was produced by George Pal and won an Oscar for effects. Assuming there are good source elements to work with this could make a spectacular BD release.

[Show spoiler]

[Shout92]

Heaven's Gate is available to watch (the director's cut I believe) on Netflix Instant, in case anyone was interested (especially w/ the all but confirmed Criterion).

[TJS_Blu]

Originally Posted by octagon

Are you thinking Plan 9 or something?

Nope

The color timing of the film has been wrong for years (since the 70s, if not earlier). The majority of the scenes with the war machines are supposed to be at night and original IB Technicolor prints reflect this. Later reissue prints, as well as 16mm tv prints and the video transfers, have all lightened those scenes way too much, hence the more visible wires. Also remember that Technicolor prints were always a little softer looking that Eastmancolor prints, so the filmmakers knew the wires would be nearly invisible on the original prints. I've handled an original 1953 Technicolor 35mm print and the wires are virtually undetectable.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by octagon

I know you guys are half-kidding but that's not really a fair rap on Tarantino.

He's always been pretty upfront about the fact that he remakes/recasts/reinvents things that came before. Not only that, he's pretty good at it.

It's one thing to do a spoof or knock-off of revenge flicks or low-budget martial arts movies. It's another thing entirely to capture the spirit and the fun of those films in an interesting shell of your own making.

I was kidding yeah, he is very honest at what he does. He's a guy who love giving "homage" and he is always very up front about stuff and will say "this is from Leone, that is from Kurosawa..." and so on. I would not call myself a big fan nor would I buy his movies since I would not care to see them often enough to make the purchase worth while but I do enjoy some of his movies.

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by octagon

I know you guys are half-kidding but that's not really a fair rap on Tarantino.

He's always been pretty upfront about the fact that he remakes/recasts/reinvents things that came before. Not only that, he's pretty good at it.

It's one thing to do a spoof or knock-off of revenge flicks or low-budget martial arts movies. It's another thing entirely to capture the spirit and the fun of those films in an interesting shell of your own making.

Oh I was kidding for sure. I'm a fan of Tarantino. Though I think he is better at writing dialog and coming up with good ideas then he is a director. Problem with that is he loves his dialog so much he tends to allow some scenes to drag on more then they should IMO. The biggest thing I love about him is he will hire actors outside the current actor list that's passed around by casting directors in hollywood. So many times we see these great actors, mostly past their prime, who can't find any jobs, sitting on the sidelines or relegated to B-movies. This has been going on for ages. For example Just look at some of the films Joseph Cotton did at the end of his career. There are a ton of actors then and now like that who because they were in a bad film they fall off the list and never get hired to make A movies anymore until they pass away and are gone forever. A lot of them are considered national treasures only after they are gone, but Hollywood just cares about the current 'it' actors at any time.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by TJS_Blu

Isn't this the film/DVD release where the wires holding the alien ships were visible? Unless they airbrush them out not sure HD is going to help all that much.

That is Plan 9 From Outer Space, which I still recommend you watch if only for the laughter

The original War Of The Worlds is actually a very good scifi movie, very close in quality to two other 50's classic The Day The Earth Stood Still and Forbidden Planet.

But yes you do see wires in certain scenes and it's only going to be more obvious as we get more and more definitions on home video and home televisions. The last time these cables were seen was during the theater run back 50 years ago

[octagon]

Originally Posted by TJS_Blu

Nope

Whether effects get tweaked or not (and I'm pretty firmly in the 'leave things as they are' camp when it comes to 'fixing' older films) I don't think there's any question WotW(53) is an excellent BD candidate.

Stuff like The Day the Earth Stood Still and Fantastic Planet show their age at times but they're incredible releases nonetheless.

edit: Heh, it would seem P@t and I were typing the exact same comparison at the exact same time

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by TJS_Blu

Nope

In the Blu-ray release of The Day The Earth Stood Still you see the wires holding Patricia Neal up in the air when Gort was suppose to carry her. I had seen this movie 100 times since the 70's as a kid on TV, VHS and DVD and when I saw those wires on the Blu-ray I had a big smile

Still wonderful movies to watch and often enough way better then some of the CGI crap we get these days in story, acting and directing (granted that's not very hard to beat)

[rkish]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

What about that insignia people keep talking? It does bds and DVDs for less than that pioneer.

I have the Seiki, which does region free DVD plus pal conversion and it's dedicated to region B blus.

And I know what you mean about cheap. Murdoch Mysteries, which is a Canadian made show is far cheaper to buy in DVD firm in thr uk. It's 65 bucks for a sinker season here, while you get three seasons for that price in the uk.

Thanks Jess! Does anyone know if you can purchase that Insignia player from Best Buy "In-Store"? Do you have the model? I assume that it's remote code that configures the region free status? Is the Seiki available to purchase in the US? Same remote config for region free?

Thanks!

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by rkish

Thanks Jess! Does anyone know if you can purchase that Insignia player from Best Buy "In-Store"? Do you have the model? I assume that it's remote code that configures the region free status? Is the Seiki available to purchase in the US? Same remote config for region free?

Thanks!

Wish I could help but I got mine Insignia two years ago from Future Shop but I don't know which are now still being sold.

Let me find the thread about it you might have some details in there, will
send it to you

Actually I had it in my thread link https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=190357

[IronWaffle]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

In the Blu-ray release of The Day The Earth Stood Still you see the wires holding Patricia Neal up in the air when Gort was suppose to carry her. I had seen this movie 100 times since the 70's as a kid on TV, VHS and DVD and when I saw those wires on the Blu-ray I had a big smile

Still wonderful movies to watch and often enough way better then some of the CGI crap we get these days in story, acting and directing (granted that's not very hard to beat)

So you prefer that old one of the Keanu Reeves remake? You probably prefer that boring movie Vertigo over Shia LaBouef's improved version.

Criterion fans are snobs.

p.s. I can't speak to the PQ/AQ since its been awhile since I saw the George Pal version of War o' the Worlds, (which is obviously inferior to Spielberg's) but there is an inexpensive DVD with two commentaries. It's a shame there was no UCE complete with fishing line so you can re-enact the crappy (award winning) effects (that Spielberg has said he'd hate to have removed from the prints).

[rkish]

Originally Posted by Riddler The Slag

A film I would love to see get a full Criterion treatment for would be the 1953 version of War of the Worlds. It was given a full bare-bones release on DVD by Paramount and if ever there was a film screaming for a re-master and such this would be a prime candidate.

Thoughts?

I was born in 1958 and remember seeing it for the first time on TV in the very early seventies on our 19" Sylvania Color TV and having it give me nightmares. If the source materials are good...this would be a good candidate for a BD release.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by IronWaffle

So you prefer that old one of the Keanu Reeves remake? You probably prefer that boring movie Vertigo over Shia LaBouef's improved version.

Criterion fans are snobs.

p.s. I can't speak to the PQ/AQ since its been awhile since I saw the George Pal version of War o' the Worlds, (which is obviously inferior to Spielberg's) but there is an inexpensive DVD with two commentaries. It's a shame there was no UCE complete with fishing line so you can re-enact the crappy (award winning) effects (that Spielberg has said he'd hate to have removed from the prints).

Yep I am a snob!

I only have one version of the movie on DVD it's the special edition that came out in 2005. There was a previous release in 1999 (which I also had) and the PQ was not as good on the early release. I am not sure what other release was made for that movie (speaking of the original of course, I never got the remake)

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

Ebert's list:

Aguirre, Wrath of God (Herzog)
Apocalypse Now (Coppola)
Citizen Kane (Welles)
La Dolce Vita (Fellini)
The General (Keaton)
Raging Bull (Scorsese)
2001: A Space Odyssey (Kubrick)
Tokyo Story (Ozu)
The Tree of Life (Malick)
Vertigo (Hitchcock)

Without looking at his 2002 picks I think the only change is Tree of Life has made the cut and something removed.

[rkish]

Originally Posted by Cinemach

It would be prudent for Criterion to upgrade Tokyo Story sooner rather than later now. I mean, they won't stick a banner on their cases or anything like the Hollywood studios do, but it would be a great move to take advantage of this 'publicity' in their avenue of the marketplace. Particularly since this is the first time such an opportunity has come up for them.

I read elsewhere that Tokyo Story may resonate with the largely Western voting bloc of this poll above other Ozu films because of its Western sensibilities. I actually haven't seen the picture yet - it's on my fast-docket - but from what I've read about it, it features a different approach to elders and the family than the more traditional one found in say Late Spring.

You're absolutely right! I hadn't even thought about that. Might even see it as a November/December relase.

Agreed about the draw for the Western crowd...seeing Make Way For Tomorrow will support your reasoning, if you haven't seen it. Another great McCarey film. That would make for a GREAT partner release with Tokyo Story.

[IronWaffle]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Yep I am a snob!

I only have one version of the movie on DVD it's the special edition that came out in 2005. There was a previous release in 1999 (which I also had) and the PQ was not as good on the early release. I am not sure what other release was made for that movie (speaking of the original of course, I never got the remake)

Mine is the 2005 edition, too. Last watched about a year ago and enjoyed it as much as ever. To be fair about Spielberg's, I think there was a lot to like in it, but I've neve felt the urge to revisit it. I can't say the same for The Day the Earth Stood Still. I've been tempted to pick up the remake cheap with the original as a bonus but just can't pull the trigger. I made that mistake with The Truth About Charlie on DVD to get Charade anamorphic. Never again, says I, never again.

[DetroitSquirreL]

Originally Posted by rkish

Thanks Jess! Does anyone know if you can purchase that Insignia player from Best Buy "In-Store"? Do you have the model? I assume that it's remote code that configures the region free status? Is the Seiki available to purchase in the US? Same remote config for region free?

Thanks!

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Wish I could help but I got my Insignia two years ago from Future Shop but I don't know which are now still being sold.

Let me find the thread about it you might have some details in there, will
send it to you

Actually I had it in my thread link https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=190357

The Insignia BD players that can be region free converted haven't been sold in the stores for quite awhile now. Every so often you can get them through the Best Buy web site. They are 'refurbished', but if you see my thread (as Pat linked to..thank you) you'll see that refurbished is such a blanketed word.

As of right now they have them in stock online for $60 and free shipping
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Insignia...0blu&cp=1&lp=1

this is the same model I have (4 of them actually) and I recommend

[octagon]

Originally Posted by IronWaffle

I can't say the same for The Day the Earth Stood Still. I've been tempted to pick up the remake cheap with the original as a bonus but just can't pull the trigger. I made that mistake with The Truth About Charlie on DVD to get Charade anamorphic. Never again, says I, never again.

The disc included with the remake doesn't include most of the supplements from the standalone edition of the original so I would say your reluctance is warranted. If the remake had been a little less terrible that might be a fair trade-off but well it wasn't.

You should definitely pull the trigger on the original though.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by IronWaffle

Mine is the 2005 edition, too. Last watched about a year ago and enjoyed it as much as ever. To be fair about Spielberg's, I think there was a lot to like in it, but I've neve felt the urge to revisit it. I can't say the same for The Day the Earth Stood Still. I've been tempted to pick up the remake cheap with the original as a bonus but just can't pull the trigger. I made that mistake with The Truth About Charlie on DVD to get Charade anamorphic. Never again, says I, never again.

The Day The Earth Stoof Still remake is not horrible but for me it's lacking life or something. The story just drags, the actors drags...there just nothing going on. It's almost like they said "alright we made a giant CGI Gort that's going to destroy everything in sight, no need to worry about story, acting and directing, Gort alone will make this movie EPIC"

That is usually my main problem with many of the remake now a days, lot's of eye candy but no soul and no story with a bunch of actors who are just there for the HUGE paycheck.