The Criterion Collection

[Scottie]

As many of you know, I am a big fan of the film-noir genre.

I just finished The Third Man and I was very disappointed. First and foremost, the film dragged on significantly in my opinion. The film also had a lot of German speaking with no subtitles, which was often annoying.

I mean parts were good and had me interested, but overall I didn't like it. I was really hoping to like it too because I heard a lot of great things about it, plus I spent $170 on it, but oh well.

You win some, you lose some.

[mrjohnnyb]

Originally Posted by Cinemach

+11. One of the very best bluray sets Criterion has released, right alongside the Three Colors set for me.


RE - Soderbergh: he reminds me of a Classic Hollywood studio helmer, like Michael Curtiz or Howard Hawks: supremely adept technically, with the ability to produce excellent pictures in any number of genres. It's unique that he's an auteur that isn't so bookishly auteur-y, in the midst of a critical era that tends to overvalue that over just simply delivering a great film.

Amen!

I know that I am in the minority, but Three Colors: White was my favorite. Humiliation, claustrophobia, bird poop... that movie had it all!

[octagon]

Originally Posted by iScottie

As many of you know, I am a big fan of the film-noir genre.

I just finished The Third Man and I was very disappointed. First and foremost, the film dragged on significantly in my opinion. The film also had a lot of German speaking with no subtitles, which was often annoying.

I mean parts were good and had me interested, but overall I didn't like it. I was really hoping to like it too because I heard a lot of great things about it, plus I spent $170 on it, but oh well.

You win some, you lose some.

A) I'm surprised I didn't think of The Third Man in the other thread: this is a perfect example of the language barrier being part of the story or scene. Holly doesn't speak German. We're meant to be just as adrift in those conversations as he is.

B) Give it some time. Not only is it likely buried under the other 80 movies you watched in the last 24 hours, it took me a little while to warm up to as well. I first enountered it in a box of used VHS tapes I picked up somewhere and couldn't really get into it the first couple times I watched it. I bought the DVD later and can't remember for sure whether I was even able to finish it the first time. And then at some point - and I don't really remember how or why - it just seemed to fall into place.

[mrjohnnyb]

Originally Posted by iScottie

As many of you know, I am a big fan of the film-noir genre.

I just finished The Third Man and I was very disappointed. First and foremost, the film dragged on significantly in my opinion. The film also had a lot of German speaking with no subtitles, which was often annoying.

I mean parts were good and had me interested, but overall I didn't like it. I was really hoping to like it too because I heard a lot of great things about it, plus I spent $170 on it, but oh well.

You win some, you lose some.

Wow!

I love every frame of that film, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I think that you should give it another chance; Woody Allen thought that 2001: A Space Odyssey was just an "okay" film the first time he viewed it. He grew to admire it enormously.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by octagon

A) I'm surprised I didn't think of The Third Man in the other thread: this is a perfect example of the language barrier being part of the story or scene. Holly doesn't speak German. We're meant to be just as adrift in those conversations as he is.

B) Give it some time. Not only is it likely buried under the other 80 movies you watched in the last 24 hours, it took me a little while to warm up to as well. I first enountered it in a box of used VHS tapes I picked up somewhere and couldn't really get into it the first couple times I watched it. I bought the DVD later and can't remember for sure whether I was even able to finish it the first time. And then at some point - and I don't really remember how or why - it just seemed to fall into place.

I think my cabin fever, if you want to call it that, due to a lack of utilities has put me in a pissed off mood, so maybe that's why I wasn't really into it too.

Originally Posted by mrjohnnyb

Wow!

I love every frame of that film, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I think that you should give it another chance; Woody Allen thought that 2001: A Space Odyssey was just an "okay" film the first time he viewed it. He grew to admire it enormously.

I still haven't seen 2001 or A Clockwork Orange despite owning them for years on both DVD and Blu-ray. I should probably get around to them soon, though.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I think my cabin fever, if you want to call it that, due to a lack of utilities has put me in a pissed off mood, so maybe that's why I wasn't really into it too.



I still haven't seen 2001 or A Clockwork Orange despite owning them for years on both DVD and Blu-ray. I should probably get around to them soon, though.

Don't do it today

[Page14]

Originally Posted by mrjohnnyb

Amen!

I know that I am in the minority, but Three Colors: White was my favorite. Humiliation, claustrophobia, bird poop... that movie had it all!

I just finished the 3rd film (Red) of the trilogy. All three films are still too fresh in my head to pick a favorite. I enjoyed them all!

[Show spoiler]I would add more, but I don't want to unintentionally send out any spoilers. Let's just say I noticed a couple surprises in White and Red that I wouldn't have caught without seeing Blue first.

[SilentDawn]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Fanny and Alexander is a tremendous film. The television version is a big time commitment, but so well worth it. I have always loved the Christmas scenes.

Yeah, I've heard that one has quite a running time.

That's ok though, I have no problem with long flims. I just need to find the time to watch them all the way through.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by octagon

Don't do it today

I won't lol - I don't want to watch anything

[Cinemach]

Originally Posted by iScottie

As many of you know, I am a big fan of the film-noir genre.

I just finished The Third Man and I was very disappointed. First and foremost, the film dragged on significantly in my opinion. The film also had a lot of German speaking with no subtitles, which was often annoying.

I mean parts were good and had me interested, but overall I didn't like it. I was really hoping to like it too because I heard a lot of great things about it, plus I spent $170 on it, but oh well.

You win some, you lose some.

I can understand the film not living up to its almost perverse expectation - especially given how much one has to drop for a Criterion edition these days. But I can practically guarantee you that over time, your appreciation of the film will grow, when divorced of said expectations.

Or maybe you're just one of those people that (gasp!) will not enjoy the film.

[Page14]

Originally Posted by octagon

A) I'm surprised I didn't think of The Third Man in the other thread: this is a perfect example of the language barrier being part of the story or scene. Holly doesn't speak German. We're meant to be just as adrift in those conversations as he is.

B) Give it some time. Not only is it likely buried under the other 80 movies you watched in the last 24 hours, it took me a little while to warm up to as well. I first enountered it in a box of used VHS tapes I picked up somewhere and couldn't really get into it the first couple times I watched it. I bought the DVD later and can't remember for sure whether I was even able to finish it the first time. And then at some point - and I don't really remember how or why - it just seemed to fall into place.

I first became aware that The Third Man might be something special when I saw Dick Cavett rave about it while co-hosting a night of his favorite films on TCM (with Robert Osborne). The Criterion bluray was already OOP before I owned a bluray player. But fortunately, I was able to buy the Criterion DVD set.

[pro-bassoonist]

Ministry of Fear Blu-ray REVIEW

[RiFiFi1955]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Ministry of Fear Blu-ray REVIEW

Absolutely can not wait to see this!

[mrjohnnyb]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Ministry of Fear Blu-ray REVIEW

I am looking forward to this release.

Just recently watched M and purchased Metropolis.

[RiFiFi1955]

Originally Posted by Cinemach

I can understand the film not living up to its almost perverse expectation - especially given how much one has to drop for a Criterion edition these days. But I can practically guarantee you that over time, your appreciation of the film will grow, when divorced of said expectations.

Or maybe you're just one of those people that (gasp!) will not enjoy the film.

I second this! I am sure the film will grow on you iScottie, how could it do anything but

I always try to go into a film viewing with no set expectations becuase I much prefer it that way but sometimes it is hard to keep expectations completely detached.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by mrjohnnyb

I am looking forward to this release.

Ministry of Fear is a fine film, but I would also recommend seeing Ray Milland in Billy Wilder's The Lost Weekend, which he made a year later. For some reason people are not discussing it a lot, yet, in my opinion, it is one of the top 3 films and releases in Eureka's catalog:



Hopefully, it will eventually come to the Criterion Collection so that people in America could see it as well.

Pro-B

[octagon]

I've only watched The Lost Weekend once but as much as I love Billy Wilder and like Ray Milland it really did very little for me.

That said, if it gets a domestic release I'd be very inclined to give it another look. I'm not really a huge Ministry of Fear fan but I'm already working myself into a mini-lather over the CC release.

God, I'm easy.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by SilentxStatik24

Yeah, I've heard that one has quite a running time.

That's ok though, I have no problem with long flims. I just need to find the time to watch them all the way through.

Not a problem. Fanny and Alexander is broken up into four parts, each about 60 - 90 minutes long.
My wife and I watched it over a week or so, like a miniseries. Another time, my friends and I watched it in one day.
Either way, it's great and one of my favourites.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by mrjohnnyb

I am looking forward to this release.

Just recently watched M and purchased Metropolis.

You need to get hold of Die Nibelungen - it's my new favourite thing

[rkish]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Ministry of Fear is a fine film, but I would also recommend seeing Ray Milland in Billy Wilder's The Lost Weekend, which he made a year later. For some reason people are not discussing it a lot, yet, in my opinion, it is one of the top 3 films and releases in Eureka's catalog:



Hopefully, it will eventually come to the Criterion Collection so that people in America could see it as well.

Pro-B

Given the choice at the time of either purchasing "Double Indemnity" or "The Lost Weekend", I opted for the Milland film. Not only did I find the plot very intriguing, but I was able to identify in some way with the premise of the story and the 3 hour documentary about Wilder, made it a no-brainer for me. I am also very surprised that it hasn't been talked about more.