The Criterion Collection

[fdm]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

I thought I would love this film, but I wasn't too thrilled by it all. I wanted to like it a lot more.. I still will hold onto my copy of it for sure.

I vaguely remember a 'meh' feeling when it was initially showing, fwiw. Usually 5 or 10 years after seeing a movie I don't really remember more than bits or pieces here and there; this one even less. Should be interesting to see what a difference almost 30 years makes, although PP's review has me thinking probably not all that much. Hoping for a surprise though.

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

Are you thrilled by any of the other Oshima output that Criterion has released, PP?

CC

I just recently started watching asian cinema, since it was more of a money issue than anything else. When I start collecting I usually go full out. It was hard enough keeping up with the european releases!

So I've only seen Merry C M L and In the Realm of the Senses, and I liked the latter more so. M.C.M.L. is fine.

I meant to pick up the Outlaw Sixties set during the last Barnes sale and didn't so that is on my wish list.

[kndy]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

I thought I would love this film, but I wasn't too thrilled by it all. I wanted to like it a lot more.. I still will hold onto my copy of it for sure.

I enjoyed the film and I enjoyed the extras as well. With my latest viewing, I did find something new and have a new perspective/theory of the film.

[Show spoiler]In recent years, there are more stories that have focused on the side of samurai and their lifestyle that is typically not depicted in movies but it has been depicted on books and even a recent anime series. This deals with Samurai being in close quarters far from being with women and among men. Yes, I'm talking about samurai men hooking up with other men and these men were without any women for a long period of time. Granted, this topic is something that people were not going to see in a Kurosawa film of course.

But with Oshima being the rebel filmmaker as he is, it makes me wonder of the character Capt. Yonoi was something like this. A man who follows the bushido code and its interesting how even the look and makeup applied to the face of actor Ryuichi Sakamoto, the eyeliner, the blush, as you noticed was not used on other Japanese face, surely not on Takeshi Kitano.

Capt. Yonoi was very much a follower of the Bushido way, a man that lived amongst many men far from any female contact and of course, he was fascinated with Celliers.

I would love to pose this question to Oshima-san if I have the chance too. But each time I watch this film, I discover something new and if this was the case, once again, I see Oshima being the rebel as always, being the rebel in "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence". This is just an opinion from my latest viewing.

[One4Deuce]

Picked up my copy of The Thin Red Line today at my local Best Buy. Was a little disappointed they didn't have Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence in store and, according to their website, none of the stores near me stock it.

[neo78956]

Originally Posted by kndy

I enjoyed the film and I enjoyed the extras as well. With my latest viewing, I did find something new and have a new perspective/theory of the film.

[Show spoiler]In recent years, there are more stories that have focused on the side of samurai and their lifestyle that is typically not depicted in movies but it has been depicted on books and even a recent anime series. This deals with Samurai being in close quarters far from being with women and among men. Yes, I'm talking about samurai men hooking up with other men and these men were without any women for a long period of time. Granted, this topic is something that people were not going to see in a Kurosawa film of course.

But with Oshima being the rebel filmmaker as he is, it makes me wonder of the character Capt. Yonoi was something like this. A man who follows the bushido code and its interesting how even the look and makeup applied to the face of actor Ryuichi Sakamoto, the eyeliner, the blush, as you noticed was not used on other Japanese face, surely not on Takeshi Kitano.

Capt. Yonoi was very much a follower of the Bushido way, a man that lived amongst many men far from any female contact and of course, he was fascinated with Celliers.

I would love to pose this question to Oshima-san if I have the chance too. But each time I watch this film, I discover something new and if this was the case, once again, I see Oshima being the rebel as always, being the rebel in "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence". This is just an opinion from my latest viewing.

Fascinating stuff. I'm looking forward to getting a copy and watching it. For me, my three favorite Japanese directors are Kurosawa, Kobayashi, and Oshima, despite how different they all are.

[Zen_Amako]

My Best Buy location had two copies each of Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence and The Thin Red Line. They were still sitting on the new release cart, so I guess my store knows not to put out Criterion releases before the street date.

Grabbed MCML and Iron Man 2 (what a combo). I didn't see any copies of King Kong. I'm not sure if I would like TTRL - Days of Heaven didn't really do much for me.

[stobbart]

Originally Posted by neo78956

Fascinating stuff. I'm looking forward to getting a copy and watching it. For me, my three favorite Japanese directors are Kurosawa, Kobayashi, and Oshima, despite how different they all are.

I had not known about Oshima till Criterion put out Realm and Empire...loved them and picked up the eclipse set. Have only watched one of those so far. And I am going to pick up MCML but I will most likely wait until the next B&N sale and just pick up basically all the sept-nov titles then.


I would really love to see some more contemporary asian directors in the collection as well. Like Shunji Iwai, Tsai Ming-liang, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Kim Ji-woon, Park Chan-wook,

I know the last 3 already have releases on region free blus (which I own)....but it still would be nice to get them in the collection.

[Zen_Amako]

Originally Posted by stobbart

I would really love to see some more contemporary asian directors in the collection as well. Like Shunji Iwai, Tsai Ming-liang, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Kim Ji-woon, Park Chan-wook,

I know the last 3 already have releases on region free blus (which I own)....but it still would be nice to get them in the collection.

I generally like Shunji Iwai's films. I believe that only All About Lily Chou-Chou and Hana & Alice have been released in the U.S. (on DVD). I enjoyed Swallowtail Butterfly, which is probably his most popular film, but I'm not sure it's worthy of the Criterion treatment. I love April Story with the beautiful Takako Matsu, but it's kind of slight. Which movie would you choose for the Criterion Collection?

[stobbart]

Originally Posted by Zen_Amako

I generally like Shunji Iwai's films. I believe that only All About Lily Chou-Chou and Hana & Alice have been released in the U.S. (on DVD). I enjoyed Swallowtail Butterfly, which is probably his most popular film, but I'm not sure it's worthy of the Criterion treatment. I love April Story with the beautiful Takako Matsu, but it's kind of slight. Which movie would you choose for the Criterion Collection?

Of his? All about lily chou chou hands down....I think it is a masterpiece and the transfers it has gotten are absolutely horrible. It really is a haunting look at adolescence. Plus there are so many layers to it that each time you watch it you will be able to pick out new things like

[Show spoiler] who is at the concert at the end and then after you know that, you can go back and figure out who is saying what on the chatroom, and those types of things.

I know many people find it to convoluted and thinks its just messy editing. But I think that Shunji Iwai knew what he was doing with it and did that purposefully. Because his other movies have control and cohesion, something that he was trying to resist with this because that is the world these kids lived in.

[SpiderBaby]

Happy day! Criterion confirmed Godard's Weekend today. Might be a year or so, but atleast confirmed.

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

Happy day! Criterion confirmed Godard's Weekend today. Might be a year or so, but atleast confirmed.

That is really good news... I've been wanting to see this film for years! Never seen it I knew it'd be better to wait!

This is great news for a otherwise sad day... Sally Menke has passed away.

[italy12]

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

Happy day! Criterion confirmed Godard's Weekend today. Might be a year or so, but atleast confirmed.

Ahhh, where??

[ShellOilJunior]

Criterion:

We heard our tech director down the hall talking about booking a weekend in Paris in November. Not sure if that was the Godard or a vacation thing, but there was also some talk about Raoul, so we have a hunch they might be looking... at materials, which should be good news for you.

Except that it also means that it would be quite a while before Weekend actually came out on Blu-ray — a year or more in all probability, especially since Weekend seems like a likely candidate for a Janus theatrical tour too. Anyway, that's an awful lot of daily updates. We appreciate your passion, but if everyone did this for the movie they want most, this page would not serve anyone's purposes. So from here on, let's drop the daily plea. Some things are worth repeating, but very few are worth repeating every day. The good news is, we've heard you, we're working on it, and we're grateful to you for being an active part of this community. Thanks!

[captveg]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Criterion:

We heard our tech director down the hall talking about booking a weekend in Paris in November. Not sure if that was the Godard or a vacation thing, but there was also some talk about Raoul, so we have a hunch they might be looking... at materials, which should be good news for you.

Except that it also means that it would be quite a while before Weekend actually came out on Blu-ray — a year or more in all probability, especially since Weekend seems like a likely candidate for a Janus theatrical tour too. Anyway, that's an awful lot of daily updates. We appreciate your passion, but if everyone did this for the movie they want most, this page would not serve anyone's purposes. So from here on, let's drop the daily plea. Some things are worth repeating, but very few are worth repeating every day. The good news is, we've heard you, we're working on it, and we're grateful to you for being an active part of this community. Thanks!

Great news, and you gotta love the response to the constant pleading/whining on their Facebook page.

[P@t_Mtl]

Did Criterion ever release L'Homme De Rio from Phillippe De Broca? As anyone ever seen it on DVD?

[BrickT]

Seven Samurai review

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDCom...vensamurai.htm

[KENTA]

DVD Beaver review of Seven Samurai is online!

EDIT: Too slow, but it does look great

[ChadFL]

I'll bet CG is thrilled today. The Color Purple, Spielberg's most boring film (which is really saying something), is announced for Blu-Ray.

[kndy]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

I'll bet CG is thrilled today. The Color Purple, Spielberg's most boring film (which is really saying something), is announced for Blu-Ray.

I loved "The Color Purple" and can't wait for it on Blu-ray!

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

I'll bet CG is thrilled today. The Color Purple, Spielberg's most boring film (which is really saying something), is announced for Blu-Ray.

Color Purple and Weekend is a great double feature. 2 End of Cinema films.