The Criterion Channel

[Shampooed]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

I'm pretty sure you had to request it otherwise how would they have known where to send it?

Vaguely recall an email from them asking if I wanted the card, but it involved writing back to them with a specific request, and I am way too old to want more meaningless knick knacks around the house.

[cgpublic]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

I'm pretty sure you had to request it otherwise how would they have known where to send it?

Originally Posted by Shampooed

Vaguely recall an email from them asking if I wanted the card, but it involved writing back to them with a specific request, and I am way too old to want more meaningless knick knacks around the house.

Spot on, Criterion did send an e-mail, and that was that:

As a Criterion Channel Charter Subscriber, you’ve been with us from the very start. We hope that many years from now you will still take pride in having helped to get the Channel off the ground. In commemoration of your early commitment and as a token of our appreciation, we would like to send you a durable steel keepsake Charter Subscriber membership card, etched with your name and the date of our launch.

Carry it, wear it, hang it from your luggage, use it as a paperweight, pin it on your bulletin board—it’s only true purpose is to serve as a lasting reminder of our gratitude and dedication to you, our most loyal audience.

To receive your membership card, click here to enter your first and last name as you would like it to appear on the card, along with your mailing address, in the form below, prior to June 15, 2019. Only Charter Subscribers who remain active at the time of the mailing are eligible to receive membership cards.

[Scottie]

Is the app's availability on Apple TV relatively new? I was surprised to learn of its existence tonight.

[DaBargainHunta]

Originally Posted by Scottie

Is the app's availability on Apple TV relatively new? I was surprised to learn of its existence tonight.

It's been there since I got an old Apple TV several months ago.

[cgpublic]

Originally Posted by Scottie

Is the app's availability on Apple TV relatively new? I was surprised to learn of its existence tonight.

The app was available at launch in 2019.

[MifuneFan]

Watched Lord of the Flies (1963), after finishing the novel last night. Pretty good adaptation given its subject matter, and its fairly short 90 min runtime. Touches on all of the major events of the book, but not always in great detail. I do feel it misses the mark on a couple crucial points, most notably, Simon's interaction with the "Lord of the Flies", which would have probably been too difficult to film anyway. The ending lacked the emotional punch of the novel too. Casting was okay, though I definitely picture characters like Ralph, and Simon differently, and Jack wasn't that intimidating with his pompous British accent. Still, if one never read the book, it does do a pretty good job of capturing much of its essence.

[fdm]

Originally Posted by Scottie

Is the app's availability on Apple TV relatively new? I was surprised to learn of its existence tonight.

Like the others said, since launch. But it took them a year or two to get rid of the video stutter that (some?) users were experiencing, so I stuck with Roku. Once fixed though, since I don't really care for the Apple 4K TV remote, in its place I use a Harmony remote, but the Harmony remote is pretty bad with rewinding and fast forwarding, so Roku is still better for me. I haven't tried one of the old Apple TV remotes (the ones without screens) to see if they would be better...

[fdm]

This month I've watched Black Christmas (didn't think I owned it but apparently I do), pretty good given it's not the kind of movie I tend to watch (obviously since it's the first time I've seen it). That was a week ago (finished it just before my internet went down for 2.5 hours Monday around 1 am).

After that already-had error, early this morning after checking what I owned or had watched before (that I know of), I decided to watch the Cary Grant and Jeanne Crain film called People Will Talk. I liked it. I had several chances to watch it via tcm (or fox movie channel?), but it's been one of those movies repeatedly purged from my dvr to make room figuring that it would be available again some day. Well today was the day, via the channel, heck with the dvr.

Also cleaned up my watch list a bit and while there unearthed the (not expiring yet) short film Would You Look At Her, worth a watch too.

At least the 2.5 hours of down time is only once a week (early Monday), but it's timed poorly (from my perspective) and way too long (ditto), since that's usually the time of day when I'm streaming if I'm going to. Haven't checked with them yet to see why it takes too long, but I did check for other down times and there's only just a few minutes during early Sunday morning. Fast and otherwise solid though, so far.

[SmittysGelato]

A Man Escaped


I love films like this. It is very matter of fact in a very artful manner.

[MifuneFan]

Just watched The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947), and really enjoyed it. It's an unconventional romance movie given its supernatural elements, but it worked surprisingly well. The script for it is quite strong, with so many great lines delivered by Rex Harrison, who plays the spectral Captain Gregg. The film does have its fair share of male chauvinism, but the ever-lovely Gene Tierney, who plays Lucy Muir, manages to counter it all with grace. Her head-strong persona is wonderful in this, and the way she and Harrison play off one another is what makes the film great. The movie goes off in an unexpected direction in the last act that I found rather somber, but its intention is made clear in the last few minutes of the film, and while the ending was what I hoped for, those bittersweet feelings still lingered on a bit. Still, it's a very enjoyable film overall, with nice touches of humor, especially at the expense of Lucy's in-laws. I also loved the beautiful home that the movie it set in; it perfectly sets the mood for this seaside romance drama.

[fdm]

Well, Johnny Suede was pretty interesting. Just thought I'd throw it out there as something to consider if you like quirky early 90s independent music oriented films, which I usually do. Interesting cast.

[Akibiyori]

Looks like a couple of those elusive John Ford Fox films are going to turn up on Criterion Channel next month - the silent Kentucky Pride and the early talkie The Black Watch, possibly more if I missed anything scanning the list. Interested to find out whether these are new masters and who might be connected to any potential release in the future.

[arrggghh]

Glad to stumble upon this thread. Let me recommend the movie 5 Fingers directed by Joseph Mankiewicz. It is an amazing ww2 spy movie that I had never heard of and that I ended up really liking. I’m posting this to remind myself to watch it again so my wife can see it. Leaving end of the month. Hope someone else checks it out and likes it, too.

[fdm]

Originally Posted by arrggghh

Glad to stumble upon this thread. Let me recommend the movie 5 Fingers directed by Joseph Mankiewicz. It is an amazing ww2 spy movie that I had never heard of and that I ended up really liking. I’m posting this to remind myself to watch it again so my wife can see it. Leaving end of the month. Hope someone else checks it out and likes it, too.

I watched(/mentioned) it last month, and agree.

[SanCarolina59]

Originally Posted by Akibiyori

Looks like a couple of those elusive John Ford Fox films are going to turn up on Criterion Channel next month - the silent Kentucky Pride and the early talkie The Black Watch, possibly more if I missed anything scanning the list. Interested to find out whether these are new masters and who might be connected to any potential release in the future.

For what it's worth, Kentucky Pride and Pilgrimage have had recent-ish (2019) 4K restorations by MOMA (I linked the details on the film names), so it'll be interesting to see if those masters are on there.

[DaBargainHunta]

The Blu-ray for Crime of Passion is going OOP, but the movie is expiring on The Criterion Channel if you want to try before you buy. (It's also on Prime streaming, but the print there is oddly inferior, even though Amazon owns MGM.)

I love Barbara Stanwyck, but this is easily the worst film I've seen her in. The concept sounds great on paper, but it's mostly dull until the last 10-15 minutes. IMO, of course.

I almost blind-bought it over the weekend, forgetting it was on the Channel. I'm glad I was able to see it before parting with my money.

[fdm]

Noticed this morning that the end of the month had arrived more quickly than I'd expected, so next couple days, plus late last night and early this morning, going to focus on the channel.

First watched House Of Strangers. Pretty much right what I was in the mood for. Really good noir-ish film. (Much better looking than my dvd probably looks... , from the Fox Film Noir series.)

Followed that with The Waterdance. Had a chance to watch this last year sometime, first time I'd ever heard of it, but never quite got around to it. But I suppose that's because it turned out to be a lot better than I was expecting.

Don't think you could go wrong with spending some time with either of them.

Took a peek at Bright Future, probably will watch that tomorrow evening sometime...

[DaBargainHunta]

I watched 5 Fingers based on recommendations here and elsewhere. I probably would've skipped it otherwise, so thanks. It's a decent spy thriller with an interesting story and nice acting by James Mason, but the pace is definitely methodical, let's say. I didn't mind that though.

Somewhere in the Night is awesome. Kind of a psychological Bourne Identity. If you're interested, definitely watch it.

I'll probably watch another Mankiewicz tonight - House of Strangers with Edward G. Robinson. I was originally going to skip it but I may as well continue with this director, and I always like Edward G. Plus, it doesn't hurt that it was recommended by fdm in the post right above mine.

[fdm]

^^ Good choices

Watched Spike Lee's Get On The Bus, which I'd never heard of. I liked it. Story revolves around a bus trip to the Million Man March in D.C. back in '95.

Also watched Arthur Dong's documentary The Killing Fields of Dr. Haing S. Ngor. I've been curious to see this since I first heard of it, quite tragic, but worthwhile as well. And while I was at it watched his short documentary [i]Sewing Woman[i/], Dong's mother's story.

I'd recommend them all as well. (I'm pretty easy sometimes, but don't think I'm being overzealous about any of the ones I watched "today" and "yesterday").

I recall Somewhere in the Night being pretty decent too by the way, concur with DaBargainHunter if you get a chance.

[DaBargainHunta]

House of Strangers was pretty good. But Edward G. Robinson is so phenomenal in everything that this is only ranked 12 out of 13 films of his I've seen - I've yet to see him in a bad film. Richard Conte is also great in this (as the lead) and Somewhere in the Night (as a supporting character). I can see why Mankiewicz liked using him.

Originally Posted by fdm

Watched Spike Lee's Get On The Bus, which I'd never heard of. I liked it. Story revolves around a bus trip to the Million Man March in D.C. back in '95.

I ended up watching this as well. I'm really glad I did.

How have I not heard of Get on the Bus before now? It's directed by Spike Lee and features an absolutely stacked cast, but nobody ever talks about it and I've never seen it streaming anywhere. (Plus, there's no Blu-ray and it doesn't seem to be available to rent/buy digitally.)