The Criterion Channel

[DaBargainHunta]

MUBI deal: 3 months for $1 for new/returning subscribers, and then $12.99 a month after that (or $99 a year) - both of which seem higher than what Google says MUBI's normal rates are, but who knows.

https://mubi.com/

Originally Posted by DaBargainHunta

The Postman Always Rings Twice

Good news: Both this and the 1981 remake are now on HBO Max.

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by DaBargainHunta

MUBI deal: 3 months for $1 for new/returning subscribers

So is that 33 cents for each of the first 3 months, or $1 for each of the first three months? Either way, a great deal.

Originally Posted by fdm

The expiring ones usually stick around for several hours into the next day, how long seems to depend sometimes on the day of the week (or maybe not).

So the news ones show up after the expiring ones expire, probably not that much later than your post.

Last night I was able to watch an entire movie that had expired at the end of December

[DaBargainHunta]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

So is that 33 cents for each of the first 3 months, or $1 for each of the first three months? Either way, a great deal.

My next charge (if I don't cancel) is in April, so it looks like it's a flat $1 fee.

[fdm]

Took a look to see what was expiring this month… watched a short called Mimi which was one of the David Gulpalil films going away eom. Cute. Fortunately seems like there's just 4 others, 3 features and 1 documentary, so some of the non-Criterion ones will be sticking around for a while yet.

Regarding Garfield, there's 5 (?) going away this month, the one I haven't seen is Saturday's Children which starts out okay, kind of nodded off so will get back to it soon.

Several others I'll probably get to as well… For example, started watching Bone a couple months ago (it stars Yaphet Kotto), want to finish it. And he's is also in A House Divided: Denmark Vesey's Rebellion so will try and get to that too...

Also want to start watching that Saura collection…

[fdm]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

Last night I was able to watch an entire movie that had expired at the end of December

"Last night" was probably the 1st, right? A holiday can sometimes stretch things out a little further, but I wouldn't count on that happening often.

[fdm]

So dipped into the "Free Jazz" category.

I'd been meaning to watch Les Stances à Sophie for many years. It's just a French film from 1971 with a soundtrack (and brief appearance) by the Art Ensemble Of Chicago. Went into it pretty much blind, admittedly but turned out to be pretty good. One of the actresses I'd seen a number of times but never knew her name, Bulle Ogier. So that mystery solved. Name seems similar to someone who had died several years ago now, but apparently it wasn't her as she has been active even in the last year or two. That mystery not solved, maybe I'll figure it out one of these days.

I did check out the short documentary Black Journal: Alice Coltrane which was done about 3 years after John died. Quite interesting, she was pretty amazing, had their kids in it which was pretty cool, and some Pharoah Sanders in it as well. Worthwhile too.

And also watched Dream City, pretty good.

Runing out of time, but none of this is expiring this month but it's about time I started getting around to them.

[fdm]

Watched a few expiring soon things lately.

Finished up Saturday's Children, something about it had me cringing all along, here and there, but in the end it was all right.

Storm Boy was a nice little OZ kid-oriented film, with Gulpalil before he was called David Gulpalil I guess. Worth a watch.

Not expiring but on my watch list for a while was Paul Robeson: Tribute To An Artist which was a half hour documentary with some interesting archival footage of the man, narrated by Sidney Poitier. Recommended also.

Also expiring, highly recommended is Xiu Xiu: The Sent-down Girl. I think this is one I remember Siskel & Ebert recommending back in the day. I can see why. Directed by Joan Chen, of Twin Peaks fame.

[fdm]

Watched Call Northside 777. I have a memory of seeing this some time back in the later 60s (and not since), just felt it was finally time to see it again. Definitely worth the revisit.

And got around to that one remaining Ottinger film Ticket Of No Return: Portrait Of A Female Drinker before it got away. Glad I had a chance to see it, kind of tour of Berlin bars circa 1979, among other things… Some pretty nice visuals… A bit long…

[DaBargainHunta]

I just watched Shoot Now, Die Later (not expiring yet), and I'd definitely recommend that one!

Expiring movies I've seen so far (some from years ago)

Bell, Book and Candle: Fun at first but quickly becomes plodding and charmless. If you really want to see Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak in the same movie, I'm sure it won't take you long to find a much better alternative.

The Blue Dahlia: Fun b-level noir. Perhaps not one to prioritize, but you won't regret watching it either. I saw it via an MA ScreenPass a year or two ago.

Christine: One of John Carpenter's very best and an all-time classic horror movie, but this is so widely and commonly available that you don't have to feel like you're under the gun to watch it on the Channel before it expires.

Fallen Angel: Another good b-level noir, but with a-list direction and cinematography.

Shaolin Soccer: Designed like an obstacle course, with each scene attempting to be stranger than the one before it. This is a weird film. There's nothing to think about and analyze. You simply sit back and experience the insanity.

Other than Christine (which is genuinely great), none of these are strong recommendations. If you had to pick one, I'd say go with Fallen Angel if you're not going to watch Christine now.

I'll be back later in the month with other picks.

[eledoremassis02]

Originally Posted by DaBargainHunta

I just watched Shoot Now, Die Later (not expiring yet), and I'd definitely recommend that one!

Expiring movies I've seen so far (some from years ago)

Bell, Book and Candle: Fun at first but quickly becomes plodding and charmless. If you really want to see Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak in the same movie, I'm sure it won't take you long to find a much better alternative.

The Blue Dahlia: Fun b-level noir. Perhaps not one to prioritize, but you won't regret watching it either. I saw it via an MA ScreenPass a year or two ago.

Christine: One of John Carpenter's very best and an all-time classic horror movie, but this is so widely and commonly available that you don't have to feel like you're under the gun to watch it on the Channel before it expires.

Fallen Angel: Another good b-level noir, but with a-list direction and cinematography.

Shaolin Soccer: Designed like an obstacle course, with each scene attempting to be stranger than the one before it. This is a weird film. There's nothing to think about and analyze. You simply sit back and experience the insanity.

Other than Christine (which is genuinely great), none of these are strong recommendations. If you had to pick one, I'd say go with Fallen Angel if you're not going to watch Christine now.

I'll be back later in the month with other picks.

How does Shaolin Soccer look? Ive seen weird HD versions on places like TUBI. It's usually the U.S cut with Cantonese audio (chinese text and such has been edited to english, lots of jokes cut etc.)

[DaBargainHunta]

Originally Posted by eledoremassis02

How does Shaolin Soccer look? Ive seen weird HD versions on places like TUBI. It's usually the U.S cut with Cantonese audio (chinese text and such has been edited to english, lots of jokes cut etc.)

It's the shorter Harvey Scissorhands U.S. cut and exactly as you describe.

I'm not sure if a longer version would be more effective though. Even at under 90 minutes, the pacing feels a bit slow at times.

I liked the movie, but I don't love it enough to eventually seek out the original cut (which, unfortunately, isn't on the Channel).

[eledoremassis02]

Originally Posted by DaBargainHunta

It's the shorter Harvey Scissorhands U.S. cut and exactly as you describe.

I'm not sure if a longer version would be more effective though. Even at under 90 minutes, the pacing feels a bit slow at times.

I liked the movie, but I don't love it enough to eventually seek out the original cut (which, unfortunately, isn't on the Channel).

Whats interesting is that there is a different HK/Mainland cut that was on the original DVDs/original theatrical showings in China
https://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=1752

[DaBargainHunta]

I caught two expiring noirs directed by Henry Hathaway:

Kiss of Death: Victor Mature more than holds his own, but you can see a star being born in Richard Widmark. This was Widmark's first film, and it earned him an instant Academy Award nomination. Not a bad movie, but not as good as...

The Dark Corner: Unlike Richard Widmark in Kiss of Death, The Dark Corner isn't quite a star-making role for Lucille Ball that best utilizes her strengths - that would, of course, come later with I Love Lucy - but she still does a solid job as the billed lead here. It's certainly a novelty seeing her play such a different kind of character. Filled with twists and turns and snappy dialogue, this ends up being a surprisingly fun and delightful little b-noir.

[fdm]

Looks like yahoo may not be getting me email updates for blu-ray.com threads as of a couple days ago. Or maybe it's just blu-ray.com, as some of the emails had been a bit late in showing up and often out of sequence… Anybody still getting theirs?

Anyway, mostly just managed to watch one more film all the way through since my last post, another of the Australian ones with David Gulpilil called Charlie's Company. Kind of sort of put to mind it being a sequel to [i]Walkabout[i], some 40+ years later. Worth a watch.

The other two expiring ones featuring Gulpilil I don't own and haven't seen are Another Country and My Name is Gulpilil, both documentaries, plan on at least checking them out. And not officially expiring but just in case, thought I might try and squeeze in at least The Tracker; and possibly [i]Ten Canoes[/] if it's better than dvd quality.

Others I'm contemplating getting to and/or finishing up are: Bone and A House Divided, The Green Fog, A Hero Ain't Nothin' But A Sandwich and All These Sleepless Nights (I can relate to that title!).

Should keep me busy for the rest of the month… if I'm not too tired.

[DaBargainHunta]

Originally Posted by fdm

Looks like yahoo may not be getting me email updates for blu-ray.com threads as of a couple days ago. Or maybe it's just blu-ray.com, as some of the emails had been a bit late in showing up and often out of sequence… Anybody still getting theirs?

This site is constantly broken and e-mail issues have been widespread for ages now, but I turned e-mail notifications off a while ago, so I'm not sure.

Originally Posted by fdm

Others I'm contemplating getting to and/or finishing up are: Bone

[Show spoiler]and A House Divided, The Green Fog, A Hero Ain't Nothin' But A Sandwich and All These Sleepless Nights (I can relate to that title!).

Should keep me busy for the rest of the month… if I'm not too tired.

After watching You People on Netflix last night, Bone on the Channel seemed like a good double feature of sorts. What an absolutely unhinged and bizarre movie. Really good though. Larry Cohen is a true original.

[fdm]

Originally Posted by DaBargainHunta

After watching You People on Netflix last night, Bone on the Channel seemed like a good double feature of sorts. What an absolutely unhinged and bizarre movie. Really good though. Larry Cohen is a true original.

Yeah, I started it a while ago, got back to it some days ago but remembered why I stopped watching it the first time, mostly so the wife didn't come crawling out of bed wondering what the hell I was watching, and stopped again.

Headphones or hope she makes it back to the office on Monday/Tuesday, hard to tell with her and/or the snow, besides her working just days now the additional "snow" days working from home have put a big cramp in my movie watching style. I miss my nights of uninterrupted freedom…

[DaBargainHunta]

Originally Posted by fdm

Yeah, I started it a while ago, got back to it some days ago but remembered why I stopped watching it the first time, mostly so the wife didn't come crawling out of bed wondering what the hell I was watching, and stopped again.

Headphones or hope she makes it back to the office on Monday/Tuesday, hard to tell with her and/or the snow, besides her working just days now the additional "snow" days working from home have put a big cramp in my movie watching style. I miss my nights of uninterrupted freedom…

Bone is probably definitely not wife-safe, but I hope you finish it - I'd love to talk about it.

[fdm]

Ended up watching The Tracker next. Very good Australian new-wavish film 2002, mighty fine picture quality. Supposedly not expiring yet, but why risk it. Check it out. (There was once upon a time an import blu-ray, missed out on that apparently.)

The other one supposedly not expiring yet, Ten Canoes doesn't have a great looking transfer, probably from a dvd master, so I'll just dig out my dvd some day. (There was once upon a time an import blu-ray, but apparently it was just watchable and OOP too.)

And the other I got to was My Name Is Gulpilil. Should definitely check it out as who knows if it's ever going to come around again, documentary about this very interesting and pretty cool dude. (For some reason the channel won't accept that I watched the whole thing, and keeps playing from the same point where I restarted from the previous night, even after logging every device out, so stuck in my continue playing list until it goes away…)

One left for me to watch is Another Country later today or tomorrow, a documentary by the same director as My Name Is Gulpilil. Then on to some of the others I mentioned above.

[DaBargainHunta]

Polished off a couple more expiring picks:

Forty Guns (1957): Too many unnecessary characters and subplots. Too much going on in too short a time for no reason. Barbara Stanwyck is always worth watching though. Flawed but fun - thanks mainly to Babs' smoldering screen presence, even in her late-40s.

Thieves' Highway (1949): An awesome film noir by Jules Dassin. Definitely worth prioritizing.

[mrjohnnyb]

For what it's worth, my recommendation on streaming something that is leaving tonight would be The Green Fog, by Guy Madden, Evan Johnson, and Galen Johnson. If you are a fan of Hitchcock's Vertigo, this is a must-see film!