Classic movie lovers help me choose.

[jostenmeat]

I haven't bought a title since May, and for me, that's a long time.

I currently own 5 Criterion titles, and I immensely enjoy them. I want to add two new titles, and I am considering the following, none of which I have ever seen:

The Seventh Seal
The Last Metro
Repulsion
400 Blows

I've greatly enjoyed every Polanski film that I've seen (around 7-8 or so), and so I want to lean towards Repulsion, but the subject matter may not lend itself to repeat viewings. Hmrz.

The Seventh Seal is supposed to be an uber classic, and I don't think I've ever watched a Bergman film!

I am fluent in French, so The Last Metro might be enjoyable for me, and it's in color to boot!

400 Blows is not a pornographic film!

Help!

I do have a netflix account, but every other movie I watch I think to myself I should've put the $3 towards the purchase. Then again, these titles are pricier. Ok, maybe my question should be: In which order should I watch these titles?

 

[jamie2112]

Alphabetical order maybe?

 

[jostenmeat]

Alphabetical order maybe?

BOOO!

 

[jostenmeat]

Hey Jamie

In a few months, a couple of titles are coming out that might interest you:

Jimi Plays Monterey

Monterey Pop

 

[STRONGBADF1]

I haven't bought a title since May, and for me, that's a long time.

I currently own 5 Criterion titles, and I immensely enjoy them. I want to add two new titles, and I am considering the following, none of which I have ever seen:

The Seventh Seal
The Last Metro
Repulsion
400 Blows

I've greatly enjoyed every Polanski film that I've seen (around 7-8 or so), and so I want to lean towards Repulsion, but the subject matter may not lend itself to repeat viewings. Hmrz.

The Seventh Seal is supposed to be an uber classic, and I don't think I've ever watched a Bergman film!

I am fluent in French, so The Last Metro might be enjoyable for me, and it's in color to boot!

400 Blows is not a pornographic film!

Help!

I do have a netflix account, but every other movie I watch I think to myself I should've put the $3 towards the purchase. Then again, these titles are pricier. Ok, maybe my question should be: In which order should I watch these titles?

From your comments I would recommend these because of your comments.

I've never seen any of them...

 

[adk highlander]

Funny Josten I was also on the criterion site today.

I was considering The Third Man and The Last Emperor.

I think I need to rent a Burgman film before I buy one. I've seen one but I was in a well lets call it an altered state so my recollection cannot be trusted.

Repulsion looks like an interesting flick.

 

[jostenmeat]

I recommend both The Third Man and the Last Emperor. However, the first title is really for the classic film lover, b/w, mono, 1.33 AR. I'd rent this one first if I were you.

Last Emperor got razzed on for anything from PQ to AR choices. Still, if you like the movie, then I recommend buying it. I think the delivery is pretty good, and this is coming from someone who is relatively picky with PQ. Not someone who is a PQ-nazi, but nevertheless, someone who hopes that "The Pacific" will have significantly less DNR than Band of Brothers, for instance.

I think the best Criterion title I own is The Man Who Fell to Earth. With David Bowie. I heard it was banned in most of the US, or something like that, and I don't know if it might be the great deal of nudity, or what not. (YMMV, it's a very strange movie).

All of the titles have tons of extras. I also have Chungking Express, Bottle Rocket, and Benjamin Button. Ok, so I own 6, not 5. Bottle Rocket has easily the best PQ of any comedy that I've seen. Nothing comes close so far that I've seen, and for me, it's funny as hell (but not everyone thinks so). Chungking Express has a much softer look, and is at least worth a rental, if only to enjoy its quirkiness.


I think I've chosen one of the two already, should be released in about a week.

For All Mankind

I LOVE space footage/scenes in my HT. Whether 2001, Apollo 13, Blue Planet, even WallE, a blacked out cave with a huge screen puts you in the middle of space. And to boot, I love documentaries!

 

[jliedeka]

The Seventh Seal is cool. I have the Criterion DVD, it's kind of low on the upgrade priority list. While I like the movie, I only watch it about once a year.

The scene with the knight playing chess against Death is classic and has been spoofed in a lot of movies. Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey is the first one that comes to mind. The movie itself is kind of a meditation on religious faith but has some funny moments as well. It's in Swedish.

My favorite Criterion films are Rashomon and Yojimbo.

Jim

 

[adk highlander]

I recommend both The Third Man and the Last Emperor. However, the first title is really for the classic film lover, b/w, mono, 1.33 AR. I'd rent this one first if I were you.

Cool I will. I do watch classic films when I can I just need more time.

Last Emperor got razzed on for anything from PQ to AR choices. Still, if you like the movie, then I recommend buying it. I think the delivery is pretty good, and this is coming from someone who is relatively picky with PQ. Not someone who is a PQ-nazi, but nevertheless, someone who hopes that "The Pacific" will have significantly less DNR than Band of Brothers, for instance.

It has been many years sense I've seen this but I do remember liking it quite a bit.

I think the best Criterion title I own is The Man Who Fell to Earth. With David Bowie. I heard it was banned in most of the US, or something like that, and I don't know if it might be the great deal of nudity, or what not. (YMMV, it's a very strange movie).

I've only read about this movie and all they said was it was strange. Is it Blue Velvet strange or 2001 strange?

All of the titles have tons of extras. I also have Chungking Express, Bottle Rocket, and Benjamin Button. Ok, so I own 6, not 5. Bottle Rocket has easily the best PQ of any comedy that I've seen. Nothing comes close so far that I've seen, and for me, it's funny as hell (but not everyone thinks so). Chungking Express has a much softer look, and is at least worth a rental, if only to enjoy its quirkiness.

I've heard the picture quality on chunking Express is amazing! I got rid of netflix so I don't know if I have a chance to find it for rental around me.

I think I've chosen one of the two already, should be released in about a week.

For All Mankind

I LOVE space footage/scenes in my HT. Whether 2001, Apollo 13, Blue Planet, even WallE, a blacked out cave with a huge screen puts you in the middle of space. And to boot, I love documentaries!

I like that one as well. Tough choices. Thanks for the advise.

Edit: Oh yes lets through in Salo, or the 120 Days of Sodom. Whats up with that! Have you seen it?

 

[jostenmeat]

It has been many years sense I've seen this but I do remember liking it quite a bit.

I want to reiterate that some people really do have issues with this transfer.

I've only read about this movie and all they said was it was strange. Is it Blue Velvet strange or 2001 strange?

Closer to 2001, but I think stranger than both of them combined. However, I didn't think Blue Velvet was all that strange, at least compared to something like Lost Highway, but that's just me.

I've heard the picture quality on chunking Express is amazing! I got rid of netflix so I don't know if I have a chance to find it for rental around me.

You make me want to rewatch it. It ain't no Bottle Rocket, of that I can assure you.

Edit: Oh yes lets through in Salo, or the 120 Days of Sodom. Whats up with that! Have you seen it?

Avoid the present BD release at all costs. Have never seen it though. It's not a Criterion title, fyi, in case you didn't know.

 

[nibhaz]

I think the best Criterion title I own is The Man Who Fell to Earth. With David Bowie. I heard it was banned in most of the US, or something like that, and I don't know if it might be the great deal of nudity, or what not. (YMMV, it's a very strange movie).

This movie is by far one of the weirdest movies I have ever seen. Granted I might have been drinking when I viewed it, but I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t have mattered. I can’t really comment on the PQ of the copy I watched, as it was bought on the streets of Baghdad, and watched on a confiscated TV… at least that was a Sony.

Sorry meat I can’t help on those titles…I guess I am not cultured enough.

 

[aberkowitz]

400 Blows (or Quatre Cent Coups en Francais) is one of the best pieces of cinema that I have ever watched. Films of this quality are rarely made, and in my opinion its made even more powerful b/c there's a lot of truth in it. Francois Truffaut is an absolute genius- in my opinion he's the equivalent of a Mozart of film. Even if you do not purchase 400 Blows right now, if you appreciate film you must watch this movie at some point.

If you find you like Truffaut, then you should also pick up "Jules et Jim" (which was very controversial in its day), "La Chambre Verte" (the Green Room), and La Derniere Metro (The Last Metro- an incredibly powerful WWII movie).

Other French films that are my favorites- Au Revoir Les Enfants (Louis Malle true story about his experiences as a child during WWII), La Ronde (about a series of affairs), and of course Indochine (Catherine Deneuve is a goddess).

 

[adk highlander]

Avoid the present BD release at all costs. Have never seen it though. It's not a Criterion title, fyi, in case you didn't know.

Oh but it IS.

 

[jostenmeat]

This movie is by far one of the weirdest movies I have ever seen. Granted I might have been drinking when I viewed it, but I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t have mattered. I can’t really comment on the PQ of the copy I watched, as it was bought on the streets of Baghdad, and watched on a confiscated TV… at least that was a Sony.

Sorry meat I can’t help on those titles…I guess I am not cultured enough.

Yeah, I know how you feel. FWIW, I enjoyed it even better the second time. I do think if I could only keep one of the titles I owned from Criterion, this would be it.

400 Blows (or Quatre Cent Coups en Francais) is one of the best pieces of cinema that I have ever watched. Films of this quality are rarely made, and in my opinion its made even more powerful b/c there's a lot of truth in it. Francois Truffaut is an absolute genius- in my opinion he's the equivalent of a Mozart of film. Even if you do not purchase 400 Blows right now, if you appreciate film you must watch this movie at some point.

If you find you like Truffaut, then you should also pick up "Jules et Jim" (which was very controversial in its day), "La Chambre Verte" (the Green Room), and La Derniere Metro (The Last Metro- an incredibly powerful WWII movie).

Other French films that are my favorites- Au Revoir Les Enfants (Louis Malle true story about his experiences as a child during WWII), La Ronde (about a series of affairs), and of course Indochine (Catherine Deneuve is a goddess).

THANKS! Very compelling and persuasive. You are a Jedi?

Oh but it IS.

Oh, but it isn't . . . a Bluray. You linked the DVD. Sorry about the confusion!

 

[adk highlander]

Oh, but it isn't . . . a Bluray. You linked the DVD. Sorry about the confusion!

Doh I'm sorry was not thinking.

So many interesting films I've spent the last half an hour just looking around again.

 

[Tomorrow]

I've only read about this movie and all they said was it was strange. Is it Blue Velvet strange or 2001 strange?

It's David Bowie strange. 8&1/2 - Fellini strange. It's very existential and can be intriguing if you're in the right frame of mind.

 

[Lordoftherings]

Classic movies by the great Masters.

Hey Josten, Check any movies made by the great "Cineastes" of our times.

* Michelangelo Antonioni
* Ingmar Bergman
* Bernardo Bertolucci
* Mel Brooks
* Tim Burton
* Frank Capra
* Charles Chaplin
* Michael Cimino
* Joel Cohen
* Francis Ford Coppola
* David Cronenberg
* Jonathan Demme
* Brian De Palma
* Clint Eastwood
* Federico Fellini
* John Ford
* Milos Forman
* John Frankenheimer
* Stephen Frears
* William Friedkin
* Terry Gilliam
* Howard Hawks
* Alfred Hitchcock
* Ron Howard
* John Hughes
* John Huston
* Norman Jewison
* Lawrence Kasdan
* Stanley Kubrick
* Akiro Kurosawa
* John Landis
* David Lean
* Spike Lee
* Segio Leone
* Barry Levinson
* Sidney Lumet
* David Lynch
* Louis Malle
* George Miller
* Alan Parker
* Sam Peckinpah
* Arthur Penn
* Sydney Pollack
* Sam Raimi
* Robert Redford
* Carl Reiner
* Rob Reiner
* Jean Renoir
* George A. Romero
* Ken Russell
* Martin Scorsese
* Ridley Scott
* Don Siegel
* Steven Spielberg
* Oliver Stone
* Quentin Tarantino
* Francois Truffault
* Luchino Visconti
* Peter Weir
* Orson Welles
* James Whale
* Billy Wilder
* Robert Zemeckis
* Fred Zinnemann
* ZAZ: David Zucker, Jerry Zucker, and Jim Abrahams

>>> I know that there are more, but that should suffice for now.

 

[jostenmeat]

Uh, thanks LOTR?

Spell Joel's last name correctly. Please! It's Coen. (Sorry, he and his brother are probably my favorite filmmakers.)

No Polanski on the list?

How about Jeunet/Caro, ie Delicatessen, City of Lost Children?

I'm not trying to be nitpicky with the missing names; I really like their work!

While Silence of the Lambs is one of my favs, did Demme do anything of that caliber since? I was pretty disappointed with The Manchurian Candidate.

At the moment, I think aberkowitz has talked me into trying Les Quatre Cents Coups.

 

[aberkowitz]

At the moment, I think aberkowitz has talked me into trying Les Quatre Cents Coups.

For once the French don't have to surrender!!!

 

[jliedeka]

For once the French don't have to surrender!!!

I think Vichy jokes are just a bit dated now...