Yes, it is a very beautiful film that only gets better with repeated viewing.
You know, it was one of my blind buys and certainly I don’t regret it.
—PolarisDiB
I’ve never understood blind buys. How can you take anyone’s word as to whether or not you would like it. For everyone who says it’s a masterpiece, someone is going to say they hated it. If you are rich and can afford the risk, take it. But with the price of Criterion’s, watch it online first if you have to. The only blind buy that I made was Ozu’s EARLY SUMMER. Brand new copy for $4.95. I must say that I’m glad I didn’t pay more. I just can’t get into it.
I don’t know if you get TCM, but it’s playing on Mon. April 13th 4:30 am est on TCM. It’s playing right after My Life as a Dog (2:45 am)
I’d recommend going that way if you’re in the U.S. and get the channel. That’s how I’m going to see both of those films for the first time.
Thanks for the heads up Col. Dax, however, I don’t think I will make it through my classes on Monday if I am up at 4:30.
As far as blind buying goes, I understand the risk, Strawdawg. I recently received a giftcard though and always enjoy taking that risk. With Criterions it is rarely is a disaster.
I think there are ways to make educated blind buys to minimize disappointment. I think my least favorite Criterion blind buy (I almost said worst, but it’s by no means a bad movie) was Le Notti Bianche, for $13.49. I also didn’t like La Commare Secca, though I only spent $5.99 on it, which is less than the price of a theatre ticket, and not that far over the price of a rental, so it worked out there. Considering that theatre tickets cost $10, popcorn costs $5, and a soda costs $4, buying a DVD for $20 and including a 50 cent package of popcorn and $1.29 bottle of soda is really worth it—and, if you keep the disc in great condition, you can sell it on Amazon for a fair price to get some of your money back. I don’t think blind buying is too much of a bad deal these days, though of course Criterion’s more expensive prices make them a little harder to buy. However, as mentioned, Criterion is usually a good bet. At the worst, it’ll simply be a movie you don’t enjoy, but rarely is it an incredibly bad movie.
—PolarisDiB
You make a pretty good point Polarisdib. You’re basically “blind-buying” every time you go to the theatre. I never really thought of it that way. If it ends up that you don’t like it, you can always get most of your money back online as you say. Go for it Flemmon, it really is a good film.
Thanks for figuring this out for me guys. Haha. I’ll let you know how it turns out.
Did you buy it?
Or did you watch in TCM the other day?
I’ve blind bought Two-Lane Blacktop, Thre Films by Hiroshi Teshihagara, and Mishima, and not one disappointed. It was an extraordinary relief and testimony to Criterion, I think. I was also debating this one. So, DID you buy it yet? And Col. Dax, it is a shame those 2 were on TCM and my DVR was not informed prior!
I’ve blind bought several Criterions, and I never regret it, even the used copy of Jubilee I picked up for 11 bucks. In fact, most of the criterions I have were blind buys in that I had never seen the films before, but was familiar with the director or the era and had a good idea I’d like the film. Examples: Le Samouri, Breathless, Kagemusha, Stray Dog, The Tin Drum, Rules Of The Game… and so on.
Personally, I almost never buy blind when it comes to films. The few times I have, I was never thrilled with my purchases. I would recommend subscribing to Netflix. I’ve got a plan for $9 (maybe $10) a month, where I can have one movie checked out a time (they have most of the Criterion editions), with an unlimited amount/month, PLUS i can watch an unlimited amount of their online/instant selections (which is a lot, including a bunch of art-house sort of stuff). So if I get, watch, and send back one movie a week, this means that I will get four movies/month plus unlimited online viewing for only $9 bucks/month. Plus there’s always the library, which is free, and is where I checked out the copy of …Beehive that I just watched. Even if I like a film, I probably won’t buy it because there is so much other material at my fingertips that I haven’t watched that it seems kind of pointless.
I know that collecting is what some people are really into, which is fine, but if your goal is only to watch movies, there are ways that are much easier on the wallet.
I blind bought SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE, based on many reviews and it’s reputation, and while it didn’t overwhelm me, it was a stunningly beautiful film, a mediation on silence and spaces within families, and Frankenstein thrown in to boot. I guess the director was very impressed with the James Whale film when he was younger, just like the character in the film, and it was his way of saying that imaginary monsters can stand in for the monsters of real life which fits into the scary mood of the Franco period. SoTB came out at the tail end of the Franco period, and was a truly important Spanish film for confronting some sordid truths about that dictatorship. That will have less meaning if you’re not up on your history, but it’s still a wonderful, melancholic film that I’m sure I’ll more appreciate with repeated viewings.
Unlike ARMY OF SHADOWS, bought on the same blind purchase, which I thought was mostly reeee-dicyulus. At least it was during the 50% sale at BN.com.
dp
flemmon
I am very intrigued by what I have read about The Spirit of the Beehive. Do you think this is worth a blind buy?