What do you expect from the director of such classics as The Poseidon Adventure, and Meteor? I’ve never seen Hopscotch, so, I couldn’t tell you if it’s bad or not, but if it is, then Criterions allowed some duds.
I’ve never been a big fan of Criterion’s decision to put out “Armageddon” and “The Rock,” but I can see the argument for it (they are canonical examples of a certain type of film, to be sure).
I’ve seen Hopscotch twice, years ago and i liked it, in fact it stuck in my mind, making Salzburg seem enticing before we went to Austria on holiday in the late 80s. And Matthau cheerfully singing Figaro- Largo al Factotum- from the Barber of Seville has also stayed with me. Whether i would enjoy it so much now is a different matter but i have fond memories.
I actually just watched Equinox…I can see how it was groundbreaking for horror and paved the way for a lot of other horror classics…but i thought the acting was bad, the story was weak, the dialog was terrible and I felt like it didn’t really go anywhere. But the camera work was actually pretty decent. Maybe having Ed Begley Jr as an assistant cameraman isn’t such a bad thing.
But, out of all of the Criterion films that I’ve seen so far, Equinox is BY FAR the worst.
I think the whole point of the Equinox release was to show the promise of Dennis Muren through his earliest work, which, for what it was, was a highly ambitious and well-crafted film, when you consider that these were teen-agers working out of their garage, for the most part.
not all films/movies in the criterion collection have to be deep thinkers. I happen to like Hopscotch and watch it with some regularity. It is a fun movie and there are some great witty lines in it. Yeah, its not a Seven Samurai or Breathless, but its just a good solid movie a fairly good example of the “genre,” I’d say. You probably hate Charade, too.
Equinox was great! It had amazing effects. I don’t understand how someone could complain about the acting or story… it’s essentially a drive-in/b-movie, bad acting and plots come with the territory. I guess if you didn’t know anything about it beforehand it’s understandable to be disappointed.
Actually I like Charade and don’t see how you can compare the two. Yes Mathau is in both that’s true. But Charade is light as air and fun, Hopscotch was heavy and dull, and if it wasn’t for the great Glenda Jackson I would have turned it off. I’m all for fun movies as long as they are fun. Maybe a better script and director would have helped, I generally don’t watch movies for the locals or to be enticed into going to the place where the film takes place.
>What do you expect from the director of such classics as The Poseidon Adventure, and Meteor?
This is a bit superficial, though. Neame has not been the greatest director of the world, but he directed some relevant films like The Horse’s Mouth, The Prime of Misse Jean Brodie and Tunes of Glory.
Oh, I’m not going to argue this. Those are bad films, what I mean is I wouldn’t be surprised if he made another bad film, but I couldn’t say if he did or not.
The Poseidon Adventure, and Meteor are fine for what they are.I like Hopscotch too. I don’t really understand many of the choices they put out. I cant stand Wes Anderson films.
Robert Jahnke III, you’re becoming my favourite user.
Don’t get me wrong, I love watching campy B-movies and i thought that for a movie with a $6500 budget, Equinox did a good job. I just don’t think that it should be a Criterion release. I’m not saying it’s horrible, it’s just the worst movie that I’ve seen in the Criterion Collection so far. Good point about showing the promise of Dennis Muren’s early effects work in films, but I still don’t feel that it was a good choice for Criterion, much better, pivotal horror films could have been in the collection instead, like Night of the Living Dead and Evil Dead II
The curious case of Benjamen button…REALLY?
I would go as far to say that The Night Porter is pretty awful. And I dont like Robocop, not criterion standard at all. Flesh for Frankenstien is terrible. Otherwise it is a matter of taste.
I would even say that Spinal Tap isnt exactly criterion material, but good fun.
The image quality on The Scarlet Empress is awful.
The VHS copy in my college library had a better print. Bizarre.
I’m still a little perplexed by The Furies.
Christopher, It looks like such a beautiful DVD that I have thought about buying it. What is wrong with the movie?
To be fair, Drew, I was a bit tired and I’d like to watch it again before giving my final verdict.
My perplexity is that it is so obscure a western, and when so many others are begging for Criterion treatments — Stagecoach or Johnny Guitar or Dead Man or (the original) Cimarron or … dare I even dream? … The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence, etc. The Furies isn’t awful, but I wouldn’t place it in the pantheon of greats … yet.
Wait,
is this conversation about Criterion issues of poor quality
-or-
Criterion issues of films people just happen not to like?
hopefully the former…
Christopher, I agree 100% about The Furies before what you said about being tired while watching it (although I probably was as well)… except, unlike you, I have no desire to watch it again.
Well originally (if you look at the topic header) the thread was about Hopscotch. But it looks like it’s morphed into the crappiest movies Criterion has released.
@RUS – I always go by the mission statement of the company: “… a continuing series of important classic and contemporary films”
Now, I am not one to apply bouquet or brickbat lightly, and I promise you I am most delighted when happily surprised, but there are a few titles, The Furies included, where I am puzzled in finding the above stated “importance” of their inclusion in the collection. That is why I like this site, so debates can occur. I’m sure there is a devotee of The Furies out there who will first say, “Chris, you’re full of it!,” but then post a persuasive argument to try and make me understand the error of my opinion. And I welcome that, because I really do want to see what is not obvious to me but is to others.
For the record … I have never seen a Criterion transfer of poor quality.
Well, it’s one of the best of Anthony Mann’s westerns and until Criterion came along was unavailable on DVD.
not to mention one of barbara stanwyck’s best performances…
importance is subjective, but I think this falls into the category.
and it was a good choice for Criterion for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that they probably saw a market for it.
I wouldn’t mind seeing more Anthony Mann come out of Criterion, particularly Raw Deal.
I have heard bad things about the Criterion transfer of Time Bandits.
ira joel
I finally saw Hopscotch the other night and for the life of me, I can’t figure out why Criterion would release this piece of crap. I mean maybe they got some big bucks from Landau and Embassy to take it on. Mathau has also been an actor that I could pretty much do without, sure he’s fun (up to a point) in the fortune cookie, and Glenda Jackson is totally wasted in a supporting role. The film pretty much ends with a thud, and when it was over I was left shaking my head. It wasn’t funny or exciting, and I kept thinking who cares. I’m still scratching my head over this one.