One of the films I would give a nod to is Batman Begins. For me, it is the best film ever based on a comic book or graphic novel. I think Batman Begins brings a well-balanced, neo-noirish sensibility and realism heretofore unseen in cinema with regards to its genre. I found the cast to be outstanding. Tom Wilkinson, Rutger Hauer, Liam Neeson, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Christian Bale, and Cillian Murphy make for a wonderful cast. I especially liked Gary Oldman as Gordon. I would have liked to see Christina Ricci cast as Rachel, instead of Katie Holmes. I also thought the cinematography was wonderful. I’m glad the director didn’t go for camp. The bat scenes are an especially nice touch. Also, Ra’s Al Ghul and Scarecrow are two of the greatest Batman villains and were deftly worked into the script. Finally, I like the fact the film has one main climax. I thought the Dark Knight was too long, overwrought and laced with too many subclimax elements.
I thought Heath Ledger was great as the Joker, but I also think the Dark Knight was quite a bit more banal than Batman Begins. The character Ra’s Al Ghul is very original to me, especially for the realm of comics.
Amarcord, Bicycle Thiefs, La Strada, L’eclisse, 8 1/2. Amazon has a big sale on these two disc versions for $16.49 each and a handful of other Criterions. I recently bought a bunch of Criterions from Barnes & Noble when they were running their 50% off sale. I was also able to use my BN discount card for another 10% and my BN credit card for another 5% off my statement! The BN sale has ended, but Amazon is ongoing.
I second Sergio Leone. Seven credited films and five uncredited films according to IMDb. The seven credited include Once Upon a Time in the West; Once Upon a Time in America; and The Good, The Bad and the Ugly. His other Eastwood features are pretty good too. Great batting percentage.
I recently picked up over two dozen Criterions thanks to the recent BN sale and the current Amazon sale. However, I do not have a Blu-Ray player yet and do not plan on repurchasing most of my Criterions and other DVDs on Blu-Ray. If the price is right ($9.99 and under) then I’ll consider also buying some titles in Blu-Ray that I already own on regular DVD. I have an HD DVD and have added HD DVD copies of a couple of films (Batman Begins, Sleepy Hollow, Spartacus, Traffic) only because of bargain basement prices.
I actually like having older titles because of some of the cool art work and pamphlets. The old Wages of Fear box art is much better to me than the new release and some of the OOP Hammer Horror films on Anchor Bay have some great cover art. Also, good upsampling on a well-mastered standard DVD could still look very nice.
I think that’s the key. I’ll only go for my favorites at a good price. I made sure all the recent Criterions I bought aren’t yet available on Blu-Ray or scheduled for a Blu-Ray release. The only DVD I own that I would definitely get on Blu-Ray is North by Northwest.
Do you really need to respond to me in such a manner? I believe that the best films that won the Oscar are better than the best films that won the Palme d’Or.
The Oscar is generally for an American film. They are not bigots. There is also a foreign language category. This is not bigotry. I will say that the Oscar winners have not been great since 1994. But a 1991-1993 run of The Silence of the Lambs, Unforgiven and Schindler’s List is pretty impressive.
Well, I actually prefer the Oscar winners for best foreign language film to the Palme winners. My statement is far from foolish. The Godfather won the Oscar, it did not win the Palme. Other winners include Casablanca, All Quiet on the Western Front, Godfather II, On the Waterfront, In the Heat of the Night, Midnight Cowboy, Lawrence of Arabia, The Bridge on the River Kwai, The Deer Hunter, Gone with the Wind, The Best Years of our Lives. This is incredible cinema.
Third Man is one of my favorites. However, while I love foreign films, especially Japan and Italy, most of my favorites aren’t on the list. The Third Man, La Dolce Vita and Rome, Open City are some of my favorites on the list. The very best works of Kurosowa, Visconti and De Sica aren’t represented. Mizoguchi, Ozu, Bertolucci, Bergman and Renoir are all missing. Thank goodness for Criterion.
Drew, I totally understand your point. The Academy is wrong many times and it is maddening. Their recent track record over the past fifteen years is much worse than it used to be. I’m not an expert on Cannes, but it is also strange that so many great foreign directors never even won once.
I think the majority of Criterion purchasers are going for the films and directors they are more familiar with or like. At least this is the impression I get from people I know or just talking to people in the Criterion sections of some stores. Also, I do believe Criterion would have released some of these titles already, but there is red tape, distribution, legal matters, and film prints to deal with. A film like The Housemaid would make sense, especially since it might find an audience with Hitchcock fans and fans of thrillers or Japanese film (although The Housemaid is from South Korea). But it is not a simple matter of just saying you want a film and getting it out. I’m still trying to buy more film noirs and Italian films before going elsewhere and after those two areas I’ll be looking to more Japanese films.
I also think the influence of Criterion is somewhat overrated. I’ve been watching Italian classics long before Criterion and many of the films that are released on Criterion are already highly rated and have been for decades. If anything, sometimes fairly average or just good films get introduced on Criterion and their status and rating (Amazon, IMDb, blogs, etc.) are elevated above what I and others that have been familiar with these films, countries and genres for decades would rank them.
There is no greatest movie. I agree it all comes down to opinion. I love Citizen Kane and many other films. My favorite films are those that I find highly entertaining, have a compelling story and are well-made from the standpoint of visual aesthetics. I certainly think Kane fits the bill.
One thing I find interesting is that as I see more films, my opinion on certain films that I liked in the past changes, usually for the worse. When I first saw Carlito’s Way I really liked it. After the first viewing, I would have given it 4 stars out of 5. Two thousand films later and I recently watched it again. Now I would give it a 2. Kane is still a 5 for me.
Some films don’t age very well and others don’t stand up well when viewed against the entire canon of film. The interesting thing about the music of Beethoven or the art of the Renaissance masters is that it never ages. At least for me, Kane doesn’t seem to age either.
Josh, I do think there is a difference between greatest and favorite. I think L’Avventura is better than some of my favorites. But I’d rather watch my favorites. I think Mozart is better than the Grateful Dead, but I’d rather listen to the Dead. However, I think you’re right in that there are plenty of subjective and rather ignorant fanboys out there that pile on the ratings for certain films, hence the high IMDb scores for Dark Knight and Pulp Fiction. I was a fan of Batman long before the current crop of fanboys, but I’m not foolish enough to call it a masterpiece.
Bitter Rice – Giuseppe De Santis
Celine and Julie Go Boating – Jacques Rivette
Germany, Year Zero – Roberto Rossellini
The Magnificent Ambersons – Orson Welles
Ossessione – Luchino Visconti
Paisan – Roberto Rossellini
Shoe-Shine – Vittorio De Sica
Pulp Fiction. The use of the n word was repulsive to me and a real spit in the face by Tarantino. Spike Lee takes offense and he should. So do I. I later watched it at home in its entirety, but the n word, gratuitous violence and sadism are pure trash and not film. I like some trash cinema, but this went too far. I still can’t watch Salo.
Irrespective of the fact that Vertigo was filmed in color, I wouldn’t consider it noir because the film is too bright. Much of it takes place during the day and the general atmosphere of the film is not brooding. Stewart is very good in the lead, but he is not prototypically tough or mysterious. Nor is he a bad guy.
Internally he may be, but not externally. He doesn’t look the part of a noirish player. I think part of Stewart’s makeup in the film is Freudian psychology as opposed to inherent evil.
I suppose it’s all a matter of perspective. I recently watched Murder, My Sweet. Certainly a film noir, but I was disappointed by the film. The acting was really subpar for me in comparison to some of the greats and the story didn’t grab me.
Defining films of the deacade almost 3 years ago
One of the films I would give a nod to is Batman Begins. For me, it is the best film ever based on a comic book or graphic novel. I think Batman Begins brings a well-balanced, neo-noirish sensibility and realism heretofore unseen in cinema with regards to its genre. I found the cast to be outstanding. Tom Wilkinson, Rutger Hauer, Liam Neeson, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Christian Bale, and Cillian Murphy make for a wonderful cast. I especially liked Gary Oldman as Gordon. I would have liked to see Christina Ricci cast as Rachel, instead of Katie Holmes. I also thought the cinematography was wonderful. I’m glad the director didn’t go for camp. The bat scenes are an especially nice touch. Also, Ra’s Al Ghul and Scarecrow are two of the greatest Batman villains and were deftly worked into the script. Finally, I like the fact the film has one main climax. I thought the Dark Knight was too long, overwrought and laced with too many subclimax elements.
Go to Comment
Defining films of the deacade almost 3 years ago
Dave,
I thought Heath Ledger was great as the Joker, but I also think the Dark Knight was quite a bit more banal than Batman Begins. The character Ra’s Al Ghul is very original to me, especially for the realm of comics.
Go to Comment
Recent Acquisitions. almost 3 years ago
Amarcord, Bicycle Thiefs, La Strada, L’eclisse, 8 1/2. Amazon has a big sale on these two disc versions for $16.49 each and a handful of other Criterions. I recently bought a bunch of Criterions from Barnes & Noble when they were running their 50% off sale. I was also able to use my BN discount card for another 10% and my BN credit card for another 5% off my statement! The BN sale has ended, but Amazon is ongoing.
Go to Comment
Greatest director that only made a few films? almost 3 years ago
LJ D’Arpa,
I second Sergio Leone. Seven credited films and five uncredited films according to IMDb. The seven credited include Once Upon a Time in the West; Once Upon a Time in America; and The Good, The Bad and the Ugly. His other Eastwood features are pretty good too. Great batting percentage.
Go to Comment
WILL YOU REPURCHASE CRITERIONS AND OTHER DVDS WITH BLU-RAY? almost 3 years ago
I recently picked up over two dozen Criterions thanks to the recent BN sale and the current Amazon sale. However, I do not have a Blu-Ray player yet and do not plan on repurchasing most of my Criterions and other DVDs on Blu-Ray. If the price is right ($9.99 and under) then I’ll consider also buying some titles in Blu-Ray that I already own on regular DVD. I have an HD DVD and have added HD DVD copies of a couple of films (Batman Begins, Sleepy Hollow, Spartacus, Traffic) only because of bargain basement prices.
I actually like having older titles because of some of the cool art work and pamphlets. The old Wages of Fear box art is much better to me than the new release and some of the OOP Hammer Horror films on Anchor Bay have some great cover art. Also, good upsampling on a well-mastered standard DVD could still look very nice.
Go to Comment
WILL YOU REPURCHASE CRITERIONS AND OTHER DVDS WITH BLU-RAY? almost 3 years ago
I think that’s the key. I’ll only go for my favorites at a good price. I made sure all the recent Criterions I bought aren’t yet available on Blu-Ray or scheduled for a Blu-Ray release. The only DVD I own that I would definitely get on Blu-Ray is North by Northwest.
Go to Comment
How many Palme D'Or winners have you seen? almost 3 years ago
Sadly, a track record that might be worse than the Oscars.
Go to Comment
How many Palme D'Or winners have you seen? almost 3 years ago
Dimitris,
I didn’t say the Oscars were good, now did I? Your tone is nasty and unnecessary.
Go to Comment
How many Palme D'Or winners have you seen? almost 3 years ago
Blue K,
Do you really need to respond to me in such a manner? I believe that the best films that won the Oscar are better than the best films that won the Palme d’Or.
Go to Comment
How many Palme D'Or winners have you seen? almost 3 years ago
Dimitris,
The Oscar is generally for an American film. They are not bigots. There is also a foreign language category. This is not bigotry. I will say that the Oscar winners have not been great since 1994. But a 1991-1993 run of The Silence of the Lambs, Unforgiven and Schindler’s List is pretty impressive.
Go to Comment
How many Palme D'Or winners have you seen? almost 3 years ago
Corduroy,
Well, I actually prefer the Oscar winners for best foreign language film to the Palme winners. My statement is far from foolish. The Godfather won the Oscar, it did not win the Palme. Other winners include Casablanca, All Quiet on the Western Front, Godfather II, On the Waterfront, In the Heat of the Night, Midnight Cowboy, Lawrence of Arabia, The Bridge on the River Kwai, The Deer Hunter, Gone with the Wind, The Best Years of our Lives. This is incredible cinema.
Go to Comment
How many Palme D'Or winners have you seen? almost 3 years ago
Third Man is one of my favorites. However, while I love foreign films, especially Japan and Italy, most of my favorites aren’t on the list. The Third Man, La Dolce Vita and Rome, Open City are some of my favorites on the list. The very best works of Kurosowa, Visconti and De Sica aren’t represented. Mizoguchi, Ozu, Bertolucci, Bergman and Renoir are all missing. Thank goodness for Criterion.
Go to Comment
How many Palme D'Or winners have you seen? almost 3 years ago
Drew, I totally understand your point. The Academy is wrong many times and it is maddening. Their recent track record over the past fifteen years is much worse than it used to be. I’m not an expert on Cannes, but it is also strange that so many great foreign directors never even won once.
Go to Comment
How many Palme D'Or winners have you seen? almost 3 years ago
Dimitris,
Shakespeare in Love is a Crash of A Beautiful Mind. Blue, do you have The Housemaid on DVD?
Go to Comment
How many Palme D'Or winners have you seen? almost 3 years ago
It’s available on yesasia.com and reviewed at DVDBeaver. It comes with a 42 page booklet. I don’t own it, but the packaging looks interesting.
Go to Comment
What should be the purpose of Film? almost 3 years ago
Visual contemplation. Film is film, it isn’t a book.
Go to Comment
powerful hollywood filmmaking almost 3 years ago
King Kong could be on the list.
Go to Comment
Can Colored Folks Get Some Love at Criterion too? almost 3 years ago
I think the majority of Criterion purchasers are going for the films and directors they are more familiar with or like. At least this is the impression I get from people I know or just talking to people in the Criterion sections of some stores. Also, I do believe Criterion would have released some of these titles already, but there is red tape, distribution, legal matters, and film prints to deal with. A film like The Housemaid would make sense, especially since it might find an audience with Hitchcock fans and fans of thrillers or Japanese film (although The Housemaid is from South Korea). But it is not a simple matter of just saying you want a film and getting it out. I’m still trying to buy more film noirs and Italian films before going elsewhere and after those two areas I’ll be looking to more Japanese films.
I also think the influence of Criterion is somewhat overrated. I’ve been watching Italian classics long before Criterion and many of the films that are released on Criterion are already highly rated and have been for decades. If anything, sometimes fairly average or just good films get introduced on Criterion and their status and rating (Amazon, IMDb, blogs, etc.) are elevated above what I and others that have been familiar with these films, countries and genres for decades would rank them.
Go to Comment
Cannes Winners vs. Oscar Winners almost 3 years ago
Mikel, have you seen some of the jury members? They’re definitely not masters and some of them are very political and biased.
Go to Comment
IS CITIZEN KANE THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER MADE OR JUST THE BEST HYPED? almost 3 years ago
There is no greatest movie. I agree it all comes down to opinion. I love Citizen Kane and many other films. My favorite films are those that I find highly entertaining, have a compelling story and are well-made from the standpoint of visual aesthetics. I certainly think Kane fits the bill.
Go to Comment
IS CITIZEN KANE THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER MADE OR JUST THE BEST HYPED? almost 3 years ago
One thing I find interesting is that as I see more films, my opinion on certain films that I liked in the past changes, usually for the worse. When I first saw Carlito’s Way I really liked it. After the first viewing, I would have given it 4 stars out of 5. Two thousand films later and I recently watched it again. Now I would give it a 2. Kane is still a 5 for me.
Some films don’t age very well and others don’t stand up well when viewed against the entire canon of film. The interesting thing about the music of Beethoven or the art of the Renaissance masters is that it never ages. At least for me, Kane doesn’t seem to age either.
Go to Comment
IS CITIZEN KANE THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER MADE OR JUST THE BEST HYPED? almost 3 years ago
Josh, I do think there is a difference between greatest and favorite. I think L’Avventura is better than some of my favorites. But I’d rather watch my favorites. I think Mozart is better than the Grateful Dead, but I’d rather listen to the Dead. However, I think you’re right in that there are plenty of subjective and rather ignorant fanboys out there that pile on the ratings for certain films, hence the high IMDb scores for Dark Knight and Pulp Fiction. I was a fan of Batman long before the current crop of fanboys, but I’m not foolish enough to call it a masterpiece.
Go to Comment
IS CITIZEN KANE THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER MADE OR JUST THE BEST HYPED? almost 3 years ago
You’re right. That was my own thought. I do think the directors have a different perspective so its cool to have more than one list.
Go to Comment
What movies desperately need a U.S. dvd release? almost 3 years ago
Bitter Rice – Giuseppe De Santis
Celine and Julie Go Boating – Jacques Rivette
Germany, Year Zero – Roberto Rossellini
The Magnificent Ambersons – Orson Welles
Ossessione – Luchino Visconti
Paisan – Roberto Rossellini
Shoe-Shine – Vittorio De Sica
Go to Comment
Which Movies Have You Walked Out On? almost 3 years ago
Pulp Fiction. The use of the n word was repulsive to me and a real spit in the face by Tarantino. Spike Lee takes offense and he should. So do I. I later watched it at home in its entirety, but the n word, gratuitous violence and sadism are pure trash and not film. I like some trash cinema, but this went too far. I still can’t watch Salo.
Go to Comment
What are your "Guilty Pleasure" films? almost 3 years ago
The Cannonball Run, Clueless, Conan the Barbarian, Napoleon Dynamite.
Go to Comment
CLASSIC FILM NOIR almost 3 years ago
Irrespective of the fact that Vertigo was filmed in color, I wouldn’t consider it noir because the film is too bright. Much of it takes place during the day and the general atmosphere of the film is not brooding. Stewart is very good in the lead, but he is not prototypically tough or mysterious. Nor is he a bad guy.
Go to Comment
CLASSIC FILM NOIR almost 3 years ago
Internally he may be, but not externally. He doesn’t look the part of a noirish player. I think part of Stewart’s makeup in the film is Freudian psychology as opposed to inherent evil.
Go to Comment
CLASSIC FILM NOIR almost 3 years ago
Vertigo is a great film, but my favorite Hitchcock is Psycho, especially in the context of its time. Rear Window keeps getting better.
Go to Comment
CLASSIC FILM NOIR almost 3 years ago
I suppose it’s all a matter of perspective. I recently watched Murder, My Sweet. Certainly a film noir, but I was disappointed by the film. The acting was really subpar for me in comparison to some of the greats and the story didn’t grab me.
Go to Comment