I was groaning at the fact that I had to see this film if I wanted to see every film in the “1001 Films you must see before you die” book due to its notorious reputation. I decided to get it over with as soon as I could. After I saw it I was glad I did and I respect and understand what the film says and stands for.
I believe the film IS a masterpiece. I believe it should be seen if you are a cinema buff (that is are open to and wish to experience cinema of all types), because Salo is a cinematic masterpiece, perhaps the final word, in depicting human cruelty and sadism in an uncrompromisingly bleak, yet allegorical, way. I believe the fim is directed flawlessly, with a clear vision of what the director sought out to do with the digusting images on screen, to me it is not only the disgusting images but the actions that the people take against one another that is honest and disturbing, and very very haunting. I personally have suffered myself throughout my life at the hands of other people, and I think that this film depicts truthfully the sick condition of human begins enjoying making each other suffer on many levels (sexually, phsically, psycologically). People who dismis the fim or condem it, I believe miss the point and this films importance, and may perhaps themselves deny the fact that we live in a world where horrible things happen at the expense of innocent people. It shoud be seen, it is an important, unique, and still relevant film, that is a great piece of art, and one of the truest horror films I can think of.
I have seen every Eclipse series up to series 13. My feelings on each set is that all the films are definetly overlooked in some way, none are a waste of time, many are intriging, but each set has one or two films that stand out as the best and the true treasures of the series.
My thoughts on each…
Eclipse Series 1: Early Bergman is a worthy first entry, Torment by Alf Sjöberg is a wonderful rare look at a Bergman script throught the eyes of another director, (Faithless by Liv Ullman is another) Torment is an excellent Swiss nior. The other films were quite enjoyable, representing a lost golden era in European filmmaking, but the other film that stands out in the set is Thirst, I believe it is good enough to be seen as a true Bergman classic, showing off the great director’s abily to examine psycological complexities in his characters.
Eclipse Series 2:
The Documentaries of Louis Malle is a bit overwhelming, being that it is the entry that boast the most titles and the longest running time. I personally love the short Vive le Tour, a whimsical look at the tour de france, and God’s Country, it paints an unflattering but mezmerizing portrait of Regan era America. This set proves that Louis Malle was a versatile filmmaker, and these documentaries are certainly not like each other, each are crafted differently and together make a set that is anything but monotonous.
Eclipse Series 3: Late Ozu is an emotionally overwhelming set of the late directors final films, although they tend to blend together in my mind, with the exception of the tragically dark Tokyo Twilight and the irresistably sweet Late Autumn. Ozu is a master, and this set demonstrates his subtle ablity to tell powerful tales about ordinary people.
Eclipse Series 4:Raymond Bernard is when Eclipse really acomplished what it set out to do; unearth forgotten materworks. Les Miserables has since become one of my all time favorites, and Wooden Crosses is an outstanding war film, hopefully both film will now be viewed as classics thanks to Eclipse.
Eclipse Series 5: The First Films of Samuel Fuller has two good films and the outstanding Steel Helmet, gives the viewer a taste of Fullers brutally honest and uncompromising storytelling. Vincient Price is delightful in The Baron Of Arizona as well.
Eclipse Series 6:Carlos Saura’s Flamenco Trilogy has three films, each different in style, but all about the language and life of dance. I think all three are equally qood, and the sexy Antonio Gades is in all three, if I had to choose which one I like the best I would choose the docudrama Blood Wedding.
Eclipse Series 7: Postwar Kurosawa showcases a set of mostly average Kurosawa films. Undenably, it seems he was in a phase where he is working out the kinks in his style, which can clearly be seen in the butchered but interesting The Idiot. One Wonderful Sunday is a Capraesque sweet film, but the best two films in this set to me were Scandal (I never knew Toshiro Mifune was so handsome) and No Regrets For Our Youth (it makes one wish that Kurosawa made more films with the lovely Setsuko Hara, who plays the strongest female protagonist of all Kurosawa’s films).
Eclipse Series 8:Lubitsch Musicals is probably the most delightful of the Eclipse serise so far. The Smiling Lieutenant is my favorite in this set. Anyone who has seen and loved the film Love Me Tonight, will get similar pleasure here with these films.
Eclipse Series 9:The Delirious Fictions of William Klein is easily the most unusual and mind boggling set of the series so far. Mr Freedom is the most outlandish film I ever seen, Who are you, Polly Magoo? is just under Mr. Freedom. Thes leaves The Model Couple, the most accessable film here. All are filmed beautifully (Polly Magoo is like 60s clad David Lynch meets Alice In Wonderland in beautiful b&w) but this set to me was a bit of an aquired taste.
Eclipse Series 10:Silent Ozu—Three Family Comedies is a charming set of silent films, as others have mentioned, it is probably easy to describe these films as silent Japanese versions of the Little Rascals, but I would say with a little bit more heart. The one I like best in this set is Tokyo Chorus.
Eclipse Series 11: Larisa Shepitko hails two masterworks from a filmmaker whose life was tragically cut short. Wings is an intimate and personal film with an outstanding lead performance. It is a character study of an unhappy woman who is long past her “glory days.” The Ascent is a devestating allegorical film set in world war two. Both films are excellent.
Eclipse Series 12: Aki Kaurismäki’s Proletariat Trilogy is the final word in the language of deadpan cinema. I like this set very much, fans of Jim Jarmusch should definetly check this set out. The Match Factory Girl, is my favorite of the three.
and finally
Eclipse Series 13:Kenji Mizoguchi’s Fallen Women features the two early classics Sisters Of The Gion and Osaka Elegy. Women of the Night is a brutally honest but uneven film that bears a similarity to Italian neorealism. However, this brings us to my favorite film out of all the Eclipse series, one I think could and should have been a Criterion Collection disk itself, Street Of Shame. What can I say other than that I loved the story, cinematography, acting, and direction and the film was moving, complex, and haunted me for days after I saw it.
Gilliam Armstrong- Who made several moving films, some of which are my favorites. My Brilliant Carreer and her remake of Little Women are both masterpieces.
Leni Renfenstalh- Not only a facinating woman, but a great filmmaker who unfortunetly has the stigma of being associated with the natzi party. However you personally feel about Triumph Of The Will or Olimpia, you can’t deny the beauty or technical gace or those films. She was an inovator who is now overlooked due to the aforementioned affiliation to the natzis, check out The Wonderful/Horrible Life of Leni Renfenstal (a documentary on her life) to see the brilliant side of an amazing woman.
Adrienne Shelly- whose life was tragically cut short, however Waitress is good enough to put her on this list.
Dorothy Arzner- A lesbian film director, the sole woman directing films in hollywoods golden age of the 40s. Dance Girl Dance is now a feminist classic, a cult classic, and a camp gem, in my opinion her best film. Joan Crawford said someting along the lines of “I think all my directors fell in love with me, I know Dorothy Arzner did!”
Jane Campion- Sweetie, Angel At My Table, are great, but The Piano is her masterpiece. She has yet to top or equal that film, or make anything half as good since then.
Agnes Varda-The world’s greatest living female director. Any of her films speak for themselves. Vagabond and Cleo from 5 to 7 are favorites.
Maya Deren- created Meshes In The Afternoon, which deserves its place as a classic in the history of the greatest avant garde films ever made along side Un Chien Andalou and Lucifer Rising.
I love Rosemary’s Baby. I read the book and saw the film on VHS years ago. It is a perfect adaptation. It would be one of my favorite films, but, I think I may be crazy, but I think a scene is cut from the film on DVD. It is the scene towards the end after she has the baby, and the satanists are trying to drug her and keep her bed ridden, but she keeps the pills on the bedframe, until she has enough to put it in the coffee of the woman who is watching her, so she can get out of bed and find the baby in the neighbors apartment in the haunting final scene. On DVD, the scene opens with that woman coming in to watch Rosemary, but ends before she can put the pills in her coffee. It then cuts to her, quite inexplicably walking in a hallway in the next scene without the explanation of how she was able to get past the watchful eye of her captors. It has been bugging me for years and no one I know remembers this scene but I swear I saw it on the VHS tape I rented years ago. Does anyone else remember this scene or share my fustration on scenes cut from films yet to be restored onto DVD?
I would say John Waters, he is my film maker hero and most people dismiss his work as trash, when he sets out to entertain and be bizzare, and succeeds in hilarious fashion!
Well I distinctily remember seeing her put the crushed pills in the womans coffee and that scene comes after the breastmilk scene. I have also upon further investigation found forums stating that the actual devil baby can be seen at the end of the film. I have never seen that but I wish there was a way to get the story straight on what scenes in the film are cut if any.
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.
Well I rewatched the film on DVD last night. I have to say although I swear I saw that scene in the film the first time I saw it, without it it doesent effect the pacing or overall feel to the picture. And since the general opinion lean towards the scene not being there in the first place I must be mistaking the scene in the book for the scene in the film.
I love Juliet Of The Spirits, I think it is beautiful, and Masina has a mousy charm that I have always loved about her. The film is about an imaginative individual who slowly looses her mind after she looses the affection of her husband. I would say it is a masterpice because her lead performance is excellent, the fantasy and psychology element is surreal but not pretensious, it is a genious pice of cinematography that is experty cheorographed as good as 8 1/2, but like the Wizard of Oz, it showcases tehcnicolor in a kledoscopic way. I love it and Giulietta Masina is great and beautiful in it, and i wish Fellini made more like this before really becoming overindulgent.
Hi there, I was thinking of writing a book about the 50 greatest cult films and classics of all time, does anyone have any suggestions as to what films I should include, what you would like to see in a book of this nature, and whatever else I could include in my writing of the piece. Very open to any suggestion, but mind you, I only want to do cult films up until the late 1980s because I dont think that time has prove cult films of the 90s and 00s to be classics.
Ok well to start I am not writing a book that I already know has been written by several others in several forms for other people, I am writing it for me because I love the genre, and I can publish it myself if I wanted to. I want to write it on “great cult films” to clear things up, and do it according to era or decade. So far great suggestions I havent seen yet include the phantom of the paradise, which looks great from what I have seen., something I will definetly include that I have forgotten is Invasion of the body snatchers!
Should it be seen? about 3 years ago
I was groaning at the fact that I had to see this film if I wanted to see every film in the “1001 Films you must see before you die” book due to its notorious reputation. I decided to get it over with as soon as I could. After I saw it I was glad I did and I respect and understand what the film says and stands for.
I believe the film IS a masterpiece. I believe it should be seen if you are a cinema buff (that is are open to and wish to experience cinema of all types), because Salo is a cinematic masterpiece, perhaps the final word, in depicting human cruelty and sadism in an uncrompromisingly bleak, yet allegorical, way. I believe the fim is directed flawlessly, with a clear vision of what the director sought out to do with the digusting images on screen, to me it is not only the disgusting images but the actions that the people take against one another that is honest and disturbing, and very very haunting. I personally have suffered myself throughout my life at the hands of other people, and I think that this film depicts truthfully the sick condition of human begins enjoying making each other suffer on many levels (sexually, phsically, psycologically). People who dismis the fim or condem it, I believe miss the point and this films importance, and may perhaps themselves deny the fact that we live in a world where horrible things happen at the expense of innocent people. It shoud be seen, it is an important, unique, and still relevant film, that is a great piece of art, and one of the truest horror films I can think of.
Go to Comment
Movies That Should Be In the Criterion Collection about 3 years ago
Open City
Un Chien Andalou
Repulsion
The Apu Trilogy
The Cabinet Of Dr Caligari
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Eclipse about 3 years ago
I have seen every Eclipse series up to series 13. My feelings on each set is that all the films are definetly overlooked in some way, none are a waste of time, many are intriging, but each set has one or two films that stand out as the best and the true treasures of the series.
My thoughts on each…
Eclipse Series 1: Early Bergman is a worthy first entry, Torment by Alf Sjöberg is a wonderful rare look at a Bergman script throught the eyes of another director, (Faithless by Liv Ullman is another) Torment is an excellent Swiss nior. The other films were quite enjoyable, representing a lost golden era in European filmmaking, but the other film that stands out in the set is Thirst, I believe it is good enough to be seen as a true Bergman classic, showing off the great director’s abily to examine psycological complexities in his characters.
Eclipse Series 2:The Documentaries of Louis Malle is a bit overwhelming, being that it is the entry that boast the most titles and the longest running time. I personally love the short Vive le Tour, a whimsical look at the tour de france, and God’s Country, it paints an unflattering but mezmerizing portrait of Regan era America. This set proves that Louis Malle was a versatile filmmaker, and these documentaries are certainly not like each other, each are crafted differently and together make a set that is anything but monotonous.
Eclipse Series 3: Late Ozu is an emotionally overwhelming set of the late directors final films, although they tend to blend together in my mind, with the exception of the tragically dark Tokyo Twilight and the irresistably sweet Late Autumn. Ozu is a master, and this set demonstrates his subtle ablity to tell powerful tales about ordinary people. Eclipse Series 4:Raymond Bernard is when Eclipse really acomplished what it set out to do; unearth forgotten materworks. Les Miserables has since become one of my all time favorites, and Wooden Crosses is an outstanding war film, hopefully both film will now be viewed as classics thanks to Eclipse. Eclipse Series 5: The First Films of Samuel Fuller has two good films and the outstanding Steel Helmet, gives the viewer a taste of Fullers brutally honest and uncompromising storytelling. Vincient Price is delightful in The Baron Of Arizona as well. Eclipse Series 6:Carlos Saura’s Flamenco Trilogy has three films, each different in style, but all about the language and life of dance. I think all three are equally qood, and the sexy Antonio Gades is in all three, if I had to choose which one I like the best I would choose the docudrama Blood Wedding. Eclipse Series 7: Postwar Kurosawa showcases a set of mostly average Kurosawa films. Undenably, it seems he was in a phase where he is working out the kinks in his style, which can clearly be seen in the butchered but interesting The Idiot. One Wonderful Sunday is a Capraesque sweet film, but the best two films in this set to me were Scandal (I never knew Toshiro Mifune was so handsome) and No Regrets For Our Youth (it makes one wish that Kurosawa made more films with the lovely Setsuko Hara, who plays the strongest female protagonist of all Kurosawa’s films). Eclipse Series 8:Lubitsch Musicals is probably the most delightful of the Eclipse serise so far. The Smiling Lieutenant is my favorite in this set. Anyone who has seen and loved the film Love Me Tonight, will get similar pleasure here with these films. Eclipse Series 9:The Delirious Fictions of William Klein is easily the most unusual and mind boggling set of the series so far. Mr Freedom is the most outlandish film I ever seen, Who are you, Polly Magoo? is just under Mr. Freedom. Thes leaves The Model Couple, the most accessable film here. All are filmed beautifully (Polly Magoo is like 60s clad David Lynch meets Alice In Wonderland in beautiful b&w) but this set to me was a bit of an aquired taste. Eclipse Series 10:Silent Ozu—Three Family Comedies is a charming set of silent films, as others have mentioned, it is probably easy to describe these films as silent Japanese versions of the Little Rascals, but I would say with a little bit more heart. The one I like best in this set is Tokyo Chorus. Eclipse Series 11: Larisa Shepitko hails two masterworks from a filmmaker whose life was tragically cut short. Wings is an intimate and personal film with an outstanding lead performance. It is a character study of an unhappy woman who is long past her “glory days.” The Ascent is a devestating allegorical film set in world war two. Both films are excellent. Eclipse Series 12: Aki Kaurismäki’s Proletariat Trilogy is the final word in the language of deadpan cinema. I like this set very much, fans of Jim Jarmusch should definetly check this set out. The Match Factory Girl, is my favorite of the three.and finally
Eclipse Series 13:Kenji Mizoguchi’s Fallen Women features the two early classics Sisters Of The Gion and Osaka Elegy. Women of the Night is a brutally honest but uneven film that bears a similarity to Italian neorealism. However, this brings us to my favorite film out of all the Eclipse series, one I think could and should have been a Criterion Collection disk itself, Street Of Shame. What can I say other than that I loved the story, cinematography, acting, and direction and the film was moving, complex, and haunted me for days after I saw it.Go to Comment
FEMALE DIRECTORS about 3 years ago
My Favorite Feamale directors!
Gilliam Armstrong- Who made several moving films, some of which are my favorites. My Brilliant Carreer and her remake of Little Women are both masterpieces.
Leni Renfenstalh- Not only a facinating woman, but a great filmmaker who unfortunetly has the stigma of being associated with the natzi party. However you personally feel about Triumph Of The Will or Olimpia, you can’t deny the beauty or technical gace or those films. She was an inovator who is now overlooked due to the aforementioned affiliation to the natzis, check out The Wonderful/Horrible Life of Leni Renfenstal (a documentary on her life) to see the brilliant side of an amazing woman.
Adrienne Shelly- whose life was tragically cut short, however Waitress is good enough to put her on this list.
Dorothy Arzner- A lesbian film director, the sole woman directing films in hollywoods golden age of the 40s. Dance Girl Dance is now a feminist classic, a cult classic, and a camp gem, in my opinion her best film. Joan Crawford said someting along the lines of “I think all my directors fell in love with me, I know Dorothy Arzner did!”
Jane Campion- Sweetie, Angel At My Table, are great, but The Piano is her masterpiece. She has yet to top or equal that film, or make anything half as good since then.
Agnes Varda-The world’s greatest living female director. Any of her films speak for themselves. Vagabond and Cleo from 5 to 7 are favorites.
Maya Deren- created Meshes In The Afternoon, which deserves its place as a classic in the history of the greatest avant garde films ever made along side Un Chien Andalou and Lucifer Rising.
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ANYONE RECOMMEND SOME SIMILAR FILMS? about 3 years ago
Myra Deren’s Meshes in the Afternoon!
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ANYONE RECOMMEND SOME SIMILAR FILMS? about 3 years ago
Myra Deren’s Meshes in the Afternoon!
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Rosemary's Baby missing scene on DVD! about 3 years ago
I love Rosemary’s Baby. I read the book and saw the film on VHS years ago. It is a perfect adaptation. It would be one of my favorite films, but, I think I may be crazy, but I think a scene is cut from the film on DVD. It is the scene towards the end after she has the baby, and the satanists are trying to drug her and keep her bed ridden, but she keeps the pills on the bedframe, until she has enough to put it in the coffee of the woman who is watching her, so she can get out of bed and find the baby in the neighbors apartment in the haunting final scene. On DVD, the scene opens with that woman coming in to watch Rosemary, but ends before she can put the pills in her coffee. It then cuts to her, quite inexplicably walking in a hallway in the next scene without the explanation of how she was able to get past the watchful eye of her captors. It has been bugging me for years and no one I know remembers this scene but I swear I saw it on the VHS tape I rented years ago. Does anyone else remember this scene or share my fustration on scenes cut from films yet to be restored onto DVD?
Go to Comment
MOST UNDERRATED FILMS/FILMMAKERS IN YOUR OPINION. DISCUSS. DEBATE.GO! about 3 years ago
I would say John Waters, he is my film maker hero and most people dismiss his work as trash, when he sets out to entertain and be bizzare, and succeeds in hilarious fashion!
Go to Comment
Rosemary's Baby missing scene on DVD! almost 3 years ago
Well I distinctily remember seeing her put the crushed pills in the womans coffee and that scene comes after the breastmilk scene. I have also upon further investigation found forums stating that the actual devil baby can be seen at the end of the film. I have never seen that but I wish there was a way to get the story straight on what scenes in the film are cut if any.
Go to Comment
Rosemary's Baby missing scene on DVD! almost 3 years ago
At any rate the scene is in the book which polanski follows to a T and the scene I refer to was on a VHS not on TV or DVD.
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the worst film to be put out by criterion almost 3 years ago
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.
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the worst film to be put out by criterion almost 3 years ago
I would even say that Spinal Tap isnt exactly criterion material, but good fun.
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Rosemary's Baby missing scene on DVD! almost 3 years ago
Well I rewatched the film on DVD last night. I have to say although I swear I saw that scene in the film the first time I saw it, without it it doesent effect the pacing or overall feel to the picture. And since the general opinion lean towards the scene not being there in the first place I must be mistaking the scene in the book for the scene in the film.
Go to Comment
What film scenes really make you cry? almost 3 years ago
The end scenes of City Lights and Nights Of Cabiria!
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Juliet of the Spirits discussion over 2 years ago
I love Juliet Of The Spirits, I think it is beautiful, and Masina has a mousy charm that I have always loved about her. The film is about an imaginative individual who slowly looses her mind after she looses the affection of her husband. I would say it is a masterpice because her lead performance is excellent, the fantasy and psychology element is surreal but not pretensious, it is a genious pice of cinematography that is experty cheorographed as good as 8 1/2, but like the Wizard of Oz, it showcases tehcnicolor in a kledoscopic way. I love it and Giulietta Masina is great and beautiful in it, and i wish Fellini made more like this before really becoming overindulgent.
Go to Comment
Cult Classics! about 2 years ago
Hi there, I was thinking of writing a book about the 50 greatest cult films and classics of all time, does anyone have any suggestions as to what films I should include, what you would like to see in a book of this nature, and whatever else I could include in my writing of the piece. Very open to any suggestion, but mind you, I only want to do cult films up until the late 1980s because I dont think that time has prove cult films of the 90s and 00s to be classics.
Go to Comment
Cult Classics! about 2 years ago
Ok well to start I am not writing a book that I already know has been written by several others in several forms for other people, I am writing it for me because I love the genre, and I can publish it myself if I wanted to. I want to write it on “great cult films” to clear things up, and do it according to era or decade. So far great suggestions I havent seen yet include the phantom of the paradise, which looks great from what I have seen., something I will definetly include that I have forgotten is Invasion of the body snatchers!
Go to Comment