Edouard, I can tell you as owner of a few of these sets, that the DVD transfers of the Jodorowsky films are fantastic, especially “La Cravate,” the documentary on the Herzog Kinski is almost worth the price of the set alone, and The Kieslowski set? Which set are you talking about, the “Three Colors” or “Decalogue,” cause I can tell you that Decalogue is superb.
Also, as a former B&N employee, I ignored my discount many, MANY times in place of a sale.
I believe 2001 is one of the most important motion pictures since the invention of the medium. It seems to me an almost completely non-verbal experience, and has a method of storytelling that still goes over most people’s heads, 40 years later. From the beginning of the century to 1968 motion pictures had, for the most part, developed a recognizable way of approaching and telling a story. Kubrick believed in the power of the image, and it’s ability to carry the viewer’s mind to places words couldn’t begin to describe. His ideas were formed and fleshed out for the moving image and no other medium.
I like Alan Moore a lot, and I think that the same thing can be said about his work in graphic novels. Watchmen is a milestone in the history of the comic medium, both in themes and in overall execution. I believe Alan Moore would agree with me in saying that his stories were created for the comic book medium, and their translations to film are not just unnecessary, but they misdirect the power of their ideas.
I think it would be fair to liken Kubrick’s abilities in the film process to Moore’s writing in comics, but to try and compare these films is wrong in so many ways. Watchmen wasn’t created as a film, and 2001 was. To compare them to each other is simply ridiculous without a very complicated argument.
Steve, you’re absolutely right, I’m very aware of Clarke’s immense collaboration on the film. I was just comparing the two of them directly because I think it’s fair to say that that film would’ve looked much different if say, Peter Hyams directed it.
The Great Silence – Ennio Morricone
Halloween – John Carpenter
Bullitt- Lalo Schifrin
To Kill a Mockingbird – Elmer Bernstein
Twisted Nerve – Bernard Hermann
There Will Be Blood – Jonny Greenwood
Marathon Man – Michael Small??
Dead Man – Neil Young
Eraserhead – Alan Splet & David Lynch
A Clockwork Orange – Wendy/Walter Carlos
Night of the Hunter, The Searchers, A History of Violence, Lone Star, Children of Men, Bullitt, Catch 22, Barton Fink, The Hustler, On the Waterfront, The Deer Hunter.
“This is England” – I like that the character played by Thomas Turgoose seems to have a true moment of clarity and forward progression, facing the camera as he begins his life with newfound power and knowledge.
“The Thing (John Carpenter)” – Guess we’ll wait and see…
“No Country for Old Men” – I believe there are very few movies who come full circle with closing lines as well as this. If you don’t understand it, you probably weren’t paying close enough attention.
“The Great Silence” – This ending works so well to me because Kinski is given less screen time, but actually speaks, in contrast to the hero of the film. Pretty heavy, and if you don’t like this ending, then watch the alternate “happy” ending and figure what makes more sense.
“A Clockwork Orange” – It’s hard to mention this ending without comparing it to the book, but I believe that by watching the film, we are carried through Alex’s adventures in a more detailed and familiar fashion, which allows us to, in some form, enjoy watching what he does. I think the ending of the book, being much more about Alex and his understanding of the things that he does, makes it clear that the story is about him and his embodiment of “A Clockwork Orange.” I feel that the film gives equal weight to both Alex and the system that tries to change him into a model citizen. I like the ending because I feel I am watching both of these subjects come to important conclusions; Alex is “cured,” and the system realizes in some sense that it cannot change it’s citizens’, only influence them.
“Now O’Reilly, when I asked for you to build me a wall, I didn’t mean for you to simply dump the bricks in a pile. In fact, I was wondering when you would find time to cement them together, in the typical fashion.”
12 episodes of some of the most brilliantly structured work in the TV medium.
As someone who loves the work of Kubrick, I certainly used to feel his films were the absolute. I grew out of it, and although I do still love them all, I have a wide appreciation of many films. However, I can certainly understand that there are still people who feel the way I used to about him.
Well at least Herzog decided on casting Eva Mendes. Probably to make Nicolas Cage seem not quite as useless.
The original is hardly a masterpiece for Abel Ferrara, but it certainly seems to me a good movie to measure Harvey Keitels’ other performances against.
This commentary was the first I ever listened to, when I had thought they were lame and pointless. Boy, was I wrong! haha
I’ve watched a few of Peckinpah’s other films with other commentaries, and most of them are good. However, Prince is very concise, and it’s clear he’s mapped his out very well. His books are very good too, especially “Savage Cinema” and “Screening Violence.”
“Commando” is just so straight-forward, it’s great.
I like “Mad Max” and “Road Warrior” for their setting, really beautiful stuff. The characters seem very much of the wastelands.
Barnes and Noble Art House 40% off sale about 3 years ago
Edouard, I can tell you as owner of a few of these sets, that the DVD transfers of the Jodorowsky films are fantastic, especially “La Cravate,” the documentary on the Herzog Kinski is almost worth the price of the set alone, and The Kieslowski set? Which set are you talking about, the “Three Colors” or “Decalogue,” cause I can tell you that Decalogue is superb.
Also, as a former B&N employee, I ignored my discount many, MANY times in place of a sale.
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Barnes and Noble Art House 40% off sale about 3 years ago
oops, 2 posts.
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Zack Snyder gets compared to Stanley Kubrick about 3 years ago
I believe 2001 is one of the most important motion pictures since the invention of the medium. It seems to me an almost completely non-verbal experience, and has a method of storytelling that still goes over most people’s heads, 40 years later. From the beginning of the century to 1968 motion pictures had, for the most part, developed a recognizable way of approaching and telling a story. Kubrick believed in the power of the image, and it’s ability to carry the viewer’s mind to places words couldn’t begin to describe. His ideas were formed and fleshed out for the moving image and no other medium.
I like Alan Moore a lot, and I think that the same thing can be said about his work in graphic novels. Watchmen is a milestone in the history of the comic medium, both in themes and in overall execution. I believe Alan Moore would agree with me in saying that his stories were created for the comic book medium, and their translations to film are not just unnecessary, but they misdirect the power of their ideas.
I think it would be fair to liken Kubrick’s abilities in the film process to Moore’s writing in comics, but to try and compare these films is wrong in so many ways. Watchmen wasn’t created as a film, and 2001 was. To compare them to each other is simply ridiculous without a very complicated argument.
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best/worst commentary you've heard? about 3 years ago
Stephen Prince’s commentaries on Sanjuro, Yojimbo, and ESPECIALLY Straw Dogs.
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Zack Snyder gets compared to Stanley Kubrick about 3 years ago
Steve, you’re absolutely right, I’m very aware of Clarke’s immense collaboration on the film. I was just comparing the two of them directly because I think it’s fair to say that that film would’ve looked much different if say, Peter Hyams directed it.
Thanks.
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Movies to get somemone into films. about 3 years ago
The Elephant Man.
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The Most beautiful scores in cinema about 3 years ago
The Great Silence – Ennio Morricone
Halloween – John Carpenter
Bullitt- Lalo Schifrin
To Kill a Mockingbird – Elmer Bernstein
Twisted Nerve – Bernard Hermann
There Will Be Blood – Jonny Greenwood
Marathon Man – Michael Small??
Dead Man – Neil Young
Eraserhead – Alan Splet & David Lynch
A Clockwork Orange – Wendy/Walter Carlos
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Have You Ever Watched a Film Because of How Cool the Cover Looks? about 3 years ago
Man Bites Dog, how could you ignore that? ha
Videodrome (Criterion)
Both were good choices in my eyes.
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What 2008 film deserves the Criterion treatment? about 3 years ago
4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 days
The Wrestler
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Where are you from? about 3 years ago
Hillsborough, NJ.
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WHICH DIRECTORS...NOT...CURRENTLY REPRESENTED IN THE CRITERION COLLECTION DO YOU WANT TO SEE INCLUDED? about 3 years ago
David Lynch, Sidney Lumet, Alan Clarke, John Carpenter, Takashi Miike, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Martin Scorsese (more than Temptation).
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Movies That Should Be In the Criterion Collection about 3 years ago
Night of the Hunter, The Searchers, A History of Violence, Lone Star, Children of Men, Bullitt, Catch 22, Barton Fink, The Hustler, On the Waterfront, The Deer Hunter.
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Masterpieces By Mediocre Directors about 3 years ago
Peter Bogdanovich – “The Last Picture Show”
Robert Rossen – “The Hustler”
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3 Favourite Movies From 5 Favourite Directors about 3 years ago
1) STANLEY KUBRICK
1a) 2001: A Space Odyssey
1b) A Clockwork Orange
1c) Dr. Strangelove OR: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
2) AKIRA KUROSAWA
2a) The Seven Samurai
2b) Yojimbo
2c) Throne of Blood
3) DAVID LYNCH
3a) Blue Velvet
3b) Inland Empire
3c) Eraserhead
4) JOHN CARPENTER
4a) Halloween
4b) The Thing
4c) Assault on Precinct 13
5) JEAN-PIERRE MELVILLE
5a) Army of Shadows
5b) Le Samourai
5c) Bob Le Flambeur
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What is your favorite ending? about 3 years ago
“This is England” – I like that the character played by Thomas Turgoose seems to have a true moment of clarity and forward progression, facing the camera as he begins his life with newfound power and knowledge.
“The Thing (John Carpenter)” – Guess we’ll wait and see…
“No Country for Old Men” – I believe there are very few movies who come full circle with closing lines as well as this. If you don’t understand it, you probably weren’t paying close enough attention.
“The Great Silence” – This ending works so well to me because Kinski is given less screen time, but actually speaks, in contrast to the hero of the film. Pretty heavy, and if you don’t like this ending, then watch the alternate “happy” ending and figure what makes more sense.
“A Clockwork Orange” – It’s hard to mention this ending without comparing it to the book, but I believe that by watching the film, we are carried through Alex’s adventures in a more detailed and familiar fashion, which allows us to, in some form, enjoy watching what he does. I think the ending of the book, being much more about Alex and his understanding of the things that he does, makes it clear that the story is about him and his embodiment of “A Clockwork Orange.” I feel that the film gives equal weight to both Alex and the system that tries to change him into a model citizen. I like the ending because I feel I am watching both of these subjects come to important conclusions; Alex is “cured,” and the system realizes in some sense that it cannot change it’s citizens’, only influence them.
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Astounding Debuts about 3 years ago
Eraserhead (David Lynch)
Clean, Shaven (Lodge Kerrigan)
Boyz N The Hood (John Singleton)
American Beauty (Sam Mendes)
Reservoir Dogs (Quentin Tarantino)
12 Angry Men (Sidney Lumet)
Shadows (John Cassavetes)
Killer of Sheep (Charles Burnett)
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Any Fawlty Towers fans out there? almost 3 years ago
“Now O’Reilly, when I asked for you to build me a wall, I didn’t mean for you to simply dump the bricks in a pile. In fact, I was wondering when you would find time to cement them together, in the typical fashion.”
12 episodes of some of the most brilliantly structured work in the TV medium.
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The Greatest Character Names almost 3 years ago
Col. Bat Guano
Buck Turgidson
Gen. Jack D. Ripper
and Dr. Strangelove, of course!
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The Greatest Character Names almost 3 years ago
and Anton Chigurh.
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What is your favorite "pair" of people who work in films? almost 3 years ago
John Sayles / Chris Cooper
John Sayles / Joe Morton
Sergio Leone / Clint Eastwood
Paul Thomas Anderson / Robert Elswit
Coen Bros. / Roger Deakins
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Which directors have the worst fanboys? almost 3 years ago
As someone who loves the work of Kubrick, I certainly used to feel his films were the absolute. I grew out of it, and although I do still love them all, I have a wide appreciation of many films. However, I can certainly understand that there are still people who feel the way I used to about him.
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The longest movie you've ever sat through almost 3 years ago
Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle.
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Documentaries almost 3 years ago
God’s Country
Harlan County U.S.A.
The World at War (epic!)
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which val lewton produced horror film do you like? almost 3 years ago
The Cat People – the bus, too f—kin cool!
I Walked with a Zombie – atmospheric soundscapes are pretty awesome too.
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Bad Lieutenant Remake almost 3 years ago
Well at least Herzog decided on casting Eva Mendes. Probably to make Nicolas Cage seem not quite as useless.
The original is hardly a masterpiece for Abel Ferrara, but it certainly seems to me a good movie to measure Harvey Keitels’ other performances against.
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Horror on criterion almost 3 years ago
Halloween
Let the Right One In
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (orig)
Tenebrae
Opera
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you have a gun and one bullet... almost 3 years ago
Harmony Korine.
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Movies with unexpected endings... almost 3 years ago
Lone Star (brother/sister twist)
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Which Criterion film has the best commentary ? almost 3 years ago
Stephen Prince on “Straw Dogs.”
This commentary was the first I ever listened to, when I had thought they were lame and pointless. Boy, was I wrong! haha
I’ve watched a few of Peckinpah’s other films with other commentaries, and most of them are good. However, Prince is very concise, and it’s clear he’s mapped his out very well. His books are very good too, especially “Savage Cinema” and “Screening Violence.”
Go to Comment
Action Films almost 3 years ago
“Commando” is just so straight-forward, it’s great.
I like “Mad Max” and “Road Warrior” for their setting, really beautiful stuff. The characters seem very much of the wastelands.
Go to Comment