Thank you Criterion for releasing this masterpiece in Blu-ray! I saw this in 70mm a few years back and it’s really meant to be seen in a very large screen or high resolution. This is one of my very favorite films and I am glad I can actually see it as it was meant to be seen.
Now I have to sell my DVD version… anyone wants to buy email me at xixius@yahoo.com
My favorite is Crimes and Misdemeanors. There’s that subtle but profound exploration of nihilism that separates this from his other work. I felt at the end I had the carpet pulled from under me, in a good way, when I first saw it. I guess some of that is in all of his films, mostly in Match Point.. which is very interesting as well. I prefer that to his more ‘straight’ comedies. Also Sven Nykvist’s work is quite amazing.. I wish they release this in Blu-ray.
I believe this musical has been around for about 30 years and when it first came out on Broadway it was very successful.
Wasn’t it revived recently with Antonio Banderas? I can’t say anything for the musical since I haven’t seen it but I believe this is more of a film version of the musical more than a rehash of 8 1/2, kinda like the Producers.
I was talking about Playtime… I thought I posted this under Playtime… oh well.
Ben Simington: I don’t have Playtime on HD-DVD…. I wish it came out on HD-DVD… I preffered HD-DVD to Blu-ray.
I’d say this movie is about what the world is really like and our refusal to accept it.
Metaphorically speaking Anton Chigurh represents this real world, Moss represents the refusal, and the Sheriff has resigned himself to accepting it… in the end they are all victims of this reality.
I think a great companion to this movie is Crimes and Misdemeanors, the Seventh Seal and Apocalypse Now.
To this date, this is the best Criterion release in my opinion (and I’m talking about the TV, Theater, and Making of Box set). I’ve never saw the full version prior to this, just the 3+ hour theatrical version and I always thought it was a great movie but the TV version is a complete and utter masterpiece and his greatest work. You must see the full version.. the theatrial edit misses alot of the mythical overtones of the full as well as many other things.
This is pure Bergman with his mix of the Bergman nihilism, religious angst, his morbid sense of humor, our constant struggle with god. Brilliant writing. .. only Bergman can get away with a 10 minute on screen monologues.. or the only person that had the balls to do it.
The cinematography is absolutely amazing.. note the scene where Emilie visits her mother-in-law in secret… you can almost feel the Swedish summer
The Dardenne Brothers.. they are gods in Europe but they are still relatively unknown in the US. I’m beginning to see alot of their influence in alot of American cinema.
This is like the War and Peace of cinema. It is a bear to get through and not very accessible.. not because it’s long and boring but because it’s so rich and so full of nuances and irony… it’s a totally unique experience and requires your total and undivided attention.
I have the DVD by Facets and the transfer is not very good. I had the chance to see the elongated versions Thou Shalt Not Kill and Thou Shall Not Commit Adultery at the theater and the print wasn’t that great either… I think someone really needs to restore/re-master this.
I’d like to read this essay by Kubrick on the Decalogue.. is this on the web somewhere?
I have avoided films from the classic Hollywood directors… Howard Hawks, Ernst Lubitch, Frank Capra, John Ford, early Hitchcock.. etc. Every time I see any films from that era in Hollywood I’ve been slightly disappointed.
I was not exposed to most of Bergman till recently but now he’s one of my favorite filmmakers.
Blu-ray!! about 3 years ago
Thank you Criterion for releasing this masterpiece in Blu-ray! I saw this in 70mm a few years back and it’s really meant to be seen in a very large screen or high resolution. This is one of my very favorite films and I am glad I can actually see it as it was meant to be seen.
Now I have to sell my DVD version… anyone wants to buy email me at xixius@yahoo.com
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Woody Allen at his best about 3 years ago
My favorite is Crimes and Misdemeanors. There’s that subtle but profound exploration of nihilism that separates this from his other work. I felt at the end I had the carpet pulled from under me, in a good way, when I first saw it. I guess some of that is in all of his films, mostly in Match Point.. which is very interesting as well. I prefer that to his more ‘straight’ comedies. Also Sven Nykvist’s work is quite amazing.. I wish they release this in Blu-ray.
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ROB MARSHALL'S NINE about 3 years ago
I believe this musical has been around for about 30 years and when it first came out on Broadway it was very successful.
Wasn’t it revived recently with Antonio Banderas? I can’t say anything for the musical since I haven’t seen it but I believe this is more of a film version of the musical more than a rehash of 8 1/2, kinda like the Producers.
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Blu-ray!! about 3 years ago
I was talking about Playtime… I thought I posted this under Playtime… oh well.
Ben Simington: I don’t have Playtime on HD-DVD…. I wish it came out on HD-DVD… I preffered HD-DVD to Blu-ray.
Go to Comment
What is No Country actually about? about 3 years ago
I’d say this movie is about what the world is really like and our refusal to accept it.
Metaphorically speaking Anton Chigurh represents this real world, Moss represents the refusal, and the Sheriff has resigned himself to accepting it… in the end they are all victims of this reality.
I think a great companion to this movie is Crimes and Misdemeanors, the Seventh Seal and Apocalypse Now.
Go to Comment
Fanny & Alexander about 3 years ago
To this date, this is the best Criterion release in my opinion (and I’m talking about the TV, Theater, and Making of Box set). I’ve never saw the full version prior to this, just the 3+ hour theatrical version and I always thought it was a great movie but the TV version is a complete and utter masterpiece and his greatest work. You must see the full version.. the theatrial edit misses alot of the mythical overtones of the full as well as many other things.
This is pure Bergman with his mix of the Bergman nihilism, religious angst, his morbid sense of humor, our constant struggle with god. Brilliant writing. .. only Bergman can get away with a 10 minute on screen monologues.. or the only person that had the balls to do it.
The cinematography is absolutely amazing.. note the scene where Emilie visits her mother-in-law in secret… you can almost feel the Swedish summer
The making of is a masterpiece in itself.
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Most Underrated Directors Working Today? about 3 years ago
The Dardenne Brothers.. they are gods in Europe but they are still relatively unknown in the US. I’m beginning to see alot of their influence in alot of American cinema.
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WHO IS / WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FILM ACTRESS EVER? about 3 years ago
Irene Jacob in Double Life of Veronique.
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Things your're really sick of about 3 years ago
Blackberrys and I-Pods. Burn them all!
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Most Underrated Directors Working Today? about 3 years ago
I always thought Peter Weir was very under appreciated.
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TOP BERGMAN about 3 years ago
Fanny & Alexander
Winter Light
Scenes from a Marriage
Seventh Seal
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Mindfuck Films about 3 years ago
yes.. Piano Teacher was a mindfuck film and so was Cache. Also anything by Charlie Kaufman. Synchedoche New York was a total mindfuck.
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The Decalogue about 3 years ago
This is like the War and Peace of cinema. It is a bear to get through and not very accessible.. not because it’s long and boring but because it’s so rich and so full of nuances and irony… it’s a totally unique experience and requires your total and undivided attention.
I have the DVD by Facets and the transfer is not very good. I had the chance to see the elongated versions Thou Shalt Not Kill and Thou Shall Not Commit Adultery at the theater and the print wasn’t that great either… I think someone really needs to restore/re-master this.
I’d like to read this essay by Kubrick on the Decalogue.. is this on the web somewhere?
Go to Comment
Really Famous films you've never seen almost 3 years ago
I have avoided films from the classic Hollywood directors… Howard Hawks, Ernst Lubitch, Frank Capra, John Ford, early Hitchcock.. etc. Every time I see any films from that era in Hollywood I’ve been slightly disappointed.
I was not exposed to most of Bergman till recently but now he’s one of my favorite filmmakers.
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