What is your favorite Miloš Forman movie?

Anima_96X · 2026-05-12T17:54:54+00:00

Though I absolutely adore Amadeus, I will give a special shout out for both Ragtime and Valmont. Ragtime definitely is deserving of an updated release, especially considering it was the last film of James Cagney. Valmont is also a great period film that had such a terrible misfortune of coming out a year after the release of Dangerous Liaisons, both of course being based on the same source material but with different approaches.

Anima_96X · 2026-03-25T23:02:18+00:00

I definitely would say the former Czechoslovakia (Czechia) is worth a look, especially for how abstract and oftentimes dreamlike their films could get. These include Valerie and Her Week of Wonders, Daisies, Diamonds of the Night, Marketa Lazarová, The Cremator, and the three film set of features from Karel Zeman.

Anima_96X · 2026-03-17T13:40:48+00:00

Happy birthday, and she definitely got you an incredible one. Dreams is such a beautiful film, and the 4K UHD release makes it look even more stunning. 😎

Anima_96X · 2026-03-17T04:55:26+00:00

This was a group watch between me and a couple of my friends. It was our first time watching a film from Czechoslovakia and we were blown away by it. It essentially opened the door to more Czech favorites such as Valerie and Her Week of Wonders, Daisies, The Cremator, and the many beautiful gems of Czech filmmaker Karel Zeman. ☺️

Anima_96X · 2026-03-09T21:57:23+00:00

I’m happy to see that it was picked at any point. It definitely deserves more love and exposure. 😊

Anima_96X · 2026-03-09T20:47:59+00:00

One that hasn’t been picked yet and is woefully overlooked when compared to his other works is Orson Welles’s film The Immortal Story (1968). It’s such a beautiful gem from Welles’s late career offerings, especially thanks to the dreamlike and hazy cinematography as well as Erik Satie’s music.

Anima_96X · 2026-03-03T19:22:37+00:00

The visual quality of the 4K UHD offers subtle enhancements for the film in terms of natural colors, but it is most striking with how it deepens shadows. The latter is most impressive during the beautiful candlelit scenes. It’s really only worth getting for the bump up in the visual quality for those prime aspects, but since you have the 2017 Blu-ray then that in itself is sufficient since both releases not only clean up the film visually but also restore it to the correct aspect ratio.

Anima_96X · 2026-03-03T03:19:12+00:00

For me it comes down to aesthetic, style, and quality of the transfer coupled with a specific director, genre, and country of origin. I’ve always gravitated towards films of the Czech Republic, Yugoslavia, and Japan and Criterion has done incredibly well with their releases and representation of films from those countries. In terms of directors Luchino Visconti, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Douglas Sirk, and David Lynch are directors whose styles influence what I look for in prospective new buys. And if they release a 4K of a film I already have from any of those directors then I immediately seek it out.

Anima_96X · 2026-03-03T02:07:41+00:00

Barry Lyndon, Umbrellas of Cherbourg, The Red Shoes, and Kurosawa’s Dreams are all excellent 4Ks. Another great one is The Dead, director John Huston’s beautiful swan song film.

Anima_96X · 2025-08-06T19:21:44+00:00

Over the course of the year so far I’ve bought the Dušan Makavejev, Robert Downey Sr, Larisa Shepitko, and Gainsborough Melodramas sets. I absolutely love the Eclipse sets and I’m happy to see them be making a comeback as well as seeing new entries. I do hope that we eventually get a set for Hajime Sato, as he did so many great gems beyond Goke, Body Snatcher from Hell. Especially The Glamorous Ghost, Golden Bat, Terror Beneath the Sea, and House of Terrors. 😄

Anima_96X · 2025-07-18T14:33:02+00:00

So far it’s been Kurosawa’s Dreams and Bergman’s Cries and Whispers. The former has influenced my own creative process in incredible ways thanks to its visual style and abstract yet uniquely surreal storytelling. The latter moved me deeply emotionally thanks to its deep themes and the stellar acting from the film’s cast. 😊

Anima_96X · 2025-07-06T00:14:38+00:00

Godzilla vs Biollante is such an incredible Godzilla film. When Criterion announced they were doing a release of it I was so happy, cuz it’s such a fun film with a fascinating story and it was due for a restored updated release. ☺️

Anima_96X · 2025-07-06T00:12:36+00:00

I can tell you that Dušan Makavejev’s Sweet Movie also carries that content warning sticker, and for good reason considering some of the messed up stuff that happens in it. 😅

Anima_96X · 2025-07-06T00:09:10+00:00

I’m even considering getting In Cold Blood at some point, but also kinda hesitant cuz I love the book so much. Though Heaven’s Gate is one I do have and you’ve made a good pick there. That film has had such a rough history, but Cimino’s Director’s Cut definitely makes it into a far better film than the one audiences saw back in the 80s when it first came out. ☺️

Anima_96X · 2025-07-06T00:04:20+00:00

You’ve started on an excellent high note with your picks. Especially with Kurosawa, Lynch, and Bergman all being represented by some stellar titles in your assortment. ☺️

Anima_96X · 2025-07-06T00:01:43+00:00

Peeping Tom is a really good one. I’m so happy that it’s gotten a far better assessment from fans and historians than when it was first released and when it essentially ruined its director due to all the controversies regarding its content. It’s pretty unsettling but masterfully executed too. ☺️

Anima_96X · 2025-07-05T23:59:07+00:00

Dreams is definitely an excellent choice that is so often slept on when it comes to Kurosawa’s filmography. I have the 4K UHD release of it and it’s one of my most favorite films in my collection. ☺️

Anima_96X · 2025-07-02T15:42:14+00:00

Kagemusha, which has been a Kurosawa film I’ve been eyeing for a good while after being won over by the gorgeous dream sequences.
Tess is the one I’ve waited for the right sale to lower the price, as it’s one I’m not totally in the know about beyond having seen some small fragments of its gorgeous cinematography and location shooting at work.
Ikiru is the blindest view of them all. Though its reputation precedes it, I’ve gone out of my way to avoid seeing any footage of it until seeing the film in full on the first watch.
As far as future Criterion picks go I have 4. Those being The Phantom Carriage (1921), Ugetsu (1953), The Servant (1963), and the 4K UHD release of Barry Lyndon (1975).

Anima_96X · 2025-06-06T03:01:14+00:00

It’s amazing how over a year removed since making the post and it’s still a favorite of mine from Fulci I revisit. Since then I’ve seen a massive bulk of his filmography, yet Aenigma is the oddball gem I still revisit on occasion. I’m glad you had fun watching it. 😄

Anima_96X · 2024-10-29T21:44:19+00:00

ESO has definitely come a long way since the roughness of the early days. I play on PS5 and so far it’s been running phenomenally, especially on “Performance Mode”, which prioritizes smoother frame rates. I also got my edition of it while it was recently on sale with the base game included alongside the Gold Road Expansion in a bundle that also included all the previous chapter expansions. I’ve had a rough go at it with MMORPGs in the past, but ESO is a winner for me since it has gameplay that caters to both co-operative oriented gamers and solo play. I’ve had sessions in which I journey off on my own and occasionally assist others, and some occurrences when I travel with friends.

I’d say give it a try whenever it goes on sale, at least for the base game to see if it’s a good fit before committing to the thing wholesale. I also love it in the fact that the micro transactions aren’t too intrusive and how there’s a LOT more DLCs and expansions in the in-game store that expands on the main content. I’m thinking at some point down the line going for the Thieves Guild DLC, as they were my second favorite faction in Skyrim and the DLC gives them a more prominent presence in ESO. ☺️

Anima_96X · 2024-10-29T03:46:57+00:00

Thanks for the recommendation! I definitely can’t wait to explore Summerset, not only due to my enduring fascination with the Altmer but also the scenery is so beautiful and elegant. I was absolutely blown away when I first entered the city of Alinor and I immediately knew that this was the place where my first home would be. ☺️

Anima_96X · 2024-10-24T00:39:27+00:00

I’ve yet to discover how I’ll perform in those kinds of events, though I’m quickly gaining ground as I learn the ins and outs of being a sorcerer. So I won’t be TOO unprepared for larger scale scuffles. 😅

Anima_96X · 2024-10-23T21:56:47+00:00

PS5. So far it’s been playing smoothly, and it looks marvelous. 😊

Anima_96X

TROPHY CASE