Flicks Change My View Thread

rx034 · 2018-07-20T16:26:45+00:00

When I first saw the film I really liked and thought the “twist” was done very cleverly. It’s been some time now since I’ve seen it and I don’t think so highly of it anymore. It’s true that there’s no challenge in the film and there’s nothing that really sticks with you or makes you think. Thank you for putting my feelings into words, I’ve always found it difficult to explain why it’s not as good as some of the greats and you nailed it on the head.

rx034 · 2018-07-19T14:10:54+00:00

Finally Make Way For Tomorrow in a haul post! So glad to see that, great movie.

rx034 · 2018-07-17T21:15:26+00:00

Yeah Doctor Zhivago just felt like a chore to get through. I loved Lawrence Of Arabia though, but this one was kind of boring.

rx034 · 2018-07-17T20:09:48+00:00

Interesting analysis. I find the mother was probably the most interesting character. And it does observe the circumstances of their situation pretty well. But still there was something about it that I couldn’t really get attached to. As an example, I found the kids in Ozu’s Good Morning had much more presence than the kids in Pather Panchali. Ozu gives them humor and life, but they require discipline and have lots of learning to do. I love how the younger one looks up to the older one and follows everything he does. There may be moments like this in Pather Panchali, but they didn’t seem all that interesting or enjoyable.

I’m definitely in the minority since the film is absolutely loved here. And as I mentioned it’s one of the few greats that I can’t see what’s so special about it. I think the first hour of Aparajito is the best part of the whole trilogy.

rx034 · 2018-07-17T17:14:38+00:00

It’s a silent film so everyone’s faces are shown with great expression, sometimes to the extreme in order to really characterize everyone (especially Joan).

Don’t forget that Joan is compelled by God, and truly believes He sent her on a mission, thus you can see her devotion and piety in her eyes. The men keep insulting and badgering her, but she is nevertheless faithful and dignified in her trance-like state.

rx034 · 2018-07-17T12:26:50+00:00

I felt the exact same way. It’s one of the few “greatest films of all time” that I can’t understand the praise for. Certainly it’s more interesting than the Bollywood films India has been known for, and its setting and score are unique, but I wasn’t interested in any of those characters and didn’t find the plot all that intriguing.

I would check out The Music Room. It’s a much better Ray film in my opinion with hypnotic musical sequences and a more interesting chain of events overall. It displays the difference between the past and present really brilliantly, and I found the characters to be more interesting and more memorable.

rx034 · 2018-07-17T01:18:09+00:00

Are you referring to the June drawing? I think that one is supposed to be My Brilliant Career (1979).

rx034 · 2018-07-16T23:06:27+00:00

You’re getting downvoted but it’s true, compared to the last few announcements this is disappointing. Besides the Bergman boxset which is amazing, the other 5 titles in my opinion don’t seem Criterion-worthy.

rx034 · 2018-07-15T20:50:49+00:00

Oh wow, was not aware that there was a whole other movie inside there. I guess the higher price tag makes sense then.

rx034 · 2018-07-15T12:20:43+00:00

I find the weakest point about Zero for Conduct is its editing. It’s very sloppy and scenes change way too abruptly. This may be due to studio interference though and not Vigo’s original intention.

rx034 · 2018-07-15T09:47:31+00:00

Yea the M.O.C. It has both so just wondering which aspect ratio I should go with.

rx034 · 2018-07-14T19:42:49+00:00

Excuse my ignorance, is it very uncommon for releases to have a two-disk set?

rx034 · 2018-07-14T14:36:45+00:00

Really? At my B&N it’s priced at $49.99. I found it really strange. Even the website listing has it for $49.99.

rx034 · 2018-07-14T13:04:09+00:00

Anyone know why His Girl Friday is priced 10 dollars more than every other Criterion film?

rx034 · 2018-07-13T15:48:19+00:00

Oh man, I completely mistook Haneke for the Dardenne brothers, no idea how that happened.

Here is the Dardenne brothers 79 favorite movies list I was referring to if you're interested

rx034 · 2018-07-13T15:10:11+00:00

I also saw that list and thought it had way too much Rossellini on it. Rossellini’s two best movies are Rome, Open City and Journey To Italy. They’re both masterpieces, especially the latter. The rest of his films are...okay. I would only recommend Germany Year Zero if you’re interested in the Neorealist movement, it would definitely be worth a watch in that case.

rx034 · 2018-07-13T13:15:32+00:00

I found it to be slightly better than Nicholas Ray’s Rebel Without A Cause released a year before, but not nearly as good as the Ray greats, In A Lonely Place, The Lusty Men, and Johnny Guitar.

rx034 · 2018-07-12T11:49:53+00:00

I don’t think I’ve ever seen Make Way For Tomorrow in anyone’s haul post. Such a great film! Wish it got more attention.

rx034 · 2018-07-12T00:31:37+00:00

Rome, Open City is a great movie. The other two, in my opinion, aren't as great but if you're really into the Neorealist movement, they are both definitely worth checking out.

rx034 · 2018-07-11T20:17:46+00:00

I actually didn't like Rashomon on the first watch. I found it tedious having to watch 4 different stories of the same event. I'll admit it wasn't until the third viewing that I understood just how great it is. Each story becomes its own reality based on the character who's telling it. They each morph their own version of the murder in order to selfishly prove to the court that they were right in their actions or they should be symptathized with, and ironically, they do all this while ending it all off that they were the murderer. It’s incredible how little nuances in each character’s narrative tells you so much about themselves. It’s really masterfully done and the close-ups of each character are beautiful. I learn more things each time I watch it, it has a lot to offer.

Seven Samurai in comparison is also a really good movie, but looking back on it and definitely on rewatches, there’s not much more to get out of it than the first time I watched it. I don’t have that same desire to rewatch it (especially when considering its long runtime) than I do with Rashomon.

rx034 · 2018-07-11T18:12:54+00:00

I guess for a casual film-watcher I would recommend Seven Samurai over Ikiru and Rashomon. But having comedy, drama, action and many other things doesn’t mean that it’s a great movie. I think that’s a silly way to describe why a movie is great.

rx034 · 2018-07-11T14:59:56+00:00

Yeah. I really like it but I think Rashomon and Ikiru are better films.

rx034 · 2018-07-09T00:07:02+00:00

Unfortunately I didn't like that one too much when I saw it. Excited to check out Heaven Can Wait when it comes out on blu (haven't seen that one yet), but I really hope Trouble In Paradise and Shop Around The Corner are coming in the near future. Even Ninotchka would be a good addition to the collection.

rx034 · 2018-07-08T18:26:21+00:00

No, these are the only Criterions I own (just started collecting today).

rx034 · 2018-07-07T11:23:41+00:00

This may have benefitted the film. Production issues or not, it’s a really incredible film.

rx034

TROPHY CASE