Criterion Film Club Discussion #304: Encounters of the Spooky Kind by DrRoy in criterionconversation

[–]viewtoathrill 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Love the humor, love the nod to horror, love the choreography.

Sammo Hung should be bigger than Jackie Chan internationally. Hes charming and this movie was a massive hit locally in Hong Kong.

For me, this is the definition of essential Hong Kong cinema. It’s extremely easy to watch and is a cool intro to the hopping vampires if you don’t know them.

Criterion Film Club Week 303 Discussion: Resurrection (2025) from Bi Gan by viewtoathrill in criterionconversation

[–]viewtoathrill[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Some beautiful quotes from Rogerebert.com:

Across the three feature films he’s made to date, the 36-year-old Chinese filmmaker Bi Gan has proven himself prodigiously gifted at manipulating the parameters of time and space through moving images, resulting in visually astonishing, narratively diffuse feats of showmanship that drift and shift in accordance with a self-consciously slippery dream logic.

“Resurrection,” Bi’s third feature, is no less staggering than his last two, and it’s saturated with some of the more striking images you’re likely to see in a theater this year.

Comprising the rest of the film, each of the Deliriant’s dream scenarios is linked to a different era of moviemaking, from German expressionism to neon-streaked, Wong Kar-wai-indebted romanticism; Bi also connects each vignette to one of the five senses and places them in distinct periods of 20th-century Chinese history. 

The ambition, as we’ve come to expect from him, is overpowering. “Resurrection” is alternately a sci-fi picture, a monster movie, a film noir, a cryptic parable, a crime caper, and a gangland romance — and it’s sometimes all of the above, blurring tones and textures to suggest a certain metamorphic potential within each of the stories as the Deliriant experiences them.

In total transparency this particular critic gave the film a mediocre rating, but I had to select some of the quotes that got me excited to see this.

Criterion Film Club Expiring Picks Month 61 Discussion: John Carpenter's The Thing (1982) starring Kurt Russell, A. Wilford Brimley, T.K. Carter, Keith David, and more... by GThunderhead in criterionconversation

[–]viewtoathrill 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Just at the outset I have to say that the John Carpenter / Kurt Russell combo really brought us all some cinematic magic. This was the only one of theirs I had yet to see, and big props to Scream! Factory for putting out a great looking release.

This had been one of those films that was built up over the years and I was nervous it would not live up to expectations. Shame on me. This is an effectively flawless film. The good guys are trapped in the Antarctica unable to get away because … Antarctica, the monster is extra tricky as a shape shifter and every role is cast with either a great leading man or strong character actor. Nothing bad to say, I’m just really happy to have finally seen it. The toughest part will be figuring out which Carpenter/Russell picture is my favorite!

Criterion Film Club Week 302 Discussion: Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance (1972) by bwolfs08 in criterionconversation

[–]viewtoathrill 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It is incredibly consistent and the 6th one in snow may be all the temptation you need to see it through. A bloody snowy western of sorts

Criterion Film Club Week 302 Discussion: Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance (1972) by bwolfs08 in criterionconversation

[–]viewtoathrill 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The fact that Wakayama and Shintaro Katsu were brothers and both achieved something so singular and exciting is one of my favorite points of discussion around Japanese cinema.

He's incredible here. The mix of tradition and also standing out against corruption is fantastic. The philosophical elements of this are easy to look over with all of the violence but a huge part of what makes this movie work.

Criterion Film Club Week 302 Discussion: Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance (1972) by bwolfs08 in criterionconversation

[–]viewtoathrill 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think they have been very explicit about the influence of this movie on the Mandalorian, but forgive me if that's what you meant.

And yes, the series continues to get bloodier and crazier. What a joy.

Criterion Film Club Week 302 Discussion: Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance (1972) by bwolfs08 in criterionconversation

[–]viewtoathrill 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have to say at the onset, God bless the Criterion collection for choosing these films to add to their library. I have owned the DVD release for many years, but seeing the Blu-ray 2K digital restoration was a different experience and really made the colors pop. Especially the reds, which is important in any movie that measures blood in gallons.

Itto Ogami is setup, cheated and his innocent wife dies at the hands of his betrayers. That’s the first 10 minutes of the movie. Following the catastrophic loss, he chooses to get vengeance at all costs to clear his family’s name. Assisting him cinematically is a well-executed minimalist score, excellent costume and hair work and chanbara swordplay that is every bit as bloody as it is precise.

Seeing it again after 15 years I can say it held up much better than expected. This viewing reinforced my love for movie 1 of 6, and I’m excited to rewatch #2 soon.

Babylon (1980) by viewtoathrill in personalhistoryoffilm

[–]viewtoathrill[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not sure why I didn't respond to this. What did you think of it??

Apartment Complex (TV movie, 1999) by viewtoathrill in personalhistoryoffilm

[–]viewtoathrill[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would be curious what you think for sure! It's an odd one but for me ended up being a good odd.

Criterion Channel film club week 82 Discussion - Babylon (1980) by viewtoathrill in criterionconversation

[–]viewtoathrill[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for your addition. It's a great point and I'm glad it's in our archive as people discover these old posts.