The 8th Annual Criterion Collection Challenge Discussion Thread
#226
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Re: The 8th Annual Criterion Collection Challenge Discussion Thread
I think I'm watching Sisters since I haven't seen it for a long time.
#227
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Re: The 8th Annual Criterion Collection Challenge Discussion Thread
I finally cracked open my BD copy of Tess, which I haven't seen in years. Natassja Kinski's distinctive accent aside, it holds up well.
#228
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: The 8th Annual Criterion Collection Challenge Discussion Thread
I have watched the follow up documentary but haven't seen the Barrymore film. It's funny as I was talking with my librarian about it when I picked this one up. She didn't know that there were either of the two, the follow up or the HBO movie. I have to admit, the Broadway show is new to me!
Here's the Tony performance:
#229
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Re: The 8th Annual Criterion Collection Challenge Discussion Thread
I saw the musical and it didn't make that much of an impression on me. I haven't seen the documentary, though, and I don't know if that would've made a difference.
#230
Re: The 8th Annual Criterion Collection Challenge Discussion Thread
Well, I do appreciate them. I have the Frankenstein set and usually watch at least one or two them at Halloween. I guess what I'm trying to say is I dislike bloody, jump out at you, murder porn, gore for the sake of gore horror. I watched Psycho for the first time just a few years ago and really enjoyed it. I own Nosferatu. I'm trying to think of others like that, but there aren't that many. I think it stems from when I was about 4 or 5 and my sister would let me watch them, "cover your eyes and I'll tell you when you can look!" Yeah, look right at the kids being killed.
#231
Challenge Guru & Comic Nerd
Re: The 8th Annual Criterion Collection Challenge Discussion Thread
Whew! That means there's still hope! I don't like most of the "horror" films of the 70s on as many are of the "bloody, jump out at you, murder porn, gore for the sake of gore horror." I lean more towards the pre 1970 gothic and monster horror films. I could probably give you a list of those you'd like. None are of the ilk your sister teased/tortured you with.
#232
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Re: The 8th Annual Criterion Collection Challenge Discussion Thread
And if you have a Roku, Travel Channel will likely air their Halloween Attractions shows, and History Channel On Roku has Haunted History, as shows on ghosts count too.
#233
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: The 8th Annual Criterion Collection Challenge Discussion Thread
The musical soundtrack is quite good. Unfortunately, I've never been able to see the show - just pirated clips on YouTube. The show's first act is a fictionalized day in the life of the Beales at the height of Grey Gardens (complete with a Kennedy) while the second act covers the documentary time frame.
Whew! That means there's still hope! I don't like most of the "horror" films of the 70s on as many are of the "bloody, jump out at you, murder porn, gore for the sake of gore horror." I lean more towards the pre 1970 gothic and monster horror films. I could probably give you a list of those you'd like. None are of the ilk your sister teased/tortured you with.
I try to watch a few of these every year, the Halloween Attraction ones, I mean. I do like those!
#234
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Re: The 8th Annual Criterion Collection Challenge Discussion Thread
#235
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Re: The 8th Annual Criterion Collection Challenge Discussion Thread
I'm ending with the month with A Few Good Men and The Rock--kind of a civilians vs. military men double feature.
#236
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Re: The 8th Annual Criterion Collection Challenge Discussion Thread
I ended on a dud, The Graduate. I'm sure I'm in the minority, but I could not get into this film at all. It took 2 days for me to watch it which is highly unusual for me. Oh well, now I can mark it off my "classics to watch" list.
I still have La Dolce Vita but I just am not up for it tonight. I still plan on watching it before I return it to the library though, later this weekend, but I think I'm going to watch some "fun" movies or even some TV for a couple days first.
I still have La Dolce Vita but I just am not up for it tonight. I still plan on watching it before I return it to the library though, later this weekend, but I think I'm going to watch some "fun" movies or even some TV for a couple days first.
#237
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: The 8th Annual Criterion Collection Challenge Discussion Thread
Finally got to the Hidden Fortress. Knowing the Star Wars links, there was a lot to spot, but I don't think I'd have drawn any parallels without foreknowledge.
Eraserhead... don't get it.
Corridor of Blood seemed more like a historical drama than a horror film, though there were vague mad scientist (and body snatchy) subplots.
The Haunted Strangler is odd, but good though.
Finished the month with two new Karloff films. Can't say worse than that!
Eraserhead... don't get it.
Corridor of Blood seemed more like a historical drama than a horror film, though there were vague mad scientist (and body snatchy) subplots.
The Haunted Strangler is odd, but good though.
Finished the month with two new Karloff films. Can't say worse than that!
#238
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: The 8th Annual Criterion Collection Challenge Discussion Thread
Lord, I had a great time this month! I ended up watching 24 films and one television episode. These included rewatching some favorites and exploring some films that I'd been meaning to watch for a long time. I'll make some more observations and pick out my favorites later when I'm not so tired!
#239
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Re: The 8th Annual Criterion Collection Challenge Discussion Thread
Decided to slip in one more, for double credit: Island of Lost Souls (1932), another first-time watch!
#240
Re: The 8th Annual Criterion Collection Challenge Discussion Thread
I finally saw that one a couple of years ago. It was a "hot" movie when I was a kid and got lots of attention. I may have been expecting too much because, like you, I thought it was pretty much a dud. The "comedy" it contains is supposed to be derived more from juxtaposition of scenes rather than dialog/actions. I felt most just didn't work - at least not as comedy. It's very much a product of its time and has lost much of the impact and message it had in the late 60s. I enjoyed it more for the Simon and Garfunkel songs.
#241
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Re: The 8th Annual Criterion Collection Challenge Discussion Thread
I finally saw that one a couple of years ago. It was a "hot" movie when I was a kid and got lots of attention. I may have been expecting too much because, like you, I thought it was pretty much a dud. The "comedy" it contains is supposed to be derived more from juxtaposition of scenes rather than dialog/actions. I felt most just didn't work - at least not as comedy. It's very much a product of its time and has lost much of the impact and message it had in the late 60s. I enjoyed it more for the Simon and Garfunkel songs.
#242
Re: The 8th Annual Criterion Collection Challenge Discussion Thread
The odd thing is that the director, Erle Kenton, never made another film anywhere near as impressive. So I'm wondering who the real auteur on that one is. The production designer? The makeup artist? Charles Laughton?
Re: THE GRADUATE - I haven't seen it since the early 1970s and have no idea how it holds up. It was very much a product of its time and was not marketed as a comedy, but more of an early counterculture "youth protest" type of film. Even then many felt it was overrated. Andrew Sarris had quite an incisive critique of it at the time.
And yes, Shadokitty, "Mrs. Robinson" was composed for that film. (Anne Bancroft plays Mrs. Robinson, the married neighbor young Hoffman has an affair with. "Mrs. Robinson, are you trying to seduce me?" In retrospect, I wish Bancroft's husband, Mel Brooks, had directed it.)
Last edited by Ash Ketchum; 10-01-16 at 10:27 AM.
#243
Re: The 8th Annual Criterion Collection Challenge Discussion Thread
First time?! Wow. What was it like for you? I watched ISLAND OF LOST SOULS for a horror challenge a few years ago for the first time in decades and I loved it. I even went and bought the Criterion disc and rewatched it for a Criterion challenge.
The odd thing is that the director, Erle Kenton, never made another film anywhere near as impressive. So I'm wondering who the real auteur on that one is. The production designer? The makeup artist? Charles Laughton?
The odd thing is that the director, Erle Kenton, never made another film anywhere near as impressive. So I'm wondering who the real auteur on that one is. The production designer? The makeup artist? Charles Laughton?
Re: THE GRADUATE - I haven't seen it since the early 1970s and have no idea how it holds up. It was very much a product of its time and was not marketed as a comedy, but more of an early counterculture "youth protest" type of film. Even then many felt it was overrated. Andrew Sarris had quite an incisive critique of it at the time.
I recently read Roger Ebert's two reviews of the film. One when it was originally released and another on a re-release decades later. He pretty much said "What was I thinking when I first saw this film? It's just not that good and doesn't hold up well." and downgraded his rating. I remember all the talk about the film, most of which focused on the "forbidden" relationship between Hoffman's character and Mrs. Robinson.
And yes, Shadokitty, "Mrs. Robinson" was composed for that film. (Anne Bancroft plays Mrs. Robinson, the married neighbor young Hoffman has an affair with. "Mrs. Robinson, are you trying to seduce me?" In retrospect, I wish Bancroft's husband, Mel Brooks, had directed it.)
Interestingly the entirety of "Mrs. Robinson" wasn't used in the film. Both the instrumental and vocal version fade out about 1:12 into the track. It wasn't until "Bookends" was released in April 1968 that the full version was heard.
The song, "Mrs. Robinson," wasn't actually composed for the film but *did* make its first appearance there.
When Nichols purchased rights to use some S&G songs in the film, something Simon wasn't too keen on as he saw it as "selling out", and requested some originals be written specifically for the film, Simon returned with "Punky's Dilemma" and "Overs," neither of which Nichols was particularly taken with (both songs later appeared on "Bookends" with the completed "Mrs. Robinson"). Simon had written "Mrs. Robinson" before the movie deal and the pair had been working on it using the name "Mrs. Roosevelt" but because of the film had taken to using "Mrs. Robinson" instead. During the meeting where the other two songs were rejected Nichols asked if they had anything else and Garfunkel asked "What about Mrs. Robinson?" using the newly substituted name. Nichols jumped on it asking to hear the song. They played what they had so far and Nichols was sold. The song title and name used were frozen as "Mrs. Robinson." Simon's inclusion of the phrase "coo-coo-ca-choo" is an homage to the Beatles' "I Am the Walrus."
Last edited by BobO'Link; 10-01-16 at 11:51 AM.
#244
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Thread Starter
Re: The 8th Annual Criterion Collection Challenge Discussion Thread
I fell into an abyss the last two weeks. I only made it to nine of Steve Buscemi's Top 10. I streamed The Vanishing late last night; I'd seen it during a previous challenge. It felt less frightening and more darkly comedic this time. Maybe because I'd already seen it and knew what happened, but I also think it's because I'd acclimated to the flavor of Buscemi's taste. Context matters, y'all.
I'm too feeble right now to elaborate further, but I hope everyone enjoyed the challenge. How'd you do with your personal objectives? Do you have any new favorites? Did your relationship with any previously seen movie change this time? Did you learn anything neat or notice anything peculiar?
I'm too feeble right now to elaborate further, but I hope everyone enjoyed the challenge. How'd you do with your personal objectives? Do you have any new favorites? Did your relationship with any previously seen movie change this time? Did you learn anything neat or notice anything peculiar?
#245
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: The 8th Annual Criterion Collection Challenge Discussion Thread
I finally saw that one a couple of years ago. It was a "hot" movie when I was a kid and got lots of attention. I may have been expecting too much because, like you, I thought it was pretty much a dud. The "comedy" it contains is supposed to be derived more from juxtaposition of scenes rather than dialog/actions. I felt most just didn't work - at least not as comedy. It's very much a product of its time and has lost much of the impact and message it had in the late 60s. I enjoyed it more for the Simon and Garfunkel songs.
Yup, was going to mention that that wasn't the original name, but BobO'Link got there ahead of me!
Someone mentioned Mel Brooks and how it'd have better if he had directed it. I would agree! I read at IMDb that he left Hoffman audition for this one as he was already set to be in The Producers. Brooks didn't think he'd get the part, so he let him. I think I'm ok with Hoffman being in this one...couldn't see how he'd fit in The Producers!
#246
Challenge Guru & Comic Nerd
Re: The 8th Annual Criterion Collection Challenge Discussion Thread
I'll be the voice of dissent and say that I have loved The Graduate each of the few times I've seen it, and none of those viewings were back in its day. That sort of tone and humor just works for me.
And speaking of humor, and I'm sure unpopular dissent, Mel Brooks' films stink in my opinion. Young Frankenstein is good, but everything else I've seen by him is bad to mediocre at best. But then humor is very hit or miss for me. Comedy is perhaps my second most represented genre, but I guess it's limited to a few very specific types of humor; Monty Python, the Muppets, Adult Swim, MST3K. Most mainstream sitcoms and comedies just don't float my boat.
And speaking of humor, and I'm sure unpopular dissent, Mel Brooks' films stink in my opinion. Young Frankenstein is good, but everything else I've seen by him is bad to mediocre at best. But then humor is very hit or miss for me. Comedy is perhaps my second most represented genre, but I guess it's limited to a few very specific types of humor; Monty Python, the Muppets, Adult Swim, MST3K. Most mainstream sitcoms and comedies just don't float my boat.
#247
Re: The 8th Annual Criterion Collection Challenge Discussion Thread
I'll be the voice of dissent and say that I have loved The Graduate each of the few times I've seen it, and none of those viewings were back in its day. That sort of tone and humor just works for me.
And speaking of humor, and I'm sure unpopular dissent, Mel Brooks' films stink in my opinion. Young Frankenstein is good, but everything else I've seen by him is bad to mediocre at best. But then humor is very hit or miss for me. Comedy is perhaps my second most represented genre, but I guess it's limited to a few very specific types of humor; Monty Python, the Muppets, Adult Swim, MST3K. Most mainstream sitcoms and comedies just don't float my boat.
And speaking of humor, and I'm sure unpopular dissent, Mel Brooks' films stink in my opinion. Young Frankenstein is good, but everything else I've seen by him is bad to mediocre at best. But then humor is very hit or miss for me. Comedy is perhaps my second most represented genre, but I guess it's limited to a few very specific types of humor; Monty Python, the Muppets, Adult Swim, MST3K. Most mainstream sitcoms and comedies just don't float my boat.
#248
Challenge Guru & Comic Nerd
Re: The 8th Annual Criterion Collection Challenge Discussion Thread
Have you seen the original The Producers (not the horrible musical version based on the play)? I'd put it up there with Young Frankenstein as one of his best. While I generally like his body of works I find he tends to be *very* repetitive with his gags. Many disagree but I'd put The Twelve Chairs and his remake of To Be or Not To Be (although the Ernst Lubitsch version with Carol Lombard and Jack Benney is better) in the group of his best works. Add Blazing Saddles and you have the Brooks films I watch regularly.
That said, I do plan to watch my Mel Brooks BD set some November. Maybe I was just in a strange mood everytime I've watched his films.
#249
Re: The 8th Annual Criterion Collection Challenge Discussion Thread
I haven't watched a few of those, but given that I've disliked several of his films that most people love, and claim as his best, make me wary to keep digging.
That said, I do plan to watch my Mel Brooks BD set some November. Maybe I was just in a strange mood everytime I've watched his films.
That said, I do plan to watch my Mel Brooks BD set some November. Maybe I was just in a strange mood everytime I've watched his films.
Unfortunately, The Producers was not included in that set! They managed to license Spaceballs, not a favorite of mine, for the set and left The Producers out! Since both are Fox productions distributed by MGM you'd think if they were able to include one they could include both. But then neither was included in the DVD set which makes the BR set that much better for the Spaceballs inclusion. What hurts is The Producers typically sells for almost what I paid for the 9 film BR set. They also didn't include Life Stinks, which is probably a good thing.
I didn't care for either High Anxiety or Silent Movie when they were released. They've grown on me over the years, especially Silent Movie, but still are not favorites and get few viewings. I like *some* of History of the World: Pt. 1 and Robin Hood: Men in Tights but not enough to make them regular watches.
#250
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Thread Starter
Re: The 8th Annual Criterion Collection Challenge Discussion Thread
I was put off by The Graduate when I first saw it a few years ago, and for me the biggest problem was that the only one in the entire picture I could bring myself to care about was the daughter, played by Katherine Ross, and I didn't buy her about face in the finale whatsoever. I kept feeling that every time the film raised the specter of an interesting theme, it squandered it in favor of pointed ambiguity. Yeah, I get it. The world is shades of gray, not black and white. But even in those shades of gray, there are, you know, actual consequences for things. That's how cause and effect works. The only real consequence was that for most of Act III, Hoffman's character didn't get to hook up with mother or daughter, and then comes the insulting finale to relieve him of even that. Whatever.
As for Mel Brooks, I like the idea of Mel Brooks films more than I tend to actually like the films themselves. I saw Young Frankenstein for the first time a year or so ago and was surprised by how much I did enjoy it (overall, anyway), and I can link that enjoyment directly to recognizing so many specific nods to the old Universal films that I adore so much. I'm planning to go see a screening of that on Wednesday, and I hope to enjoy it even more with an audience. For the most part, though, I can find a gag or two here and there that amuse me and otherwise I just kind of run down the clock.
As for Mel Brooks, I like the idea of Mel Brooks films more than I tend to actually like the films themselves. I saw Young Frankenstein for the first time a year or so ago and was surprised by how much I did enjoy it (overall, anyway), and I can link that enjoyment directly to recognizing so many specific nods to the old Universal films that I adore so much. I'm planning to go see a screening of that on Wednesday, and I hope to enjoy it even more with an audience. For the most part, though, I can find a gag or two here and there that amuse me and otherwise I just kind of run down the clock.