The Video Station: (303) 440-4448 » Criterion http://thevideostation.com/blog 1661 28th St Boulder, CO (303) 440-4448 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 02:40:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 PLAY TIME (Criterion Collection) – Reviewed by Jeremy http://thevideostation.com/blog/2009/08/20/play-time-criterion-collection-reviewed-by-jeremy/ http://thevideostation.com/blog/2009/08/20/play-time-criterion-collection-reviewed-by-jeremy/#comments Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:58:57 +0000 blogadmin http://thevideostation.com/blog/?p=1600 Beeping consoles. Whirring Fans. The sounds of malfunctioning, T.V. shopping-network-bought products. These are just a few of the things that come into mind when I hear the name Jacques Tati. Play Time (1973), while already having its place in the Criterion library, is now released unto us via the Blu-Ray disc format, and for those of you snoozing at the theaters with films chock-full of drab dialogue and uneventful cinematography, here’s the film for you. Sure, Play Time isn’t moved by narration and dialogue between the characters, but its imaginative cinematography and elaborate choreography have allowed me to watch it over and over again. It seems each time I see Play Time I’m able to find something new that I hadn’t noticed in the past. When watching Play Time, keep in mind that these are not just citizens of the streets of Paris but rather placed on set by the director and his crew. Everything is an intention and the amount of detail and work is inspiring. Criterion’s Blu-Ray release holds true and is an outstanding upgrade. The picture’s sharp, and the depth of field is more impressive. Tati’s odd and quirky humor comes through strongly in Play Time, which along with Akira Kurosawa’s Kagemusha, are now available for the Blu-Ray users and I highly recommend both, as Criterion tends to do a more than outstanding job on all video transfers. Pick up both if you have the time. – [Blu-Ray]

Comedy

Not Rated

DVD Release Date: 8/19/09

]]> http://thevideostation.com/blog/2009/08/20/play-time-criterion-collection-reviewed-by-jeremy/feed/ 0 BLU-RAY BIN: Criterion Collections, Part I http://thevideostation.com/blog/2009/03/26/blu-ray-bin-criterion-collections-part-i/ http://thevideostation.com/blog/2009/03/26/blu-ray-bin-criterion-collections-part-i/#comments Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:33:20 +0000 blogadmin http://thevideostation.com/blog/?p=1012 Every good cinefile loves Criterion, and for good reason – their mission is to gather the greatest films from around the world and publish them in the highest-quality editions possible. It’s no surprise, then, that Criterion has begun offering Blu-Ray editions of their releases. The exceptional clarity of Blu-Ray is truly the best way to enjoy these exceptional films:

Chungking Express (1994)
Two heartsick Hong Kong cops cross paths at the Midnight Express take-out restaurant stand, where the ethereal pixie waitress Faye works. Chungking Express is one of the defining works of nineties cinema and the film that made Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar-Wai an instant icon. – [imdb]

The 400 Blows Blu-Ray 1959The 400 Blows (1959)
François Truffaut’s first feature film mirrored the trials of Truffaut’s own difficult childhood, and signaled the beginning of the French New Wave.The Criterion Collection Blu-Ray is loaded with extras, like a newly-restored digital transfer, rare audition and newsreel footage, and much more. – [imdb]

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