slight delay on #3 and #4

There's a waiting list in the library system for films 3 and 4 - (The Lady Vanishes and Amiacord)

I've got holds placed (and on #5 - The 400 Blows as well) but it might be a few days before my next update -

I could filmstruck it but I really want big screen experience on these if I can get it

RB

#2 - Seven Samurai (part II)

so to conclude, having written that massive post BEFORE watching the movie, what can I leave you with

There's just so much to this movie that carries you in - it's the easiest way to blow off 3.5 hrs without noticing it - The print is fantastic, the story, the music and the comic relief

I was pretty certain I was going to watch it without the commentary, having watched (I think) both commentaries in the past - being day instead of late at night when I usually watch, I made a point of cranking the audio - I had forgotten how good the music was - it's probably the best music I've heard in a Samurai film  - relentless and driving right in the opening credits, and the main theme sounds both noble and tragic, as was the story of many of the protagonists.

There is even more material on the extras blu-ray than there is in the movie - 3 documentaries spread out over 4 hrs - an interview with Akira Kurosawa takes up 2 hrs alone

And then there are the extra audio commentaries - there are two of them, one by a noted expert, and one is a group of people, each taking a turn  - you could burn another 7 hrs just listening to them talk about this film.   In my blu-ray set there is also a small booklet with 8 film essays and a couple remembrances, including one by Toshiro Mifune about memories of the filming, etc.


I have to confess, in the middle of writing this, I started drifting around Google maps in the Izu Peninsula, where the village was built for the movie - I guess the sets aren't standing but dang if it ain't a pretty place

guess that means I need to wrap this entry up - there's so much to read about - I'll leave you with the Wikipedia again and just remind you this is #1 on many lists for the greatest international film ever made and if you're reading this blog and haven't seen it - just drop everything until you do :)

Seven Samurai - at Wikipedia

RB

#2 - Seven Samurai - (pre-viewing thoughts)

Seven Samurai - wow - what can I say - a Masterpiece

First off, let me say I saw this film the first time on the Big Screen a few years ago at the Uptown in Minneapolis as part of the re-release and cleaned print.  This is one of the first Criterion DVD's I bought - (as part of a boxed set with three other Kurosawa movies)

it's also the first DVD I bought that was upgraded with the new master print, and the first Blu-Ray upgrade I bought - this is one of those films that belongs on the shelf of every serious film lover, period

This is the movie that inspired and created a love for Japanese Samurai cinema of all flavors (dramatic and swordplay) and made me a forever fan of Kurosawa - I have two books about his films, and I still plan on doing an "Akira Movie Marathon" someday after I get along a bit - I have to do a check but I believe with the recent release of Dreams and the two Eclipse box sets - (""Early Kurosawa"" and "Akira Kurosawa after the War"") that Criterion has a copy of his entire filmography although when I checked a couple years ago there might have been one or two they didn't have the rights to

I've also done a big study of Japanese History around this time - and the important thing to note about Samurai films is they usually fall in one of three time periods

the Sengoku Period - the time of war and unification of Japan - usually falling in the late 1500 - early 1600's - films like Kagemusha show the Samurai as soldiers and warriors during time timeframe

The Post-War/Pre-Restoration period - at this time Samurai stories either focus around Ronin or in some more excellent modern pieces like The Twilight Samurai, they are portrayed as bureaucrats and government officials who just keep the government running.  There is a lot of great cinema in this time period especially the Samurai Trilogy of Yoji Yamada (The Twilight Samurai, The Hidden Blade and Love and Honor)

Finally, there is the Meiji Restoration, which briefly summed up, is the period of conflict between the Shogunate and Emperor resulting in the Emperor being restored to the head of power in 1868.  There is some Cinema in this period - "(Assassin - 1964) and other films about the Shinsengumi that take place in this period - These tend to be a bit more action and swordplay but there are always exceptions

Seven Samurai takes place in 1586-7, in the middle of the Sengoku period where as they point out in the intro, attention was elsewhere during the civil wars and bandits had a bit more free reign.  It's also worthy to note that most of Kurosawa's Samurai pieces were about Ronin - as one commentator put it, a real historical Samurai was fairly boring - he took orders and did stuff but the Ronin had room in a story to develop a bit

One last point I remember the commentaries I've seen and read - this is the first historical period piece to focus exclusively on Samurai that gained success in the West.  Samurai were obviously in early historical films, and in films such as Rashomon.  There were some swordplay films, and Japanese history is full of stories and legends of Noble Samurai, but this focus of them as the center of the story in a historical piece was fairly unique at the time, and it paved the way for the Samurai films to follow and would open the door for Samurai Cinema in the West

up next - my impressions on the film and extras

#1 - The Grand Illusion

So we start this endeavor with a film that Criterion no longer prints.  It is a classic I had never heard of, by a director I barely heard of (Jean Renoir) - Clearly I have a lot to learn on this trip :D

I don't know if I'm going to be writing summaries of the films here as much as my impressions - This film kept my attention the whole way thru, with it's depiction of WWI prison life.  I was struck by how much it reminded me of WWII POW films, such as Stalag 17 or The Great Escape.  I was also struck by the depiction of what I would call, familiarity and decency between the POW's and the Guards.

It is here that one of the special features of the Disc paid off - Jean Renoir himself talking about the 1958 re-release.   This film was shot before WWII and the Nazis.  There was a last vestige of the aristocracy between the French Captive, Captain de Boeldieu, and his German counterpart, Captain  von Rauffenstein.   From the very first scenes, you get the impression that WWI among captured officers was as far from the front lines as we are in the 21st century from Trench warfare.

Of course, no POW film is complete without some escape attempts, and the 2nd half of the film is driven by the narrative of the escape of two Lieutenants, one a working class Mechanic from Paris, and one an upper class Jewish naturalized citizen.   I suspect this is what drove the Nazis to attempt to destroy all copies of the movie, as their friendship is among the strongest represented in the picture.

As a final note - (although it's unavailable to anyone without access to the disk) - There is a special feature on how the film was restored.   I'll probably write some interludes here and there, thoughts on things like film restoration, subtitles, and the like, but to see what the print WAS and what Criterion restored it to is magnificent - The technology only gets better and better - The Apu Trilogy by Satyajit Ray was recently restored, and folks have commented that what is on the Blu-ray is probably better than any copy that ever made the theater.   It's wonderful to have these films without the scratches and noise, that, like crackle on a vinyl record, can serve as fatigue of sorts as the film goes along.

There is some excellent trivia at wikipedia, of course, and I'll leave you with that link regarding some of the history and themes.   This film feels like it's needed in today's world - I can see why it would be the first film they chose to release when they started the DVD series


The Grand Illusion - at Wikipedia

Once more, into the breach

I'm starting this blog to post my thoughts and efforts in documenting my viewing of the Criterion/Eclipse collection of films.

This is something I've been wanting to do for some time - I've still got two or three irons in the fire - (I am finishing a viewing of all the cinema by Satyajit Ray, and there is some overlap here) But mostly I've been wanting to take advantage of the selection of Criterion DVD's in the Twin Cities, and we'll see how this goes, whether or not I'm able to contribute anything to the conversation or if it's just "Good film - needs more explosions"

For the most part, I plan on using Library Materials in the Hennepin and St. Paul Public Library system and hitting the interlibrary loan system if need be  - I own a few DVD's and Blu-Ray's but as part of my attempt to declutter my life, will not be doing much purchasing at the present time unless I find some of the material (like the Zatoichi collection) is going out of print.

In addition, I hope to post some thoughts on cinema from the POV of an amateur - someone who barely knows anything about cameras, or angles, or pacing - I have friends who have directed movies and they no doubt will be vastly amused if they come read this - I was a broadcasting major in College but my experience was limited to Radio

My PLAN is to go in numerical order on the spine - I may have to find other publishers for out-of-print DVD's but I will avail myself of all the essays on the Criterion website before watching, and go into these films with a small grasp of what I'm getting into

When it comes to the Eclipse series, I may skip around a bit, we'll see. I can already tell based on availability there is one collection I want to watch ahead of the others.

I am partial to Japanese, some French, and Indian Cinema, mostly because I have either been to those countries, or just really REALLY like Samurai films - so you've been warned :)

Finally one last thought - and it's political so you can skip this paragraph now if you don't like politics - I dislike the wave of Nationalism that has taken over the United States with the election of Donald Trump. I recognize that America has it's own culture, with good and bad points, and that we've got some great cinema, but I feel too often we only look at ourselves.   I feel the citizens of my country would benefit greatly from having more exposure to the outside world, countries, political systems, values, etc - even if we don't embrace them.  As part of my time in India (for work) I got to know several Indians who discussed their new Prime Minister, and got to see that in some ways, the fights we have between Conservative and Progressive values are not at all unique to America, or even Democracies.

My hope is that by viewing all these (mostly) foreign films, that I will be a better citizen of the world and better able to understand the conversation and history of what has taken place prior to now.   And of course, to be entertained - anything like this is worth doing if it's fun :)

I will create a twitter account to link to this and will follow any other movie blogs that are interested

and....to begin with, we will start with an out-of print Criterion DVD I had to go to Downtown St. Paul to get - The Grand Illusion, by Jean Renoir

RB