Criterion Collection Pick-Ups & Recommendations July 2023 

"Being There" is so odd, it took a lot of time to get into to, but it goes to another level once Shirley McClain gets on screen.

I adore Being There! Such a beautiful film and Peter Sellers performance is amazing!

Omg he’s back!! hope you’re doing well

Tony Leung Chu Wai is a great actor -- see as example his films with Wong Kar-Wai. And see the Ang Lee film "Lust, Caution," with Tony and first-timer Tang Wei.

Hong Kong and Taiwan films are very different. Hong Kong has been most influenced by international film, especially (Wong Kar Wai) US film. So much kineticism. Ang Lee is Taiwan, but educated in the US. Edward Yang and King Hu are also Taiwan. Another is Hou Hsiao Hsien (sp?), "Three Times," "Millennium Mambo," "The Assassin". (All three of those star the wonderful Shu Qi, and "Three Times" also stars Chang Chen, who played the bandit in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon". His first film was Yang's film with "Summer" in the title.) All in all, it takes time to learn the distinctions between mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan film, each of which had its unique origins.

I need to work on going through the titles already on my shelves!! I haven't gone to B&N, yet, and actually found out the location I usually go to had a fire a few months ago and is temporary closed! I'm not getting much this sale to focus on my collection more but also there are a lot of other things I'm getting at the moment- other movie label sales, kpop, some other stuff, and I'm redoing one of my rooms. One of the things I'm continuing going through from last summer is a couple Claude Chabrol (limited) box sets from Arrow. At the beginning of the month I watched Betty (1992), which is definitely my favorite film of his atm. I thought it was incredible! I didn't really have expectations for it in any way and I was hooked from the start. I'm a bit busy this weekend so I haven't started editing, yet, but I filmed a recommendations video last night :)

"Incredible Shrinking Man" by the prolific writer Richard Matheson.

This vid should be titled "I am really behind on picking up Criterion Collection blu rays so here's what I got".

You’re not dead!

Does one really “enjoy” M Haneke?

Good recommendations I wish Criterion delved more into Hong Kong Action Cinema

I believe "2046" is superior to "In the Mood for Love": no one agrees with me. The challenge is to figure out what "2046" is about. Trivia: Magge Cheung was originally "eye candy". But she says she learned how to act from working with Wong Kar-Wai. And see her extraordinary work in "Clean," by her then-husband Olivier Assayas.