What Emmanuelle Movie Did You Just Watch?

[Matt]

I want a Criterion of 'Vanishing Point' with extras covering the drive-in movie culture that surrounded it.

[Ed Hocken]

Well, they did Zabriske Point. What's stopping them?

Hell, Sorcerer would be right up their alley.

[Jan]

The Rock is the best action movies of the nineties. Bar none.

[Matt]

The Rock is the best action movies of the nineties. Bar none.

I'd argue 'Speed' is the best, but that's really a matter of personal taste.

[Jan]

Well, we obviously agree to disagree. But I can accept Speed as a close contender.

You say Tomatoe I say Bunga-Bunga and all that.

[Anderson]

I just find how random the whole selection process is.

Hell, I want to see a Criterion version of UHF.

The selection process isn't that weird. It's just really fucking hard, as they are about the smallest distributor (outside of Synapse or Blue Underground) working today.

They are at the mercy of the studios and foreign houses, so they take what they can get. They've really pushed to develop their boutique cool attitude, since it helps to cover for the fact that they could easily be squashed by any studio that tries to make an effort to push them out of the market.

[Matt]

We can agree that they're both in the Top 10, at least.

[Abraham Smashington]

What about "The Matrix"?

[Matt]

The selection process isn't that weird. It's just really fucking hard, as they are about the smallest distributor (outside of Synapse or Blue Underground) working today.

They are at the mercy of the studios and foreign houses, so they take what they can get. They've really pushed to develop their boutique cool attitude, since it helps to cover for the fact that they could easily be squashed by any studio that tries to make an effort to push them out of the market.

If nothing else, Criterion has a reputation of QUALITY to it that has been developed and nurtured over the past 20 years to the point that nothing else is in the same league. If you see 'Criterion' on the label, you know the following things:
1. It's a great film.
2. The transfer is perfect.
3. The supplementals are exhaustive and well done.

You can buy ANY of them sight unseen and be content. No other label has that reputation. As such, I'm honestly surprised that one of the bigwigs hasn't bought them out.

[Jan]

Uhhh...The Matrix is a good call.

But I´d argue that The Rock is the perfect almagam of both the nineties in general and eighties action flicks. Those combined through a restraint Bay at his best together with a script that is pretty tight and just works put it above all other action flicks for me.

The Matrix on the other hand elevated action scenes on a whole other level and surely helped to form the cinematic-action language of the last decade.

[Anderson]

If nothing else, Criterion has a reputation of QUALITY to it that has been developed and nurtured over the past 20 years to the point that nothing else is in the same league. If you see 'Criterion' on the label, you know the following things:
1. It's a great film.
2. The transfer is perfect.
3. The supplementals are exhaustive and well done.

You can buy ANY of them sight unseen and be content. No other label has that reputation. As such, I'm honestly surprised that one of the bigwigs hasn't bought them out.

It's all based on rep. At this rate, no studio wants to be the guys that fucked up Criterion. Well, Warner Brothers would consider it. But, not yet.

[Matt]

What about "The Matrix"?

most definitely in the top 10.

[Ben Thomas]

The Rock is the best action movies of the nineties. Bar none.

HardBoiled, guys. One of the best action films ever.

I still just don't get The Rock. Its too hyperactive. I do actually prefer Armageddon, but I still don't really rate that.

[Matt]

Point to Ben; 'Hardboiled' is my favorite John Woo.

[Jan]

HardBoiled, guys. One of the best action films ever.

I still just don't get The Rock. Its too hyperactive. I do actually prefer Armageddon, but I still don't really rate that.

Hard to really argue against Hard Boil in hindsight. Though that´s one of those late-to-the-party movies that I´ve watched for the very first time recently ago...The Rock however hit my sweet 16 year old self at the right age.

The thing about The Rock for me is that it is exactly right-active for me. That movie is the perfect combination of hyperkinetic, yet restrained enough style in the Bayverse. And I do find The Rock one of mostly gorgeous shot action movies of that time. While not being an actual quality indicator, it is a slick and stylised package in pretty much every compartment, from cast to editing, for a summer blockbuster. The culmination of Don Simpsons legacy.

Consider for yourself if thats a compliment.

Armageddon on the other hand is a movie I truly despise and that represent many of Bays actual shortcomings for me....