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Un-fucking-real. I couldn't be happier. I was hoping this was part of the MGM deal, but, like others, was not expecting it so soon. So glad I held off on ever picking up the studio dvd release.

Hadn't seen this before, but was intrigued by the announcement and saw that netflix has it for instant viewing. Some of the acting is a little hackneyed, but this is an incredible film. I would say that about a film criticizing the WWI bureaucracy, given my avatar, but still... wow. The assault on "the anthill" is worth the price of admission alone. The second half, which shows the nightmare of a bureaucracy unaccountable to anyone but itself, is even more horrifying and situates this film in a tradition of humanist filmmaking (since it's a WWI movie, comparisons with Grand Illusion sprang immediately to mind). This is a (not-so) blind buy for me.

Amazing news. I have wanted to watch Paths for years but have been waiting for a new transfer.

FWIW I last saw Paths of Glory at the National Film Theatre (London) in 1999, as part of their retrospective after Kubrick's death. It was projected in 1.66:1 - as was The Shining (which was shown in the US version).

Paths of Glory in 1.66:1 looked absolutely fine.

Nice It was the front cover of the CC Paths of Glory laserdisc that got me into Criterion in the first place, back in about 1993.

"Hackneyed acting" JBeall is an understatement when you've got Kirk Douglas and Timothy Carey sharing the screen. Their acting is over the top but still oh so fabulous! Chew the scenery boys!!!!!

True dat, and I'm not really criticizing when I call it hackneyed, since it's more consistent with the time in which it was made. It certainly didn't detract from my enjoyment of the film!

Brian C wrote:Anyone have any reactions to the Giddins commentary? I'm not familiar with him at all.

In addition to Giddins' participation in other Criterion releases that others have noted (Elevator to the Gallows, Make Way for Tomorrow, Shadows), the upcoming re-release of Black Orpheus will include a video interview with him.

Brian C wrote:Anyone have any reactions to the Giddins commentary? I'm not familiar with him at all.

I've got two of his books and he's quite good. He sums up artistic strengths and displays an awareness of form and tradition that serves his intelligence well. Granted, like many writers, he may or may not be able to approximate his strengths vocally on the commentary, but he knows his stuff and has a vast reserve of knowledge at hand. Nonetheless, I'm surprised to see him on a Kubrick film - I'd prefer that the roles were reversed and Naremore was commenting and Giddins providing the essay - but there's also no way he can mess it up. I look forward to it.

Gary Giddins also wrote a fine essay on Lola Montès for the CC booklet.

Question for Sopranos fans. Was this the movie on television when Uncle Junior puts Tony in his coma?

movielocke wrote:I know this forum hates first hand sources and original documentation on aspect ratio but I'm sure it was a relatively easy task for Criterion to find concrete proof of how the film was supposed to be projected, I trust they're doing the right thing with Kubrick.

It hates even more idiotic generalizations that simplify to a single, false voice a hugely variegated comingling of highly intelligent people of divergent opinions who enjoy spirited debate about a medium they all love deeply.

And guess what?-- CC has made AR mistakes as well (just ask Mme Getrud), as have just about every DVD company at some point or other.

HerrSchreck wrote:And guess what?-- CC has made AR mistakes as well (just ask Mme Getrud), as have just about every DVD company at some point or other.

As well as the first releases of Playtime and Yojimbo, along with Branded To Kill (and M). I love Criterion but like all DVD companies it is not infallible and shouldn't be beyond criticism when it is warranted.

Saw this a couple of months ago on Netflix Instant Watch. It's one of the few war films that actually made me nearly weep, not from sadness but rage. It's an angry film, a savage critique of those in charge of who is sent to be slaughtered like cattle in war (you can see how Kubrick would later employ this to more comedic, yet no less devastating effect in his masterpice "Dr. Strangelove"), and how war causes any man to lose his humanity. It's incredibly haunting, even now in this day and age when we are accustomed to getting thrills out of seeing "action pictures". It's another masterpiece from Kubrick, and I will definitely be picking this up at the next B&N sale.

The latest Film Forum podcast is an introduction by David Simon talking about both the original book and the film.

colinr0380 wrote:The latest Film Forum podcast is an introduction by David Simon talking about both the original book and the film.

Well, if that bracing monologue doesn't stir within you an unassaugeable desire to see this film in optimal quality in October then I'll eat my corduroy suit.

It's so disappointing when people craft a lovely sentence only to leave out an important.

Inwardly say, "eat" somewhere. A daily deed for all of us, in any case.

This really looks amazing. The amount of detail in just about every scene is absolutely incredible and I never imagined it could possibly look like this. Also very little in the way of damage and grain is visible.

Maybe MGM going to the shitter was a good thing because I doubt an edition from them (or Fox for that matter) would look this great.

Joyous, reassuring words, Chris. Don't make me eat my corduroy suit, my friends - I need it again this long weekend.

I concur that MGM's DVD wing going tits up was a good thing.

Blu-Ray.com

Another home run.

Very pleased with the release.

I can only imagine how sweet THE KILLING will look as well.

Nice review from Chris Galloway. Regarding the 2 minute clip taken from the 1966 Bernstein/Kubrick interview, the total interview runs about 70-75 minutes. It was released on CD in the first run of Taschen's Stanley Kubrick Archives book. Here is a link to an online version: http://www.sliated.com/kubrick.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I can't wait to see this film again.