The last Criterion you watched...

[Ando]

[Ando]

About to revisit Pitfall (1962). This, of course, is one of 3 films in the Teshigahara box set. I've yet to watch the other two, famous as they are (especially Woman In The Dunes). Pitfall is beautifully spare, bleak, pessimistic and sufficiently philosophic enough for me to chew on for another several years. (Discerning minds say Pitfall is the best of the three, anyway.) Been a couple of years since I saw it. I swear - 1962 was a banner year for film (do a "full film 1962" YouTube search and I'll be damned if you don't find three or four films that may not be your favorites but give you the guiltiest of pleasures. I always forget Pitfall whenever anyone asks me about my faves. But it's surely one of them.

[Ando]

About to watch if.... for the first time. I'd always heard that this was one of the best from the 60s but I'd heard that before. When I came across a version this afternoon it was hard to resist...

[Sevorin]

I love if. Even with those elements that displease or disappoint me I love it.

 

Ever since Tom Brown's School Days I've been drawn to movies set in military academies and boys' public (in the English sense) schools. There always seems to be that smug, arrogant, Flashman clone about.

[eviltimes]

Ando hasn't seen If or Woman in the Dunes?

[Ando]

Well, twenty minutes of if and none of Dunes, though I plan to watch the latter soon. Actually I hear that Pitfall is a better movie. 

[eviltimes]

IMO - If  is more about when it was made and less about it's qualities as a film.  I like it the best of those three Anderson films.

Woman in the Dunes is a lot more about how much good Japanese cinema you've already been exposed too.  It gets better for me every time I watch it.  10/10

To me, Pitfall  is a warm up for Dunes.  You can see the obvious bickering between the director and writer Abe as they are learning to work things out.  It is, after all, the first of their "big four" collaborations.

[YnEoS]

I realize I'm a bit late to the discussion here.  But if you still haven't checked out Woman in the Dunes yet, you shouldn't be so quick to dismiss it.  For me it towers above all the other Teshigahara films in the set.  Though I do have a soft spot for Pitfall as well.

[Sevorin]

I like the sex in Woman of the Dunes.

[eviltimes]

You liked the sand in Woman in the Dunes.

[Ando]

Ran into a good version just now and will finally watch the thing as I have no excuse not to. No subs here. though I have a strong feeling that they aren't necessary.

[eviltimes]

NF has the DVD.

You link above is Server Not Found.  It's trying to find "good version", so something is wrong.

[Ando]

Sorry, et. This should work out better. Also, like many folks I only have NF streaming. So when I see a CC title featured I get a bit eager.