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Orphic Trilogy - Criterion Collection

Orphic Trilogy - Criterion Collection

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A treasure for the artist!
Review: The Orphic trilogy is a cause for celebration becuase it is truly a treat for the artist in us all. We get to see a filmmaker's perspective of film from three totally different angles, one as a young man, trying and inventing new ways to use the camera (THE BLOOD OF A POET) to the mainstream artist trying to tell a middleground art versus convention story (ORPHEUS) to an old man, giving his last thoughts on celluoid as poetry (THE TESTAMENT OF ORPHEUS). Do not buy these DVD if you are not a fan of the surreal! Cocteau himself says these movies are dream worlds and he means it. If you have a hard time following imagery and symbols you will be easten alive by these movies. But if film is like fine wine to you, getting more complex with each sip, you are in for a treat.

Criterion as always does a marvelous job from top to bottom from packaging to supplemental work. The essays included are extrememly interesting as are the two additional films provided.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: a great trilogy. Criterion's first box set also
Review: This is the first box set released by the Criterion Collection. "Brazil" was on three discs but was only one movie so I don't think it counts.

In this 3 disc box set there are 3 feature films by Jean Cocteau.

The Blood of a Poet (Le Sang d'un poète)
Orpheus (Orphée)
The Testament of Orpheus (Le Testament d'Orphée)

Blood of a Poet is a surreal film which is about a painter who ends up having a set of lips growing on his hand.

Orpheus is based on the famous myth depicted in then-modern times. It has some great scenes and was very popular.

Testament of Orpheus is about a poet whotravels through time and visits a post apoctalyptic wasteland.

The set has special features on each disc. There is one hour biography on Jean Cocteau, transcripts of lectures Cocteau gave before screenings of the films, behind the scenes photos of Blood of a Poet, bibliography and filmography of Cocteau, and the 36 minute film La Villa Santo-Sospir.

The films also have some cool reverse-motion effects which show actions in reverse, some of the reverse scenes are of a man jumping into a lake, a flower being crumbled in someone's hand and a few others. This box set is a great release and is a MUST for Cocteau fans.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: a great trilogy. Criterion's first box set also
Review: This is the first box set released by the Criterion Collection. "Brazil" was on three discs but was only one movie so I don't think it counts.

In this 3 disc box set there are 3 feature films by Jean Cocteau.

The Blood of a Poet (Le Sang d'un poète)
Orpheus (Orphée)
The Testament of Orpheus (Le Testament d'Orphée)

Blood of a Poet is a surreal film which is about a painter who ends up having a set of lips growing on his hand.

Orpheus is based on the famous myth depicted in then-modern times. It has some great scenes and was very popular.

Testament of Orpheus is about a poet whotravels through time and visits a post apoctalyptic wasteland.

The set has special features on each disc. There is one hour biography on Jean Cocteau, transcripts of lectures Cocteau gave before screenings of the films, behind the scenes photos of Blood of a Poet, bibliography and filmography of Cocteau, and the 36 minute film La Villa Santo-Sospir.

The films also have some cool reverse-motion effects which show actions in reverse, some of the reverse scenes are of a man jumping into a lake, a flower being crumbled in someone's hand and a few others. This box set is a great release and is a MUST for Cocteau fans.


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