Rating: 
Summary: The ultimate Antoine Doinel set!
Review: This top-notch Criterion set is worth every penny and is actually cheaper (per movie) than most standalone Criterion releases.The box set itself is nicely designed in a cardboard case looking like a suitcase. Each disk has its own cardboard slip case, each representing a symbolic shirt of Doinel's, from his black turtleneck in Les Quatre cents coups (The Four Hundred Blows) to his suit in L'Amour en fuite (Love on the Run). The bonus disk's slip case looks like a book cover titled Les Salades de l'amour (which is the title of the book published by Doinel just before the timeframe of Love on the Run). The accompanying booklet is an extensive collection of synopsis and essays pertaining to the Doinel cycle, most of which have appeared before in out-of-print books. Each movie is beautifully remastered and the quality of the subtitles is top-notch (incidentally, all subtitles to the movies and the extras can be turned off). Even the audio commentary by Robert Lachenay (Truffaut's childhood friend and the model for René in Les Quatre cent coups) is subtitled for non-French speakers. The extras are plentiful, from vintage TV interviews to newsreel archives to the inclusion of the short features Les Mistons and Antoine et Colette. This set is a dream come true for North American fans of François Truffaut and Jean-Pierre Léaud! I am sure that, if Truffaut were alive today, he'd love the job done by Criterion with his movies!
Rating:
Summary: Essential French New Wave
Review: When Criterion decided to release this Antoine Doinel set, I was ecstatic. Truffaut, being my favorite French New Wave director, displays his marvelous talent in these movies. Most film buffs know The 400 Blows well. It is at this point where the adventure begins. This major film displays, honestly, what most of us felt as young teenagers. I don't think I have to go into this one much more. The 400 Blows is remarkable effort for a first feature film. It didn't use studios and Truffaut decided to simply take the camera outside on the streets. Antoine & Collette is one of the favorite in the series. It is a short from the bigger work, Love at Twenty. Antoine has his first love and it is absolutely charming in its execution. Stolen Kisses happens to be my favorite feature-length film of the group. It is so brutally honest and true to human emotions that we empasize for Antoine greatly. We go through all the trials of a young man, trying to get through life. He can't find the right job and is unsure about love. This whitty and funny film is one I'll be revisiting the most. Bed and Board did not hit the high chord of the others. It was nonetheless entertaining and worth my while. Antoine gets a mistress and we deal with the troubles of that through his marriage. Love On the Run is the flop of the group, told through mostly a series of flashbacks to the other movies. I really didn't enjoy it that much and found it boring. Basically what this film captured though, was a conclusion to the story. It wrapped up some of the ends, which I'm not sure needed to be. The DVD package altogether is a very great deal. All the movies are excellent, with the exception of maybe Love on the Run. The transfers are also superb. If you found this set on here, you probably deserve to purchase it. All the films are funny, whitty, and deal with the troubles of youth, with someone who doesn't really want to grow up. There are also some very nice extras including a immensely charming early short that would somewhat inspire Truffaut to make The 400 Blows. I would recommend a purchase of this if you can afford it. These are some of the best films to come out of the French New Wave, made by someone who is incredibly passionate about his work.
Rating:
Summary: Essential French New Wave
Review: When Criterion decided to release this Antoine Doinel set, I was ecstatic. Truffaut, being my favorite French New Wave director, displays his marvelous talent in these movies. Most film buffs know The 400 Blows well. It is at this point where the adventure begins. This major film displays, honestly, what most of us felt as young teenagers. I don't think I have to go into this one much more. The 400 Blows is remarkable effort for a first feature film. It didn't use studios and Truffaut decided to simply take the camera outside on the streets. Antoine & Collette is one of the favorite in the series. It is a short from the bigger work, Love at Twenty. Antoine has his first love and it is absolutely charming in its execution. Stolen Kisses happens to be my favorite feature-length film of the group. It is so brutally honest and true to human emotions that we empasize for Antoine greatly. We go through all the trials of a young man, trying to get through life. He can't find the right job and is unsure about love. This whitty and funny film is one I'll be revisiting the most. Bed and Board did not hit the high chord of the others. It was nonetheless entertaining and worth my while. Antoine gets a mistress and we deal with the troubles of that through his marriage. Love On the Run is the flop of the group, told through mostly a series of flashbacks to the other movies. I really didn't enjoy it that much and found it boring. Basically what this film captured though, was a conclusion to the story. It wrapped up some of the ends, which I'm not sure needed to be. The DVD package altogether is a very great deal. All the movies are excellent, with the exception of maybe Love on the Run. The transfers are also superb. If you found this set on here, you probably deserve to purchase it. All the films are funny, whitty, and deal with the troubles of youth, with someone who doesn't really want to grow up. There are also some very nice extras including a immensely charming early short that would somewhat inspire Truffaut to make The 400 Blows. I would recommend a purchase of this if you can afford it. These are some of the best films to come out of the French New Wave, made by someone who is incredibly passionate about his work.
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