I only saw The Seventh Seal out of the 2 and I can assure you it's a classic...

one of the best ''stills'' in history IMO...

http://film.umwblogs.org/files/2009/...th-seal130.jpg

That's okay, shroomhead, we still have hopes for you one day.

Great news! Both day one buys for me.

+1. I was so tempted, glad I held out. THAT COVER IS AWESOME AND--NEW FEATURES!!!

DAY 1!

Very interesting thread. I really didn't know much about Criterion before.

I subscribe to Home Theater Magazine. In the April, 2009 edition, starting on page 34, there is a wonderfully written, five-page article entitled "A New Criterion for Blu-ray" which highlights the Criterion Collection's history and work. I see that there are quite some fans here on these forums. This article is worth a read if you are of the sort. Just thought I'd mention it for those who might be interested.

I'm a huge Bergman fan, but I kind of feel The Seventh Seal is a bit overrated. Still, I will be massively tempted to add any Bergman Blu-Ray to my collection.

Last Year at Marienbad though - first day, no questions! LOVE that movie.

Is the article online? I can't seem to find it.

Would you mind scanning it?

You meant this one:

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/.../13harr600.jpg

:D

I haven't seen The Seventh Seal but that image is so damn compelling...

Looking at your collection.... the ones that stick out in my mind are A Clockwork Orange, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's nest....... Both are award winning films, and the latter of course has Jack Nicholson in it... the previous being directed by Kubrick, and McDowell is no slouch either...... basically my point, is under other circumstances, these could have been two films that otherwise wouldn't have garnered the wide appeal they have now.....

The two newest Criterion releases.... although I as well as others are extremely familiar with them..... are great films, with stories that really draw you in..... but for whatever reason they aren't household names for most now.....

It's odd, because If I say "Citizen Kane" or "Casablanca" amongst friends.... you never find someone who has flat-out never heard of them...... they may not have seen one, or both of them.... but they've heard of them, or can even name an actor or actress..... But if I mention The Third Man (and my excitement when it got the blu-ray release :D ) they look at me with puzzled expressions..... It even has a "Kane" connection and is every bit as huge of cinematic masterpiece as the other two..... but for whatever reason many people have never heard of it :shrug: (I should point out that I'm 30, so my father etc... know exactly what The Third Man is) My father-in-law, now that I think about..... had no idea what the Third Man was either..... crazy..... I don't know... some films become beloved classics..... others become beloved classics by the masses ;)

Not every old film is a classic, and neither is every title released by Criterion. But they do hold to a high standard, and the vast majority of them should be blind buys for everyone who wishes to experience some of the great cinema of all time. More importantly, great cinema that is now getting its definitive home viewing treatment.

BTW, pilfering the Beaver screencap to show just how appropriate the Marienbad cover is. This is the actual title card of the film:

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDCom...nais/title.JPG

And the cover itself:

http://criterion_production.s3.amazo...8x490_w128.jpg

As for The Seventh Seal, it's easily one of the most influential foreign-language films of all time, deeply embedded into the cultural consciousness. See for yourself the next time Stephen Colbert does his Cheating Death segment...

Both covers are smart... love the new Seventh Seal cover.... Was hoping for Contempt but these two releases are fine :-) Hoping for Contempt in July though... it screams summer release.

Sorry for me getting off the Criterion Blu-ray subject for a moment......

Talking about A Clockwork Orange and McDowell i got to meet him in October at a horror convention here in Florida.

I have got to say that man is one of the coolest and most bad@ss guys in the movie biz.

His A Clockwork Orange Q&A session was really entertaining and funny and informative. He talked about A Clockwork Orange and talked about his entire Stanley Kubrick experience and other movies he has been in and other things.

I had him him sign my A Clockwork Orange poster and my DVD cover.

Here is a pic of me and McDowell....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...c5e5eebf24.jpg

Just went out and bought this issue specifically for this article. Now I have to subscribe. Never gave Home Theater magazine a try before (I'm a Sound & Vision guy here ;)) But I like the fact they give a ton of Blu reviews at the end of the issue! (something the Sound & Vision is sorely lacking, they do a couple, but that's it :()

Again after reading the article this will also be a day one purchase for me! The Seventh Seal is a Criterion that I always wanted to add to my collection, but could never find it at a price I was willing to pay. Glad to find it among the first titles that Criterion puts out on Blu.

What is it with people and getting Criterion's Armageddon on Blu:confused: ? Don't get me wrong it has the prospect of looking and sounding great, but as far as the Collection goes, it's probably one of the worst films in there. I like Michael Bay and everything, but I think I side with Criterion in saying the Blu-ray is more than just a medium fo releasing modern-day blockbusters, films who's picture and sound are, probably, already mastered to the highest extent (even if it hasn't been released to the general public yet). :popcorn:
I see blu as a way of remastering a storeing classic gems, intrudcing them to a new generation (in some cases multiple generations).
I know I have my fair share of bright shiney noisey films in my collection, who doesn't? The titles I look forward to most are the classics though. Criterion, Wizard of Oz, Gone with the Wind...etc.
I know the careful observers ot there will notice that Casablanca is not in my collection, yet. Just not sure if I want that whole box set, I was hoping they'd annouce a stand alone with just the film and bonus features, none of the reproduction crap.
Sorry...rant over...please forgive :soapbox:

Two of my favorite Criterion's are Dead Ringers and Robocop, I've got them on DVD hope they go blu.

I find it funny how the titles most people want are the titles Criterion no longer retains the rights to.

Sorry about those two but hold onto your DVDs for the bonus features. I have Dead Ringers myself but WB own this one now.

How do you find out what rights they currently own on previously released DVD's?

I am not sure.. the ones we usually hear about are the ones that go out of print like Dead Ringers etc... but usually if they still make it avalaible on reg DVD chances are they still have the rights.

Does anyone have any more info on their case changes? It was rumored they were possibly working on a different BD case for their releases esp since the current ones are less sturdy and lower quality then the DVD versions.

I haven't come across anymore info about Criterion's plastic blu-ray cases, yet, but from the e-mail response I posted, I feel like we probably won't see it 'til late 3rd quarter 2009/4th quarter 2009. That's just the feeling I get from it.

CC