The Criterion Collection

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by BudBaxter

It stuns me that Criterion can sign off on both of these covers in the same month:



Altered States is amazing. One of the best covers they've done in years.

A History of Violence looks like an Asylum Wes Anderson knock-off. Are those clouds from the opening of The Simpsons?

I couldn't see it in the specs - is Violence going to be the US R-rated cut, or the uncut international version?

Totally agree!

I have to wholeheartedly praise Criterion for the cover of Altered States. Artwork is well crafted and it has a great engaging design context.

And I agree the art concept for A History of Violence definitely would fit better with a Wes Anderson film or Captain Fantastic (very good film by the way). Not only is the cover artwork bad, but it is culturally insensitive/ignorant. Redskin or red man is “ an insulting and contemptuous term for an American Indian” (according to Merriam-Webster dictionary). The majority of businesses in the U.S. are aware of this. Of course you are not going to paint Viggo black or yellow, but why red if it carries the same implication. This is, without a question, a poor decision.

[JackSkellington]

Placed my B&N sale order today. Picking up the last of the Criterions on my wishlist (for now):



Four are blind buys, and two I've seen before.

[jshaide]

Just realized it’s a double William Hurt month!

[Martin_31]

I've been thinking of this film the whole day after watching it last night. Canoa is horrifying. Perhaps, one of the most unsettling films I've seen (up there with Night and Fog); it felt too real, too human: this idea that people are capable of such things. I'm not sure how to explain it. I felt that I had witnessed something that should never had happened, that people should not strive toward (or be manipulated into). Exceptional film, one of the best, on violence, indoctrination, religious fanaticism, and cyclicity. It might be a top ten film. Reminded me a lot of The Battle of Algiers in its filmed approach.

Really in the mood for another Mexican film. Recommendations are welcome! I also would like to watch, in the future because I need a break, a film similar to the three mentioned.

[darrellmaclaine]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

Not only is the cover artwork bad, but it is culturally insensitive/ignorant. Redskin or red man is “ an insulting and contemptuous term for an American Indian” (according to Merriam-Webster dictionary). The majority of businesses in the U.S. are aware of this. Of course you are not going to paint Viggo black or yellow, but why red if it carries the same implication. This is, without a question, a poor decision.

I think you just put your back out reaching there.

[Areyakiddin]

Originally Posted by darrellmaclaine

I think you just put your back out reaching there.

Yeah, it is clearly meant to be red light splashing on his body. It'd be like calling an illustration of a person in the shadows blackface.

[Areyakiddin]

Pure racism. How could you do this to me and all the other people you have harmed Party City.

[Wintermute]

Originally Posted by Werdsniper2

I hesitate to even ask for recommendations, since I'm not even sure what I'm looking for. So far, I have the following in my cart:
....
Videodrome
....
The Devil's Backbone

FYI, Arrow released a 4K of Videodrome with superior PQ (due to a Fidelity in Motion encode):



OrbitDVD.com and DiabolikDVD.com both currently have it in stock.

As for The Devil's Backbone, it was released on 4K as part of Sony's 30th Anniversary 4K box set:



It can be bought individually on eBay, if you're willing to pay that much, but might not be worth it since the Criterion blu-ray already looks great, and I'm not sure just how much the Sony 4K is supposed to improve upon it.

[NeonStreetMelt]

Altered States? More like Boredom States. I remember renting that on VHS thinking it sounded cool, then it being incredibly boring and esoteric, with little to offer beyond extremely dated 70s opticals and psychedelic filtering. So odd to see any hype for that one.

[dallywhitty]

Originally Posted by NeonStreetMelt

Altered States? More like Boredom States. I remember renting that on VHS thinking it sounded cool, then it being incredibly boring and esoteric, with little to offer beyond extremely dated 70s opticals and psychedelic filtering. So odd to see any hype for that one.

Why are you the way that you are?

[Wintermute]

Originally Posted by NeonStreetMelt

Altered States? More like Boredom States. I remember renting that on VHS thinking it sounded cool, then it being incredibly boring and esoteric, with little to offer beyond extremely dated 70s opticals and psychedelic filtering. So odd to see any hype for that one.

Same here -- it's making me wonder if I misjudged the film the one time I saw it (on VHS back in the '90s, in my early-to-mid teens).

I remember reading Roger Ebert's positive review, finding the plot description interesting, and being psyched to rent it...and then being very let down by how cheesy & mundane it was. Not nearly the mind-expanding, psychedelic trip I'd been hoping for. Maybe I just expected too much.

Honestly, I don't remember much about it, so hopefully my impressions back then were unfair, and a new 4K will bring the film to life in ways that the crappy old cropped VHS version couldn't...but I'm thinking that there might be lots of people who blind-buy it due to that cool new cover and end up disappointed.

[Brad1963]

I placed one last order with Barnes & Noble before the sale ends.

Mostly to catch up on a few releases I have always wanted but held off getting, plus one 4k upgrade.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by Areyakiddin

Pure racism. How could you do this to me and all the other people you have harmed Party City.

I do not know what you are trying to prove here but that was hilarious.

Did you wear that costume for Halloween?

If that “Party City” store has the same costume in black leather, it is not the Party City I know. What is this, Kinkiness in the Criterion thread?

[Karate_Bullfrog]

I’ve never heard of Deep Crimson. Is Criterion trying to compete with Radiance in blind buy releases? Because this feels more like a Radiance jam.

[Academyratio]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

And I agree the art concept for A History of Violence definitely would fit better with a Wes Anderson film or Captain Fantastic (very good film by the way). Not only is the cover artwork bad, but it is culturally insensitive/ignorant. Redskin or red man is “ an insulting and contemptuous term for an American Indian” (according to Merriam-Webster dictionary). The majority of businesses in the U.S. are aware of this. Of course you are not going to paint Viggo black or yellow, but why red if it carries the same implication. This is, without a question, a poor decision.

Uh, I'm Native American and think the artwork is brilliant. This is such an awful take, that's all I'm gonna say!

[Colonel Blimp]

I 1000 kajullion percent promise that anybody who watched Altered States at ages 15-25 on a cathode television from a VCR tape, hasn't really watched Altered States.

[Karate_Bullfrog]

I’m looking forward to History of Violence the most, and how this transfer will look.

It’s a really ****ing ugly early 2000’s movie. Maybe that won’t change, but I am curious. Because even when I had a standard disc, with a standard set up, I still thought the movie looked really low-rent.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Karate_Bullfrog

I’m looking forward to History of Violence the most, and how this transfer will look.

It’s a really ****ing ugly early 2000’s movie. Maybe that won’t change, but I am curious. Because even when I had a standard disc, with a standard set up, I still thought the movie looked really low-rent.

The samples from Criterion's page look promising.

https://www.criterion.com/films/3380...ry-of-violence

[Show spoiler]

[Karate_Bullfrog]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

The samples from Criterion's page look promising.

https://www.criterion.com/films/3380...ry-of-violence

[Show spoiler]

That definitely looks better. Doesn’t look washed out like how I remember the old transfer looking.

[Al St. John]

Absolutely love A History of Violence's cover art! Incredible.

Was lucky enough to see David Cronenberg in person at last month's Tribeca fest for the 50th (!) anniversary of Shivers. Along with Polanski, our greatest living director. (Rest in Peace DL.)

And sorry you Wiliam Hurt fans ... he definitely DIDN'T deserve that Oscar nomination which rightfully should have gone to Ed Harris. And don't even get me started on Viggo's snub ... the best lead performance of the year!