The Criterion Collection

[JJJ225]

Originally Posted by dorothyv

+1

I have already held off on purchasing / pre-ordering some new titles that I really want (Investigation of a Citizen, Tess, Fantastic Mr. Fox) because of that damn digipak packaging that they are using with the 3-disc dual-format releases.

I know "to each, their own," but you're really gonna miss out on some of these amazing releases just because you don't like cardboard packaging?

[UseY0ur1llusi0n]

Originally Posted by demonknight

Sorry I'm late to the party. I see:
-Scanners
-A Raisin in the Sun
-The Beetles (A Hard Day's Night)
-Picnic at Hanging Rock

The Beatles*

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I like all of my Criterion titles enough to revisit in the future. If I had to rank my Criterions in order of preference, though, then Nashville would be down at the bottom. I gave a four-star User Review to the Blu-ray, because I found quite a few aspects of the story to be interesting, and I also love how the Criterion presentation made a good case for this movie's place in history. It's just not a title that I want to revisit all of the time in the same way that I want to revisit the Melville films or the Hitchcock films.

I'll give 3 Women a chance someday, based on your above comparison. Thanks!

I'm also holding on to Nashville to give it another shot down the road, because a few of my favorite films in the collection took more than one viewing (Marienbad and The Thin Red Line, now my all time favorite film, being the big two that stick out.) I think my biggest issue with Nashville came from the performances which a) didn't line up to my tastes musically and b) I thought bloated the film instead of helping move it along.

[JJJ225]

Disliking Nashville seems bizarre to me.

Regardless, if you haven't seen 3 Women, you should. Especially if you like Persona and Mulholland Drive.

[dorothyv]

Originally Posted by JJJ225

I know "to each, their own," but you're really gonna miss out on some of these amazing releases just because you don't like cardboard packaging?

I'll probably give in and buy them anyway by the time that B&N's July sale rolls around. Until then, I'm still holding out (a sliver of) hope that there will be a change in the packaging.

[GenPion]

As to the topic of Criterion packaging:

I love the standout packaging. It is much more unique and feels more special somehow. Of course, the plastic cases are quite nice too, but it's nice to have some variety in the way Criterion releases their products. The beautiful Zatoichi set is a prime example.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I have some bad news and some good news...

The bad news is that The Lady from Shanghai will apparently not be released by Criterion this year.


The good news is that a 4K restoration of The Lady from Shanghai is being released as a Turner Classic Movies exclusive Blu-ray/DVD combo on January 27, and that it is now up for pre-order on this link...

http://shop.tcm.com/the-lady-from-sh...ollection_sony


The even better news is that I just pre-ordered myself a copy. $29.94, including shipping.

Thank you for the information, I also pre-ordered myself a copy. One of my favorite film noir.

Thanks again.

[Page14]

Originally Posted by momaw

Argh. B&N have now declared my 50% off purchases lost. They would only refund. They would not replace the order. I'm really bummed because the order included the Zatoichi Box Set (along with Tokyo Story, Late Spring and Gate of Hell). It'll cost me considerably more to replace them now.

The same sort of thing happened to me with an order I placed with them in early December, but the only title I ordered was Battleship Potemkin. They canceled my order without my even knowing about it. What's weird is that I received the printed shipping sticker from B&N in an envelope all by itself (in January), but no movie. When I questioned the Post Office about it, they apologized and said the movie must have been separated from the sticker somewhere along the line. ??? (I have since re-ordered the same movie from Deep Discount for about $1.50 more than the B&N sale price).

[JJJ225]

Originally Posted by GenPion

As to the topic of Criterion packaging:

I love the standout packaging. It is much more unique and feels more special somehow. Of course, the plastic cases are quite nice too, but it's nice to have some variety in the way Criterion releases their products. The beautiful Zatoichi set is a prime example.

I prefer the plastic packaging, but only because it's smaller. Space is a premium in a tiny Manhattan apartment! It seems silly, but the bigger packaging really fills up the space quicker. It's also why I'd never buy those big collector's packages (Singin in the Rain, Lawrence of Arabia, etc.).

[jw007]

Originally Posted by lemonski

Ugh..for a $50 MSRP product, it's cheap, nasty, and mostly awful. Can't they make up their minds and stick with ONE TYPE OF PACKAGING? Preferably not a crappy one like this? I mean, the logical thing would be to have a version of the clear case with hinged disc holders inside, but oh no, they had to do something DIFFERENT again

I'm all about plastics I hate to say it. Ever since the dual-format editions were started, I didn't like it. It creates more need for extra packaging and space which means there will be far less plastic editions and more paper/cardboard editions coming out, in order to accommodate the extra discs and booklets. I wish they didn't have to put more and more of their new releases out in digipacks. Oh well. Maybe this is one way Criterion wants to make more money, by eventually offering plastic replacement cases for $5 a pop. I hope I'm wrong though.

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I have some bad news and some good news...

The bad news is that The Lady from Shanghai will apparently not be released by Criterion this year.


The good news is that a 4K restoration of The Lady from Shanghai is being released as a Turner Classic Movies exclusive Blu-ray/DVD combo on January 27, and that it is now up for pre-order on this link...

http://shop.tcm.com/the-lady-from-sh...ollection_sony


The even better news is that I just pre-ordered myself a copy. $29.94, including shipping.

Wish they shipped internationally. :C

[Mansinthe]

need some help ! i wanna use the buy 3 pay 2 sale from B&N. it looks like i would have to make 2 orders to use it properly for 6 movies.

help me pick 3 releases please....i want "important" movies.

Cohen Media:
La Beauté du Diable

Kino:
Nostalghia

Criterion:
La Notte
Autumn Sonata (this is a must have, i want to own all bergman criterion)

Repulison


i liked solarias and ivans childhood, so i should probably get nostalghia (and the sacrifice) at some point.

but im not sure if the Kino release is good enough to give up a "criterion slot" in my order. and what about La Beauté du Diable
ive never heard of this one before but it does look interessting

should i just go with criterion releases here? (i know its kinda strange to ask that here)

[bizarre_eye]

Personally I'd go with the following titles, but it all comes down to personal opinion.

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

Kino:
Nostalghia

Criterion:
Autumn Sonata
Repulsion

[Mansinthe]

something wrong with La Notte ? the review sounds good and the trailer does as well. and i own no italian movies yet expect "vincent"


looks like i can order 6 movies and get the discount for 2 movies like its supposed to work out


La Beauté du Diable
Nostalghia
La Notte
Autumn Sonata
Repulison
8 1/2 (fellini)

would be another option as well. but im not sure if i will like the italians here, godard movies do look great as well in the trailers but so far i didnt like breathless and une femme marie enough to watch them ever again.

[K1NG J0RDAN]

Thinking of ordering 3 Women, been aiming to see it for a while now. Sissy Spacek!

[bizarre_eye]

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

something wrong with La Notte ? the review sounds good and the trailer does as well.

Notte at all (sic)

However, it's not a film I rate as highly as the other three I quoted. It all comes down to personal opinion though, and there will be others here who will no doubt rate La Notte very highly indeed.

[pro-bassoonist]

Martin Scorsese’s World Cinema Project Blu-ray



There is an excellent video interview with Turkish-German director Fatih Akin on one of the discs in the box set where he discusses the first Turkish film to win the prestigious Golden Bear Award in Berlin: Dry Summer.

I wanted to also encourage you to see dierctor Akin's own Gegen Die Wand a.k.a Head On, which in 2004 was the first German film in 17 years to win the Golden Bear at the Berlinale. Like Dry Summer, Head-On became very controversial in Turkey, for a number of different reasons (you will to have see the film to understand why). It did not help much that the beautiful actress Sibel Kekilli was once an adult performer for Private/Penthouse either. Things became quite surreal when the film's story 'evolved' in real life.

Also see the terrific The Edge of Heaven.

Criterion's box set is simply superb!

(I don't know how easy it is to get these DVDs now as I've had them for many years, but there are active Amazon links below).

Gegen die Wand [Head-On] Trailer (2004) - YouTube

Pro-B

[baheidstu]

Originally Posted by jayembee

I seem to recall that there was one Ken Loach film about working class Brits that had subtitles on the print in its theatrical runs because the accents were so hard to work out.

On edit: Maybe it was Mike Leigh, and not Ken Loach. I'll have to see if I can find out which film it was.

It was Riff Raff by Ken Loach. It starred a pre-Trainspotting Robert Carlyle and took place on a building site in London. There were a variety of accidents in that one and the VHS releases in North America were subtitled. My parents were both British so I could understand that one fine but Kes, oh man, that was a different story. The dialect was so thick and restricted to such a certain part of Yorkshire I'm sure many Brits could barely understand it.

[bizarre_eye]

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

godard movies do look great as well in the trailers but so far i didnt like breathless and une femme marie enough to watch them ever again.

Godard's a very 'hit or miss' director for me. I absolutely love Alphaville (I'd probably put it in my Top 100 films of all time), but Breathless and Weekend left me fairly cold and indifferent. Pierrot le fou is another one of his I enjoy though.

[baheidstu]

Originally Posted by JJJ225

I prefer the plastic packaging, but only because it's smaller. Space is a premium in a tiny Manhattan apartment! It seems silly, but the bigger packaging really fills up the space quicker. It's also why I'd never buy those big collector's packages (Singin in the Rain, Lawrence of Arabia, etc.).

The plastic is more durable too. I always worry that something might happen to the digipack like it'll get ripped or the plastic tray will come away from the base. At least the plastic case can be replaced if need be.