The Criterion Collection

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by *DrStrangelove*

I'm kind of iffy about a Branded to Kill blind buy now. Is there anything you can compare it to? Is Tokyo Drifter more accessible? I was planning on getting either today with the sale.

Ahhh heck.... I've been going in 20 different directions lately, so forgive me when I ask, but :

What sale?

[Alex DeLarge]

Originally Posted by *DrStrangelove*

I'm kind of iffy about a Branded to Kill blind buy now. Is there anything you can compare it to? Is Tokyo Drifter more accessible? I was planning on getting either today with the sale.

I can only say that I love Japanese cinema (from Teshigahara to Miike) and love love love the mad worlds of Seijun Suzuki. The Nikkatsu Noir Eclipse set is my favorite non-blu Criterion release and comes highly recommended. The upgrades on TOKOYO DRIFTER and BRANDED TO KILL are a revelation since the old dvds were OK...for late '90s transfers.

[HelmutNewton]

Originally Posted by billzfan

8 1/2 is one of the ten best films I've ever seen. I couldn't disagree more, but, to each his own.

Yeah, I love 8 1/2! In fact, I just watched it again last night.

[Barrysupreme]

I am interested to know peoples thoughts on Secret Of The Grain? I watched it this morning and was very much in love with it, I only ask as it doesn't gather much conversation in this thread

[Monty70]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

I watched Letter Never Sent on YouTube (using my TV as monitor) this morning. The story is pretty much straight propaganda (forgiven) but the visuals are often surreal and gorgeous. The cinematography is indeed jaw-dropping. Either cast & crew were under great peril filming this picture or it was brilliantly directed (perhaps both). I'm anxious to learn more about the film's production which makes the bare-bones release all the more frustrating.

I just watched the film on youtube as well. What an amazing/beautiful movie. It will be a real treat to view this in HD. I especially enjoyed the use of fire in the cinematography.

Your comment about the cast and crew being in peril during production is a bit of an understatement.

[*DrStrangelove*]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Ahhh heck.... I've been going in 20 different directions lately, so forgive me when I ask, but :

What sale?

Barnes and Noble 40% off bluray sale. It's on all blurays not just Criterions. I was wondering why there wasn't a thread in the sales forum.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by *DrStrangelove*

Barnes and Noble 40% off bluray sale. It's on all blurays not just Criterions. I was wondering why there wasn't a thread in the sales forum.

Thanks guys. I couldn't find anything other than a 15% off one item code.... I wonder if any other codes pop up

[ravenus]

Saw Seven Samurai on BD today. This was a triple-dip for me after the two Criterion DVD issues. The film looks amazing in hi-def. People are free to demo their Transformers and Avatar BD's, but for me THIS is what Blu-ray was made for

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Saw Seven Samurai on BD today. This was a triple-dip for me after the two Criterion DVD issues. The film looks amazing in hi-def. People are free to demo their Transformers and Avatar BD's, but for me THIS is what Blu-ray was made for

While I agree, Seven Samurai never look better to me (and good lord can't count how often I seen this movie) I think it's more normal for people to actually showcase Transformers or Avatar. If I were to show Seven Samurai to some of my friends they would look at me with a blank stare pretty much similar to a cat looking at the in coming headlights of a car in the middle of the street.

[oildude]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Thanks guys. I couldn't find anything other than a 15% off one item code.... I wonder if any other codes pop up

If you are a B&N member, or have an active free two month membership, the DVDTalk coupon page has six 20% codes all good through December 25. I just ordered Rapt and Pee Wee Herman's Big Adventure. There are still a couple of Criterions I want also.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Criterion Collector

So last night I decided to sit down and watch Amarcord.

I watched just a bit over an hour of it and...decided to turn it off and do some reading to see what all the fuss is about.

I have decided that part of the enjoyment that comes from watching Amarcord, probably comes from being familiar with him as a director.

Am not sure, I loved 8 1/2, La Strada and Nights of Cabiria but didn't care much for Amarcord. It looks gorgeous to be sure, but I think it gets too much props on account of being a very personal film for Fellini, having a lot of autobiographical elements from his own childhood and youth. Similarly I like a lot of Bergman's films but find Fanny & Alexander too long-winded to want to sit through again.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

I think it's more normal for people to actually showcase Transformers or Avatar. If I were to show Seven Samurai to some of my friends they would look at me with a blank stare pretty much similar to a cat looking at the in coming headlights of a car in the middle of the street.

That's true, even I show off Avatar to friends that want to see what Hi-def on a 50" TV looks like. But to me personally, the best application of hi-def has been in the more film-like appearance of classic films, the depiction of grain (I love film grain and dread the day when film will no longer be used to make movies), the stronger depiction of lighting, color and contrasts.

[oildude]

Originally Posted by Barrysupreme

I am interested to know peoples thoughts on Secret Of The Grain? I watched it this morning and was very much in love with it, I only ask as it doesn't gather much conversation in this thread

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

It's been in my Netflix queue for ages but I haven't watched it yet, so I would also like to hear opinions. Or maybe I should just go watch it now...

Secret of the Grain is one of the best films in the collection, and I have praised it every chance I get. I rank it highly together with Still Walking as one of the true gems in the Criterion Collection, one of those underrated releases that occaisionally gets mentioned here.

SOTG does an effective job of portraying the lives of first and second generation immigrant North African families in French society. I really appreciate its textures. On the surface, it is about an older man who, having become "unprofitable" at a struggling shipyard after many years of working there, has to find a new meaning for his life so late in the game. Harnessing the support and love of those around him, he is resolved to turn what could have been a personal tragedy into the pursuit of a dream.

But beneath the surface are multiple story threads revealing a range of overt and subtle themes. To me, the main underlying theme concerns the decay and loss of traditional community values of second and third generation immigrant youth as told through the family dynamic of the older man. It is the love of his girlfriend's daughter that gives the film its hope and promise of redemption. The last half hour is mesmerizing and suspenseful in a way that I did not expect.

Intertwined with this theme is a damning look at the snobbish elitism of French civil servants and the condescending bureaucracy to which the man must subject himself in order to realize his dream for a new start. The need for permits and approvals, all the while being lectured by those who dare not risk everything for a dream, is a heavy weight that he must bear and has a huge influence on the decisions he takes.

I have rewatched it several times. Along with a touching story and terrific acting, I think it is one of the most strikingly colorful and beautifully shot movies in the Criterion Collection. This film was made to be seen on blu-ray.

[Hawkguy]

I'd completely forgotten about the sale. Thanks for the reminder, Joe Dalek. Ordered Branded to Kill for $17.97! (glad I cancelled my amazon pre-order for it now)

[stobbart]

Originally Posted by Criterion Collector

So last night I decided to sit down and watch Amarcord.

I watched just a bit over an hour of it and...decided to turn it off and do some reading to see what all the fuss is about.

Then I learned that Fellini's later films lacked a strong narrative and that turned off some critics.

At the moment, I have a limited knowledge of Fellini as I have only watched Nights of Carbiria, which I enjoyed quite a bit. I do, however, have the Criterion editions of Variety Lights, The White Sheik, and 8 1/2 as well.

I have decided that part of the enjoyment that comes from watching Amarcord, probably comes from being familiar with him as a director. I sort of relate it to watching Jay and Silent Bob Strike back, without having first watched Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, and Dogma.

While some parts might seem entertaining, you really need to have seen a wider body of the directors work in order to "get it" and have an appreciation for all of antics the film contains.

Perhaps this is a bit of a wacky comparison...but that's the best conclusion I can draw.

I will give props to Criterion for the PQ on this bd. I would consider this a disc to show off to friends while showcasing how great a catalog title can look. Simply gorgeous!

Anyway, I have decided to watch Variety Lights, The White Sheik, and 8 1/2 (in that order) to gain a better insight to Fellini and his work. Then I am going to revisit Amarcord with a "fresh" perspective and see what I think.

I see Amarcord like any other coming of age movie. I would even put it in the same catagory as: Sandlot, Super 8, Stand By Me, etc. Like any coming of age film you can appreciate it and enjoy it more if it "connects" with your own childhood.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by ravenus

That's true, even I show off Avatar to friends that want to see what Hi-def on a 50" TV looks like. But to me personally, the best application of hi-def has been in the more film-like appearance of classic films, the depiction of grain (I love film grain and dread the day when film will no longer be used to make movies), the stronger depiction of lighting, color and contrasts.

I am always amazed what they manage to achieve with many of these classics that I saw countless times on TV and VHS (and even DVD) looking horrible. To see the picture match the quality of the stories is for me quite a bonus

[TriuneImpurityRites]

althought it's not classic-old , I find Thin Red Line to be EPIC demo quality .

[oildude]

Tonight I was standing in line to check out at B&N with a copy of The Lady Vanishes and my "Mystery" 20% coupon in hand. There was a guy in front of me asking the cashier how much his mystery coupon was worth, she told him she could not tell him unless she scanned an item first. He grabs a candy bar and she scans it and the coupon.......he had a 50% coupon!

She gets excited and tells him he got lucky and to go and find something he might like, reminding him all blu-rays are 40% off so the coupon will stack. This guys says no, just ring up the candy bar.

She sort of looked at him a second, then rang it up. He even asked her to put it in a bag.

Freakin' candy bar wasn't even a good one. The living dead do walk among us.

[octagon]

That's pretty funny but I have to say, considering how hard people - myself included - hammered last year's 'mystery' coupon it's kinda nice to see at least one go B&N's way

[PitchersDuel]

is there a site/list that lists all the criterion blu-rays?