The Criterion Collection

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Roninblues

Once you go Mac, you never go back.

A lot of my friends swear by the MacBooks. I needed to replace my Sony laptop that died last night, and I decided to give it a go. I'm still taking baby steps learning how to use this. Once I downloaded Chrome for Mac, though, the web surfing has been quite spectacular. More than anything, I like the whole "30 seconds from Power On to surfing this Blu-ray site" thing.

Anyway, enough hijacking the thread with that, and back to subject.

I got shot down when I tried to use the Barnes & Noble 20% Off coupon with the current sale for Late Spring, but I'm not in a huge hurry to buy more Criterions after what I've hauled in already from the sale this month. Prices are going to be pretty good on Amazon in December, I'm guessing. I got a lot of $17.99 Criterion Blu-rays last December from that site to kick off my collection.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Roninblues

I started with a Mac at home with no problems. I ended up with a job that uses Windows which has problems all the time, even with a support section that is constantly busy. Windows may be used more but it isn't anything I want to deal with on a personal level. I try not to deal with absolutes in anything because in the end it is only an opinion.

I still have PC for a work computer. On the personal computer front, though, I'm over dealing with antivirus services, updates, laptops that are nowhere near as durable as they used to be, etc. This MacBook was costly when I bought it at Best Buy earlier today, but there were no "associated costs" or associated hassles, like setting up antivirus or paying Geek Squad to help remove bloatware from a new PC (or spending a lot of time doing that myself). Just the Macbook in a small box, and that's all. It took about two minutes to set up, and that was all.

Windows still has its advantages, but the new laptops all have Windows 8 on them, and I figured that this was a good of a time as any to try MacBook.

I have no idea how to copy/paste photos and images on this MacBook, but I'll figure that out in time.

[smoss469]

PC's are great if you know how to use them or tweak them. Out of the box, most have junk that needs to go but it's fairly simple to remove all the nonsense that companies like Dell love to load.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by smoss469

PC's are great if you know how to use them or tweak them. Out of the box, most have junk that needs to go but it's fairly simple to remove all the nonsense that companies like Dell love to load.

True that. I've learned a lot about PCs simply because of spending so much time tweaking them, removing toolbars, removing bloatware, and such. I don't mind using Windows, but I've been curious to try this new setup for a while.

Back to topic...

Someone asked if Solaris is a good blind buy. It is one of my favorite Criterion titles, and it never ceases to astound me. I'm shaky on recommending it as a blind buy, because it's so otherworldly (pun not intended), but I personally hold it in high regard.

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Back to topic...

Someone asked if Solaris is a good blind buy. It is one of my favorite Criterion titles, and it never ceases to astound me. I'm shaky on recommending it as a blind buy, because it's so otherworldly (pun not intended), but I personally hold it in high regard.

I snagged it a few weeks ago from someone here on DVD, but due to the films run-time I haven't had time to sit down and watch it uninterrupted yet. Hopefully next week's 4 day weekend will solve that little problem.

[JJJ225]

Thinking of these for blind buys. Any opinions?

Black Orpheus
Traffic
Down by Law
Robinson Crusoe on Mars
The Spy Who Came in From The Cold
Paris, Texas
Broadcast News
Blow Out
Godzilla
Life of Oharu

[StLouisRibs]

Originally Posted by JJJ225

Thinking of these for blind buys. Any opinions?

Black Orpheus
Traffic
Down by Law
Robinson Crusoe on Mars
The Spy Who Came in From The Cold
Paris, Texas
Broadcast News
Blow Out
Godzilla
Life of Oharu

Robinson Crusoe on Mars is the film that made me interested in the Criterion Collection to begin with - a perfect example of a film I'd never have even heard of if the collection didn't exist, but everything I heard about it made me want it, from the moment I saw the announcement on this site. I finally got hold of it this month - and it really is quite spectacular! Like a 60's alternate take on Gravity.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by JJJ225

Thinking of these for blind buys. Any opinions?

Paris, Texas

Yes...yes...yesssssssss

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Cvalda

So typical Hans Zimmer McMusic, then

Yes, Hans Zimmer is starting to really get predictable with his scores these days. He peaked with The Thin Red Line I think and its been all downhill from there. "Zimmer'esque" should be a new term for him

[ccg1978]

Originally Posted by Hawkguy

Yes...yes...yesssssssss

+1 Paris gets better every time I watch it!

[vertigo12314]

Originally Posted by JJJ225

Thinking of these for blind buys. Any opinions?

Black Orpheus
Traffic
Down by Law
Robinson Crusoe on Mars
The Spy Who Came in From The Cold
Paris, Texas
Broadcast News
Blow Out
Godzilla
Life of Oharu

None of them. Rent first. Or get it from the library.

[anthonyg]

Originally Posted by JJJ225

Thinking of these for blind buys. Any opinions?

Down by Law
The Spy Who Came in From The Cold
Paris, Texas
Broadcast News
Blow Out
Godzilla
Life of Oharu

I love all of these. Paris, Texas and Blow Out being my favorites.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by JJJ225

Thinking of these for blind buys. Any opinions?

Black Orpheus
Traffic
Down by Law
Robinson Crusoe on Mars
The Spy Who Came in From The Cold
Paris, Texas
Broadcast News
Blow Out
Godzilla
Life of Oharu

Traffic and Paris, Texas

[Alloptions]

Originally Posted by drawohua

Tak Fak Shopping Centre in Mong Kok, Hong Kong sell Criterion Blu-ray for 235HKD, and usually they have in stock a couple days before the official release day!
but usually I go to Amazon/ CC official page to buy Blurays, it is still the cheapest after adding the shipping fee.

Thanks, thats good news, I will definitely go check that place out. It is at least 10% cheaper than other place I know of. I think I will buy Throne of Blood on day 1, its my fav Kurosawa.

I also shop at amazon too. B&N I had a bad experience with, so not again. I think CC dont ship to HK. I only buy 4-5 titles per order, so shipping per disc is still quite expensive.

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by demolitionkirby

I'm extremely disappointed right now. I pre-ordered Tokyo Story from B&N, and the package arrived today, but instead of getting TS, I received Planes. Then I found out that I got Planes because TS was out of stock. Now I have to send back Planes and get refunded because they don't have Tokyo Story. This better not happen when I order the Zatoichi Box on Tuesday Has this happened to any of you guys before during the sale?

??? They sent you Planes deliberately because TS was out of stock, or by accident - You make it sound like they did it on purpose?

[dorothyv]

What are the chances of the Dreyer box set or the Bergman Trilogy box set being upgraded to blu anytime soon?

I am think of picking up one (or both) of those dvd box sets at B&N when their 40% coupon becomes active during the Black Friday weekend. (Each would only be $21.60 with a membership discount and the 40% coupon).

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by demolitionkirby

Well when I talked to customer service, that's how they phrased it. I'm sure it was just a mix up, but who knows. I pre-odered it though, so I have no clue why they didn't have it in stock.

Well if they sent it to you on purpose, you shouldn't have to mail it back. You never asked for it, that's just silly.

(To be honest, they shouldn't make you send it back even if it's a mistake on their end)

[StonesEGF]

Originally Posted by JJJ225

Thinking of these for blind buys. Any opinions?

Black Orpheus
Traffic
Down by Law
Robinson Crusoe on Mars
The Spy Who Came in From The Cold
Paris, Texas
Broadcast News
Blow Out
Godzilla
Life of Oharu

The Spy Who Came in From the Cold
Paris, Texas
Blow Out

These are personal favorites of mine, and they would seem to be pretty safe blind buys. The Criterion presentations are also excellent.

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by demolitionkirby

Yeah, sorry for being vague. It was phrased like this by the customer service lady: "The reason you received the wrong item was because we don't have the product you ordered in stock". It's pretty ridiculous that I have to pay for it to get shipped back, and not even get the correct item or a reimbursement for having to ship it back to them. If it wasn't for the Zatoichi Box releasing during this sale, I would never order from them again. Also, what's this I hear about a 40% off coupon during the weekend of Black Friday? Is it in store only or can it be used online as well (if so, how can I get this magical coupon)

You need to call them and throw a royal fit. If you didn't order it, you shouldn't have to pay anything for them to correct their mistake.

I keep looking at The Magician but I honestly can't recall ever seeing it mentioned around here. I haven't really dug through the search results but I would've thought I would've stumbled upon at least a name drop in the last few months.

[dorothyv]

Originally Posted by demolitionkirby

Also, what's this I hear about a 40% off coupon during the weekend of Black Friday? Is it in store only or can it be used online as well (if so, how can I get this magical coupon)

http://forum.dvdtalk.com/11906536-post8445.html

The actual coupon probably won't be emailed out until a day or two before Black Friday.

Coupons don't work online with Criterions during the 50% off sales. But, they usually work in-store with 50% off Criterions or other sale items.