The Criterion Collection

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by jrsl76

They look nice, but are a real b***h to get perfect undamage copy. Drives me up the wall.

And if you're like me with no B&N or other brick and mortar in your neighborhood and have to rely on getting your Criterions through the mail the likelihood is even less.

[fdm]

Originally Posted by jrsl76

They look nice, but are a real b***h to get perfect undamage copy. Drives me up the wall.

+1, and I really hate slots.

I've learned to live with cardboard packaging, but have pretty much detested it ever since the day that digipaks were created for cds. And pretty much ditto most every flimsy cardboard concoction since.

I've passed on buying a good number of such things when I couldn't get a decent copy of something (which is probably a good thing in my case), and will continue to do so in the future too. (And lately importing box sets (or other cardboard items) has been a b***h and a half too, though domestic online ordering hasn't been a picnic either.)

Berlin Alexanderplatz is a thing of beauty, though, must say. Once in a while it's worth all the hassle.

[Carletty]

Originally Posted by Snicket

Thiiiiiiiis.

In fact if I had to choose between having 100% plastic cases or 100% digipacks, that would be a very hard choice.

Also another thing that bugs my OCD self is that not all their digipacks are the same damn height. My copies of Breathless and Sweet Smell of Success are different heights..

Another negative point: almost all of my DigiPaks seem to lean a bit to left, I don't know why.

[Polaroid]

Id choose 100% digipak IF they made them very sturdy and well built, look at AE's box set for Tarkovsky, its so well built and strong, love it!

well, only if company actually packaged in bubble wrap and not them small plastic vacuum packs lol!

Originally Posted by momaw

I'm starting to think I'm the only one who likes the digipacks...

Personally I thin the current styling (not like those original ones) is quite classy and the art work looks much nicer on them than in the amarays. They are a bit more work to keep pristine and relying on international shipping to get them can be a problem, but overall I like the digipacks I have more than the amarays.

Agree! with cases you get so much glare and is annoying, on matte digipaks you see the artwork at its best! and its like a gift you ave to unfold and open, its ace

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Agree! with cases you get so much glare and is annoying, on matte digipaks you see the artwork at its best! and its like a gift you ave to unfold and open, its ace

Until the cheap cardboard bends, tears, rips, or creases or the way the discs are slotted actually lead more to damage than protection (IAMMMMW and Zatoichi, I'm looking in your direction).

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by smoss469

Until the cheap cardboard bends, tears, rips, or creases or the way the discs are slotted actually lead more to damage than protection (IAMMMMW and Zatoichi, I'm looking in your direction).

True! but I usually take all discs out and store in a separate casing so its 1)easier to find film and 2) protects the stunning packaging.

My main gripe (as petty as they are) on my shelf they are slightly taller than the blue ray cases and they are a little wider so they stick out and also they get battered being delivered USA -> UK (they never use bubble wrap!?!?!).

My worst digipak/card case is Night of The Hunter, so flimsy and poooooor condition even for BRAND NEW with the wrap on it! but luckily its black so the white scuffs can be coloured in easily!

But yeah I do find myself having to colour white scuffs in a lot....

None of them are as bad as the WB Kubrick box set though lol, its basically glossy paper!!!

Still waiting for Criterion to make and sell custom bookcases so we can have the films artwork on display rather than only having spine shown haha!

[smoss469]

Heads up, DeepDiscount has Thief for under $20 right now.

[Dan_Shane]

Originally Posted by smoss469

Until the cheap cardboard bends, tears, rips, or creases or the way the discs are slotted actually lead more to damage than protection (IAMMMMW and Zatoichi, I'm looking in your direction).

Well, my response will likely generate a goodly amount of hate mail, but what are you folks doing that leads to the damage you describe? I have collected laserdiscs, records, tapes, books, magazines, comics, View-Master reels and packets, DVDs, and Blu-ray for decades. I do not use anything fancier than organized drawers or shelves for storage, and the only time I have experienced the kind of grief everyone is bemoaning is due to my own carelessness, and that has been exceedingly rare.

Yes, some cardboard packaging can be mildly frustrating if discs are inserted into too-tight slots, but I have yet to scratch my first audio or video disc out of hundreds that I have owned.

But I suppose what my father used to say is a cosmic truth: "Some people can tear up an anvil with a tack-hammer."

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by Dan_Shane

Well, my response will likely generate a goodly amount of hate mail, but what are you folks doing that leads to the damage you describe? I have collected laserdiscs, records, tapes, books, magazines, comics, View-Master reels and packets, DVDs, and Blu-ray for decades. I do not use anything fancier than organized drawers or shelves for storage, and the only time I have experienced the kind of grief everyone is bemoaning is due to my own carelessness, and that has been exceedingly rare.

Yes, some cardboard packaging can be mildly frustrating if discs are inserted into too-tight slots, but I have yet to scratch my first audio or video disc out of hundreds that I have owned.

But I suppose what my father used to say is a cosmic truth: "Some people can tear up an anvil with a tack-hammer."

The only time mine become damage dis if they are delivered with little care other than that I've had no real issues to be honest, except for Night of the Hunter which feels so fragile lol!

Oh and Last year at Marienbad was a pain cause it kept coming marked from factory due to the type of material (was marked under the wrap).

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by Dan_Shane

Well, my response will likely generate a goodly amount of hate mail, but what are you folks doing that leads to the damage you describe? I have collected laserdiscs, records, tapes, books, magazines, comics, View-Master reels and packets, DVDs, and Blu-ray for decades. I do not use anything fancier than organized drawers or shelves for storage, and the only time I have experienced the kind of grief everyone is bemoaning is due to my own carelessness, and that has been exceedingly rare.

Yes, some cardboard packaging can be mildly frustrating if discs are inserted into too-tight slots, but I have yet to scratch my first audio or video disc out of hundreds that I have owned.

But I suppose what my father used to say is a cosmic truth: "Some people can tear up an anvil with a tack-hammer."

Shipping causes most of it. Not all of us have a local store to go and sift through the duds.

[deepbreathsanddeath]

Two films I really hope to see in the criterion collection soon are PTA's Punch-Drunk Love and Wes Anderson's Life Aquatic. I'm dying to see both in a lovely HD presentation due to how beautifully shot they are.

There's an article from 2012 where a fan asked PTA about PDL on blu-ray and he apparently said he's working on it now and will be released "next year." Obviously there's no guarantee it'll be released by criterion but wasn't the DVD by Sony? And they just signed a deal with Sony so... Maybe soon?

[Dan_Shane]

Originally Posted by smoss469

Shipping causes most of it. Not all of us have a local store to go and sift through the duds.

Understood, though nearly all my purchases are made online (primarily Amazon), and I have not received a damaged item yet. I have, however, had to sort through damaged titles at Target due their unfortunate practice of spider-wrapping. I seldom see Criterion selections there, though, and their pricing would prevent me using Target as a source anyway.

[Clare2904]

Originally Posted by bdmartin134

Just watched Ivan's Childhood last night for my first Tarkovsky. I had blind bought the blu a few weeks back during B&N buy 2 get 1 deal.. I don't think I blinked once and my jaw would not shut. I was mesmerized by the incredible cinematography and outstanding acting by the young Ivan. Some of the shots reminded me of Kalatozov's The Cranes Are Flying and Letter Never Sent immediately, but Ivan was so much darker. Loved a lot of the shadows and contrast of the black and whites.
As a first viewing, I didn't really concentrate on the effects that war has on children etc., but more on the emotion and visual poetry that was being portrayed. I think most definitely on an upcoming second viewing, I'll understand it a bit more, but I've had this film on my mind this whole day. I love finding these sort of gems that still evoke a great film experience. Would love to see a previous Great Owl review if there is one and any one else's opinions or reviews to converse with.
Not sure which Tarkovsky I should go with next. I will definitely watch Solaris, Mirror, and Stalker, but don't think I have too much interest in Rublev at this point, yet that is.

I certainly picked a hell of a film for my first Criterion viewing experience. Watching a film from the POV of a child is always fascinating, and also heart-breaking.

Along a similar theme, though he is slightly older, is Ballad of A Soldier, another Russian WWII film that I highly recommend.

[Romulus]

Watched Foreign Correspondent on Hulu yesterday... have to say that I was less than impressed. While the beginning and the end of the film were pretty remarkable, the entire middle section connecting the two bored me to death. Didn't really like any of the characters either. Oh well, I'll have to try The 39 Steps next.

[bwdowiak]

I collected baseball cards between the ages of 7 and 15. I knew that many of them were considered valuable; back in the 80's there was a lot of (now ridiculous) talk that collecting cards was some kind of new stock market. I've always taken good care of everything I own, but when I found out that the tiniest soft corner would render a card worthless, it took a lot of the fun out of collecting and that was why I collected in the first place - FOR THE FUN!

Blu-ray discs are collectible, but there isn't much value attached to anything that is mass produced, so I don't get it. I absolutely want a clean copy, but as long as it doesn't come outright damaged, who cares? It is going to sit on a shelf with (in the case of some collections) hundreds of other discs. How many times have I read on this thread that people accidentally bought a disc not realizing that they already own it?

If I am choosing from an item at a brick and mortar store, I will absolutely take the time to choose the one that looks the cleanest, but if it is out of my control, then it is just that - out of my control!

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Romulus

Watched Foreign Correspondent on Hulu yesterday... have to say that I was less than impressed. While the beginning and the end of the film were pretty remarkable, the entire middle section connecting the two bored me to death. Didn't really like any of the characters either. Oh well, I'll have to try The 39 Steps next.

FC is one Hitch that I have yet to see. Of the other 3 in the Criterion Collection, I like The Lady Vanishes the best. I was actually mildly disappointed w/ The 39 Steps.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by Dan_Shane

Understood, though nearly all my purchases are made online (primarily Amazon), and I have not received a damaged item yet. I have, however, had to sort through damaged titles at Target due their unfortunate practice of spider-wrapping. I seldom see Criterion selections there, though, and their pricing would prevent me using Target as a source anyway.

If your USA ordering then its better than having customs getting their hands on them! I've had so many blu's arrived sliced open with a knife! its horrifying!

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by Carletty

Another negative point: almost all of my DigiPaks seem to lean a bit to left, I don't know why.

Yes, I know the feeling. You cannot stack the digipaks because it will stay slanted.

I still prefer the simplicity of the plastic case, I do not require any origami techniques to put the blu ray back in its case (fold here, fold there, etc.). I guess this topic is more a matter of opinion and preference.

Plastic cases for all blu rays.

[Brad1963]

Last year the FLASH sale was February 26, the year before on Valentine's Day. Any thoughts on this year? It has been a while since Criterion had one.

[Romulus]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

FC is one Hitch that I have yet to see. Of the other 3 in the Criterion Collection, I like The Lady Vanishes the best. I was actually mildly disappointed w/ The 39 Steps.

Totally forgot about The Lady Vanishes. Really need to check that out.

But seriously folks, if you haven't seen the packaging for Foreign Correspondent...

http://www.criterionforum.org/DVD-pa...ollection/1247