The Criterion Collection

[BTTF_]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Isn't it "bollocks" ?

Maybe one of our UK posters can help out.

Call me out on the typo. I apologize for the mistake. I'll try not to make one in the future.

[tisdivine]

So my Jacques Demy boxset arrived a couple of days ago as the last shipment from the B&N sale. I have no idea why it took so long but its serverely damaged. Discs are ok tho. So i can order just a replacement box from criterion directly? I was thinking about returning it to B&N but none of my local stores have it in stock and if they ship one its prob going to be the same thing again. What do you guys think.

[jw007]

So I watched If.... for the first time last night and for the second time tonight (with commentary on), along with all the supplements. This is such a brilliant film and I can't believe I hadn't seen this until now. Lindsay Anderson's film is timeless because it could have used contemporary music from the late 1960s but chose not to. This is a story about anarchy and social repression in Britain but Malcolm McDowell's character of Mick morphed straight into Alex from A Clockwork Orange. I could just see the similarities at times and it was uncanny how there were certain mannerisms from Alex embedded in Mick already here. It was fantastic and if there ever was a double feature to watch, it would be both of these films back to back. If.... is one amazing film.

Does anyone else here like the movie too?

[ijustblumyself]

Is there any way at all international customers can take advantage of the Criterion.com sale?

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by ijustblumyself

Is there any way at all international customers can take advantage of the Criterion.com sale?

Only way is to have them shipped to a friend and have them forward them to you

Originally Posted by tisdivine

So my Jacques Demy boxset arrived a couple of days ago as the last shipment from the B&N sale. I have no idea why it took so long but its serverely damaged. Discs are ok tho. So i can order just a replacement box from criterion directly? I was thinking about returning it to B&N but none of my local stores have it in stock and if they ship one its prob going to be the same thing again. What do you guys think.

Does B&N offer partial refunds? if so try that and use the refund to buy the replacement from Criterion?

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by jw007

Does anyone else here like the movie too?

I like it quite a bit. In case you weren't aware, this is actually the first of a trilogy by Anderson about Mick. The others, which aren't as good, but are still well worth seeing, are O Lucky Man! and Britannia Hospital.

[bwdowiak]

Pretty slow last 24 hours, it appears, on this thread…

Here’s a few thoughts on 3 recent CC titles I saw:

Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion - I thought this was a good film that might be better with a second watch, but I wasn’t crazy about it. Maybe an understanding of Italy’s political climate at that time would enhance my appreciation. The transfer is absolutely fantastic!

Foreign Correspondent – One of the few somewhat essential Hitchcock films that I had not yet seen. This one definitely had its moments. I don’t think Joel McCrea really had the charisma to carry the lead role. George Sanders to the rescue! I’m convinced he made every film he was in that much better. I wish Hitch had used him more than twice. I guess it is considered a war propaganda film, but not blatantly so like David Lean’s In Which We Serve. (Thank God for that!) I’d rank it as my 2nd favorite Hitch in the CC behind The Lady Vanishes.

The Cranes Are Flying – This is a very accessible film in which its only real fault is in the incessant close-up shots of the main actress Tatiana Yevgenyevna Samoilova who plays Veronika.

[Show spoiler]During the first 15 minutes or so, I thought, “oh, cute actress!” but then to see her mope and pout for the last ¾ of the movie was enough to make me puke. (Ok, Slight exaggeration).

Her pet nickname given to her by her boyfriend in the film is “squirrel.” Maybe that sounds cute in Russian… ?! idk. I don’t have to explain to anyone how much that can potentially grate after a while. The film features some nifty camerawork and some clever shots to convey some crucial moments during the lives of the characters. This one, however, is miles behind Ivan’s Childhood.

[Polaroid]

Just finished INSOMNIA - so much better than Nolan's remake, (never been a fan of that film tbh).

Really great cast and yeah overall a brilliant film

[ultlife2013]

Nolan's Insomnia is just fine by itself, no need for comparisons.

[DaveyJoe]

It's definitely one of the better remakes I've ever seen.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by ultlife2013

Nolan's Insomnia is just fine by itself, no need for comparisons.

Im only making comparisons as its a remake which is pretty fair.

I found Nolans really weak and really forgettable - whereas this one has stuck with me and the transfer is superb (I did worry as the intro was so low quality but realized it was intentional lol!)

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by ultlife2013

Nolan's Insomnia is just fine by itself, no need for comparisons.

Nolan's version of Insomnia goes to great lengths to explain and rationalize certain aspects of the story. On its own terms, it works well as a thriller.

The original Norwegian version of Insomnia, however, is a much better film noir, because it does not reassure the viewer with redemptive story elements with respect to the antihero character.

There's no need to compare them in the sense that the original is a neo noir, and the remake is a police thriller.

My preferences are strong for the unrelentingly dark character study in the original film, although I saw Nolan's remake first.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Nolan's version of Insomnia goes to great lengths to explain and rationalize certain aspects of the story. On its own terms, it works well as a thriller.

The original Norwegian version of Insomnia, however, is a much better film noir, because it does not reassure the viewer with redemptive story elements with respect to the antihero character.

There's no need to compare them in the sense that the original is a neo noir, and the remake is a police thriller.

My preferences are strong for the unrelentingly dark character study in the original film, although I saw Nolan's remake first.

I saw the remake first and didn't know it was a remake so was surprised this was in collection, was sold on the cast and the visuals I had seen.

No regrets with this one not saying Nolan's is bad just wasn't as good as this one in my opinion.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

I saw the remake first and didn't know it was a remake so was surprised this was in collection, was sold on the cast and the visuals I had seen.

No regrets with this one not saying Nolan's is bad just wasn't as good as this one in my opinion.

I owned the Criterion DVD of Insomnia, and the new Blu-ray wins my vote for Greatest Improvement In Picture Quality from DVD to Blu-ray. The difference really is astounding.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I owned the Criterion DVD of Insomnia, and the new Blu-ray wins my vote for Greatest Improvement In Picture Quality from DVD to Blu-ray. The difference really is astounding.

Yeah I was so impressed with the comparison shots, it looks so date now on the DVD, I do love a good upgrade, really makes it worth it so glad I held off and didn't get the DVD

[aes3728]

This was posted on Criterion's Facebook page. Many people saying The Shooting. Never seen the film, but the left monitor you can read SHOOTING_processing. Guess if this was taken actually today we wont be getting Hellman's Westerns for a little while longer.

https://www.facebook.com/CriterionCo...type=1&theater

[Roninblues]

Originally Posted by SlickDamian

Two titles that I would really like to add to my collection as well, along with The Maltese Falcon and Sunset Boulevard.
Film noir is such a great genre.

The two that are out are quite good.

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-M...y/7707/#Review

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Sunse...y/7742/#Review

[ultlife2013]

Originally Posted by aes3728

This was posted on Criterion's Facebook page. Many people saying The Shooting. Never seen the film, but the left monitor you can read SHOOTING_processing. Guess if this was taken actually today we wont be getting Hellman's Westerns for a little while longer.

https://www.facebook.com/CriterionCo...type=1&theater

The comments on that post are so funny.

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

Pretty slow last 24 hours, it appears, on this thread…

Here’s a few thoughts on 3 recent CC titles I saw:

Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion - I thought this was a good film that might be better with a second watch, but I wasn’t crazy about it. Maybe an understanding of Italy’s political climate at that time would enhance my appreciation. The transfer is absolutely fantastic!

The essays in the booklet are helpful for this. They are worth checking out, if you haven't already.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by jayembee

I like it quite a bit. In case you weren't aware, this is actually the first of a trilogy by Anderson about Mick. The others, which aren't as good, but are still well worth seeing, are O Lucky Man! and Britannia Hospital.

Yes, I did notice that If.... is the first of a trilogy with those other 2 films as sequels. It's amazing how Malcolm McDowell played a school boy at age 25 and then later in A Clockwork Orange at age 28 as I didn't realize he was that old already. How fitting also that he is the actor who played the character who murdered Captain Kirk too. Seems like he more often plays the villain. Must be the eyes.