The Criterion Collection

[NoirFan]

For all of you considering supporting Arrow's move into North America (and every passionate film fan should be), this little stat from the Criterion Forum will give you some (thread-related) food for thought:

Just to put those gold list prices into perspective, if you buy every 2014 release from Criterion for 50% off, you will have spent just under $1500.

[jscoggins]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

At least we're not watching Videodrome from our workplace (See? I kept this Criterion-related.).

[jw007]

I posted this in the "Criterion to Exchange Defective Discs" news posting:

I just checked everything again and it appears the the Sonopress pressing is VERY VERY different in labeling than the Sony pressing. You see, I discovered that the IFPI is a lot smaller on the Sonopress disc and its more hidden away and very difficult to read, but I discovered I had 4 Sonopress discs out of the lot!

Here are the results of my findings:

Walkabout: IFPI LB42 (Sonopress) (BAD!)
Summer Hours: IFPI LB42 (Sonopress) (BAD!)
Pierrot le Fou: IFPI L021 (Sonopress) (BAD!)
Howard's End: IFPI L021 (Sonopress) (BAD!)
"M": IFPI L322 (Sony) (GOOD!)
Seventh Seal: IFPI L324 (Sony) (GOOD!)
Paris, Texas: IFPI L324 (Sony) (GOOD!)

If this helps anyone determining whether or not they have a Sony or Sonopress pressed disc, I am happy to be of assistance.

Thank you to jayembee for originally posting the defective IFPI Sonopress codes.

[pro-bassoonist]

Ali: Fear Eats the Soul Blu-ray REVIEW



Outstanding presentation. The film looks sensational on Blu-ray. Really!

On a slightly related note, I viewed The Vanishing and will do my best to have the review up late tonight. It looks remarkable. The difference between the old DVD and the upcoming Blu-ray is literally like night and day. The technical presentation is on par with Insomnia -- probably one of the very best looking Criterion releases this year The film, of course, is a modern classic.

Have a great week, guys

Pro-B

p.s.

Also have a ready review of The Killers. Coming later today.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

On a slightly related note, I viewed The Vanishing and will do my best to have the review up late tonight. It looks remarkable. The difference between the old DVD and the upcoming Blu-ray is literally like night and day. The technical presentation is on par with Insomnia -- probably one of the very best looking Criterion releases this year The film, of course, is a modern classic.

I'm extremely pleased to read this.

[shadedpain4]

If anyone has a copy of The Orphic Trilogy that they would like to/be willing to part with, pm me. I would like to (preferably) trade for or purchase a copy. Thanks!

[ShellOilJunior]

A question for discussion:

Which film do you think is Criterion's 'flagship' blu-ray title?


My choice: Seven Samurai

The release has plenty of extras, an informative booklet, excellent artwork and packaging and the film is great. There are other releases just as good but I select this one because of its importance and influence. Additionally, it's a gateway film to more titles within the collection and beyond. If someone asked me who is Criterion this is the first release I show them.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

A question for discussion:

Which film do you think is Criterion's 'flagship' blu-ray title?


My choice: Seven Samurai

The release has plenty of extras, an informative booklet, excellent artwork and packaging and the film is great. There are other releases just as good but I select this one because of its importance and influence. Additionally, it's a gateway film to more titles within the collection and beyond. If someone asked me who is Criterion this is the first release I show them.

I agree that Seven Samurai is the flagship title.

The Criterion DVD of Seven Samurai was certainly my gateway drug into the Collection, and the Blu-ray is even better.

Seven Samurai is not my favorite Criterion title, but it's a great example of what the Collection has to offer in terms of bringing classics to light that are now under-recognized on these shores.

[ccg1978]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

A question for discussion:

Which film do you think is Criterion's 'flagship' blu-ray title?


My choice: Seven Samurai

The release has plenty of extras, an informative booklet, excellent artwork and packaging and the film is great. There are other releases just as good but I select this one because of its importance and influence. Additionally, it's a gateway film to more titles within the collection and beyond. If someone asked me who is Criterion this is the first release I show them.

You can't forget about Benjamin Button

[edwinaac]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

A question for discussion:

Which film do you think is Criterion's 'flagship' blu-ray title?


My choice: Seven Samurai

The release has plenty of extras, an informative booklet, excellent artwork and packaging and the film is great. There are other releases just as good but I select this one because of its importance and influence. Additionally, it's a gateway film to more titles within the collection and beyond. If someone asked me who is Criterion this is the first release I show them.

It's hard to find a better example than Seven Samurai

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I agree that Seven Samurai is the flagship title.

The Criterion DVD of Seven Samurai was certainly my gateway drug into the Collection, and the Blu-ray is even better.

Seven Samurai is not my favorite Criterion title, but it's a great example of what the Collection has to offer in terms of bringing classics to light that are now under-recognized on these shores.

Criterion's recommendation for starters is Breathless.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

A question for discussion:

Which film do you think is Criterion's 'flagship' blu-ray title?


My choice: Seven Samurai

The release has plenty of extras, an informative booklet, excellent artwork and packaging and the film is great. There are other releases just as good but I select this one because of its importance and influence. Additionally, it's a gateway film to more titles within the collection and beyond. If someone asked me who is Criterion this is the first release I show them.

I have always thought that Seven Samurai is the "right" answer.

That being said, I'll give one that is assuredly the "wrong" answer, but I'll make a pitch for it as being an important release and representative of many things Criterion is great at.

That title is: Heaven's Gate

it was somewhat of my "gateway" title, or at least it was a gateway into my looking into all of their blu-ray releases. it served as such because Cimino, of course, had the Best Picture winner with The Deer Hunter - a film everyone knows about. HG seems to be championed by more of the art house crowd (has always been well received in Europe if I understand correctly) and deserved a reevaluation.

somewhat ironically, being that the film has been referred to as one of the "worst films of all time," it was my first CC blu-ray title. I love the director approved blu sticker, the booklet is impressive, and the transfer is one of CC's best. the restoration demonstration just floors me. I've shown it to friends and they agreed.

CC did wonderful work with this film! I'd guess that no one else would have put the effort into this film, but I'm glad they did.

as I've said before, the movie itself is indeed flawed, but there are moments of absolute artistic brilliance that are on par both with The Deer Hunter and with other CC "great" titles.

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Criterion's recommendation for starters is Breathless.

I was going to say Breathless myself, but I think I might go for Brazil. Back in the early days of DVD it was the title which showed off what Criterion were capable of, and interested in doing. The initial Seven Samurai was a relatively light affair, it wasn't until the rerelease that it became a landmark edition.

[blu-bry]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

A question for discussion:

Which film do you think is Criterion's 'flagship' blu-ray title?


My choice: Seven Samurai

The release has plenty of extras, an informative booklet, excellent artwork and packaging and the film is great. There are other releases just as good but I select this one because of its importance and influence. Additionally, it's a gateway film to more titles within the collection and beyond. If someone asked me who is Criterion this is the first release I show them.

I have to wholeheartedly agree! The current Blu-ray is the 3rd Criterion iteration of this film that I have purchased. I had the single disc DVD years ago, then the 2 disc DVD and now the 2 disc blu-ray. I hope they don't improve it for a while.

[jw007]

My vote for flagship release in the Criterion Collection is for the John Cassavetes box set. You simply couldn't find this anywhere else and no other video distributor out there with the exception of BFI would take a chance on releasing his work, which is in many ways an acquired taste.

[Gusto-Guus]

New topic of discussion:

CC Best Crime/Darma film:

For me (I've watched) is:

Investigation of a citizen above Suspicion

Wanna watch, High and Low

Anyone have any idea which Detective based crime/drama is CCs best?

[Sinthetic]

I don't think there's a finer crime film than Diabolique in the collection. High and Low is damn good too.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

A question for discussion:

Which film do you think is Criterion's 'flagship' blu-ray title?


My choice: Seven Samurai

The release has plenty of extras, an informative booklet, excellent artwork and packaging and the film is great. There are other releases just as good but I select this one because of its importance and influence. Additionally, it's a gateway film to more titles within the collection and beyond. If someone asked me who is Criterion this is the first release I show them.

You really cannot go wrong with either The 400 Blows or Seven Samurai - two of the most essential films of all time.

[LPMA]

I get so sad whenever Seven Samurai is brought up because it did absolutely nothing for me.

[CMNPlanet]

Received the new keep case, stand-alone BD edition for Foreign Correspondent today:

[Show spoiler]

The booklet has been reworked, not just resized from the dual-format version. It's now a fold-out booklet like the recent booklets for The Innocents and Macbeth.

Cover is officially labeled as the second printing; the disc is not.