The Criterion Collection

[jw007]

I made my 2nd haul at B&N just now and picked up:

Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (50% sale + 20% coupon + 5/50 coupon + 10% discount = $12.96)
Love Streams (50% sale + 5/50 coupon + 10% discount = $16.20)
La Dolce Vita (50% sale + 5/50 coupon + 10% discount = $16.21)

I can't wait to see the blu-ray version of La Dolce Vita this weekend.

[The Great Owl]

I just bought The Complete Jacques Tati at Barnes & Noble for $47 and change by using the 20% off coupon in conjunction with the sale.

I could have waited a week and probably received an even better Barnes & Noble coupon in the mail...30% off or maybe even 40% off. In the end, though, I decided that the cons of venturing out into the Black Friday crowds at these stores would quickly offset the five or six dollars or so that I would have saved on the box set.

I'll freely admit that the need for this Tati set was not particularly urgent at this time, since I have not even started watching my Zatoichi set, my Cassavetes set, my Demy set, or my Lean/Coward set. These deals are tough to pass up, though. We take for granted that Barnes & Noble will always be around, and that these 50% sales will always happen, but that could change anytime. At least I'll finish watching the Vincent Price Collection II box set tonight, so I've got that going for me.

[CHEЯNOБLY!]

Originally Posted by grape_jelly

I really hope Criterion includes the Dick Cavett interview Godard did to promote the film. He talks quite a bit about Every Man For Himself/Slow Motion, and the juxtaposition of his personality and Cavett's is quite comical.

[Show spoiler]Here it is on Youtube, if anyone's interested: The Dick Cavett Show - Jean-Luc Godard pt. 1 - YouTube

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

Yep, the Cavett interview is on the disc. Two of them apparently. It's an amazing interview, I often use it in class.

Nice supplement. The Dick Cavett Show had so many classic interviews and great moments in talk show television...I used to love watching reruns of his show.

[lordmorpheus72]

Always amazed at the coupon use here... I got mine today for $15.20 with the 50% sale, 20%, and the member 10%. i've missed out on the $8 off $40 though. Should I have gotten that one in email or regular mail, or am I just missing it all together?

Originally Posted by jw007

I made my 2nd haul at B&N just now and picked up:

Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (50% sale + 20% coupon + 5/50 coupon + 10% discount = $12.96)
Love Streams (50% sale + 5/50 coupon + 10% discount = $16.20)
La Dolce Vita (50% sale + 5/50 coupon + 10% discount = $16.21)

I can't wait to see the blu-ray version of La Dolce Vita this weekend.

And jw007, which coupon is the 5/50 you speak of? Thanks!!

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by lordmorpheus72

Always amazed at the coupon use here... I got mine today for $15.20 with the 50% sale, 20%, and the member 10%. i've missed out on the $8 off $40 though. Should I have gotten that one in email or regular mail, or am I just missing it all together?

And jw007, which coupon is the 5/50 you speak of? Thanks!!

These coupons can be found in the Barnes & Noble sale thread of the Movie Deals forum on this site.

I tried to use the 5/50 coupon for my purchase today, since I've already used the 8/40 coupon with my membership, but the clerk could not run the 5/50 coupon through without negating the 20% off discount. I just shrugged it off, since I was already getting a great deal with the 50% off sale, the 20% off coupon, and my membership discount.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Can you guys suggest some really dark/depressing/emotional films in collection, like filled with raw/real emotion? Maybe include DVD only versions, but preferably bluray (unless I can get on bluray in UK!).

I have a lot already such as:

Autumn Sonata,
Antichrist,
Breaking The Waves,
Fat Girl,
Shoah (still not watched though!),
Qatsi Trilogy,
Salo,

Etc (link to my collection is in my signature).

Just really need some more and I got most the obvious ones I know, but if there are more than that would be me very happy (oh the irony!).

Thanks!

Oh I know there is this link for 'Tearjerkers'

http://www.criterion.com/explore/160-tearjerkers

But no idea what some of the others are like, and I want more than a tearjerker, I want a film so raw and powerful I'm left numb!

I don't know if you've seen it but Ratcatcher is GRIM! DVD only though.

[nondiatonic]

Just finished Bad Timing.

Incredible.

Now I really can't wait to blind buy Insignificance and Don't Look Now.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by nondiatonic

Just finished Bad Timing.

Incredible.

Now I really can't wait to blind buy Insignificance and Don't Look Now.

I have not seen Bad Timing but I really enjoy the other two. The Man Who Fell to Earth is excellent, as well.

[nondiatonic]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I have not seen Bad Timing but I really enjoy the other two. The Man Who Fell to Earth is excellent, as well.

Watched The Man Who Fell to Earth exactly a week ago. Wish I could watch a new Roeg every week.

I'll probably pick up the blu of Performance sometime soon (another blind buy).

[jmclick]

I just finished watching Charade ... what a great movie! I resisted it for years because it was a public domain title, and I stupidly figured it must not be that worthwhile ... as if a copyright lapse was somehow related to the film's quality. Boy, was I ever wrong! Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn made a wonderful team, the dialogue sparkled, the direction and editing were perfectly paced, and the use of color was brilliant. All that and a Henry Mancini score!

I now understand why one critic called Charade the closest thing to a Hitchcock film directed by someone other than Hitchcock. That's one of the many things I love about these Criterion sales ... they encourage me to try titles I would never purchase otherwise, and I'm always very pleasantly surprised.

[jlk5844]

Originally Posted by jmclick

I just finished watching Charade ... what a great movie! I resisted it for years because it was a public domain title, and I stupidly figured it must not be that worthwhile ... as if a copyright lapse was somehow related to the film's quality. Boy, was I ever wrong! Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn made a wonderful team, the dialogue sparkled, the direction and editing were perfectly paced, and the use of color was brilliant. All that and a Henry Mancini score!

I now understand why one critic called Charade the closest thing to a Hitchcock film directed by someone other than Hitchcock. That's one of the many things I love about these Criterion sales ... they encourage me to try titles I would never purchase otherwise, and I'm always very pleasantly surprised.

I absolutely love Charade! Dang, you reminded me of it, and now I want to give it another watch soon.

And your dead right on the last part. It's opened so many doors for my interests and taste. Getting into Criterion was one of the best things I've ever done as a film lover.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by lordmorpheus72

Always amazed at the coupon use here... I got mine today for $15.20 with the 50% sale, 20%, and the member 10%. i've missed out on the $8 off $40 though. Should I have gotten that one in email or regular mail, or am I just missing it all together?



And jw007, which coupon is the 5/50 you speak of? Thanks!!

As you know, The Great Owl answered your own question...

I am trying to imagine the $8/40 does not exist... life is far less complicated without that coupon.

Looking forward to more big savings next week!

[Al_The_Strange]

From the B&N sale, I've got a pretty sizable batch of blind-buys in, so I've been on a Criterion binge right now. I know blind-buying is never wise for these, but I try to pick ones I figure I'll like or have some interest in.

Vengeance is Mine: pretty gnarly and wicked at times. The story isn't quite what I thought it would be, but it is interesting in its own right. I just felt it dragged a bit.

F For Fake: Definitely gets a big fat A for presentation. Not sure if I found the actual subject matter nearly as interesting, but the film definitely has its moments.

Fish Tank: Not bad as far as these types of movies go - I enjoyed the filming style, the acting and characters, and parts of it are interesting.

Watching Fat Girl now, which seems okay so far (I know it'll get pretty messed-up in the end, from what I heard). While none of these films have really knocked my socks off, they are certainly keep-worthy, and chances are good that they'll grow on me after repeat viewings (like most other really good Criterion titles).

[Blu-Velvet]

Had several people over tonight for a Criterion double-feature of Ingmar Bergman, most of them first-time visitors to my basement theatre. We started off with the short EMMA on the BFI region-free Blu-ray of THE PARTY'S OVER, before the main features of WILD STRAWBERRIES first, and then PERSONA. All loved the films and were blown away by the picture quality projected on a big screen (the only way to watch them)! It's especially nice to revisit movies with an appreciative audience.

It had been years (more like decades) since I saw WILD STRAWBERRIES and it was even better (and much funnier) than I remembered. I'd seen PERSONA numerous times, most recently a couple of years ago, but each time you can notice more, and Criterion's Blu-ray is the best-looking copy I've ever seen (I saw it decades ago on a film society, have my own old 16mm film print, as well as the MGM DVD).

[Sifox211]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Can you guys suggest some really dark/depressing/emotional films in collection, like filled with raw/real emotion? Maybe include DVD only versions, but preferably bluray (unless I can get on bluray in UK!).

For relentless grimness touched occasionally by moments of luminous beauty, I can thoroughly recommend the Bill Douglas Trilogy (on BD in the UK from BFI).

[Kaiju]

I just finished watching my first Criterion film on Blu-ray: Paris, Texas. Great movie all around. The feels it provided... damn.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Can you guys suggest some really dark/depressing/emotional films in collection, like filled with raw/real emotion? Maybe include DVD only versions, but preferably bluray (unless I can get on bluray in UK!).

Hey Polaroid,

Here are a couple of suggestions for you:

1. Bastards from Claire Denis (with White Material in the Criterion Collection). One of the top UK releases this year. Superb soundtrack from The Tindersticks.

Tindersticks - Low Life - YouTube

2. A Love Story a.k.a. Tied -- Top film from Hélène Fillières (Bastards), with beautiful Laetitia Casta.There is a German Blu-ray, but it is not English-friendly. Go for our U.S. DVD release. Excellent presentation.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...highlight=tied

Tied - Trailer - YouTube

3. Gaspar Noe's Enter the Void.



4. A really dark mind-bender from David Cronenberg. Fantastic release.



5. Two excellent films from one of America's true originals. It is very, very unfortunate that not a single one of his films is in the Criterion Collection:

(The second cannot be watched with kids).



6. Since we will be posting a review for The Shooting/Ride in the Whirlwind, see this film from director Hellman. It was on my 2011 Top 10 list here, though there was hardly any enthusiasm for it on the site. Anyhow, a superb film from a legendary director.



7. Fantastic though difficult to watch film from one of your own. With yet another outstanding performance by Peter Mullan.



8. One of my favorite releases this year. If you don't have it yet, order a copy. As always, great presentation from Cohen Media. (Not depressing, but very beautiful and plenty of raw emotions).



9. About as real/raw emotions as you can get on film without getting in some trouble. Beautiful, beautiful film, with a legendary soundtrack from Gabriel Yared. Your local release is uncut.

Betty Blue 01. Betty et Zorg - YouTube

10. Another fantastic film with plenty of raw emotions.



11. Very dark and disturbing. Further down the road from The Night Porter.



12. Absolutely fantastic film, also very dark and intense.



13. This Oscar entry was one of the year's best films. Very realistic, shot on the dangerous streets of Manila. Great, great score from Robin Foster.

Robin Foster feat. Dave Pen & Emiliana Torrini - Life and Death (Metro Manila OST) - YouTube

14. Another Oscar entry. If you like the Dardenne Brothers' raw style, don't miss it.



15. I will be posting a review for Stalingrad tomorrow so let's also recommend the other classic, Come and See:



16. This film definitely falls into the "raw" category you mentioned, but unfortunately there is no Blu-ray release for it yet.



17. And the obvious one:



18. Outstanding film from Bruno Dumont, but only a French Blu-ray release at the moment (not good for English speakers). Here's the U.S. DVD release. Hopefully, Criterion will get a couple of films from the box set in the collection so that people here can see them.



19. I cannot recommend this film highly enough. You will like it a lot. With a touch of Depeche Mode No Blu-ray release yet. Super performance from former Turkish/German adult star Sibel Kekilli.

Gegen die Wand [Head-On] Trailer (2004) - YouTube

20. On par with the best from Von Trier and Haneke, so it should be right up your alley. No Blu-ray for this film yet.




You should be able to find something you like here, Polaroid

Pro-B

[jw007]

Epic post from Pro-B. Madness.

[Sifox211]

Originally Posted by jw007

Epic post from Pro-B. Madness.

I forgot about Come & See - surely one of, if not the greatest films about war ever made. I was lucky enough to see it on the big screen on its release - it is a scouring experience, and yet, like so many of these films, heart breakingly beautiful.

[jw007]

I just spent over half an hour researching all these films.

I added 4 titles to my queue at my local library.

Cosmopolis (How did I miss this Cronenberg film?!)
Head-On (looks really great)
The Edge of Heaven (same director of Head-On)
Enter the Void (been wanting to see this and never got around to it)

I wish more Abel Ferrara was available on blu-ray and in Region A format. Gotta investigate his latest ones.