The Criterion Collection

[JeffTheMovieGuy]

Originally Posted by CriterionBlues

Getting ready to re-shelve some of my collection:

[Show spoiler]

It's beautiful

[Yami]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

Hmm.. Haven't seen that one.

It was voted the best Greek film ever made and it is a masterpiece. I'd thoroughly recommend it, if you get the chance to see it.

[jw007]

iScottie:

I like your attitude towards your Criterion Collection. In recent times I've become more picky with the titles I purchase. When I haven't seen the film yet, I usually try to watch it first from a rental or from the library to see if I actually will like the film. If I don't find anything stimulating or interesting to me, its a great indicator that I probably shouldn't buy the film. Janus Films has made their Criterion label incredibly addictive and tempting for many people, thanks in part to their brilliant marketing, design and quality control, and they are a perfect example of a company that knows how to get clients on board and buy their products (with the client not even knowing if he/she will like the product in the first place!). I don't know many other companies out there that have created this magical connection with the consumer.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by jw007

iScottie:

I like your attitude towards your Criterion Collection. In recent times I've become more picky with the titles I purchase. When I haven't seen the film yet, I usually try to watch it first from a rental or from the library to see if I actually will like the film. If I don't find anything stimulating or interesting to me, its a great indicator that I probably shouldn't buy the film. Janus Films has made their Criterion label incredibly addictive and tempting for many people, thanks in part to their brilliant marketing, design and quality control, and they are a perfect example of a company that knows how to get clients on board and buy their products (with the client not even knowing if he/she will like the product in the first place!). I don't know many other companies out there that have created this magical connection with the consumer.

Thank you, jw.

The Criterion Collection is an absolutely fantastic label. With the particular film being released put aside, they put out quality releases. Almost each release is loaded with hours of extras, beautiful restorations, new subtitle translations, and a nifty cover and essay about the film.

As long as the studio continues to exist, I will continue giving them my business.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Thank you, jw.

The Criterion Collection is an absolutely fantastic label. With the particular film being released put aside, they put out quality releases. Almost each release is loaded with hours of extras, beautiful restorations, new subtitle translations, and a nifty cover and essay about the film.

As long as the studio continues to exist, I will continue giving them my business.

As will I. In a perfect world, I wish Criterion monopolized the entire video distribution industry and was able to buy the rights, license and distribute every single film ever made on planet Earth. Well, not every film, but every good/great, essential or classic film. For that to happen of course would be impossible, but its just a dream of mine, because they do such great work with film restorations, supplements, commentary tracks and artwork.

[CriterionBlues]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

Are half of those still in the plastic wrap? If so, you have some watching to do!

Yeah about half of them. I have another stack about the same size that is all watched. Believe it or not, watching Criterions takes awhile. I manage about 2-3 a week.

[CriterionBlues]

Originally Posted by tisdivine

Hahah thats the 1st thing that popped in my mind as well. Instantly followed by WOW amazing collection.

Thanks. I only open the wrapping when I am ready to watch them. Maybe it is because they hold their resell value (not that I'd ever sell them), or because it keeps them protected.

A great many of this wall were purchased over the last year and I buy all the new releases.

[GenPion]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Nope. The only thing that I had ordered, cancelled, and later purchased during a Criterion sale was All That Jazz. Pro-B's review made me see a new perspective to the film that I could perhaps find rewarding in another viewing (the TV version I had was also censored, which didn't help).

Other than that, I feel fine with what I've gotten rid of thus far.

There is no point in owning them all. There's no way any one person can enjoy all of the films in the collection. I'm sure even Criterion's employees and the people helping to pick releases feel this way.

I know some like the collect them all because of the numbering system, but it really is impossible to appreciate every film included. I've seen Criterion's that rank amongst the best films of all time for me and ones where I wondered (upon seeing them) how they even ended up in the collection.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by CriterionBlues

Getting ready to re-shelve some of my collection:

[Show spoiler]

Most excellent.

This inspired me to run a quick count of my own Criterion Blu-ray titles. I own 168 SKUs. I'm too lazy to count the number of actual movies, since many of those SKUs are big box sets (Zatoichi, etc.). I've got a few more titles coming in the mail, so it'll be over 170 SKUs in a matter of days.

I also own a handful of choice Criterion DVDs that are not available yet in Blu-ray counterparts.

I've got some unwatched titles, though, yes I do. I'm slowly slowly working on that. I was caught up for a couple of years, but I've fallen behind in recent months.

I'll never own all of the Criterion titles. I'm not a huge Wes Anderson fan, for instance. I also quickly decided that I do not need to own Salo, or the 120 Days of Sodom after I watched it online last year. There are also quite a few genuinely intriguing ones (the Satyajit Ray movies, etc.), that I just may not ever get around to simply because I never really get around to them.

[CriterionBlues]

Originally Posted by GenPion

There is no point in owning them all. There's no way any one person can enjoy all of the films in the collection. I'm sure even Criterion's employees and the people helping to pick releases feel this way.

I know some like the collect them all because of the numbering system, but it really is impossible to appreciate every film included. I've seen Criterion's that rank amongst the best films of all time for me and ones where I wondered (upon seeing them) how they even ended up in the collection.

That depends on the person. Sure, there are the occasional duds, but they do a good job curating their library to appeal to a certain type of film fan. I've been a Criterion collector for nearly 15 years and have re-watched many of them. I'll watch many more in the years and decades to come. You're right that if a title doesn't work for you, that it is not worth keeping. I do that with other boutique labels, but Criterions are the ones that I tend to keep coming back to year after year. As you experienced, they are easy to sell, so I'll get my money back if I change my mind.

But you're right that a big part of it is the collection aspect. For most of my adult life I've wanted to own the complete Criterion Collection and now I almost do.

[Clare2904]

Originally Posted by CriterionBlues

That depends on the person. Sure, there are the occasional duds, but they do a good job curating their library to appeal to a certain type of film fan. I've been a Criterion collector for nearly 15 years and have re-watched many of them. I'll watch many more in the years and decades to come. You're right that if a title doesn't work for you, that it is not worth keeping. I do that with other boutique labels, but Criterions are the ones that I tend to keep coming back to year after year. As you experienced, they are easy to sell, so I'll get my money back if I change my mind.

But you're right that a big part of it is the collection aspect. For most of my adult life I've wanted to own the complete Criterion Collection and now I almost do.

You need to add your excellent Criterion blog to your signature. I'm sure many here would be happy to read.

[CriterionBlues]

Originally Posted by Clare2904

You need to add your excellent Criterion blog to your signature. I'm sure many here would be happy to read.

Thank you, Clare! I've been reluctant to do that because I'm a relatively new poster and didn't want people to think that I'm here for self promotion. I just love discussing film media and this is a great place for that!

My blog is CriterionBlues.com.

[Clare2904]

Originally Posted by CriterionBlues

Thank you, Clare! I've been reluctant to do that because I'm a relatively new poster and didn't want people to think that I'm here for self promotion. I just love discussing film media and this is a great place for that!

My blog is CriterionBlues.com.

Nothing wrong with self promotion, a lot of that around here Some of it is even good

[CriterionBlues]

Originally Posted by Clare2904

Nothing wrong with self promotion, a lot of that around here Some of it is even good

LOL. Done.

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by CriterionBlues

Yeah about half of them. I have another stack about the same size that is all watched. Believe it or not, watching Criterions takes awhile. I manage about 2-3 a week.

I used to do that, but other people have reported issues such as a bronzing or damaged discs, so now I unwrap them and visually inspect them I soon as I get them. My unwatched pile is still pretty high, though.

[ParaOK]

Originally Posted by CriterionBlues

Thank you, Clare! I've been reluctant to do that because I'm a relatively new poster and didn't want people to think that I'm here for self promotion. I just love discussing film media and this is a great place for that!

My blog is CriterionBlues.com.

Really cool blog.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by GenPion

There is no point in owning them all. There's no way any one person can enjoy all of the films in the collection. I'm sure even Criterion's employees and the people helping to pick releases feel this way.

I know some like the collect them all because of the numbering system, but it really is impossible to appreciate every film included. I've seen Criterion's that rank amongst the best films of all time for me and ones where I wondered (upon seeing them) how they even ended up in the collection.

As someone who owns them all, I obviously disagree. I don't need to love all the films right now to make it worthwhile to own them. Even the ones I haven't quite liked I've gotten something out of that I found valuable. The bigger point though is that I won't always be the person I am now. I'm constantly learning and growing and that has gigantic effects on what I like and appreciate over time. There are plenty of films that I disliked 2, 5, or 10 years ago that I now love.

[Martin_31]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

As someone who owns them all, I obviously disagree. I don't need to love all the films right now to make it worthwhile to own them. Even the ones I haven't quite liked I've gotten something out of that I found valuable. The bigger point though is that I won't always be the person I am now. I'm constantly learning and growing and that has gigantic effects on what I like and appreciate over time. There are plenty of films that I disliked 2, 5, or 10 years ago that I now love.

Yeah, as time passes and you revisit a movie, you might tend to like it more. The first time I saw 2001: A space Odyssey, I thought it was boring. The second time, I thought it was ground breaking and unbelievable. The third time, I absolutely love it. That was last year. So...in one year I saw that film three times. Now, I feel like watching it again, but I think you shouldn't stay watching the same films over and over again. You have to explore and be adventurous. See films that you never thought you'll be interested in.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

As someone who owns them all, I obviously disagree.

I think people sometimes get too hung up on the 'significance' of buying movies as opposed to renting or streaming or DVRing them. If you were to say 'I've decided I want to see every movie in the collection' nobody would blink.

Some people only buy their favorite movies or movies they think they're going to watch over and over. And that's fine.

Other people - like us, for instance - are more inclined to buy movies on spec. And that fine too.

When I first moved to BD I decided to make a point of collecting the AFI 100 and it's been very rewarding. Do I love every movie on the list? Of course not. But I love a lot of them and even the ones I'm not entirely crazy about are worth revisiting. And I probably wouldn't have gotten around to revisiting many of the titles I've come to really love (Network and All the President's Men are two prime examples) if I didn't have this particular focus.

And it's not like this an outrageously expensive hobby. Some people spend more on a single putter than I've spent on half my AFI titles combined

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by GenPion

There is no point in owning them all. There's no way any one person can enjoy all of the films in the collection. I'm sure even Criterion's employees and the people helping to pick releases feel this way.

I know some like the collect them all because of the numbering system, but it really is impossible to appreciate every film included. I've seen Criterion's that rank amongst the best films of all time for me and ones where I wondered (upon seeing them) how they even ended up in the collection.

Agree completely, i also keep track of the titles with a list only for blu-ray editions, i noticed the following:

From the 335 SKU's released (if my count is right)

Titles pending to see: 12
blu-rays from other labels of Criterion titles: 6
Criterion SKU's owned + wishlist: 143

That means there are 174 titles i have seen and don't plan to own (although i have like 10 i want to rewatch before deciding).

That is a large chunk of the collection, and it doesn't mean they suck for me, but i decide based on several and personal factors, i try to limit my collection to avoid spending too much but with more than 500 titles already i don't think i had made a good job at it . Still i am pretty sure that if i just went and buy everything i liked i would have much more.

Still this numbers indicate that i almost purchase 1 of every two Criterion titles i see, which is a pretty high percentage compared to most Studio releases, when i used to watch any movie on the video rental store i used to work, i probably decided to purchase 1 title of every 10-20 i saw, so seeing the Criterion Collection is one way to avoid a lot of bad to average films without having to look at reviews , of course this probably won't work for everybody, i had to live a few years seeing everything i got my hands on to form a taste in certain type of films.