The Criterion Collection

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by aardvark77

So which titles will Criterion be releasing during B and N's sale?

Considering that the sale will most likely be running through July into the first week of August, are you asking which titles will be released in that period?

If so, these are the titles released mid-July through the end of July:

Down by Law Blu-ray Upgrade (July 17th)
The Last Days of Disco Blu-ray Upgrade (July 24th)
Metropolitan Blu-ray Upgrade (July 24th)
Eclipse Series 34: Jean Grémillon (July 24th)
Le Havre Blu-ray (July 31st)

Looking at that, now I see why they had these announcements.

[BluPix]

Originally Posted by Narcissus

My Criterion Collection is at least 80% blind buys {yes i may be clinically insane}, and I have not been disappointed once.
My question is this:
does anyone else do this?

I do this quite frequently.In fact the percentage of Criterion blind-buys for me may be just a bit higher than yours. But, like you, I've never been disappointed. This is partly because I do a bit of research into each film I don't know much about and also that my tastes are pretty diverse and unusual, much like the Criterion Collection itself.

[BluPix]

On Saturday, I watched, all in one sitting,



Completely engrossing film and I can see why it became as revered as it did, showing "the other side" of a hard life in France that most people — including many French — know nothing about.

[dsman71]

Very few of my blind buys are Criterion. I gave up that habit after disliking Shock Corridor and Sweet Smell of Success.
Not every film is my cup of tea, simple as that

[Hubunkey]

I have been on a criterion binge lately after having to sell all of mine a few months back. Looking to get a almost complete collection

[zafisher94]

My father and I can't wait for the B&N sale. Hopefully though we can stick to our limit. Every time I say I'm only going to get 2-3, and I end up with 8-10 lol

BTW, I was shocked today to find out Costco sells some Criterion bd's.

[kazama]

Originally Posted by BluPix

On Saturday, I watched, all in one sitting,



Completely engrossing film and I can see why it became as revered as it did, showing "the other side" of a hard life in France that most people — including many French — know nothing about.

It's one of my all time favs, so I'm really happy when I see people discovering this little gem. If you like the director's style then I strongly recommend you to check Kassovitz's other masterpiece, Assassin(s).

I also read that his new film, L'Ordre et la Morale (english title: Rebellion) is just as good as his older films, so I can't wait to see it.

[RojD]

Originally Posted by oildude

I googled and found a cached post with my impressions of Leon Morin, Priest from a few weeks ago that was among the posts wiped out in the site crash. I thought I would repost it, since this is a fantastic film that doesn't get much notice.


I would just like to put in a big thumbs up for Leon Morin, Priest. I finally got to this one after it sat on my shelf for seven months. I waited way too long.

It is one of the best in the collection, in my opinion. Directed by Jean-Pierre Melville, Leon Morin, Priest is primarily dialogue driven and is extremely well written. That may not make it a choice for everyone, I suppose, but I thoroughly enjoyed its atmosphere and its intelligence.

The story takes place in a Vichy village during the Nazi occupation of France, and focuses on the relationship between a widow who is a commited communist and atheist, and a young priest who becomes her guide down a spiritual road she did not know she wanted to travel. The film is a marvel of exploration into what it means to have faith and to seek that which is the best in ourselves. At the same time, there is a strong sub-theme revolving around smouldering sexuality, as the woman finds herself becoming attracted to the priest. The way this relationship is handled in the film is one of its highlights, restrained and realistic, with no weepy melodrama. The viewer is drawn into understanding the longings and the denials of both characters, and what it means to be truly commited to something larger than ourselves, with the sacrifices that entails.

Jean-Paul Belmondo as the priest does a fantastic job, as does Emmanuelle Riva as the widowed communist. And in a supporting role as the woman's young daughter, the movie also features Patricia Gozzi, about four years before she starred in one of my favorite films Rapture. I had no idea Gozzi was in the film until I saw her name in the opening credits.

I thought this was an amazing film, too, so understated and so intense. What impressed me here is that Melville manages to show how the characters displace their sexual desire for each other into religious terms--a grand Catholic tradition-- and he manages to grow their love for each other and their religious life simultaneously. I don't know of another film that works on both levels so seamlessly. And he does it mostly through dialogue.

And another thing I like here is the excess. Films often like all the detail clipped and tucked in, but you get a big range of excess characters here (collaborator supervisor, child's friendship with Nazi officer) and lots of "unnecessary" context detail. For somebody like me, this really adds to the film.

Glad you found your post. Great film I'd heard very little about before it appeared on Crit blu.

[kristoffer]

Dvd beaver has reviews up of the Samurai Trilogy. Looks really good!

[ParticleDan]

Originally Posted by kristoffer

Dvd beaver has reviews up of the Samurai Trilogy. Looks really good!

My copy shipped from DD yesterday. I'm even more excited to see this after reading Gary's review and seeing the screencaps

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by kristoffer

Dvd beaver has reviews up of the Samurai Trilogy. Looks really good!

This will be all watched in one day. Can't wait. Mine is in transit as well!

[Hendershot737]

I was able to watch a couple from my collection yesterday. Forbidden Games and The Lady Vanishes. I absolutely loved Forbidden Games. I enjoyed The Lady Vanishes, but I feel that Forbidden Games was on such a different level...I also tend to enjoy things of the macabre The Lady Vanishes wrapped up too nicely for me whereas Forbidden Games felt real and poignant.
I'm sure nobody thought that someone would be comparing and contrasting these two movies on a Sunday morning, haha. Not that I'm really comparing, but merely giving my two cents that will probably fade into the forum abyss (if not deleted by blu-ray's database...I kid, I kid )
Overall, if you haven't watched Forbidden Games, I highly recommend it. And kudos to Criterion for having such a wide spectrum of movies (not in terms of locale diversity...I know this is a touchy subject for some...though it is a bit true...I'd like to see more films come out of the "lesser used" nations).
So, yeah. If you take anything away from this, do yourself a favor and pick up Forbidden Games if you can (I know it's out of print). Great stuff! I look forward to checking out some more Clement in the near future. And I'm always up for recommendations from you fine folks (Spiderbaby?). I know Criterion isn't the only company to purchase movie's from...

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by BluPix

On Saturday, I watched, all in one sitting,...

An entire 97 minute film... in ONE sitting??? Now, that's dedication. People around here could learn something from this.

[zafisher94]

Originally Posted by Narcissus

My Criterion Collection is at least 80% blind buys {yes i may be clinically insane}, and I have not been disappointed once.
My question is this:
does anyone else do this?

Every Criterion I have bought and every Criterion movie on my wish list are all blind buys. so far im 24/24 that I enjoyed very much. I trust Criterion, as well as what I know I like, so hopefully the other 43 Criterion movies on my wish list will all be enjoyable too

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

An entire 97 minute film... in ONE sitting??? Now, that's dedication. People around here could learn something from this.

Wow, I must really be impressive then, since I can watch 5 or more films in a row. I'm getting ready to start My Cousin Rachel, the version with Richard Burton, after viewing The Rules of the Game, M, and Breathless all in a row. Think I'll watch a few more after this one as well.

[DarkRyder]

I finished Le Petit Soldat and Les Carabiniers and it's quite sad that the latter film is not mentioned as much.

Le Petit Soldat was not as great as I had hoped; the first half dragged for me, but the second half really picked up and my thoughts on the film greatly improved. Nonetheless I wasn't as impressed with the film as I had hoped. Probably because it was too linear Godard for me. There's nothing wrong with that, but probably not what I was expecting.

Les Carabiniers on the other hand was surreal, bleak, and just really good. That ending, my god. I wish there was a better transfer of both films available.

It'd be cool if Criterion picked up both films, especially since they have released most of Godard's 60s era. Can't wait till I finish this era! Next up is Contempt!

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by DarkRyder

I finished Le Petit Soldat and Les Carabiniers and it's quite sad that the latter film is not mentioned as much.

It'd be cool if Criterion picked up both films, especially since they have released most of Godard's 60s era. Can't wait till I finish this era! Next up is Contempt!

Are you serious, I praise Les Carabiniers to the moon on here all the time (this and La chinoise the only 2 60's Godard films I even watch anymore.). And both Les Carabiniers & Le Petit Soldat will receive Criterion releases, whenever Rialto gets it together.

Speaking of which, if no one has seen Luchino Visconti's The Damned or Les Carabiniers, they both come on TCM on June 17th (might need to DVR them for the people that can't stay up).

[DarkRyder]

Sorry, I've never seen you post about it, but it deserves all the praise it can possibly receive. I'll get through the rest of his work eventually. La Chioise does look interesting.

I'm curious to see what it will look like in HD. Another thing, I wonder what version will be shown; I saw the 75-minute version, but on IMDB it says the original runtime is between 80-88 minutes.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by DarkRyder

Sorry, I've never seen you post about it, but it deserves all the praise it can possibly receive.

I'm curious to see what it will look like in HD. Another thing, I wonder what version will be shown; I saw the 75-minute version, but on IMDB it says the original runtime is between 80-88 minutes.

How did you see it? The Fox Lorber dvd I have says 80 mins (as well as TCM's website. It could be shorter, never paid attention to my player when the film is on to see.). Never heard of an 88 Minute cut, it might just be a PAL transfer situation.

The film's screenplay was written by Roberto Rossellini, which was based off a play. The film is also a homage to Jean Vigo, so what's not to like?

[TJS_Blu]

For What It's Worth

If you are like me and don't actually go to the stores for the July sale

&

If you want The Gold Rush, The 39 Steps, & Shallow Grave, you can pre-order now from B&N and get them in June for $20.26 a title.

AFAIK, those are the only pre-orders priced at $30.39 today during B&Ns B2G1 "sale". No you cannot combine with an online coup.

I would do it, but don't want all of those titles.