The Criterion Collection

[brandon_260]

Why are people so convinced that we will get a Cronenberg box set? While I would love one, at this point it looks more like it could just be a back to back release of The Brood and Scanners, much like they've done with films by the Dardennes (Rosetta and La promesse), Satyajit Ray (Charulata and The Big City), Delmer Daves (3:10 to Yuma and Jubal), and others.

[Blu-Velvet]

Originally Posted by jw007

Blind buy question:

Which movie should I blind-buy?

Sweet Smell of Success

or

Kiss Me Deadly

?

I read somewhere that one of these films is very much ahead of its time. I forget which one it is. I'm leaning towards the former.

If you like noir at all, the simple answer is "yes." Each is good in its own way and somewhat ahead of its time, especially KISS ME DEADLY. KISS ME DEADLY is more extra-dark noir thriller with political overtones, and SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS is more darkly satiric character drama with social and pop-cultural overtones. Both look great on Criterion's Blu-rays.

[georgec]

Eyes Without A Face

Yes!!!

[dsman71]

La Notte does sound interesting - maybe my local video store has it to rent !

[Danchez]

I know that I'm beyond late to this train, but I feel like I've been somehow infected by all of the Criterions that I've recently purchased. Like, they've taken the shine away from the rest of my collection and non-CC releases have way less appeal than they used to.

So, my question is: Does this feeling ever go away?

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by Danchez

So, my question is: Does this feeling ever go away?

Nahh, that's why almost all of us separate them from the rest of out collections

[Jr7936]

well i never got the feeling, for me the region B titles i have and the rare european titles, also the arrow titles + arrow steels tend to overpower my collection more then the criterions.

[monorail91]

With the possible exception of Mulholland Drive, none of the American CC films are among my favorite American films.

On the other hand though, nearly all of my favorite foreign films are CC (largely because of Janus Films being the main distributor of great international cinema). So my CC is special to me in that regard, as my gateway to great international film.

[Jr7936]

this might sound weird but I actually hold my german deluxe limited set of pina on blu in higher regard then if I owned the criterion version, even though it doesn't have english subs,
i think cause it is packaged nicer, outer cardboard box, and a full color digipack, more swag, aka poster, art cards, book and a poster + it has a full bonus disc of extras in 2d and 3d and is all region

[Danchez]

Originally Posted by Jr7936

this might sound weird but I actually hold my german deluxe limited set of pina on blu in higher regard then if I owned the criterion version, even though it doesn't have english subs,
i think cause it is packaged nicer, outer cardboard box, and a full color digipack, more swag, aka poster, art cards, book and a poster + it has a full bonus disc of extras in 2d and 3d and is all region

See, I'm in a different boat entirely at the moment. I have the import of the British "Weekend" and I really want to replace it with the CC edition.

[FrankBlue]

Originally Posted by jw007

Blind buy question:

Which movie should I blind-buy?

Sweet Smell of Success

or

Kiss Me Deadly

?

I read somewhere that one of these films is very much ahead of its time. I forget which one it is. I'm leaning towards the former.

I haven't seen Kiss Me Deadly yet, but I did saw Sweet Smell of Success. Personally, the latter is excellent overall. So, for my bias, I lean on Sweet Smell of Success.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by chris_sc77

Sorry. I just dont handle disappointment and extreme lackluster efforts on the extras well I guess.

Would have loved to have seen at least one interesting (to me) titles this month loaded with good extras.

"Disappointment", meaning....oh, wait, what's the Criterion Anal-Retentive Fan Nag THIS month?--Cronenberg? We already got Badlands and The Game.
It's been hard to keep up with them lately.

[Mr. Thomsen]

Originally Posted by octagon

I have a hard time thinking of The Uninvited as horror. The tone seems just a little too light for that. I mean, you're right, it's not Topper but it's not The Innocents either.

And not for nothing, The Phantom Carriage took ghosts pretty seriously.

Haven't seen The Phantom Carriage yet, so I can't comment on that. I plan to get it in the B&N sale, though. Are the ghosts used for horror in it?

As for The Uninvited and The Innocents, well there's 20 years between the two. I'll agree that the former is more light than the latter, but I think it fits very well in with the general tone of the horror movies of the 1940s. Think Val Lewton.

To me, The Uninvited is definitely a horror movie. It's apparent in the way the ghost is presented - especially in the sound design which I still find rather chilling.

[Mr. Thomsen]

Originally Posted by Jr7936

see this another month where I can go without buying anything. the one movie i really hope criterion can remaster and get to blu ray would be jimmy cliff the harder they come. it's my fav criterion dvd and would love to see it in hd put out by criterion.

It's a bit futile waiting for that, as the Criterion DVD has been out of print ever since they lost the rights some 8 years ago. Currently, there is really no chance Criterion will upgrade this.

Of course one should never say never, as a few previously OOP titles have actually been re-issued when Criterion could negotiate the rights back (most famously Salò). But the recent story about MGM offering Silence of the Lambs to Criterion again but Criterion declining the chance to upgrade and re-release it shows that Criterion are not going to upgrade everything in their back-catalogue.

[Mr. Thomsen]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I
I'm really looking forward to reading people's reactions to Eyes Without a Face here, since a lot of you will be seeing it for the first time with the Blu-ray edition. I will not spoil anything plotwise, but

[Show spoiler]Eyes Without a Face plays out like you would expect an edgy-but-not-too-edgy 1960 horror flick to play out for a while, but then, suddenly...whoah!...they just showed that?...holy ****!....Nooooooo!

If you've never seen Eyes Without a Face, it will knock you flat on your tail. It really will.

Totally agree. My jaw hit the floor when I watched "that scene" for the first time.

[BAKA]

I shall pick up both Eyes Without A Face and The Uninvited, both of which I adore, at the B&N Criterion sale in November. I already have the Cassavettes' on Blu-ray from BFI. I didn't expect The Uninvited at all, a great film. I picked up the Exposure DVD just last year.

[Tin Drum]

Originally Posted by jw007

Blind buy question:

Which movie should I blind-buy?

Sweet Smell of Success

or

Kiss Me Deadly

?

I read somewhere that one of these films is very much ahead of its time. I forget which one it is. I'm leaning towards the former.

KMD is very good but Sweet Smell is brilliant. And it looks gorgeous and sounds amazing on blu. It also features one of my favorite special features from any Criterion disc - a documentary on/with the wonderful cinematographer James Wong Howe.

---

I am so stoked about the upcoming blu release of the Cassavetes set (Faces is only just one of the best films ever). I was on the fence with buying the regular dvd edition in the past few months (sold my original set years ago when I was a broke college student) and then the blu discs from the UK late last year.

And I can't wait to watch La Notte for the very first time. And, wow, love The Uninvited cover.

[FrankBlue]

The Criterion Collection movie titles I'm more incline to purchase from Barnes & Noble:

Che
For All Mankind
Ministry of Fear
Solaris (?)

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by jw007

Blind buy question:

Which movie should I blind-buy?

Sweet Smell of Success

or

Kiss Me Deadly

?

I read somewhere that one of these films is very much ahead of its time. I forget which one it is. I'm leaning towards the former.

Sweet Smell of Success for the win!

Kiss Me Deadly has some awesome moments, but it's a frustrating film in a few ways as well. Sweet Smell of Success, however, is a perfect ten across the board.

[shortmartin]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

This is the best Criterion line-up so far this year.

I cannot wait to upgrade my DVD of Eyes Without a Face.

I've always wanted La Notte and the Cassavetes collection.

In fact, every single title looks like a must-own. Glad the November sale will be the following month. Wow.

nicely put.

just getting to these b/c of my schedule/time zones, and these announcements make me a very happy camper.