The Criterion Collection

[nateynate87]

So with Rainer Werner Fassbinder's World On A Wire coming out on Tuesday, I was wondering, has anyone checked out the seemingly great DVD boxset releases in the UK?

Two from arrow and two from artificial eye, seems like a very cost effective way to get a wide variety of his films. Certainly doesn't seem to be any similar boxsets in the US.

[jacobsever]

Can't remember if it's been discussed, but does anyone think Criterion will ever release McQueen's Shame? I know it's getting a release by 20th Century Fox, and I don't expect it...but it would be cool!

[octagon]

Originally Posted by DLizzle

People who are happy about something often don't feel the need to tell other people,...

Unless of course whatever is making us happy is really freaking boring, then we can't wait.

On a completely unrelated note, even with the hiccups I have to say $59.91 for Godzilla, Belle de jour and Design for Living is pretty sweet.

[oildude]

Originally Posted by Darkcritic

Now, after thinking better about it, I am kind of getting excited about the possibility of a Taste of Cherry upgrade. It would be great to pair it up with Certified Copy and looking from what we already now, everything left should be upgrades (Or at least I hope they are). Maybe, Wild Strawberries and Taste of Cherry ?

That would make a fine Criterion Fruit Salad.

They had a similar opportunity to pair Letter Never Sent with one of my most wished for upgrades The Cranes Are Flying and didn't do it, but who knows. Fun to speculate, though.

I really am hoping for more upgrades each month going forward. The pace of upgrades has been my biggest let down so far with their 2012 release schedule. Where o where is Le Samourai?

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by jacobsever

Can't remember if it's been discussed, but does anyone think Criterion will ever release McQueen's Shame? I know it's getting a release by 20th Century Fox, and I don't expect it...but it would be cool!

There was some discussion a while back when it was theatrically released. I personally loved the film and it is my second favorite from 2011, but I don't want Criterion to choose it...I'd rather have the more obscure films and ones in need of a upgrade/blu-ray come from Criterion, I'm sure the Fox release will be just fine. (Of course, I would instantly buy it if they DID release it, but it isn't likely)

[keldons]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

Curious if A Separation is on Criterion's release schedule, though. Artificial Eye already has it out in the UK.

Sony Pictures Classics has that one. They do a pretty good job.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Arkadin

what about the people that don't care about either film and just wish Criterion would get back to what they do best--delivering world cinema classics in the best presentation possible for home enjoyment.
It seems obvious at present that this "ain't your father's Criterion".

They are still doing that dude. But also keep in mind that:

1. They have already released a ton of classic films on DVD. It may not be possible for them to upgrade all their previous catalog classics
2. As time goes by it gets harder and more time-consuming to find classic titles in the condition where they can do a good restoration/mastering and with a copyrights situation that's conducive to them. With the advent of blu-ray and its higher resolution the expected standard for visual excellence has also been significantly raised.
3. Restoring classic films is a very laborious and cost-intensive job. So they would need to pick up some titles where the amount of labor input is not as intense as others (Projects with an existing DI or films shot on DV are a convenient option since no negative/print scanning need be handled). Otherwise they would have periods with no or minimal releases and that's not going to look good on their balance sheets.
4. After they and other pioneers showed the market a case for restored home video versions for classic/obscure cinema, other studios have gotten in onto the act and so they may not have all the pickings to themselves. For instance Warner is doing a smashing job for some of its classic releases.

And I don't think unless you're obsessed with collecting every spine number in that massive collection, you should be worried that not every release by them is a classic. I have in all less than 40 CC releases, but almost all of them are films I consider damn good.

[Sukuri]

Thinking about ordering a couple of eclipses for this 50% off thing, any recommendations? Side questions does B&N give the eclipses 50% off during their sale?

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

I have the AE but I'd def double dip. I LOVE the film.

I blind-bought the Artificial Eye edition of Certified Copy, because I'd heard Criterion weren't going to do it.
We watched it the other day. Really good film, but I don't feel the need to double-dip on this one.
Recommended though

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by Sukuri

Thinking about ordering a couple of eclipses for this 50% off thing, any recommendations? Side questions does B&N give the eclipses 50% off during their sale?

1. Oshima, Gorin, Mizoguchi

2. Yes

[Wally Q]

For all this talk about how great the Criterion customer service is, I thought how they handled my situation was terrible. Basically they denied my order twice because the shipping and billing address were not the same (true the first time, wrong the second) and put a hold on my account for altogether $207 and change. Not only did I miss the sale but I nearly dipped into insufficient funds.

When I finally got a response back to the my second email, they said the orders were void and they didn't charge my account. Then why is my account still missing over two hundred dollars?

I'll continue following Criterion on Facebook and order their products through Amazon and BN but never again will I deal with their shop on the main site.

[Hawkguy]

I asked last night as well: If you made a purchase on their site and used the account credit Criterion offered, should the credit still appear in your account until the order ships (is charged)? Because it appears in mine even after I used it yesterday...

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

I asked last night as well: If you made a purchase on their site and used the account credit Criterion offered, should the credit still appear in your account until the order ships (is charged)? Because it appears in mine even after I used it yesterday...

my purchase has shipped and my $10 is gone from the account, so you might be lucky. I would wait though until you have your order in your hand before trying that $10 again.

[oildude]

Originally Posted by Sukuri

Thinking about ordering a couple of eclipses for this 50% off thing, any recommendations? Side questions does B&N give the eclipses 50% off during their sale?

What SpiderBaby said, plus I would also recommend the Larisa Shepitko set and the Warped World of Koreyoshi Kurahara.

You can't go wrong picking up the Shepitko set for $15 for two very good films.

[WhoIsTylerDurden]

Anyone else still waiting on shipping confirmation? Just curious as I have not received mine yet

[Darkcritic]

Originally Posted by Sukuri

Thinking about ordering a couple of eclipses for this 50% off thing, any recommendations? Side questions does B&N give the eclipses 50% off during their sale?

Eclipse Series 18: Dusan Makavejev Free Radical gets my highest recommendation. Probably my favorite Criterion release (Also counting mainline releases) .

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by Darkcritic

Eclipse Series 18: Dusan Makavejev Free Radical gets my highest recommendation. Probably my favorite Criterion release (Also counting mainline releases) .

Forgot about that one (as well as the Shepitko oildude recommeded). I fully recommend this as well.

[Fallglimmer]

Originally Posted by WhoIsTylerDurden

Anyone else still waiting on shipping confirmation? Just curious as I have not received mine yet

check your spam folder, I was wondering where mine was too and it was in there...even though all other mail from criterion came through fine.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by Wally Q

For all this talk about how great the Criterion customer service is, I thought how they handled my situation was terrible. Basically they denied my order twice because the shipping and billing address were not the same (true the first time, wrong the second) and put a hold on my account for altogether $207 and change. Not only did I miss the sale but I nearly dipped into insufficient funds.

When I finally got a response back to the my second email, they said the orders were void and they didn't charge my account. Then why is my account still missing over two hundred dollars?

I'll continue following Criterion on Facebook and order their products through Amazon and BN but never again will I deal with their shop on the main site.

Not to sound like I'm making excuses, but with the amount of crap and emails they're probably dealing with right now from people going WHAR GODZILLA WHAR, and other sale related stuff, they might have overlooked you unintentionally. I've had large companies delay a CS response to me, and they had more than enough manpower to cover it in comparison to Criterion.

It is a shitty situation, and I'd probably be just as upset. I'd keep emailing them (and include screenshots, as I find that helps in cases such as this), and I do agree that ordering from the main site isn't a good idea, since they aren't prepaired to handle a high volume of traffic.

It could also be an issue of slow processing by your bank/Criterion. It usually takes a few days for any charges and/or refunds to show up on my Visa, because the bank and/or the store don't do instant processing. There's also the issue with their web servers, when people brought the site to its knees, which could have caused a glitch with your account.

Again, keep emailing them. Put a read receipt and high priority on your e-mail when you send it, it should draw attention to it admidst the people asking about the sale, what titles they can release, and so on.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by octagon

Unless of course whatever is making us happy is really freaking boring, then we can't wait.

On a completely unrelated note, even with the hiccups I have to say $59.91 for Godzilla, Belle de jour and Design for Living is pretty sweet.

It sounds like a great deal. Have you watched Design for Living before? I'm interested in purchasing it, so I'm curious as to what people think of it.