The Criterion Collection

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by LUX43

Something to maybe check out --

Just found The Darjeeling Limited blu-ray at walmart for $3 clearance. The back paper info card was all wrinkled and the "Director Approved" sticker was half ripped off. Once I took the plastic wrap off and re-aligned the artwork it looks about mint. Couldn't believe the price.

It's one of the most divisive titles, but for three bucks, what the heck...

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by LUX43

Something to maybe check out --

Just found The Darjeeling Limited blu-ray at walmart for $3 clearance. The back paper info card was all wrinkled and the "Director Approved" sticker was half ripped off. Once I took the plastic wrap off and re-aligned the artwork it looks about mint. Couldn't believe the price.

Probably the luckiest find at a Walmart ever haha.

[SammyJankis]

I get the sense of awe with both The Tree of Life and 2001, but that's where the comparisons end. I don't think the two films have much in common like some do.

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

The Ultimate Gangsters set will be out soon with The Petrified Forest. Duke Mantee!

One of my most anticipated releases. Some great Cagney Gangster films in this release as well as Petrified Forest. Little Caesar / Public Enemy / White Heat

Speaking of Gangster movies I would love for Criterion to get a hold of 1932 Scarface. Movie deserves a restoration and a HD release.

Its amazing at this point we have not seen The Big Sleep or Key Largo. I assume this is Warner Bros. Maybe if they would quit rereleasing and repackaging the same movies over and over we can get some more classics.

African Queen looks great on Blu, but I have to admit until the Bluray I never really noticed all the model shots.

Bogart on Criterion. Those were the days

[mdonovan]

Originally Posted by Banned User

One of my most anticipated releases. Some great Cagney Gangster films in this release as well as Petrified Forest. Little Caesar / Public Enemy / White Heat

Speaking of Gangster movies I would love for Criterion to get a hold of 1932 Scarface. Movie deserves a restoration and a HD release.

Its amazing at this point we have not seen The Big Sleep or Key Largo. I assume this is Warner Bros. Maybe if they would quit rereleasing and repackaging the same movies over and over we can get some more classics.

African Queen looks great on Blu, but I have to admit until the Bluray I never really noticed all the model shots.

Bogart on Criterion. Those were the days

Not to derail the topic .... But remember this ?? So sad I sold my LD player

[the sordid sentinel]

Received Leon Morin, Priest today. Blind buy. Different type of Melville from what I gather. Couldn't pass up the $19.99 price. Hope to check it out some day soon. In less happy news my order of Le Cercle Rogue officially went into limbo today. I extended the order but believe that ship has probably sailed.

[The Great Owl]

My viewing of Videodrome last night made me think of one of the few remaining video rental brick-and-mortar places left in the Atlanta area...



Videodrome has been around forever, and they feature a great many obscure films and Criterions readily available for rental. Unfortunately, the location of the store is a ways away from where I live, so it's not always practical for me to make it over there, but I try to support when I can.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by the sordid sentinel

Received Leon Morin, Priest today. Blind buy. Different type of Melville from what I gather. Couldn't pass up the $19.99 price. Hope to check it out some day soon. In less happy news my order of Le Cercle Rogue officially went into limbo today. I extended the order but believe that ship has probably sailed.

There are a couple of Barnes & Noble locations around here that might still have Le Cercle Rouge. I hope that you can find it, because it's such a brilliant Criterion offering.

[the sordid sentinel]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

There are a couple of Barnes & Noble locations around here that might still have Le Cercle Rouge. I hope that you can find it, because it's such a brilliant Criterion offering.

Checked the nearest one to me (Macon) and it was a no go. Hopefully Studio Canal releases it down the road ala The Third Man. Will definitely buy then.

[Abdrewes]

Revisiting The Girlfriend Experience, which I would argue is one of the key cinematic texts of the 21st Century, made me pretty bummed out that Soderbergh is "retiring." Even if it is just for a few years, he will be sorely missed. At least we currently have several Criterion BluRay editions of his films.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Revisiting The Girlfriend Experience, which I would argue is one of the key cinematic texts of the 21st Century, made me pretty bummed out that Soderbergh is "retiring." Even if it is just for a few years, he will be sorely missed. At least we currently have several Criterion BluRay editions of his films.

I'll buy Traffic one of these days. I got so wore out on that film when it first came out on DVD many years ago that I still have not had an urge to revisit it. Excellent use of Brian Eno's "An Ending (Ascent)" in the final moments, though.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I'll buy Traffic one of these days. I got so wore out on that film when it first came out on DVD many years ago that I still have not had an urge to revisit it. Excellent use of Brian Eno's "An Ending (Ascent)" in the final moments, though.

Take a look at the extras on that set. WOW!

[The Great Owl]

I've been thinking about Videodrome all day since revisiting the film via the Blu-ray last night. I'm glad that Criterion carried the DVD case artwork over to the Blu-ray, for one thing, because the Blu-ray looks just as much like an actual Betamax tape.

Videodrome is not a perfect film by any stretch, but it is a gloriously prophetic film. As I watched it last night, I kept thinking about a book that I read a couple of years ago, The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains. Cronenberg's philosophies about our addiction to visual media are all the more relevant in present day with respect to our internet culture, and the computer screen is simply another "retina to the mind's eye." I love how Cronenberg does not provide an easy way out with an all-encompassing explanation of certain events, because the hallucinatory images force us to wonder where reality begins and ends with our own relationship to entertainment and electronics.

We were blessed to have Videodrome and the first Tron movie both released in the same year. I own both of them on Blu-ray, and am thinking that a double-feature night might happen in the not-too-distant future.

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Revisiting The Girlfriend Experience, which I would argue is one of the key cinematic texts of the 21st Century, made me pretty bummed out that Soderbergh is "retiring." Even if it is just for a few years, he will be sorely missed. At least we currently have several Criterion BluRay editions of his films.

I honestly need to revisit The Girlfriend Experience. As of now, it is one of my least favorite Soderbergh films. I think I just may have not been in the mood when I first saw it.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Revisiting The Girlfriend Experience, which I would argue is one of the key cinematic texts of the 21st Century, made me pretty bummed out that Soderbergh is "retiring." Even if it is just for a few years, he will be sorely missed. At least we currently have several Criterion BluRay editions of his films.

I really disliked that film.

I understand that it's main focus was the stock market's affect on several individuals, but the entire thing didn't work for me.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by brandon_260

I honestly need to revisit The Girlfriend Experience. As of now, it is one of my least favorite Soderbergh films. I think I just may have not been in the mood when I first saw it.

I'm gonna write a little piece on it, but in short, it's Soderbergh's finest visual achievement. Not because of its sensuousness (which it can be), but its thoughtful camera placement & inventive use of focus. I don't think there's an ill considered shot in the film.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I really disliked that film.

I understand that it's main focus was the stock market's affect on several individuals, but the entire thing didn't work for me.

Your take away is only a fraction of what it's about, because only some of her clients are affected by the flux of the stock market. The central plot really has nothing at all to do with the stock market.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Your take away is only a fraction of what it's about, because only some of her clients are affected by the flux of the stock market. The central plot really has nothing at all to do with the stock market.

But it still has an affect on her business and her personal life.

[Scottie]

The only Soderbergh films I actually like are Traffic and Out Of Sight.

Magic Mike was decent and a lot better than I expected. I haven't seen the Ocean films in a while, but if I recall correctly, they were decent enough. Otherwise, I didn't really like The Girlfriend Experience or Sex, Lies, and Videotape.

I have a few other ones (Che, Erin Brockovich, and soon Side Effects), but I haven't seen them yet.

[Scottie]

Criterion just posted this on FaceBook.



Hopefully it's a hint that we'll get a Picnic At Hanging Rock announcement Wednesday.