The Criterion Collection

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by smoss469

As Owl said, I understand thinning the herd for upgrades or for space limitations but I never understood the logic of a mass purge because "your tastes have changed" Honestly your tastes changed before, they'll most likely change again.

I don't think I was specific enough.

Up until about...3 years ago...I found myself watching generic rom-coms, action blockbusters, and what not...until I watched Mulholland Drive.

Since watching Mulholland Drive, my interests have all together changed. When I purged all of my SteelBooks and most of my DigiBooks at the start of last year, I replaced several of the films in their standard cases. Take a film like Blood Diamond. I used to love it when I was in high school, but upon rewatching it, I found nothing rewarding about the watch.

On the subject of Criterions, I'm planning on getting rid of the ones I dislike...not because my interests have changed...In fact, The Criterion Collection has helped open me up to a new world of film and has helped establish my new perspective on film that I've been developing over the past several years. I've been holding on to a lot of Criterions from the start that I have never had any interest in. Of course it's a stupid reason to hold on to films you don't like or to buy films that don't interest you, but that's neither here or there.

Hell, I've even been holding on to Criterion DVDs that I've already upgraded to Blu-ray (whether it be by Criterion or another studio).

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I've been holding on to a lot of Criterions from the start that I have never had any interest in. Of course it's a stupid reason to hold on to films you don't like or to buy films that don't interest you, but that's neither here or there.

I've got a few I don't care for, so I understand that perfectly. Which ones are you thinking of getting rid of?

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by smoss469

I've got a few I don't care for, so I understand that perfectly. Which ones are you thinking of getting rid of?

Yeah, it's not matter of interests, but more of a "it's time to let go of these things now". Plus, I don't plan to get rid of any of them until after I have watched / rewatched them.

However, for starters, I will more than likely get rid of America: Lost and Found set (I only really liked The Last Picture Show and found Five Easy Pieces to be quite good, as well), the Spalding Grey films (And Everything Is Going Fine / Gray's Anatomy), the cult films (Brazil / Fear and Loathing / Repo Man), and whatever else I haven't particularly cared for.

I try to think in terms of rewatchability. Take a film like Hunger. I think it's an exceptional film, but I don't think I'd ever want to see it again. The same thing goes for the documentaries.

I honestly don't know yet, but I feel like it's for the best.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I honestly cannot think of any Blu-rays in my collection that I want to sell.

I have sold off some of my Blu-rays. In some cases, it was an upgrade (like replacing an early BD of Casablanca with the 4K restoration. In other cases it was a repackaging thing (I replaced the earlier individual releases of Pitch Black and The Chronicles of Riddick with the recent set that also included Dark Fury and Riddick).

There are a couple of blind-buys that I've decided to dump, but I haven't gotten around to selling them off quite yet. One is Lincoln, the other is The Man with the Iron Fists. In both cases, I should've known better than to get them in the first place. I lost my taste for Spielberg's idiosyncracies long ago, but I bit for Lincoln because of the cast and the subject. But while there were things I liked about the film, it felt more like a sermon than an entertainment, and I'm sure that I won't want to watch it again. In the case of Fists, I happened at the time to be in an unabashed martial arts madness mood. I'm hesitating on selling it only because I really like Lucy Liu.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Over the past couple of years, my opinions on film have significantly changed. Things I used to like in high school and my early days in college are no longer as exciting or rewarding for me.

I know the feeling. I sold all my Tarantino and Lynch films a long time ago. I have not double dip for any of Wes Anderson films, especially after buying Moonrise Kingdom blu ray (which you reminded me that I have to resale it).

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

I know the feeling. I sold all my Tarantino and Lynch films a long time ago. I have not double dip for any of Wes Anderson films, especially after buying Moonrise Kingdom blu ray (which you reminded me that I have to resale it).

I honestly only like a couple of Tarantino's films, particularly Pulp Fiction and Inglourious Basterds.

Also, Wes Anderson is another one I don't think I'll be holding on to. I liked Fox on my initial watch a year or 2 ago, but I'm not sure how it will hold up. The rest, I could always take or leave...especially Moonrise and Rushmore.

[jayj15]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I've been holding on to a lot of Criterions from the start that I have never had any interest in.

Do you pre-order every Criterion? Stop doing that. Not everything in the Criterion Collection is worth owning. I never blind buy, at almost 40 bucks a pop for a Criterion I have to know if I like it. There's TCM and other means to check preview these films before you buy.

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by jayj15

Do you pre-order every Criterion? Stop doing that. Not everything in the Criterion Collection is worth owning. I never blind buy, at almost 40 bucks a pop for a Criterion I have to know if I like it. There's TCM and other means to check preview these films before you buy.

Blind buying isn't that bad as long as you do a little research, check IMDB, check a few review sites, talk to a few people etc.

I've only had a very small % of CC Blind Buys end up on the "crap" side of the ledger. Plus $40? I never pay anything close to that. In fact half the ones in my collection were under $20. The most expensive one I have, the Zatoichi set, was a gift and even then it was bought during the BN 50% sale.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by jayj15

Do you pre-order every Criterion? Stop doing that. Not everything in the Criterion Collection is worth owning. I never blind buy, at almost 40 bucks a pop for a Criterion I have to know if I like it. There's TCM and other means to check preview these films before you buy.

I usually do it so that I always have the lowest price locked in.

I've decided to watch several of them via TCM and other sources right now and then I can cancel should I dislike them.

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by jayj15

Do you pre-order every Criterion? Stop doing that. Not everything in the Criterion Collection is worth owning. I never blind buy, at almost 40 bucks a pop for a Criterion I have to know if I like it. There's TCM and other means to check preview these films before you buy.

You must really have to go out of your way to find them at full price.

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by jw007

Hey people...what movie are you planning on watching tonight?

Me, I might watch another Jarmusch film.

We're halfway through Casque d'Or, so we'll most likely finish that tonight.

[jayj15]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

You must really have to go out of your way to find them at full price.

Fine $27-35 ish dollars from amazon.com then, if you're not getting it from the Barnes and noble half off sale. Still not super cheap.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

We're halfway through Casque d'Or, so we'll most likely finish that tonight.

Casque d'Or is an underrated movie with an interesting Romeo and Juliet twist.

Simone Signoret is really something else. I've always admired her work in Army of Shadows (1969) and Diabolique (1955).

She's also quite a stunner in these photos from the earlier in her career...

[Show spoiler]

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Casque d'Or is an underrated movie with an interesting Romeo and Juliet twist.

Simone Signoret is really something else. I've always admired her work in Army of Shadows (1969) and Diabolique (1955).

She's also quite a stunner in these photos from the earlier in her career...

[Show spoiler]

I haven't seen Army of Shadows, but we did love her in Diabolique!

And yes, we're very much enjoying Casque d'Or, which I bought on a whim as it was on sale when I was making an Amazon.co.uk order.

[Edward J Grug III]

I imagine this is of interest to people here, and it includes a few Criterion films.

50 Greatest Matte Paintings

[blu-bry]

I watched Confidential Report today on Hulu Plus. Wow, was I underwhelmed! I'm normally a big Orson Welles fan, but I almost turned this one off 3 or 4 times. Stylistically it seemed like Welles ripped himself off (for instance The Third Man's build-up to his first appearance) several times. I saw techniques from Citizen Kane throughout, but the poor dubbing and unbelievable circumstances helped ruin it for me.
Maybe the story looked great on paper, but I'm glad I never bought this one.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by jw007

Hey people...what movie are you planning on watching tonight?

Me, I might watch another Jarmusch film.

After a very Mizoguchi weekend i'm going to shift gears to Mr birthday boy, Akira Kurosawa. Title still being determined.

[Clare2904]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

After a very Mizoguchi weekend i'm going to shift gears to Mr birthday boy, Akira Kurosawa. Title still being determined.

I watched Ran on Friday, highly recommended

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by blu-bry

I watched Confidential Report today on Hulu Plus. Wow, was I underwhelmed! I'm normally a big Orson Welles fan, but I almost turned this one off 3 or 4 times. Stylistically it seemed like Welles ripped himself off (for instance The Third Man's build-up to his first appearance) several times. I saw techniques from Citizen Kane throughout, but the poor dubbing and unbelievable circumstances helped ruin it for me.
Maybe the story looked great on paper, but I'm glad I never bought this one.

Did you view the version the French restored? I haven't seen the film in several years but it worked for me. The goya sequence is darn impressive, too. So many have copied that directorial style.

Welles had a different way of approaching cinema. His films don't fit the classical 3 act structure. They seem to fit the structure of a novel.

[blu-bry]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Did you view the version the French restored? I haven't seen the film in several years but it worked for me. The goya sequence is darn impressive, too. So many have copied that directorial style.

Welles had a different way of approaching cinema. His films don't fit the classical 3 act structure. They seem to fit the structure of a novel.

I wasn't aware of different versions. I just watched the only version I saw on Hulu. I'll have to read up some on this film, but I wouldn't care to see the version I saw again.