The Criterion Collection

[jw007]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I recently got my copy of the above mentioned UK release. I was testing to see if the supplemental material would work on an all region player, so I watched the female zither musician (don't have her name right now) play The ThirdMan theme. It was at that point that I #1 cried at the awesomeness of that tune and #2 realized that I now love The Third Man more than my newly-ousted former fav film of all time, Vertigo.

I guess I'm one of the few people on the planet that doesn't consider The Third Man his favorite film then.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by jw007

I guess I'm one of the few people on the planet that doesn't consider The Third Man his favorite film then.

I'd be surprised if that many people considered it their favorite film. I love it to pieces, but I probably wouldn't put it in my Top 10, let alone at #1.

[Scottie]

If the UK version of The Third Man is noticeably better than the Criterion version, is it even worth hanging on to the latter?

[scottpcusa]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

So I just finished watching The Exterminating Angel. What a strange and hypnotic movie

One of my favorites...and a much-anticipated upgrade.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by iScottie

If the UK version of The Third Man is noticeably better than the Criterion version, is it even worth hanging on to the latter?

It does have several unique supplements, plus of course the feeling of owning something OOP and worth a decent amount

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by jw007

I guess I'm one of the few people on the planet that doesn't consider The Third Man his favorite film then.

Based on what?

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by iScottie

If the UK version of The Third Man is noticeably better than the Criterion version, is it even worth hanging on to the latter?

Spine #64 will never be vacant in my library.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

It does have several unique supplements, plus of course the feeling of owning something OOP and worth a decent amount

I wouldn't keep it. Especially when what you can get for it can add 5-7 new CC titles to your collection.

How much do you suppose it will be worth in 10 years after technology has further evolved? It's only "rare" in the sense that it is OOP. Look at the number of collections it is in just on this site.

[Firecrackker]

Are the PQ and AQ better on the UK release? The review for the Criterion makes it seem like it's the greatest bluray ever.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by iScottie

If the UK version of The Third Man is noticeably better than the Criterion version, is it even worth hanging on to the latter?

Yes. The extra features on both Blu-rays are well worth having.

The transfer of the UK release of The Third Man is clearly the best, but the extras on both are quite awesome and informative.

[buck135]

Originally Posted by jayembee

I'd be surprised if that many people considered it their favorite film. I love it to pieces, but I probably wouldn't put it in my Top 10, let alone at #1.

It is in my all time top five films.

[belcherman]

A few years ago I picked up a "like new" copy of the OOP DVD of The Third Man for $35 on eBay, and I recently picked up the UK Blu for $17. So now I have all the supplements and the best PQ for a little over $50. Win-win.

By the way, while I wouldn't call it my favorite movie, it's one of my favorite movies. There's something about it that's very haunting. Maybe it's the zither music, but I find myself going back to it often.

[WonderWeasel]

Originally Posted by Firecrackker

Will The Third Man ever get a release that poor people can afford?

There's a used copy of the American StudioCanal release on Amazon right now for under $7. I can't comment on PQ compared to the Criterion/UK releases, but it is definitely watchable:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B003ULW74S/ref=sr_1_1_twi_blu_1_olp?ie=UTF8&qid=1460330263&sr =8-1&keywords=The+third+man+blu-ray

[easydreamer]

Originally Posted by WonderWeasel

There's a used copy of the American StudioCanal release on Amazon right now for under $7. I can't comment on PQ compared to the Criterion/UK releases, but it is definitely watchable:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B003ULW74S/ref=sr_1_1_twi_blu_1_olp?ie=UTF8&qid=1460330263&sr =8-1&keywords=The+third+man+blu-ray

The initial SC release (released in the US by LionsGate) may be watchable, but not in the same league at all as the Criterion or the later SC. The later SC is the 4K restoration, and even blows the Criterion away, in terms of the PQ (I have all 3, BTW). Definitely the one to go for those who like this film.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by jayembee

I'd be surprised if that many people considered it their favorite film. I love it to pieces, but I probably wouldn't put it in my Top 10, let alone at #1.

I'd be very interested to see the jayembee top 10 of all time as my tastes are very in tune with yours - you've given (imo) some great recommendations.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I'd be very interested to see the jayembee top 10 of all time as my tastes are very in tune with yours - you've given (imo) some great recommendations.

As time goes on, I find myself less and less inclined to actually make such a list, mostly because as I see more and more excellent movies, the fewer and fewer I want to leave off the list. I figure that I wouldn't be satisfied with listing fewer than 50 films in my Top Ten.

The other problem is that the order tends to get a little fluid, depending on how long it's been since I've seen a given film.

My traditional Top Five is pretty easy:

(1) Citizen Kane
(2) A Clockwork Orange
(3) Casablanca
(4) Lawrence of Arabia
(5) To Kill a Mockingbird

Though, as an illustration of the second point I made up above, I'm currently more inclined to push Casablanca to the #5 spot, as I've seen Lawrence and Mockingbird more recently. But these five films are ones I try to make a point of seeing at least once a year.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by iScottie

If the UK version of The Third Man is noticeably better than the Criterion version, is it even worth hanging on to the latter?

I didn't. Even after the 4k remaster came out, I still unloaded my Criterion for $100. Zero reason for me to keep it, since special features mean little to me.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by jayembee

As time goes on, I find myself less and less inclined to actually make such a list, mostly because as I see more and more excellent movies, the fewer and fewer I want to leave off the list. I figure that I wouldn't be satisfied with listing fewer than 50 films in my Top Ten.

The other problem is that the order tends to get a little fluid, depending on how long it's been since I've seen a given film.

My traditional Top Five is pretty easy:

(1) Citizen Kane
(2) A Clockwork Orange
(3) Casablanca
(4) Lawrence of Arabia
(5) To Kill a Mockingbird

Though, as an illustration of the second point I made up above, I'm currently more inclined to push Casablanca to the #5 spot, as I've seen Lawrence and Mockingbird more recently. But these five films are ones I try to make a point of seeing at least once a year.

cool. thanks, jay! I've not seen Lawrence of Arabia. I've kinda been meaning to, but the length and my idea about what the subject matter is have kept me away a bit. a local theater has a 70 mm film festival every year and this is usually the title that I intend to see because I've seen the other ones... I just never get myself down there. will have to next time!

Casablanca would make my top 10, too!

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

cool. thanks, jay! I've not seen Lawrence of Arabia. I've kinda been meaning to, but the length and my idea about what the subject matter is have kept me away a bit. a local theater has a 70 mm film festival every year and this is usually the title that I intend to see because I've seen the other ones... I just never get myself down there. will have to next time!

Casablanca would make my top 10, too!

Lawrence of Arabia is so good. It flies by.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

cool. thanks, jay! I've not seen Lawrence of Arabia. I've kinda been meaning to, but the length and my idea about what the subject matter is have kept me away a bit. a local theater has a 70 mm film festival every year and this is usually the title that I intend to see because I've seen the other ones... I just never get myself down there. will have to next time!

Casablanca would make my top 10, too!

Lawrence of Arabia is definitely one to see on a big theater screen. Lord knows when I first saw the film, but it was probably on TV in pan-&-scan. When Robert Harris did the first restoration in 1989, I had a chance to see it in the upstairs theater at the Charles Cinema in Boston (sadly no longer existing, but once considered the best cinema north of New York City). It was in the afternoon in the middle of the week, and the theater was completely full. Got that restoration on Criterion LD and watched it countless times. I'd seen it twice again on the Big Screen at another wonderful Boston-area theater: the Coolidge Corner.

The restoration from a few years ago I saw in a local theater as part of a Fathom Events screening. Again, an afternoon showing in the middle of the week, and again, the theater was packed.