The Criterion Collection

[theater dreamer]

Pretty much my thinking, exactly. I'll occasionally go into B&N and grab a few during their sales, but when they ask "are you a member?", I just laugh.

"I used to be before you all started playing games with the coupons. One minute, it's good, and then I drive all the way across town only to find out that it's been changed. Not worth the hassle when I know I can get from Criterion for 50%, and the reward points never get nerfed."

More and more, I like just going directly through Criterion. When I get back to work here in a few months, I'll just buy directly through them at normal website price. The sales will just be icing on the cake.

Originally Posted by octagon

You know, not really. I used to really look forward to these sales but my interest/excitement levels have really tapered off over the past several rounds.

Admittedly, a big part of that is simply me being a cheap bastard and responding negatively to their increasingly draconian coupon policies with respect to these specific sales.

But beyond that, the whole 'sport' aspect of tracking down the very best deals and maneuvering to land the very best prices has lost some of its luster. That used to be a hobby within a hobby but not so much anymore.

Nowadays I look at Criterion flash sales and think eh, a straight fifty percent + loyalty points is good enough.

[theater dreamer]

I'm not going too crazy with the flash sale this time around.

I'm planning on buying:

Carl Th Dreyer's Vampyr
Andrei Tarkovsky's Stalker
Mikhail Kalatozov's Letter Never Sent
Mike Leigh's Naked
Akira Kurosawa's Kagemusha

And perhaps on other, either Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Stagecoach, The Killing, or The Wages of Fear.

I've got The Philadelphia Story and Le samourai on pre-order through Amazon.

[thatguamguy]

Originally Posted by octagon

Nowadays I look at Criterion flash sales and think eh, a straight fifty percent + loyalty points is good enough.

I still go to B&N sales for easier titles; anything which is newly released since the most recent sale, it's usually recent enough to still be available in a store, so it's relatively easy, just requires a slight adjustment to my work commute. But I am no longer bothering to dig deep into the catalog during their sales.

[The Sovereign]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

That's the caliber of comments you will also read on Amazon product reviews. I have to say, I did like this comment:

Maf Moors ....top form considering tits limitations

Yeah, he was my favorite too. And I had to look up "gurning." Lovely or otherwise.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by ThisKid

Is anyone else being prepared for the upcoming November Barnes and Noble sale?

[Show spoiler]It's that time again.

I've got my list sorted out.

The Essential Jacques Demy.
Martin Scorsese Presents: The World Cinema Project Vol. 1 & 2.
Hopscotch. And-
Terry Gilliam's Brazil.

Bring it on.

I'm just trying desperately to talk myself out of buying Fire Walk With Me.

As someone who owns the Entire Mystery, I really can't think of one logical reason why I should double dip. The new special features aren't very enticing and the transfer does not appear to be a noticeable upgrade.

But dammit man, once I get a look at that glorious digipak in person.

...I may have to pack a survival kit and lock myself in the cellar for a month.

[Show spoiler]

[Kyle15]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I'm just trying desperately to talk myself out of buying Fire Walk With Me.

As someone who owns the Entire Mystery, I really can't think of one logical reason why I should double dip. The new special features aren't very enticing and the transfer does not appear to be a noticeable upgrade.

But dammit man, once I get a look at that glorious digipak in person.

...I may have to pack a survival kit and lock myself in the cellar for a month.

[Show spoiler]

The original stereo audio is lossless on it too, not a HUGE difference but it makes double-dipping a liiiiiiiiiiil more enticing imo.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by Kyle15

The original stereo audio is lossless on it too, not a HUGE difference but it makes double-dipping a liiiiiiiiiiil more enticing imo.

Goddamn you.

[20th Century Boy]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Goddamn you.

Your time'd be better spent helping me pester Shout Factory to see if they have the domestic rights to Young Guns II.

[Knaldskalle]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I'm just trying desperately to talk myself out of buying Fire Walk With Me.

As someone who owns the Entire Mystery, I really can't think of one logical reason why I should double dip. The new special features aren't very enticing and the transfer does not appear to be a noticeable upgrade.

But dammit man, once I get a look at that glorious digipak in person.

...I may have to pack a survival kit and lock myself in the cellar for a month.

[Show spoiler]

Does that little crooked C really make that big a difference? If the version you have is fine, why not spend the money on another Criterion title you're interested in?

[pedromvu]

The BFI release of the new restoration of Wages of Fear looks considerably sharper than the CC, I wonder if Criterion will ever re-release it.

The only Blu-ray I can remember Criterion has upgraded is Playtime and it was under very special circumstances, but I think they done that several times on the DVD era.

[Knaldskalle]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

The BFI release of the new restoration of Wages of Fear looks considerably sharper than the CC, I wonder if Criterion will ever re-release it.

The only Blu-ray I can remember Criterion has upgraded is Playtime and it was under very special circumstances, but I think they done that several times on the DVD era.

They just upgraded The Complete Monterey Pop Festival, coming out December 12.

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Le Samouraï screenshots are up on DVDBeaver, and they look great.

This is what I was hoping to see. A transfer that resembles that on the Criterion DVD, except with a lot more detail.

I'll know for sure when I watch it in motion, but thanks for doing us right, Criterion!

Looks to me like it might be the same source as the DVD, nothing groundbreaking but still better than nothing or the awful restorations.

[blujazz]

Got GDT to sign my copy of Pan’s Labyrinth



At the Q&A for The Shape of Water, he basically said he won’t do an audio commentary for that film as he deems it his most perfect film he’s ever made - meaning everything about it is as exactly as he wanted it to be. That being said, all of his previous audio commentaries are intentionally rich in content as he intended them to work as sort of a 2-hour film school. Having heard the audio commentary for Pan’s Labyrinth when I was at film school, it was definitely a very rewarding and helpful in unlocking the film’s secrets. Worth a listen if you haven’t.

[johndoyle123]

Originally Posted by blujazz

Got GDT to sign my copy of Pan’s Labyrinth

omg where !!!!

[blujazz]

Originally Posted by johndoyle123

omg where !!!!

London Film Fest yesterday - a damn legend making sure everyone who wanted an autograph had one, even if the handlers were not too pleased.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by Knaldskalle

They just upgraded The Complete Monterey Pop Festival, coming out December 12.

Only Monterey Pop was upgraded.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Only Monterey Pop was upgraded.

Thanks for the clarification. I wasn't aware that Jimi/Otis weren't remastered either.

I've edited the database entries accordingly to reflect this and made a note in The Complete Monterey Pop that Monterey Pop is the only one remastered.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by blujazz

London Film Fest yesterday - a damn legend making sure everyone who wanted an autograph had one, even if the handlers were not too pleased.

What'd you think of Shape of Water?

[Ray Jackson]

I saw The Bad and the Beautiful on TCM for the first time a couple weeks ago and really liked it.

That would make for a great Criterion release imo.

...especially seeing how it has a pretty obvious reference to Cat People in it.

[ShellOilJunior]

Has there been any word of The 400 Blows getting a 4K scan?

Mostly I'm interested in the Doinel set getting upgraded but think it may not happen unless The 400 Blows gets another transfer.