The Criterion Collection

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by Xtempo

Wonder if the sale will continue after this year since B&N is now private. Anybody hope it will still continue?

We’ll find out next year. Short of someone issuing a statement saying it will cease, then everything is pure speculation.

[Bradsdadg]

I do hope the sales continue. Even if B&N went out of business I would imagine Criterion would just up their amount of sales on their website. I don't know the #s, but I'm assuming they do most of their business during these times...

[Arawn]

Originally Posted by mja345

The line that perfectly encapsulates him is when he says, as a child, he was, "sexually attracted to Bugs Bunny."

Wayne's World also went there.

[Network23]

Originally Posted by belcherman

The math is that if you spend more than $250 per year on in-store purchases at B&N, the membership pays for itself. The 10% discount is only good for in-store purchases, not internet orders, but membership also gets you free shipping with no minimum on internet orders, so there's that benefit, too. The other benefit is that members sometimes get coupons for 20% off purchases (which sadly exclude Criterions).

I keep debating whether to renew my membership, as some years I spend less than $250 and some years I spend more, but not much more.

I too wonder if the membership us worth it or not. I was getting most of the 15% off and 20% off coupon before i was a member 2 years ago in forum and online and they were as good as the members at the time and they stacked on the criterion sales. But when i finally joined, they stopped stacking coupons and even more limitations on the coupons they now release happened. Also i only really buy during the Criterion sale and i budget to around $80 - $150. I did buy this last year when they run Arrow Video 50% sale around December and BBC video 50% off i filled some Dr.Who holes on Blu-ray. I would say i spent more as a non member this last year than a member and still got the savings. Also to add I have the Barnes & Noble Mastercard which gives additional 5% off on top of membership or coupons on all purchases. If someone game me at $25 gift card right now I probably would get the membership renewal that would cover both the July and November sale.

[theater dreamer]

What kind of experiences are you all having, of late, with Criterions being shipped from Barnes & Noble? I'm going to be buying Shoah at some point within the next few months, but I'm wondering if I wouldn't be better off just buying it (and any other digipacks) directly from Criterion during the Flash sale. Maybe getting that and Ingmar Bergman's Cinema at the same time would be he way to go.

[theater dreamer]

Originally Posted by stvn1974

I hope they continue them. I like going to the store to pick titles up. While I am glad that Criterion also has their flash sales I find ordering from them is a gamble when it comes to box sets and digibooks. The Zatoichi set came from Criterion's site and it was nowhere near mint condition when I received it. It is a pain to even get the books out because the top corners are smooshed in.

If you get something that is in damaged condition from Criterion, send them an e-mail. They've always been very good about replacing damaged packaging, or exchanging the product for another. You have to be proactive is something arrives in less than satisfactory condition.

[The Sovereign]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

What kind of experiences are you all having, of late, with Criterions being shipped from Barnes & Noble? I'm going to be buying Shoah at some point within the next few months, but I'm wondering if I wouldn't be better off just buying it (and any other digipacks) directly from Criterion during the Flash sale. Maybe getting that and Ingmar Bergman's Cinema at the same time would be he way to go.

It's a crapshoot, even directly from Criterion. The best bet is to find a good copy at a store during the sale.

[theater dreamer]

May I have some recommendations/input as to which Agnès Varda Criterion I should pick up first? I've never seen any of her films. What's a good starting point?

Thank you.

Edit: And I do realize that most of her work with the Collection is, to date, only available on DVD. I have no problem investing into a DVD set, especially if doing so encourages Criterion to upgrade them to blu-ray.

Or, would One Sings, the Other Doesn’t serve as a positive first experience on blu-ray?

[dumb_dutchman]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

What kind of experiences are you all having, of late, with Criterions being shipped from Barnes & Noble? I'm going to be buying Shoah at some point within the next few months, but I'm wondering if I wouldn't be better off just buying it (and any other digipacks) directly from Criterion during the Flash sale. Maybe getting that and Ingmar Bergman's Cinema at the same time would be he way to go.

I ordered my Bergman box set from B&N during last November's sale, and it came housed inside an industrial-grade packaging of its own, which was made specifically for the set, and not supplied by B&N. It arrived in perfect condition. I doubt they would ship another item with the Bergman box set, and I don't think I would want something to be shipped with it. It is a heavy beast, and would probably do some damage to anything else shipped with it.

[Cremildo]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

What kind of experiences are you all having, of late, with Criterions being shipped from Barnes & Noble?

One-year-old experiences probably don't count as "of late", but some of my B&N orders from July 2018 suffered badly because their packaging was way too tight. The New World digipack was considerably crushed in all corners and even slightly dented in some places, while two Eclipse sets had their sleeve a bit torn and some individual slim DVD cases had tiny cracks. I'll never order digipacks and Eclipse stuff from them again.

[Jonbaker]

Originally Posted by Mister_Kidd

Anyone know the specifics of the BN sale? A quick look at their website shows a bunch of over-priced titles (like $38 for movies that cost under $20 on Amazon). Meaning that 50% would bring it down to normal retail.

With the membership most standard priced (single disc or non box set) blu-rays will come out to $20 each (tax included). It's a good deal if you buy a lot of Criterions each year. I've never seen Criterions go lower than that.

[postmodel]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

May I have some recommendations/input as to which Agnès Varda Criterion I should pick up first? I've never seen any of her films. What's a good starting point?

Thank you.

Edit: And I do realize that most of her work with the Collection is, to date, only available on DVD. I have no problem investing into a DVD set, especially if doing so encourages Criterion to upgrade them to blu-ray.

Or, would One Sings, the Other Doesn’t serve as a positive first experience on blu-ray?

I still haven't seen One Sings, the Other Doesn't, but La Bonheur is currently my favorite film of hers, along with Cleo From 5 to 7. I like La Pointe Courte, but haven't seen Vagabond. I personally would recommend starting with Cleo and La Bonheur, so the 4 films DVD set may be the way to go, IMO.

I've been contemplating grabbing the UK Blu set, but I'm in no rush at this moment in time. Still hopeful for a Criterion upgrade. Can't believe it hasn't happened yet though. It's Varda after all.

[theater dreamer]

Originally Posted by Cremildo

One-year-old experiences probably don't count as "of late", but some of my B&N orders from July 2018 suffered badly because their packaging was way too tight. The New World digipack was considerably crushed in all corners and even slightly dented in some places, while two Eclipse sets had their sleeve a bit torn and some individual slim DVD cases had tiny cracks. I'll never order digipacks and Eclipse stuff from them again.

That's pretty much my thinking. If it's at the store, and meets my conditional requirements, that's one thing.

If Criterion ships something, and it's damaged, I can go straight to the source, and I know they'll take care of it. Barnes & Noble, I've read horror stories in the past where they wouldn't replace it because of a simple dinged corner. I'm sorry, but if I'm spending $50 or $100 on a package, no reason, whatsoever, why it should be in anything put pristine condition.

I'll scout out the local B&N on Friday, and see if they have any of the films I'm considering in stock. I don't know, yet, how War and Peace will be packaged, but I suspect that's a digi. If I can find a perfect copy of Shoah, I might just grab it, and not press my luck.

[theater dreamer]

Originally Posted by postmodel

I still haven't seen One Sings, the Other Doesn't, but La Bonheur is currently my favorite film of hers, along with Cleo From 5 to 7. I like La Pointe Courte, but haven't seen Vagabond. I personally would recommend starting with Cleo and La Bonheur, so the 4 films DVD set may be the way to go, IMO.

I've been contemplating grabbing the UK Blu set, but I'm in no rush at this moment in time. Still hopeful for a Criterion upgrade. Can't believe it hasn't happened yet though. It's Varda after all.

That's another consideration for me, the import set. It lists on Amazon UK as £44.99. When you actually put it in the basket, their fulfillment center to the U.S. sells it for £37.49. So, with delivery, and after conversion, it's $53.70. That's an absurdly good price for eight films.

Grr. What to do? I think I'm going to buy the Criterion of One Sings, the Other Doesn't, and dip my toe in that pool, so to speak, and see how I like the water. Based on her reputation, alone, I'm sure I'm going to love it, so I'd end up keeping that copy to loan out to friends looking for something different. Should Criterion continue to upgrade her films to blu, I'll buy them. If they don't, I'll import the set.

This summer is as good a time, as any, to indoctrinate myself to her work, and Jacques Demy. I just need to stop recording so many movies on TCM, and get back to my blu-rays.

Thank you guys for all your help today.

[Eddiedane]

The Varda set is terrific and has most of her major works and several shorts. It's housed in a sturdy box with a book. It was my introduction to her work and I recommend wholeheartedly.

[DaBargainHunta]

I watched In a Lonely Place last night on Criterion Channel, before it disappears from the service.

It truly is a pleasure watching a master like Humphrey Bogart at work. And Gloria Grahame was every bit his equal in this movie.

Man, what a wild ride!

Gonna hopefully tackle a couple of the special features tonight.

[Sommerswerd]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

That's another consideration for me, the import set. It lists on Amazon UK as £44.99. When you actually put it in the basket, their fulfillment center to the U.S. sells it for £37.49. So, with delivery, and after conversion, it's $53.70. That's an absurdly good price for eight films.

Grr. What to do? I think I'm going to buy the Criterion of One Sings, the Other Doesn't, and dip my toe in that pool, so to speak, and see how I like the water. Based on her reputation, alone, I'm sure I'm going to love it, so I'd end up keeping that copy to loan out to friends looking for something different. Should Criterion continue to upgrade her films to blu, I'll buy them. If they don't, I'll import the set.

This summer is as good a time, as any, to indoctrinate myself to her work, and Jacques Demy. I just need to stop recording so many movies on TCM, and get back to my blu-rays.

Thank you guys for all your help today.

Couldn't you just check out her films on the Criterion Channel for now?

[senseabove]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

May I have some recommendations/input as to which Agnès Varda Criterion I should pick up first? I've never seen any of her films. What's a good starting point?

Thank you.

Edit: And I do realize that most of her work with the Collection is, to date, only available on DVD. I have no problem investing into a DVD set, especially if doing so encourages Criterion to upgrade them to blu-ray.

Or, would One Sings, the Other Doesn’t serve as a positive first experience on blu-ray?

I would not recommend One Sings... as a place to start. It's a movie I enjoy, and I'm happy I have it in the AE set because I can see myself wanting to revisit it some day, but I probably wouldn't have bought the standalone Criterion release. It's a curious, compelling treatise on mid-70s feminism, and does a peculiarly fascinating job of balancing a kind of casual didacticism with a narrative momentum—but I don't think it's exactly representational for her work.

I'd recommend Cleo as the starting point, then probably some of her shorts and documentaries, like the Eclipse set's Uncle Yanco and Mur Murs. Then Le Bonheur and Vagabond. That eases you into her complexity as well as her wry and playful style of curiosity first, and the last two shift that curiosity and openness to a much darker place. Le Bonheur is probably my favorite, but it's a complex movie, and while I think it's a fine place to start, I think it benefits from a familiarity with her tonal shifts. If you do start there, I'd recommend revisiting after you've seen more of her work.

I'll also Nth the recommendation for the AE box set if you're region-free. It's a stacked, comprehensive release, with numerous shorts, supplementary featurettes, and some absolutely fantastic critical writing in the booklet (really, I can't recommend the AE booklet enough). And even if Criterion upgrades the box set intact and all of the other features separately, you're getting the AE box for a LOT less than it would cost to buy all those CC releases.

As a side note, all of the features are up on the Criterion Channel in HD if you want to sample them first.

[Snicket]

We sure the sale starts Friday? I did not see a thread in the sale section.

Edit: I just made one. Sorry in advance.

[chris582]

Yes we are sure, it has been confirmed by B&N employees