The Criterion Collection

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Ain't no need to buy this set. Even the StudioCanal Blu-ray releases of certain out-of-print films are better than the DVD editions in terms of picture quality.

Half of them have been released on Blu-ray through Criterion, and several others through other distributors. That's a little ridiculous for a DVD set.

Getting ready to watch The Makioka Sisters. Because The Mikado took its sweet time getting here, I decided to press on and will go back to Topsy-Turvy once I receive it. I read the novel this past weekend, and I can't wait to see how it will compare to the film. Speaking of novels and Criterions, does anyone wish Criterion would do more releases like Picnic at Hanging Rock and Red River, where the novels are included in the release? I love the concept, especially if they team up with Penguin, who are basically the Criterion of of the book publishing world.

I finally got the rest of my items that shipped on the 13th as well today, Beauty and the Beast, The Mikado, and The Uninvited. However, I won't be getting them until Monday, as I'm not visiting my parents this weekend. Eh, I have more than enough to occupy me. Just need the 3 that shipped the 19th (It Happened One Night, To Be or Not to Be, The Ministry of Fear), Red River (shipped the 1st) and My Darling Clementine (shipped the 4th).

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Thanks for the review. I ended up going to see The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 yesterday instead of going to see Interstellar. Mockingjay - Part 1 is good, but the pacing suffers because of the studio's decision to split the third book into two movies. Jennifer Lawrence, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julianne Moore, and the others are all great in their roles, but the movie itself seems padded compared to the vastly superior previous films.

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Huh, I felt that the pacing was fine on this one. It's also the new trend to split the last novel into two films for blockbuster teen films. I think the pacing worked, and the slight changes from the novel as well. Next film's going to be all out action and war, similar to the last two Harry Potter films. This one was darker and more adult.

I'm a bit late to this off-topic party, but I just saw this today. Less action than the two previous, but much more meat in terms of plot and character. I actually prefer this to the previous two films. As you say, BG, it's darker and more adult. I also had no problem with the pacing, and it never felt "padded".

Funny thing...I was at an early afternoon show, and there was one other single guy, and two couples there. The youngest was the other single guy, who looked about 30 or thereabouts. Not bad for a "teen movie".

[GenPion]

It's funny... I used to really want that Essential Art House set. It's so beautiful as a package, the book is supposed to be really nice, and it contains a sampling of some of the most beloved art house/foreign language films ever made.

Yet now a huge percentage of them are out on Blu-ray with far better scans/PQ, and with a huge selection of supplemental features. And each release comes with booklets/info related to each specific film. So it makes the set seem like it's mostly unncessary. I wish you could buy the book separately.

25 of the 50 films in the set have English friendly Blu-ray editions. Many of which are from Criterion. Several others have Blu-ray releases without subtitles but that might be upgraded in the future. And several of the other films can be purchased for less than $8 each if one looks for a deal on the Essential Art House releases or could be picked up standalone with supplemental features and booklets (whereas the discs in this set have no disc extras). One could also simply watch a bunch of the DVD-only titles on Hulu Plus.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by GenPion

It's funny... I used to really want that Essential Art House set. It's so beautiful as a package, the book is supposed to be really nice, and it contains a sampling of some of the most beloved art house/foreign language films ever made.

Yet now a huge percentage of them are out on Blu-ray with far better scans/PQ, and with a huge selection of supplemental features. And each release comes with booklets/info related to each specific film. So it makes the set seem like it's mostly unncessary. I wish you could buy the book separately.

I suppose, I am surprised theres not been a perm drop in price to make up for the fact most are on bluray now.

Guess its nice it does have nay leaflets haha! :P tbh I thought it was OOP for ages now, but guess not lol

[GenPion]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

I suppose, I am surprised theres not been a perm drop in price to make up for the fact most are on bluray now.

Guess its nice it does have nay leaflets haha! :P tbh I thought it was OOP for ages now, but guess not lol

Criterion should expand the book and cover even more ground on the films in their collection. They could re-use the content of the book and simply grow from there. Then they could issue (perhaps next year?) a book about the films in the same vein as the coffee table book they issued this year about the art.

[EPlay]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

I haven't seen Disconnect, is it worth seeing? I have seen the poster around but never look into it tbh.

Yes, definitely worth seeing. One of my favorites from that year. I would be very interested in your thoughts, especially since you really liked "Men, Women & Children".

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by EPlay

Yes, definitely worth seeing. One of my favorites from that year. I would be very interested in your thoughts, especially since you really liked "Men, Women & Children".

I checked out trailer and it doe look good - I can see why it would be similar to MW&C - what I liked about MW%C was how subtle everything was, nothing wa sin you face or blown out of proportion which made it feel more real, out individual existence is so small.

Is this film like that or does it have big moments? which isn't bad :P

Checked to see if it was on Netflix and not on UK one !

[jw007]

I've been in the middle of watching Ken Burns' The National Parks: America's Best Idea for the past few days...some great documentary stuff here, folks...the blu-ray transfers are good but its too bad they shot on 16mm film as there's a lot of grain in the scenery footage. Anyway, I'll be back on the Criterion route next week...need to get through this set in the meantime...and oh, I watched this series when it was televised originally on PBS about 5 years and remembered how good it was so I bought it all on blu-ray.

[lordmorpheus72]

I just purchased a blu-ray player that I can make region free/region B and looking to pick up some of the Masters of Cinema discs. I'm thinking of picking up Nosferatu and Touch of Evil first. Anyone have any other suggestions of titles I should pick up? I don't want to buy to buy, especially if Criterion has a release pending, or rumors of, but I would like some good ideas.

In fact, they don't just have to be MoC, any of the Eureka titles, or other non-US releases would be appreciated. You can see my list of Criterion titles if you click on the link in my signature, and all my discs if you click the other. Right now I'm really watching a lot of westerns and film noir titles. Thanks for all the suggestions!

[Rich Pure Doom]

Originally Posted by lordmorpheus72

I just purchased a blu-ray player that I can make region free/region B and looking to pick up some of the Masters of Cinema discs. I'm thinking of picking up Nosferatu and Touch of Evil first. Anyone have any other suggestions of titles I should pick up? I don't want to buy to buy, especially if Criterion has a release pending, or rumors of, but I would like some good ideas.

In fact, they don't just have to be MoC, any of the Eureka titles, or other non-US releases would be appreciated. You can see my list of Criterion titles if you click on the link in my signature, and all my discs if you click the other. Right now I'm really watching a lot of westerns and film noir titles. Thanks for all the suggestions!

Universal's Region A edition of Touch of Evil has better picture quality...

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by Rich Pure Doom

Universal's Region A edition of Touch of Evil has better picture quality...

Thanks for the heads up on that. I was looking at all the bonus stuff on the MoC but failed to notice they were the same on the Universal release.

[EPlay]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

I checked out trailer and it doe look good - I can see why it would be similar to MW&C - what I liked about MW%C was how subtle everything was, nothing wa sin you face or blown out of proportion which made it feel more real, out individual existence is so small.

Is this film like that or does it have big moments? which isn't bad :P

Checked to see if it was on Netflix and not on UK one !

I would say it does have "bigger" moments. Give it a shot if you ever get a chance.

[The Great Owl]

The Best Buy location near me is stocking a handful of Criterion Collection titles again, after being out of them for a long while. Mostly the basics (Rosemary's Baby, etc.), but it's cool to see them there.

I received a $50 Best Buy gift card as a gift, so I was planning to use it in conjunction with $10 of rewards certificates to buy some choice Blu-rays tonight. After walking up and down the aisles a few times, though, I could not find any decent movies, other than the ones that I already own. I ventured to the music aisles, because I used to own all of the Iron Maiden albums on cassette tape back in the day, and had recently had a hankering to buy the CDs at long last (Live After Death was the only one that I currently owned on disc.). I ended up purchasing the first seven Iron Maiden studio albums on CD. Score! The soundtrack to my work commutes for the next couple of months is now set in stone.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by lordmorpheus72

I just purchased a blu-ray player that I can make region free/region B and looking to pick up some of the Masters of Cinema discs. I'm thinking of picking up Nosferatu and Touch of Evil first. Anyone have any other suggestions of titles I should pick up? I don't want to buy to buy, especially if Criterion has a release pending, or rumors of, but I would like some good ideas.

In fact, they don't just have to be MoC, any of the Eureka titles, or other non-US releases would be appreciated. You can see my list of Criterion titles if you click on the link in my signature, and all my discs if you click the other. Right now I'm really watching a lot of westerns and film noir titles. Thanks for all the suggestions!

Probably in the minority here, but I own the BFI release of The Innocents, and don't plan on trading it for the Criterion. Criterion might have a slightly better transfer, but I think BFI has the superior supplements. Also, it has a booklet and not a leaflet.

I like the Studio Canal version of The Graduate, but it's region free. Cheaper to buy from Amazon.co.uk though. Withnail and I's UK release is better too. Don't think Criterion plan on releasing it as I think they lost the rights.

[ShellOilJunior]

I've received a lot more PM's than I expected for the poll. I didn't think so many people would be ready to vote now. I sent confirmations to some and if you're in this list I've received and recorded your votes:

AaronJ
Adamhopelies
Andrew13
BohemianGraham
bwdowiak
Coen
jmclick
Lord Morpheus72
mrjohnnyb
Nondiatonic
Orbital
Polaroid
Roger O. Thornhill
RojD
Shadedpain4
The Great Owl
Vinyl

If you haven't voted yet there's no rush. You have until 1/1/2015. I still need to get through a few major releases and find time for my annual Fanny and Alexander holiday viewing.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by lordmorpheus72

I just purchased a blu-ray player that I can make region free/region B and looking to pick up some of the Masters of Cinema discs. I'm thinking of picking up Nosferatu and Touch of Evil first. Anyone have any other suggestions of titles I should pick up? I don't want to buy to buy, especially if Criterion has a release pending, or rumors of, but I would like some good ideas.

The improved MoC edition of Nosferatu and the MoC edition of Billy Wilder's The Lost Weekend are the only two Region B titles that I feel that I'm truly missing out on.

Now that Double Indemnity and Touch of Evil have both been released in glorious Universal editions here on these shores, I'm happier with my decision to stay Region A.

I'd like the Jules Dassin film noirs on Region A releases, but it's probably just a matter of time before they show up here.

I spend enough money on Blu-rays as is. I'm afraid that, if I went region free, then the floodgates would open beyond my fiscal comfort zone.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I ventured to the music aisles, because I used to own all of the Iron Maiden albums on cassette tape back in the day, and had recently had a hankering to buy the CDs at long last (Live After Death was the only one that I currently owned on disc.). I ended up purchasing the first seven Iron Maiden studio albums on CD. Score! The soundtrack to my work commutes for the next couple of months is now set in stone.

Oh, and this is Criterion-related, by the way.

The font for Iron Maiden's band name logo was reportedly taken from the poster art of this Criterion title...

[Show spoiler]

[atlantajoseph]

Originally Posted by GenPion

I wish you could buy the book separately.

Criterion did sell the Essential Art House book separately for a period, a few years back. I have a copy. Not trying to be annoying, just wanted to make you aware they're out there if you want to check Ebay periodically or whatnot.

[Rich Pure Doom]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

The improved MoC edition of Nosferatu and the MoC edition of Billy Wilder's The Lost Weekend are the only two Region B titles that I feel that I'm truly missing out on.

Now that Double Indemnity and Touch of Evil have both been released in glorious Universal editions here on these shores, I'm happier with my decision to stay Region A.

I'd like the Jules Dassin film noirs on Region A releases, but it's probably just a matter of time before they show up here.

I spend enough money on Blu-rays as is. I'm afraid that, if I went region free, then the floodgates would open beyond my fiscal comfort zone.

The MOC Lost Weekend has severe black crush. You're not missing anything.

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by Rich Pure Doom

The MOC Lost Weekend has severe black crush. You're not missing anything.

The review on this site doesn't reflect that...