The Criterion Collection

[MifuneFan]

For anyone curious like me , here are the Top 15 most-owned Criterion titles among members here

1. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2. Seven Samurai
3. The Thin Red Line
4. The Game
5. 12 Angry Men
6. Godzilla / Gojira
7. The Royal Tenenbaums
8. Rosemary's Baby
9. Rushmore
10. Paths of Glory
11. Videodrome
12. The Seventh Seal
13. Bottle Rocket
14. Days of Heaven
15. Brazil

Personally, I don't really consider Benjamin Button a true Criterion release, but rather a Paramount wide release with Criterion branding. So if you feel that way too, then Seven Samurai is tops, and the 15th would be The Darjeeling Limited (making 4 /15 Wes Anderson titles).

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

For anyone curious like me , here are the Top 10 most-owned Criterion titles among members here

1. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2. Seven Samurai
3. The Thin Red Line
4. The Game
5. 12 Angry Men
6. Godzilla / Gojira
7. The Royal Tenenbaums
8. Rosemary's Baby
9. Rushmore
10. Paths of Glory
11. Videodrome
12. The Seventh Seal
13. Bottle Rocket
14. Days of Heaven
15. Brazil

Personally, I don't really consider Benjamin Button a true Criterion release, but rather a Paramount wide release with Criterion branding. So if you feel that way too, then Seven Samurai is tops, and the 15th would be The Darjeeling Limited (making 4 /15 Wes Anderson titles).

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button seemed universally disliked in previous topics on here - must be the low price point?

The rest make perfect sense :P

[The Great Owl]

E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial still works for me, although I do not revisit it nearly as often as I revisit Jaws or Raiders of the Lost Ark.

It's a contrived movie in so many ways, but I love the things about it that really work, such as Spielberg's use of low camera angles to show things from the viewpoint of a child or of the alien itself.

I was so happy when the original 1982 theatrical version of E.T. was released on Blu-ray three years ago. It's always fun to relive the memories of seeing the movie upon its release when I was 10 years old.

I did not cry when I saw E.T. in the theater back then, but I did get a lump in my throat.

Around that same time, though, I used to cry my eyes out at the end of The Earthling (1980), which starred William Holden and Ricky Schroder. It's a travesty that The Earthling was never released on DVD or Blu-ray. (C'mon, Criterion, get a hold of this movie.)

[the sordid sentinel]

So I bought The Bridge blind during the 50% off sale based on all the positive word here. Watched it last night and..wow. Easily moves into my top 5 war movies. Each of those boys were note perfect casting and the ending is a serious gut punch. Will definitely be revisiting this one many times.

When watching foreign movies I am always struck by how alike we all are, regardless of time period. The interaction between the boys was very similar to mine with my friends at that same age. Excellent war movie here, but it also captures male domestic adolescence very effectively and from several different angles.

Trying to find time today to watch the supplements. BTW, isn't the director the same guy who played the Dr. in Paris, Texas?

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I've been waiting my whole life to see 2001 in the theater.

...I hate you.

Now you can hate me more: I've seen it in the theater twice!

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

For anyone curious like me , here are the Top 10 most-owned Criterion titles among members here

[Show spoiler]

1. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2. Seven Samurai
3. The Thin Red Line
4. The Game
5. 12 Angry Men
6. Godzilla / Gojira
7. The Royal Tenenbaums
8. Rosemary's Baby
9. Rushmore
10. Paths of Glory
11. Videodrome
12. The Seventh Seal
13. Bottle Rocket
14. Days of Heaven
15. Brazil

Personally, I don't really consider Benjamin Button a true Criterion release, but rather a Paramount wide release with Criterion branding. So if you feel that way too, then Seven Samurai is tops, and the 15th would be The Darjeeling Limited (making 4 /15 Wes Anderson titles).

I'm going to count The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (though I certainly know what you mean), so given that I have a total of 4 from that list:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Thin Red Line
The Game
Days of Heaven

I do have The Seven Samurai on DVD still, though. Yet another one I really need to upgrade.

[Vinyl]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

I do have The Seven Samurai on DVD still, though. Yet another one I really need to upgrade.

I do also. Thanks to the up conversation on my player, it looks pretty good. Plus, i would rather get new titles that have been on my wish list forever than upgrade one with the same content. I wouldn't even go from the 1 disc release to the double disc.

[spargs]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

For anyone curious like me , here are the Top 10 most-owned Criterion titles among members here

1. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2. Seven Samurai
3. The Thin Red Line
4. The Game
5. 12 Angry Men
6. Godzilla / Gojira
7. The Royal Tenenbaums
8. Rosemary's Baby
9. Rushmore
10. Paths of Glory
11. Videodrome
12. The Seventh Seal
13. Bottle Rocket
14. Days of Heaven
15. Brazil

Personally, I don't really consider Benjamin Button a true Criterion release, but rather a Paramount wide release with Criterion branding. So if you feel that way too, then Seven Samurai is tops, and the 15th would be The Darjeeling Limited (making 4 /15 Wes Anderson titles).

Hmmm, the only films in that Top 15 (16?) that I don't own are the Wes Anderson films.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by olivianewtonyawn

What Chaplin film would you recommend besides City Lights? I only have this one and want to pick up another Chaplin during the sale. I have seen Modern Times and found it to be enjoyable but not really one that I need to own. I love City Lights.

Was also thinking of possibly getting Make Way for Tomorrow instead of another Chaplin... thoughts?

Gold Rush

[BobbyMcGee]

Originally Posted by olivianewtonyawn

What Chaplin film would you recommend besides City Lights? I only have this one and want to pick up another Chaplin during the sale. I have seen Modern Times and found it to be enjoyable but not really one that I need to own. I love City Lights.

Was also thinking of possibly getting Make Way for Tomorrow instead of another Chaplin... thoughts?

I HIGHLY recommend Monsieur Verdoux . That ending, goosebumps every time.

Monsieur Verdoux and Limelight go very well together indeed.

Monsieur Verdoux review: https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Monsi.../62272/#Review

Limelight review: https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Limel...103598/#Review

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by 14728

I don't have Hulu plus. I've been considering it, though.

Totally worth the $7.99 just for the Criterion alone. There's a ton of other good shows, but I love that I can watch a lot of the releases there before I blind buy something and regret it.

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

A few years ago, I started a gym workout while the 1993 movie, Rudy, was showing on the television in front of my treadmill.

Roughly an hour later, these two huge muscular police officers walked into the gym to start their workout. They noticed me on the treadmill, and one of them asked me why I was crying.

I pointed at the television, and told them that I was watching the end of Rudy. Both of them nodded with understanding, and one of them said, "Oh man... Yeah... I know. I know, man."

Every time.... every time. And not to forget the end of Field of Dreams. Feeling misty just thinking about it.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I've been waiting my whole life to see 2001 in the theater.

...I hate you.

Originally Posted by AaronJ

Now you can hate me more: I've seen it in the theater twice!

For me, it's been at least five times. The last time I saw it in the theater was at the Brattle Theater in Cambridge, MA sometime back in the 90s.

[joie]

It is possible to think that something I don't understand has some profound meaning. An alternative is to consider it poor storytelling.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by lordmorpheus72

Every time.... every time. And not to forget the end of Field of Dreams. Feeling misty just thinking about it.

The one that does it for it for me is Daniel Petrie's 1980 film Resurrection (written by Lewis John Carlino, who wrote Seconds). Not only does the ending itself make me weep (but in a happy way, not a sad way), but just thinking about the ending makes me weep.

I have to get off my ass and recommend this one to Criterion. Universal continues to treat it like a red-headed stepchild.

[jayembee]

Just got back from my second trip to B&N for the Criterion sale. This time, I picked up:

Ozu's An Autumn Afternoon
Ray's The Big City and Charulata
Kalatozov's Letter Never Sent
Vláčil's Marketa Lazarová
and
World Cinema Project

I think that's it for me for this sale.

[Fabs]

Originally Posted by jayembee

I got sucker punched by E.T. when I saw it on opening day. I thought it was just wonderfully emotional, and all that. When a friend came to visit from out of town, I insisted that we go to see it again (again for me; first time for her). My reaction to it the second time was completely different; I couldn't believe it was the same film I reacted so positively to the previous time.

I had previously posted a comment about what I realized was wrong with E.T.. I won't post it again, but here's the link:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...ostcount=97986

Yeah, I like E.T., but I'm finding that I don't love it as I used to. Excellent film though. I agree about your saying that Spielberg can be over manipulative, but his best works are ones where they are not manipulative at all or just very little. Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jaws, Jurassic Park.

I also have to say, that his works from Jaws until Jurassic Park look very pretty. I'd say Spielberg is a master of using light and color in film, and he always has really interesting and cool shots in those early works.

[movieben1138]

I got the Jacques Demy blu-ray boxset in the mail yesterday from B&N. Why is it everything I order from them comes looking like the stockroom workers used it as a soccer ball prior to packaging it? I'll be taking that in to a store tomorrow and seeing if I can get a better looking copy.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

I'm bored to death with ET.

Spielberg's movies are like the opposite of Kubrick's. Everything on earth is explained so much that there's basically no mystery left. Even Close Encounters of the Third Kind doesn't get me excited anymore. I guess his films are better suited to younger folks or those that still have the mind of a child's. AI was somewhat mysterious but I disagree with Kubrick's opinion of him preferring Spielberg to direct it.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by lordmorpheus72

Late to this discussion I know, but I feel the same way. The first time I saw the film I was a teenager, still in HS on home video. I remember sitting in my living room late at night going, "huh?" I loved it, and knew it was important, but just didn't fully understand... heck, I still don't fully understand. But, that doesn't make it any less enjoyable or important. It's a film I truly love and keep looking at the LD Criterion release on ebay from time to time.

Glad to hear you share the same sentiments. It's just one of those films that I classify in another level of genius...like it was directed by an advanced alien, not a human.

If Criterion ever re-released this on blu-ray, I'd probably faint from shock. There's no way Warner is going to ever let one of their prized catalog titles be outsourced probably.

Originally Posted by jayembee

I wasn't necessarily thinking about it in purely scientific terms. I was 14 when I saw the film back in 1968, and hadn't known a thing about Haeckel's theory. It took me two viewings and weeks of thinking about it to work out that Bowman's aging must have been a representation of his evolving into a higher being, and that the image of him as the Star Child was to say, "He's now starting his new existence as a member of a new species."

To this day, I still haven't quite figured out if there's something more to the hotel room setting other the assumption that Bowman was using a memory of his as a way of making sense of a surrounding that was beyond his understanding.

That's fascinating. I feel like a certain episode of Star Trek: TNG ("The Royale") copied a lot from this film. In that episode, an alien race recreated an actual hotel/casino for this one human who was lost in space, and recreated apparent android-humans for the man to relate to, so he could spend the rest of his life in comfort. Of course, it turned out that the alien race only had a book (a poorly written novel that is) to work with and it was about a bunch of crooks hanging out in a casino/hotel and included shady characters.

If there was indeed a

[Show spoiler]higher power/alien race that helped recreate Bowman's manifestation of the hotel room and aging, it was as if time never existed in this vacuum / subspace field.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

wait, you've polled 10 women on their top Kubrick films? or you've polled more than 10 and have observed that approx. 9 out of 10 do not prefer it? there are probably 10 women in my office, I'd be shocked if 9 out of 10 of them even know who Kubrick is.

just ball bustin' and teasing here...

based on the two posts above, can I draw the conclusion that you are only friends with 1 out of every 10 women?

I don't have an official poll here, but I am going to actually conduct this for official purposes now that you said it.

It's not a deal breaker, but Kubrick has to be at least recognized and respected by my female peers.

But yes, I am super picky about my female preferences.