The Criterion Collection

[pro-bassoonist]

Carnival of Souls Blu-ray REVIEW



Outstanding restoration

Pro-B

[Page14]

Originally Posted by belcherman

So, the two Criterions I most wanted were sold out today at B&N (Manchurian Candidate and Only Angels Have Wings). I guess those will have to wait for the July sale. In the meantime, I ordered a mix of things, including two Criterions:

[Show spoiler]Item Qty Price

Operation Petticoat
1 $17.99

Father Goose
1 $17.99

Meet Me in St. Louis
1 $20.99

Star Is Born
1 $16.79

Mutiny on the Bounty
1 $14.99

Here Comes Mr. Jordan
1 $23.99

Man Who Would Be King
1 $14.99

Downhill Racer
1 $23.99
Sub Total: $151.72
Shipping & Processing: $0.00
Tax: $7.43
Discount: -$45.52
Total Price: $113.63

Not bad. Two Criterions, a couple of late-period Cary Grants (nobody does light comedy better), and four Warner digibooks. I was holding off on the latter hoping that they would get standard releases, but I guess that's not happening. I don't like digibooks but you gotta do what you gotta do.

That looks eerily similar to a wish list that I'm in the process of putting together, except for the Criterions which I'm planning to buy at the upcoming B&N 50% off sale. I'm debating though because I'd still like to pick up some TT titles too, while the SAE sale is still going on. (... looking for the "empty pockets" emoticon)

[jeffster15]

Originally Posted by polsk_aus90

I don't suppose anybody has had some issues with payment? I attempted to pay with paypal, but I received an error saying the paypal account couldn't be authorised and going by the B&N page the order didn't go through. However I got a confirmation email from Paypal saying that it had been submitted. But there is no order listed in my B&N account. Any ideas/similar experiences?

Where you signed in when ordered? You may have checked out a guess. Also check out Paypal account and make sure it did go through, if it did contact Barnes & Noble.

[malakaheso]

Who owns Nights of Cabiria? Studio Canal? I hope Criterion release it on blu-ray sometime. Great film.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by malakaheso

Who owns Nights of Cabiria? Studio Canal? I hope Criterion release it on blu-ray sometime. Great film.

Yes, Studiocanal. Criterion lost the rights to it a long while back, and SC hasn't done much with it since. It's one of Fellini's best films, so it's sad that it's not on BD yet. Next year marks the 60th anniversary of the film, so I hope that prompts SC to do a restoration and release of it.

[Edward J Grug III]

Several titles that I wanted were sold out, but that's cool I got a great bunch of titles:

Ride the Pink Horse
It Happened One Night
The Essential Jacques Demy
Killers
Cries and Whispers
Sommaren med Monika

Plus two non-Criterion titles:

Best Years of Our Lives
Imitation of Life: 2-Movie Collection

First Criterion titles I've bought in over a year, and was planning to order up in the 50% off sale, but this was even better! Well worth a big order to Australia. Thanks to those who pointed out the deal!

(Also, I now have 97 Criterions. Might hit 100 in the 50% off sale!)

[oildude]

To shelloiljunior and all of the other Criterion fans in Cleveland......congratulations!

It's been a verrrry long drought. First major title in the city since 1964.

[malakaheso]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

First Criterion titles I've bought in over a year, and was planning to order up in the 50% off sale, but this was even better! Well worth a big order to Australia. Thanks to those who pointed out the deal!

(Also, I now have 97 Criterions. Might hit 100 in the 50% off sale!)

You have unusually good taste for an Aussie. Well done mate!

B+N sale coming up soon. Looking forward to it.

[JJJ225]

So, I'm thinking about getting out of the game pretty much completely, and selling off most of my physical media collection. Anyone want to talk me off the ledge?

Not sure where else to post this other than here. I think I've got about 120 Criterion Blu Rays.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by JJJ225

So, I'm thinking about getting out of the game pretty much completely, and selling off most of my physical media collection. Anyone want to talk me off the ledge?

Not sure where else to post this other than here. I think I've got about 120 Criterion Blu Rays.

What are the factors that are leading to this possible decision? Physical space issue? Financial concerns?

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by JJJ225

So, I'm thinking about getting out of the game pretty much completely, and selling off most of my physical media collection. Anyone want to talk me off the ledge?

Not sure where else to post this other than here. I think I've got about 120 Criterion Blu Rays.

I would say to not get rid of everything but keep eg. 100 BLurays that are your absolute favourite movies. Of course it may be hard to choose but...

* * *

On another note, I watched Dazed and Confused yesterday.
I don't know but there are some films tha I can't decide if I like them or not and this was one of them.
Maybe I kind of liked the general atmosphere and that it was depicting a certain era and behaviours, but as a plot I was bored.
It's been ages since I've seen American Graffity, but I think these 2 films resemble somehow?
Anyway, i remember feeling the same way about that movie too.

[I KEEL YOU]

Originally Posted by oildude

To shelloiljunior and all of the other Criterion fans in Cleveland......congratulations!

It's been a verrrry long drought. First major title in the city since 1964.

I watch this movie every NBA finals, and I watched it yesterday.

Glad LeBron, Kyrie and the rest did their work.

[JJJ225]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

What are the factors that are leading to this possible decision? Physical space issue? Financial concerns?

Physical space is part of it. I live in Manhattan and am not wealthy, so like...space is a major premium. I have a giant custom built shelf (about 7 feet tall by 5 feet wide). And it's gotten to the point that I need a second shelf, and I'm literally having to change the entire layout of our bedroom to accommodate.

I don't need the money per se, but I do find myself spending a lot of money on movies that I really don't know if I feel the need to re-watch. I just made my list for the July B&N sale and it was 12 movies and I wondered how many of those I would really watch more than once. Seemed silly spending $200+ on that.

There's also the 4K around the corner. How many movies will I want to upgrade (again)? And with Criterion and TCM's new streaming service, I feel like between that, Netflix, and Netflix DVD, my movie-watching desires will be satiated.

So, I'm considering keeping a portion (maybe 50? maybe 100?), selling the rest, and taking a real nice vacation with the proceeds. A week and a half in Australia sounds awfully nice.

So, I get a vacation, more space, and future savings. I'm definitely leaning towards selling right now.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by JJJ225

Physical space is part of it. I live in Manhattan and am not wealthy, so like...space is a major premium. I have a giant custom built shelf (about 7 feet tall by 5 feet wide). And it's gotten to the point that I need a second shelf, and I'm literally having to change the entire layout of our bedroom to accommodate.

I don't need the money per se, but I do find myself spending a lot of money on movies that I really don't know if I feel the need to re-watch. I just made my list for the July B&N sale and it was 12 movies and I wondered how many of those I would really watch more than once. Seemed silly spending $200+ on that.

There's also the 4K around the corner. How many movies will I want to upgrade (again)? And with Criterion and TCM's new streaming service, I feel like between that, Netflix, and Netflix DVD, my movie-watching desires will be satiated.

So, I'm considering keeping a portion (maybe 50? maybe 100?), selling the rest, and taking a real nice vacation with the proceeds. A week and a half in Australia sounds awfully nice.

So, I get a vacation, more space, and future savings. I'm definitely leaning towards selling right now.

For what it's worth, I don't think it'd be a bad idea to sell the films you have no interest in ever watching again. You'll get space, extra money, and more importantly, some peace of mind.

For example, I just finished re-watching both Yojimbo and Sanjuro yesterday. I've seen them twice, and while I enjoy them, I'm not their biggest fan and will be parting ways with my box set in the future.

[Blutar]

Originally Posted by JJJ225

Physical space is part of it. I live in Manhattan and am not wealthy, so like...space is a major premium. I have a giant custom built shelf (about 7 feet tall by 5 feet wide). And it's gotten to the point that I need a second shelf, and I'm literally having to change the entire layout of our bedroom to accommodate.

I don't need the money per se, but I do find myself spending a lot of money on movies that I really don't know if I feel the need to re-watch. I just made my list for the July B&N sale and it was 12 movies and I wondered how many of those I would really watch more than once. Seemed silly spending $200+ on that.

There's also the 4K around the corner. How many movies will I want to upgrade (again)? And with Criterion and TCM's new streaming service, I feel like between that, Netflix, and Netflix DVD, my movie-watching desires will be satiated.

So, I'm considering keeping a portion (maybe 50? maybe 100?), selling the rest, and taking a real nice vacation with the proceeds. A week and a half in Australia sounds awfully nice.

So, I get a vacation, more space, and future savings. I'm definitely leaning towards selling right now.

I agree with iScottie. The way I phrase this stuff is: "do I _love_ this?" If the answer to myself is anything less (such as "like it" or even "like it alot"), I try to get ride of/avoid buying the physical form. And with that simple question as guiding principle--I try to be ruthless with "classics" that don't click for me.

It's not always possible [esp. w/Criterion] but I try to slide the "like it" type stuff into my digital (UV) locker via cheap pickups here on this board and elsewhere.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by iScottie

For what it's worth, I don't think it'd be a bad idea to sell the films you have no interest in ever watching again. You'll get space, extra money, and more importantly, some peace of mind.

For example, I just finished re-watching both Yojimbo and Sanjuro yesterday. I've seen them twice, and while I enjoy them, I'm not their biggest fan and will be parting ways with my box set in the future.

Such an interesting discussion. I think people can be wired very differently about these things. I've been around here long enough to see Scottie go from owning the whole collection to selling off the movies he didn't love. I respect when he describes the "peace of mind" he receives from this process, but it's completely foreign to me. I never get peace of mind when I sell something.

I rarely have buyers remorse when I purchase something, but I almost always have seller's remorse, where I sell something and instantly think about the possibility of wanting to watch it unexpectedly and not having it available to me.

JJJ, sounds like to might be wired more like Scottie than me, so maybe a well thought out plan of divestiture would be a good choice for you.

[buffetfroid]

I'm selling off some stuff to help pay for the remodeling of our bathrooms that is going on right now. Criterion stuff that I've blind bought and still haven't even opened or ones that aren't really going to be repeat viewers. That and I'm not buying very many new releases. We'll be cutting cable soon and with that new Criterion/TCM site coming, I figure why keep some of this stuff?

I'd like to get rid of some dvds but if they aren't worth more than $5 it's not really worth the effort.

[Blutar]

Originally Posted by buffetfroid

We'll be cutting cable soon and with that new Criterion/TCM site coming, I figure why keep some of this stuff?

I'd like to get rid of some dvds but if they aren't worth more than $5 it's not really worth the effort.

(I'm just jabbering here so take everything with a grain of salt

Re: why keep some of this stuff? For me, it's because 1) actual ownership til our players break, 2) audio quality still well above streaming options, 3) tired of buffering issues popping into movie experiences I'm really into, and finally 4) the ones I love have intrinsic value to me.

I just have to fight the clutter. On that note.

Re: less than $5 not worth the effort -- check out Decluttr (phone app) if you have a ton of low value stuff and just want to re-coop any value you can get. SecondSpin.com is the other one I've used for the subset of DVDs that had a little more value but not enough to mess with individually on Ebay/Half.com.

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

Such an interesting discussion. I think people can be wired very differently about these things. I've been around here long enough to see Scottie go from owning the whole collection to selling off the movies he didn't love. I respect when he describes the "peace of mind" he receives from this process, but it's completely foreign to me. I never get peace of mind when I sell something.

I rarely have buyers remorse when I purchase something, but I almost always have seller's remorse, where I sell something and instantly think about the possibility of wanting to watch it unexpectedly and not having it available to me.

JJJ, sounds like to might be wired more like Scottie than me, so maybe a well thought out plan of divestiture would be a good choice for you.

Agree I just sold my Masterpieces of Polish Cinema Vol 1 box and it felt strange, while I didn't loved all the films there were some I really liked and some that I might get something extra on a second viewing, but it was just too damn expensive , I can only get peace of mind thinking the ones I want will get individual releases at some point.

On the other hand there are some impulse buys that I can sell with no problem but still I have many on a list to rewatch to be sure I want to keep or sell.

[Vinyl]

For me I have been sitting near 50 criterions for some time and have mainly bought ones I have already seen and enjoyed. A major reason I slowed to a near stop is my time.

I have a job, a wife, and a new kid (just turned one). Don't feel like sitting down for 2-3 hours watching some obscure film that I blind bought when I would much rather hang out with the family or just sit and relax/zone out for an hour.

Space is also a big factor. It just isn't as important as time. What is the point in collecting things you can't use/enjoy?