The Criterion Collection

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Anyone here ever feel like they've hit a wall with their Criterion journey?

[Show spoiler]
One of the great joys of my recent existence has been the excitement of Criterion blind buys during the B&N sales - which I can only describe as the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.

The Apu Trilogy, Picnic at Hanging Rock, Hiroshima Mon Amour, World On A Wire, Three Colors:

[Show spoiler]

The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, A Brighter Summer Day, Insomnia, The Devil's Backbone:

[Show spoiler]

It's been epically bittersweet...and a hell of a lot of fun.

But this last sale I struggled to put together a list of six or seven titles I wanted, most of which were upgrades. Now I'm thinking about the July sale and I can't even think of more than one or two potential blind buys that make my light saber so much as flicker, let alone switch on with its full neon-colored magnificence.

I've gone over the full blu-ray catalog five or six times in the last couple weeks...and nothing. That hog below my waist doesn't even move.

What am I going to do? Reduce myself to waiting for the occasional announcement of a title I really want? Keep sending Jon Mulvaney large packages full of pig manure in the mail until Le Samourai finally gets upgraded?

That sounds like death to me.

I'm scared.

I'm holding on too tight.

...I've lost the edge.

I think I know the feeling that you are describing, but unless you've seen them all, you really don't know what surprises might still be in store. There are titles that I glossed over time and time again only to find that somehow, my interest in them piqued and I found myself seeking them out - maybe not for a blind buy, but they ended up on a 'to watch' list.

I don't recall you ever commenting on the Powell & Pressburger films. Have you seen those? How about the Samuel Fuller films? I've seen a few by him and have really enjoyed them, but haven't seen the CC titles yet. Ivan's Childhood? That was an unexpected master work.

Maybe you just need to take a break from movies for a short while? I usually find that my appreciation of film is enhanced when it is complimented by a life full of family, friends, travel, work (can't believe I said that) etc.

btw... LeBron's flexing was pretty epic, but that didn't end too well for his home town team. :-)

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

Fair enough, I just feel like you have a rather small collection - there is probably more in there for you if you cast your net a little wider.

Ride The Pink Horse?
All That Heaven Allows?
Wild Strawberries?
Sweet Smell of Success?
On the Waterfront?
Fanny & Alexander?
Black Narcissus?
The Wages of Fear?
The Innocents?
My Darling Clementine?

Just a few suggestions, looking at your collection.

all good suggestions.

RTPH was another one that really surprised me.

...and, of course, all the John Ford films are essentials.

[mrjohnnyb]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Yeah I suppose you're right.

Sometimes it makes me sad though– the thrill of the blind buy being gone.

I have to remind myself that some Criterions aren’t meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright. And when they remain on the shelf, the part of you that knows it was a sin to lock them up does rejoice.

But still, the collection you live with is that much more gray and empty without some fresh fish.

...I guess I just miss my blind buys.

I miss being on the streets late at night, trading sexual favors for cash...trying to get that money for Dekalog. It was never fear that gripped me - only a heightened sense of things. The cold air in my lungs...the crazed look in the old man's eyes as he reached into his wallet and pulled out two crinkled $20 bills.

I've never felt more alive.

...before or since.

Remember, Ray, a blind buy is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies. I will be hoping that this post finds you, and finds you well. Your friend. Mr. Johnny B.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

Fair enough, I just feel like you have a rather small collection - there is probably more in there for you if you cast your net a little wider.

Ride The Pink Horse?
All That Heaven Allows?
Wild Strawberries?
Sweet Smell of Success?
On the Waterfront?
Fanny & Alexander?
Black Narcissus?
The Wages of Fear?
The Innocents?
My Darling Clementine?

Just a few suggestions, looking at your collection.

Seen them all, except for Pink Horse and The Innocents.

I have to buy back The Killers, so I think I'm good for noir for now.

I've come close to buying The Innocents a few times, but I've seen several negative posts here about it and I guess they scared me off.

Is it great?

Genuinely scary...or just mildly spooky by old-movie standards?

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Seen them all, except for Pink Horse and The Innocents.

I have to buy back The Killers, so I think I'm good for noir for now.

I've come close to buying The Innocents a few times, but I've seen several negative posts here about it and I guess they scared me off.

Is it great?

Genuinely scary...or just mildly spooky by old-movie standards?

The Innocents is great, and I don't tend to find movies scary, but I think it is an effective film.

Do you not consider the other movies great?

[nitin]

You were not impressed by Sweet Smell of Success Ray?

Also if you liked the Apu Trilogy aren't you curious about the other Ray (!) titles in the collection?

[Scottie]

The Innocents is pretty good but I'm burnt out on it.

...it's one of the many CC films going.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by mrjohnnyb

Remember, Ray, a blind buy is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies. I will be hoping that this post finds you, and finds you well. Your friend. Mr. Johnny B.

Get busy blind buying, or get busy dying.

...that's damn right.

[Show spoiler]

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

The Innocents is great, and I don't tend to find movies scary, but I think it is an effective film.

Do you not consider the other movies great?

Originally Posted by nitin

You were not impressed by Sweet Smell of Success Ray?

Also if you liked the Apu Trilogy aren't you curious about the other Ray (!) titles in the collection?

I liked most of them, but I'm really trying to distill my collection down to titles that I love or hold some sort of special significance to me, for reasons that may not necessarily seem rational to normal people.

Sweet Smell of Success is great and I'll probably be buying it back in July.

Assuming I can get enough work on the streets.

Times are tough out there these days; lot of competition from the millennials.

...they'll do anything for a quick buck.

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I liked most of them, but I'm really trying to distill my collection down to titles that I love or hold some sort of special significance to me, for reasons that may not necessarily seem rational to normal people.

Sweet Smell of Success is great and I'll probably be buying it back in July.

Assuming I can get enough work on the streets.

Times are tough out there these days; lot of competition from the millennials.

...they'll do anything for a quick buck.

...so You're trying not to buy many titles and sad you aren't able to find titles to buy?

Your problems are self inflicted :P

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

...so You're trying not to buy many titles and sad you aren't able to find titles to buy?

Your problems are self inflicted :P

I'm trying not to buy titles I've already seen, unless I love them...and I'm trying not to blind buy unless I get excited about a title for some odd reason.

Which use to happen all the time.

...but not so much lately.

[Scottie]

Yes, Ray. It's coming.

[mrjohnnyb]

New announcements will be made in less than a fortnight!

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by mrjohnnyb

New announcements will be made in less than a fortnight!

I actually had to google "fortnight."

...I'm embarrassed.

[Show spoiler]

[CRASHLANDING]

Originally Posted by KyleW

Who's the chick in that first gif? She's smokin!

Michelle Jenneke, Australian hurdler (and internet meme)

[monorail91]

Just watched Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. I've loved Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! for a few years, and Women did not disappoint as another cartoony, supremely colorful comedy. Similar to David Lynch, Almodovar creates a world that is totally his own - what an auteur!

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Anyone here ever feel like they've hit a wall with their Criterion journey?

One of the great joys of my recent existence has been the excitement of Criterion blind buys during the B&N sales - which I can only describe as the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.

The Apu Trilogy, Picnic at Hanging Rock, Hiroshima Mon Amour, World On A Wire, Three Colors:

[Show spoiler]

The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, A Brighter Summer Day, Insomnia, The Devil's Backbone:

[Show spoiler]

It's been epically bittersweet...and a hell of a lot of fun.

But this last sale I struggled to put together a list of six or seven titles I wanted, most of which were upgrades. Now I'm thinking about the July sale and I can't even think of more than one or two potential blind buys that make my light saber so much as flicker, let alone switch on with its full neon-colored magnificence.

I've gone over the full blu-ray catalog five or six times in the last couple weeks...and nothing. That hog below my waist doesn't even move.

What am I going to do? Reduce myself to waiting for the occasional announcement of a title I really want? Keep sending Jon Mulvaney large packages full of pig manure in the mail until Le Samourai finally gets upgraded?

That sounds like death to me.

I'm scared.

I'm holding on too tight.

...I've lost the edge.

I can't tell you how right you are, Mr. Ray the coolest "J".

I'd say my Criterion blind buying hit an iron curtain sometime in mid to late 2015.

I had just gone too far.

Too far for my own good.

My sanity was just about gone.



All the money that I burned through my wallet had finally worked its way into the inner recesses of my brain.

And 2016? This was the year I had gone back to (and beyond) the future.

My future self had sent me messages from another parallel universe (in the vein of Interstellar).

I needed to start identifying binary code.

And just today I learned that the information age had started with Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz back in the year 1676. Yet another sign that I was ahead of my time in my Criterion blind buying collecting.

Yes, this posting makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

And this nonsense I'm writing here is very much in line with my illogical blu-ray film purchases.

Why do I do this? Am I trying to get off on movies I pray that I'll enjoy and resonate with? Is this a nerdy form of Russian roulette?

Who knows!

The bottom line is, be conservative... be very conservative when buying blindly!

[ThisKid]

I'm busy thinking of what to get in July as well. Might see if I can get-
-Lone Wolf and Cub
-Punch Drunk Love
-The New World
-The Essential Jacques Demy
-Boyhood, and
-The Before Trilogy

That's my wishlist so far. In this July, I saved up over $400 AUD for that sale. (That's somewhat near $310 USD) So, maybe I'll do the same thing like this year, or maybe not. I've got a lot of releases from other companies to catch on. I haven't bought a Scream Factory blu-ray since the start of 2015.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by muchogris

There is nothing nonsensical in what you say. Let me share my thoughts with a little rant:

I can understand not being happy about one or two purchases because trailers or genre and reviews can be missleading. But buying completely blind hoping like some people do and then complain for something that is essentially expensive is senseless, at least get information about what you are buying! and react to this and be more cautious afterwards!

Its extremely weird this Criterion obsession some guys have... There are plenty of other brands with the same treatment, but essentially these sentiments are just pure consumism. I know everybody here is a collector, but this site only fomentates having a huge collection by showing the number of titles right beside each single post. I remember buying like 20 dvds when i started collecting and didnt enjoy any of them and had to later sell them because im not an avid worker. It sounds crazy, but i simply wanted to stop downloading movies. But as soon as i discovered the expensive brands i realized i had to control myself. And decided cautiously what to buy by essentially informing myself thoroughly before blind buying. I changed my mindset because im not rich and right now i prefer streaming, renting a movie or even download it before going crazy about spending money. Of course, that isnt how everybody behaves... I just wanted to let you know that for your safety you should limit yourself like this if you cant control yourself over expensive editions. And Criterion is way more expensive than most brands as it never has proper sales by acting as if they can differenciate from the others. But they only do in the design aspect, and that is what i admire most if you want to own something physically.

Also, im now mainly a collector because i enjoy behind the scenes information and extras as much as the movie itself. And right now there is a lot brand diversity with good restorations and extras if you go region free. And if that is not enough, you can always check out youtube, buy ebooks, go to your local library, or check for a local alternative theater. Ive discovered great movies and stories by these methods.

Dont blame Criterion for all this, blame the circlejerk and in great part this website. As soon as someone says something needs a restoration the circlejerk begins and you are thrilled. And also blame the design of this site that shows a number of movies right beside every single post to make it look as if you are proud about wasting a lot of money as in the quantity of movies you own and not about cinema itself. It would cooler to show your favourite movies than that stupid number.

I pretty much agree with your posting.

To be honest, I dread the fact that the number beside the "Blu-ray collection:" keeps going up every time I add more movies to my personal collection. It's not something I'm actually proud of believe it or not. I've always been more aligned with the mantra of "More is Less". And I guess you can reverse that too (as the "Less is More" thing is heard everywhere). But to me, "More is Less" is something I totally believe in, that the more I buy, the less important it is overall. The more films I have, the less importance I have towards specific films, because I have so many. If I owned only 20 blu rays total, then each of those movies are very important to me. It's the same thing as having too many Facebook friends (which I'm guilty of as well). The vast majority are people I never even met or know and deep down in that mass amount are the few folks I know in real life and talk to on the phone or text on a daily or weekly basis.

More is less, because I become spoiled and I'm less appreciative of what I own after a while. That might be true with super wealthy people. I tend to hear they get bored after a while when they accumulate too much wealth. Or maybe its a burden for them because of taxes and whatnot. It kind of fills a void with nothing but more of a void that only enlarges the more we accumulate. Eventually what we own, pretty much OWNS US. (Excessive) materialism is a real killer and a real soul sucker I believe.

Don't worry though... I wrote that post with a bit of my tongue in my cheek. I wanted to have some fun in my interplay with Ray Jackson. It's true... I can really get caught up in Criterion blu rays if I'm not careful. I've recently learned to quell my Criterion "addiction", like I said in 2015, because either 1) I identified in my brain a negative psychological pattern or 2) I simply grew tired of spending money on blu rays I didn't need!

I'm actually enjoying the process now of selling off some things I own, including Criterions and other blu rays and physical media (CDs, DVDs, books, etc.). I've not yet sold off any large part of my Criterion collection, but its going to happen someday. The beauty is, Criterions maintain a pretty good resale value compared to other video distributing companies, so I know they'll be valuable, because of their unique and well put together content (whether its the supplements or packaging/design).

[ckt]

Tried to exchange some titles I bought during the sale today. I was told I would have to pay the difference since the sale is over. Makes no sense. Ended up just returning them.