The Criterion Collection

[octagon]

Originally Posted by zoodermin

What's your opinion on A Face in the Crowd? I've never seen it but the plot synopsis got me really intrigued and I'm a fan of Kazan's Streetcar and On the Waterfront. Does it merit a blind-buy?

It's an excellent film and a very safe blind buy. For the past couple years I've tried to avoid it on TCM in the hopes that a BD was on the way.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Bronson13

It’s like every movie nerds dream to have their favorite film on Criterion.

No, not every movie nerd's dream. A bunch of obsessive spine collectors perhaps. If a release satisfies my expectations as a fan, I don't care what label it is on.

[senseabove]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I found White Material in perfect condition for $14 at a used movie store down the street earlier today, so I grabbed it at long last.

I have been intrigued by this movie for a while now, but somehow never picked it up before.

I hope you've seen other Denis. I love her work, and White Material has it's distinct place in her filmography, but I didn't really appreciate it until I'd seen several other movies of hers, and I think having seen Chocolat is nearly a prerequisite...

[StarDestroyer52]

Originally Posted by zoodermin

What's your opinion on A Face in the Crowd? I've never seen it but the plot synopsis got me really intrigued and I'm a fan of Kazan's Streetcar and On the Waterfront. Does it merit a blind-buy?

It's a masterpiece and Andy Griffith is so great in it. Also, the film's message still resonates even today even more than ever.

[nitin]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I found White Material in perfect condition for $14 at a used movie store down the street earlier today, so I grabbed it at long last.

I have been intrigued by this movie for a while now, but somehow never picked it up before.

It’s an excellent film and I think you will like it.

[e-72]

[Rich Pure Doom]

Originally Posted by zoodermin

What's your opinion on A Face in the Crowd? I've never seen it but the plot synopsis got me really intrigued and I'm a fan of Kazan's Streetcar and On the Waterfront. Does it merit a blind-buy?

Hated it. Couldn't wait for it to end. Griffith's performance is grating.

[octagon]

Let's all give it up for That Guy, ladies and gentleman...

[Chiefy]

I get that Criterion are usually the go-to releases to get, but what are some to avoid and go with another or region free version?

[RCRochester]

The Third Man. The Criterion release is OOP anyway but some people still pay big bucks for it while the UK release from Studio Canal is from a 4K restoration and is region free.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by Rich Pure Doom

Hated it. Couldn't wait for it to end. Griffith's performance is grating.

Isn't he supposed to be grating, though?

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by Chiefy

I get that Criterion are usually the go-to releases to get, but what are some to avoid and go with another or region free version?

Fisher King , USA Image version has slightly better PQ and criterion version is misframed in one scene

[Dailyan]

Arrow:
The Killers ‘46
My Darling Clementine
Sullivan’s Travels
Thief
StudioCanal:
Last Year in Marienbad
Mulholland Drive
The Third Man

[crackedknee]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

The Third Man. The Criterion release is OOP anyway but some people still pay big bucks for it while the UK release from Studio Canal is from a 4K restoration and is region free.

And has print damage that the Criterion does not have, and does not have the general picture quality that the Criterion has, i.e. Criterion's restoration work is very well known to exceed the Studio Canal version. Other than the OOP price, the Criterion version is the one to have (if you have no choice because of price, you get stuck with the Studio Canal set).

But I would surmise his real question is what movies might be just fine with a regular edition. I think something like Boyhood is just fine in its regular edition, unless you really want the extra features that Criterion will give you on their release. Same goes for any more recent movie that has both a commercial and a Criterion release, it comes down to a matter of choice (do you want the Criterion extras, because the picture quality will not really vary for newer movies between the two editions, though sometimes).

For older movies, it's really hard to think of something where a regular edition exceeds the Criterion edition, as Criterion is about restoration done right, and so almost always is going to deliver the best print restoration and scan.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by muchogris

Look!! A different opinion from mine! Lets mock him!

[Show spoiler]

That GIF makes Andy Griffith look as though he's pleasuring himself.

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by crackedknee

[Show spoiler]And has print damage that the Criterion does not have, and does not have the general picture quality that the Criterion has, i.e. Criterion's restoration work is very well known to exceed the Studio Canal version. Other than the OOP price, the Criterion version is the one to have (if you have no choice because of price, you get stuck with the Studio Canal set).

But I would surmise his real question is what movies might be just fine with a regular edition. I think something like Boyhood is just fine in its regular edition, unless you really want the extra features that Criterion will give you on their release. Same goes for any more recent movie that has both a commercial and a Criterion release, it comes down to a matter of choice (do you want the Criterion extras, because the picture quality will not really vary for newer movies between the two editions, though sometimes).

For older movies, it's really hard to think of something where a regular edition exceeds the Criterion edition, as Criterion is about restoration done right, and so almost always is going to deliver the best print restoration and scan.

20ish Dollars vs. 100+...I think I know what I’m gonna go with.

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by Dailyan

20ish Dollars vs. 100+...I think I know what I’m gonna go with.

Yeah though IMO I don't the responses should include titles where the other version isn't outright better, since the OP presented thread as looking for versions where the Criterion isn't the go-to version... i.e. Not just looking for cheapest version.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

That GIF makes Andy Griffith look as though he's pleasuring himself.

Well that's gonna be hard to unsee.

[James Luckard]

Much like The Third Man, M is available in a region-free, English friendly edition that's from a newer restoration:

[James Luckard]

I'm not sure I understand the criticism of the Studiocanal Third Man disc. It's not like they each have competing restorations done around the same time, where the Criterion reputation means it's automatically superior.

Criterion's Third Man disc is based on an earlier HD master, while Studiocanal's is based on a more recent 4K scan:

https://caps-a-holic.com/c.php?go=1&...=58013&i=9&l=0