The Criterion Collection

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by frothy

From criterionforum.org:

I can't disclose too much information, but a source has told me that Criterion is in the middle of restoring The Thin Red Line under supervision of Terrance Malick and they hope to get it out by the end of the year. This source is extremely reliable so I would believe what they say.

This is obviously great news, and makes me happy as a clam! The Thin Red Line is an excellent film, and I cannot wait to add it to my Blu-ray library. One thing I want to see someday is Malick's original six hour cut of the film, but I don't think we'll ever be able to get that unfortunately.

[QuasidodoJr]

For those interested:

Hunger - Comparison review at DVD Beaver

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by QuasidodoJr

For those interested:

Hunger - Comparison review at DVD Beaver

More great screen shots of a film that I'm very much looking forward to owning February 16th.

CC

[JediFonger]

ok, ccfix, this begs the question. i guess it's addressed to both you and criterion luvers (well anyone on here BLu-Ray really).

1. do you buy Criterion just for technical basis regardless of the quality of the film?
2. do you enjoy films that are non-Criterion?
3. do you enjoy films that might not have the best transfer... but are just so dang good, you don't care?

just curious because for me, i don't own all criterion, but i really do luv the ones that i do have because they are very entertaining and enjoyable and i luv taking it out and just watching a scene here and there. i think i wrote mini-reviews of my list a few pages up already. but i also enjoy many non-Criterion releases. Gladiator comes to mind because the transfer is really poor but i still dig it.

[jacobsever]

Originally Posted by QuasidodoJr

For those interested:

Hunger - Comparison review at DVD Beaver

What's up with the crop job the Maple Pictures release did?

[Lepidopterous]

I have not seen Pierrot Le Fou, but I love Chungking Express. Would that merit a strong recommendation for me?

[McCrutchy]

Since this is a Criterion emergency, I went ahead and blind bought Diary of a Country Priest, The Tales of Hoffman, The Fallen Idol Trafic, The Small Back Room and Last Holiday (Essential Art House) from the OOP sale along with a copy of Grand Illusion as I can't see all the CC extras making it to the StudioCanal BD. The discounted Criterion prices made it an easy decision over Amazon.com, who still uses the same DVD price tiers in spite of their lower-priced Criterion Blu-ray Discs.

EDIT: Added Peeping Tom and Coup de torchon, both because of the unique CC extras, and e-mailed Mulvaney to see if they could combine orders.

Still waiting on the next true 50% off sale for many others, though I have a terrible feeling that Criterion will be forced to give up most or all of their StudioCanal-licensed titles, so we could be seeing a few of these OOP sales in the coming months and next couple of years.

[substance]

I bought my copy along with The Last Metro early today and recieved an email from amazon.com a couple of hours ago that my movies has been shipped

For those who have Brazil 3 disc DVD, is Love Conquers All widescreen or pan & scan?

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by JediFonger

ok, ccfixx, this begs the question. i guess it's addressed to both you and criterion luvers (well anyone on here BLu-Ray really).

1. do you buy Criterion just for technical basis regardless of the quality of the film?

First of all, I don't buy any films based on technical merit, alone. I'm definitely not one of those "gonna buy this movie to show off my home theater"-type guys, ya know? As a matter of fact, my home theater doesn't even exist. Unfortunately, I've never had any type of surround sound system in any home that I've ever lived in, and my televisions could always be bigger than what they are. It's obvious that I'm a big supporter of Criterion and their output, and now that I'm old enough (32) and financially secure enough, I'd like to stay on top of their blu-ray releases. When DVDs first came around in 1998, I was 19 or 20 years old and couldn't possibly keep up with their releases at that time... nor, was I even into foreign and classic films then as I am now. I'm also a 'collector' of films, as well, so take that for what it is. Back at the dawn of mid- to late-90's widespread internet service, I was buying VHS tapes that were out-of-print just for the sake that they were OOP. If someone told me it wasn't available, I was gonna make sure that I found myself a copy. That was then, though, and I'm obviously not as crazy about it these days, and I am more selective with my purchases, but I still have no problems dropping the money for any Criterion blu-rays that come out. I'll find something in every single one of their releases that I can appreciate... that, I can count on. It doesn't mean I'm gonna fall in love with every release, but I'll definitely find something to appreciate about it. Crazy? Maybe. But, it's my thing, ya know?

Originally Posted by JediFonger

2. do you enjoy films that are non-Criterion?

Hell yeah! How could anyone only enjoy films that are released by Criterion on laser disc, DVD, or blu-ray? I am by no means some type of film elitist. I'm just a lover of film, in general. I try to educate myself enough before I ever offer an opinion on anything. One of my biggest pet peeves with film is reading lots of uneducated opinions on forums from people who have no clue what they're talking about 'cause they haven't done their homework... the same thing happens when I'm in a theater and I overhear people talking about movies they have no clue about. I just like to educate and inform people when I can.

But, back to your original question, if you just look at my 'collection' list, you'll see that I own many types of films on blu-ray. Hell, my favorite director is John Waters, who's directed some of my favorite films like "Cry-Baby," "Pink Flamingos," "Desperate Living," "Pecker," etc. My favorite film of all-time is the original 1961 version of "The Parent Trap" with Hayley Mills. I've love that film since elementary school, and that's never gonna change, ya know? Do I own Michael Bay's "Transformers" on blu-ray? Of course, I do. I also saw it in the theater... along with the 1986 animated "Transformers" film in the theater when it was released, but that's another story. And, of course, some film elitists think it's total rubbish, but I find entertainment value out of it. Obviously, not everyone's tastes are the same, and some people think other peoples' tastes are crap, but at the end of the day it all comes down to being personal opinions that don't mean anything in the real world.

Originally Posted by JediFonger

3. do you enjoy films that might not have the best transfer... but are just so dang good, you don't care?

Yes. Obviously, we all want the best transfer available, I'd like to think, but it's just not possible. For some blu-rays, though, I could care less about what some reviewer says about PQ & AQ 'cause I know I'm gonna get it no matter what. However, sometimes I will take into consideration the opinions of reviewers that I have come to respect, and from that I will make a decision on whether or not I want to make the purchase or not. I'm not gonna rely on just one or two reviews, though... I'm looking all across the internet at different sites and forums for reviews. And, at the end of the day, it's my money and my choice to purchase something or not. Obviously, the three films in Criterion's recent release of Roberto Rossellini's "War Trilogy" on DVD aren't in the best of shape film-wise, but that didn't stop me from laying down $45 for it.

So, I hope all that rambling of mine gives you a bit of insight into, at least, one movie lover on here, JediFonger.

CC

[ChadFL]

Does Criterion ever have sales on their website? I noticed that even with the $5 off the soon to be OOP titles on their website Amazon is still significantly cheaper. I ordered Pierrot le fou for about $3 less on Amazon than Criterion direct.

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Does Criterion ever have sales on their website? I noticed that even with the $5 off the soon to be OOP titles on their website Amazon is still significantly cheaper. I ordered Pierrot le fou for about $3 less on Amazon than Criterion direct.

Yes, the one soon-to-be OOP blu-ray is cheaper, but how many other DVD titles on Amazon did you find cheaper than Criterion's current OOP Sale right now?

Actually, I can only recall seeing one sale on Criteron's site within the past couple of years and that was because of their whole website redesign. Other than that, I don't know of any.

CC

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Does Criterion ever have sales on their website? I noticed that even with the $5 off the soon to be OOP titles on their website Amazon is still significantly cheaper. I ordered Pierrot le fou for about $3 less on Amazon than Criterion direct.

Also, (and I'm not sure if this is at Criterion's request or not) Amazon continues to use "old" price tiers for Criterion DVDs despite having much lower pricing on all the Blu-ray releases. So the OOP sale is a much better deal from Criterion than buying the titles from Amazon.

[online365daysayear]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Same here. I went ahead and ordered before this one goes OOP.

+1 Mine should arrive in two days.

[kndy]

1. do you buy Criterion just for technical basis regardless of the quality of the film?

Yep. I'm auteur-driven, PQ and AQ are important but not as important to me as the director, talent and overall story. And that is why I haven't stopped buying DVD's. Because there are many films from these director's that I enjoy and many, I doubt will receive the Blu-ray treatment. Now releases with more content is more of a priority than those that are not.

But where I'm a bit different in others is I tend to not go for depressing, uber-dark or twisted films from Criterion. Not my thing.

2. do you enjoy films that are non-Criterion?

Yes.

3. do you enjoy films that might not have the best transfer... but are just so dang good, you don't care?

Yes and no. On Blu-ray, I have a higher expectation for certain titles (you mentioned "Gladiator" and those are the ones that tend to disappoint me when quality and content is not all there.

Originally Posted by stobbart

Another thing, I have not picked up any Eclipse sets yet. Dont really know about the flamenco trilogy, but how many people here do get the Eclipse sets? What ones do you have? and what do you think of the Eclipse line. I understand there are no extras and the PQ & AG are below what they put out for their regular releases.

Oh heck yeah! I love the Eclipse line. They may not have special features but these are films that we are fortunate to have a release. They may not have received the Criterion Collection treatment and have no special features but I'm pleased with what I've seen so far.

[reallyagi]

Originally Posted by DjMethod

I have not seen Pierrot Le Fou, but I love Chungking Express. Would that merit a strong recommendation for me?

Two very different films, be careful when introducing yourself with Godard films, but I can't recommend the experience enough.

Don't say I didn't warn you.

[pro-bassoonist]

HUNGER Blu-ray Review

Pro-B

[stlcards]

Originally Posted by KFelon

Just got a notice that they are shipping out my replacement case for The Third Man.

I got a shipping notice for The Third Man too. I ordered it Jan 8.

[Ceaucescu]

Cheers for the review, pre-ordered.

[JediFonger]

thx ccfix & kdny =).

meanwhile... do all eclipse boxsets have booklets inside? i'm specifically referencing the Postwar Kurosawa, does that one have any booklets inside? i own the AK 100 boxset already w/the 25 movies... just wanted ot know if i'm missing any special booklets on that boxset.

ALSO, someone suggested that the Ran 2-disc OOP DVD came w/a LARGER than the DVD case book. is that true? i have that on DVD due to the botched Studio Canal version, but outside the 30 page booklet inside of the DVD case, someone said there is a larger book special editions... is that true? not talking about the masterworks edition here.

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by JediFonger

meanwhile... do all eclipse boxsets have booklets inside? i'm specifically referencing the Postwar Kurosawa, does that one have any booklets inside?

No, not all the Eclipse sets have a booklet. The majority of them simply have liner notes within the cover. And here's DVDBeaver's review of the "Postwar Kurosawa" Eclipse set. It should tell you all you need to know. DVDBeaver has reviewed all of the Eclipse sets so far, I believe, and that should answer most of your questions about them.

CC