The Criterion Collection

[JediFonger]

awesome thank you! =D

[kndy]

June is a pretty solid release and it looks like those who have been critical of DVD only releases should be happy with the Blu-ray/DVD releases for the month.

Granted, "NIGHT TRAIN TO MUNICH" is on DVD only but judging by the amount of special features, I can understand why they didn't choose to release it on Blu.

Looking at the special features from The Criterion Collection release for "Red Garden", looks like the content from the BFI release is similar with the exception of the booklet but neverthless, I can't wait for "Red Desert".

I do caution those who have never watched an Michelangelo Antonioni film to at least give "L'Avventura" or "L'Eclisse" a try first before purchasing "Red Desert". But one can hope that this will be the beginning of more Antonioni films on Blu-ray.

"Mystery Train" will appeal for those who enjoy quirky/humorous films. Although if you are not familiar with Jarmusch's minimalist style, may find stretches throughout the film to be a bit slow. But it's a fun film!

"Night Train to Munich" will definitely appeal to those who enjoy Hitchcock style of films. In fact, if you enjoyed Hitchcock's "The Lady Vanishes", writers Sidney Gilliat and Frank Launder wrote this film.

Also, happy that the Blu-ray release of "The Leopard" will include the American version of the film like the DVD release.

Not too familiar with "Close-Up" or "Everlasting Moments". Solid films?

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by Schonfelder

Well, i don't think it depends on that. It has more to do with the quality of the digital master, if they have it in high-definition or not.

Dillinger has an HD transfer.

[SpiderBaby]

kndy, great collection you got there. Hey, is the lower bottom all of your regular dvds? You should get Cassavetes "Husbands". Best non-Criterion dvd of 2009 IMO, but I am a Cassavetes fan.

What's funny is you only have vol 2 of the Looney Tunes. It's funny because that is the only one I got too. It's like I picked it up and never got around to get the rest. Do you have any exploitation films? I love to collect those.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by kndy

Not too familiar with "Close-Up" or "Everlasting Moments". Solid films?

Mr. Kiarostami is widely regarded as one of the greatest contemporary directors. His The Wind Will Carry Us is amongst the most impressive films made during the last 20 years. "Close-up" is a very personal film.

Jan Troell belongs to the same generation of Swedish directors Roy Andersson and Colin Nutley do. His latest film is a wonderful character study with impressive emphasis on period detail. Yes, a very solid film.

Pro-B

[kndy]

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

kndy, great collection you got there. Hey, is the lower bottom all of your regular dvds? You should get Cassavetes "Husbands". Best non-Criterion dvd of 2009 IMO, but I am a Cassavetes fan.

What's funny is you only have vol 2 of the Looney Tunes. It's funny because that is the only one I got too. It's like I picked it up and never got around to get the rest. Do you have any exploitation films? I love to collect those.

Hehe....I have several thousand more actually but a lot of Asian cinema, anime, BBC America and US Television releases, mainstream and independent films. But I separated anything classic, noir, musical, silent, etc. and put it on that shelf for now. The others (which I know Jeff Kleist at Digital Bits gives me a hard time about)....I put them all in binders. Home was becoming like a video rental store.

I'm definitely interested in watching more Cassavetes, Godard, Renoir and so many others. That's one thing about Criterion, introducing you to so many director's and then learning about films they love and recommend and searching those out as well.

As for exploitation films, I'm tempted in buying the pre-Hay's code "forbidden Hollywood" which are all on sale on Amazon right now. Tempted! Even the Lon Chaney TCM box set with the one twisted film "The Unknown" went on sale today.

But I'm definitely interested in exploitation films from '20s-'60s.

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Mr. Kiarostami is widely regarded as one of the greatest contemporary directors. His The Wind Will Carry Us is amongst the most impressive films made during the last 20 years. "Close-up" is a very personal film.

Jan Troell belongs to the same generation of Swedish directors Roy Andersson and Colin Nutley do. His latest film is a wonderful character study with impressive emphasis on period detail. Yes, a very solid film.

Pro-B

Thanks Pro-B. I'm definitely looking forward to those releases as well!

Talking about collection, would love to see Pro-B's collection. Kind of reminds me of the scene from Eric Rohmer's "My Night at Maud's" when they peek at each Maud's bookshelf. But definitely would love to see what films you have and films you recommend.

[JonBidinger]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Mr. Kiarostami is widely regarded as one of the greatest contemporary directors. His The Wind Will Carry Us is amongst the most impressive films made during the last 20 years. "Close-up" is a very personal film.

Jan Troell belongs to the same generation of Swedish directors Roy Andersson and Colin Nutley do. His latest film is a wonderful character study with impressive emphasis on period detail. Yes, a very solid film.

Pro-B

Is this the first Iranian film on Blu-ray?

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by JonBidinger

Is this the first Iranian film on Blu-ray?

This was supposed to be the first one, but I believe it was canceled:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Superstar-Blu-ray/6924/

Originally Posted by kndy

Talking about collection, would love to see Pro-B's collection. Kind of reminds me of the scene from Eric Rohmer's "My Night at Maud's" when they peek at each Maud's bookshelf. But definitely would love to see what films you have and films you recommend.

This could probably be arranged some time in the future.

Pro-B

[JonBidinger]

It pleases me to see more films hit blu from other countries, with Dogtooth (Greece) and Merantau (Indonesia) being announced in the UK and The Rebel (Vietnam) in France, more films to watch, all the time.

[captveg]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

True, but whining to Criterion about getting all future Criterions released on Blu just might work is getting more of them.

Well, informing them of the demand has certainly worked. I'm not sure how much "whining" has actually done. They've been saying for months now that they are working on increasing their Blu-ray release capabilities, and they have certainly been true to their word in that respect.

[TedK]

Originally Posted by kndy

Three months into the New Year and here is my latest update since the New Year of how the Criterion Collection is going. Suffice to say that I have outgrown my shelves and had to go with a temporary solution...yes, Home Depot....buying wood used for fences and purchasing a big long 12 ft. of wood and cutting it into sixteen blocks. And it has become my temporary Criterion, KINO, Masters of Cinema shelf unit (and also Blu-rays that have also exhausted my other shelf unit).

For those who want a larger view, can click here.

Nice. Now what do you do when you buy a few new ones? I've got 4 shelves and I'm running out of space!

[ShellOilJunior]

Hmm. CC did the same thing when Christmas Tale was announced. Hard to say if it's something they planned from the beginning...


As for potential CC releases in the catalog-- M.Hulot's Holiday would make for a lovely July release. The film has to be released in the summer months

[jcs913]

What was the shipping method CC used to send your replacement cases?

[JediFonger]

for those who luv exploitation films, checkout Black Dynamite =).

[carwhy]

hi, german tv-station arte showed "seven samurai" in hd last week and it looked fantastic. so when criterion is releasing it on blu-ray i guess we will be blown away by the pq!!!

[kndy]

Originally Posted by TedK

Nice. Now what do you do when you buy a few new ones? I've got 4 shelves and I'm running out of space!

My Blu-ray's were a problem. I had to temporarily hijack a bookshelf but with this temporary solution, I realized that you can easily store hundreds and although it's not the best looking decision (well, I suppose you can paint it), but its the cheapest solution.

The problem is if you know you're growing at 200-300+ discs a year, even the best shelf will be outgrown. So, just doing it yourself is probably going to be the most practical. And the thing is, each time you want to add to it, it only costs you under $2.00. The most expensive part is buying a 12 ft. plank and having them cut it blocks into 5.5/6 inches high (but you could get 16 out of it for a total of 8 shelves). - $14. Total cost for me = $26.

My Blu-rays A-F are in another shelf. I like to have enough space just in case there is a crazy month. Especially if there is another BN Criterion sale, I can easily move the Blu-rays out to my older shelf to make room. I'll probably paint the wood black one of these days. But it's the most economical for those who tend to have a large collection. I can probably add one or two more but a friend who did the same thing said it's best to keep it eye/head level and not too high.

Originally Posted by JediFonger

for those who luv exploitation films, checkout Black Dynamite =).

Awesome blaxpoitation film and Blu-ray! Dy-Na-Mite!

[fdm]

Originally Posted by reallyagi

wiza_gab has a link to the Benjamin Button cover I made on page 229 of this thread.

Awesome thanks! (I think I gave up before I got to January, and after lots of searching and googling too. This is one big thread.)

[fdm]

Originally Posted by jcs913

What was the shipping method CC used to send your replacement cases?

They shoved them all in a big oversized bubble bag. Fortunately, they also wrapped 4 together in bubble wrap and tape, and same with the other 5. Else, at least in my neck of the woods, would have been a disaster. (Phew.)

Hope the items I pre-ordered from them the other day are wrapped equally well (2 of 3 are cardboard). They get one chance to do it right, if they're reading.

[jcs913]

Originally Posted by fdm

They shoved them all in a big oversized bubble bag. Fortunately, they also wrapped 4 together in bubble wrap and tape, and same with the other 5. Else, at least in my neck of the woods, would have been a disaster. (Phew.)

Hope the items I pre-ordered from them the other day are wrapped equally well (2 of 3 are cardboard). They get one chance to do it right, if they're reading.

what method of shipment did they use, UPS, etc..?

[ShellOilJunior]

Almost certain they use UPS.