The Criterion Collection

[scottpcusa]

...in alphabetical (not ranking) order:

Charade
The Darjeeling Limited
The Double Life of Veronique
El Norte
House
Howard's End
Last Year at Marienbad
Pale Flower
Pierrot Le Fou
The Red Shoes

[rkish]

Originally Posted by AgentOrange

If looking for an existing box that has yet to be upgraded to blu-ray I'm hoping for a Kurosawa set like the postwar set, or maybe something else Japanse like the Eclipse noire set (Nikkatsu Noire). Even though I'm trying not to spend money on DVD's anymore, I'm actually thinking about getting those on DVD during the sale, but I don't want to get burned having the blu-ray set announced months later. I seriously hope there is a flood of the Eclipse sets coming to blu-ray, as well as some of the lower priced "Essential Arthouse" making their way to blu. Would be nice to have some nice lower MSRP options, I dont' always need all the special features and booklets...

You already mentioned, but it would also be nice to see some type of Hitchock set (or even a single release), since there's hardly any hitchock on blu-ray period, let alone Criterion.

A Chaplin set seems like another obvious possibility. Criterion have the WHOLE Chaplin catelogue now, correct? So they can pretty much release whatever they want without licensing issue? Hopefully they make use of that for some type of box set.

I wholeheartedly agree with your sentiment...especially with the Postwar Kurosawa set, but I don't think any of the Eclipse sets will see BD treatment now or ever. I bought the Postwar Eclipse set for that very reason (and it is a great collection of films).

We need to see ANY of the Ozus released...I've been buying the BFI releases, but am going through supplemental withdrawal.

[montereypop]

I love many of the DVDs just as much as the blu-rays so I did a mixed list.

10. Ugetsu/ Sansho the Bailiff
9. Sweet Smell of Success
8. The Third Man
7. Vampyr
6. The Night of the Hunter
5. Eisenstein: The Sound Years
4. Fanny and Alexander (5-disc)
3. The Thin Red Line
2. Seven Samurai
1. Brazil (3-disc)

I also love Battle of Algiers, Ace in the Hole, Straw Dogs, The Complete Mr. Arkadin, Andrzej Wajda- Three War Films, Seventh Seal, America Lost and Found, Monterey Pop, Modern Times and M.

[myka22]

My top ten, Harakiri has been announced on Blu-ray, so I figure it's fair game.

1. The 400 Blows
2. Seven Samurai
3. Harakiri
4. The Seventh Seal
5. Chungking Express
6. 8 1/2
7. Solaris
8. In the Realm of the Senses
9. Paths of Glory
10. The Wages of Fear

[nametag]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

I thought the story was very interesting. I really thought Deborah Kerr was pretty good in her role. Yes, it was a bit predictable with the little bit at the end, but it was still thrilling. Sister Ruth was all kinds of awesome, and that one shot of her eyes after she left the order was creepy as hell. Jean Simmons was interesting to see, as it was her first film role.

Also, the film came out at an interesting period in Indian history, the same year as Indian Independence. I know a lot of people find the film dated and hellishly racist, by today's standards (Check out the IMDB board if you don't believe me) but I still enjoyed the film. It's also one of the few Criterions my mother enjoys watching too. So some sentimentality there.

Despite a bit of Orientalism undoubtedly there, I actually think it is quite interesting when looking at the film from a post-colonial point of view, even though it was set during colonial times. The whole thing about the West trying to set up a representative 'civilsed' community in a completely alien climate that is ultimately overpowering (in more ways than one) is pretty interesting, both reminiscent of a text like Heart of Darkness and a lot of colonial and post-colonial literature that I've read. Plus the cinematography is amazing, especially in the last half hour, and I love the over the top melodramatic pay-off at the end (the door-opening sequence is amazing!).

It's my favourite Powell and Pressburger that I've seen, though I also really like The Red Shoes and the other films of theirs that I've seen - I want Criterion to release more, like Colonel Blimp!

[Shout92]

Anyone else noticed something peculiar about the upcoming Coen Brothers Blu-Ray Collection? It includes their first three films (Blood Simple, Raising Arizona, and Miller's Crossing) then skips to Fargo (which has already been released on Blu). Anyone else think that perhaps Barton Fink (their fourth film, and the next logical choice) is getting the Criterion treatment? Out of all their films, it is the one that would fit the mold.

[Cinemach]

Top Ten Criterions Blu
In alphabetical order

8 1/2
The Double Life of Veronique
The Leopard
M
Paris, Texas
Red Desert
Repulsion
Sweet Smell of Success
The Third Man
Wings of Desire

Including DVDs
In alphabetical order:

8 1/2
BRD Trilogy (counting as one)
The Double Life of Veronique
Jules and Jim
The Leopard
Paris, Texas
Red Desert
The Third Man
Wild Strawberries
Wings of Desire

Of course, based on those I've seen in entirety.

[bgart13]

Originally Posted by Pyoko

...Criterion hates people outside of NA.

Yes. With a passion. That's why they release so many films made outside of North America...

[Rizor]

Here's my top 10 on Blu-ray:

The Third Man
The 400 Blows
The Double Life of Veronique
Seven Samurai
Sweet Smell of Success
The Seventh Seal
Paths of Glory
Days of Heaven/The Thin Red Line
Black Narcissus/The Red Shoes
The Night of the Hunter

Yeah, I cheated but the celebrities do it all the time on their lists.

Some other DVD only titles I'd throw into the mix:

The Adventures of Antoine Doinel
Brazil
Notorious/Rebecca
Rushmore/The Royal Tenenbaums
In the Mood for Love
Rashomon/Throne of Blood
Le Samourai

[greekak229]

Toughie, but I'll give it a shot.

Top 10 Criterion BDs:

M
The Night of the Hunter
The 400 Blows
Sweet Smell of Success
Seven Samurai
8 1/2
Paris, Texas
Bigger Than Life
Diabolique
Paths of Glory

[Darkcritic]

Originally Posted by bgart13

Yes. With a passion. That's why they release so many films made outside of North America...

The sad thing (At least for me ) is that most companies don't consider Mexico part of NA while, in fact, it is. At least we get most BDs, just not Criterion. Other good thing is that we got a mexican distributor that releases a lot of art films from around the world. Most of them cost 50 Pesos or the equivalent of about 3 Dollars.

[iam1bearcat]

1. Revanche
2. Solaris
3. Repulsion
4. The Thin Red Line
5. Last Year at Marienbad
6. The Seventh Seal
7. Antichrist
8. The Darjeeling Limited
9. Everlasting Moments
10. Summer Hours

one of the easiest lists i've ever compiled

[SpiderBaby]

Making this list of my 10 fav releases of Criterion just brings it to my attention even more than it is, that "World Cinema" in Criterion is lacking and I have so many fav films from South America that makes this list look like poop. Anyways here is 11 (hard to knock down to 10, just think the 2 Godard are 1),




There is alot of other things (I can put the 2 Godards' together and bring in Closely Watched Trains or Fists in the Pocket).

[Arkadin]

waited forever to order Last Emperor to avoid the dreaded digibook pressing, which I just don't like at all.
and so I get a Barnes and Noble order today and I open it up and it's the digibook version.
WTF???
unbelievable.
just cannot believe they don't have case versions yet at B&N.
(rant over)

[kazama]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

1. Revanche
2. Solaris
3. Repulsion
4. The Thin Red Line
5. Last Year at Marienbad
6. The Seventh Seal
7. Antichrist
8. The Darjeeling Limited
9. Everlasting Moments
10. Summer Hours

one of the easiest lists i've ever compiled

hmm, i guess i gotta watch Revanche soon (have the blu-ray since february). this movie gets so much love, it can't be a coincidence.

i was gonna make my fav list as well, but i have too many criterions i haven't seen yet, and i have a feeling that my list wouldn't be too accurate or serious at the moment. but i love seeing your lists guys, so keep em posting.

[bingtau]

well i be picking up High and Low this week but I'm going crazy on what else I should grab. Nothing is jumping out at me. I'm think Che, Life During Wartime, or Revanche but I'm not sold on any of them hence why I have held off to this point. Do I save my coins or take a gamble on one of the above. Which one though?

Revanche I think could just be a good night stand.

I liked Happiness a lot but the same characters all different actors in Wartime doesn't turn me on.

I'm leaning towards Che but again is this just another one night stand?

[Jamnperry]

My top ten

Thin Red Line
Paris Texas
The Double Life of Veronique
Mystery Train
Seven Samurai
Vivre Sa Vie
Chungking Express
400 Blows
8 1/2 Weeks
Revanche

Trying to select just 10 is really hard! There are so many others I could say and more that I've bought and haven't seen yet. But these are probably going to see a lot of repeat viewings over many years.

[kazama]

Originally Posted by Arkadin

waited forever to order Last Emperor to avoid the dreaded digibook pressing, which I just don't like at all.
and so I get a Barnes and Noble order today and I open it up and it's the digibook version.
WTF???
unbelievable.
just cannot believe they don't have case versions yet at B&N.
(rant over)

funny, i love those digipacks. i was so mad when i got my bottle rocket bd in its clear plastic case. i've been hunting it for months now. so yeh, just like someone said a few pages earlier, one man's trash is another man's treasure i guess.

[Rivera]

My personal top ten Criterions:

Seven Samurai
Sweet Smell of Success
High and Low
M
The Third Man
Seventh Seal
The Red Shoes
Paths of Glory
8 1/2
Diabolique

Difficult to compile a definitive list, since I love many of the titles in the collection.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by kazama

funny, i love those digipacks. i was so mad when i got my bottle rocket bd in its clear plastic case. i've been hunting it for months now. so yeh, just like someone said a few pages earlier, one man's trash is another man's treasure i guess.

If you were in the states, I'd have you covered for that.