The Criterion Collection

[greekak229]

Snagged High and Low today, of course. I am now greatly anticipating Battle of Algiers and especially The Killing.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Crud.... I failed to cancel one of my pre-orders, so today "High and Low" arrived via Amazon, and I placed an order for it this morning via B&N

At least Amazon returns are easy...... I'll just wait until I get my B&N order to send it back, just to make sure there are no fullfillment issues (not that I expect any)

That reminds me, I need to cancel my The Killing preorder. Given the backlog I've already got I have a feeling that can wait until Nov.

[myka22]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Crud.... I failed to cancel one of my pre-orders, so today "High and Low" arrived via Amazon, and I placed an order for it this morning via B&N

At least Amazon returns are easy...... I'll just wait until I get my B&N order to send it back, just to make sure there are no fullfillment issues (not that I expect any)

But High and Low is so good that its basically worth owning twice.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

Yes, exactly. Thank you for giving form to my scattered thoughts. I want to "punish" random people based on the assumptions you made about me above by the power of my mere off-handed suggestion!

Oh come on, don't downgrade what you said. You want them "to reduce New spines". You said that. That in itself is enough reason for me to say WTF?

[GilliamsBrazil]

Should I blind buy Mimic? The current $9.99 price on Amazon is very tempting. I loved Cronos and am a huge fan of Pan's Labyrinth. Didn't really enjoy Hellboy. I haven't seen Blade II in years and don't really remember how I felt about it. These are the only del Toro's I've seen. Yay or nay?

[Eny-]

Originally Posted by aggienader08

I gave up months ago trying to purchase every Criterion that was released for a few reasons:

1.) All the Criterion DVDs I've seen I own now, and don't plan on changing that.
2.) They release an average 4-5 titles every month on blu and if I purchased all of them, including ones I don't even know I'll enjoy, then I wouldn't have the funds to purchase other non-Criterion titles I want.
3.) I don't get a rush out of blind-buying a film I've never seen like some who desire to own the "complete collection" just for the sake of owning the Criterion name. (that's not a knock on those folks that do, I truly respect the name and the game, I just don't strive to collect every film in a collection of which I've only seen approximately 40% of.) I'll Netflix it, and if I like it I'll try to purchase it.
Example: I want to see The Naked Kiss and Shock Corridor, because I would like to add them to the collection, but I've never seen them, so if I watch and don't like, I won't buy. Plain enough.

With that said, buying any DVDs (Criterion or not) is against my buying rules, because I don't like to play with the chances of them rereleasing it in the future on blu. I've played that game and lost on multiple accounts, i.e. Fear and Loathing (which I just upgraded yesterday), Seven Samurai, M, and Metropolis. In fact, the last DVD I purchased was Grand Illusion, and I mean to keep it that way.

My rule is, that if there's any question whether or not they'll release it on blu, then I will stay at arms length away from it in the store. Speaking of, I need to find Breathless before this sale ends.

I know I posted this before...

I blind-bought maybe 40% of their releases and yes I'm trying to buy them all although not because they look good on a shelve (surprise! ).

My 9 reasons to buy Criterions!

1) No Hulu in Portugal, so it's impossible for me to watch these in decent quality before buying them. Not even torrents are available if I'm dying to watch them;

2) I see my blind-buying as times passed before the internet when I always tried to rent movies that I didn't know nothing about. I love being surprised and Criteiron is a safe bet as their releases are top-notch;

3) I love and study cinema so I always get something from every movie, even if I didn't love it as a all. I know that I can always come back to them;

4) These are blu-rays, the ultimate archival physical media IMO;

5) Can't go wrong with Criterion in every aspect - PQ, AQ, extras and packaging;

6) I always get them at 50% off. They are a STEAL at this price point;

7) Re-sell value. If I ever need to sell them I will always get at least the money I've paid for them!

8) How AWESOME it is to have real gems of world cinema in HD and in a format that assures many and many years of enjoyment - yes, not getting on the 4k bandwagon We are privileged to watch something like Seven Samurai, B&B or The Music Room in a unreal quality!

9) "Sàlo" is the only title that I consider not adding to the collection and the only one that I could add for completion sake

Sorry for not making a nice video.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by GilliamsBrazil

DVDBeaver of The Killing is up!!!

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDReviews8/killing.htm

I am so pumped for this release.

I know I'm going to get "Kubrick-Flamed" on here for this, but I actually liked the MGM DVD transfers just fine and no need for me to upgrade. Just look at the items all over the ground in the 6th comparison stills (you can see each line of the tire tracks on the dvd still). Some of those stills are dark, yes, but don't really want to upgrade.

[Eny-]

Originally Posted by SpiderBaby

I know I'm going to get "Kubrick-Flamed" on here for this, but I actually liked the MGM DVD transfers just fine and no need for me to upgrade. Just look at the items all over the ground in the 6th comparison stills (you can see each line of the tire tracks on the dvd still). Some of those stills are dark, yes, but don't really want to upgrade.

I'm with you. I won't be upgrading this...



until November.

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by SpiderBaby

I know I'm going to get "Kubrick-Flamed" on here for this, but I actually liked the MGM DVD transfers just fine and no need for me to upgrade. Just look at the items all over the ground in the 6th comparison stills (you can see each line of the tire tracks on the dvd still). Some of those stills are dark, yes, but don't really want to upgrade.

I think you would only get Kubrick-Flamed, as you put it, if you said that he didn't deserve to be in the collection. Since you are saying you are fine with something other than the Criterion version, you are more likely to Criterion-Flamed

[djkest]

Originally Posted by SpiderBaby

I know I'm going to get "Kubrick-Flamed" on here for this, but I actually liked the MGM DVD transfers just fine and no need for me to upgrade. Just look at the items all over the ground in the 6th comparison stills (you can see each line of the tire tracks on the dvd still). Some of those stills are dark, yes, but don't really want to upgrade.

I actually had the opposite impression from these screenshots. I felt like the DVD screenshots were overly dark and a lot of detail was lost to this. Also, although the DVD does look OK those screenshots are smaller so naturally they would look worse at the same resolution as the BD screenshots.

There was 1 set of stills where the Blu-ray disc version seemed a little over-exposed. Overall a solid choice for BD I'd say.

[Abitante Notte]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

No news as of yet. Are you itching to see the Edies in all their HD glory?

Yes. I'm very fascinated with Little Edie and Grey Gardens.
Hope both films are released on Blu one day.

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by GilliamsBrazil

Should I blind buy Mimic? The current $9.99 price on Amazon is very tempting. I loved Cronos and am a huge fan of Pan's Labyrinth. Didn't really enjoy Hellboy. I haven't seen Blade II in years and don't really remember how I felt about it. These are the only del Toro's I've seen. Yay or nay?

I'd say rent it first, if possible. It's streaming on Netflix now, if that's an option for you. It's just an "okay" film for del Toro, I think. I'm a fan of his other work but this particular title doesn't need to be in my possession. I'm not sure how much different his "director's cut" on the blu-ray is, though, compared to the theatrical version.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by GilliamsBrazil

Been waiting to pre-order The Killing. Didn't want to pay more than $20 for it. Just used the Deep Discount $5 coupon and snagged it for $18.99!

I can't find it listed on their site......


EDIT:

Found it by searching "Kubrick"

Wow... expected shipping etc.... $18.99 delivered.... nice deal!

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

I'd say rent it first, if possible. It's streaming on Netflix now, if that's an option for you. It's just an "okay" film for del Toro, I think. I'm a fan of his other work but this particular title doesn't need to be in my possession. I'm not sure how much different his "director's cut" on the blu-ray is, though, compared to the theatrical version.

I agree. I recently watched it on Netlfix and enjoyed it, but wasn't impressed. There are moments where the Del Toro style is really apparent, which is nice, but aside from that I thought it was a pretty standard movie. The one thing that makes me a little curious is the extra footage, but like CC, I don't know how much it will change the movie.

[GilliamsBrazil]

mmk looks like I'll be renting Mimic first. Thanks for the input!

[Beta Man]

Crap.... I have to eat the shipping costs to send back High-And-Low....

That's what I get for being a moron!

[EddieLarkin]

Is it considered strange then that about 80% of my film collection are blind buys, and about 95% of my blu-ray collection are blind buys?

[aggienader08]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

I'd say rent it first, if possible. It's streaming on Netflix now, if that's an option for you. It's just an "okay" film for del Toro, I think. I'm a fan of his other work but this particular title doesn't need to be in my possession. I'm not sure how much different his "director's cut" on the blu-ray is, though, compared to the theatrical version.

I would say that Mimic really belongs to the dire Toro fans that have exhausted his good stuff. I'm not going to say there's nothing good about the film, but there's nothing great about it either. It's just an average mimic (merely coincidence) of Alien, and truly just an unusual film.

[aggienader08]

Originally Posted by EddieLarkin

Is it considered strange then that about 80% of my film collection are blind buys, and about 95% of my blu-ray collection are blind buys?

No, not strange. I just don't understand how you do it. That's all. No matter what is attached to a release, i.e. "Special Ultimate Limited Edition", "Criterion", "digibook", "Kino Video", or "Studio Canal Collection", I can't pull the trigger on buying it unless I've seen it and seen value in it.

[wilky61]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

I can't find it listed on their site......


EDIT:

Found it by searching "Kubrick"

Wow... expected shipping etc.... $18.99 delivered.... nice deal!

Deep Discount has it listed as Killing, not The Killing. I had the same trouble finding it as you.