The Criterion Collection

[dwane5]

Originally Posted by finalmattasy

If it's from Kurosawa and in Criterion Bluray, I'd grab it. But I'm done buying DVD's.

Totally floored to see Rushmore is on the way; as well as Fanny and Alexander. Here I thought it might be a while till they announced something I wanted again.
Just when I feel like I've caught up and can leave Amazon alone for a bit, Criterion adds more to the pile. It's a wait till November though.

its been said before the ecplipse series will never see the light of day on bluray, the reason being it would not be an upgrade, while i understand your disdain for DVD in general, these sets are as good as their going to get. indulge.

[dwane5]

Originally Posted by Kenny_Powers

do you save the blue stickers from ur criterions or throw them away. i havent saved any yet wondering what you do

the stickers come off nicely after unwrapping a criterion i slap it on the plastic cover, i love me some stickers.

[dwane5]

Originally Posted by deltasun

Give me your address. I'll open them for you.

I do keep mine sealed till I'm ready to watch them; especially ones I've seen before, either through rentals or SD DVDs. If I do have 2 copies (e.g., Night of the Hunter, Yojimbo, Pierrot Le Fou), one will be sealed.

i do the same.

[dwane5]

Originally Posted by Benchman

Would Island of Lost Souls be a safe blind buy?

certainly, if youre

[Show spoiler]stevie wonder

[Eny-]

Originally Posted by enzolt

Also, who here buys the movies and keeps the plastic intact? I've been buying Criterions but I never open them. I usually just try to look for a legitimate copy online from either Hulu, Netflix, Amazon etc.

I once knew a guy that bought a lot of expensive Limited Edition DVD sets and always kept them sealed not to damage them. This guy at one time had easily the best collection around. Years go by and he moves on to other stuff and sells his collection and of course he couldn't recoup 100% of the money he invested nor did he enjoy it!

Point to be taken: do you get your enjoyment in seeing sealed cases on a shelf? If so, keep doing it, I guess, it's your money! If not, enjoy what you have. The sets WILL outlive you so enjoy it while you can!

[TriuneImpurityRites]

Originally Posted by enzolt

So I just started collecting Criterions recently. Do you guys have any must-own recommendations? I don't think I can afford every single Criterion movie out there. The ones I currently have are the ones that I enjoyed watching. Still keeping a lookout for some other movies like anything from Wong Kar-wai, Jacques Tati, Wes Anderson (Life Aquatic mostly) and some other films.

Also, who here buys the movies and keeps the plastic intact? I've been buying Criterions but I never open them. I usually just try to look for a legitimate copy online from either Hulu, Netflix, Amazon etc.

why would anyone buy a blu-ray and then settle for watching some streaming copy in infinitely lower quality?

[PowellPressburger]

Some images of two recent Criterion Stickers

Cul de Sac
Cul.jpg

Life During Wartime
lifed.jpg

I keep my stickers when they are the Signature or specify something different. I usually remove them from the pastic and place them either on the iside plastic cover unless their is artwork or in the indide booklet on a page that doesn't feature artwork and has the space.

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by AgentOrange

I would recommend Pale Flower.

Although you might have different tastes than me since I viewed Playtime (Tati), and absolutely couldn't stand it. However I really feel that Pale Flower was an amazing "blind buy" for me.

I would say my top favorite Criterion blu-rays (was going to do a top 5, but noticed you already have my top 2, so I will go to 7).

Seven Samurai
Yojombo/Sanjuro
Pale Flower
Paths of Glory
Seventh Seal
The Sweet Smell of Success.
Repulsion
High and Low

I had the same experience with Playtime. Very few Criterion titles I dislike and this was one of them. I could see how technically it was brilliant, but just didn't like the movie. Too slow to build up the gags and I didn't find a lot of them funny. Also you nailed some of my favorite titles including Pale Flower. It was a blind buy for me as well. I would add Diabolique, Night of the Hunter & The Wages of Fear to the list. B & W films rule...

Originally Posted by deltasun

I do keep mine sealed till I'm ready to watch them; especially ones I've seen before, either through rentals or SD DVDs. If I do have 2 copies (e.g., Night of the Hunter, Yojimbo, Pierrot Le Fou), one will be sealed.

I use to do that , but I've opened a few where the disc or booklet were missing or damaged. Now I immediately open them in case I need to get them replaced.

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Not to re-start a debate "who should be included and who should not" but Wilder, would he not be a director that would normally be release from the regular studio? For example, I really love the movies of Frank Capra but I would expect them to be releases by the regular studios and not in need to be done by Criterion. Would not the movies of WIlder fall into the same category as well? I see these directors as more accessible, like Hitchcock as well that can be handle properly by the regular releases and not be in the Criterion collection, maybe I am wrong?

I tend to agree, but on the other hand I'd much rather Criterion release say a Frank Capra film then the major studio's. The studio's only tend to spend time and money on the top tier of a directors releases while treating other great titles with disdain. IMO Criterion = quality period. They shouldn't be pigeonholed into obscure and/or foreign titles only. If it was profitable for them they would probably release a lot more mainstream titles like in the laserdisc days. In a perfect world they would release every title I love.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by octagon

And since we're talking about Walter Matthau I can't help but plug Charley Varrick again. I don't know exactly why I love that movie as much as I do but I would go nuts if that ever got a spine number.

This would be so unbelievably great.
I used to have an old VHS copy recorded off TV so many years ago. I know it was released on DVD, but I think it was a pretty ordinary full-frame version. I don't know it was full-frame because it was open matte or pan and scan.
Either way, I never bothered to get it.
Don Siegel is definitely under-represented on blu-ray.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by Banned User

I tend to agree, but on the other hand I'd much rather Criterion release say a Frank Capra film then the major studio's. The studio's only tend to spend time and money on the top tier of a directors releases while treating other great titles with disdain. IMO Criterion = quality period. They shouldn't be pigeonholed into obscure and/or foreign titles only. If it was profitable for them they would probably release a lot more mainstream titles like in the laserdisc days. In a perfect world they would release every title I love.

True! In general studios will give me good releases of It's A Wonderful Life but extremely bad release of Mister Deeds Goes To Town or Lost Horizon as these are not as popular to the main public. I suppose it would be great if major studios look at their catalogue with more respect and not just the main classic that make's them tons of money. I know a lot of Capra movies are sometimes suspect these days because of his "ULTRA USA LOVE" but I wish studios were not so PC and treated them all with respect.

[Hendershot737]

Originally Posted by SlickDamian

Just watched Fat Girl last night for the first time. Thought it was a very well-made and interesting film. The ending was a bit puzzling. My wife really enjoyed it as well. An under rated disc from Criterion IMO.

Just watched this a bit ago as well. I thought it was pretty great. The ending was shocking and strange indeed, but I think it actually fit nicely. (Not to spoil anything)

[Show spoiler]that it helped show how badly the "Fat Girl" wanted to be noticed and loved, if just for a second and by any circumstance because that's how rabid she was for it.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by dwane5

certainly, if youre

[Show spoiler]stevie wonder

Stop in to see what's being discussed..... watched The Music Room last night.... and pleasantly surprised to see a sticker conversation going on. I can go about my business now.

[dwane5]

Originally Posted by beta man

stop in to see what's being discussed..... Watched the music room last night.... And pleasantly surprised to see a sticker conversation going on. I can go about my business now.

lol

[ShellOilJunior]

I don't know about some of you guys but I popped open THE KILLING immediately and watched it last night.

It was probably my 3rd or 4th viewing of the film. It's really a sprint of a film and the script is air-tight.

Plus, Phoenix Finish

I wonder how many more films to be released will be fortunate enough to have those tools used on the transfer.

[Rodyon Raskolnikov]

Originally Posted by exolstice

Stickers?!?

I go one step further. I buy the movies then leave and them on the store shelves. I think they just look better sealed on store shelves. They lose most of their value anyway as soon as they cross a store's doors.

But that's the next step, really. It's scary.

[Zen_Amako]

I couldn't get into Playtime, but I did enjoy The Illusionist (the recent French animated film that was based on an unproduced script by Tati). It had some bits that reminded me of Playtime, but it seemed to have more heart.

[PowellPressburger]

Did no one post the Cover Art shot Criterion posted on facebook yesterday? Saw it listed on twitter, however I don't do facebook.

[ShellOilJunior]

[GilliamsBrazil]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

[Show spoiler]

I LOVE these shots they have been posting. They have all been so creative.

[Monty70]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

I know a lot of Capra movies are sometimes suspect these days because of his "ULTRA USA LOVE" but I wish studios were not so PC and treated them all with respect.

You mean that it is not PC to be a proud citizen of the United States?

That is why I never gave a shit about being "PC".