The Criterion Collection

[AgentOrange]

Originally Posted by Darkcritic

You know, now that we are pretty much at the middle of the year in terms of releases it would be fun (Or at least interesting ?) to make a personal list of the best releases we have come to know so far (January-September). To make everything shorter what about listing just one film per month. Here is mine

January: Belle de Jour
February: World on a Wire
March: Letter Never Sent
April: Eclipse Series 32: Pearls of the Czech New Wave, A Hollis Frampton Odyssey
May: Summer Interlude
June: The Samurai Trilogy
July: Le Havre
August: Rosetta/La Promesse, Lonesome
September: Les Enfants du Paradis

I cheated just a LITTLE bit .

January: Godzilla
February: World on a Wire
March: Last Temptation of Christ (though I'm sure Lean set is great, I don't have it yet and 3 of the 4 films will be new to me, hopefully B&N sale helps me get this)
April: Late Spring
May: no comment since I've never seen any of these, not even John Malcovich - not really motivated to get any of them - not a fan of Bergman either, even though many on here are
June: The Samurai Trilogy
July: Down by Law (never seen it, but it's the only July release I want)
August: Royal Tenenbaums that I've seen, Lonesome is an anticipated blind buy
September: Children of Paradise

[BluPix]

Originally Posted by Brad1963

Keeping my fingers cross we get a Polanski pair in October, Rosemary's Baby and The Tenant.

That would be a great pair indeed.

[BluPix]

Originally Posted by greekak229

I love how Criterion doesn't put Fincher's name on their covers. Oh well. Finally a release though.

I would expect his name to be on the final cover graphic when it is finally released. Criterion is pretty consistent about including the name of the director on the front cover.

[BluPix]

Originally Posted by bdmartin134

The notorious 'should I blind buy' question is coming in 3..2..1:

Is Umberto D. a safe bet? I've been intrigued with it for a few months, just haven't gotten around to see it. I've only seen The Bicycle Thieves from de Sica and really enjoyed that. Incredible cinematography and pretty emotional stuff. I'm just trying to get a feel for it.. Much appreciative.

If you enjoyed Bicycle Theives you'll most likely very much like Umberto D., one of my favorite films (and which I plan to receive on its release date). It addresses many of the same social issues of class and poverty and is just as heart-wrenching to watch.

[monque]

Just saw Umberto D on Hulu...Wow!!! What a great movie. I must purchase this title on day one.

[HyperRealist]

Got Gold Rush, Shallow Grave and 39 Steps for under $60 from B&N B2G1. Coupons don't work.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by oildude

After watching the trailer and searching Youtube and IMDb, I am getting really interested in Eating Raoul. I love black comedy and somehow this one has flown completely under the radar for me. The whole film is available to watch on Youtube, and there are quite a few sample clips. What I watched made me laugh and want to see more. Looks like a another great "whacked-out" early 80s cult film.

One of the reasons Eating Raoul became a cult hit is because the concept sounds inherently 'edgy' and sick-funny. The actual film though...not so much. Whatever Bartel's merits as a writer, as a director and performer he's a groan-inducer. As for the production values...vintage public service spot.

On the one hand, I could never outright hate anything this proudly cheesy. On the other, I could never recommend it as an unqualified blind buy. So good luck oildude! Hope you have a better time with this thing than I did.

[AgentOrange]

Originally Posted by HyperRealist

Got Gold Rush, Shallow Grave and 39 Steps for under $60 from B&N B2G1. Coupons don't work.

None of the % off coupons worked, but the $5 off 50 members coupon should work. At least it worked for me, but I had 2 of those Criterions and 1 $29 record. So maybe it only let me do it because of the record. I ended up not getting it anyway. I'm just going to wait for the sale to stretch my $$$ further (in-store member discounts, and hopefully they are still honoring *all* coupons in stores rather than excluding some like they seem to be doing online).

[grayfoxpt]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Oyu Sama 1951 (Miss Oyu)

It's pretty difficult for me to explain why I just enjoy this story so much. The movie is rather simple and there is not much going on. It's sort of a strange love triangle that remain's innocent and pure. Miss Oyu arrange for the marriage of her to a man. However he would rather be married to Oyu who cannot marry him due to conventions that dictate she raise her son while living with her dead husband family. The main problem that affect the viewing of this movies is the lack of understanding we have in the western world of these now long forgotten Japanese traditions like arrange marriage and other social conventions. Plus as a modern audience we wait and expect for these characters to do something "naughty" and we can't believe that they do not. Oyu Sama may not be Mizoguchi best movie but it's one of my favorite

i really liked Oyu Sama too, more so than Ugetsu.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by grayfoxpt

i really liked Oyu Sama too, more so than Ugetsu.

Ugetsu is actually playing later tonight, funny you mention it

[ShellOilJunior]

45 Years ago at Monterey!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-Pwr...ature=youtu.be

[Wally Q]

Three brand new Criterion Blu-rays for $20 a piece is a damn fine price to me and I'd gladly pay that without the coupons. Just a great deal all around.

I wish Polanski's Macbeth adaptation would get some attention from someone.

[Wally Q]

Quick question:

I ordered the Three Colors Trilogy from Amazon and it's shipped already. I vaguely recall there were problems with the discs where their cover arts didn't match the actual release. Has that been weeded out or do I need to prepare to contact Criterion once I open it?

[greekak229]

I really need to start ordering from PlanetAxel more often. Like, honestly. Such a good service.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

45 Years ago at Monterey!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-Pwr...ature=youtu.be

Argh, my discs are 70KM away, I really want tO watch the set
Now, but it will have to wait until tomorrow.

Eating Raoul was interesting, as I watched it this morning. Not a title if rush out an buy, but one I'll grab eventually. Ed Begley Jr. was a pleasant surprise. The film reminded me of diet JOhn Waters with aspartame.

[Mr. Thomsen]

Great line-up for September. I think I am actually going to get them all. And it's been a long time since I have even felt inclined to do so.

Children of Paradise is a must for me. I love it.

The Game is somewhat of a guilty pleasure. It definitely has its flaws, but I really like the overall tone and mood of it.

Umberto D. is classic neorealism. It's been years since I saw it last and I remember finding the protagonist incredible annoying the last time, so I think it's time for a reappraisal.

Les visiteurs du soir and Eating Raoul I know nothing about, but the descriptions have me intrigued enough for me to want them both.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by octagon

Fargh, neither La Grande Illusion nor Despair have the 'Buy 2, Get a 3rd Free' tags.

That would have been a nice order...

Update: La Grande Illusion still doesn't have the B2G1 tag but Despair now does.

I just ordered it along with Shallow Grave and The Gold Rush for $56.29 which includes IL tax.

[P@t_Mtl]

I did a search on the B&N sale and frankly not worth it at all. Get one free sure but they raise the prices so much that some of them are now actually more expensive than if I were to order them from amazon.ca, they reall making you pay for the third free movie with the first two, not much of a deal for me.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

I did a search on the B&N sale and frankly not worth it at all. Get one free sure but they raise the prices so much that some of them are now actually more expensive than if I were to order them from amazon.ca, they reall making you pay for the third free movie with the first two, not much of a deal for me.

It's not that bad, depending on the films. 3 criterions for 80 bucks is still cheaper than buying from amazon.ca. some criterions are cheaper too.

[*DrStrangelove*]

I watched the first hour of Children of Paradise and am very confident in a blind buy. I might just wait it out and finish it till it comes out. On a side note, my order of People on Sunday and The Music Room has arrived. Can't wait to get a chance to check them out.