The Criterion Collection

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

I sometime wonder "what is a blind buy?"

If someone had never seen That Hamilton Woman, but decided to purchase the Criterion edition of that film because he thought that Vivian Leigh looked beautiful on the cover photo, then this would be considered a blind buy in general terms.

I am not necessarily saying that I did this, but I am simply using it as a hypothetical example for the purposes of this discussion.

[Monty70]

I have purchased many Criterion BD's without having seen the film. Like others have said, I do my homework beforehand in an attempt to figure out if a release is for me.

Of the dozens of CC films I have picked up I can honestly say that I have enjoyed all of them. (the only film I have ever regretted buying was Chasing Amy, and that was a DVD) This practice of buying CC BD's that I have not seen has introduced me to some of what are now my favorite films. (Pale Flower, Black Narcissus, The Music Room, Last Year at Marienbad, The Magician, The King of Marvin Gardens, and Revanche) It is well worth running the risk of picking up a stinker to unearth the treasures I have found.

Purple Noon is a recent example of a successful "blind" buy that I am very pleased to have in my library. (have viewed the film three times already)

[CusackstheMan]

Originally Posted by blkhrt

At this point I can buy a movie on blu the week it comes out for less than it would cost my wife and I to see it in the theater.

Very good point, as long as you have a wife with similar movie tastes as you.

[DarkRyder]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

Do the production and release dates really vary that much? I don't recall a lot of his work sitting on the shelf for long. You might be talking about a few films made in the same year released out of order. To me that isn't a big deal.

I would say release date in any case. Zulawski's On The Silver Globe, for example, was mostly made in 1977 but I still consider it a 1988 release.

What about something along the lines of Godard's Le Petit Soldat? It was made in 1960, his second film after Breathless, yet it was banned until 1963. Yet, many people still argue it's Godard's second film since that's when it was supposed to be released. What I'm trying to figure out is if the release dates are the "proper" dates to go by, or the production dates, since some of his movies would not be released until a year or so after completion.

[*PREACHER*]

Originally Posted by CusackstheMan

Very good point, as long as you have a wife with similar movie tastes as you.

I kinda lucked out in that department...which it ain't all bad that she falls asleep with her head on my lap...tends to lead to other things.

[IronWaffle]

Originally Posted by EricJ

Why...no, really, WHY...would anyone blind-buy a Criterion when we have the genius that is Three Reasons?
Are you just going to sit there, spit on their hard editing work, and ignore one of the greatest bits of studio disk promotion/film education ever conceived?

Like I said, I wouldn't say I "blind buy". I didn't realize I was spitting on anything and certainly didn't mean to imply it. I have watched and quite enjoyed some of the Three Reasons videos but great as they are, that's marketing. Not my thing. If my pretentious, potentially dubious bloviations (which I'm rarely convinced get read ) don't make it obvious: I enjoy academic approaches that fill my brain more than even the most thought-provoking previews.

I'm a bit Janus-illiterate when it comes to anything arthouse pre-1978 or from the last decade, so I don't make myself pay the price--literally--for my own (film) ignorance. The 3R's are so brilliantly put together, I'll go to the Criterion YT channel and watch anything they film-lecture on that week, just because they do such a quintessential job of persuasion.
And if they do.......I might rent it.

They are good. If wishes were horses and I could everything that piqued my interest I'd pursue more but time and money are finite and such is life.

[Cinemach]

Originally Posted by Yami

It could be a mainline release. It would probably only take up 2-3 BD50s.

Originally Posted by octagon

And it does say 'all beautifully restored'...

As long as there are contextual extras and booklet, but yes hopefully on blu.

Originally Posted by Fellini912

Two films by Darren Aronofsky is too much. I find David Lynch and Aronofsky well known that their films would be fine being transferred to blu ray by a major distributor. I hope criterion will spend their time releasing other films on this list like Persona or La Dolce Vita.

...except that David Lynch - inarguably one of the most important directors around right now (even if he's 'retired') - only has two of his films released on bluray in his own country. Doesn't seem like any 'major' distributor is in a rush to release his films.

Heck, La Dolce Vita will have more interest from a 'major' distributor to release than it appears Lynch's films do. Once the legal problems with that film are cleared up you can be damn sure a blu release will be imminent, as it was just recently restored.

[paulgeneacepeter]

I just bought a brand new copy of Armageddon on DVD but it didn't come with a booklet. Does anyone else have it and did it come with a booklet?

[rkish]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

I sometime wonder "what is a blind buy?"

I mean as example, let say like me you are a fan of Ozu and it just happen that they release a movie you know about from him because you know Ozu but you actually never seen it before. Is that still a blind buy? You know Ozu, you know his work and how he make's movies so it's not truly a blind buy, or is it?

Good example on Ozu Pat! I've bought every Ozu release that BFI has put out so far and there are a number of those films that I had never seen before. His Gangster films are coming out in March and I haven't seen any of those films either. And I'm very greedy regarding Ozu, as I'll buy the Criterion releases as they slowly trickle out for the commentaries and other supplements.

[rkish]

Originally Posted by blkhrt

We have a five month old, so it is pretty difficult to get to the movies these days. In fact, the last movie I saw in the theater was Dark Knight Rises, which I saw by myself the day before he was born (my wife talked me into it and I spent the entire time with my phone set to vibrate in my hand). Even before that, I would only rarely go, because it is hard to find time and because I get tired of annoying people around me. Last year I watched 500 movies, and probably only ten of those were in a theater. At this point I can buy a movie on blu the week it comes out for less than it would cost my wife and I to see it in the theater.

It becomes difficult for me or my family to see any films at the theater, as I have an autistic 10 year old and timing and luck are a huge factor. The AMC theaters do sponsor "sensory friendly" film showings that are discounted, shown with the lights up slightly and the sound turned down a bit (all these affect people on the spectrum). I commend AMC for sponsoring this...we did take him and my neurotypical 13 year old to a regular matinee of "Wreck-It Ralph" and he was behaved and entertained...once in a while we get lucky.

I did treat my 13 year old to a movie with just him and Dad. We saw the Hobbit film which we both really enjoyed. That's a film that was a treat on the big screen.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by blkhrt

We have a five month old, so it is pretty difficult to get to the movies these days. In fact, the last movie I saw in the theater was Dark Knight Rises, which I saw by myself the day before he was born (my wife talked me into it and I spent the entire time with my phone set to vibrate in my hand). Even before that, I would only rarely go, because it is hard to find time and because I get tired of annoying people around me. Last year I watched 500 movies, and probably only ten of those were in a theater. At this point I can buy a movie on blu the week it comes out for less than it would cost my wife and I to see it in the theater.

Yep! And most of the time, the home presentation is probably better than the theater-going experience.

[Beta Man]

Not to side track the conversation too much, but with the exception of a place that plays old-movies, although not all 'that' old.... stuff like Ghostbusters, Goonies, etc done to pair up with a sandwhich they make http://www.meltbarandgrilled.com for the event, and the exception of the Cleveland Cinematheque http://www.cia.edu/cinematheque/film-schedule, The last four films I have seen in a normal AMC theater or Regal Cinema or whatever were:

1) Django Unchained on Christmas Day with two of my Brother in laws.

2) Cars 2 with my son.

3) Toy Story 3 with my son.

4) Talledega Nights with a buddy a couple weeks after it came out (got drunk and walked to the theater)


So four total since whenever it was that Talledega nights came out!

[Snicket]

You need to get out more Beta Man.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by DarkRyder

What is the proper order for a filmography as vast as Fassbinder's? I know to some people it doesn't matter, but for me it does. If he only had half of the amount of films he made, I think the premiere date would be fine, but considering how many films he had, the production date seems like something to go by. The reason I say this is because perhaps he had certain themes and ideas to explore in one film that helps explain another (ex. Whity and Beware of a Holy Whore).

I'd be interested to hear other peoples' take on this.

Well I sort my Fassbinder on my shelf by the listing at this site http://jclarkmedia.com/fassbinder/index.html. The Fassbinder Foundation site has a order I haven't seen from other sites. It doesn't really matter to me as long as I have his films. Now please, someone release the rest of his TV films not on dvd yet and Lili Marleen.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by Snicket

You need to get out more Beta Man.

I get out a LOT...... just not to sit with people at the theater!

Seeing something with my kids is one thing... they laugh, cheer etc... and it's fun for them and the other kids.

Django Unchained (for instance) was seen in a small historic theater, and I heard no less than 4 cell phones, a woman beside me tell her female companion she was going to beat her **** is she didn't shut the you-know-what up.... and the guy 1 row in front of me and about 5 seats over either explaining everything to his wife, or patting himself on the back for knowing one of the characters was Don Johnson.


It's exhausting.... and it detracts from my experience. I'm not a "purist" I'll pause stuff, get up and make a snack, grab a beer, etc.... but with the urge to people-watch being so strong, it's tough to not notice the idiots around you!

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Whirlygig

Technically I think it's widely considered simply a film you haven't seen.

But yes, my blindest buys are still usually pretty well-informed so it is a bit of a misnomer.

I'd never just put on a blindfold and grab a film to purchase.

To watch, maybe, but not to purchase.

Exactly, if you haven't seen all 96 minutes of 12 Angry Men & you buy it: it's a blind buy. It's just a matter of making an informed decision on whether to pull the trigger. Some like to have seen it all, some only need a Director's/ actor's/ screenwriter's name.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

I get out a LOT...... just not to sit with people at the theater!

Seeing something with my kids is one thing... they laugh, cheer etc... and it's fun for them and the other kids.

Django Unchained (for instance) was seen in a small historic theater, and I heard no less than 4 cell phones, a woman beside me tell her female companion she was going to beat her **** is she didn't shut the you-know-what up.... and the guy 1 row in front of me and about 5 seats over either explaining everything to his wife, or patting himself on the back for knowing one of the characters was Don Johnson.


It's exhausting.... and it detracts from my experience. I'm not a "purist" I'll pause stuff, get up and make a snack, grab a beer, etc.... but with the urge to people-watch being so strong, it's tough to not notice the idiots around you!

Sorry to hear I've had generally good experiences this year. out of 70+ cinema trips only one crying baby during 'Savages', a few scattered cell phone screens & a very loud utterance of "ugh, alien *****" during Prometheus.

[Snicket]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

I get out a LOT...... just not to sit with people at the theater!

Seeing something with my kids is one thing... they laugh, cheer etc... and it's fun for them and the other kids.

Django Unchained (for instance) was seen in a small historic theater, and I heard no less than 4 cell phones, a woman beside me tell her female companion she was going to beat her **** is she didn't shut the you-know-what up.... and the guy 1 row in front of me and about 5 seats over either explaining everything to his wife, or patting himself on the back for knowing one of the characters was Don Johnson.


It's exhausting.... and it detracts from my experience. I'm not a "purist" I'll pause stuff, get up and make a snack, grab a beer, etc.... but with the urge to people-watch being so strong, it's tough to not notice the idiots around you!

Thankfully in my experience your experience is the exception, not the rule. Becaue that sounds terrible.

[Crimson King]

some cheap Criterion DVD's at Frys.com
some as low as $0.90 including the Moral Tales 6-disc Eric Rohmer Collection!

linky!

https://shop6.frys.com/search?query_...lar&sort=price asc&start=0&cat=0&from=0&to=24

[CusackstheMan]

Originally Posted by *PREACHER*

I kinda lucked out in that department...which it ain't all bad that she falls asleep with her head on my lap...tends to lead to other things.

Hahaha...good for you.