The Criterion Collection

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by ultlife2013

I mean when we go to the theaters to see a movie isn't that blind buying? .

With MoviePass it isn't

[White Dang]

Originally Posted by ultlife2013

I mean when we go to the theaters to see a movie isn't that blind buying? It's still spending sometimes upwards of 20 dollars to watch a movie we've never seen before. Should no one goto the movies anymore because its an addiction to goto the theaters? Sorry for slight thread derailment but I feel it's a valid argument.

No not really valid. Going to the movies is mainly because it's on the BIG screen (magical!*), and there's no other legal way to view it (most of the time). Also, this is one of the best ways to support a film.

Blind buying is not because it's the only way to see it. It's because one doesn't want to take 2 hours to watch it online or rent it. I know some of these films can't be rented easily, but the majority are online for cheap.

And wow. I'm lucky to live in TN where I can catch a film for $5.50 matinee. I would never go for $20 I don't care what's playing.

[crow2k5]

Originally Posted by ultlife2013

I mean when we go to the theaters to see a movie isn't that blind buying? It's still spending sometimes upwards of 20 dollars to watch a movie we've never seen before. Should no one goto the movies anymore because its an addiction to goto the theaters? Sorry for slight thread derailment but I feel it's a valid argument.

Agreed, i blind buy alot of movies & about 90% of my blind buys were cheaper than going to the theater.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by White Dang

And wow. I'm lucky to live in TN where I can catch a film for $5.50 matinee. I would never go for $20 I don't care what's playing.

Down here in Georgia, I can catch six dollar pre-noon matinees at the theater down the street on weekends. Most movie releases this year have not quickened my pulse, but I'll probably see Man of Steel.

[Stud Spider]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

OK, I think this troll has derailed the thread long enough - Nearly time for the next announcement of Criterion titles, and very little speculation so far!

1. Peter Weir upgrades. Possibly the other titles they've licensed included in a boxset.
2. Wasn't there a Frances Ha wacky drawing a couple months ago?
3. Speaking of wacky drawings, the Rossellini early 50s trilogy. That probably won't happen until November/December, though.
4. A single upgrade, like The Life Aquatic (which has quite a bit of room for improvement versus the DVD's image quality).
5. And something I'm not expecting, like the Marketa Lazarova announcement a couple of months ago.

Hoping for: The IFC Mungiu titles, another Polanski (Tess (recent UK release) or The Tenant? (to finish off the trilogy)), A Brighter Summer Day! Please! and any Antonioni films.

Is it too soon for the following? Another Ingmar Bergman film. New or upgrade. Another Chaplin title. I imagine it would be a silent next, most likely The Kid or The Circus. I think they'd wait on City Lights for last, maybe. I would prefer the next Chaplin to be Limelight (my favorite Chaplin film).

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by Stud Spider

1. Peter Weir upgrades. Possibly the other titles they've licensed included in a boxset.
2. Wasn't there a Frances Ha wacky drawing a couple months ago?
3. Speaking of wacky drawings, the Rossellini early 50s trilogy. That probably won't happen until November/December, though.
4. A single upgrade, like The Life Aquatic (which has quite a bit of room for improvement versus the DVD's image quality).
5. And something I'm not expecting, like the Marketa Lazarova announcement a couple of months ago.

Hoping for: The IFC Mungiu titles, another Polanski (Tess (recent UK release) or The Tenant? (to finish off the trilogy)), A Brighter Summer Day! Please! and any Antonioni films.

Is it too soon for the following? Another Ingmar Bergman film. New or upgrade. Another Chaplin title. I imagine it would be a silent next, most likely The Kid or The Circus. I think they'd wait on City Lights for last, maybe. I would prefer the next Chaplin to be Limelight (my favorite Chaplin film).

The Frances Ha image was actually To Be or Not To Be apparently. (I love TBoNTB, but was hoping to for Frances Ha too)

I have seen very little Peter Weir. I'd be interested in Picnic at Hanging Rock for sure.

[Abdrewes]

Stud Spider, welcome to the forum! Already, I know you have great taste. Anything Antonioni (even Zabriskie Point) will be welcomed by me with open arms.

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

I have seen very little Peter Weir. I'd be interested in Picnic at Hanging Rock for sure.

Peter Weir is a very interesting director. The Last Wave, Picnic at Hanging Rock, Gallipoli & Master and Commander are all must sees in my book

[White Dang]

Peter Weir is a very interesting director. The Last Wave, Picnic at Hanging Rock, Gallipoli & Master and Commander are all must sees in my book

What about Fearless? Great performance by J Bridges. Great directing and classical score. Really evocative and shows Weir in his element.

[Stud Spider]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

The Frances Ha image was actually To Be or Not To Be apparently. (I love TBoNTB, but was hoping to for Frances Ha too)

I have seen very little Peter Weir. I'd be interested in Picnic at Hanging Rock for sure.

I just took a look at that particular wacky drawing and I have to say I don't see how it could be for TBoNTB. I thought I was right about it being Frances Ha. I mean France is labeled Ha. and it's an IFC film and it's by Baumbach. Oh well. and I can't say I've seen any Weir films. It just seems likely what with them posting that image of Picnic on their facebook account a month or so ago and it's one of the earliest spine numbers still in print yet to be upgraded.

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Stud Spider, welcome to the forum! Already, I know you have great taste. Anything Antonioni (even Zabriskie Point) will be welcomed by me with open arms.

Thank you! I suspect with the Masters of Cinema release of La Notte a Criterion boxset of the modernism trilogy can't be too far off, right? Here's hoping. Oh and nice avatar. Femme Fatale is such a great film.

[ultlife2013]

Originally Posted by White Dang

No not really valid. Going to the movies is mainly because it's on the BIG screen (magical!*), and there's no other legal way to view it (most of the time). Also, this is one of the best ways to support a film.

Blind buying is not because it's the only way to see it. It's because one doesn't want to take 2 hours to watch it online or rent it. I know some of these films can't be rented easily, but the majority are online for cheap.

And wow. I'm lucky to live in TN where I can catch a film for $5.50 matinee. I would never go for $20 I don't care what's playing.

When I say 20 that's for IMAX 3D release weekend price. Tuesdays is 7 dollars a movie.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by White Dang

What about Fearless? Great performance by J Bridges. Great directing and classical score. Really evocative and shows Weir in his element.

To clear it up, I didn't include the obvious (Truman Show) and I have not seen Fearless actually. I have heard it is a remarkable, underrated gem.

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Adding to the whole blind buying discussion, I will be the first to admit that I blind bought way too much in the past.

When I began collecting films with the introduction of the DVD, most of my film purchases were blind buys. I had very little film experience before that.

In one way blind buying was bad because I wasted a lot of money on a lot of films with minimal to no replay value. However, I was introduced to a wide experience of films that I would consider favorites.

As of this year, I sold about 4,500 films between DVDs, Blu-rays, and beyond. I'm at the point where I just want a smaller collection with my favorite films or films I really enjoy so that I can rewatch them whenever.

I have found myself not blind buying as many new releases either, like I had in years prior. The film industry, in my opinion, hasn't been producing as many good films. Sure, some of them are entertaining, but none of them are very good or have many replay value. I've found the more rare and subtle films to be the best.

The only thing that I do continue to blind buy are Criterion films because I have a lot of respect for the company and I enjoy the majority of what they put out. Some of the films in the collection have become a part of my favorite films of all time. While some of them can be hit or miss, there's enough cinephiles in this thread that can make a certain film worth rewatching again. Plus, the essays included within the packaging allow the person to get a new understanding or recognize something they didn't quite see or familiarize themselves with before.

To each his own.

This is where you're off base. People just aren't looking in the right places.

Originally Posted by Stud Spider

1. Peter Weir upgrades. Possibly the other titles they've licensed included in a boxset.
2. Wasn't there a Frances Ha wacky drawing a couple months ago?
3. Speaking of wacky drawings, the Rossellini early 50s trilogy. That probably won't happen until November/December, though.
4. A single upgrade, like The Life Aquatic (which has quite a bit of room for improvement versus the DVD's image quality).
5. And something I'm not expecting, like the Marketa Lazarova announcement a couple of months ago.

Hoping for: The IFC Mungiu titles, another Polanski (Tess (recent UK release) or The Tenant? (to finish off the trilogy)), A Brighter Summer Day! Please! and any Antonioni films.

Is it too soon for the following? Another Ingmar Bergman film. New or upgrade. Another Chaplin title. I imagine it would be a silent next, most likely The Kid or The Circus. I think they'd wait on City Lights for last, maybe. I would prefer the next Chaplin to be Limelight (my favorite Chaplin film).

Mungui is up there as something I'd love to see included, especially his latest. New Chaplin would be exciting, but it might be too since, with Monsieur Verdoux having come out just recently. I hope this month sees and upgrade of Le Samourai or Hiroshima, Mon Amour (my most wanted is George Washington, but that won't happpen).

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by Stud Spider

I just took a look at that particular wacky drawing and I have to say I don't see how it could be for TBoNTB. I thought I was right about it being Frances Ha. I mean France is labeled Ha. and it's an IFC film and it's by Baumbach. Oh well.

I'm with you - I don't get it either. There's certainly still hope for Frances Ha.

I've only seen Gallipoli, Dead Poets and Truman Show of Weir's.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Stud Spider

Thank you! I suspect with the Masters of Cinema release of La Notte a Criterion boxset of the modernism trilogy can't be too far off, right? Here's hoping. Oh and nice avatar. Femme Fatale is such a great film.

Yes! I really want La Notte (also, L'Avventura and L'Eclisse) to hit region A BluRay. If I had a region B player, I wouldn't hesitate to pick up the MOC release.

Femme Fatale is a great film, even though many have deemed me a fool for thinking it is Brian DePalmas finest work. Expect two hundered hyperbolic posts from me on the day it is announced for BluRay

[thebard]

Originally Posted by White Dang

What about Fearless? Great performance by J Bridges. Great directing and classical score. Really evocative and shows Weir in his element.

I love this film, and it's been really neglected on home video (pan & scan domestic dvd release). I still have the laserdisc, which is at least letterboxed.

One of the most beautiful plane crash scenes on film (if that makes any sense).

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Peter Weir is a very interesting director. The Last Wave, Picnic at Hanging Rock, Gallipoli & Master and Commander are all must sees in my book

Peter Weir's The Way Back was an underrated masterpiece of 2010. This was one of the first Blu-rays that I ever purchased.

Welcome aboard, Stud Spider!

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Yes! I really want La Notte (also, L'Avventura and L'Eclisse) to hit region A BluRay. If I had a region B player, I wouldn't hesitate to pick up the MOC release.

Femme Fatale is a great film, even though many have deemed me a fool for thinking it is Brian DePalmas finest work. Expect two hundered hyperbolic posts from me on the day it is announced for BluRay

Oh, I'd love a DePalma announcement - Blow Out was incredibly fun.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by brandon_260

This is where you're off base. People just aren't looking in the right places.

Nothing to do with your post, but I have to say that your new avatar is awesome.
Paulette Goddard for the win.

[Stud Spider]

Originally Posted by brandon_260

Mungui is up there as something I'd love to see included, especially his latest. New Chaplin would be exciting, but it might be too since, with Monsieur Verdoux having come out just recently. I hope this month sees and upgrade of Le Samourai or Hiroshima, Mon Amour (my most wanted is George Washington, but that won't happpen).

I wouldn't count George Washington completely out. Didn't Criterion recently release it onto iTunes? Maybe I'm only imagining a trend between iTunes releases and upgrades. If they did upgrade Hiroshima, mon amour I would hope they upgrade Night and Fog at the same time. That might be too many Holocaust films in a short amount of time, but they were paired releases when they came out originally. (Spines 196/7) I should mention I would really like this upgrade as well. I love Resnais' work.

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Femme Fatale is a great film, even though many have deemed me a fool for thinking it is Brian DePalmas finest work. Expect two hundered hyperbolic posts from me on the day it is announced for BluRay

I didn't think I would agree with this assessment but then I scanned through his filmography. I have to say the only one that might come close to topping it would be Blow Out. (But I haven't seen Mission to Mars yet)

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

Oh, I'd love a DePalma announcement - Blow Out was incredibly fun.

Could you imagine this as the CC cover for Femme Fatale:

[Show spoiler]

Originally Posted by Stud Spider

I didn't think I would agree with this assessment but then I scanned through his filmography. I have to say the only one that might come close to topping it would be Blow Out. (But I haven't seen Mission to Mars yet)

Wow! Those are my two favorites aswell. DePalma's best films were not those he made in the gangster genre (Scarface, Carlitos Way, Untouchables).

I am really excited to see Passion. Easily my most anticipated film of the summer.