The Criterion Collection

[Al_The_Strange]

Watching The Lord of the Flies as we speak; it was my last bind-buy that I had hanging around, and I needed to get around to it before my B&N order comes in.

Never read the book, so I have no clue how it compares (will probably get around to it sooner or later). The film's alright though; very solidly-filmed, interesting story, acting's alright.

Can't wait to check out the stuff I ordered...

[JJJ225]

Originally Posted by mrjohnnyb

In addition to the current Criterion Collection sale, Barnes and Noble is also having another sale: 50% off Art House films. On their list, you can get for the following prices:

That Obscure Object of Desire -Lionsgate Films ($14.99)
High Noon -Olive Films ($14.99)
The Quiet Man -Olive Films ($14.99)
Russian Ark -Lorber Films ($17.49)
Nosferatu -Kino Video ($19.99)

Those are the cheapest prices for those films on-line...yes, even cheaper than importcds.com...and the sale only goes until while supplies last.

Whoa I didn't even realize That Obscure Object of Desire was on Blu Ray!

[jetthead]

Originally Posted by mrjohnnyb

In addition to the current Criterion Collection sale, Barnes and Noble is also having another sale: 50% off Art House films. On their list, you can get for the following prices:

That Obscure Object of Desire -Lionsgate Films ($14.99)
High Noon -Olive Films ($14.99)
The Quiet Man -Olive Films ($14.99)
Russian Ark -Lorber Films ($17.49)
Nosferatu -Kino Video ($19.99)

Those are the cheapest prices for those films on-line...yes, even cheaper than importcds.com...and the sale only goes until while supplies last.

I ordered La Grande Illusion (used a 20% coupon) and Steamboat Bill Jr from that sale. Very happy!

[jetthead]

City Lights tomorrow!

I feel like a little kid the night before Christmas.

[SilentDawn]

Originally Posted by jetthead

City Lights tomorrow!

I feel like a little kid the night before Christmas.

I have never seen City Lights. How does it compare to his other works? My favorite Chaplin is The Great Dictator.

[JJJ225]

Originally Posted by SilentxStatik24

I have never seen City Lights. How does it compare to his other works? My favorite Chaplin is The Great Dictator.

It's the definitive Chaplin film in my book. If you're a fan, it's well worth a blind buy.

[RiFiFi1955]

Originally Posted by jayembee

That's different. Pretty much anything made before 1953/1954 is going to have black bars on the sides on a widescreen TV. With rare exceptions, all movies made before then were 4x3.

Others are talking about "windowboxing", which means having at least a strip of black all around the picture, to counter TVs that overscan.

Yep exactly, I just can't remember any disc of Kane that was windowboxed

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by SilentxStatik24

I have never seen City Lights. How does it compare to his other works? My favorite Chaplin is The Great Dictator.

My first experience with a complete Chaplin film and I enjoyed it. I expected more schtick so to speak but the story was very nice and rewarding. It had a great ending that tied it up perfectly. I've got a few more of his movies on my Wishlist, I keep looking at the post-silent era work that CC has out but haven't bought any more yet. I keep checking TCM hoping to catch more so I can have less blind buys on my list.

[RiFiFi1955]

I still am sitting on the decision of picking up Arrow's release of Bicycle Thieves...I haven't yet because I figured Criterion would have been all over this one sooner then later but yet I am(we are) still waiting. I hear arrow's disc isn't a 5/5 release but an upgrade none the less and that there are significant improvements in certain areas, for example the vertical lines that appear quite often on the Criterion DVD are no longer visible on the Arrow disc.

[Tin Drum]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Sorry, but I always default to Planes, Trains and Automobiles every Thanksgiving without fail.

This discussion reminds me, however, that I'll be taking the long television version of Fanny and Alexander for another spin during December, because that movie is a Christmas tradition.

Love PTA.

I'm currently watching F and A for the first time (the television version) and it's amazing. Just finished Episode 2 and actually dreading what is in store.

[jetthead]

Originally Posted by SilentxStatik24

I have never seen City Lights. How does it compare to his other works? My favorite Chaplin is The Great Dictator.

I think it is Chaplin's finest film. If you like his other films then you will certainly enjoy City Lights.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by RiFiFi1955

I still am sitting on the decision of picking up Arrow's release of Bicycle Thieves...I haven't yet because I figured Criterion would have been all over this one sooner then later but yet I am(we are) still waiting. I hear arrow's disc isn't a 5/5 release but an upgrade none the less and that there are significant improvements in certain areas, for example the vertical lines that appear quite often on the Criterion DVD are no longer visible on the Arrow disc.

I have the Arrow edition, I just haven't had the chance to watch it. If I remember right, it is a region-locked title, so as long as you can play region-B stuff, I'd say go for it. I figure there's no telling if or when Criterion will put it out, and even though Arrow doesn't have a full 5/5 score, it's still pretty decent.

It also has awesome packaging.

[anthonyg]

The same thing always happens during these sales, I prep for a month, make a ton of lists and then end up buying titles I had no plans to purchase while some of my most wanted titles leading up to the sale don't get purchased. Which leads me to the order I just placed:

The Great Dictator
Modern Times
City Lights
Monsieur Verdoux
The Gold Rush

I love Chaplin but haven't upgraded any of my DVDs, but the main reason is to screen them for my grandparents. Can't wait. Will also pickup Safety Last in my next order.

[demonknight]

Originally Posted by jw007

You know how It's a Wonderful Life is THE movie to watch around Christmas? Or The Ten Commandments is THE movie to watch around Easter? Well, The Ice Storm is THE movie to watch around Thanksgiving!

Anyone else agree too?

I choose Gremlins for Christmas.
Easter is Mallrats.

[RiFiFi1955]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

I have the Arrow edition, I just haven't had the chance to watch it. If I remember right, it is a region-locked title, so as long as you can play region-B stuff, I'd say go for it. I figure there's no telling if or when Criterion will put it out, and even though Arrow doesn't have a full 5/5 score, it's still pretty decent.

It also has awesome packaging.

Yeah I have Multi-Region capability so yeah you are probably right and I should just pick it up. Maybe I will at least wait until after the new Criterion announcements this Friday

[EVERYONE LIES]

Originally Posted by anthonyg

The same thing always happens during these sales, I prep for a month, make a ton of lists and then end up buying titles I had no plans to purchase while some of my most wanted titles leading up to the sale don't get purchased. Which leads me to the order I just placed:

The Great Dictator
Modern Times
City Lights
Monsieur Verdoux
The Gold Rush

I love Chaplin but haven't upgraded any of my DVDs, but the main reason is to screen them for my grandparents. Can't wait. Will also pickup Safety Last in my next order.

You just ordered Criterion's 5 best titles

[georgec]

I read discussions earlier in the thread around release time but wanted to bring this up again. I'm on the fence with The Earrings of Madame de.... I trust the review here, and Criterion Forum plus High Def Digest also disliked the transfer. I'm inclined to not buy the disc because of the issues, but if anyone has additional thoughts that'd be great!

edit - on second thought most captures I've seen from the new transfer look like an oil painting. I don't know why I'm even debating this.

[The Bronx Bull]

I watched Modern Times for the first time today, and thoroughly enjoyed the film. The only other Chaplin I've seen thus far is The Great Dictator, and I much preferred Modern Times. I do plan on picking up City Lights next week, and I also own The Gold Rush, which I plan on screening soon. What intrigued me about Modern Times is the fact that it has so many set pieces. After reading the synopsis, I expected most of the film to take place inside of a factory, and for the jokes to be primarily aimed at industrialization. However, you've got: factories, union marches, prisons, cafeterias, department stores (perhaps my favorite scene, on roller skates), suburban houses, a crowded restaurant, an ending on a desolate highway, and much more. The scope of this film is incredible.

I also watched Classe Tous Risques today, which was recommended to me based on my fondness of Jean Pierre-Melville's work. One detail I noticed that The Great Owl might be able to expound on: after the scene on the beach where

[Show spoiler]Lino Ventura and his right hand man get in a shootout with the customs officers

, a police detective is reviewing the crime scene and states that one of the deceased is an associate of "Pierrot le Fou." Is this reference simply chalked up as a coincidence in that Jean-Paul Belmondo starred in Godard's Pierrot le Fou just five years after this film was made? Anyways - Classe Tous Risques is awesome! I believe this film must have been an influence for Melville's Le Doulos and Le Deuxieme Souffle, as all three have almost the exact same flow to them.

[SilentDawn]

Originally Posted by jetthead

I think it is Chaplin's finest film. If you like his other films then you will certainly enjoy City Lights.

Originally Posted by smoss469

My first experience with a complete Chaplin film and I enjoyed it. I expected more schtick so to speak but the story was very nice and rewarding. It had a great ending that tied it up perfectly. I've got a few more of his movies on my Wishlist, I keep looking at the post-silent era work that CC has out but haven't bought any more yet. I keep checking TCM hoping to catch more so I can have less blind buys on my list.

Originally Posted by JJJ225

It's the definitive Chaplin film in my book. If you're a fan, it's well worth a blind buy.

Thanks for the replies everyone, I will definitely try to pick City Lights up if I get the chance. I also want to pick up Tokyo Story, 8 1/2 and La Notte.


Anyways, I just finished Three Colors: Blue for the first time.

Wow. Just wow. A brilliant film on all levels! Great performances, exquisite cinematography and an spectacular ending; I'm happy I blind-bought this set!

[smoss469]

Just finished Le Samourai and while it was a good movie, there was 1 part that I just couldn't shake, in fact it annoyed me quite a bit.

[Show spoiler]It's entirely unbelievable that they'd have half the police department involved in some massive surveillance operation to chase down 1 person who was released from custody due to a solid alibi and not even a single shred of evidence. While I enjoyed the scene I thought it was really out of line with the believability of the rest of the movie.

Otherwise, it was well written. How else can you find yourself rooting for the hitman and hating the police?