The Criterion Collection

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Kolm14

Need a little help deciding what to get when the sale rolls around. Any recommendations or advice would be greatly appreciated.

I want to choose 4 out of these:

Beauty and The Beast
To Be or Not To Be
Solaris
The 39 Steps

Although I'd personally go with more than one Hitchcock in lieu of Beauty and the Beast.

[Clare2904]

Originally Posted by Kolm14

Need a little help deciding what to get when the sale rolls around. Any recommendations or advice would be greatly appreciated.

I want to choose 4 out of these:

Beauty and The Beast
Tokyo Drifter
To Be or Not To Be
The Earrings of Madame De...
Solaris
The Lady Vanishes
The Man Who Knew Too Much
The 39 Steps
Foreign Correspondent
( I'd like to limit it to only 1 Hitchcock)

Going off what I have watched (BATB & TLV) and what I would buy from the rest, I would recommend those 3. Each is different too.

[RojD]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Funny thing. I finally picked up the Criterion DVD of Vampyr the other day. I had a 20% off coupon burning a hole in my pocket, and I was going crazy trying to decide what to get. Finally decided to go for Vampyr. One of the reasons I held off for so long was because I already had the Image/Blackhawk DVD. The Criterion package is just amazing, though.

If you have the Image/Blackhawk DVD, I guess you've already watched Vampyr. This movie is so much more than I expected. Although I could count on one hand the number of DVDs I've bought in the last four years, this is one. And it was a great choice. Enjoy it every time I watch it.

I waited for awhile for it to come out on blu, too, but I think now that the source material might just not be good enough for a Criterion-level project. It would be great if a more complete version/s of the film could emerge from a vault someplace that could be tweeked to blu. Great as it is, Vampyr reminds me of the editions of Metropolis I saw 20 years ago that had continuity and pacing problems because sections were missing; the latest version of that film has a completely different feel since restorers were able to find enough earlier versions to be able to reconstruct the majority of the original. I would so love for that to happen with Vampyr. But even as broken as it is, this is real worthwhile to have as a DVD.

[RojD]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

If we get a flash sale this time around, I'm thinking of grabbing the Eclipse DVD set, Nikkatsu Noir, and Samuel Fuller's Pickup on South Street, since I'm covered pretty well on the Blu-ray end of things.

Does anyone here have thoughts about the Nikkatsu Noir set?

One of my favorite Eclipse sets, Owl. These films are artful in their own way, but since they are Japanese directors appropriating a foreign film language, they highlight noir style gestures in ways American directors don't. To Western eyes, that interplay of the familiar and unfamiliar gives a whole extra level of film pleasure. At least to me.

And I think the production pressure these directors were working under also moved them to broad gestures and creative decisions more than nuanced. The use of style in these films is wonderful, and you can see how the Japanese New Wave is just offshore. It's a great set; every film is worth seeing.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Kolm14

Need a little help deciding what to get when the sale rolls around. Any recommendations or advice would be greatly appreciated.

I want to choose 4 out of these:

Beauty and The Beast
Tokyo Drifter
To Be or Not To Be
The Earrings of Madame De...
Solaris
The Lady Vanishes
The Man Who Knew Too Much
The 39 Steps
Foreign Correspondent
( I'd like to limit it to only 1 Hitchcock)

If it were me choosing four of the above, it'd be the bolded ones.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by RojD

If you have the Image/Blackhawk DVD, I guess you've already watched Vampyr.

Yup. I'm a fan of Dreyer's films. The only one I know of on DVD in the US that I don't have is a Kino edition of Michael. And I'm really looking forward to Master of the House.

[Reeniop5]

Originally Posted by deakin

Don't know if this has already been mentioned, but Amazon has the preorder for Red River at 27.97, it's msrp is 49.99 but they have it at 39.99. Almost half off... Anyone know if they've honored mix ups like this before?

Thanks Deakin! Agree with tns9. I also noticed that because it is a 4disc set. I am pretty sure Amazon will honor that so I pre-ordered it since it will be close to 50% off.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by RojD

One of my favorite Eclipse sets, Owl. These films are artful in their own way, but since they are Japanese directors appropriating a foreign film language, they highlight noir style gestures in ways American directors don't. To Western eyes, that interplay of the familiar and unfamiliar gives a whole extra level of film pleasure. At least to me.

And I think the production pressure these directors were working under also moved them to broad gestures and creative decisions more than nuanced. The use of style in these films is wonderful, and you can see how the Japanese New Wave is just offshore. It's a great set; every film is worth seeing.

Thank you for that thorough recommendation. I'm close to definite for this one if there's a flash sale.

[polygon1371]

I would like to see Criterion giving Heavenly Creatures a release. Peter Jackson's best work imo.

[Chrysagon]

Originally Posted by Kolm14

Beauty and The Beast
Tokyo Drifter
To Be or Not To Be
The Earrings of Madame De...
Solaris
The Lady Vanishes
The Man Who Knew Too Much
The 39 Steps
Foreign Correspondent
( I'd like to limit it to only 1 Hitchcock)

I can heartily recommend Beauty and the Beast and The 39 Steps. The latter is quintessential Hitchcock, at his best. Cocteau's BatB is an unforgettable classic.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Speaking of your avatar, I ordered a "Used - Like New" new hardcover of Michel Faber's Under the Skin for five dollars from Amazon, because I'd like to read the book before I see this particular film.

Good idea. I might just read this one too before the movie is released.

[smoss469]

I just finished Tokyo Story for the first time. First, I should probably preface this by saying I normally avoid "family dramas" because I don't ever feel entertained.

Now that I've got that out of the way, I have to say it was one of the most powerful films I've ever watched. I love movies in almost every genre, I watch movies for enjoyment and entertainment but never really picked one up for an emotional attachment. I might feel one way or another about the characters, or situations but it's fleeting; Tokyo Story wasn't the same however. After it was over, I immediately turned off my player and started reflecting on my own relationship with my parents. I still have both thankfully and I started asking some basic but important questions.

Do I appreciate them?
Do I tell the I love them when I see them?
Do I visit them as often as I'd like?
Do I ever give off the impression that they're a bother or an inconvenience?

It seems fitting however to watch the movie today.

[Show spoiler]In the film, all the parent's wanted was the company of their family. They didn't want gifts, or anything material... to them the gesture was worth much more than any item; sadly the one simple thing they wanted, they only received from someone who wasn't their child. My mom is basically the same way, I say it's odd that I watched the movie today because her birthday is coming up next week. Today my brother and I met to get our pictures taken for her. We both have this thing about having our picture taken but we knew she'd really enjoy it. Again, the gesture... not the gift. It should make the occasion that much more special and memorable.

Special shout out to Andsoitgoes for selling me an extra copy for a great price, without the deal I never would've bought or possibly even watched the movie at all.

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by lordmorpheus72

Amazon is really good about honoring prices... though I don't know if it's a mispricing. The price is a number I've seen on Amazon before. I got It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World for $29.99 and Thief for $24.99. Though I've never looked to see if the MSRP was incorrect.

I have never had Amazon not honor a pre-order price.

[zkirkland]

So I'm assuming the flash sale will be sometime this week? I hope to pick up 8 1/2, Naked Lunch, and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by deakin

Don't know if this has already been mentioned, but Amazon has the preorder for Red River at 27.97, it's msrp is 49.99 but they have it at 39.99. Almost half off... Anyone know if they've honored mix ups like this before?

They sure do. A couple years ago they mistakenly priced pre-orders for Anatomy of a Murder and World on a Wire for $16.99 each. Not a bad deal at all.

[fdm]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

I'd like to clarify something. I have Amazon Prime and this is the type of packaging I get when ordering 1-2 Criterion blu-rays:

[Show spoiler]

Does anyone NOT receive this packaging? I ask because I've never had a damaged case and wondering how others get their orders. Thanks!

Typically bubble paks for single items (in the past including box sets), wraparound cardboard sometimes for up to half a dozen items or a box set, and boxes like you show otherwise (some stuffed with air pillows (or sometimes paper), some shrinkwrapped, some just the discs).

Have had each type of packing arrive with some sort of damage, some major, some minor. Usually end up returning something or several somethings every other order or so (and get warnings for excessive returns every so often).

I've had somewhat better luck with amazon overseas orders, though box sets have been trouble-prone.

[fdm]

Originally Posted by Carletty

Edit: Maybe Criterion could get Amazon to use these frustration-free-packaging they use for steelbooks? Would be an idea, because then the chance of receiving a damaged copy would be very small.

I remember amazon/uk used to have a very nice way of shipping at least some box sets, used to be regular boxes with some cardboard and plastic to cradle the box set inside the box. But it's been a number of years since I've seen that, and I've had fairly dreadful luck since.

Would be nice to see amazon/us get a clue, but doesn't seem likely, as nothing much has really changed with them, same old convenient (for them)/thoughtless packing when all is said and done. (Add to that that I'm kind of picky about what I'll keep and what I won't.)

[funtom]

Once I got a package from B&N with the Criterion Jozef von Sternberg dvd box set.... It was all wet!!!! The box was damaged.... Luckily the factory shrink saved the dvd boxset itself from the wet, but one of its corners is damaged. I could scream!

[14728]

Alright, so I just watched a video of top 10 Best Concert movies. One of them was a Beastie Boy's concert called 'Awesome, I ****in' Shot That', which has 50 concertgoers capturing a Beastie Boy concert at Madison Square Garden. So I looked up Beastie Boys in the DVD section, which led me to find the weirdest Criterion release Ever.

This is NOT a fake. Look it up for yourself.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by 14728

Alright, so I just watched a video of top 10 Best Concert movies. One of them was a Beastie Boy's concert called 'Awesome, I ****in' Shot That', which has 50 concertgoers capturing a Beastie Boy concert at Madison Square Garden. So I looked up Beastie Boys in the DVD section, which led me to find the weirdest Criterion release Ever.

This is NOT a fake. Look it up for yourself.

I know it's not a fake. I have a copy.