The Criterion Collection

[Shingster]

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

they ship all their stuff individual if you order it that way.

You are a gent sir! Youre definitely sure they do that?

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Tom Servo

I found the description of the video a little odd for "All That Heaven Allows". The movie exists in 2.00:1, but they chose to present in 1.75:1 because it was the most common way it was shown. You'd think they would want to preserve all of the the available picture. Well, I'm sure they scanned the whole thing, they just gave us 87.5% of it. Criterion has probably done this a lot then, I just haven't really paid attention.

It was shot flat. Which means that they're not chopping any picture out, but are opening up the matte, so we're actually getting more image vertically than we would at a 2.00:1 ratio. It's essentially the same as a spherically-shot film that would be projected in 1.85:1 in North America, but at 1.66:1 in Europe.

But it's not like Criterion hasn't done odd things before. When they first released Picnic at Hanging Rock on DVD back in 1998, it was at 1.66:1, which they specified was Weir's preferred ratio. The Blu-ray (and the corresponding DVD reissue) is at 1.77:1. When the Blu-ray comes out, I'll be interested in comparing the two, though I'm sure that nothing critical is matted off, since it was probably projected at 1.85:1 here in the States in its original release.

[Blu-Velvet]

Originally Posted by Tom Servo

I found the description of the video a little odd for "All That Heaven Allows". The movie exists in 2.00:1, but they chose to present in 1.75:1 because it was the most common way it was shown. You'd think they would want to preserve all of the the available picture. Well, I'm sure they scanned the whole thing, they just gave us 87.5% of it. Criterion has probably done this a lot then, I just haven't really paid attention.

No, you're actually getting MORE of the photographed picture at 1.75 than if the scan were at 2.0 or even at the more typical 1.85. This film was not shot anamorphically for CinemaScope (which would have been 2.35:1 or 2.55:1, depending on whether the print had optical or magnetic-only sound). In the mid-1950s Universal was recommending all of its non 'scope movies to be shown at 2.0:1, but it was still shot full-frame to be compatible with any theatre aspect ratio from 1.37 through 2.0 and everything in between. Other studios composed for 1.66, 1.75, 1.85, or 2:1 after the widescreen revolution started in 1953, usually protecting the image to look acceptable in any of the ratios, until the non-scope standard settled down at 1.85 for most movies by the end of the decade. Until then films would often have a note with minimum and maximum ratios along with a recommended ratio. Some were even promoted in trade magazines as being "multi-format" compatible. In the case of ON THE WATERFRONT, for example, Criterion provided three different scans in their release. In the case of RIOT IN CELL BLOCK 11, which was apparently recommended for running at 1.66 but would have looked acceptable at 1.85, Criterion's Blu-ray is at 1.37 only (although it's easy to push your HDTV monitor's "zoom" button to watch it at 1.78 with a pretty good-looking widescreen composition). Even CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON was framed for projection at 2:1, but I'm glad the Universal 3-D Blu-ray is framed at 1.85 and might even have preferred 1.78 that I could zoom out to either 1.85 or 2:1 with my projector if I wanted.

With ALL THAT HEAVEN ALLOWS if you've got a projector and black masking, all you need to do is zoom out the picture to 2.0:1 and you can see what the few theatres that actually ran it that way would have shown (and I may try it that way once). If it were actually transferred at 2:1 you would be locked in to that ratio and lose the top and bottom of the image that were expected to be seen in many theatres.

See the web pages at http://www.3dfilmarchive.com/home/wi...-documentation and http://www.3dfilmarchive.com/the-fir...-of-widescreen for more details and documentation.

EDIT: I see that jayembee has already responded with the same information in much more concise form!

[The Great Owl]

Earlier today, I saw my favorite movie of 2014 so far, Cold in July. I did not think that anything would dethrone Under the Skin, but this movie pushed all of the right buttons for me.

It's great to come home and see a review of All That Heaven Allows. Here's looking forward to having another Douglas Sirk movie in my collection next to Sleep, My Love.

[Judex]

Originally Posted by Shingster

You are a gent sir! Youre definitely sure they do that?

They defiantly do.
I've ordered five from them the passed couple of days(Haine, Throne of Blood, Sorpasso, Spy Who, Uninvited). All shipped individually.

Added Master of the House to the list last night since it was pretty cheap. I was surprised when I went to read the review on here, only to discover it doesn't have one.

[skylog]

just learning about "hearts and minds." wow, not sure how i missed this?!? by all accounts, it is 'must-see' documentary. so looking forward to a review. can anyone give it a recommendation?

thank you

[fdm]

Originally Posted by fdm

I'm looking to add Red River to my collection this weekend, depends a lot on condition of local copies.

That and Throne Of Blood, which I've not managed to find a decent copy of since its release. (Dings, dents, and scrapes, oh my. And broken cases too.)

Ended up with both, but Throne necessitated taking the best of two copies to get one altogether decent one (pretty much threw in the towel and did what I had to do to git it over with). Red River has just a small thin scrape on its top, best one left in town.

Better results than I expected, but hope I can ultimately return extra (opened) copy of Throne, and maybe find a Red River without the scratch once they're eventually restocked (pretty popular this week).

All in all:

[fdm]

Originally Posted by smoss469

I've had the set since Christmas, but I'm ashamed to say I've only made it through disc 1. The plan was to watch 1 disc at a time, take a break and come back to it. I didn't want to get burnt out on watching them back to back; I've really enjoyed the ones I've seen so far!

Took me a few months. I didn't want to cram them all in one after the other, and as I went along I didn't want it to end. I usually prefer to stretch box sets out.

I watched about half of Zatoichi #26 (on dvd) a couple hours ago, started a bit too late to finish. Wish it was blu, pq isn't too bad, aq is all right.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by ParticleDan

I actually don't have The War Room, but the title you're thinking of is probably Wings of Desire or Weekend.

The shelf on the right was custom made back in 2008, and I thought I'd never fill it up.....

I meant war trilogy ^^ my mistake haha - and fair enough haha! Nice collection though

[TJS_Blu]

Originally Posted by skylog

just learning about "hearts and minds." wow, not sure how i missed this?!? by all accounts, it is 'must-see' documentary. so looking forward to a review. can anyone give it a recommendation?

thank you

It's quite good. It's one of a handful of films on the subject that is essential viewing. I'm going to be interested in what the blu looks like since the DVD seemed kind of soft.

Definitely worth a viewing, I hesitate to recommend a blind buy due to variations in what people think is worth owning.

[Polaroid]

Just ordered:

The Leopard
Tess
Battle of Algiers
Repo Man
The Tin Drum

All blind buys but were super cheap from Blowitouthere on Ebay.

Hope they are good lol, all digipaks so I'm happy (except Tin Drum). Only got Leopard because I am starting to really love the look and cinematography of period pieces and classical music featured, wish Barry Lyndon was on Criterion - how do these two compare to each other? Also wish Russian Ark was on Criterion.

Just added:

Seven Samurai
George Washington
Ministry of Fear
Qatsi Trilogy Upgrade

Is BLOWITOUTHERE having a sale as their stock is super cheap!

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Earlier today, I saw my favorite movie of 2014 so far, Cold in July. I did not think that anything would dethrone Under the Skin, but this movie pushed all of the right buttons for me.

It's great to come home and see a review of All That Heaven Allows. Here's looking forward to having another Douglas Sirk movie in my collection next to Sleep, My Love.

The score is amazing. When it first started, I questioned it, but it just sinks in and works as it goes on.

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Only got Leopard because I am starting to really love the look and cinematography of period pieces and classical music featured, wish Barry Lyndon was on Criterion - how do these two compare to each other?

I just watched the Leopard yesteray for the first time, from the OOP Australian Bluray, that is remastered (and better than Criterion I might add).
It has a great cinematography, sets, costumes, music etc., but I found it extremely boring.
(and it's not that i don't like slow movies, I like a lot). Also many times, I didn't understand what was happening (i guess it were history matters etc.)

I've seen Barry Lyndon too, and I liked that one very much.
So, here's your comparison..

I will surely give the leopard a second chance too, because other times in the past I've changed my mind over a second viewing.

If you love period movies and classical music some films I would suggest:
-James Ivory films
-Amadeus
-Immortal Beloved
-The Age of Innocence
-Cyrano (1990)
-Dangerous Liaisons
-Farinelli
-La Reine Margot (well, it doesn't have classical music, but it's a great film, and the transfer I hear is outstanding!)

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

I just watched the Leopard yesteray for the first time, from the OOP Australian Bluray, that is remastered (and better than Criterion I might add).
It has a great cinematography, sets, costumes, music etc., but I found it extremely boring.
(and it's not that i don't like slow movies, I like a lot). Also many times, I didn't understand what was happening (i guess it were history matters etc.)

I've seen Barry Lyndon too, and I liked that one very much.
So, here's your comparison..

I will surely give the leopard a second chance too, because other times in the past I've changed my mind over a second viewing.

If you love period movies and classical music some films I would suggest:
-James Ivory films
-Amadeus
-Immortal Beloved
-The Age of Innocence
-Cyrano (1990)
-La Reine Margot (well, it doesn't have classical music, but it's a great film, and the transfer I hear is outstanding!)

Thanks - Ive never really given them a try much to be honest out of fear roof boredom, the main thing that makes me want to watch them is cinematography/music/costume, which may be a bad thing but doesn't bother me, there are many films I hate but enjoy a certain element of.

Again, I am great with slow films and do enjoy a lot - there is just something about period films that is a new level of slow - which is weird as everything else around them is near perfection.

I love it when the period films look like those beautiful epic paintings you see (Kubrick filmed BL to reflect them paintings).

I will give it a try and worse case scenario I find Leopard boring, but in the videos I've watched I can see a lot in that film to appreciate, so won't be a total loss/waste of money.

Also thanks for the list I will definitely check them out !

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Thanks - Ive never really given them a try much to be honest out of fear roof boredom, the main thing that makes me want to watch them is cinematography/music/costume, which may be a bad thing but doesn't bother me, there are many films I hate but enjoy a certain element of.

Again, I am great with slow films and do enjoy a lot - there is just something about period films that is a new level of slow - which is weird as everything else around them is near perfection.

I love it when the period films look like those beautiful epic paintings you see (Kubrick filmed BL to reflect them paintings).

I will give it a try and worse case scenario I find Leopard boring, but in the videos I've watched I can see a lot in that film to appreciate, so won't be a total loss/waste of money.

Also thanks for the list I will definitely check them out !

you're welcome.
I've updated my list with 2 more: Farinelli and Dangerous Liaisons, which are close to the Barry Lyndon look, since they are held in 18th century.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

you're welcome.
I've updated my list with 2 more: Farinelli and Dangerous Liaisons, which are close to the Barry Lyndon look, since they are held in 18th century.

Awesome thanks

Im so hoping this months announcement is really poor lol - they've released so many great films and I've spent way to much on other stuff in collection, need a month off! lol

[RojD]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

I just watched the Leopard yesteray for the first time, from the OOP Australian Bluray, that is remastered (and better than Criterion I might add).
It has a great cinematography, sets, costumes, music etc., but I found it extremely boring.
(and it's not that i don't like slow movies, I like a lot). Also many times, I didn't understand what was happening (i guess it were history matters etc.)
...

I really liked The Leopard. The film is going in at least three directions, and they all come together in the main character, played by Burt Lancaster. It's a study of a vital but aging man who has to deal not only with his world changing but also with his changing relationship with (younger) women. And it is is about a social transition from a class-based society to a more democratic/popular one. Visconti is real clear-eyed about this. There's also a theme of decline in the film. The final 45 mins of the film, the ballroom scene, is one of my favorite moments in movies--fluid direction and a sweeping revisit and, to some extent, resolution of all the themes of the film. And the film is beautiful. And Burt Lancaster seems to become the old man, dealing with his loss of strength, sexual attractiveness, and authority. Definitely not an action-based movie but one of deep, affective psychology.

[Polaroid]

Didn't realise Blwoitouthere was a website and also sold Ebay, thought they were only on Ebay.

How often do they do sales as being in UK I never get to experience Criterion sales haha!

[thismightbezach]

Originally Posted by skylog

just learning about "hearts and minds." wow, not sure how i missed this?!? by all accounts, it is 'must-see' documentary. so looking forward to a review. can anyone give it a recommendation?

thank you

It's a one-sided piece of propaganda filth. The film's treatment of Lt. Coker and Gen. Westmoreland is beyond disgusting.

[Sifox211]

I want to thank whoever recommended BIOH - there aren't many ways to get Criterions (relatively) cheap to the UK - I was delighted to find them selling Il Sorpasso so cheap already ($19.57)! Just hoping they'll list Life Aquatic at that price soon...