The Criterion Collection

[ScottDS]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

It's a dream to have the Marx Brothers on blu-ray in the collection:

[Show spoiler]

Me too! My dream is that Universal licenses the films they own to Criterion and WB releases the films they own in one boxset through the Archive program. (My fear is they release some fancy boxset with A Night at the Opera on Blu and the others get simple DVD re-releases, not unlike the recent Nutty Professor set.)

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by Tin Drum

I've been saying that for years. A truly magnificent film.

Glad to see someone agrees. It's unfortunate that it seems to be overshadowed by The Piano. I woke up thinking about it. Curious to see how different the TV version is.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by ScottDS

Me too! My dream is that Universal licenses the films they own to Criterion and WB releases the films they own in one boxset through the Archive program. (My fear is they release some fancy boxset with A Night at the Opera on Blu and the others get simple DVD re-releases, not unlike the recent Nutty Professor set.)

With our luck Universal will simply re-issue the films on dvd every couple years like they've been doing.

[monorail91]

Originally Posted by BTTF_

That sort of tarnishes my views on Criterion then. If they are only grabbing at films that they have access too, rather then the ones that they feel are "worthy" enough...If part of the "criterion" for getting into the collection is convenience-- then bullocks. Although you are making perfect sense that is extremely upsetting to me. This new realization has put me in an odd mood.

Definitely about what they have access to... it does feel like a stretch to say every Wes Anderson movie is "important"...

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by monorail91

Definitely about what they have access to... it does feel like a stretch to say every Wes Anderson movie is "important"...

I think it's less about every one of his films being important individually than their belief that *he* as a director is important. I'm sure they would love to release every film of the directors they find important to have the complete view of their body of work within the collection.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by BTTF_

That sort of tarnishes my views on Criterion then. If they are only grabbing at films that they have access too, rather then the ones that they feel are "worthy" enough...If part of the "criterion" for getting into the collection is convenience-- then bullocks. Although you are making perfect sense that is extremely upsetting to me. This new realization has put me in an odd mood.

I certainly don't mean any offense, but you just figured that out now? I frequently bring Criterion films back from the library and occasionally (depending on the subject matter, my perception of her tastes, etc.) talk my wife into watching them with me. While we have had pretty good success with some of the films that have I felt confident enough to blind buy, the library titles that I am investigating, if you will, are usually a so-so affair for her. I explained to her about this wonderful distribution company that Criterion is (and it is,) but after seeing a film that she met with indifference, she'll sometimes say to me "that film doesn't seem Criterion worthy" or she'll ask something like "is GoodFellas in the Criterion Collection?"

then I have to explain to her.

while the Sight and Sound top 50 is a wonderful place to get recommendations, my favorite collection of films amassed under one umbrella is Ebert's Great Movies column. if you're just looking for great films to check out, his selections are a bit more encompassing and, obviously, there was nothing that restrained him from selecting and writing about a "great movie."

and the way I look at it, having the benefit of reading his review after the film tops 90% of the supplements that Criterion can add to one of their releases.

I have flirted with the idea of creating a thread noting all of the region A and region free blu-ray releases for movies Ebert chose for his column. Maybe I will, but it would be quite an undertaking... there are almost 300 movies, I think.

[soarinsteven]

Over the weekend I watched my three favorite Godard films Breathless, Vivre Sa Vie, and Pierrot Le Fou. Just bought a copy of the latter on ebay. Can't believe I spent $84.99 on a single blu-ray title, but I couldn't stand not owning the Criterion blu any longer. Once I put it on I didn't regret it in the slightest. It. Looks. So. Good. Karina's death in VSV is one of the saddest endings to film I can think of, and Belmondo's death in PLF is one of the funniest.

Now finally diving into all the extras something I never did with the dvds.

[blu-bry]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

while the Sight and Sound top 50 is a wonderful place to get recommendations, my favorite collection of films amassed under one umbrella is Ebert's Great Movies column. if you're just looking for great films to check out, his selections are a bit more encompassing and, obviously, there was nothing that restrained him from selecting and writing about a "great movie."

and the way I look at it, having the benefit of reading his review after the film tops 90% of the supplements that Criterion can add to one of their releases.

I have flirted with the idea of creating a thread noting all of the region A and region free blu-ray releases for movies Ebert chose for his column. Maybe I will, but it would be quite an undertaking... there are almost 300 movies, I think.

I bought Ebert's 2 books on The Great Movies years ago. I refer to them all the time, and I use them as a buying guide for those films I have never seen. In fact I put a mark in the index next to the films I've seen and a different mark for the films I have purchased. I now own quite a few of them. His essays are full of insight, and are good reference material for anyone.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by soarinsteven

Over the weekend I watched my three favorite Godard films Breathless, Vivre Sa Vie, and Pierrot Le Fou. Just bought a copy of the latter on ebay. Can't believe I spent $84.99 on a single blu-ray title, but I couldn't stand not owning the Criterion blu any longer. Once I put it on I didn't regret it in the slightest. It. Looks. So. Good.

[Show spoiler]Karina's death in VSV is one of the saddest endings to film I can think of, and Belmondo's death in PLF is one of the funniest

.

Now finally diving into all the extras something I never did with the dvds.

Spoilers needed, no?

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I certainly don't mean any offense, but you just figured that out now? I frequently bring Criterion films back from the library and occasionally (depending on the subject matter, my perception of her tastes, etc.) talk my wife into watching them with me. While we have had pretty good success with some of the films that have I felt confident enough to blind buy, the library titles that I am investigating, if you will, are usually a so-so affair for her. I explained to her about this wonderful distribution company that Criterion is (and it is,) but after seeing a film that she met with indifference, she'll sometimes say to me "that film doesn't seem Criterion worthy" or she'll ask something like "is GoodFellas in the Criterion Collection?"

then I have to explain to her.

while the Sight and Sound top 50 is a wonderful place to get recommendations, my favorite collection of films amassed under one umbrella is Ebert's Great Movies column. if you're just looking for great films to check out, his selections are a bit more encompassing and, obviously, there was nothing that restrained him from selecting and writing about a "great movie."

and the way I look at it, having the benefit of reading his review after the film tops 90% of the supplements that Criterion can add to one of their releases.

I have flirted with the idea of creating a thread noting all of the region A and region free blu-ray releases for movies Ebert chose for his column. Maybe I will, but it would be quite an undertaking... there are almost 300 movies, I think.

Roger Ebert is still my go-to guy for movie criticism. Whether on TV or in print, he could speak or write intelligently about film without ever being show-offy or condescending. I didn't always agree with his overall judgment of a film but I could usually tell, based on his review, whether it would be something I'd enjoy. He is missed.

obCriterion: saw Tout Va Bien on TCM on-demand last night. What a strange, strange movie and even more strange to see it on TCM.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by soarinsteven

Over the weekend I watched my three favorite Godard films Breathless, Vivre Sa Vie, and Pierrot Le Fou. Just bought a copy of the latter on ebay. Can't believe I spent $84.99 on a single blu-ray title, but I couldn't stand not owning the Criterion blu any longer. Once I put it on I didn't regret it in the slightest. It. Looks. So. Good.

Now finally diving into all the extras something I never did with the dvds.

Several people have commented on how great the CC Pierrot Le Fou looks.

The CC release got 4 1/2 for PQ
The Studio Canal release (which I have) got 4 for PQ

both were reviewed by Pro-B. My SC disc looks... just 'okay.' I'll never know because it isn't likely that I'll get my hands on the CC release, not even to borrow, but I'm wondering if there really is a significant difference.

I guess only Pro-B can address that.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

while the Sight and Sound top 50 is a wonderful place to get recommendations, my favorite collection of films amassed under one umbrella is Ebert's Great Movies column. if you're just looking for great films to check out, his selections are a bit more encompassing and, obviously, there was nothing that restrained him from selecting and writing about a "great movie."

Agreed. I have been using Roger Ebert's Great Movies as a reference for many years now. I do not always concur with his assessments, but I can almost always get a feel for whether or not I will enjoy a movie after reading his thoughts. Roger Ebert steered me onto several film noirs that are now favorites of mine, namely Out of the Past and Detour.

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

Several people have commented on how great the CC Pierrot Le Fou looks.

The CC release got 4 1/2 for PQ
The Studio Canal release (which I have) got 4 for PQ

both were reviewed by Pro-B. My SC disc looks... just 'okay.' I'll never know because it isn't likely that I'll get my hands on the CC release, not even to borrow, but I'm wondering if there really is a significant difference.

I guess only Pro-B can address that.

I have not seen the StudioCanal release, but I have no regrets whatsoever about shelling out $65 for an out-of-print copy of Pierrot Le Fou last year.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by belcherman

Roger Ebert is still my go-to guy for movie criticism. Whether on TV or in print, he could speak or write intelligently about film without ever being show-offy or condescending. I didn't always agree with his overall judgment of a film, but I could usually tell, based on his review, whether it would be something I'd enjoy. He is missed.

obCriterion: saw Tout Va Bien on TCM on-demand last night. What a strange, strange movie and even more strange to see it on TCM.

he could write about a turtle race and make it seem interesting. he obviously had a good vocabulary, but he was never pulling words out of his a## either in order to describe something or make a point. he had a very simple writing style that made his reviews and essays very accessible.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Agreed. I have been using Roger Ebert's Great Movies as a reference for many years now. I do not always concur with his assessments, but I can almost always get a feel for whether or not I will enjoy a movie after reading his thoughts. Roger Ebert steered me onto several film noirs that are now favorites of mine, namely Out of the Past and Detour.

yep.. ages ago, he put The Third Man into my consciousness and did the same with Out of the Past - a film that I have been holding off on seeing until....

ah yes!!! until next week! can't wait!

[Jakamarak]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

Several people have commented on how great the CC Pierrot Le Fou looks.

The CC release got 4 1/2 for PQ
The Studio Canal release (which I have) got 4 for PQ

both were reviewed by Pro-B. My SC disc looks... just 'okay.' I'll never know because it isn't likely that I'll get my hands on the CC release, not even to borrow, but I'm wondering if there really is a significant difference.

I guess only Pro-B can address that.

I have not seen the Studio Canal release. I own the Criterion release and I think it looks stunning. This is the disc I pull out when I want to show doubters the wonders of blu ray. It's incredibly sharp and colors across the spectrum are strong and realistic without feeling manipulated. I would probably rate it my personal favorite in terms of Criterion color transfers (I haven't seen The Thin Red Line or Weekend on blu yet, but I think this looks more impressive than Umbrellas of Cherbourg from the recent Demy box and that movie looks amazing).

I re-read pro-B's reviews. The Criterion release is approved by the cinematographer. The review is pretty effusive and doesn't really help one understand why half-a-point was knocked off. I've read reviews on other sites where this release received a perfect score for PQ. The Studio Canal review remarks on some color discrepancies between the releases and some mild haloing, but is also strong.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Jakamarak

I have not seen the Studio Canal release. I own the Criterion release and I think it looks stunning. This is the disc I pull out when I want to show doubters the wonders of blu ray. It's incredibly sharp and colors across the spectrum are strong and realistic without feeling manipulated. I would probably rate it my personal favorite in terms of Criterion color transfers (I haven't seen The Thin Red Line or Weekend on blu yet, but I think this looks more impressive than Umbrellas of Cherbourg from the recent Demy box and that movie looks amazing).

I re-read pro-B's reviews. The Criterion release is approved by the cinematographer. The review is pretty effusive and doesn't really help one understand why half-a-point was knocked off. I've read reviews on other sites where this release received a perfect score for PQ. The Studio Canal review remarks on some color discrepancies between the releases and some mild haloing, but is also strong.

wow! high praise! I'll see Cherbourg when I can get the library's copy, until then (and sorry cause I said this probably as recently as a week ago) Weekend is still tops for me in the CC!

[SammyJankis]

I spent $75 on a sealed copy of Pierrot Le Fou. I should feel bad, but I just had to snag it. Price would be higher if I waited, say, a year. At least I didn't spend $200+ on The Third Man.

...

[Helikaon]

Originally Posted by soarinsteven

Over the weekend I watched my three favorite Godard films Breathless, Vivre Sa Vie, and Pierrot Le Fou. Just bought a copy of the latter on ebay. Can't believe I spent $84.99 on a single blu-ray title, but I couldn't stand not owning the Criterion blu any longer. Once I put it on I didn't regret it in the slightest. It. Looks. So. Good. Karina's death in VSV is one of the saddest endings to film I can think of, and Belmondo's death in PLF is one of the funniest.

Now finally diving into all the extras something I never did with the dvds.

Too bad! I was selling a sealed copy of PLF here a few weeks ago for 45 euro.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by soarinsteven

Can't believe I spent $84.99 on a single blu-ray title, but I couldn't stand not owning the Criterion blu any longer.

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

I spent $75 on a sealed copy of Pierrot Le Fou. I should feel bad, but I just had to snag it. Price would be higher if I waited, say, a year. At least I didn't spend $200+ on The Third Man.

...

I spent $84.08 on my entire collection of Godard on blu that consists of:

Breathless (Criterion)
Weekend (Criterion)
Vivre sa Vie (Criterion)
Une Femme Mariée (MoC)
Pierrot le Fou (Studio Canal)

the only one I bought used was PLF and the digipack was in perfect condition!

[SlickDamian]

Ebert is a go to resource for me too. Love his writing, and as others have said, I may not always agree with him (although I mostly do), I can appreciate whatever he said.
Also, he did some great commentaries, like on Casablanca and Dark City. Has anyone listened to his Crumb commentary on the Criterion release?