The Criterion Collection

[jshaide]

If it were up to me, I would’ve given Candyman a fifth commentary track.

[jw007]

That's the reason why they didn't release it with 5 commentary tracks. Imagine the lawsuits for all the Candyman appearances.

[jordan-r]

New screencaps from Inland Empire, which look great.

[SlamDawg78]

Excited for Chan Is Missing. I've seen Double Indemnity so many times on TCM I really don't need to own it.

[randian]

DI 4k supposedly being a digipak is disappointing. I hate them, they're cheap and flimsy.

[mmarczi]

I will never understand claims that Criterion's digipaks are "cheap".

[mmarczi]

it just occurred to me that it's been right around four years ago that I made my first purchase through Criterion, during the February 2018 flash sale. That was a pretty important stepping stone for me because I was just starting to get into film at that point, and their recent-at-the-time reissue of Night of the Living Dead is what put them on my radar in the first place. This was my first-ever Blu-Ray order, placed on February 14, 2018, from anywhere, and I still keep these titles (originally by happenstance) in a separate location from the vast majority of the rest of my collection [spoilered for size]

[Show spoiler]

Four years later, I still rate almost half of these films as five-star works and some of my favorites of all time, but these were basically all the films I could find some connection to at the time as I struggled for things to pick up. Before this, I only really had a passing interest in movies in general, and that was mostly horror movies, so I was looking for horror movies, as you might be able to tell.

I knew of Night of the Living Dead, of course, and I saw Pan's Labyrinth, so I figured del Toro would be a safe bet. I did know Kubrick through 2001, and was familiar with Tarkovsky by cult reputation among some friends within another hobby, so I was willing to take a chance on those. Antichrist was just a film that was listed as horror that sounded dark. I haven't revisited it in five years now, but it did introduce me to Willem Dafoe.

A lot of things about these films, particularly Eraserhead, mystified me at the time, and shook what I understood not just about film but about art in general, in good ways. I was never comfortable with ambiguity before, for example, but stuff like David Lynch and Tarkovsky don't really give you much choice. I still like to see what can push my limits of understanding of art.

Probably about 98% of the movies I've watched in my life, I watched in roughly the past five years, and I'm 35 now. It's become a costly habit, but I think it's helped to promote changes in me as a person for the better, particularly in broadening my perspective on many things. I've particularly enjoyed experiencing other cultures through their art.

And yes, as is probably the case with a lot of people, Criterion does hold something of a special place in my heart. I've learned not to put them on a pedestal, so to speak, and they're not a company without flaws, but there's no other company that better represents my taste in film than they do. I buy or am interested in nearly every narrative film they release, and I mean am genuinely interested in the film, not the C on the packaging (and yes, sometimes I'll take a Region B version of a film over theirs).

It's interesting to look back and think about where I was mentally five years ago. I don't have anything overly dramatic to say like film saved my life or something like that, but I do think this medium has enriched me in important ways, making me more empathetic, understanding, and having a better relationship with my own emotions.

I think even when I move into a new place and finally have the room for my increasingly expanding collection, I'm still going to keep that first Criterion purchase in a separate little place, right near my TV where I'll always see it, as something of a little reminder of what it's all meant to me over the past five years, and for I'm sure the rest of my life.

[fred25_Ca]

Originally Posted by mmarczi

I will never understand claims that Criterion's digipaks are "cheap".

Have they changed their digipacks format since their Night of the living dead and Silence of the lambs came out? Many of us found those at the very least flimsy (they can easily get squished), especially compared to some of their earlier effort like for example their Seven samurai and The freshman, both very sturdy. Haven't owned one since Silence came out so maybe they've reverted back to their older stronger digipacks? I can't see anyone owning their Night and not finding it at the very least kind of flimsy, prone to being squished under a bit of weight. Or owning their Seven samurai and not finding it much more sturdy.

Criterion are a bit all over the place when it comes to special packaging, so I find it hard to label them one way or another.
I own their digipacks of Seven samurai, The freshman, Red river and Night of the living dead and they are all vastly different from each others.

[Mister_Kidd]

Originally Posted by mmarczi

I will never understand claims that Criterion's digipaks are "cheap".

I don’t know about cheap, but do find them extremely easy to ding up. I prefer the “deluxe” packaging from basically every other boutique label to the Criterion digipack. A final, admittedly minor, complaint: the title is written backwards on the spine so if I want the title to align with all the other movies on my shelf, I have put it away upside down.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by mmarczi

I will never understand claims that Criterion's digipaks are "cheap".

They are definitely easier on the eye, but many of us prefer scanovos due to durability. Properly done digipacks with disc hubs are fine. Not my preference, but it won't deter me from buying.

No, the "cheap" ones most of us get particularly upset about are sets where discs are held in "pockets" instead of disc hubs. The friction against the packaging can cause hairlike scratches when getting them out, even for those of us with surgeon-like precision and delicacy.

Here's a list of particularly scratch prone sets, ones that I have stored in regular bd cases instead of their original packaging.

Citizen Kane*
Three Fantastic Journeys by Karel Zeman
The Complete Agnes Varda*
Essential Fellini
Godzilla: The Showa Era
Ingmar Bergman's Cinema
The World of Wong Kar Wai*
Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman
100 Years of Olympic Films (not that bad since the sleeves are bowed out, but still not proper disc hubs nonetheless)

I put an asterisk on the particularly terrible designs. There are other more minor offenders, but nothing as bad as these.

[bsend]

I thought Criterion usually did a flash sale in February. I'm ok waiting but was just curious to see if there were hints or an early discussion I missed.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by bsend

I thought Criterion usually did a flash sale in February. I'm ok waiting but was just curious to see if there were hints or an early discussion I missed.

There's a strong possibility that it will be on Tuesday. Just don't chuck something at me if I'm wrong.

[jkoffman]

Originally Posted by bsend

I thought Criterion usually did a flash sale in February. I'm ok waiting but was just curious to see if there were hints or an early discussion I missed.

Lots of discussions, but no hints from Criterion. Going on past dates, it should be any one of the next few Tuesdays at noon EST.

[mmarczi]

Originally Posted by Mister_Kidd

I don’t know about cheap, but do find them extremely easy to ding up. I prefer the “deluxe” packaging from basically every other boutique label to the Criterion digipack. A final, admittedly minor, complaint: the title is written backwards on the spine so if I want the title to align with all the other movies on my shelf, I have put it away upside down.

Well, yes, naturally they're easier to damage, but it's no different than buying LPS, which I imagine more than a few people here have done as well. Maybe it's because I'm used to doing that that I don't really have a major issue with collecting physical media whose packaging is less durable and perhaps requires a bit more care not to damage. But the same is true of any cardboard packaging like the slipcase everyone here seems to love. Cardboard packaging is inherently flimsy but I don't feel that implies cheap.

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

They are definitely easier on the eye, but many of us prefer scanovos due to durability. Properly done digipacks with disc hubs are fine. Not my preference, but it won't deter me from buying.

No, the "cheap" ones most of us get particularly upset about are sets where discs are held in "pockets" instead of disc hubs. The friction against the packaging can cause hairlike scratches when getting them out, even for those of us with surgeon-like precision and delicacy.

Here's a list of particularly scratch prone sets, ones that I have stored in regular bd cases instead of their original packaging.

Citizen Kane*
Three Fantastic Journeys by Karel Zeman
The Complete Agnes Varda*
Essential Fellini
Godzilla: The Showa Era
Ingmar Bergman's Cinema
The World of Wong Kar Wai*
Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman
100 Years of Olympic Films (not that bad since the sleeves are bowed out, but still not proper disc hubs nonetheless)

I put an asterisk on the particularly terrible designs. There are other more minor offenders, but nothing as bad as these.

It's fair certainly to point out the difference in releases that have actual disc trays versus sleeves. I was talking generally about their digipack releases like the Mizoguchi ones. I guess for practical purposes I don't view large box sets as digipacks and they're not what I intended to refer to but certainly concerns about sleeves for discs are valid. I personally don't mind a great deal and haven't yet had an issue with scratches but I understand the concern and recognize others have had problems. I would always prefer a tray over a sleeve myself, naturally.

[MifuneFan]

As I mentioned a couple times, The Film Forum here in NYC are having a 4-week (33 film) retrospective on Toshiro Mifune. I'll be going to my first screening next week, and I can't wait. Between my Blu-ray's, DVD's, and the Criterion Channel, I realized I have access to nearly 30 of his films, so I decided to compliment the select screenings I'll be going to with my own Mifune retrospective at home. I'll post brief impressions about the films I watch, some of which will be a first-time viewing. I don't consider myself to be an expert at all on Mifune, or Japanese cinema (or cinema in general for that matter), so please forgive me if my take on something is completely off. Anyway, please feel free to join in!

The Snow Trail (1947)
(via The Criterion Channel)

Directed by Senkichi Taniguchi, with a screenplay from Kurosawa, this was Mifune's very first role. He plays one of three criminals on the run, after robbing a bank. They try to make their escape by hiding in a snowy town high in the mountains, but the police are right on their trail. Mifune is quite young here, being just 27 at the time. His character, Eijima, is ill-tempered, and impatient, with little to no redeeming qualities shown. Opposite him, as is usually the case, is Takashi Shimura, who plays Nojiro, a character that clearly isn't new to this life of crime, or being on the run, and handles it way more calmly.


Later in the film, as Ejima, and Nojiro hole up in a lodge with a young girl, and her grandfather, the tone of the movie changes, and we see a softer side of Nojiro. He likens the girl to his daughter who was around the same age when she died. Ejiima on the other hand has no chill. He is the only one that still believes he's in a crime caper. Things eventually come to a head as they make their escape, ultimately resulting in a showdown between the two opposing characters. This was my second time seeing it, and I found it to be mostly enjoyable. It doesn't have the most compelling story, going for laughs often over suspense, but it's supported nicely by Mifune, and Shimura.

The Throne of Blood (1957)
(via Criterion Blu-ray)

After seeing Joel Cohen's visual spectacle The Tragedy of Macbeth in theaters a week ago, I knew I had to revisit Kurosawa's take on Shakespeare's play. I first watched the film on DVD many years ago, but I don't remember much of it, but recall not being quite taken with it. Now that I'm older, and with greater familiarity of the source material, I found it to be an excellent film. In many ways, it's probably the closest Kurosawa has come to making a horror film. The scenes with the witch in the forest, shrouded in mist, and supported by eerie music is completely unsettling, especially in later parts as the witch cackle's at Washizu (aka Macbeth).

Reading Stephen Prince's essay from the Criterion booklet, he states that it's somewhat unfair to just call this an adaptation of Macbeth, seeing how fully Kurosawa was able to transpose it to a Medieval Japanese setting. Kurosawa truly does make it his own, not unlike his take on King Lear with Ran. Using Shakespeare's stories as the framework, while infusing them with full-realized Japanese characterizations, folklore, and local motifs.

Mifune shows a huge range in the role, transforming from a loyal and heroic general at the start, to the mad Lord by the last act. Isuzu Yamada, who plays Asaji (aka Lady Macbeth) was equally great here. The way we see her "innocent" worries slowly chip away at Washizu's psyche is really chilling. If you haven't seen the film, I won't spoil it, but the climax of this film is incredible, and worth the build-up.

The Quiet Duel (1948)
(via DVD)

I've owned the DVD for The Quiet Duel for ages, but for whatever reason, just never got around to watching it. It's considered a "lesser" Kurosawa title, and I suppose compared to his many masterworks, it is, but it's still a very good film in my opinion. Mifune plays Doctor Kyoji Fujisaki, who we first encounter during the war in 1944, doing his best to operate on a soldier in really horrid conditions. During the surgery he cuts his finger, and some of the patient's blood gets into his cut. Soon after, we learn that the patient, because of his sexual promiscuity during the war, has contracted Syphilis. Kyoji fearing the worst, orders a blood test for himself, and sadly has also contracted the disease. The film jumps forward two years, where we see Kyoji now working at a clinic, alongside his father, played by Takashi Shimura. I think this may be the only time these two legendary actors played father and son, though there's certainly that kind of familial bond in many of the roles they shared together.

At the heart of this somber melodrama is a tale of unfulfilled love. Kyoji promised himself to a character named Misao before the war, but after contracting this highly contagious disease, he completely changed, and more or less broke it off with her. He hasn't told her the reason why he can't be with her, fearing she wouldn't leave his side and move on if he did, but not knowing still leaves her tormented and wondering what could be wrong.

Mifune's character is very admirable, and even-keeled. He handles his unfortunate situation silently, and stoically, only erupting at the climax of the film, as he realizes how much this accident has changed the course of his life, and ultimately his own happiness. The story doesn't pan out the way I expected, and ends somewhat abruptly, without a satisfying resolution. Apparently the original, ending was far more tragic, so I guess I'm glad it didn't go that direction.

[fred25_Ca]

Wow, 33 films, that is insanely awesome! There are so many Mifune movies i've been dying to see for years, he is by and far my favorite actor. I mean, who else could play 10 samurai roles in 10 years and have them all be so different?
I'm surprised we never got a Mifune box set of sort in North America.

[JasonMichael]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

As I mentioned a couple times, The Film Forum here in NYC are having a 4-week (33 film) retrospective on Toshiro Mifune. I'll be going to my first screening next week, and I can't wait. Between my Blu-ray's, DVD's, and the Criterion Channel, I realized I have access to nearly 30 of his films, so I decided to compliment the select screenings I'll be going to with my own Mifune retrospective at home.

I had no idea you liked Mifune. This comes out of nowhere.

[gbm82]

Originally Posted by JasonMichael

I had no idea you liked Mifune. This comes out of nowhere.

I bet they don't... just getting on the hype train

[RBBrittain]

Originally Posted by jkoffman

Attachment 272702

I already have both MoC UK & Universal U.S. BDs of Double Indemnity. If I get the Criterion 4K, is that triple indemnity? Or instead, sextuple indemnity?

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

As I mentioned a couple times, The Film Forum here in NYC are having a 4-week (33 film) retrospective on Toshiro Mifune.

If you haven't, then please try and see Kihachi Okamoto's Samurai Assassin. This is an under-represented film, as good IMO as the Samurai films Mifune did for Kurosawa.