The Criterion Collection

[HenryHill]

Originally Posted by Rzzzz

Exactly! I only own the Connery Bond films and I am a big fan of his since my childhood. I had never even heard of Ian McKellen until the Lord of the Rings films. Why should anyone care about the sexuality of an actor, director, singer, musician, dancer or whatever?

Hey Prof, did you see who "liked" that post?

I first became aware of McKellen back in 1980 when I was in college when I saw him break down his performance in Macbeth in a PBS show about acting Shakespeare, and then in The Keep a few years later. As much as I enjoy Connery, he would not have had the same aura of magic if he had played Gandalf. Like John Wayne, Connery tended to use the same cadences and mannerisms in every film he was in. McKellen is a far more sophisticated and complex actor than Connery. Could you imagine Connery as Richard III or Uncle Vanya?

As for sexuality, even though as a gay man it's cool that Gandalf plays on my team, I miss the days when we didn't really know much about actors' private lives apart from the articles planted by publicists in the gossip rags. I don't want to have my image of an actor ruined by knowing too much about them, (looking at you, Mel Gibson and Woody Allen).

When Criterion releases Hairspray, I hope they make it a double feature with the 1987 original and the 2007 musical, as they did recently with the Richard Lester 3 Musketeers films and the Jean De Florette/Manon Des Sources set.

[Rzzzz]

Originally Posted by HenryHill

I first became aware of McKellen back in 1980 when I was in college when I saw him break down his performance in Macbeth in a PBS show about acting Shakespeare, and then in The Keep a few years later. As much as I enjoy Connery, he would not have had the same aura of magic if he had played Gandalf. Like John Wayne, Connery tended to use the same cadences and mannerisms in every film he was in. McKellen is a far more sophisticated and complex actor than Connery. Could you imagine Connery as Richard III or Uncle Vanya?

As for sexuality, even though as a gay man it's cool that Gandalf plays on my team, I miss the days when we didn't really know much about actors' private lives apart from the articles planted by publicists in the gossip rags. I don't want to have my image of an actor ruined by knowing too much about them, (looking at you, Mel Gibson and Woody Allen).

While I agree with everything you said, in the same vein, can you imagine Ian McKellen pulling off the role of Zed? I don't think so!

[Show spoiler]

[Watershipdownisgood]

Originally Posted by TV2693

Deep Crimson, High and Low, Fires on The Plain and Nightmare Alley remake are all first-rate and worth blind-buying.

A History of Violence and Eyes Without A face are watchable, but one time viewing experiences.

Spinal Tap is not for me.

This might sound crazy, but I honestly prefer most of Cronenbergs non-horror flicks over stuff like Shivers, The Brood, and Crash. Other than Scanners, and The Dead Zone his body horror flicks just aren't my cup of tea. So I think a History of Violence is pretty rewatchable personally so I'm looking forward to finally having it in my collection. Still need to pick up Eastern Promises from Kino though as I haven't seen that in a while either. On the topic of Cronenberg though I still want to pick up Videodrome as it's a James Woods flick that I have wanted to watch for years.

[Watershipdownisgood]

Also I think I already have enough titles I'm buying for August so I think I'll wait to buy anymore Criterion titles with the exceptions of pre-orders for now.

Here's what I have coming for August.
City on Fire 4K plus Blu-Ray
Undisputed 4K plus Blu-Ray
Gung Ho Blu-Ray
Xanadu 4K plus Blu-Ray
The Burmese Harp Blu-Ray
Fires on the Plain Blu-Ray
Enemy Territory Blu-Ray
The Rundown 4K plus Blu-Ray
And Justice for All Indicator Blu-Ray
The Liberation of L.B. Jones Blu-Ray
Not to mention plans to buy Shane, and High Noon from Kino Lorber on Amazon.

Yeah I think I'm good

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Colonel Blimp

IMO, Connery was just too BIG of an actor for the part - it would have been "Sean Connery and the Ring." He would have overwhelmed the rest of the ensemble.

Connery knew how to work in an ensemble, The Untouchables is a great example of it. But McKellen is probably the better choice to play a wizard because audiences would prefer to see Connery punch out a villain than use spells .

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Watershipdownisgood

...his body horror flicks just aren't my cup of tea....On the topic of Cronenberg though I still want to pick up Videodrome as it's a James Woods flick that I have wanted to watch for years.

Videodrome is as body-horror as it gets, you've been warned.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Smegma

That's what I'm saying. It really is due.

March 2017 - Multiple Maniacs
June 2018 - Female Trouble
September 2019 - Polyester
June 2022 - Pink Flamingos

I read somewhere that Criterion wanted to do Hairspray next, but John Waters keeps telling them that the fans want Desperate Living.

On the subject of JW, didn't he say that Mondo Trasho wouldn't be happening since the music is too expensive?

[Brad1963]

This was my complete haul for the B & N sale.




and a few I bought from Amazon at sale price.



I have my wishlist in place for the Criterion Fall Flash Sale. Presumed to be in October?

[Colonel Blimp]

Def. leaned into retail therapy, between this final surge and other earlier purchases. These were all movies I'd intended to get for a long time, so I decided now's the time.

I had seen Mildred Pierce before, and watching "The Unknown" made me remember how much I like Joan Crawford.

[Cremildo]

My July sale haul post is kind of a cheat because I actually bought all of these on price-matching Amazon, not B&N...

[Watershipdownisgood]

Looks like the sale hasnt ended on Amazon it has at Barnes and Noble, but a lot of Criterion titles are still 50 percent off on Amazon. Looks like I can pick up Mudbound, Anatomy of a Fall, How to get Ahead In Advertising, and The Manchurian Candidate after all. That's crazy, but also cool so this makes me pretty happy.

[koberulz]

Amazon prices are set automatically to match their competitors, there isn't actually a “sale” on at Amazon at all. Prices will start to go up as soon as the bots they have checking the B&N prices start reporting them.

[Karate_Bullfrog]

Originally Posted by koberulz

Amazon prices are set automatically to match their competitors, there isn't actually a “sale” on at Amazon at all. Prices will start to go up as soon as the bots they have checking the B&N prices start reporting them.

Awesome… The bots noticed, so the sale is done. Or they noticed your post, and acted accordingly. How does it feel being a traitor in the war of the Humans Vs. The Machines?

[Vinyl]

Originally Posted by Karate_Bullfrog

Awesome… The bots noticed, so the sale is done. Or they noticed your post, and acted accordingly. How does it feel being a traitor in the war of the Humans Vs. The Machines?

*plays the obligatory terminator 2 music*

But really, there are still some 19.98 Criterion discs, including the 4k of The Piano.

[b00gie]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpttR1gI91Q

[Colonel Blimp]

Originally Posted by Watershipdownisgood

Looks like the sale hasnt ended on Amazon it has at Barnes and Noble, but a lot of Criterion titles are still 50 percent off on Amazon. Looks like I can pick up Mudbound, Anatomy of a Fall, How to get Ahead In Advertising, and The Manchurian Candidate after all. That's crazy, but also cool so this makes me pretty happy.

Well - like we all know, just fair warning about Amazon, but I got a couple titles that way because I could use points and one of them (Sid and Nancy) arrived in a broken case that was not shrinkwrapped, while still being marked "new."

It played - so I could keep it, and frankly, it's a pain to deal with returns. But they should learn their lesson too. Haven't decided what I'll do yet.

Amazon is not our friend.

[darrellmaclaine]

I always wondered when there'd be a Closet video where the guest's choices were entirely titles I own (either as UK Criterions or other equivalent Region B releases) and I finally called bingo with all 10 of Matthew Broderick's. Fairly sure there isn't a single other Closet video where I have a full house.

[Watershipdownisgood]

Originally Posted by Colonel Blimp

Well - like we all know, just fair warning about Amazon, but I got a couple titles that way because I could use points and one of them (Sid and Nancy) arrived in a broken case that was not shrinkwrapped, while still being marked "new."

It played - so I could keep it, and frankly, it's a pain to deal with returns. But they should learn their lesson too. Haven't decided what I'll do yet.

Amazon is not our friend.

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones as I haven't gotten a broken Criterion title once, or a broken case. That being said, I might just order a couple more Criterion titles from a boutique retailer like say the Orbit store.

[Ishai]

Originally Posted by Karate_Bullfrog

Awesome… The bots noticed, so the sale is done. Or they noticed your post, and acted accordingly. How does it feel being a traitor in the war of the Humans Vs. The Machines?

Amazon steals these sales from actual retailers which leads to these retailers eventually dropping physical media. The traitors are the ones supporting Amazon's sale stealing bots...

[Watershipdownisgood]

Originally Posted by Ishai

Amazon steals these sales from actual retailers which leads to these retailers eventually dropping physical media. The traitors are the ones supporting Amazon's sale stealing bots...

Well looks like I'm going to use Amazon a lot less now starting in September. I'm planning on buying the last three Criterion titles I wanted to buy from Orbit DVD. Even though the prices are cheaper on Amazon I'd rather support stores such as Orbit, and Deep Discount way more now.