The Criterion Collection

[Dmyster]

Hey all, I recently had the good fortune of discovering the Criterion Collection, and was wondering which are your favourite movies? Also, my wife isn't particularly a heavy or serious movie watcher but I'd like to show her a Criterion or two, I picked up Revanche and plan to pick up Fish Tank for her, what other movies would you recommend for her, a casual movie goer?

Thanks in advance!

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by Dmyster

Hey all, I recently had the good fortune of discovering the Criterion Collection, and was wondering which are your favourite movies? Also, my wife isn't particularly a heavy or serious movie watcher but I'd like to show her a Criterion or two, I picked up Revanche and plan to pick up Fish Tank for her, what other movies would you recommend for her, a casual movie goer?

The English-speaking releases...

• Ride With The Devil
• Charade
• The Last Emperor
• Repulsion
• Monsoon Wedding (some subtitles)
• Bigger Than Life
• Hunger
• Days Of Heaven
• The Red Shoes
• Black Narcissus
• Paths Of Glory
• The Night Of The Hunter
• Cronos (some subtitles)
• Broadcast News
• Videodrome
• The Thin Red Line

Those aren't all of the English-speaking releases out on blu-ray right now, but they're probably the most easily digestable for your wife.

CC

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by Dmyster

Hey all, I recently had the good fortune of discovering the Criterion Collection, and was wondering which are your favourite movies? Also, my wife isn't particularly a heavy or serious movie watcher but I'd like to show her a Criterion or two, I picked up Revanche and plan to pick up Fish Tank for her, what other movies would you recommend for her, a casual movie goer?

Thanks in advance!

My wife enjoy(s)(ed) these:

The Red Shoes
The Last Metro
Mystery Train
Antichrist
Night of the Hunter
The Thin Red Line

[Show spoiler] just kidding about Antichrist.... she likes the rest though

May was EXPENSIVE (looking to the future grasshopper)

[italy12]

Originally Posted by Dmyster

Hey all, I recently had the good fortune of discovering the Criterion Collection, and was wondering which are your favourite movies? Also, my wife isn't particularly a heavy or serious movie watcher but I'd like to show her a Criterion or two, I picked up Revanche and plan to pick up Fish Tank for her, what other movies would you recommend for her, a casual movie goer?

Thanks in advance!

There's really a lot of titles you absolutely can't go wrong with, so, sorry if mine overlap with cc's and Beta's...

Bigger Than Life
Army of Shadows
Charade
The Thin Red Line
Paths of Glory
The 400 Blows
Walkabout
The Wages of Fear
Bottle Rocket
El Norte
Secret of the Grain
Gomorrah
Stagecoach
Close Up
Night of the Hunter
Cronos

[dougotte]

Originally Posted by rock, stone

Plasma is slightly more high maintenance that LCD, make sure you are kosher with how to treat a plasma right.

Can you explain? We've had a plasma for over 3 years and never had to do any "maintenance." On the other hand, we have Sony LCDs in the BR and basement (for about 2 years and 8 months, respectively) and haven't had to do any "maintenance" on them either.

Thanks,
Doug

[repete66211]

Originally Posted by dougotte

Can you explain? We've had a plasma for over 3 years and never had to do any "maintenance." On the other hand, we have Sony LCDs in the BR and basement (for about 2 years and 8 months, respectively) and haven't had to do any "maintenance" on them either.

Thanks,
Doug

No maintentance is required on plasma TVs. Older models (5+ years ago) were more prone to burn-in and image retention, but not so much any more. Some people insist on "breaking in" a new plasma, but I was never able to find any evidence to suggest doing anything more than keeping it properly calibrated. I've done just about everything you're not supposed to do with a plasma and have never had an issue with burn-in.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by italy12

The Wages of Fear

El Norte

I keep telling my wife she has to watch The Wages of Fear (I think she'll like it) and I'm pretty sure she'll LOVE El Norte..... but again... she needs to sit down and watch it!


Also...

Let's not verge off into a Plasma/LCD debate here.... CG is a big boy, he can read the various debates in the other threads on those subjects even if he chooses not to participate.

P.S.

CG... "GET A PLASMA!"

[italy12]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

I keep telling my wife she has to watch The Wages of Fear (I think she'll like it) and I'm pretty sure she'll LOVE El Norte..... but again... she needs to sit down and watch it!


Also...

Let's not verge off into a Plasma/LCD debate here.... CG is a big boy, he can read the various debates in the other threads on those subjects even if he chooses not to participate.

P.S.

CG... "GET A PLASMA!"

I absolutely loved Wages of Fear...even though the first third or so (I think it was actually 60 minutes) was all set-up, the rest of the film was well worth it.

Excellent storytelling!

[italy12]

OH HAPPY DAY!! My Sweet Smell of Success order from Borders has just been cancelled!

Edit: Just contacted them and they cancelled it b/c I hadn't received it within 60 days of the order. Seems odd they'd do that since, oh, I don't know...it hasn't been released yet.

[greekak229]

Originally Posted by italy12

OH HAPPY DAY!! My Sweet Smell of Success order from Borders has just been cancelled!

Edit: Just contacted them and they cancelled it b/c I hadn't received it within 60 days of the order. Seems odd they'd do that since, oh, I don't know...it hasn't been released yet.

What a couple of rascals.

[rock, stone]

Originally Posted by dougotte

Can you explain? We've had a plasma for over 3 years and never had to do any "maintenance." On the other hand, we have Sony LCDs in the BR and basement (for about 2 years and 8 months, respectively) and haven't had to do any "maintenance" on them either.

Thanks,
Doug

Originally Posted by repete66211

No maintentance is required on plasma TVs. Older models (5+ years ago) were more prone to burn-in and image retention, but not so much any more. Some people insist on "breaking in" a new plasma, but I was never able to find any evidence to suggest doing anything more than keeping it properly calibrated. I've done just about everything you're not supposed to do with a plasma and have never had an issue with burn-in.

Yeah, not looking to awaken any of the crazy lcd/plasma jihads that lurk inside. But when I was researching plasmas year ago, it seemed like issues of burn in were still a minor to moderate concern depending on the model. They also suck more power and don't like windows.

Still, I apologize if my chosen term of "slightly higher maintenance" was hyperbolic and incendiary . I don't think LCD are better. I just think they are slightly different. However, I am not an expert and do not pretend to be.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

I keep telling my wife she has to watch The Wages of Fear (I think she'll like it) and I'm pretty sure she'll LOVE El Norte..... but again... she needs to sit down and watch it!

I've never read a bad review of Wages of Fear. I've seen it so many times and even though I know what will happen I can't keep my eyes off it. It's one of my favorite warm weather films.

[The Theory]

One can never have too many responses, so I'll hop in on this one, too...

Originally Posted by Dmyster

Hey all, I recently had the good fortune of discovering the Criterion Collection, and was wondering which are your favourite movies? Also, my wife isn't particularly a heavy or serious movie watcher but I'd like to show her a Criterion or two, I picked up Revanche and plan to pick up Fish Tank for her, what other movies would you recommend for her, a casual movie goer?

Thanks in advance!

Charade (Can't go wrong with Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Can't go wrong with David Fincher!)
The Red Shoes (A story about ballet that completely captivated me)
The Third Man (great little Agatha Christie-esque caper)
Walkabout (kids in the wilderness = lady's attention kept)

There are other (and some better) options, but in terms of the casual film enjoyer, these are all very accessible.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

It's one of my favorite warm weather films.

What we are experiencing is NOT warm weather...... lest you be fooled

I'll try to talk my wife into this one next week sometime..... My "to-watch" list is still too long to have this one bump it!

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

What we are experiencing is NOT warm weather...... lest you be fooled

I'll try to talk my wife into this one next week sometime..... My "to-watch" list is still too long to have this one bump it!

Today qualifies as warm weather

Especially after the past several weeks.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

hmm... i'll netflix it just to be safe but i'll put it on the "get soon" list.
.

No you wont.

Netflix does not have this available to save. Not even DVD.

And, Netflix isnt carrying most Criterions on Blu-ray.

I contacted them and they said Criterion would not sell them Blu-rays.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

No you wont.

Netflix does not have this available to save. Not even DVD.

And, Netflix isnt carrying most Criterions on Blu-ray.

I contacted them and they said Criterion would not sell them Blu-rays.

Looks like their HULU deal is causing problems.

[repete66211]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

I've never read a bad review of Wages of Fear. I've seen it so many times and even though I know what will happen I can't keep my eyes off it. It's one of my favorite warm weather films.

Sorry Shell, but I hated it. So much so that I did what I've only done a few times in my life--I turned it off. I was bored out of my mind. I've heard of slow burn, but jesus get on with it.

I'll probably revisit it at some other time. The Thin Red Line was slightly better the second time--though Days of Heaven wasn't--so perhaps The Wages of Fear deserves another chance.

[repete66211]

Originally Posted by rock, stone

I apologize if my chosen term of "slightly higher maintenance" was hyperbolic and incendiary . I don't think LCD are better. I just think they are slightly different. However, I am not an expert and do not pretend to be.

Yeah, I wasn't opening that can of worms, but just trying to update the info for those who may be on the fence.

[repete66211]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

I contacted them and they said Criterion would not sell them Blu-rays.

I've watched nearly every Criterion Blu-ray released (that I didn't buy) through Netflix, so this must be a new development. Most recently, after a very long wait I got The Thin Red Line on 2/1.

When I couldn't get Sex and Lucia on Blu-ray I called to complain and they said it was because the company (Palm Pictures?) wouldn't sell it to them. I took this to mean the company wouldn't sell it to Netflix for next to nothing so Netflix took a page from the Walmart book of monopoly marketing and said to hell with you. Naturally, smaller distributors can't afford to make the sort of price concessions that larger companies do so the Criterions of the world will suffer. This is yet another example of how Netflix isn't reacting to the market (as they claim) so much as directing it.