The Criterion Collection

[Gaius Marius]

Possibly looking into Kes, Army of Shadows and Blow Out. Any suggestions?

[greekak229]

Originally Posted by Gaius Marius

Possibly looking into Kes, Army of Shadows and Blow Out. Any suggestions?

All are fantastic choices. Can't go wrong with any of 'em. I'd think maybe Blow Out would be my choice however. I think that would have the most replay value out of those three but that's just me.

[Gaius Marius]

Originally Posted by greekak229

All are fantastic choices. Can't go wrong with any of 'em. I'd think maybe Blow Out would be my choice however. I think that would have the most replay value out of those three but that's just me.

Thanks They seemed interesting based upon the descriptions.

[moody41]

Originally Posted by Gaius Marius

Possibly looking into Kes, Army of Shadows and Blow Out. Any suggestions?

If I had to pick one it would be Army of Shadows but all three are superb movies.

[scottpcusa]

Ok...I just watched "House" for the first time and LOVED it! In fact, I'm having a hard time convincing myself to return the blu-ray to netflix because I want to watch it again! It is now on my "must have in my collection" list! I'm hoping AMZ will put it on sale for 19.99 or less, otherwise I will look for it at the next B&N Sale.

[ikari777]

I agree that Blow Out has more replay value but also that Army of Shadows and Kes are both great films that are worthy as well! That's why it's so hard when there are sales and so many great Criterion titles to pick up on blu-ray. I literally started only wanting a few of the more "mainstream" titles on Criterion when I got into blu-ray. I got Paths of Glory, The Thin Red Line, Seventh Seal, Seven Samurai and as I watched them (all amazing in their own ways) I began to get more and more interested in what Criterion offered. Many of the films seemed interesting and as I began to blind buy and watch them I loved each and every one in their own way. Red Desert is the only one I found to be pretty slow, but still by no means a bad movie. Besides a few titles, such as the "Music documentaries" which is only a small handful, I have bought every single Criterion available on blu! I'm up to 79 so far and all the titles through July now I plan to pick up at B&N 50% of sale. Or the amazon sale heh! I highly recommend people start with the more known films and maybe check out another less known work by the same director and incorporate yourself into the CC, unless you have loads of money then I would say buy all you can and just dive in!

[Trogdor2010]

At Fry's, they now have price comparisons to inline dealers, including Amazon.

I got Fish Tank and White Material for the price they had at Amazon ($18.99 and $18.49 respectively). I wished I got Kes, but passed it for Taxi Driver.

What Fry's did was a great thing, and for once, is actually competitive with online dealers, plus no long waits for cheap prices!

[dfms23]

Originally Posted by Mr. Al

I bought some more Criterions this weekend. I now have 41 titles.

Newest buys:

America Lost & Found

The Red Shoes

Days of Heaven

Amarcord


Picking up Howard's End before work today.

America Lost & Found looks hit and miss for my taste. I like Easy Rider and both The Last Picture Show and Five Easy Pieces look good (haven't seen them) but the others look meh to me. I have been lurking on this thread for a long time but just not willing to read through the entire thread if by chance this specific top has been discussed before.

[pro-bassoonist]

[Monty70]

Originally Posted by dfms23

America Lost & Found looks hit and miss for my taste. I like Easy Rider and both The Last Picture Show and Five Easy Pieces look good (haven't seen them) but the others look meh to me. I have been lurking on this thread for a long time but just not willing to read through the entire thread if by chance this specific top has been discussed before.

The King of Marvin Gardens is a powerful film. It may have been my favorite from the set now that I think about it.

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by Roninblues

If you can get past the constant use of "ya know".

At least he doesn't say "and whatnot". That one does get on my nerves

[Monty70]

Does anyone know why Criterion does not always offer pre 1951/1952 films in the OAR of 1.37 to 1? (The academy ratio) Films such as Stagecoach, Black Narcissus, The Red Shoes and Senso are all presented in the academy ratio, (all but Stagecoach are mislabeled on the back of case as being 1.33/1) while the recent Chaplin films and several others that were shot pre 1951 are presented in 1.33/1. (The Third man, Modern Times, The Great Dictator, The Mikado)

From what I have read, all films shot during the time period from the end of silent era (shot in 1.33/1) and early sound films like M (shot in 1.19/1) up until the start of the 1950's and TV were shot in the Academy ration of 1.37/1. It may not sound like a big difference, but that little extra screen that is filled on each side seems to make a big difference on the 16/9 screen. (smaller pillar bars)

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by Monty70

Does anyone know why Criterion does not always offer pre 1951/1952 films in the OAR of 1.37 to 1? (The academy ratio) Films such as Stagecoach, Black Narcissus, The Red Shoes and Senso are all presented in the academy ratio, (all but Stagecoach are mislabeled on the back of case as being 1.33/1) while the recent Chaplin films and several others that were shot pre 1951 are presented in 1.33/1. (The Third man, Modern Times, The Great Dictator, The Mikado)

From what I have read, all films shot during the time period from the end of silent era (shot in 1.33/1) and early sound films like M (shot in 1.19/1) up until the start of the 1950's and TV were shot in the Academy ration of 1.37/1. It may not sound like a big difference, but that little extra screen that is filled on each side seems to make a big difference on the 16/9 screen. (smaller pillar bars)

I might be wrong here, and someone please correct me if you know better, but I believe I read that although these films might have been shot at 1.37/1, they were never intended to be seen that way. The extra area would not be shown when they were projected. Just like films that are shot now are cropped to fit the proper widescreen aspect ratio when projected, older films were also cropped. I believe one of the other editions of Modern Times includes the extra footage, but because that is not what Chaplin intended Criterion cropped it out.

Again, please correct me if someone knows better.

[Der Spieler]

Originally Posted by Pyoko

I'd take anything written on DVDBeaver with a truckload of salt.

Maybe not a truckload, but our old pal Gary does seem to be getting somewhat sloppier. Some of his reviews are a tad too concise and strangely generous.

[Trogdor2010]

Originally Posted by Monty70

Does anyone know why Criterion does not always offer pre 1951/1952 films in the OAR of 1.37 to 1? (The academy ratio) Films such as Stagecoach, Black Narcissus, The Red Shoes and Senso are all presented in the academy ratio, (all but Stagecoach are mislabeled on the back of case as being 1.33/1) while the recent Chaplin films and several others that were shot pre 1951 are presented in 1.33/1. (The Third man, Modern Times, The Great Dictator, The Mikado)

From what I have read, all films shot during the time period from the end of silent era (shot in 1.33/1) and early sound films like M (shot in 1.19/1) up until the start of the 1950's and TV were shot in the Academy ration of 1.37/1. It may not sound like a big difference, but that little extra screen that is filled on each side seems to make a big difference on the 16/9 screen. (smaller pillar bars)

I believe it's just the company's policy to slightly crop thier films (unless requested). It's really not an issue really. This is not the fiasco of subtitle placement (jn black bar), lossy only audio, and overdone DNR to name a few.

[captveg]

The difference between 1.33 and 1.37 is so negligible that no one in the home video industry bothers to make a distinction. If shown theatrically, you will get far more difference from theater screen to theater screen via projection.

[Zen_Amako]

I know this is the Criterion thread, but I just watched the new Kino Blu-ray of The Scent of Green Papaya and it's a wonderful release. It's light on extras (just a brief "making of" doc and the trailer), but the PQ is great and so is the film. I highly recommend this BD to all foreign/art film fans.

For some reason, it really made me wish we could get a similar release for Raise the Raise Lantern...

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

At least he doesn't say "and whatnot". That one does get on my nerves

That's nothing. The worst is "in order to". I cringe when I read it and hear it. Worst prepositional phrase ever.


So much for June being a money saving month for me. I'm in for Kiss Me Deadly.................and Universal's Marx Brothers set

Edit: crossing my fingers on Marx Bros. even getting on BR :/

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

That's nothing. The worst is "in order to". I cringe when I read it and hear it. Worst prepositional phrase ever.


So much for June being a money saving month for me. I'm in for Kiss Me Deadly.................and Universal's Marx Brothers set

According to some reports these are going to be individual releases instead of a set. I kind of hope they are individual releases...I'm not sure I want to re-buy all of them, but I might want to pick up one or two. Either way, I am always happy when more classics are released. Hopefully they will get the releases they deserve.

[Pyoko]

Originally Posted by blkhrt

I kind of hope they are individual releases...

I hope so too, because I only really want Duck Soup. I've seen a couple of the earlier movies and they seemed to be much the same jokes, only not as perfected as they were in Duck Soup.

And I got three of my sale Criterions today. All the way across the Atlantic in less than a week, using the cheapest shipping option. Sometimes I just love Amazon.