The Criterion Collection

[CoenP]

Guys, can you help a brother out.

As I can only afford 2 titles, which of the following should I get

The Magician (got the Tartan dvd)
The 400 Blows (got the Criterion dvd)
Someting Wild
Diabolique (already got the dvd)
Naked (already got the dvd)
Beauty and the Beast

I'm leaning towards The Magician and The 400 Blows but I'm open for suggestions!

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by CoenP

Guys, can you help a brother out.

Yes, but you're not my brother.

If you can only choose two, I would get two that you haven't seen or don't own, yet.

[JHas]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Hey folks, how many of you have Repulsion? I just ordered it as a blind buy, but I really enjoyed some of Polanski's other works, such as Chinatown, The Fearless Vampire Killers (now that should become a Criterion release), Rosemary's Baby, MacBeth, and The Ninth Gate. The plot looked very interesting.

You won't be disappointed, it's one of the most truly creepy films I have ever seen.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by JHas

You won't be disappointed, it's one of the most truly creepy films I have ever seen.

Oooh, I love creepy! Sounds good, now let's hope B&N don't delay and/or cancel my order. It's supposed to ship Monday, and should arrive the following week hopefully.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by Roninblues

+1, if you're happy with DVDs

That reminds me. I gotta unload a Battle of Algiers DVD. I think i'll keep the book when i trade it in. Those stores won't notice.

[majorkonig41]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Hey folks, how many of you have Repulsion? I just ordered it as a blind buy, but I really enjoyed some of Polanski's other works, such as Chinatown, The Fearless Vampire Killers (now that should become a Criterion release), Rosemary's Baby, MacBeth, and The Ninth Gate. The plot looked very interesting.

Repulsion is one of the most disturbing movies ever. Not because of graphic content, but psychologically disturbing. You will not regret it as a blind buy.

[Beta Man]

[Show spoiler]

That's all I have to say about that........

[dr.mabuse]

Originally Posted by CoenP

Guys, can you help a brother out.

As I can only afford 2 titles, which of the following should I get

The Magician (got the Tartan dvd)
The 400 Blows (got the Criterion dvd)
Someting Wild
Diabolique (already got the dvd)
Naked (already got the dvd)
Beauty and the Beast

I'm leaning towards The Magician and The 400 Blows but I'm open for suggestions!

The Magician is a Bergman film so you won't be disappointed. The 400 Blows is brillant. I'd either get those two or Beauty and the Beast and Diabolique...

[Banned User]

**EDIT** Nevermind I see I'm late to the game

Originally Posted by CoenP

As I can only afford 2 titles, which of the following should I get

The Magician (got the Tartan dvd)
The 400 Blows (got the Criterion dvd)
Someting Wild
Diabolique (already got the dvd)
Naked (already got the dvd)
Beauty and the Beast

I'm leaning towards The Magician and The 400 Blows but I'm open for suggestions!

I'd say Diabolique over the Magician. I like both films, but I consider the Magician one of Bergman's lesser films, while Diabolique is one of Clouzots best films. Of the two titles you do not own. I'd say Beauty in the Beast appears like it really isn't up to Bluray standards PQ wise. Something Wild is a fun film though. Colorful, funny and entertaining. I like the 400 blows, but its not one of those films I watch over and over like the first 2 mentioned. Never seen Naked.
well that's my 2 cents..

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by Banned User

**EDIT** Nevermind I see I'm late to the game



I'd say Diabolique over the Magician. I like both films, but I consider the Magician one of Bergman's lesser films, while Diabolique is one of Clouzots best films. Of the two titles you do not own. I'd say Beauty in the Beast appears like it really isn't up to Bluray standards PQ wise. Something Wild is a fun film though. Colorful, funny and entertaining. I like the 400 blows, but its not one of those films I watch over and over like the first 2 mentioned. Never seen Naked.
well that's my 2 cents..

Thanks for the comments on repulsion BTW guys. I'm looking forward to it now.

[Monty70]

I love the original artwork for that film.

http://cps-static.macrovision.com/Ri...er=allrovi.com

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by Banned User

I'd say Beauty in the Beast appears like it really isn't up to Bluray standards PQ wise.

So, exactly what are "blu-ray standards"... or, are you saying that, based off some online screen shots, Beauty and the Beast isn't up to your blu-ray standards?

Shouldn't the blu-ray format be a means of allowing companies to provide the customer with the best possible home video presentation dependent upon the materials that are available?

The "problem," if there is one, of Beauty and the Beast and other Criterion DVD upgrades to blu-ray is that a reissue DVD was already released years ago with an adequate transfer that trumped their original release. If the blu-ray release isn't offering that much of a light-and-day difference then I think it can be attributed to the high quality of Criterion's existing transfer used for the DVD. The blu-ray should then only be bringing out some details, textures, and less compression noise. If we were comparing the blu-ray to Criterion's original DVD release, then there's quite a noticeable difference but if we're comparing the blu-ray to the DVD reissue then we're not going to see as much of a difference.

[Hendershot737]

Has anyone seen Life During Wartime? If so, how is it? It sounds interesting, but I'm not too sure how it stands amongst the community. Thanks in advance!

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by Hendershot737

Has anyone seen Life During Wartime? If so, how is it? It sounds interesting, but I'm not too sure how it stands amongst the community. Thanks in advance!

Well if you have seen Happiness, or Storytelling then you kind of know the atmosphere etc of Solondz. His films aren't for everyone.

[ShellOilJunior]

Here we go. October 2011 Predictions:

Bitter Rice new
Kuroneko new
The Four Feathers new
Band of Outsiders upgrade
Kwaidan upgrade
The Bicycle Thieves upgrade

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by lemonski

I hate silent movies normally....but I loved People On Sunday. It has a very light, modern feel to it, especially if you listen with the Kats-Chernin (sp?) score. There's some great cinematography, and it's a really fascinating snapshot of life in Berlin just before WWII.

Starting this right now..... Any major differences (in 'feel' ) between the two scores?

[Hendershot737]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

Well if you have seen Happiness, or Storytelling then you kind of know the atmosphere etc of Solondz. His films aren't for everyone.

I haven't...but I'm quite fond of the weird and deranged

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by Hendershot737

I haven't...but I'm quite fond of the weird and deranged

I believe Life During Wartime is a follow up to Happiness.

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

So, exactly what are "blu-ray standards"... or, are you saying that, based off some online screen shots, Beauty and the Beast isn't up to your blu-ray standards?

What I meant is the source material isn't of the quality to bring out a truly exceptional PQ. The film itself is overly soft and no transfer will ever bring out a ton of detail, texture etc. There's no doubt that this release will probably be the best it looks on home video for a long time to come.

Originally Posted by ccfixx

Shouldn't the blu-ray format be a means of allowing companies to provide the customer with the best possible home video presentation dependent upon the materials that are available?

I agree 100%, but in the context of the users question which was "What should I get?" any answer is going to be a opinion. Mine was that Beauty and the Beast's image quality doesn't match up with the best of Criterion. Therefore I ruled it out as a recommended choice. Personally I have it on order. Maybe my choice of words and blunt opinion could of been better thought out.

Originally Posted by ccfixx

The "problem," if there is one, of Beauty and the Beast and other Criterion DVD upgrades to blu-ray is that a reissue DVD was already released years ago with an adequate transfer that trumped their original release. If the blu-ray release isn't offering that much of a light-and-day difference then I think it can be attributed to the high quality of Criterion's existing transfer used for the DVD. The blu-ray should then only be bringing out some details, textures, and less compression noise. If we were comparing the blu-ray to Criterion's original DVD release, then there's quite a noticeable difference but if we're comparing the blu-ray to the DVD reissue then we're not going to see as much of a difference.

I couldn't begin to make any kind of judgement without actually comparing the original DVD with the Bluray. It undoubtedly will look better, but to what degree one can only say after making such a comparison. Otherwise anything I say about the difference is pure speculation. I was merely saying I don't think the original duplicate negative they are using is of the quality to bring out much more detail. I believe the film was purposely shot soft to maintain a fantasy feel and while seeing more film grain and less compression artifacts are nice when measured up to other Criterion Bluray's it is by far on the lower end of the PQ spectrum.

[rock, stone]

Originally Posted by Hendershot737

Has anyone seen Life During Wartime? If so, how is it? It sounds interesting, but I'm not too sure how it stands amongst the community. Thanks in advance!

Life During Wartime is interesting but I don't love it. It is a direct sequel to Happiness, only it recasts every single actor. So it picks up all the characters a few years later played by an entirely new cast. The biggest problem, for me at least, is that in almost every instance the performance is more complex and more interesting in Happiness.

I am a big, big fan of Happiness and have seen it many times. I don't know how Life During Wartime would play as a standalone movie.

Solondz's style as a writer/director lies somewhere in between Wes Anderson and early Neil Labute. He tends to write about disaffected people being narcissistic and cruel to one another. Sex is always a central focus, but unpleasant and in some way an act of degradation.

I would count Life During Wartime as an interesting experiment, but not a very successful one. I wouldn't recommend it as a blind buy.