The Criterion Collection

[retablo]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

for as much praise as The Red Shoes gets, that cover art with that girls face bugs the snot out of me for reason and thus, i have yet to see it because of that.

That's too bad, you're missing out on a classic for a non-reason.

[trombone dixie]

I sent in my copy of The Thin Red Line to John to look at because I was getting weird color blotches on faces. Almost as if they had huge birthmarks on their faces.

[keldons]

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

i could see a lot of moments that Aronofsky borrowed for Black Swan.

aka blatantly ripped off....ugh Black Swan is one of the worst things I've ever seen from an otherwise good director.

[andyman1970]

Originally Posted by stlcards

I watched The Seventh Seal last night. I had it for over a year and decided to watch it last night. While watching it, it skipped at approx 1hr23min19sec to 1hr30min59sec. I have a 40gb PS3 updated. Has this happened to anyone else? I've never had any problems with any discs except this and Le Mepris.

I HAD a 40GB PS3 and had this happen on a couple of titles, but not the same ones you mentioned. I recently got a Panasonic Blu-ray player surround sound HTiB (I know, I know all the elitist are about to curse me for this) but I've noticed the PQ and AQ is much better and the titles I had probles with on my PS3 work fine with the Panasonic.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Wildcat47

The cover never did anything for me either, still doesn't, but don't miss this one just because of it. The Red Shoes is a great addition to any blu collection.

Now, y'see, THIS is why we complain about the "artsy" Criterion covers shooting themselves in the (ballet-slippered) foot. And I can only weep for those newbies too thoroughly baffled by the "Great Dictator" cover to watch it.
Why not just rent it on Netflix without the cover, and enjoy the "50's postwar-Britain Black Swan" movie without the loopy off-topic prejudices?

Never judge books or Criterion disks, and Criterion disks have a lot more going against them.

(Island of Lost Souls is a good movie, but if the 30's producers when it came out had thought people had heard of "Island of Dr. Moreau" and titled it accordingly, you'd be watching it in even more of a heartbeat. )

[Egbert Souse]

The cover for The Red Shoes is one of the best shots in the entire film, just like the frame used for Black Narcissus.

[PowellPressburger]

For those who still purchase DVDs ESP when the film isn't out on blu, I can't suggest Antonio Gaudi enough. It is one of those Criterion releases that I want released in HD badly.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

Say what you will about the "new" Red Shoes cover, but it's an improvement over the former one.

I think it's a tough film to design a cover for.
Maybe playing down the ballet aspect wasn't a big consideration in Criterion's design process, but I suspect it was. .

They've already used full-shots, AND the original 50's movie poster, on previous editions, of which there have been a few--
Loopy self-indulgent Criterion designers aside, you can only re-release titles so many times before creativity becomes necessity.

The new cover conveys the wrenching drama and also I think a bit of the magic of the film while also hinting at how gorgeous the restoration looks with a close-up still. Very laudable

And summarizes the thematic internally-crumbling conflict of the heroine, ie., "Oh, and Natalie Portman with red contact lenses WASN'T creepy?"

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by Egbert Souse

The cover for The Red Shoes is one of the best shots in the entire film, just like the frame used for Black Narcissus.

+2

I think The Red Shoes cover is excellent. They went away from the cover of just the red shoes which is fine. The next best thing is Moira's face showing internal conflict.

What else could they do? The cover police (not necessarily on this site) will always have a problem with the cover art (font, placement, whether or not a still was used, choice of scene used, etc). Naturally, this is often people who are NOT artists criticizing the work of damn good artists that Criterion has commissioned. Unfortunately, there is always going to be some snobentry (I know that's not a word but it's funny).

[dr.mabuse]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

+2

I think The Red Shoes cover is excellent. They went away from the cover of just the red shoes which is fine. The next best thing is Moira's face showing internal conflict.

What else could they do? The cover police (not necessarily on this site) will always have a problem with the cover art (font, placement, whether or not a still was used, choice of scene used, etc). Naturally, this is often people who are NOT artists criticizing the work of damn good artists that Criterion has commissioned. Unfortunately, there is always going to be some snobentry (I know that's not a word but it's funny).

+3
Totally agree with you! I absolutely love the cover of The Red Shoes. Not to metion how brillant the film and the beautiful Technicolor-cinematography by Jack Cardiff is...

[24framesasecond]

"...the "50's postwar-Britain Black Swan" movie..."

Equating The Red Shoes with Black Swan is like equating The Thin Red Line with Guadalcanal Diary.

And, oh, The Red Shoes was released in 1948--not the '50s.

[Cinemach]

Originally Posted by 24framesasecond

"...the "50's postwar-Britain Black Swan" movie..."

Equating The Red Shoes with Black Swan is like equating The Thin Red Line with Guadalcanal Diary.

And, oh, The Red Shoes was released in 1948--not the '50s.

I'm certainly in the minority here but I enjoyed Black Swan more than The Red Shoes. There are similarities due to the ballet theme and how they 'borrow' from their source stories; however, I think that Black Swan has a stronger affinity with Repulsion due to the manifest madness and sexual repression themes.

[ShellOilJunior]

They don't make 'em like this any more...

[geoffc]

Anybody got any info on when we may see more Criterion Chaplin BD's?

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by stlcards

I watched The Seventh Seal last night. I had it for over a year and decided to watch it last night. While watching it, it skipped at approx 1hr23min19sec to 1hr30min59sec. I have a 40gb PS3 updated. Has this happened to anyone else? I've never had any problems with any discs except this and Le Mepris.

I watched this again Saturday night to finally listen to the commentary. I've never had a issue with the disc skipping in my PS3. I'm sure you've already checked the Disc for debris on it and tried it again?
Worse case just email Criterion and they will replace it. I had a issue with Yojimbo locking up in the same place every time I tried it with no visual defects on the disc. Criterion replaced it and it works flawlessly now. One of the things I like about Criterion. Some other studio's will tell you there is no known issues with the disc and to contact your hardware vendor for a firmware update. Basically passing the buck.

[Monty70]

Anyone know why Blu-ray.com has not yet posted a review for The Music Room or Beauty and the Beast? This site usually posts reviews for Criterion titles a week or two before the BD hits the streets.

[BluPops]

Don't understand why Universal never released Island of Lost Souls on DVD with the other Karloff & Lugosi titles. And it never shows up on TCM
... If you've never seen it, but enjoy 1930's Karloff and Lugosi horror films, you'll LOVE it!...

Dr. Moreau: What is the law?
Sayer of the Law: Not to spill blood, that is the law. Are we not men?
Beasts (in unison): Are we not men?

Now if only Universal would let Criterion release The Black Cat!

Originally Posted by Jinto

It's an amazing film. I'm so glad to finally be able to own a copy.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by Monty70

Anyone know why Blu-ray.com has not yet posted a review for The Music Room or Beauty and the Beast? This site usually posts reviews for Criterion titles a week or two before the BD hits the streets.

Might've been a delay in receiving the screener copies.

[ShellOilJunior]

Let the speculation begin:

http://www.criterion.com/current/pos...turns#comments

I think this is controlled by FFC...

[Member-38928]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

Criterion Blu-rays in the Top 250:
Seven Samurai
Paths of Glory
The Third Man (out-of-print)
The Great Dictator
The Seventh Seal
Yojimbo
Wild Strawberries (coming soon)
The Wages of Fear
Diabolique
The Night of the Hunter
8 1/2
The 400 Blows
The Battle of Algiers (coming soon)
The Killing (coming soon)

Rumored for eventual Criterion Blu-ray release:
The Passion of Joan of Arc (already on DVD)
12 Angry Men
City Lights
The Gold Rush
The Kid

Thanks a lot Joe!

I find old Criterion movies rather difficult to watch, which 2 are the easiest to watch from those from the IMDb top 250 ^^?
Anyone?