The Criterion Collection

[ShellOilJunior]

The IMDB top 250 isn't exactly the best indicator of the very best films, imo. (Inception is #no 9).

The They Shoot Pictures list is a lot more credible. Although, such lists are always flawed because ranking art is relative to the reviewer(s).

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by bentvalve

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?

I think it all depends on the obstacle that prevents you from enjoying older films?

There are several films on that list that I think are very accessible (The Red Shoes, Wages of Fear, Seven Samurai,Paths of Glory). It just all depends on what you like.

[Banned User]

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.

Just buy Beauty and the Beast. The movie is worth it. Unless you already own the DVD. Its not that big a upgrade. The image is just inherently soft and lacking of contrast. It will probably never look better. Remember the different reels were made of different film stock. In post WW2 supplies were extremely limited. The lack of quality in the film stock adds to the softness and fantasy setting though. Plus its just a great movie IMO.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by bentvalve

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?

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)

Bolded are the ones I've seen, italics the ones I'm waiting for via pre-orders or mail issues.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

Right? How is that not Top 5?!?

How about top 3

[BohemianGraham]

Deathly Hallows Pt. 2 is at 67, it dropped a few spots since yesterday.

[Banned User]

Please do not mention Nolan or his movies. Its like lighting a fuse in this forum

[BaronVH]

Originally Posted by bentvalve

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?

The two easiest to watch with modern audiences would be The Third Man and Diabolique. The latter is subtitled, and will really keep you going with the devilish twists.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by 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!

It may well have been because of the name and popularity. When they released their other Universal classic, Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wolfman, The Mummy, The Creature From The Black Lagoon they did a good job of restoration (for the time). These were all well known titles. They may have felt that people would not thing Island of Lost Souls = Island Of Doctor Moreau?

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by bentvalve

Thanks a lot Joe!

I find old Criterion movies rather difficult to watch

Why? What throws you off and what titles did you try and watch?

Originally Posted by bentvalve

which 2 are the easiest to watch from those from the IMDb top 250 ^^?
Anyone?

Forget the top IMDB. I would say watch Sweet Smell of Success and The Night of the Hunter. Neither have subtitles and are fairly accessible. If you don't mind subtitles try Yojimbo and Diabolique. That's my humble opinion. IMDB is a popularity contest that shows what films are popular only among IMDB users. Obviously only a select few people of certain types actually take the time to interact with the site. One only needs to look at the popularity of reality TV to see following the masses isn't always a wise choice.

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

It may well have been because of the name and popularity. When they released their other Universal classic, Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wolfman, The Mummy, The Creature From The Black Lagoon they did a good job of restoration (for the time). These were all well known titles. They may have felt that people would not thing Island of Lost Souls = Island Of Doctor Moreau?

I would love to see those Universal Classics get a new restoration and Bluray release!! Sorry couldn't control myself. /offtopic

[AgentOrange]

Originally Posted by BaronVH

The two easiest to watch with modern audiences would be The Third Man and Diabolique. The latter is subtitled, and will really keep you going with the devilish twists.

I also found all these to be HIGHLY watchable. I was shocked at how good Repulsion looked for a low budget black and white.

Repulsion
Pale Flower (Japanese subtitles)
Kiss Me Deadly
Yojimbo/Sanjuro (subtitled, obviously)
Seven Samurai (subtitlled)

The blu-rays of the first 4 down through Y/J were the first time I've seen those movies, and each one absolutely blew me away. Seven Samurai is also a highly essential classic, as long as you can deal with Japanese + subtitles. I've really had alot of luck with "blind buys" on classic movies, especially Criterions. It's given me lots of confidence to blind buy a bunch more. I've only been disappointed a couple of times so-far.

-Bigger than Life: kind of "meh" I thought.
-Playtime: I hated this. I knew it was a bit avante-garde going in. It was mildly funny and interesting at certain times, but dragged on for WAYYYYYY to long. The length is really what spoiled it for me. It's a touch over 2 hours which I know isn't very long, but for a movie with no plot and no dialogue, the "visual humor" and symbolism doesn't carry it through for anywhere close to 2 hours, at least it didn't for me.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

It's not even in my Top 3 Christopher Nolan films, to be honest.

Agreed. Second time through I found it to be a bore.

[BluPops]

Don't think that's right. Paramount sold much (if not all) of it's pre 1949 library to MCA (now Universal) a loooooong time ago (1950s? 60s?). Plenty of films (Marx Bros., Crosby/Hope, Wilder, Deitrich, etc etc) from that time that showed up on TV had a MCA logo and fanfare before the Paramount one.

So, Universal has had Island of Lost Souls for what seems an eternity. They even released it on VHS.

In any case, great to see it on Criterion blu!

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

From what I've heard, this one has been in development from Criterion for quite a while. Maybe not that long...but it was a Paramount picture and the merger with Universal didn't occur until 2005 or so.

[BluPops]

Maybe. But then they could have placed it on the Lugosi set that had The Black Cat, The Raven, Murders in the Rue Morgue and Black Friday. Black Friday?? Only the Lugosi completists were beating down the door for that one (not that I mind having it

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

It may well have been because of the name and popularity. When they released their other Universal classic, Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wolfman, The Mummy, The Creature From The Black Lagoon they did a good job of restoration (for the time). These were all well known titles. They may have felt that people would not thing Island of Lost Souls = Island Of Doctor Moreau?

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by BluPops

Maybe. But then they could have placed it on the Lugosi set that had The Black Cat, The Raven, Murders in the Rue Morgue and Black Friday. Black Friday?? Only the Lugosi completists were beating down the door for that one (not that I mind having it

Speaking of Lugosi completists. Maybe Criterion will also release Zombies on Broadway as well.

[GilliamsBrazil]

Just received a shipping confirmation email from Deep Discount for the High and Low bd I pre-ordered during the 50% off sale a few weeks ago. Sweeeeet!

[Pyoko]

Got shipping notices for High and Low and Leon Morin as well.

Also received The Music Room today. There is a lot of film damage, with scratches pretty much constantly throughout, but the scan itself looks rather nice, though not perfect (main issue is sharpening.)

[BohemianGraham]

I might have my first B&N order from the B2G1 sale! Mom just e-mailed me and said she opened a box of movies. I can't get them until Sunday though.

[Monty70]

Originally Posted by Banned User

Just buy Beauty and the Beast. The movie is worth it. Unless you already own the DVD. Its not that big a upgrade. The image is just inherently soft and lacking of contrast. It will probably never look better. Remember the different reels were made of different film stock. In post WW2 supplies were extremely limited. The lack of quality in the film stock adds to the softness and fantasy setting though. Plus its just a great movie IMO.

I will be picking up both of these for sure. I like to read the reviews from this site on all Criterion releases, and was wondering about the delay.

The early film stock quality issues don't bother me in the least. (I love film grain!)

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

The IMDB top 250 isn't exactly the best indicator of the very best films, imo. (Inception is #no 9).

The IMDB Bottom 100 is even worse, having been completely besieged by MST3K fans, RottenTomatoes 0% Club fanboys, and gay Paris Hilton gigglers.
You can imagine how corrupted a user-submitted Top list would be once the Nolan, Burton and Cameron fanboiz were let out of their cages.

That said, there's always Criterion's own Three Reasons page on YouTube for easily-Cliff-Noted visual aid (esp. for Great Dictator, Night of the Hunter and Seven Samurai), but unfortunately Paths of Glory, Beauty & the Beast and The Killing aren't on it yet.
http://www.youtube.com/user/criterio...0CFF58FCFD7A66