The Criterion Collection

[Banned User]

Scooby Doo and Salo in the same sentence. I've seen it all now.


Not exactly the right place for this, but interesting

http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment...lm-found-in-NZ

[aggienader08]

Last night I had a bit of a film festival in my den. So as of last night my new favorite Criterions are:

Kiss Me Deadly and Solaris. Mind you, I've seen them both before, but for some reason I just loved watching them again.

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by Banned User

Scooby Doo and Salo in the same sentence. I've seen it all now.

Salò, or the Thirteen Ghosts of Scooby-Doo.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by wilky61

Also traded my copy of The Red Shoes yesterday for a copy of Amarcord, which I am hopeful will become the first Fellini film I've ever enjoyed.

Originally Posted by Old Geezer

I would suggest "Nights of Cabiria" to you.

And I would recommend La Strada, though I also agree with the recommendation of Nights of Cabiria.

Given your previous response...never mind.

[rkish]

Originally Posted by blkhrt

I am curious to hear what you think!

I got to watch "A Lonely Place" last night and really enjoyed it! If it wasn't the property of Sony...it would make a GREAT Criterion release. I'd place it in importance, with a film like "Sweet Smell of Success".

Sony did SOME restoration on it! I hope they release it on BD in the near future.

[Dosto]

Originally Posted by dougotte

They can't get it for some reason. I was suspicious that they just wanted to close out their outstanding Criterion sale orders, so I went to their website and searched for High and Low. It does list it as "unavailable" for whatever reason.

Doug

A new CC movie can't be obtained? Sounds extremely fishy.

But listen to this: I'm so stupid that I ordered the DVD instead of the Blu-ray by mistake. So with the tedious return process to the US, I won't be seeing "High and Low" in HD anytime soon...

And listen to THAT: I finally got my order of "Pale Flower" and "Kiss Me Deadly" from B&N this morning, but I open the box and what do I see? My "Pale Flower" blu is missing, replaced by a freakin' book about Motorhead that I've NEVER ordered.

I've returned the book, needless to say, in hope that they can get their heads out of their arses and manage to send me the right thing next time. There was a return paper that they asked to put on the box with a little barcode on it. Does anybody know if I need to put any stamps or does the little barcode thing cover shipping fees like Amazon's?

In the end, the only thing I know for sure is that I'll NEVER buy anything from B&N again in my life. Hands down the worst experience I've had buying online and the crappiest customer service. They're quick to grab your money but not so kick to deliver the goods.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by Dosto

A new CC movie can't be obtained? Sounds extremely fishy.

But listen to this: I'm so stupid that I ordered the DVD instead of the Blu-ray by mistake. So with the tedious return process to the US, I won't be seeing "High and Low" in HD anytime soon...

And listen to THAT: I finally got my order of "Pale Flower" and "Kiss Me Deadly" from B&N this morning, but I open the box and what do I see? My "Pale Flower" blu is missing, replaced by a freakin' book about Motorhead that I've NEVER ordered.

I've returned the book, needless to say, in hope that they can get their heads out of their arses and manage to send me the right thing next time. There was a return paper that they asked to put on the box with a little barcode on it. Does anybody know if I need to put any stamps or does the little barcode thing cover shipping fees like Amazon's?

In the end, the only thing I know for sure is that I'll NEVER buy anything from B&N again in my life. Hands down the worst experience I've had buying online and the crappiest customer service. They're quick to grab your money but not so kick to deliver the goods.

Whoa. I've been lucky so far, slow as hell to receive, but nothing screwed up like that. I'm worried about my orders now.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by rkish

I got to watch "A Lonely Place" last night and really enjoyed it! If it wasn't the property of Sony...it would make a GREAT Criterion release. I'd place it in importance, with a film like "Sweet Smell of Success".

Sony did some restoration on it! I hope they release it on BD in the near future.

It would make a great CC title (they could make an 'eight reasons' trailer without even breaking a sweat) but I could definitely live with a Sony release too.

[Dosto]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Whoa. I've been lucky so far, slow as hell to receive, but nothing screwed up like that. I'm worried about my orders now.

Apparently they're real ***holes when dealing with returns. I'm not even sure if the provided label with the return adress and barcode is enough. I'm not gonna pay for a tracked parcel when it's their mistake. I've read online that they're very good at claiming they never received the returned item, or that they got it too late, blabla.

[Rivera]

Originally Posted by dougotte

They can't get it for some reason. I was suspicious that they just wanted to close out their outstanding Criterion sale orders, so I went to their website and searched for High and Low. It does list it as "unavailable" for whatever reason.

Doug

I had my copy of High and Low delayed for a month (it was supposed to ship at the end of August), so I canceled it, as the total waiting time would have added up to 2 months. B&N dropped the ball on this one.
However, my copy of Kiss Me Deadly did ship yesterday, after 2 weeks.

[ShellOilJunior]

The only issue I've had in receiving BR's in the mail was with Amazon and the Taxi Driver BR................they sent me 2.


Getting back to Criterion. I'm headed to trade-in store later to hock Battle of Algiers. I'm really tempted to dump Bicycle Thieves and Tokyo Story because I see them being upgraded soon.

[Al_The_Strange]

Watched two of my recent blind-buys; "Double Life of Veronique" was not quite as thrilling as I hoped for, but I did like the way it was made. I enjoyed "Beauty and the Beast" pretty well. Reviews are here from the review club thread:

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Next greatest blind-buy: “The Double Life of Veronique.”

Maybe you’ve seen me discussing it in other reviews, but I do find duality within and among characters interesting. “TDLoV” should naturally spark some interest, watching a pair of identical strangers sharing a bond that cuts across multiple countries. Heck, such a concept plays heavily into one of my favorite Japanese anime shows, “Noir,” and perhaps to a larger extent, a strange show called “Madlax.” It’s also been internalized in “Black Swan.” So once I heard that “TDLoV” was an influence on “BS,” and upon seeing the theme of duality, I was intrigued.

Well, I figured it wouldn’t have as much crazy gunfighting and swordplay as “Noir” or “Madlax,” and none of the freakiness of “Black Swan.” In fact, “TDLoV” is far less eventful than I hoped it would be. It does have a solid, mesmerizing pace. It does have interesting imagery, quality performances, and some real-looking locales. It does have its share of thought-provoking shots and dialogue. However, I found the film a little too loose, and perhaps a little too slow, for my taste.

The story is probably what disappoints me the most. I won’t deny that the film has quality characters; it’s hard not to like Veronique (or is it Weronika?! ). The story itself has an interesting premise, and an okay structure. It just meanders too much from one random scene to the next, with no real sense of progression, build-up, and most frustratingly, conflict. Any sense of mystery never really hit me until the last half-hour or so, and even then, I’m not sure what manner of conclusion this film really reaches.

For what it’s worth though, the film is of exceptional quality, with excellent photography and editing. There’s enough green and yellow tinting here to put “The Matrix” and “Swordfish” to shame; the color schemes are phenomenal. Acting is perfect, and the writing shows some strong moments. Production value looks tight, with plenty of real-looking sets, props, costumes, and locales. There’s barely any music in this film, but all the singing sounds lovely.

4/5 (entertainment: 3/5, story: 3/5, film: 5/5) I guess that means I like it. I probably would have enjoyed it more with more conflict.

Recommendation: See it at least once, see what you think.

This Blu-Ray looks awesomely sharp and detailed, with strong colors and contrast. Sound quality seems really good.

PQ: 5/5, AQ: 5/5

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Next greatest blind-buy: “Beauty and the Beast” 1946.

Once upon a time, films were made to present classic stories to the big screen. No big ‘splosions or overblown CGI, just a bunch of actors doing their thing with whatever’s on hand. It was the quality in performances and craftsmanship that mattered. Such classics (maybe you’ve heard of them) include films like “The Adventures of Robin Hood,” “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “Of Mice and Men,” “Anna and the King of Siam”…and this one.

The minute “Beauty and the Beast” started up, I was immediately reminded of these other classics, and I could tell that it’d be a film of quality (I think the chalkboard credits and director’s note might have done it, reminding me of the opening for the original “Of Mice and Men.” I gotta say though, this method seems a little gimmicky, and seems to present the story as a play rather than an immersive film. But…whatever!). This film is short and quite well-paced, with maybe just a little drag in the middle. It won’t have a whole lot of action or spectacle, but it is a tight little film showcasing a classic story.

If you’ve seen the Disney version, chances are that you already know the story; this film follows the same plot structure. There is quite a bit of deviation (no singing ), but I couldn’t tell you what version is closest to the original material. As it is, this version is pretty solid; the plot is pretty interesting and the story is worth telling. It has decent characters (although I found Belle a little too mean, and the Beast nowhere near as menacing as I expected. Oh wait, that might be intentional… ). In the end, the film has a romantic, mystic, and classic quality that’s rarely captured on film.

The film shows proper quality with solid photography and editing (although it looks like some frames are missing; you can expect a few jerky cuts). Acting is swell and the writing’s pretty good. The production value is probably limited, but it rarely shows; costume and make-up effects are especially strong, and there are a few interesting camera tricks. Music is quite classy.

4/5 (entertainment: 4/5, story: 4.5/5, film: 4/5)

Recommendation: Yes.

This Blu-Ray looks a bit soft, but it does have plenty of sharp detail and it looks clean as hell. Contrast levels are strong. Sound quality is clean and clear.

PQ: 4/5, AQ: 4/5

[Dosto]

Originally Posted by Rivera

I had my copy of High and Low delayed for a month (it was supposed to ship at the end of August), so I canceled it, as the total waiting time would have added up to 2 months. B&N dropped the ball on this one.
However, my copy of Kiss Me Deadly did ship yesterday, after 2 weeks.

Do you happento know if return shipping fees are covered by the label included with the package? It says to cut it and paste it on the box for return but it's not clear as to whether or not it covers shipping.

Sorry if I'm a nuisance but I don't wanna risk delaying the process again.

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

Salò, or the Thirteen Ghosts of Scooby-Doo.

Luckily neither. Both make me violently and uncontrollably ill. Although I could probably stomach Salo a little longer.

Originally Posted by Dosto

But listen to this: I'm so stupid that I ordered the DVD instead of the Blu-ray by mistake. So with the tedious return process to the US, I won't be seeing "High and Low" in HD anytime soon....

Don't feel bad at one time I had a Criteron Bluray on Pre Order, don't remember the title, for about 22.99. Suddenly in my Gold box deals of the day I saw it for 18.99. I immediately ordered it and cancelled the other one. Need I continue?........
To make a long story short I ended up paying 27.99 for my Bluray after cancelling the DVD.

[dougotte]

Originally Posted by Dosto

...And listen to THAT: I finally got my order of "Pale Flower" and "Kiss Me Deadly" from B&N this morning, but I open the box and what do I see? My "Pale Flower" blu is missing, replaced by a freakin' book about Motorhead that I've NEVER ordered.

I've returned the book, needless to say, in hope that they can get their heads out of their arses and manage to send me the right thing next time. There was a return paper that they asked to put on the box with a little barcode on it. Does anybody know if I need to put any stamps or does the little barcode thing cover shipping fees like Amazon's?

In the end, the only thing I know for sure is that I'll NEVER buy anything from B&N again in my life. Hands down the worst experience I've had buying online and the crappiest customer service. They're quick to grab your money but not so kick to deliver the goods.

They sent me two wrong items one time, too. I think I called or e-mailed. They were very apologetic, and I think they e-mailed postage-paid return labels to use. So, I don't know if the return label you already have can be used or not.

I'm souring on B&N, too, both for these errors and being unable to obtain new releases. I've never had these kinds of problems w/ Amazon, and their prices are usually much cheaper, too.

Doug

[Dosto]

Originally Posted by Banned User

Don't feel bad at one time I had a Criteron Bluray on Pre Order, don't remember the title, for about 22.99. Suddenly in my Gold box deals of the day I saw it for 18.99. I immediately ordered it and cancelled the other one. Need I continue?........
To make a long story short I ended up paying 27.99 for my Bluray after cancelling the DVD.

Glad to see it can happen to the best of us.

I'll probably sell the sealed DVD on eBay instead of returning it. Less complicated in the end than getting a refund. Hopefully I won't lose more than 5 or 10 bucks in the process...

Originally Posted by dougotte

They sent me two wrong items one time, too. I think I called or e-mailed. They were very apologetic, and I think they e-mailed postage-paid return labels to use. So, I don't know if the return label you already have can be used or not.

I'm souring on B&N, too, both for these errors and being unable to obtain new releases. I've never had these kinds of problems w/ Amazon, and their prices are usually much cheaper, too.

Doug

Thanks for your answer. I contacted Customer Service to inquire about this.

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by rkish

I got to watch "A Lonely Place" last night and really enjoyed it! If it wasn't the property of Sony...it would make a GREAT Criterion release. I'd place it in importance, with a film like "Sweet Smell of Success".

Sony did SOME restoration on it! I hope they release it on BD in the near future.

I'm glad you liked it! I too think it would be a great Criterion title...but I can never keep track of what studios are out of the question for Criterion releases. As long as someone releases it (and does a good job with it) I will be happy.

[ShellOilJunior]

Being a Sony property wouldn't prevent Criterion from acquiring IN A LONELY PLACE. We saw what CC did with BBS...

[Dosto]

I gave in and re-re-ordered the "High and Low" Blu-ray...

Hopefully the third time will be the right one.

[AgentOrange]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

FYI, B&N's dropped the price on a few CC BDs, despite the sale being over. Some titles are still high, but others are within a dollar or less of Amazon's price. A couple are even cheaper than Amazon (not a marketplace dealer, but actual Amazon).

A few examples:
400 Blows - 36.49 on amazon, 32.21 on B&N
Complete Monterey Pop - 69.95 on amazon, 52.49 on B&N - http://video.barnesandnoble.com/DVD/...12/?pwb=1&pv=y (for those in disbelief)
Seventh Seal - 31.49 on amazon, 32.21 on B&N

I know the sale's over, but Canadians may want to take some of these prices into consideration, since B&N charges less tax and shipping than Amazon US does.

Still might as well wait for the next sale. Otherwise those prices are basically paying double, actually MORE than double. Regardless of what Amazon is charging, those are still terrible prices to play for any single blu-ray.

There's a few Criterions that Amazon still sells at close to $20 (Blow Out, Paths of Glory), Walmart.com had a few under $20 last time I checked as well. I think that's still alot even though getting anywhere close to $20 about as good as it usually gets outside of B&N sale. Going over $30+ is just crazy IMO.