The Criterion Collection

[italy12]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Nice work!

I might be the only person that would walk up to your home with my kids, and then proceed to geek-out over the Hausu pumpkin, but well worth it I'd say!

This needs a Criterion Blu-ray:

What is that from?

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by italy12

What is that from?

Isn't that Nosferatu?

[italy12]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Isn't that Nosferatu?

I thought it might be the mark on Harry Potter's forehead with some fire added for effect.

[Donat96]

Originally Posted by italy12

I thought it might be the mark on Harry Potter's forehead with some fire added for effect.

It's definitely Nosferatu.

[Show spoiler]

[Show spoiler]

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by italy12

I thought it might be the mark on Harry Potter's forehead with some fire added for effect.

Are you being smarmy?

[italy12]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Are you being smarmy?

Ahhhhh, that's the word!!!!!

Long story, but my mother-in-law is now going to thank me!!!

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by italy12

Ahhhhh, that's the word!!!!!

Long story, but my mother-in-law is now going to thank me!!!

I want to hear this long story, and why you are now loved by your mother-in-law.

[dwane5]

Originally Posted by jcs913

The problem is the consistency in the B&N stores, which is the same with other retailers too. They sell you this 'discount' with their memberships (remember these cost $50 normally) then do not accept their own coupons due to how they are feeling that day. At least at Best Buy and other retailers, they do not charge you for a 'membership'. I know they have a free trial, but once it expires, then you are back to square one. Frankly, I have 4 stores near me, but never visit them. Their online site is perfectly fine, shipping is fast and I can use coupons whenever I please, and it costs me nothing to 'sign up'...

not sure i agree with your logic. i know its YMMV but during the last 40% sale i was across a few states and hit about 5 BN with the coupon and they all took it. bear in mind they have at least 3-4 sales a yr. two 50% sales and they recently had a 40% sale. if u use the $8 coupon 3 times u have paid for membership. i dont know to each his own. my 2 month membership expired in sept but i am leaning towards a membership, because they are having more sales and i have had almost no problem with the $8 coupon.

[italy12]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

I want to hear this long story, and why you are now loved by your mother-in-law.

Let's just be clear on one thing, my mother-in-law does love me...as weird as that may sound.

The story is from a cruise my wife and I went on with her parents. Our waiter for the week was this guy who was trying to be funny and nice way too hard. He was nice, don't get me wrong, but he had the same joke every night when he came to our table, and it was getting old and tired.

So my mother-in-law described him as "smarmy" and we called him that all week. Fast forward a few years, and we were sitting around, reminiscing about the trip, and we could not think of the word we used to describe our man!

Until today!!!

[GilliamsBrazil]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

This needs a Criterion Blu-ray:

[Show spoiler]

This and Faust!! Weird that Criterion doesn't have a single Murnau.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by italy12

Let's just be clear on one thing, my mother-in-law does love me...as weird as that may sound.

The story is from a cruise my wife and I went on with her parents. Our waiter for the week was this guy who was trying to be funny and nice way too hard. He was nice, don't get me wrong, but he had the same joke every night when he came to our table, and it was getting old and tired.

So my mother-in-law described him as "smarmy" and we called him that all week. Fast forward a few years, and we were sitting around, reminiscing about the trip, and we could not think of the word we used to describe our man!

Until today!!!

Ah, gotcha. He doesn't sound like a smarmy guy though:

Definition of SMARMY
1
: revealing or marked by a smug, ingratiating, or false earnestness <a tone of smarmy self-satisfaction — New Yorker>
2
: of low sleazy taste or quality <smarmy eroticism>

I called you smarmy because I thought you were being smarmy in regards to the pumpkin. I use smarmy and snarky interchangably.

Change of subject, and I probably missed the response, but where and when was it confirmed that Being John Malkovich was going to be added to the collection? I know someone mentioned Anatomy of a Murder was going to be added, and they heard from CC directly, but they never created a BD entry, and someone has for BJM.

[GilliamsBrazil]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Change of subject, and I probably missed the response, but where and when was it confirmed that Being John Malkovich was going to be added to the collection? I know someone mentioned Anatomy of a Murder was going to be added, and they heard from CC directly, but they never created a BD entry, and someone has for BJM.

The rumors about a BJM Criterion started here I believe. Don't think it was ever officially confirmed or anything.

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Change of subject, and I probably missed the response, but where and when was it confirmed that Being John Malkovich was going to be added to the collection? I know someone mentioned Anatomy of a Murder was going to be added, and they heard from CC directly, but they never created a BD entry, and someone has for BJM.

Being John Malkovich was one of the titles that Criterion was showing at the ATP Festival this year. In the past, it's usually meant that the titles shown end up in the collection at some point down the road.

Also...

Quadrophenia
Putney Swope
Deconstructing Dad

EDIT: See link posted above.

[italy12]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Ah, gotcha. He doesn't sound like a smarmy guy though:

Definition of SMARMY
1
: revealing or marked by a smug, ingratiating, or false earnestness <a tone of smarmy self-satisfaction — New Yorker>
2
: of low sleazy taste or quality <smarmy eroticism>

I called you smarmy because I thought you were being smarmy in regards to the pumpkin. I use smarmy and snarky interchangably.

You just had to see the guy...

[TJS_Blu]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Change of subject, and I probably missed the response, but where and when was it confirmed that Being John Malkovich was going to be added to the collection? I know someone mentioned Anatomy of a Murder was going to be added, and they heard from CC directly, but they never created a BD entry, and someone has for BJM.

Regarding the db, I created a theatrical db entry for Anatomy when it was revealed/leaked/whatever, but I never do blu-rays until the disc is officially announced and, when it comes to official announcements for Criterions, the db entries go up real fast. If you "edit" the BR entry for BJM, you'll see that TheDiggsFan added it on Oct 1st.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

Being John Malkovich was one of the titles that Criterion was showing at the ATP Festival this year. In the past, it's usually meant that the titles shown end up in the collection at some point down the road.

Also...

Quadrophenia
Putney Swope
Deconstructing Dad

EDIT: See link posted above.

I see. However, as you pointed out, no one created an entry for Quadrophenia. I think this is being a little presumptious, and has managed to confuse my friend who asked me for a list of CC BDs so he can pick out ones for the B&N sale.

[TJS_Blu]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

I think this is being a little presumptious, and has managed to confuse my friend who asked me for a list of CC BDs so he can pick out ones for the B&N sale.

I don't disagree with you, but that's the nature of ad hoc/volunteer db maintenance...

[oildude]

Originally Posted by jcs913

The problem is the consistency in the B&N stores, which is the same with other retailers too. They sell you this 'discount' with their memberships (remember these cost $50 normally) then do not accept their own coupons due to how they are feeling that day. At least at Best Buy and other retailers, they do not charge you for a 'membership'. I know they have a free trial, but once it expires, then you are back to square one. Frankly, I have 4 stores near me, but never visit them. Their online site is perfectly fine, shipping is fast and I can use coupons whenever I please, and it costs me nothing to 'sign up'...

Are you buying two? They cost $25 each per year. But your points are valid. I went through a long thought process before signing up...would I really use it other than Criterion sales, etc. Turns out I am glad I got it. But that is because I am centrally located to three stores well stocked with movies and none more than three miles away. There are two more stores fifteen miles away.

However, if it weren't for that coupon site where you can actually find the coupons, it would be a worthless membership for me. With those coupons, I have saved a ton of money between the stores. I only buy movies at B&N, and lately have done almost all my movie buying from them since they have had two Criterion 50% off sales and a 40% off all BD sale since July.

It can be a bit of a game, though, to get them to take certain coupons. Still, between three nearby stores, I generally have no problems.

My question is why would anyone buy books at B&N? Their in-store prices are full MSRP, they don't price match their website, and their coupons are not nearly good enough to make a books a value.

[Drag0nFly]

Originally Posted by Cinemach

To return to Mulholland Drive and things David Lynch...^above^ I'm talking the US HD-DVD. I wasn't aware the ones produced in other countries would be different. Reading the reviews of the US disc, there's a pitch problem with the audio due to it being mastered from a PAL source and being played back at 25 instead of 24 frames per second (I think, going from memory here). And the PQ, as enumerated before, is problematic.

Really can't recommend the SC blu (and going region-free) here more highly, if you can.



I have both the 2-disk DVD and the UK blu of Inland Empire, and the blu has better AQ. If it's marginal to you than okay, but I thought the blu was more dynamic. And the blu has its own set of extras, too - they're more of the interview variety but esp since Lynch doesn't do commentaries those are of interest. And both versions can be had for fairly cheaply (I spent ~$20 for both) to make your own deluxe version - which is what I recommend.

I am talking about the German release. But it is good to hear that the UK Blu has decent audio and at least some worthwhile extras. The German box-set is a pretty bare-bones affair, though. And as I said the best thing it has going for it is its region-freeness.

Lost Highway hasn't been mentioned much here it seems, but I was very disappointed with mk2's Blu release. Very soft PQ (although some should be expected considering the way it was filmed, but it could look much better IMO). Even the AQ sounded a bit flat & dull compared to the mk2 Limited Edition DVD (which actually did pack more of a punch than the Blu-Ray which was noticeably quieter in places.)

Sure hope Criterion is at least considering adding one Lynch picture to their library, if it is at all possible. Such a glaring omission in their otherwise impressive lineup.

[GilliamsBrazil]

Originally Posted by Monty70

After starting into The Battle of Algiers tonight I noticed that the 1.85 to 1 image has very slight pillar bars on the left and right. (I purchased this today at the B&N sale) This is the same issue that was noticed on the Criterion release of Harakiri, just a smaller amount of image is missing on the Algiers disc.

I can honestly say that these framing issues did not detract from my appreciation of the films, but it was interesting that two Criterion BD's have this anomaly.

I believe that both titles are intentionally windowboxed, but there is no actual cropping on BoA like there is on the Harakiri release. Comparing the MoC and CC Harakiri releases you can see that the MoC is actually in a slightly wider aspect ratio than the Criterion. Perhaps Criterion cropped it so that it would be in what is technically the film's original aspect ratio? I have no idea. Would love an official comment on this!