The Criterion Collection

[oildude]

Originally Posted by rkish

OK Oildude...let's see if the planets lined up for us again. Tuesday I will likely pick up my copy of Fanny and Alexander and a reordered copy of the Larisa Shepitko Eclipse set.

They will partially line up. Tuesday I will get the Fanny and Alexander release, but I have already picked up the Larisa Shepitko Eclipse set on day one of the sale.

I put the Larisa Shepitko set on hold a couple of days prior to the sale since the only copy available out of 13 B&N stores in the entire city just happened to be at the one closest to me. It has been my favorite acquisition in a long time, after finally deciding it was dumb to keep holding out for a blu-ray release that will be years away, if ever.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by oildude

It's an elaborately staged, historic costume drama, with some fine acting, cinematography, and writing. Lots of period details. The battle scenes are well done. It does a superb job showing the outward and inward struggles of the main character, played by Burt Lancaster. as he comes to terms with changing times.

I appreciate the little elements of realism in the film, things like how people sweat indoors in the Sicilian summer and hve to sit or stand near windows for the breeze. Also how, when a group of passengers stops to visit a church during a long carriage trip, they are covered with a layer of dust from the unpaved roads. This attention to detail elevates the film.

It is a long film, but a classic. It reminds me of Gone with the Wind in many ways.

I was just getting ready to edit my reply to say it's like GWTW.

[oildude]

I have also picked up Nikkatsu Noir and The First Films of Samuel Fuller.

I am looking to pick up a few more Eclipse sets before the sale ends. I know I will get the Kurahara set in the next couple of days. Others I am looking at possibly getting are the Basil Dearden London Underground set and another Japanese cinema set a few folks have recommended here.

I have been on youtube looking at the Early Bergman, Dusan Makavejev Free Radical, Silent Naruse, Oshima Outlaw Sixties, Kenji Mizoguchi's Fallen Women, and the Raymond Bernard sets.

One thing I am wondering about the Raymond Bernard set is the chance of Les Miserables getting a non-Criterion blu-ray anytime soon. This film(s) is not a minor work and I am thinking a Region B blu would make sense.

If anyone has other Eclipse recommendations, send them my way please.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by The Theory

Ugh, brutal. If my inspection is anything like it has been the past few years, I should be fine. But I keep getting the feeling that I'm due for a major whammy--too many good years in a row for a car that's 16 years old.


I haven't seen The Killing yet... but it IS Kubrick. I can't imagine that I'll regret the purchase at all. Even lesser Kubrick is still monumental.

I've had mine for almost 2 years, but I bought it second hand. It's a 2004 model. I live in a costal city that loves to salt the crap out of the roads in winter.

I debate your Kubrick remark. Eyes Wide Shut was far from monumental, and I consider that to be lesser Kubrick. I own it because I'm a completist, but I'm not upgrading the DVD, and made sure I bought it out of the bargain bin.

[carter71]

I got my first Criterion BD's at B&N today! I picked up:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
For All Mankind
Modern Times
The Phantom Carriage

Benjamin Button was in a regular BD case, which I thought was odd, but it was dirt cheap. I think I'm gonna watch Phantom Carriage first.

[fdm]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Eyes Wide Shut was far from monumental, and I consider that to be lesser Kubrick. I own it because I'm a completist, but I'm not upgrading the DVD, and made sure I bought it out of the bargain bin.

Great film. Too bad you are so wrong about it.

[Takeshi666]

Originally Posted by italy12

Criterion has already released these titles.

...on blu-ray?

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by Takeshi666

...on blu-ray?

No, both of them are just on DVD so far

[retablo]

Originally Posted by Donat96

I thought he only shot the beginning portion when Spartacus bites that guard. That's what I saw in one of the features on the Criterion DVD.

Actually you're right... Mann was fired after one week. I recall reading that he shot quite a bit more than that, but I was obviously mistaken. Good call!

Ironically, Kubrick fired the cinematographer and supposedly did the lighting himself. And the fired DP ended up with the Oscar.

[Eny-]

Originally Posted by fdm

Great film. Too bad you are so wrong about it.

I agree. EWS is an exquisite movie. Watched it when it was in the theatres. I was 19 back then and loved it - always have been a Kubrick nut though. I don't have to say that, 12 years later, more mature and more experienced in relationships, I have even more appreciation for the movie.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by Roninblues

Death by Hanging, Sinner in Paradise, Diary of a Shinjuku Thief, The Ceremony and He Died After the War would be a great place to start.

While those would be great (with the one I want most, The Man Who Left His Will on Film), Criterion has only Cruel Story of Youth, Night and Fog in Japan, and The Sun's Burial for the so called "Youth Trilogy" or something along those lines.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by Darkcritic

EDIT: Well, from a cap posted in Facebook I can safely say this one is Sans Soleil . So, does this mean La Jetee is coming to BD too?

Not only is this good news, but I can see World on a Wire announced too, to kind of have 2 sci-fi related films with La Jetee. Can't wait to see the announcements now.

[DionJP]

By the way, when are the announcements this month?

[rkish]

Originally Posted by oildude

I have also picked up Nikkatsu Noir and The First Films of Samuel Fuller.

I am looking to pick up a few more Eclipse sets before the sale ends. I know I will get the Kurahara set in the next couple of days. Others I am looking at possibly getting are the Basil Dearden London Underground set and another Japanese cinema set a few folks have recommended here.

I have been on youtube looking at the Early Bergman, Dusan Makavejev Free Radical, Silent Naruse, Oshima Outlaw Sixties, Kenji Mizoguchi's Fallen Women, and the Raymond Bernard sets.

One thing I am wondering about the Raymond Bernard set is the chance of Les Miserables getting a non-Criterion blu-ray anytime soon. This film(s) is not a minor work and I am thinking a Region B blu would make sense.
c
If anyone has other Eclipse recommendations, send them my way please.

I would highly recommend the "Silent Naruse" Eclipse set...

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by DionJP

By the way, when are the announcements this month?

15th is on a Tuesday, so I see no reason it wouldn't be then.


EDIT:

It just occurred to me.... in the crazy off-chance that B&N lists the Feb. titles on their site within a week of Criterion announcing them...... they may accidentally default into the Criterion Sale..... so if they announce a Box-set or something, it'd be worth keeping an eye on B&N's site

[Eny-]

I will guess one upgrade for April:

A Night to Remember

[Wally Q]

Originally Posted by Eny-

I will guess one upgrade for April:

A Night to Remember

That would definitely make a lot of sense and I hope you're right. I only saw it once and at the time as a kid, I thought it was superior in some ways to Cameron's depiction but both films were strikingly alike with certain details.

I was a bit of a Titanic freak in 1998.

[carter71]

Originally Posted by Eny-

I will guess one upgrade for April:

A Night to Remember

I would love to see this one come to Blu-ray! It's one of my favorite classic movies but I never bought the DVD.

[Eny-]

Another fan of the movie here. It's far superior than Cameron's effort. It only lacks in the effects department but that doesn't bother me.

[rawdonwhite]

still have the dvd - best adaptation of the titanic story bar none - can't wait for this on blu