The Criterion Collection

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by toddly6666

Any chance of Criterion remastering this film? The video/audio quality of the UK, Spain, and Australian DVDs isn't supposed to be so great.

That one has been rumored for a while. Very good chance.

[Beta Man]

Veronica Lake in HD...... count me in

[DLizzle]

Originally Posted by HelmutNewton

I didn't particularly like it the first time I saw it either. It's one of those movies that grows on you. I would urge you to give it some time and then try it again.

I loved it within the first 30 seconds. It forces you to watch slightly differently, which I see as a positive.

[Darkcritic]

Does anyone think The Cranes are Flying is a solid possibility for a March release? I would love to get this one in the format as soon as possible .

[AgentOrange]

Originally Posted by InMyTree

Yes as much as i was probably guilty of not renting nearly as much as i used to, i literally grew up going to the video store, renting movies based on their cover art, etc....everything from early 80's slasher flicks to past Oscar winners.

When I was growing up, we were no videophiles. We ALWAYS rented. I don't think my family ever owned anything on VHS, except the Disney movies that were for the youngest kids in the family. Never had a laserdisc player.

Really I didn't get much into exploring a huge variety of films (outside of what I saw in theaters with friends or rented/watched on television, or whatever my parents rented on a given night) until I moved out and went to college, DVD happened to come along at the same time. I was no early adopter of DVD either, as I bought my first player in 2000. I started out renting most everything at blockbuster closest to campus just like i was used to with VHS, but after about 3 or 4 years - and thanks to online shopping - prices became so cheap that i ended up just buying everything. Much rather pay $10 or so to own a disc, than pay $6 rental fee and have a disc that half the time skips on you anyway...

With digital streaming at least you don't have to worry about receiving a tape with "tracking" issues, or DVD that skips like crazy thanks to invisible specs of dust (or sometimes huge ugly scratches all over the data surface). So between owning my own collection, and streaming options I can say I don't really miss the video store at all.

[AgentOrange]

Originally Posted by DLizzle

I loved it within the first 30 seconds. It forces you to watch slightly differently, which I see as a positive.

RE: Playtime

I thought I was going to really like it for about 30 minutes in, but it never really hit the high points that I expected. Even though there were clever spots, and some creatively timed scenes, at best it felt "flat".

As the grating music/disjointed dancing/choreographed randomness in that ending restaurant scene went on seemingly forever, I just started to hate everything going on and not even particularly care about observing all the small details that were, I'm sure, intricately woven in the scene. It couldn't get a laugh out of me. I just wanted it to be over.

Never a good feeling when you're watching a film that you own. I'll give it a 2nd view for sure, but I suspect my feelings won't change.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by toddly6666

Any chance of Criterion remastering this film?

There's a chance of Criterion indulging their director-anal Preston Sturges fetish, but they'd have to get through upgrading their existing Sullivan's Travels, The Lady Eve and Unfaithfully Yours first.
We'll just have to ask our Criterion rep when this big hit is coming.

[dag]

Originally Posted by blujazz

Video Stores: Is it just me who feels kinda sad video stores are disappearing? I really grew up with those places and introduced me to some films I would never have heard of.

I never buy movies, I only rent them. For the last two years, I've been renting over the internet from Zip.ca (and tonight I watched the Criterion BD of Paths of Glory). While they have quite an extensive Blu-ray library, they have severely cut back. I rented a large number of Criterion Blus, but it appears that they now only get standard DVD copies of new Criterion releases. I can see myself cancelling this service by the end of next year.

Thankfully, back in the spring I learned of a great video store downtown (I can't believe I had never heard of it before, as I am always in that area). They get all new Criterion BD discs, as well as a large number of art house and foreign films (although they still get more movies in DVD format rather than BD). They pretty much are my saviour, as I rent a disc or two from them almost very week.

[shadedpain4]

I haven't rented a movie in 12 years or so. It just feels like wasted money. I buy a movie and watch it. If i like it, I'm happy to keep it in the collection. If i don't, i can usually get my money back by selling it (especially if i made sure to purchase it at a good price).

This might just be me though. I'd also never lease a car.

Finally watched Still Walking tonight. Makes me want to visit Japan.

[Oblivion138]

Originally Posted by blujazz

Video Stores: Is it just me who feels kinda sad video stores are disappearing? I really grew up with those places and introduced me to some films I would never have heard of. Currently, I'm a member of one with an expansive library (it's located in a fancier part of town). Note: NZ has the crappiest internet connection in the OCD... so bad that Netflix declined to set up shop here.

Blockbuster and its bland chain-store ilk already killed all the independent Mom & Pop video stores that I used to love...the places that had amazing, eclectic, and sometimes truly bizarre selections. The places where I never knew what I was going to find, and would often pick up a video box and exclaims "What the %$!& is that?" haha Those were the places I loved...the places that opened up my eyes and my imagination to all the things film could do, beyond the usual new releases from the major studios. And while I'm sure those places still exist in some major cities, in most of America, they're long gone. Replaced by chain stores that seemingly stocked the same titles at every franchise.

I remember when the town I used to live in opened up its third Blockbuster franchise, as if that was somehow necessary in a small city with a population of only 60,000 people. The same guy owned all three franchises. This particular one opened up right across the street from a Mom & Pop video store that had been there for ages. It took less than a year for that little store to close its doors for good. And that Blockbuster franchise didn't even last. It closed down after a few years. It was as if it was open just long enough to steal all of the indie store's customers and drive them out of business.

In recent years, I've found it ironic as I've watched those same companies that pushed all my favorite video stores out of business file for bankruptcy, one by one. I haven't rented a movie in about five years.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by dag

I never buy movies, I only rent them. For the last two years, I've been renting over the internet from Zip.ca (and tonight I watched the Criterion BD of Paths of Glory). While they have quite an extensive Blu-ray library, they have severely cut back. I rented a large number of Criterion Blus, but it appears that they now only get standard DVD copies of new Criterion releases. I can see myself cancelling this service by the end of next year.

Thankfully, back in the spring I learned of a great video store downtown (I can't believe I had never heard of it before, as I am always in that area). They get all new Criterion BD discs, as well as a large number of art house and foreign films (although they still get more movies in DVD format rather than BD). They pretty much are my saviour, as I rent a disc or two from them almost very week.

My friend uses that, and he keeps talking about cancelling, as it takes forever for him to get anything, and he never gets BDs of ANY title.

I'll stick with buying. I honestly haven't downloaded anything in months, when I used to download all the time. I either record stuff off TCM, or I buy it. I find I'm much more selective about what I buy on BD and DVD. Rather than buying something out of the 5 dollar DVD bin (not garbage like Joe Dirt, but stuff like the original version of The Italian Job with Michael Caine) everytime I go into a store.

[DLizzle]

Originally Posted by AgentOrange

RE: Playtime

I thought I was going to really like it for about 30 minutes in, but it never really hit the high points that I expected. Even though there were clever spots, and some creatively timed scenes, at best it felt "flat".

As the grating music/disjointed dancing/choreographed randomness in that ending restaurant scene went on seemingly forever, I just started to hate everything going on and not even particularly care about observing all the small details that were, I'm sure, intricately woven in the scene. It couldn't get a laugh out of me. I just wanted it to be over.

Never a good feeling when you're watching a film that you own. I'll give it a 2nd view for sure, but I suspect my feelings won't change.

That restaurant scene actually felt much shorter to me on second viewing, believe it or not. I know what you mean, the first time I watched it I was getting a bit restless there. Like, enough with this fish gag. Maybe because I knew what I was in for, but it definitely moved along more quickly the second time

[ShellOilJunior]

**Poll Results- Criterion Collection Discussion Thread- 2011**

Favorite Three Colors Performance (78 votes)

Win Juliette Binoche (Blue) (42 votes)

Irene Jacob (Red) (27 votes)
Julie Delpy (White) (9 votes)

Best Cover -90 people voted

Win- Diabolique (15 votes)



Place- Kuroneko (14 votes)

Show- The Killing (11 votes)

Others receiving votes:

[Show spoiler]Island of Lost Souls 8
The Phantom Carriage 8
12 Angry Men 6
The Sweet Smell of Success 6
Kiss Me Deadly 5
Solaris 4
The Great Dictator 4
The Rules of the Game 4
Dazed and Confused 3
Double Life of Veronique 3
Black Moon 2
Blow Out 2
Fish Tank 2
Pale Flower 2
People on Sunday 2
Still Walking 2
Three Colors Trilogy 2
Amarcord 1
Army of Shadows 1
Beauty and the Beast 1
Branded to Kill 1
Cul-de-sac 1
Design for Living 1
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas 1
Harkiri 1
Kes 1
Les Cousins 1
The Battle of Algiers 1
The Complete Jean Vigo 1
The Naked Kiss 1
Tokyo Drifter 1
Topsy Turvy 1
Zazie dans le metro 1

Worst Cover (90 Votes)

Win- Naked (18 votes)



Place - Zazie dans le metro (12 votes)

Show- Fat Girl, Something Wild, The Great Dictator (7 votes each)

Others receiving votes:

[Show spoiler]
The Makioka Sisters 6
The Music Room 5
Three Colors Trilogy 5
Blow Out 4
Salo 4
Broadcast News 3
Identification of a Woman 3
Leon Morin, Priest 3
Life During Wartime 3
3 Women 2
Black Moon 2
Dazed and Confused 2
If.... 2
Kes 2
Le Beau Serge 2
Rushmore 2
Senso 2
The Lady Vanishes 2
The Mikado 2
Carlos 1
Diabolique 1
Fanny and Alexander 1
Island of Lost Souls 1
Secret Sunshine 1
Shock Corridor 1
Solaris 1
Sweetie 1
The Complete Jean Vigo 1
The Naked Kiss 1
The Rules of the Game 1
The Sweet Smell of Success 1
Tokyo Drifter 1
White Material 1

Best NEW Spine(s) (97 Votes)

Win - 12 Angry Men (14 votes)



Place - The Killing, Three Colors Trilogy (13 votes each)

Show - The Sweet Smell of Success (9 votes)

Others receiving votes:

[Show spoiler]
The Complete Jean Vigo 8
Island of Lost Souls 7
The Great Dictator 5
The Phantom Carriage 5
Pale Flower 3
The Music Room 3
Black Moon 2
Kiss Me Deadly 2
Still Walking 2
Zazie dans le metro 2
Blow Out 1
Broadcast News 1
Carlos 1
Cul-de-sac 1
Fish Tank 1
Kes 1
People on Sunday 1
Secret Sunshine 1
Senso 1

What were they thinking? (97 Votes)

Win- Life During Wartime (23 votes)


Place - Something Wild (10 votes)

Show - Insignificance (8 votes)

[Show spoiler]Others receiving votes:

[Show spoiler]
The Times of Harvey Milk 7
Black Moon 6
Zazie dans le metro 6
Blow Out 5
Indentificaton of a Woman 5
The Makioka Sisters 4
Broadcast News 3
Fish Tank 3
Kes 2
Leon Morin, Priest 2
Senso 2
The Mikado 2
Topsy Turvy 2
Carlos 1
Cul-de-sac 1
Le Beau Sarge 1
The Complete Jean Vigo 1
The Four Feathers 1
The Music Room 1
White Material 1

Best Catalog Blu-ray (78 votes)

Win - High and Low (11 Votes)


Place - Fanny and Alexander (10 Votes)

Show - Solaris (6 votes)

Other receiving votes:

[Show spoiler]The Battle of Algiers 5
3 Women 5
Army of Shadows 5
Diabolique 5
The Rules of the Game 3
The Double Life of Veronique 3
Naked 3
Harakiri 3
Salo 3
Rushmore 3
The Lady Vanishes 2
Amarcord 2
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas 2
My Life as a Dog 1
Tokyo Drifter 1
Fat Girl 1
Branded to Kill 1
Orpheus 1
Beauty and the Beast 1
The Naked Kiss 1

Favorite Blind Buy of the Year

Win - The Sweet Smell of Success (7 votes)


Place - Pale Flower (6 votes)

Show- The Phantom Carriage, Harakiri, 12 Angry Men, Still Walking (5 votes each)

Others receiving votes:

[Show spoiler]The Complete Jean Vigo 4
High and Low 4
The Killing 4
Army of Shadows 3
Kiss Me Deadly 3
(I made no blind buys in 2011) 3
Three Colors 3
Beauty and the Beast 2
People on Sunday 2
The Double Life of Veronique 2
Fanny and Alexander 2
Island of Lost Souls 2
Au Revoir Les Enfants 2
Solaris 2
The Battle of Algiers 2
Le Cercel Rouge 2
Kes 1
Cul-de-sac 1
Amarcord 1
Carlos 1
Diabolique 1
Le Beau Serge 1
The Four Feathers 1
Black Moon 1
If.... 1
Broadcast News 1
Rushmore 1
Secret Sunshine 1
Orpheus 1
Fat Girl 1
Kuroneko 1

Least Favorite Release of the Year

Win - Life During Wartime, Salo (11 votes each).

Place- Fat Girl (8 Votes)

Show- Black Moon, Insignificance (6 votes each)

Others getting votes:

[Show spoiler]Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas 5
Robinson Crusoe on Mars 3
Blow Out 3
The Makioka Sisters 3
12 Angry Men 3
Carlos 3
Zazie dans le metro 2
Fish Tank 2
Amarcord 2
Pale Flower 2
White Material 2
Kes 2
Sweetie 1
The Double Life of Veronique 1
The Mikado 1
The Naked Kiss 1
My Life as a Dog 1
Dazed and Confused 1
Kiss Me Deadly 1
Solaris 1
The Complete Jean Vigo 1
Rushmore 1
Broadcast News 1
Naked 1
Yi Yi 1
The Battle of Algiers 1
The Times of Harvey Milk 1
Identification of a Woman 1

BEST RELEASE OF THE YEAR (90 Votes)

Win - Three Colors Trilogy (22 Votes)



Place - 12 Angry Men (8 votes)

Show - The Complete Jean Vigo, Kiss Me Deadly (6 Votes each)

[Show spoiler]
Others Receiving Votes:
The Battle of Algiers 5
The Killing 5
The Sweet Smell of Success 4
Army of Shadows 4
High and Low 3
Island of Lost Souls 3
Fanny and Alexander 3
Harakiri 2
The Phantom Carriage 2
Rushmore 2
Naked 2
Solaris 2
Fat Girl 2
The Double Life of Veronique 1
Still Walking 1
The Four Feathers 1
Pale Flower 1
People on Sunday 1
Blow Out 1
The Rules of the Game 1
Beauty and the Beast 1
The Great Dictator 1

Thank you to everyone for participating!

[blujazz]

result!

[ShellOilJunior]

I don't think there were many surprises. The results seem to match the general feelings of this thread and its comments.

Maybe I'm surprised Battle of Algiers didn't get more love. I think it's one of the best packages Criterion has ever released.

[BohemianGraham]

Yay, some of my choices won!

[Darkcritic]

Awesome results! Really happy some of my votes take top-spots . But to be honest, I am surprised neither The Complete Jean Vigo nor The Battle of Algiers won any category .

[Monty70]

Great job Shell. Thanks!

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Maybe I'm surprised Battle of Algiers didn't get more love. I think it's one of the best packages Criterion has ever released.

Exactement! I love me my Kurosawa and High & Low is a favorite movie but Battle of Algiers as a film and as a package blows it straight out of the water.

[toddly6666]

So what's everyone's Criterion Top 10 lists? It's a list of your favorite Criterion films (regardless of video/audio/extras quality). Here's mine:

1. Modern Times
2. French Cancan
3. Rushmore
4. Sullivan's Travels
5. The Two of Us
6. Night of the Hunter
7. Days of Heaven
8. Time Bandits
9. Bigger than Life
10. L'Atalante