The Criterion Collection

[octagon]

I would absolutely buy the Val Lewton Cat People if they ever got their hands on it (particularly since it's almost a lock that they'd throw in another Lewton film as a supplement). After years of catching clips here and twenty minutes there I finally saw it from start to finish on TCM around Halloween and loved it. I even enjoyed watching Robert Osbourne try to convince Alec Baldwin that it was in fact an essential film.

But alas, I was talking about the Kinski Cat People for no other reason than "Putting out the Fire" just needs to be in the collection. (I got chills when the opening chords started playing during Inglorious Basterds)

[bhampton]

I almost bought Benjamin Button Criterion Blu for $10 at Walmart but when I read what's it's about it seems like such a stupid idea for a movie.

Is it good? Looks hella dumb and I don't have a crush on Brad Pitt so I'm not sure if I can get through it.

-Brian

[P@t_Mtl]

I am no reference but I tought Benjamin Button was a bit over hyped by a lot of people. It make's me think mostly how it's a movie that is ordinanry but for a lot of people seem so art house that they use it to try to claim they can watch other things beside "A Baysplosion Extravanga" when they enjoy something like Benjamin Button. I did not really enjoyed it, I found mostly that it was long with not much in it to make it worth my while.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by bhampton

I almost bought Benjamin Button Criterion Blu for $10 at Walmart but when I read what's it's about it seems like such a stupid idea for a movie.

Is it good? Looks hella dumb and I don't have a crush on Brad Pitt so I'm not sure if I can get through it.

-Brian

It's based off of a F. Scott Fitzgerald short story. F. Scott Fitzgerald was pretty damn awesome. Read the short story, it's better than the movie.

Originally Posted by octagon

I would absolutely buy the Val Lewton Cat People if they ever got their hands on it (particularly since it's almost a lock that they'd throw in another Lewton film as a supplement). After years of catching clips here and twenty minutes there I finally saw it from start to finish on TCM around Halloween and loved it. I even enjoyed watching Robert Osbourne try to convince Alec Baldwin that it was in fact an essential film.

But alas, I was talking about the Kinski Cat People for no other reason than "Putting out the Fire" just needs to be in the collection. (I got chills when the opening chords started playing during Inglorious Basterds)

They could do a Cat People box set! Have the original and the remake, plus Curse of the Cat People, the sequel to the original, which was pretty good in its own right! They did it for The Lower Depths and The Killers, so why not Cat People? I'd buy the crap out of that set on BD.

[blujazz]

In defense of Benjamin Button: Sure, it's not exactly the most original film that came out during that year, but surely the film has its moments. I remember when I saw it in the cinema, I was seriously bored sh!tless. Gave it another shot and with fresh eyes and ears, there were pieces of dialogue that resonated for me. The plot is inarguably very intertextual to other films (what isn't?), but as it is, it has its own voice. I have not read the short story but surely the text would probably convey a different ideology to me compared to the film.

On that note, yes Cat People would be kind of hot with the Criterion Treatment.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by octagon

Selfish choice that will probably never get even a decent upgrade to the absymal DVD: Charlie Varrick

I think you've mentioned Charley Varrick before. I agree whole-heartedly. It was one of those late-night films I recorded off TV onto a VHS tape so many years and I loved it.
I think the DVD was either open matte or pan & scan, but was not supposed to be very good.
I'd also love to see Stephen Frears' first film, Gumshoe (1971), get a blu-ray upgrade. Apparently, it did have an okay DVD release a few years ago from Sony.
Albert Finney is a bingo caller/would-be stand-up comedian who decides to put an ad in the newspaper, offering his services as a private detective. Throughout the film, he speaks in a sort of pulp-noir, Bogart-style vernacular. Such an awesome film

[Barrysupreme]

Originally Posted by I KEEL YOU

Just curious, what do you guys do with the blue "Director Approved" stickers? I try to find an empty space on the cover to stick them. I just wish I didn't throw away the one from Videodrome.

I try and keep them and like yourself, find a space on the cover

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by bhampton

I almost bought Benjamin Button Criterion Blu for $10 at Walmart but when I read what's it's about it seems like such a stupid idea for a movie.

Is it good? Looks hella dumb and I don't have a crush on Brad Pitt so I'm not sure if I can get through it.

-Brian

I like it, but it's definitely a film with a lot of unnecessary hype. There's a lot to like, but it is long and certainly not for all tastes. Try before you buy.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

It's based off of a F. Scott Fitzgerald short story. F. Scott Fitzgerald was pretty damn awesome. Read the short story, it's better than the movie.

You can actually read the whole Benjamin Button short story here
It's very different to the film, very wry black humour. Recommended

[oildude]

Like everyone else, picking one new spine is difficult. But if I have to choose only one it will be Peter Weir's Gallipoli.

But I would be very happy with more Australian New Wave films in the Collection period, and any of the following from my gotta-have wish list:

Rafelson's Mountains of the Moon
Weir's The Year of Living Dangerously
Aldrich's Ulzana's Raid
Post's Go Tell the Spartans
Zinnemann's Day of the Jackal
Beresford's Tender Mercies
Sayles's Lone Star
Robson's The Bridges at Toko-Ri
Jones's A Boy and His Dog

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by drbikeshorts

You can actually read the whole Benjamin Button short story here
It's very different to the film, very wry black humour. Recommended

I have a couple collections of short stories by Ftizgerald, and it's in one of them, because I'm a Fitzgerald fan. I always preferred him to his drinking buddy, Hemmingway.

In the case of drinking buddies CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien, they're both equally awesome.

Vonnegut, Dickens, and Capote are still the kings of literature.

[italy12]

Originally Posted by mikesncc1701

Had to share. These were birthday presents from my Pops.

Is it me, or is that Monsters and Madmen boxset overly overly large?? It just looks gigantic next to the BD case. I didn't think DVD cases were that big...unless you used some special defects when taking the photo.

Still, I love that cover for the DVD set...

[italy12]

Originally Posted by octagon

Just picking one new spine request would be really tough...

Selfish choice that will likely get a good-to-very-good release from somebody else so why bother except I'd freaking love for them to do it: Double Indemnity, Glengarry Glen Ross, Seven Days in May, Shadow of a Doubt

Selfish choice that will probably never get even a decent upgrade to the absymal DVD: Charlie Varrick

Semi-campy, Semi-cool stylish 80s horror: The Hunger (I could definitely see this one happening someday), The Lair of the White Worm (bonus: Ken Russel), Cat People

God I wish Warner would let stuff go: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolfe, Rope

Hitchcock's Rope? Isn't that Universal? It's in my Universal DVD boxset with Psycho, Vertigo, Thr Trouble With Harry, etc...

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by Roninblues

Trash it, it's just wrapping. It is usually noted in the booklet and if director's approval was important, I be informed before purchase. (I don't save paper from my birthday or Christmas presents either.)

Sometimes the stickers aren't on the CC releases anyways. I've had several Criterion BDs that were missing the blue sticker.

[*DrStrangelove*]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

I have a couple collections of short stories by Ftizgerald, and it's in one of them, because I'm a Fitzgerald fan. I always preferred him to his drinking buddy, Hemmingway.

Since you mention Fitzgerald and Hemingway being drinking buddies, have you seen Midnight in Paris? Dont know if your a Woody Allen fan but its definitley one of his best. Especially in recent years. Its one of my favorite films of the year.

[Louisville Slugger]

So I couldn't wait until July or until the inevitable 40% Barnes & Noble sale for 12 Angry Men so I used the $27.25 gift card I received from trading in the Ben-Hur Ultimate Collector's Edition to Amazon and 274 points ($2.74) I had on my Amazon.com Visa.

So basically I paid $11.68 for 12 Angry Men (the cost of the trade in, $10.99 plus 6.25% sales tax).

I love this movie so much!

Now to hopefully get The Lady Vanishes during the inevitable 40% Barnes & Noble sale for $13.59 plus sales tax (with use of $8 off $40 coupon). Then I'd be done with Criterions until July.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by *DrStrangelove*

Since you mention Fitzgerald and Hemingway being drinking buddies, have you seen Midnight in Paris? Dont know if your a Woody Allen fan but its definitley one of his best. Especially in recent years. Its one of my favorite films of the year.

I've been meaning to see it actualy, I'm adding it to my list now.

Originally Posted by Louisville Slugger

So I couldn't wait until July or until the inevitable 40% Barnes & Noble sale for 12 Angry Men so I used the $27.25 gift card I received from trading in the Ben-Hur Ultimate Collector's Edition to Amazon and 274 points ($2.74) I had on my Amazon.com Visa.

So basically I paid $11.68 for 12 Angry Men (the cost of the trade in, $10.99 plus 6.25% sales tax).

I love this movie so much!

Now to hopefully get The Lady Vanishes during the inevitable 40% Barnes & Noble sale for $13.59 plus sales tax (with use of $8 off $40 coupon). Then I'd be done with Criterions until July.

You're not going to bother with the inevitable buy two get the third free then?

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by *DrStrangelove*

Since you mention Fitzgerald and Hemingway being drinking buddies, have you seen Midnight in Paris? Dont know if your a Woody Allen fan but its definitley one of his best. Especially in recent years. Its one of my favorite films of the year.

+1
I saw it quite recently in the cinema and I've already ordered the blu-ray.
Just a really fun, delightful and surprising film. Owen Wilson makes for a good Woody Allen surrogate.

[blujazz]

Originally Posted by drbikeshorts

+1
I saw it quite recently in the cinema and I've already ordered the blu-ray.
Just a really fun, delightful and surprising film. Owen Wilson makes for a good Woody Allen surrogate.

God, I really hated that film. It felt so insincere and functions more as a name dropping exercise rather than a legitimate nostalgic appreciation for an era not lived.

[Cocophone]

Originally Posted by drbikeshorts

I think you've mentioned Charley Varrick before. I agree whole-heartedly. It was one of those late-night films I recorded off TV onto a VHS tape so many years and I loved it.
I think the DVD was either open matte or pan & scan, but was not supposed to be very good.

I remember watching Charley Varrick at the drive-in with my parents. I don't remember much but a few scenes are stuck in my mind. I also remember watching the New Centurions at the drive-in and my mom saying close your eyes during a few scenes.