The Criterion Collection

[Criterion Collector]

Originally Posted by Fanboyz

Not true. People who collect movies are the same everywhere.
If you ask me The Grand Illusion and Robocop are films of equal importance.
Hard core cinephiles don't discriminate- all genres are equal. There are no such things as "foreign films", just films not in english.

Whats an "obscure" Criterion? To me it would be Mishima's short film "Patriotism". A rarely scene dramatized future suicide note captured on film. Thats obscure.

The films that don't belong are most of the IFC movies: A Christmas Tale, Antichrist they are just doing IFC's special editions as they did in the past for Disney: Armageddon, The Rock, Chasing Amy (I think they really wanted Clerks).

I live in an area where hard core cinephiles just don't exist. Among the people I know, I am the hard core cinephile.

I do like your outlook on film though, that all films are essentially created equal and must be judged on their own merits, rather than a general consensus of what constitutes an "important" film.

I must also admit (in the name of full disclosure) that I really like Antichrist a lot, and I LOVE Chasing Amy.

In fact, I love almost everything Kevin Smith has done...almost.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by Trekkie313

Criterion needs to seriously look at picking up Targets and The Last Picture Show...as far as I know, both are pretty damn important pieces of cinema and have been neglected on DVD.

I wouldn't say either was neglected on DVD. Picture Show had several different releases (and now the Criterion blu-ray), and my DVD of Targets has commentary by Bogdanovich. I'd still like Targets on blu, though.

[Mr. Movie Fan]

Originally Posted by Criterion Collector

I live in an area where hard core cinephiles just don't exist. Among the people I know, I am the hard core cinephile.

I do like your outlook on film though, that all films are essentially created equal and must be judged on their own merits, rather than a general consensus of what constitutes an "important" film.

I must also admit (in the name of full disclosure) that I really like Antichrist a lot, and I LOVE Chasing Amy.

In fact, I love almost everything Kevin Smith has done...almost.

Antichrist is great, but it's only there because IFC's special editions just go through Criterion. They don't "earn" it.

Back in the DVD days Criterion had a similar deal with Disney where there special editions were handled by them.
This led to Armageddon, The Rock, Chasing Amy, Rushmore and such.
There's nothing wrong with this as Criterion does the best work.


On Cinéphiles: As a rule see every thing on equal footing. There are no genres. Solaris is not "better" than Space Truckers.

Heres a good example: Bob Clark made the two definitive Christmas movies, "Black Christmas" and "A Christmas Story". Thats how I see it. One of them just has some murders happen in it.

*Yes I also think Highlander II is the only worthy sequel to Highlander because high fantasy and high adventure don't need any logic stronger than dream logic.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by Trekkie313

Criterion needs to seriously look at picking up Targets and The Last Picture Show...as far as I know, both are pretty damn important pieces of cinema and have been neglected on DVD.

The BBS collection (available on both DVD and Blu) contains The Last Picture Show.

[oildude]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

I thought it then and I still think the snowflakes falling over L'Atalante in last year's New Year's clue were for A Night To Remember. Which in that case would make it a late announcement!

Maybe not late. I suspect the New Years "clue year" runs April to March. By the time the clue picture is revealed, Criterion has already announced their titles for the first three months of the year. This is why I am holding out some hope for Wild Strawberries and Y Tu Mama Tambien tomorrow.

All I know is, they need to release more upgrades. Only two so far in 2012 is very disappointing to me since there are so many I want to see go blu. The Cranes are Flying, Le Samourai, Ballad of a Soldier, Picnic at Hanging Rock, The Naked Prey, the list goes on..... as much as I would like to see The Spy Who Came in from the Cold upgraded, it may be further away then most due to its late DVD-only release. A Night to Remember is pretty awesome though.

Does anyone else miss the time only recently when Criterion was not so spoiler happy before release day? It's sort of like opening half your Christmas presents the week before Christmas.

[Wally Q]

Bold No Guts, No Glory prediction:

Unless the Kubrick estate objects, I wouldn't be surprised if the the premier of Fear and Desire is the first step towards a Criterion release during 2012.

[*DrStrangelove*]

Originally Posted by billzfan

I just bought Vivre Sa Vie as a blind buy because I loved Breathless. Anyone here own it? How's the film and transfer? It was only 16 bucks. Couldn't pass it up.

I loved it. It's one of my favorite blurays I own. I actually like it better than Breathless thou many would disagree. Great transfer and great film.

[brawlyjunk]

A random film I'd like to someday see in the Criterion collection is Carlos Suara's La caza(The Hunt). I saw it once a few years ago at school, and really liked it. Unfortunately, the most recent North American release of the film is VHS.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by oildude

All I know is, they need to release more upgrades. Only two so far in 2012 is very disappointing to me since there are so many I want to see go blu...Picnic at Hanging Rock

If you have a region-free player, this is a terrific package:
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Picni...Blu-ray/11645/
The only niggle is that the aspect ratio is 1.78:1 instead of Criterion's 1.66:1, but I don't recall any awkward framing issues. Also the supplements package totally owns Criterion's original barebones DVD release. If you want to be a completist on this film (like I was ) you can also get the 3-disc DVD release which comes in a beautifully designed digipak and includes as a bonus the originally released LONGER cut of the film.

Oh wait, there is a region-free BD as well:
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Picni...Blu-ray/12217/

Now the only reason you have not to indulge is you want to see a C logo on the cover

[georgec]

I wish Criterion could do Grave of the Fireflies. Just today a remastered DVD was announced. No blu-ray, though.

[Madman Marz]

I'm looking forward to picking up Tokyo Drifter, Branded to Kill, and Three Outlaw Samurai. I'll have to wait until after Christmas, but those will be my first Criterion purchases of the new year.

[Sukuri]

Originally Posted by georgec

i wish criterion could do grave of the fireflies. Just today a remastered dvd was announced. No blu-ray, though.

+1

[pro-bassoonist]

Belle de jour Blu-ray REVIEW





.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Belle de jour Blu-ray REVIEW





.

They sent that out pretty fast.

[Madman Marz]

I love the cover art on this version. I haven't seen this one before, but i've heard it's really good. Look forward to finally seeing it next month!

[Trekkie313]

Originally Posted by Sukuri

well lookie here

I'm a moron.

I wish they would sell the Blu-Ray separately though.

[Darkcritic]

Great to see A Night to Remember is coming (I was anticipating it for next month, though) together with The Last Temptation of Christ. I am happy to see more upgrades but kinda sad they are not my soviet films ()! I also wish Criterion to stop this massive flow of hints. I mean, two hints per month is pretty good (I don't count the Newsletter ones because most of the time they refer to films months ahead) but releasing another (Obvious) one just before "the" day is overkill .

[Trekkie313]

Still eagerly awaiting, The Game...its only inevitable.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Wally Q

Bold No Guts, No Glory prediction:

Unless the Kubrick estate objects, I wouldn't be surprised if the the premier of Fear and Desire is the first step towards a Criterion release during 2012.

Two thoughts...

I could certainly see them being interested (and I would definitely pick it up - I would absolutely love to have a complete Kubrick collection) but I wonder if it could support a solo release. It would make a hell of a Spartacus supplement though, wouldn't it?

...and...

Given the director-centric nature of their philosophy and catalog they would have to do some pretty fast tap-dancing even if the estate is completely onboard. From what I've read Kubric wasn't even remotely ambiguous about never wanting this to again see the light of day. If they ever do release it the 'well, yeah, but...' essay should be a pretty entertaining read

[Unfrozen]

I'd never say a bad thing about criterion again if the following receive releases eventually:

A Nick Ray set or individual releases of the following:
In a Lonely Place
Rebel Without a Cause (doubt Warner would let them get the rights)
Johnny Guitar
They Live By Night
The Lusty Men
On Dangerous Ground
The Savage Innocents
Run For Cover


Point Blank (1967)
The Long Goodbye
Farewell, My Lovely
Leave Her to Heaven
Rumble Fish
Seconds
Only Angels Have Wings
A Yasuzo Masumura set (Blind Beast; Giants and Toys, Red Angel, Manji, etc.)
Repo Man
I Knew Her Well (1965)
Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia
Charley Varrick
Forty Guns
McCabe and Mrs. Miller
Day of the Outlaw
Night of the Living Dead
The Silent Partner
California Split
Badlands
The Driver


upgrades:
Written on the Wind (A Sirk-Hudson set would be ideal)
Naked Prey
The Friends of Eddie Coyle
le Samourai
Bob the Gambler
Ace in the Hole
The Killer
Hard-Boiled
Two Lane Blacktop
Antonioni trilogy
Walker

I also wished they released more "trashy" movies. I'd kill for a huge Shaw Bros box set, a Toei Pinky Violence and/or exploitation collection, a 70s Fukasaku set and a Bava box set to name a few.