The Criterion Collection

[lolwut]

Originally Posted by oildude

Tonight I was standing in line to check out at B&N with a copy of The Lady Vanishes and my "Mystery" 20% coupon in hand. There was a guy in front of me asking the cashier how much his mystery coupon was worth, she told him she could not tell him unless she scanned an item first. He grabs a candy bar and she scans it and the coupon.......he had a 50% coupon!

She gets excited and tells him he got lucky and to go and find something he might like, reminding him all blu-rays are 40% off so the coupon will stack. This guys says no, just ring up the candy bar.

She sort of looked at him a second, then rang it up. He even asked her to put it in a bag.

Freakin' candy bar wasn't even a good one. The living dead do walk among us.

That's unbelievable. What a moron.

[Icemouth]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Saw Seven Samurai on BD today. This was a triple-dip for me after the two Criterion DVD issues. The film looks amazing in hi-def. People are free to demo their Transformers and Avatar BD's, but for me THIS is what Blu-ray was made for

Don't be silly, a massive multi-million dollar movie made for the sole purpose of looking pretty vs a 50 year old black and white movie....it's not really surprising why one is chosen for a "PQ demo".

[SlickDamian]

Just watched a 16 minute short film on the CBC called "How Eunice Gor Her Baby", directed by Gordon Pinsent. Wow, very impressed! Perfectly done and a nice play on your emotions. Very stylish. Anyone else ever heard of or seen this? This would make a nice special feature on a Canada-themed release (in my dream world).

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Icemouth

Don't be silly, a massive multi-million dollar movie made for the sole purpose of looking pretty vs a 50 year old black and white movie....it's not really surprising why one is chosen for a "PQ demo".

What he actually said isn't at all silly.

[spanky87]

What are the chances of 'And God Created Woman' being released on Blu Ray in the near future? Does criterion still have the rights to it? I'd get the DVD, but it's pricey and would rather wait for a BD release.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Saw Seven Samurai on BD today. This was a triple-dip for me after the two Criterion DVD issues. The film looks amazing in hi-def. People are free to demo their Transformers and Avatar BD's, but for me THIS is what Blu-ray was made for

What are the demo discs everyone uses?
I tend to use things like Avatar and other latest and greatest blockbusters.
Actually, Tree of Life became my new demo disc - the creation sequence, accompanied by amazing 7.1 audio, is the perfect show off.
All Pixar films are also great demo discs

[SpartanIre]

Originally Posted by oildude

Tonight I was standing in line to check out at B&N with a copy of The Lady Vanishes and my "Mystery" 20% coupon in hand. There was a guy in front of me asking the cashier how much his mystery coupon was worth, she told him she could not tell him unless she scanned an item first. He grabs a candy bar and she scans it and the coupon.......he had a 50% coupon!

She gets excited and tells him he got lucky and to go and find something he might like, reminding him all blu-rays are 40% off so the coupon will stack. This guys says no, just ring up the candy bar.

She sort of looked at him a second, then rang it up. He even asked her to put it in a bag.

Freakin' candy bar wasn't even a good one. The living dead do walk among us.

You should go back and look at the security tape at B&N just to see the look on your face

[Show spoiler]

or

[Show spoiler]

but more than likely

[Show spoiler]

.

[vader4]

I have a few questions
1. Do they release one of those cartoons on the first of every year?
2. What do they mean?
3. Does this mean there will be another in just a few days?!?!

Thanks

[oildude]

Originally Posted by drbikeshorts

What are the demo discs everyone uses?
I tend to use things like Avatar and other latest and greatest blockbusters.
Actually, Tree of Life became my new demo disc - the creation sequence, accompanied by amazing 7.1 audio, is the perfect show off.
All Pixar films are also great demo discs

The thing about the Pixar movies is that even their DVDs look incredible upconverted on my plasma. So I will sometimes show the DVD, then put in the BD. There is a noticeable difference, but not as much as you get from, say, a restored classic or well-done film of any age.

If anyone asks to see my system or to show off the big deal about blu-ray, my demo discs are:

#1 Wild Pacific (BBC South Pacific) - just incredibly lucious colors, jaw dropping clarity, etc...nothing beats a blu-ray of the southern Pacific Ocean and its islands for "wow" factor.

The others I use - and all are fantastic and just as good or better than Wild Pacific:

Blade Runner
It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World
The Thin Red Line
Ben-Hur
The Lord of the Rings (Extended Editions) - because so many people have seen it, so it has an impact when they see it on BD.
Taxi Driver
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Tron Legacy

Sweet Smell of Success and a few other Criterions for B&W films, including my newest demo disc People on Sunday - to show how good an old silent B&W movie looks on blu when properly restored.

However, I hardly ever demo my system. Family and friends come over and watch a movie, and when they see what is on my shelf they often request to have a look at it on BD, especially my classic films.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by oildude

Tonight I was standing in line to check out at B&N with a copy of The Lady Vanishes and my "Mystery" 20% coupon in hand. There was a guy in front of me asking the cashier how much his mystery coupon was worth, she told him she could not tell him unless she scanned an item first. He grabs a candy bar and she scans it and the coupon.......he had a 50% coupon!

She gets excited and tells him he got lucky and to go and find something he might like, reminding him all blu-rays are 40% off so the coupon will stack. This guys says no, just ring up the candy bar.

She sort of looked at him a second, then rang it up. He even asked her to put it in a bag.

Freakin' candy bar wasn't even a good one. The living dead do walk among us.

Your story made me angry

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by drbikeshorts

Your story made me angry

Made me pretty heartbroken, haha

[Zen_Amako]

Picked up Branded to Kill because of the B&N sale and because my free trial membership runs out at the end of the month. It was a blind buy, and I just got done watching it.

It was... often confusing, but really cool. Reminded me a little of Pale Flower, but with the crazy dial turned up. I thought the new interview with Joe Shishido was really amusing -- he's still an entertaining guy. I wonder what happened to Anne Mari; she was quite the looker back then, but her career apparently didn't take off.

[tenia]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Saw Seven Samurai on BD today. This was a triple-dip for me after the two Criterion DVD issues. The film looks amazing in hi-def. People are free to demo their Transformers and Avatar BD's, but for me THIS is what Blu-ray was made for

In fact, I do believe that "nothing" is worth the upgrade on BD than older B&W movies, especially the 50's & 60's ones.

I've been much impressed, for exemple, but how fine are Godard's movies from this era on BD, but also movies as Sweet Smell of Success, Paths of Glory & Repulsion.

It is not only by Criterion releases, it is something I found by other editors (Gaumont for instance).

However, I think that we all agree that "PQ reference" would not be such movies (even if I do think that Repulsion & Paths of Glory can be considered as very fine achievements, but I always end up showing the Pathé BD of The Leopard). I would go more for The Tree of Life, Fight Club, Tron : Legacy or a Pixar movie.

[blujazz]

Just saw Diabolique for the first time. Brilliant gothic thriller!

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by Zen_Amako

It was... often confusing, but really cool.

This would be the perfect pull-quote for the blu-ray cover
This is also why I've been reluctant to recommend this film as a blind-buy; I love it, but it is confusing and crazy and it won't be to everyone's taste.
Glad you liked it though

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by oildude

The thing about the Pixar movies is that even their DVDs look incredible upconverted on my plasma. So I will sometimes show the DVD, then put in the BD. There is a noticeable difference, but not as much as you get from, say, a restored classic or well-done film of any age.

If anyone asks to see my system or to show off the big deal about blu-ray, my demo discs are:

#1 Wild Pacific (BBC South Pacific) - just incredibly lucious colors, jaw dropping clarity, etc...nothing beats a blu-ray of the southern Pacific Ocean and its islands for "wow" factor.

The others I use - and all are fantastic and just as good or better than Wild Pacific:

Blade Runner
It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World
The Thin Red Line
Ben-Hur
The Lord of the Rings (Extended Editions) - because so many people have seen it, so it has an impact when they see it on BD.
Taxi Driver
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Tron Legacy

Sweet Smell of Success and a few other Criterions for B&W films, including my newest demo disc People on Sunday - to show how good an old silent B&W movie looks on blu when properly restored.

Good points and good choices for demo discs.
In related note, I was watching Nightmare Before Christmas the other day and that is a great looking and great sounding (7.1 ) disc for a film that is almost 20 years old. Wow. Speaking of stop-motion films directed by Henry Selick (see what I did there?), Coraline is also jaw-dropping beautiful on blu-ray.
I definitely agree with a few people here that some of the older films look really great in 1080p - 8 1/2 and Night of the Hunter also come to mind as older black and white films that are beautiful.

[mikesncc1701]

Originally Posted by blujazz

Just saw Diabolique for the first time. Brilliant gothic thriller!

I watched my BD a couple of weeks ago and it was my second time watching the film. Clouzot has a way of bringing the tension full force and smacking you in the face with it. Have you seen The Wages Of Fear, Le Corbeau or Quai des Orfèvres? All 3 are in the Criterion line (The Wages Of Fear being available on blu) and are all terrific.

[Oblivion138]

Originally Posted by oildude

Blade Runner
It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World
The Thin Red Line
Ben-Hur
Taxi Driver

These are all demo discs in my household, as well.

[blujazz]

Originally Posted by mikesncc1701

I watched my BD a couple of weeks ago and it was my second time watching the film. Clouzot has a way of bringing the tension full force and smacking you in the face with it. Have you seen The Wages Of Fear, Le Corbeau or Quai des Orfèvres? All 3 are in the Criterion line (The Wages Of Fear being available on blu) and are all terrific.

Agree! It's great! Also own Wages of Fear and that's fantastic. Will rent out the others (as it seems like they're OOP from criterion now). Will put on Fat Girl next.

[mikesncc1701]

Originally Posted by blujazz

Agree! It's great! Also own Wages of Fear and that's fantastic. Will rent out the others (as it seems like they're OOP from criterion now). Will put on Fat Girl next.

Just a suggestion, Quai des Orfèvres and Bob Le Flambeur make a great double feature. Nothing like good French noir.