The Criterion Collection

[abbazappaplant]

us anal criterion collectors probably sent a bunch back because the packaging wasn't perfect which triggered Amazons "under review" function.

[Leterface]

Originally Posted by jacobsever

What is supposed to be wrong with them? I haven't read/seen anything.

The rumor with Körkarlen was it was pulled because it was 1080i.

[gl-14]

Originally Posted by I KEEL YOU

The PS3 still has the empty "blu ray" logo space on top:



The PS3 case is basically just like the ordinary blu ray cases except they're not blue but transparent. The Criterion case basically is a shorter DVD case, that is the same height as an ordinary blu ray case except it uses the whole space on the cover:



There are also custom designed Criterion releases like the Seven Samurai.

Thanks for that!! Someone had posted a picture of three BDs they'd recently bought (one of them was The Phantom Carriage) and I was confused because I thought they were DVDs, because of the packaging and whatnot. How is the Seven Samurai case??

[I KEEL YOU]

Originally Posted by gl-14

How is the Seven Samurai case??

Seven Samurai The Criterion Edition Blu-Ray Review - YouTube

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by gl-14

Thanks for that!! Someone had posted a picture of three BDs they'd recently bought (one of them was The Phantom Carriage) and I was confused because I thought they were DVDs, because of the packaging and whatnot. How is the Seven Samurai case??

Only one of them was a BD, The Phantom Carriage. The others were Criterion DVDs.

Seems as though TCM is doing an Alexander Korda tribute today. I watched The Four Feathers (again after watching the BD the other day), The Thief of Bagdad, and The Drum is currently on. The Jungle Book is coming on after The Drum finishes. I also watched That Hamilton Woman and The Scarlet Pimpernel. I missed The Private Life of Henry VIII, because I slept in, and was catching up on the PVR of The Doctor, The Widow, and The Wardrobe.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by Monty70

I used the 25% off coupon to pick up Tokyo Drifter on saturday. (Paid $17.99 + tax)

The film is entertaining and beautiful to look at, but I prefer Branded to Kill after my initial viewings of each. I really am enthralled with B&W 60's Yakuza films shot in cinemascope. Pale Flower and Branded to Kill are two new favorites of mine. Now I am really tempted to buy the Nikkatsu Noir eclipse set during the next big sale.

In that case, you absolutely have to get the Nikkatsu Noir Eclipse box-set

[oildude]

Originally Posted by Leterface

This is becoming funny, first The Phantom Carriage was "under review" and now The Lady Vanishes is also "under review" and not sold atm by Amazon.

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

Probably because they appear to be in black & white and have evidence of film grain and scratches on the transfers. Because everyone knows Blu-rays are supposed to look like Avatar. I'm only half-joking.

Also, The Phantom Carriage appears to be some kind of a really old and really long music video. Was this ever on MTV? It definitely looks like it was made before the 1980s. Not that great of a band, either. Is there a Van Halen version? Those guys are really old.

[Darkcritic]

Just got 12 Angry Men in BD and Eclipse Series 21: Oshima's Outlaw Sixties . Both are blind-buys but I am extremely excited about the Oshima set. He sounds like an amazing director and if the back of the box statement of him being an "East World Godard" is true I know I am going to love it . Also, thinking about getting the Eclipse Series 18: Dusan Makavejev Free Radical and Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence. Does any recommend those ?

[oildude]

Originally Posted by Darkcritic

Just got 12 Angry Men in BD and Eclipse Series 21: Oshima's Outlaw Sixties . Both are blind-buys but I am extremely excited about the Oshima set. He sounds like an amazing director and if the back of the box statement of him being an "East World Godard" is true I know I am going to love it . Also, thinking about getting the Eclipse Series 18: Dusan Makavejev Free Radical and Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence. Does any recommend those ?

Mr. Christmas, Mr. Lawrence was the second Criterion I bought when I discovered the collection during the blu-ray era. I had it on a VHS tape for years. To go from seeing it on VHS to seeing it on BD was a revelation. It is one of the most intelligent and moving POW/war films I have seen.

The brutality of the Japanese toward the Allied POWs, the brutality of Japanese officers to the enlisted ranks of their own army, the fact that the camps were not staffed by the cream of the Japanese army, the Japanese contempt for prisoners who they felt lost all honor by surrender, all of that is captured in the film. Yet overall, it is actually a story of redemption, brought about through the character of Bowie. Oshima transcends your standard war movie, creating an allegorical tale that I think is sublime and powerful.

I also bought Oshima's Outlaw Sixties during my recent foray into the Eclipse sets. So far I have watched the first two films from the set: Pleasures of the Flesh and Violence at Noon. I really liked them both.

Oshima is becoming one of my favorite directors. Except for having seen MCML years ago, I am a bit late to the Oshima party, but now I understand why some members here think he is brilliant.

[Criterion Collector]

Originally Posted by Barrysupreme

Thanks for the review buddy, I think I will pass on it based on your review

I really wish we had Netflix in the UK not the one that is coming in 2012 but the proper US version with Criterion titles on it, we have to make do with lovefilm, and most of the films Criterion release are not on there, to be honest I blind buy nearly all of my Criterions and I would say I enjoy about 90 per cent of them, if I we had Netflix then I know I would save some money: and would enjoy 100 per cent of my Criterion purchases D

Glad my review could assist you in making a purchasing decision.

I am also glad to see more silent films (Phantom Carriage) come to BD, especially ones in the Criterion collection.

[Il Cattivo]

great company -- arguably the best in the biz.

so far i have:

seven samurai
yojimbo
paths of glory
the thin red line
the seventh seal
videodrome
12 angry men

looking forward to buying more in the future

[Criterion Collector]

Originally Posted by Il Cattivo

great company -- arguably the best in the biz.

so far i have:

seven samurai
yojimbo
paths of glory
the thin red line
the seventh seal
videodrome
12 angry men

looking forward to buying more in the future

Very nice! All "A list" releases.

Welcome to the forum, and the little section dedicated to Criterion.

I will recommend Sanjuro to you as well, especially if you really liked Yojimbo, they are "companion pieces" and Sanjuro is the follow up to Yojimbo (and the main character in both films).

[*DrStrangelove*]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

Makavejev is worth it for Love Affair alone. I need to get that one soon, too.

I saw Tiny Furniture on netflix and I pretty much agree with your review. I didn't hate it but I can't say I liked it. There were no likable characters at all and I would rather eat dirt than to ever have to have a conversation with any of these people (if they actually existed). The biggest douchebag was that guy that was staying at her house. His character just tried to hard to be witty. To the point where I would cringe everytime he'd talk. In the end I felt this film tried to hard and then just ended. I really wish Criterion would've released earlier, better "mumblecore" films. Like my favorites The Puffy Chair and Hump Day or anything with Greta Gerwig. Greenberg would've been nice.

[Il Cattivo]

Originally Posted by Criterion Collector

Very nice! All "A list" releases.

Welcome to the forum, and the little section dedicated to Criterion.

I will recommend Sanjuro to you as well, especially if you really liked Yojimbo, they are "companion pieces" and Sanjuro is the follow up to Yojimbo (and the main character in both films).

yea its on my list to buy for the next B&N 50% off sale

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

And the Kurahara Eclipse (Intimidation is as good as anything on Nikkatsu Noir). And the Imamura DVD set, unless you are region-free in which case check out MoC's Pigs & Battleships and The Insect Woman region B Blu-rays.

+1 about the Kurahara Eclipse set and Intimidation - in fact, that's definitely a film Hollywood could remake. It's such a slick thriller.
I've actually had my eye on those MoC blu-rays as well, but they are pricey so I haven't bit the bullet yet.

[toddly6666]

Originally Posted by SpiderBaby

Last Year at Marienbad and Jean Vigo.

That's not nice of you to recommend Marienbad! Jean Vigo is a must have - I agree with you.

I would also say Night of the Hunter and Modern Times.

[ShellOilJunior]

Not sure why The Lady Vanishes would be under review on Amazon. It's picture quality is very good for a film of its age and surviving materials. Granted, the film's audio quality is average at best but its most likely due to the materials available. Turn on subtitles.

No reason to pull it.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

If it isn't a tech defect, they are often issues concerning damage to packaging.

Damage for some people = the spine isn't perfectly straight.

I swear some people treat their Criterion cases like old ladies.

[backslashio]

Has anyone seen Three Outlaw Samurai? Is it worth risking a blind buy?

[greekak229]

Originally Posted by backslashio

Has anyone seen Three Outlaw Samurai? Is it worth risking a blind buy?

I saw it and it really is an amazing little movie. Absolutely blind buy it.