The Criterion Collection

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by gl-14

The only DVDs I buy are of things I know won't get BD releases, like video compilations or pre-90's concerts.

There are quite a few Pre-90's concerts on BD, and many are FANTASTIC.

The Complete Monterey and Gimme Shelter, to name two

[greekak229]

Originally Posted by octagon

Somebody else posted a week or so ago and I responded something to the effect of 'no, everybody looks like they're in the right place' which they are - on the cover art at Criterion's site and Amazon and here and pretty much everywhere else except on the actual cover (which I just picked up last Fri).

Almost makes me want to grab a few more...

I love the cover and everything, but it is pretty obnoxious to just mix up those last two on the end. It clearly shows that they are in the right place on Criterion's site, so it does appear to be a mishap.

[billzfan]

Anyone here have Paris, Texas on blu? I heard it's a good film and was going to ask before I blind buy that as well.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by gl-14

Oh, I thought Samurai was the only movie that has a digipack-style packaging. Is every Criterion film with more than one disc in a digipack??

I have Seven Samurai and Battle of Algiers, and both these 2-disc editions are in digipak. Incidentally they also come with pretty thick booklets that would be impossible to fit in the BD case Criterion uses.
Some of their earlier single-disc BD releases also came in digipaks, but they offer BD case replacements (with the artwork sleeve) on the official store in case you want. I need to get a BD case for Last Year at Marienbad.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by billzfan

Anyone here have Paris, Texas on blu? I heard it's a good film and was going to ask before I blind buy that as well.

I suspect it's an acquired taste, I didn't care much for it, although I love Wings of Desire by Wim Wenders. The denouement for me just wasn't worth the wait.

[gl-14]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

There are quite a few Pre-90's concerts on BD, and many are FANTASTIC.

The Complete Monterey and Gimme Shelter, to name two

Yeah I know (I've already watched Woodstock), but the ones I have will almost certainly never be released because they weren't shot on film. Technically speaking, they could be released, but won't be in HD.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by billzfan

Anyone here have Paris, Texas on blu? I heard it's a good film and was going to ask before I blind buy that as well.

Tough call. It's absolutely gorgeous, the performances are all above average to very good and overall I really liked it buuuuut I didn't warm up to it immediately and I could easily see others not warming up to it at all.

(I also agree that the story doesn't really pay off but it's really not a plot-driven film anyway so that's more a quibble than a complaint.)

Bottom line: it's a very good film but perhaps not the best blind buy candidate.

[Criterion Collector]

Originally Posted by TylerDurden

Fedex Guy throws Computer Monitor for Christmas - YouTube

This really doesn't surprise me a whole lot. It's too bad that people just do not take any pride in their jobs anymore. I would venture to guess, this guy does that sort of thing all of the time...only now, he was caught on camera.

Regarding the 12 Angry Men cover, I was under the impression that the jurors being in the order they are, is not a mistake. I won't say that they are shown in the "wrong" order, if indeed, that was how Criterion wanted the cover, and it was done deliberately. It seems as if there are conflicting cover images (the pics do not match the actual release)...anybody know what's up?

[gl-14]

Originally Posted by ravenus

I need to get a BD case for Last Year at Marienbad.

This is another Criterion film I've been queueing to watch. How is it??

[greekak229]

Originally Posted by Criterion Collector

This really doesn't surprise me a whole lot. It's too bad that people just do not take any pride in their jobs anymore. I would venture to guess, this guy does that sort of thing all of the time...only now, he was caught on camera.

Regarding the 12 Angry Men cover, I was under the impression that the jurors being in the order they are, is not a mistake. I won't say that they are shown in the "wrong" order, if indeed, that was how Criterion wanted the cover, and it was done deliberately. It seems as if there are conflicting cover images (the pics do not match the actual release)...anybody know what's up?

On the cover that I received and probably everyone else, they are all in order from left to right up until Juror # 11 and 12 where they should be switched, yet on Criterion's site, the Jurors are in the correct order. It has to be a mistake. I don't see why Criterion would deliberately put everyone in order up until Juror #11.

[Criterion Collector]

Originally Posted by greekak229

On the cover that I received and probably everyone else, they are all in order from left to right up until Juror # 11 and 12 where they should be switched, yet on Criterion's site, the Jurors are in the correct order. It has to be a mistake.

Weird...thanks for the clarification.

Looks like I need to get a copy right away, perhaps it is an error, and these will go OOP once Criterion notices/fixes the cover art.

[mikesncc1701]

Originally Posted by JHas

Are you buying the Time Bandits just for collections sake? It is non-anamorphic and only has the trailer for extras, would upgrade to the Image blu if I were you (although I've heard the PQ is reprehenisble and is in 1080i).

Nice pick up on the General Idi Amin btw, great documentary.

Yeah simply for collections sake. I'm not a HUGE fan of the film so it really doesn't bother me that it's non-anamorphic. I only paid 5 bucks for it anyways. And I do love General Idi Amin Dada, it's a fantastic documentary. It's been at least 5 years since I've seen it so I can't wait to revisit it.

Originally Posted by retablo

I wouldn't say the DVD of Last Emperor is superior in content. Yes, you get the longer TV cut of the film, but that version was basically disowned by Bertolucci and the theatrical cut is his director's cut. The picture on the blu is superior, but the aspect ratio is wrong on both editions, unfortunately.

Yeah it's unfortunate about the aspect ratio and I know about the TV version and Bertolucci but it's nice to have for collections' sake and I'm more fond of the big box rather than the digipack the blu came in. Speaking of which I must have been the only person in the world who loved those digipacks. I'm glad I got my Chungking Express and Bottle Rocket before they changed to the clear cases.

[retablo]

Just suffered through Branded To Kill. You know a movie is bad when its style over substance and I need wikipedia to explain what the hell is going on. Like Pale Flower, I'll quickly be dumping this turd on eBay.

[Criterion Collector]

Originally Posted by retablo

I wouldn't say the DVD of Last Emperor is superior in content. Yes, you get the longer TV cut of the film, but that version was basically disowned by Bertolucci and the theatrical cut is his director's cut. The picture on the blu is superior, but the aspect ratio is wrong on both editions, unfortunately.

Thank you for pointing that out to those of us that had not noticed/were unaware.

Interesting that Criterion did not include both cuts on the BD edition. For hardcore fans of The Last Emperor (and completest collectors) it looks like the DVD and BD releases are both necessary additions to their personal libraries.

By the way, is anyone aware of any other releases that have varying cuts of the film on the DVD vs. the BD?

[sskclickgeneral]

Just watched Paths of Glory and Bigger Than Life.

Both were great films. I was a little disappointed at the ending of BtL, but other than that I thought it was fantastic. PoG was incredible. I really enjoyed it.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by Criterion Collector

Thank you for pointing that out to those of us that had not noticed/were unaware.

Interesting that Criterion did not include both cuts on the BD edition. For hardcore fans of The Last Emperor (and completest collectors) it looks like the DVD and BD releases are both necessary additions to their personal libraries.

By the way, is anyone aware of any other releases that have varying cuts of the film on the DVD vs. the BD?

I believe they left it off because it would've necessitated a 2nd disc, and since it was NOT the director's cut but a TV cut put together by someone else, it didn't have the director's approval. I sold my DVD when the blu came out and I'm fine not having it. It's an inferior version with bad pacing and unnecessary added scenes.

Just thinking about it, I can't recall any others dropping extra edits, but I only have around 300 Citerions (DVD & Blu) so I don't have their entire library. I know there are a few titles that may have dropped an extra feature or two in the transition from DVD to blu.

[Criterion Collector]

Originally Posted by retablo

I believe they left it off because it would've necessitated a 2nd disc, and since it was NOT the director's cut but a TV cut put together by someone else, it didn't have the director's approval. I sold my DVD when the blu came out and I'm fine not having it. It's an inferior version with bad pacing and unnecessary added scenes.

Just thinking about it, I can't recall any others dropping extra edits, but I only have around 300 Citerions (DVD & Blu) so I don't have their entire library. I know there are a few titles that may have dropped an extra feature or two in the transition from DVD to blu.

Thanks for the follow up response/info.

Only 300 Criterions.

That's a lot of them IMO.

Edit: Your Branded To Kill "review" had me laughing.

[bingtau]

Originally Posted by retablo

Just suffered through Branded To Kill. You know a movie is bad when its style over substance and I need wikipedia to explain what the hell is going on. Like Pale Flower, I'll quickly be dumping this turd on eBay.

Wow, I'm not sure what you're talking about. Branded is a near perfect film. Awesome soundtrack to begin with as in all of Seijun's films. A great story revolving around ranked killers for the Yakuza and the mistakes they make. Beautiful women!!! Um, let's see. one of the greatest stunts of all time. And this film is just plain cool, just like the rice sniffing star of the film.

On a side note, Tokyo Drifter is pretty much just as good. The transfer of both these titles are excellent. I'm very happy to have recieved them this Christmas.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by bingtau

Wow, I'm not sure what you're talking about. Branded is a near perfect film. Awesome soundtrack to begin with as in all of Seijun's films. A great story revolving around ranked killers for the Yakuza and the mistakes they make. Beautiful women!!! Um, let's see. one of the greatest stunts of all time. And this film is just plain cool, just like the rice sniffing star of the film.

On a side note, Tokyo Drifter is pretty much just as good. The transfer of both these titles are excellent. I'm very happy to have recieved them this Christmas.

Except that Seijin was fired promptly after making Branded for turning in movies that "make no sense." And I wholeheartedly agree. It gave me a headache.

[mikesncc1701]

I got around to watching my Smiles Of A Summer Night blu last night and loved it. It's easily one of the funniest films in the collection next to the M. Hulot films. It's no wonder this was the one that skyrocketed Bergman to fam as it's pretty much all around carefree and humorous. You definitely get a sense of what Swedish society was like during the time frame with all the love triangles and it's almost peculiar acceptance of it. The first scene between Fredrick and Desiree has some great one liners and the dinner scene towards the end was a great lead-up to the climax. Loved it!