The Criterion Collection

[Mr. Movie Fan]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Depends on what you'd be hanging on to it for - A better price when some Criterion nerd is willing to pay even more?
I have the MGM 20th Anniversary tin edition, whose transfer is IMO only a little below the Criterion in terms of contrast and sharpness (possibly because of overzealous clean-up, colors are a little brighter on the MGM), but it looks good enough to me for the price, and more extras to boot.

The Criterion edition's commentary is soooo much better.

[rkish]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

I practically own the von Sternberg set. I've had it out from the local library three or four times since last summer. I envy you. Each time I fall in love with it a little more. So yes, even though I can borrow it most any time, it's become a priority for my personal library (along with 200 other things).

I've seen most of the films in the Early Bergman set and was pretty impressed with them. It's probably my lowest priority as far as my Eclipse wishlist, but I hope to get around to it someday. I agree that mainline Bergmans (and Kurosawas for that matter) are all bound for Blu-ray eventually. I wish the same were true of the Godards, but it seems they could just as easily go out of print.

The Antoine Doinel set is probably my highest box set priority, though. I'm just tired of waiting for Blu-ray editions, even though they'll probably happen someday.

I've held off on the Mizoguchi Eclipse set for the same reason. I rented all of those fims from NetFlix, when I still had the DVD/BD rental piece of my membership (I still have streaming).

[myka22]

Originally Posted by Zen_Amako

Has anyone ever sold a Criterion movie and later regretted it?

I bought House without ever seeing it, watched it twice, and decided I never really need to watch it again, so I sold it. But now I want it again, it's just such a bizarre film.

[billzfan]

Originally Posted by Fanboyz

I have no "favorite film" per say, but I have discovered films that have no flaws. Meaning everything works, everything pays off and is correct emotionally and conceptually.
It's my List of Forty-Four Flawless Feature Films in no particular order:


1: Taxi Driver
2: To Kill a Mockingbird
3: Star Wars (Version not relevant)
4: Star Wars- The Empire Strikes Back (Version not relevant)
5: Star Wars- Return of the Jedi (Version not relevant)
6: Apocalypse Now (Version not Relevant)
7: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
8: The Big Lebowski
9: Goldfinger
10: E.T. (1982 version only)
11: The Spy who Loved Me
12: Superman- The Movie (Version not relevant)
13: Blade Runner (1992 or 2007 versions only)
14: Evil Dead 2
15: Batman '1989
16: Nosferatu- A Symphony of Terror
17: Robocop (Version not relevant)
18: Night of the Living Dead
19: Aguirre- The Wrath of God
20: Terminator 2 (Theatrical and Special Edition Version)
21: Dawn of the Dead (theatrical version only)
22: Hard Boiled
23: Maniac (Theatrical version only)
24: Flash Gordon '1980
25: Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade
26: Showgirls
27: Back to the Future
28: Pulp Fiction
29: The Toxic Avenger (Director's Cut)
30: Raiders of the Lost Arc
31: Rambo II
32: Annie Hall
33: Austin Powers (American Theatrical Cut only)
34: Dr. Strangelove
35: Star Trek II- The Wrath of Khan (Version not relevant)
36: Psycho
37: Aliens (Special Edition)
38: Darkman
39: From Dusk till Dawn
40: Mallrats (Theatrical Cut)
41: City Lights
42: Conan The Barbarian (Version not relevant)
43: Natural Born Killers (Director's Cut)
44: The Matrix


There are more that I like to add, but they have little things that prevent them from being perfect. Star Trek: The Motion Picture is a good example as neither version represents a truly finished film.

You lost me at Showgirls

[PowellPressburger]

I try not to sell off any DVD that may contain bonus features not avaiable on Blu. The Criterion Hitchcock titles are a good example of commentary tracks that MGM does not have.

[Jr7936]

The two criterion dvd's i wouldn't trade even though I know they have blu rays out not licensed by criterion are The Harder They Come and This is Spinal Tap

I love the movie The Harder they Come even though the criterion one doesn't have proper subs and isn't anamorphic widescreen

[ry35an]

Originally Posted by billzfan

You lost me at Showgirls

LOL, my thoughts exactly.

[pretzels]

Anyone have Kuroneko?
I just blind bought it. It looks really surreal and atmospheric. I'm wondering if I made a good choice for myself, though. I don't own any Japanese etc films. I am a big fan of Lynch, Fellini, Kubrick, Herzog, Jodorowsky. Something about it just intrigued me; let me know what I;m in for

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by myka22

I bought House without ever seeing it, watched it twice, and decided I never really need to watch it again, so I sold it. But now I want it again, it's just such a bizarre film.

Well, if you get TCM in HD, PVR it. It's coming on this Saturday, January 14th, at 2:00 AM EST!

TCM is working overtime with showing Criterions, these are just a few I've noticed for this week alone:

Yesterday - The Four Feathers
Tonight -Modern Times
Monday Morning - My Life as a Dog
Thursday Night/Friday Morning - The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (DVD only), Black Narcissus, The Red Shoes
Next Saturday Morning - Hausu

There's probably a bunch more, but those ones stood out to me as they're all on BD, with the exception of Blimp.

[Yami]

I can't make my mind up on Hausu. Originally, I thought it was terrible but I kinda get the feeling that was what the director was going for.

[The Dark Uniter]

Originally Posted by Yami

I can't make my mind up on Hausu. Originally, I thought it was terrible but I kinda get the feeling that was what the director was going for.

When I first saw House, I absolutely loved because I knew what to expect judging from the trailer. House to me has so many similarities to the Evil Dead series in terms of scares and humor, however much more on acid. I still love it, it's such a fun and zany ride and I'm so glad Criterion picked it up, being the Toho fan I am.

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by billzfan

You lost me at Showgirls

Showgirls is a pretty flawless film. Everything is pitch perfect. I'm not saying the film is great but Showgirls is the best if not ONLY Midnite Movie made in decades.

[Monty70]

Originally Posted by pretzels

Anyone have Kuroneko?
I just blind bought it. It looks really surreal and atmospheric. I'm wondering if I made a good choice for myself, though. I don't own any Japanese etc films. I am a big fan of Lynch, Fellini, Kubrick, Herzog, Jodorowsky. Something about it just intrigued me; let me know what I;m in for

I really like Kuroneko. The story was haunting and the photography is eerie and beautiful. I'm a sucker for a good ghost story.

[pretzels]

Originally Posted by zui

It is a highly atmospheric film but really I'd say just watch it, hopefully enjoy the movie and make up your own mind about it. I mean you already bought it anyway, so why not just find out for yourself if it does appeal to you?
After all, if it doesn't you can always sell it.

Definitely. I just have to wait 5 days or so for it to get here, so I was wondering what some opinions of it were and if I was right in thinking it was something I'd really like considering some of my fav filmmakers. I'm excited to see it soon.

[billzfan]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

Showgirls is a pretty flawless film. Everything is pitch perfect. I'm not saying the film is great but Showgirls is the best if not ONLY Midnite Movie made in decades.

I'll be completely honest. I think you're completely out of your mind. Showgirls is easily one of the dumbest, horribly acted, and flat out embarrassing films ever made.

[JHas]

I streamed "Tiny Furniture" on Netflix the other day. All I can say is if Wes Anderson films getting the Criterion Treatment result in a lot of people whining on message boards about their merit, then this release should inspire an Occupy Criterion HQ's protest.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by JHas

I streamed "Tiny Furniture" on Netflix the other day. All I can say is if Wes Anderson films getting the Criterion Treatment result in a lot of people whining on message boards about their merit, then this release should inspire an Occupy Criterion HQ's protest.

There was a huge uproar over that one, and also a lot of people who welcome it..... pretty much the same thing as when an Anderson film gets announced


As far as Showgirls is concerned..... that's the one with Burt Reynolds right? Or is that one Striptease? I thought the one with Burt Reynolds was "funny" and/or "Quirky" so I would call it "enjoyable" but it didn't strike me as "Great" and nowhere near "Flawless"

[Narcissus]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

As far as Showgirls is concerned..... that's the one with Burt Reynolds right? Or is that one Striptease? I thought the one with Burt Reynolds was "funny" and/or "Quirky" so I would call it "enjoyable" but it didn't strike me as "Great" and nowhere near "Flawless"

Burt was in Striptease With Demi Moore.

Showgirls Is Elizabeth Berkley, Kyle MacLachlan & Gina Gershon

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by Narcissus

Burt was in Striptease With Demi Moore.

Showgirls Is Elizabeth Berkley, Kyle MacLachlan & Gina Gershon

In that case, Showgirls was utter crap

[thelberg]

Great news from the Spalding Gray website:

“Producers of And Everything is Going Fine say the the DVD will be released
as part of Box Set released by Criterion sometime in 2012.”

http://spaldinggray.com/Fine.html

Possibly a Soderbergh set with Gray’s Anatomy? Schizopolis blu upgrade?