The Criterion Collection

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by Benchman

So I just watched The Gold Rush for the first time and loved it. I didn't watch the criterion blu though. It was the dvd from the "Chaplin collection" and the transfer was great for a dvd of a film that age. I can't wait to get my hands on the bluray because I know it will top-notch. Also does anyone have suggestions on what Chaplin film to watch next? Looking to maybe blind buy The Dictator or Modern Times during the sale.

If you could play Region-B discs, I would suggest City Lights. It is my favorite Chaplin film. If you can't, perhaps you could get the DVD.



Pro-B

[MPeriolat]

Originally Posted by Benchman

So I just watched The Gold Rush for the first time and loved it. I didn't watch the criterion blu though. It was the dvd from the "Chaplin collection" and the transfer was great for a dvd of a film that age. I can't wait to get my hands on the bluray because I know it will top-notch. Also does anyone have suggestions on what Chaplin film to watch next? Looking to maybe blind buy The Dictator or Modern Times during the sale.

Modern Times is a lot of fun and I quite enjoy it myself. Great Dictator is a very different animal for Chaplin, both in terms of political commentary and that it's effectively the death of The Tramp character, suicide by voice, you might say.

Either way, neither is a bad investment of time or money IMHO.

[BluPix]

Originally Posted by MPeriolat

Mkay, then in all likelihood, we will not hear about another Chaplin for sure until next March or so if I am crunching the numbers right. Well and good, like I said, LOTS of other Criterions I am itching for and we got the rest of this year for releases as well. Thanks for the help.

Who knows, the company may issue its next Chaplin next January or February but I doubt it will be sooner than that. Criterion's releases of films by Hitchcock, Bergman, Wes Anderson, Kurosawa and others work in a similar fashion. (We still have a few months to discover what, if any, film(s) by Kurosawa will be upgraded to blu this year by Criterion.)

Your attitude about exploring the multitude of other Criterions is certainly a good attitude to have. I still have plenty to view myself.

[BluPix]

Originally Posted by rock, stone

I think that since the original dvd case didn't feature interior artwork CC wasn't going to commission some for the sake of it. Rushmore's package is a pretty straight port of the dvd. If I remember correctly, the only thing upgraded to HD is the movie proper.

Criterion didn't also upgrade the supplements to HD? Usually it does (at least the picture), even the ones that were not originally produced in HD.

[Benchman]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

If you could play Region-B discs, I would suggest City Lights. It is my favorite Chaplin film. If you can't, perhaps you could get the DVD.



Pro-B

That was the one that interested me the most. Sadly, the region free bluray player I purchased broke I'll probably rent the dvd and hold out for the criterion.

Originally Posted by MPeriolat

Modern Times is a lot of fun and I quite enjoy it myself. Great Dictator is a very different animal for Chaplin, both in terms of political commentary and that it's effectively the death of The Tramp character, suicide by voice, you might say.

Either way, neither is a bad investment of time or money IMHO.

If funds are in good shape then I might just buy both. If the had to choose one of them I think I will go with Modern Times and pick up The Great Dictator later on. Thanks for the suggestions.

[BluPix]

Originally Posted by Benchman

So I just watched The Gold Rush for the first time and loved it. I didn't watch the criterion blu though. It was the dvd from the "Chaplin collection" and the transfer was great for a dvd of a film that age. I can't wait to get my hands on the bluray because I know it will top-notch. Also does anyone have suggestions on what Chaplin film to watch next? Looking to maybe blind buy The Great Dictator or Modern Times during the sale.

Well, I loved Modern Times, which was the first Chaplin film I saw, so I'd definitely recommend that next.

[Benchman]

Originally Posted by BluPix

Who knows, the company may issue its next Chaplin next January or February but I doubt it will be sooner than that. Criterion's releases of films by Hitchcock, Bergman, Wes Anderson, Kurosawa and others work in a similar fashion. (We still have a few months to discover what, if any, film(s) by Kurosawa will be upgraded to blu this year by Criterion.)

Your attitude about exploring the multitude of other Criterions is certainly a good attitude to have. I still have plenty to view myself.

Really hoping for Stray Dog. Definitely one of his most underrated.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by BluPix

Lots of strong blu-rays and DVD packages have been put together without the participation of their respective films' directors—including two from Malick in the Criterion Collection: Days of Heaven and The Thin Red Line. Click the links below, then take a look at the Special Features and Extras section of Svet's reviews:

Days of Heaven
The Thin Red Line.

On Days of Heaven you'll see a generous selection of extras, including a feature-length audio commentary with several of the key heads of crew (art director, editor, costume designer, casting director) which, at about ninety minutes, gives much more in-depth information about the making of the film than a doc about a third of its running time could. There are interviews with the cinematographer, camera operator and lead actor. Additionally, there's a relatively lengthy (42-page) booklet that contains the director of photography's recollections on shooting the film and an analysis of the film.

The Thin Red Line abounds with extras, including its own feature-length (nearly three hours) audio commentary with the producer, director of photography and production designer. Beyond that, interview segments that, by themselves, are roughly two hours long, and feature many of the actors, the casting director, editors, music composer and the daughter of the original source novel; some of those “rarely released” outtakes; plus a few other extras that are related in subject matter. The booklet, which, at 36 pages, is still substantial, offers another analytical essay, as is typically the case with Criterion, plus an article by the author of the source novel the film is based on.

As these examples show, even if Terrence Malick doesn’t wish to participate in such discussions, it’s possible to find many who’ve worked with him or otherwise can speak with credibility and shed more insight about the making of his films. Plus, it’s possible to assemble other extras that are in some way related to the feature in subject matter or otherwise and could enhance viewers’ experiences with the feature and the package.

For me and for many other people, the presence of a high quality supplemental package in addition to the main feature(s) adds value to the disc. One of the nice things about the people at Criterion is they realize that many film aficionados, especially the audience companies like theirs cater to, not only value great films. They also value quality extras that accompany those films and are willing to pay a bit more for such premium packages—or wait long periods for sales that occur only two or three times a year. Accordingly, their packages with few or no extras have a lower list price.

Of Malick’s four previous features, two of them are on Criterion already; the rights for the other two are held by a studio that prefers to release its catalog for home video on its own, without involving companies like Criterion. Fox has a working relationship with Criterion, so I wouldn’t be surprised if The Tree of Life does make it onto Criterion at some point. And, if it does, it would be most welcome.

For that, I’d gladly dip again.

Yes, I know, I own them both. I still say those are minimal extras at best... if the director isn't involved, then it's pretty much a wash. I think if they were going to release it, they would've licensed it from Fox and released it already. The New World isn't Criterion, either, so it's not like they are releasing all his films.

The Universal titles that Criterion basically double-dipped — Fear & loathing, Dazed & Confused, possibly Brazil, etc — carry the distinction of already being on DVD through Criterion, so the extras are already produced. I still say Criterion has no advantage nor reason to re-release Tree of Life, putting down money to make all new extras for a film that performed minimally at best, to try and best a near-perfect disc already released by Fox.

[lemonski]

Originally Posted by retablo

Yes, I know, I own them both. I still say those are minimal extras at best... if the director isn't involved, then it's pretty much a wash. I think if they were going to release it, they would've licensed it from Fox and released it already. The New World isn't Criterion, either, so it's not like they are releasing all his films.

The Universal titles that Criterion basically double-dipped — Fear & loathing, Dazed & Confused, possibly Brazil, etc — carry the distinction of already being on DVD through Criterion, so the extras are already produced. I still say Criterion has no advantage nor reason to re-release Tree of Life, putting down money to make all new extras for a film that performed minimally at best, to try and best a near-perfect disc already released by Fox.

I kind of have to agree with you - Tree of Life operates on such a personal level that commentary tracks and the like offer nothing much of value to the viewer. It's really the kind of movie where you don't want to know how the magician does his tricks.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Nice.

A few years ago when I was on Chandler binge I read through all of his Marlowe novels one after the other. Incredibly addictive. Chandler is a boss.

I'm going to seek out some more of his Marlowe novels, once I clear off some of the other novels on my plate. I'm ashamed to admit it, but I've been reading Love and War, the second book within the North and South Trilogy by John Jakes for almost two years now. I've just lost interest in it, but I can't not finish it. The mini-series is far more entertaining, and less dull, TBH.

I really enjoyed the Dashiell Hammett novels I've read so far as well.

[grayfoxpt]

Originally Posted by MPeriolat

Great Dictator is a very different animal for Chaplin, both in terms of political commentary and that it's effectively the death of The Tramp character, suicide by voice, you might say.

The Tramp character had a happy ending in Modern Times. As Chaplin himself said, the barber from the Great Dictator is not The Tramp.

[MPeriolat]

Originally Posted by grayfoxpt

The Tramp character had a happy ending in Modern Times. As Chaplin himself said, the barber from the Great Dictator is not The Tramp.

Mmm, I need to read Chaplin's memoirs or research him more then. Ad the impression that Dictator was Tramp's swan song. Actually, if the Tramp had a true final moment of grace, Modern Times works, but I prefer City Lights and just that beautific expression on his face after "You?" more than anything. It's why I'm jonesing for the Blu for City Lights so bad. It's Chaplin's Magnus opus to me, the one Chaplin everyone should watch.

YMMV of course.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by MPeriolat

Mmm, I need to read Chaplin's memoirs or research him more then. Ad the impression that Dictator was Tramp's swan song. Actually, if the Tramp had a true final moment of grace, Modern Times works, but I prefer City Lights and just that beautific expression on his face after "You?" more than anything. It's why I'm jonesing for the Blu for City Lights so bad. It's Chaplin's Magnus opus to me, the one Chaplin everyone should watch.

YMMV of course.

They do look similar but it's not the Tramp in The Great Dictator. The last movie for the Tramp was Modern Times. Chaplin refuse to have the Tramp talking, said it was impossible to have a talkie with the the character.

[Page14]

Originally Posted by MPeriolat

Mmm, I need to read Chaplin's memoirs or research him more then. Ad the impression that Dictator was Tramp's swan song. Actually, if the Tramp had a true final moment of grace, Modern Times works, but I prefer City Lights and just that beautific expression on his face after "You?" more than anything. It's why I'm jonesing for the Blu for City Lights so bad. It's Chaplin's Magnus opus to me, the one Chaplin everyone should watch.

YMMV of course.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

I really enjoyed the Dashiell Hammett novels I've read so far as well.

Check out the THE GLASS KEY if you haven't already.

[Henge86]

Just checking if anyone has the plastic replacement case for the third man blu ray that they would sell ?

[rock, stone]

Originally Posted by BluPix

Criterion didn't also upgrade the supplements to HD? Usually it does (at least the picture), even the ones that were not originally produced in HD.

Taking a 480i picture and encoding it at 1080i isn't an upgrade.

[TJS_Blu]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

I really enjoyed the Dashiell Hammett novels I've read so far as well.

The Continental Op stories were huge favorites of mine.

[kazama]

Originally Posted by saprano

Does criterion not do inside artwork for their cases anymore? I noticed Rushmore is blank.

It's not blank. Check it closely, the blue-ish pattern is really light, but it's definitely there. Low-key design.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Check out the THE GLASS KEY if you haven't already.

On my list, because of Kurosawa.