The Criterion Collection

[octagon]

Originally Posted by SpiderBaby

Yeah I was, $40 or whatever it is on B&N is good enough to blind buy IMO. It's Pasolini, can't go wrong.

Cool, thanks.

[MTRodaba2468]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

You folks do realize that a Second Sight BD of Possession will be Region B.

But at least there will be an HD master floating around out there...

Their Blu-Ray of Return Of The Living Dead was technically Region B, but you could bypass it by hitting the Top Menu button on the remote. The SD extras were encoded in PAL, so depending on the player, you might not be able to watch everything on the disc, but the movie and the main extra (the More Brains documentary) were fully playable.

And even if that ended up not being the case, my player is Region Free.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by Lutz

Between about thirty of his movies that I've seen I think the only one I didn't like was Effi Briest. Fear of Fear I'm not sure how to interpret because obviously Fassbinder knew better about prescription drugs than the pointedly hysterical way he portrays them in the movie? But that one is probably a low point for me as well.

Fair, I like both of those films. I always want to ask people their opinion on one that I love because it seems alot of people hate it and some love it. Prob his most over the top film, Satan's Brew, like/dislike? I am hoping Criterion releases this on blu-ray and not shoved in an Eclipse set (seeing as Janus has this film with the other OOP Wellspring Fassbinder films).

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by octagon

Cool, thanks.

No problem.

[tenia]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

To be honest, I found it pretty darn masterful. It didn't feel at all like a 3.5 hr film to me (or two long TV episodes, as it were). Can't say that about all of Fassbinder's films.

I found it a bit overlong, but there are indeed tremendous stuff in it.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by Page14

Thanks for the suggestions. I don't have any set formula I go by (obviously, or I wouldn't have asked ... haha). I try to make a note/list of films that appeal to me ... then I keep revisiting the list trying to narrow the choices down. Some fall off the list and some stick and a few more might get added. Then I guess it's whatever hits me at the time I go to the store to make a purchase.

Stuff you might find boring about which Criterions I picked up today and why:

[Show spoiler]You must be psychic! ... as I picked up The BBS Story set just today. I was really torn on whether to buy it or not. I've seen 4 of the films before and while I liked them back then, I can't say I'm in love with any of them. But I did like them well enough. They were made during my later grade school years and throughout my high school years (yeah, ouch), so I think they'll be fun to watch again. I've read this forum long enough to know how you feel about the Monkees, so you'll be happy to know Head is one of the reasons I wanted this. That's one bizarro movie ... Monkees, Frank Zappa, Sonny Liston, Teri Garr, Annette, one of my all-time favorite Green Bay Packers Ray Nitschke (which is reason enough for me to want this), etc., etc. ... all in the same movie. Wow ... so weird! (One final Monkee note: Back when the Monkees were on TV, I even had a Monkee-mobile plastic model kit). I liked Easy Rider and The Last Picture Show very much. I barely remember Five Easy Pieces, but I do remember that Jack Nicholson's diner scene created a stir back when the movie first came out. The 3 films I haven't seen are King of Marvin Gardens, Drive, He Said and A Safe Place.

FWIW, the other film I picked up today was Everlasting Moments. It wasn't even on my radar until a few days ago. I read a few reviews and watched the trailer (thanks for the suggestion Sinthetic) and was sold. Plus, it hits close to home as a good friend has a similar story (minus the tragic part) in that she picked up photography as a hobby at the age of 56 and is excelling at it. I want to sort of screen the film and if it seems okay, I might buy it for her as a Christmas gift.

Yay! That makes me happy! It was the reason why I bought the set back in 2010, when it was like 115 on Amazon Canada. I didn't care (at the time) about the other films (saw them as essentially bonus features) in the set or the price, I just wanted a decent release of Head on BD in the correct aspect ratio with way better bonus features. Obviously, I've changed my tune about the rest of the set.

Out of the 3 you haven't seen, King of Marvin Gardens is the best. You can attempt A Safe Place, but I honestly wouldn't. I tried 3x to get some redeeming value out of the film and failed. Drive, He Said is actually growing on me, although I still don't like the protagonist. You have to give Jack Nicholson a lot of credit, as he's literally all over this set with the exception of The Last Picture Show. He's director, actor, writer, producer, etc. I have the deluxe edition of the Head soundtrack, and it's really neat to hear him on the Ditty Diego outtakes and rehersals.

I'm Criterion free this weekend, as I'm still waiting for the orders that shipped on the 1st of November to arrive. They should begin to arrive late next week, and I hope that I don't get any duplicates like last year. Week End is still pending shippment. I'll be watching Brave instead, and Series 5 of Doctor Who.

[SimBelm]

It would've been interesting if they paired up On The Waterfront with a release of Shinoda's Tears on the Lion's Mane which they have up on Hulu at the moment.

[dvdboy]

Originally Posted by dvdboy

Quick question regarding Barnes and Noble's sale.

I'm going to be in San Francisco on Sunday, and was going to visit the store in Emeryville.

Can anyone confirm it is open until 11pm as per the website - the Bay Shopping Centre website seems to suggest it shuts at 6pm.

Thanks

Sorry, but can anyone confirm Emeryville's closing time - I'm flying in from the UK and don't want to turn up at a closed store!

Thanks

[DarkRyder]

Originally Posted by octagon

Remind me: were you one of the people happy about the Trilogy of Life announcement? I want to say you were but I can't say for sure. I'm on the fence and you've been a pretty good tie-breaker in the past.

Artwork alone should be a dealbreaker, it's amazing.

[SiqMachine]

What DVDs has Criterion released that are not likely to be upgraded for whatever reason (rights lost etc.)? For instance, I definitely want to own all of the Bresson stuff, but would rather wait for the Blus if there's a chance of them being released in the future. I was considering just buying Ivan's Childhood, and am glad I waited now that an upgrade was announced. That will be an amazing addition to my collection.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by SiqMachine

What DVDs has Criterion released that are not likely to be upgraded for whatever reason (rights lost etc.)? For instance, I definitely want to own all of the Bresson stuff, but would rather wait for the Blus if there's a chance of them being released in the future. I was considering just buying Ivan's Childhood, and am glad I waited now that an upgrade was announced. That will be an amazing addition to my collection.

Most likely the films that were released after blu-rays started (War Trilogy, Dillinger is Dead, Sternberg silents, etc). If they do get blu-ray releases in the future, might be some of the last they upgrade. Also out of print stuff obviously.

[NoirFan]

^
Hoop Dreams is one that won't get a Blu-ray.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by DarkRyder

Artwork alone should be a dealbreaker, it's amazing.

Yup. I'm 2/3 through the films, and have really liked them.

[Rhylliam]

Who did this?

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/A-Blu-ray/58855/

Haha

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by Rhylliam

Who did this?

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/A-Blu-ray/58855/

Haha

Maybe the one person who has it in their collection.

[TJS_Blu]

Originally Posted by Rhylliam

Who did this?

penningtonny10

[AreaUnderTheCurve]

So far I've watched House, Tokyo Drifter, Chungking Express, and Rosemary's Baby, all blind buys.

I think I'm a phenomenal blind buyer because I enjoyed all of those and do not intend to sell any of them. Unfortunately the only one have a few gripes about would be Rosemary's Baby. For one, Mia Farrow's acting is appalling and very unconvincing. I also am not a huge fan of the ending because of clunky dialogue and laughable delivery. I wish it had been a tad more subtle instead of hearing the ant-God rant that took me out of the scene. Of course then we wouldn't have Rosemary's acceptance of her creation. I am sure something could have been done to make it work more smoothly.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by AreaUnderTheCurve

So far I've watched House, Tokyo Drifter, Chungking Express, and Rosemary's Baby, all blind buys.

I think I'm a phenomenal blind buyer because I enjoyed all of those and do not intend to sell any of them. Unfortunately the only one have a few gripes about would be Rosemary's Baby. For one, Mia Farrow's acting is appalling and very unconvincing. I also am not a huge fan of the ending because of clunky dialogue and laughable delivery. I wish it had been a tad more subtle instead of hearing the ant-God rant that took me out of the scene. Of course then we wouldn't have Rosemary's acceptance of her creation. I am sure something could have been done to make it work more smoothly.

Do you have Pale Flower? I think you would like it if you haven't seen it.

[DarkRyder]

Does anyone (maybe SpiderBaby?) know if it's better to read first the stories in the Trilogy of Life? I don't mean the entire books, because I know they are long, but I mean the stories from the books.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by DarkRyder

Does anyone (maybe SpiderBaby?) know if it's better to read the stories the films in the Trilogy of Life are based on? I don't mean the entire books, because I know they are long, but I mean the stories from the books.

Not really. The film versions in the trilogy are often very different, anyway (I've read some of them in the past and read summaries of some while watching the trilogy these past couple nights). So I don't think you exactly gain much from reading about them, they seem to be adapted somewhat loosely.

On a similar topic, since I'm finishing up the set tonight, I'd like some opinions on what you guys think the high points/low points of these films are..or just any opinions to help me form mine (I rarely form opinions on how I felt about a film right after I see it)