The Criterion Collection

[Cinemach]

Originally Posted by jw007

Does anyone here who are Criterion lovers like or accept the Kino Lorber distribution label?

I would agree with a great chunk of what Joe Dalek stated above, esp in regards to titles released by both they and Masters of Cinema. I would just add though that I do appreciate the amount of titles Kino has released from the Hollywood silent era, even if I don't have a great many of them (a situation to be remedied pending availability of funds and peripheral sales).

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

They're OK. I always felt the quality of their DVD releases didn't warrant the premium price, but they've made some strides in Blu-ray (and now that they have sales on their DVD I have bought a lot more). But since they also tend to release many of the same titles as Masters of Cinema and I am region-free, I usually opt for MoC as they generally do better work and have more supplements.

Indeed. And there's another label, Masters of Cinema, which competes with Kino and Criterion. I wish more of their releases were Region-free however, since some of their BD's and DVD's don't play in North America. What is the logic behind making some titles Region-B and some Region-free anyway?

[retablo]

Originally Posted by jw007

What I'd like to know is how come Criterion didn't pick up Fear and Desire before Kino did? I'm fairly certain that Criterion would have done a better job at least going the "extra mile" (which makes them stand out amongst the pack of distributors) to clean up Fear and Desire rather than just releasing the original film in its original (but damaged) state.

I guess they didn't want it? It's really a terrible film, Kubrick or not. I'm glad they didn't release it and saved that slot for something better.

[mrjohnnyb]

Originally Posted by jmbenesh

My three favorites in the collection so far:

Gold Rush
12 Angry Men
The Killing

All AWESOME films! Judging fromthis selection, have you ever seen THE WAGES OF FEAR?

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by rkish

I saw a Twitter post from Criterion Cast about this...what exactly is it? I can't find it on Amazon and/or the Criterion website.

Per Mr Mulvaney:

"Thank you for your email. The 99 REASONS disc is available when you
purchase anything (excluding gift certificates, mugs and posters) from
our webstore (http://www.criterion.com) only while supplies last.

All the best,

Jon Mulvaney"

I had heard of some people ordering a mug and getting it, but according to Jon, not so much. I'm pretty sure it's just a DVD with 33 of the their "3 Reasons" videos on it, but i was curious if any of the diehards around here went and picked one up.

[rock, stone]

Originally Posted by jw007

Indeed. And there's another label, Masters of Cinema, which competes with Kino and Criterion. I wish more of their releases were Region-free however, since some of their BD's and DVD's don't play in North America. What is the logic behind making some titles Region-B and some Region-free anyway?

MoC have always been vocal about how they are against region locks, so they only lock the titles they are required to by license agreement.

[jmbenesh]

Originally Posted by mrjohnnyb

All AWESOME films! Judging fromthis selection, have you ever seen THE WAGES OF FEAR?

I own Wages of Fear -- picked it up, alongside Diabolique, during BN's Criterion sale this past summer -- but I just haven't yet found time to watch it. It is high on my watch list though!

And thanks for making a recommendation. Do you have any others? I plan to get Netflix and/or Hulu in the near future, which will allow me to watch far more films (and Criterions especially) than I do now.

[se7endeadly]

Originally Posted by paul000

I wouldn't go as far as saying it is criminally underrated, but I think it's his best film. One of the reasons for this, in my opinion, is that it is essentially a gripping story and well written script that has nothing to say - which is perfect for Fincher. He literally has nothing to say.

If only the same could be said for...

[tonylopez]

My personal top 3 Criterions I have on blu are #1 Seven Samurai #2 Paths of Glory and #3 Videodrome. Great films and extras. My top 3 I have on laserdisc and want on blu are #1 The Killer #2 Robocop #3 Dead Presidents. Brazil will definitely be added to the list come next week.

[rkish]

Originally Posted by retablo

I guess they didn't want it? It's really a terrible film, Kubrick or not. I'm glad they didn't release it and saved that slot for something better.

Like Tiny Furniture?

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by rkish

Like Tiny Furniture?

Sad that that was the first thing I thought of too

[pro-bassoonist]

Brazil Blu-ray REVIEW

[georgec]

Nice!

[backslashio]

Bought Kuroneko & Harikiri from Amazon. Was going to let it slide but I really wanted to see Kuroneko in HD, think I've already seen Harikiri but that was the remake

[deepbreathsanddeath]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

Sad that that was the first thing I thought of too

Me too. I hope we never see the likes of Tiny Furniture hit Criterion again. What a waste of a space. Still, I know this gets enough discussion so I'm not looking to go there again.

[Zen_Amako]

Kuroneko looks terrific on Blu-ray. I think it's a minor film compared to many other entries in the collection. However, I can't deny that it looks amazing in high def and oozes atmosphere.

Favorite films in the collection (picking just three is hard)
The Double Life of Veronique
In the Mood for Love
Modern Times

[retablo]

Originally Posted by rkish

Like Tiny Furniture?

No, because Fear & Desire wouldn't have supplanted a film that was previously already part of a distribution deal. It would've replaced something else. Nice try though.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Zen_Amako

Kuroneko looks terrific on Blu-ray. I think it's a minor film compared to many other entries in the collection. However, I can't deny that it looks amazing in high def and oozes atmosphere.

Favorite films in the collection (picking just three is hard)
The Double Life of Veronique
In the Mood for Love
Modern Times

Great choices. Am I the only one that prefers Chungking Express, Happy Together and Fallen Angels to In the Mood for Love (by a tad).

[wcrouse]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Great choices. Am I the only one that prefers Chungking Express, Happy Together and Fallen Angels to In the Mood for Love (by a tad).

They are very different. The first time I watched In the Mood for Love, I did so without realizing the title was ironic, not literal. The film is more about the price paid over infidelity (and for that matter, fidelity, now that I think of it), rather than romance and love. There's little of the whimsy found in 'Express', or the beat of pop culture in 'Angels'. Haven't see Happy Together yet, but In the Mood for Love is by far the most somber and thoughtful of Wong Kar-Wai's films I've watched. I have to say the more I see by this director the higher he rises in my estimation. Whatever the theme, he seems in complete control.

[backslashio]

Originally Posted by Zen_Amako

Kuroneko looks terrific on Blu-ray. I think it's a minor film compared to many other entries in the collection. However, I can't deny that it looks amazing in high def and oozes atmosphere.

I prefer the asian classics compared to anything else released by Criterion Kuroneko is quite a nice change from the usual samurai flick too

Still, I was severely tempted by A Night to Remember. Could cancel my order & add that to it as well but I'm not sure if I'd like to rewatch people gradually sinking into the ocean, lol