The Criterion Collection

[Monty70]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

How did the Blu-ray look? The price for it up here in Canada is $41 and that is a stiff price for one single movie, plus the question over if the image is nice or not as made me wait on getting it.

The picture looked great. I would agree with Pro-B's assessment of the image quality. (4.5 out of 5 stars) The film received a 2K digital restoration/scan for this release. I have a segment from the BD.com review for you below.

The new restoration of Les Visiteurs du Soir is quite beautiful. From start to finish there is very pleasing depth and clarity. Even the nighttime sequences in the garden where the lovers meet boast very good detail and stable contrast levels. More importantly, however, there are no traces of excessive degraining. Edge-enhancement is also not a serious issue of concern (see how crisp but natural the panoramic shot is in screencapture #2). Color grading does not disappoint either - there is a good range of solid blacks, grays, and whites. This being said, there are a few very small skips where frames are apparently missing, but this should not be something that will distract viewers. A few very small vertical lines also pop up here and there, but overall the restorers have clearly removed as much debris and damage marks as possible without affecting the integrity of the film. To sum it all up, this is a competent, very impressive restoration of Marcel Carne's legendary film which will undoubtedly please its fans.
(written by Pro-B)

[rkish]

Originally Posted by Yami

Not to mention the MoC release comes complete with Oyū-sama

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

which for me made it a must have just for that alone

Alright guys...I'm convinced! I'll make a purchase when I get back from seeing the new Hobbit movie with my 13 year old son.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by Monty70

The picture looked great. I would agree with Pro-B's assessment of the image quality. (4.5 out of 5 stars) The film received a 2K digital restoration/scan for this release. I have a segment from the BD.com review for you below.

[Show spoiler]The new restoration of Les Visiteurs du Soir is quite beautiful. From start to finish there is very pleasing depth and clarity. Even the nighttime sequences in the garden where the lovers meet boast very good detail and stable contrast levels. More importantly, however, there are no traces of excessive degraining. Edge-enhancement is also not a serious issue of concern (see how crisp but natural the panoramic shot is in screencapture #2). Color grading does not disappoint either - there is a good range of solid blacks, grays, and whites. This being said, there are a few very small skips where frames are apparently missing, but this should not be something that will distract viewers. A few very small vertical lines also pop up here and there, but overall the restorers have clearly removed as much debris and damage marks as possible without affecting the integrity of the film. To sum it all up, this is a competent, very impressive restoration of Marcel Carne's legendary film which will undoubtedly please its fans.
(written by Pro-B

)

I suppose I have two choice then, I go ahead and spend the $41 or wait till July for the (I hope) B&N sale. Hardly any chance that Amazon.ca bring's the price down on this, they never do on Criterion

[bigbadwoppet]

Originally Posted by MacEachaidh

Regarding Picnic at Hanging Rock, are people hoping for a Criterion upgrade because they think it would better the BD release currently available in the UK and Australia, or because it would be a Region A release?

I have the current Blu-ray (released through Umbrella in Australia), and I'm generally quite happy with it, but I've never seen the Criterion DVD to have any sense of what a Criterion release might be like. Anyone care to share their thoughts on this?

If Criterion does do an HD release of Hanging Rock, I hope they include both cuts of the film. With all due respect to Peter Weir, I don't agree with all the cuts he made in revising the film, and feel some valuable moments got lost.

I'm hoping Criterion finally releases it for that very same reason, the original cut (hopefully scanned from film elements). I like Criterion but I think they release a lot of stuff that doesn't deserve such a good treatment.

[bigbadwoppet]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

A couple times a year they mark them down 50%, I'd wait for that.


Edit: Most wanted CC Upgrades
#29 Picnic at Hanging Rock
#34 Andrei Rublev
#55 The Incredible Lightness of Being
#58 Peeping Tom
#59 Night Porter (have never seen, but * Super curious)
#62 Passion of Joan of Arc
#73 Cleo from 5 to 7
#83 The Harder they Come
#98 L'Avventura
#124 Carl Theodore Dreyer box
#133 Spoorloos (The Vanishing)
#139 Wild Strawberries
#142 The Last Wave
#145 The Firemans Ball
#149 Juliet of the Spirits
#150 Bob Le Flambour
#174 Band of Outsiders
#190 Throne of Blood
#196 Hiroshima Mon Amour
#198 Ali: Fear Eats the Soul
#203 The BRD Trilogy
#208 A Film Trilogy by Ingmar Bergman
#217 Tokyo Story
#221 Ikiru
#250 John Cassavettes Five Films
#260 Eyes without a Face
#265 Short Cuts
#278 Eclipse
#306 Le Samorai
#309 Ugetsu
#315 Shoot the Piano Player
#374 Bicycle Thieves
#400 Stranger than Paradise
#418 4 by Agnes Varda
#443 La Ronde
#444 La Plaisir
#500 Roberto Rosellini's War Trilogy
#528 Three Silent Classics by Von Sternberg

55, 58, 73, 83, 150 and 203 are out of print. Criterion lost the rights to those.

[Fett]

Originally Posted by Mr. Thomsen

Del Toro's DEVIL'S BACKBONE is coming from Criterion. I can't remember where, but they hinted as much.

I would absolutely *love* to see L'ARCANO INCANTATORE released, too. Such an atmospheric little story. It's my favorite movie by Pupi Avati. I even bought the Italian DVD (and found some fan-made subtitles for it). That and ZEDER. I know Avati's HOUSE WITH THE LAUGHING WINDOWS will be released on BD in the UK next year, but I far prefer those other two.

I am really envious that you got to watch INCANTATORE on the big screen. That most have been amazing.

As long as there are plans being made for Devil's Backbone I am a happy camper! Seeing L'arcano Incantatore was incredible, it was Del Toro's own film print copy I believe, glad to hear from another fan of the film its quite rare to come by. I haven't checked out any of Avati's other work but I'll have to now especially Zeder based on your recommendation

[retablo]

Originally Posted by MacEachaidh

Regarding Picnic at Hanging Rock, are people hoping for a Criterion upgrade because they think it would better the BD release currently available in the UK and Australia, or because it would be a Region A release?

I have the current Blu-ray (released through Umbrella in Australia), and I'm generally quite happy with it, but I've never seen the Criterion DVD to have any sense of what a Criterion release might be like. Anyone care to share their thoughts on this?

If Criterion does do an HD release of Hanging Rock, I hope they include both cuts of the film. With all due respect to Peter Weir, I don't agree with all the cuts he made in revising the film, and feel some valuable moments got lost.

Considering that they didn't include 2 cuts the last time, I wouldn't get your hopes up of them doing it now. Especially if Weir is involved and he prefers the director's cut.

[Evilpenguinj]

Hi Guys

I got two Criterion Releases for Christmas. The Game and Brazil. I just watched those and thought they were fantastic. I thought I would see if I could get some recommendations from you guys. No disrespect to others here but I am looking for more commercial type movies than most of the art house films criterion releases. So if anyone has any recommendations please send them my way. I know about Bottle Rocket and Royal Tannenbaums. Something other than those.

Thanks

Jason

[ZooTv]

Originally Posted by Evilpenguinj

Hi Guys

I got two Criterion Releases for Christmas. The Game and Brazil. I just watched those and thought they were fantastic. I thought I would see if I could get some recommendations from you guys. No disrespect to others here but I am looking for more commercial type movies than most of the art house films criterion releases. So if anyone has any recommendations please send them my way. I know about Bottle Rocket and Royal Tannenbaums. Something other than those.

Thanks

Jason

12 Angry Men (1957)
Rosemary's Baby (1968)
Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas (1998)
Traffic (2000)

[Simon_LDT]

Originally Posted by Evilpenguinj

Hi Guys

I got two Criterion Releases for Christmas. The Game and Brazil. I just watched those and thought they were fantastic. I thought I would see if I could get some recommendations from you guys. No disrespect to others here but I am looking for more commercial type movies than most of the art house films criterion releases. So if anyone has any recommendations please send them my way. I know about Bottle Rocket and Royal Tannenbaums. Something other than those.

Thanks

Jason

Try:
Following
Being John Malkovich
Blow Out
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Killing
Shallow Grave

[*PREACHER*]

Originally Posted by Evilpenguinj

Hi Guys

I got two Criterion Releases for Christmas. The Game and Brazil. I just watched those and thought they were fantastic. I thought I would see if I could get some recommendations from you guys. No disrespect to others here but I am looking for more commercial type movies than most of the art house films criterion releases. So if anyone has any recommendations please send them my way. I know about Bottle Rocket and Royal Tannenbaums. Something other than those.

Thanks

Jason

Harold & Maude(1971)
The Blob(1958) releasing in March

The Blob is a great one because Twilight Time will be releasing the (1988) version in the upcoming year as well.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...light=the+blob

[*PREACHER*]

Originally Posted by ZooTv

12 Angry Men (1957)
Rosemary's Baby (1968)
Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas (1998)
Traffic (2000)

I would've said those too...Fear and Loathing was actually my first title to bring me into the Criterion world. I've never looked back!!!

[ZooTv]

Originally Posted by Evilpenguinj

Hi Guys

I got two Criterion Releases for Christmas. The Game and Brazil. I just watched those and thought they were fantastic. I thought I would see if I could get some recommendations from you guys. No disrespect to others here but I am looking for more commercial type movies than most of the art house films criterion releases. So if anyone has any recommendations please send them my way. I know about Bottle Rocket and Royal Tannenbaums. Something other than those.

Thanks

Jason

I'd also add Following (1998) if you enjoy Christopher Nolan's films.

[joenostalgia23]

Originally Posted by bigbadwoppet

55, 58, 73, 83, 150 and 203 are out of print. Criterion lost the rights to those.

Damn, I feel stupid for holding off on the DVD versions of those. I had never even heard about those being OOP.

I can still get Cleo in the Vargas set though. It'd be great if Criterion released a Blu-ray of the entire set... but if they really don't have the rights maybe that won't happen.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by joenostalgia23

I can still get Cleo in the Vargas set though. It'd be great if Criterion released a Blu-ray of the entire set... but if they really don't have the rights maybe that won't happen.

I thought they released the set after that title had already gone OOP. At least, I remember when I bought that boxed set back in 2009, the DVD was already OOP and hard to find.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by Evilpenguinj

Hi Guys

I got two Criterion Releases for Christmas. The Game and Brazil. I just watched those and thought they were fantastic. I thought I would see if I could get some recommendations from you guys. No disrespect to others here but I am looking for more commercial type movies than most of the art house films criterion releases. So if anyone has any recommendations please send them my way. I know about Bottle Rocket and Royal Tannenbaums. Something other than those.

Thanks

Jason

Although some may be considered "Art House" to you, these are the most widely enjoyable/approachable (off the top of my head, basically what I would watch with friends etc)

Being John Malkovich
Ravanche (Perhaps)
Hunger
12 Angry Men
Curious Case of Benny Buttons
The Third Man
Night Of The Hunter
Wages of Fear
Bigger Than Life
Blow Out
Che
Carlos
Thin Red Line
Following
Gomorrah
The Killing
Kes (perhaps)
Chungking Express
Mystery Train
Pale Flower (Perhaps)
Ride With the Devil (perhaps)
Shallow Grave


I would look at the descriptions, and go into each one knowing that they all have basically a standard 'plot' and none are strange dialogue-light visual art pieces that some find difficult to follow. This isn't to say that they are some how just dumbed down spoon-fed fluff pieces, it's just that they follow a standard "Story" like most mainstream films.

[scoogs]

Here's a good blog post, by the designer, on the creative process with Criterion for the Qatsi Trilogy cover artwork.

[SimBelm]

Wishlist:
ATG (Oshima, Kuroki, Jissoji, Terayama, Matsumoto, Hani, Yoshida e.t.c.)
Fassbinder (In a Year with 13 Moons, Chinese Roulette, The Third Generation, Satan's Brew e.t.c.)
Nikkatsu Noir Vol. 2 (specifically Velvet Hustler)
Czech New Wave Vol. 2
Cinema Novo
WCF Boxset
More Eclipse sets
Eclipse series upgraded to Blu

[Yami]

I'd love for the Larisa Shepitko set to be upgraded to Blu. Preferably with a few more of her films

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Evilpenguinj

Hi Guys

I got two Criterion Releases for Christmas. The Game and Brazil. I just watched those and thought they were fantastic. I thought I would see if I could get some recommendations from you guys. No disrespect to others here but I am looking for more commercial type movies than most of the art house films criterion releases. So if anyone has any recommendations please send them my way. I know about Bottle Rocket and Royal Tannenbaums. Something other than those.

Thanks

Jason

Seven Samurai for the win.

It is so ubiquitous in movie culture that it's difficult not to think of it as commercial. The Magnificent Seven, A Bug's Life, and pretty much everything else was based on this movie.