The Criterion Collection

[RandyK]

Bought my first 3 Criterions this week.

Videodrome
Rosemary's Baby
Repulsion

Just have to find time to watch them.

[Grethiwha]

Originally Posted by paulgeneacepeter

Which Criterion blu ray releases come with large booklets? I'm talking about the really thick ones like

Seven Samurai
The Battle of Algiers
Salo
Dazed and Confused

I originally thought it was all cardboard packaged releases but The Last Emperor only came with a small booklet.

Seven Samurai has a proper-thick booklet, like, that's flat at the end. Three Colours is the only other one I have like that (though the Kagemusha booklet is really nice).

[Simple Lines]

Originally Posted by paulgeneacepeter

Which Criterion blu ray releases come with large booklets? I'm talking about the really thick ones like

Seven Samurai
The Battle of Algiers
Salo
Dazed and Confused

I originally thought it was all cardboard packaged releases but The Last Emperor only came with a small booklet.

Amarcord
America Lost and Found: The BBS Story
The Battle of Algiers
Breathless
Carlos
Dazed and Confused
Salo
Seven Samurai
Sweet Smell of Success
Three Colors Trilogy


Others mentioned after your post...

David Lean Directs Noel Coward
Fanny and Alexander
Godzilla
The Leopard (I don't have this, but it looks like a stapled book in a pocket (i.e. Night of the Hunter))
Night of the Hunter
The Qatsi Trilogy

...have stapled booklets.

[Monty70]

The Leopard does come with a stapled booklet much like The Night of the Hunter.

[brandon_260]

Spent the last few days watching some films from the collection, a couple new ones and a couple rewatches.

After finding The Thin Red Line and Days of Heaven to be the two most disappointing Malick films the first time around, my position has shifted completely upon re-evaluating the film. I find both to be absolutely outstanding upon second viewing, and I now consider The Thin Red Line my favorite Malick, and quite possibly the best film of the 90's.

On The Waterfront was really great. I'm not familiar much with film from the 50's, but this felt like a wonderful introduction. I'll definitely be picking up the blu after it is released, but I'll probably wait until I can find it for a fair price.

I finally watched Tiny Furniture as well. I completely see why people have such a strong disdain for the film, but I really enjoyed it. It is is certainly flawed and self-indulgent, although I feel there is definitely a lot there that is an accurate portrayal of people in that specific demographic.

Don't really have much thoughts on Alphaville or The Last Emperor. Alphaville was a different piece from Godard, but I can't say it's one I care for much in his filmography.

[Grethiwha]

Originally Posted by Simple Lines

Fanny and Alexander

Others mentioned after your post...

...have stapled booklets.

The Fanny and Alexander booklet I have is stapled (though it's slightly taller and wider than the standard size)...

[octagon]

Originally Posted by sc1957

And what's it to you? If you don't like their business model, take your business elsewhere.

It doesn't sound like he's criticising their practices so much as questioning the (fairly popular) idea that region locking is always completely out of their hands and they never have anything to say about it.

To be honest, I've kind of wondered about that too.

[Tin Drum]

Originally Posted by KrugerIndustrial

Oh, how much I wish Criterion to release Dillinger is Dead on blu this year. One of those films that will stick in your mind forever. Simply amazing.

I'd love it on blu, but the DVD looks stellar on its own.

[Simple Lines]

Originally Posted by Grethiwha

The Fanny and Alexander booklet I have is stapled (though it's slightly taller and wider than the standard size)...

Thanks for pointing that out.

I don't own Fanny, so I only had photos from criterionforum to go by.

It should be an accurate list now.

[henry00x]

as someone who has never purchased a single dvd or blu ray from this set, which five would you guys recommend to a newcomer as must have first purchases?

[tonylopez]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

Picked up Following today

Cool. I hope Costco keeps this up with carrying Criterion blus. I would be able to afford a few more than usual and start to fill the gaps of titles I'm missing.

[tonylopez]

Originally Posted by henry00x

as someone who has never purchased a single dvd or blu ray from this set, which five would you guys recommend to a newcomer as must have first purchases?

It depends truly on your preference of film. But let me say first off, SEVEN SAMURAI. This movie grabbed me and never let go. This blu has it all. Great intro into the Criterion world. Some others I love and own are THE THIN RED LINE & PATHS OF GLORY as far as war movies. On the horror front, I like VIDEODROME, ROSEMARY'S BABY & ANTICHRIST, but be warned. They get a little extreme. BRAZIL, BLOW OUT, 12 ANGRY MEN are a few more I find myself returning to. Read up on reviews for all Criterion blurays and determine for yourself which films you would like to take home and enjoy. And most importantly, dont be afraid to blind buy and get lost into a film.

[Jr7936]

as someone who has never purchased a single dvd or blu ray from this set, which five would you guys recommend to a newcomer as must have first purchases?

i would have to say qatsi trilogy, if the pina transfer and audio stays the same then that, fish tank, carlos, che, maybe trilogy of life, and on dvd if you could find it i like the criterion transfer of the harder they come

[Abdrewes]

I just saw Harry Dean Stanton in The Last Stand

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Jr7936

i would have to say qatsi trilogy, if the pina transfer and audio stays the same then that, fish tank, carlos, che, maybe trilogy of life, and on dvd if you could find it i like the criterion transfer of the harder they come

I don't think I'll ever want to see Naqoyqatsi again, probably my least favorite Criterion (Sorry Darjeeling Limited, Canterbury Tales and A Safe Place). But Koyaanisqatsi is more than worth every penny.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by henry00x

as someone who has never purchased a single dvd or blu ray from this set, which five would you guys recommend to a newcomer as must have first purchases?

For my money Last Year at Marienbad and The Red Shoes are among their finest blu-ray offerings.

These are good entry-level fare (and this is not to disparage their quality at all. They're great films):

Wages of Fear
Seven Samurai
Yojimbo
Charade
Bigger than Life
The 400 Blows
Breathless
Carlos
If...
Kuroneko
Kiss Me Deadly
Revanche
Rosemary's Baby

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I don't think I'll ever want to see Naqoyqatsi again, probably my least favorite Criterion (Sorry Darjeeling Limited, Canterbury Tales and A Safe Place). But Koyaanisqatsi is more than worth every penny.

Completely agree with the bolded...I started out really loving the set..but that film just didn't interest me.

[Jr7936]

i recommended the trilogy set since the 1st 2 films, are some of my favorite films of all time and i have yet to even see the third
also since you can't get the blu's by themselves, i figured why not

[Spire]

Have there been instances in the past where Criterion has regained lost licensing for titles? With OOP's coming back into stock?

[Blu-Velvet]

Originally Posted by henry00x

as someone who has never purchased a single dvd or blu ray from this set, which five would you guys recommend to a newcomer as must have first purchases?

It's pretty hard to pick five at random, but here are three sets of five worth checking out, perhaps starting with the first five, and if you like them move on to the next five (which include two by the same directors in the first group), and then the third five. After a little bit of reading, it shouldn't be hard to blind-buy just about any Criterion titles that sound intriguing.

SMILES OF A SUMMER NIGHT
NIGHT OF THE HUNTER
THE GOLD RUSH
YOJIMBO (get it packaged with its sequel, SANJURO)
WALKABOUT

THE SEVENTH SEAL
RASHOMON
8 1/2
BLACK ORPHEUS
CHARADE

LEON MORIN PRIEST
BLOW OUT
PARIS, TEXAS
MYSTERY TRAIN
RIDE WITH THE DEVIL

You can't go wrong with just about any of their Japanese titles. Then there are some great box sets like the David Lean/Noel Coward set, the BBS set, and some others. With all of the films, the booklets and commentaries will greatly aid in appreciation and understanding of what the director was aiming for (especially potentially more "difficult" titles like LAST YEAR AT MARIENBAD, HOUSE, RED DESERT, KES, THE MUSIC ROOM, etc.).