The Criterion Collection

[A Sith Lord?]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

There will always be the next 'I should have got...'

Of yhr the ones on sale I could've gotten that I didn't alteady have there were two left: Wings or Malkovich.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by The Bronx Bull

Just watched "Le Trou." Excellent prison movie, and as I'm sure many around here have watched "A Man Escaped" recently due to its BD release, I highly recommend "Le Trou" to compliment it. The two films are similar in some ways, but remarkably different in others.

I have owned Le Trou on DVD for some time now, and I love it. It's certainly on the same level as A Man Escaped, although they are great films for different reasons.

[spanky87]

If you could pick ONE Coen brothers film to get the Criterion treatment, which would it be? Either because it's your favorite, or because it needs a proper blu-ray release including a new transfer and supplements.

I say Man Who Wasn't There, because it deserves a blu-ray release already.

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by spanky87

If you could pick ONE Coen brothers film to get the Criterion treatment, which would it be? Either because it's your favorite, or because it needs a proper blu-ray release including a new transfer and supplements.

I say Man Who Wasn't There, because it deserves a blu-ray release already.

My favourite Coens movie is Miller's Crossing, but I'm not convinced the current Blu Ray can be improved upon all that much. So, I could get behind The Man Who Wasn't There for sure.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by spanky87

If you could pick ONE Coen brothers film to get the Criterion treatment, which would it be? Either because it's your favorite, or because it needs a proper blu-ray release including a new transfer and supplements.

I say Man Who Wasn't There, because it deserves a blu-ray release already.

The Man Who Wasn't There really does need a release. And while we're on the subject I wonder what's holding up a US release of Barton Fink.

Of course, The Big Lebowski is a fave and really could stand a do-over.

I would probably go with The Man Who Wasn't There but it would be a close call.

And if you throw in 'none of the above: the Coens are doing fine on BD' it gets even closer. I would grab any of the three titles I mentioned in a heartbeat but I wouldn't exactly push for them.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by spanky87

If you could pick ONE Coen brothers film to get the Criterion treatment, which would it be? Either because it's your favorite, or because it needs a proper blu-ray release including a new transfer and supplements.

I say Man Who Wasn't There, because it deserves a blu-ray release already.

The only films of theirs not on Region A BluRay are:
LadyKillers
Intolerable Cruelty
The Man Who Wasn't There
Barton Fink

It's a toss up between the last two for me.

[oildude]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

I have been eying it. My wife isn't exactly keen on the idea of the silent films, so I'm going to pick my first one carefully.

In addition to the already recommended The Thief of Bagdad (which I have not yet seen but understand it to be excellent and highly praised):

People on Sunday - run, don't walk, to get this one. On my shortlist of favorite Criterions.

Wings - a very good story about two friends who become World War I fighter pilots. Lots of action, a bit of romance, and some of the best aerial dogfight scenes ever put on film. Also a Best Picture winner.

The General or The Navigator - among my favorite Buster Keaton films

I will also recommend one I watched this weekend for the first time that I think would make an excellent introduction to silent cinema. F.W. Murnau's Sunrise is just outstanding in so many ways. Dramatic, moving, with excellent performances and marvelous scenery and lush interiors. You will have to import it, though, since it has not been released in the U.S. yet. It is available in a region free edtion from Eureka's Masters of Cinema series. I got it off amazon.uk at an extremely good price. You can read the review here on blu-ray.com and order it, if it intrigues you. I cannot recommend it highly enough, right up there with People on Sunday.

You also cannot go wrong with Fritz Lang, but as much as I love Lang, I don't know that I would make him my first choice for a silent film introduction. Die Nibelungen is probably the greatest silent film I have ever seen, an epic in every sense of the word, in two parts totaling 5 hrs of run time. You will, however, be well rewarded for your efforts. It is a powerhouse of performances, set design, and action, with a magnificent original score that greatly compliments the film.

There is also Lang's better known Metropolis, a true classic. Again, a fine film, but not my first choice to recommend.


EDIT: Reading further down after I posted, I see you are already aware of Sunrise. Definitely worth importing. And I see that drbikeshorts was also watching it this weekend, although for me it was my first viewing. Really impressed by it.

And although it is not technically a true silent, I think Chaplin's Modern Times is a good ice-breaker and introduction to silent cinema. It is lighthearted, enjoyable, and outright hilarious in places.

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by spanky87

If you could pick ONE Coen brothers film to get the Criterion treatment, which would it be? Either because it's your favorite, or because it needs a proper blu-ray release including a new transfer and supplements.

I say Man Who Wasn't There, because it deserves a blu-ray release already.

All the Coen Brothers films I have seen already have good enough blu-ray releases, but I'd probably give it to A Serious Man, just to get some more supplements.

[KrugerIndustrial]

Originally Posted by MasturB

Crap! Should of gotten Wings of Desire!

I was just browsing this thread and almost had a stroke when I read this post. For a second I thought that too had gone OOP. Should not be up this late..

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Any opinions on That Obscure Object of Desire?

I am still watching my Bond Blu-rays in order and just finished revisiting For Your Eyes Only, my favorite of the Roger Moore Bond films by far. I had a big crush on Caroline Bouquet after I saw this movie during childhood, and I still consider her to be one of the best Bond girls. I understand that she is featured prominently in That Obscure Object of Desire, and I've wanted to see that film for a while.

Criterion does not have a Blu-ray, sadly, but I just saw that StudioCanal has a Region A Blu-ray of the movie.

If you liked Belle de Jour , then it is almost guaranteed that you will like That Obscure Object of Desire. It is a bit more surreal than Belle de Jour. Caroline Bouquet "shares" screen time with another beautiful actress Angela Molina. It is a very interesting film, to say the least. I would watch the film with knowing very little about the story. That's the best way to approach any Bunuel film.

I am planning to buy Tristana first, because I have not seen the film and it has Catherine Deneuve. After that I will pick up studiocanal blu ray of That Obscure Object of Desire.

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by oildude

In addition to the already recommended The Thief of Bagdad (which I have not yet seen but understand it to be excellent and highly praised):

People on Sunday - run, don't walk, to get this one. On my shortlist of favorite Criterions.

Wings - a very good story about two friends who become World War I fighter pilots. Lots of action, a bit of romance, and some of the best aerial dogfight scenes ever put on film. Also a Best Picture winner.

The General or The Navigator - among my favorite Buster Keaton films

I will also recommend one I watched this weekend for the first time that I think would make an excellent introduction to silent cinema. F.W. Murnau's Sunrise is just outstanding in so many ways. Dramatic, moving, with excellent performances and marvelous scenery and lush interiors. You will have to import it, though, since it has not been released in the U.S. yet. It is available in a region free edtion from Eureka's Masters of Cinema series. I got it off amazon.uk at an extremely good price. You can read the review here on blu-ray.com and order it, if it intrigues you. I cannot recommend it highly enough, right up there with People on Sunday.

You also cannot go wrong with Fritz Lang, but as much as I love Lang, I don't know that I would make him my first choice for a silent film introduction. Die Nibelungen is probably the greatest silent film I have ever seen, an epic in every sense of the word, in two parts totaling 5 hrs of run time. You will, however, be well rewarded for your efforts. It is a powerhouse of performances, set design, and action, with a magnificent original score that greatly compliments the film.

There is also Lang's better known Metropolis, a true classic. Again, a fine film, but not my first choice to recommend.


EDIT: Reading further down after I posted, I see you are already aware of Sunrise. Definitely worth importing. And I see that drbikeshorts was also watching it this weekend, although for me it was my first viewing. Really impressed by it.

And although it is not technically a true silent, I think Chaplin's Modern Times is a good ice-breaker and introduction to silent cinema. It is lighthearted, enjoyable, and outright hilarious in places.

Thanks for all of this advice!

I am in Australia, so region 2 is actually my region - I have a few of the Masters of Cinema releases. We recently bought an all-region Blu Ray player mostly so that we could get Criterion Blus.

[panamablu]

Originally Posted by MidwestCrucible

http://www.criterion.com/shop_produc...r-at-marienbad

Thank you so much! Really apreciate it

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by spanky87

If you could pick ONE Coen brothers film to get the Criterion treatment, which would it be? Either because it's your favorite, or because it needs a proper blu-ray release including a new transfer and supplements.

I say Man Who Wasn't There, because it deserves a blu-ray release already.

My favorite Coen Brothers film by a long mile is No Country For Old Men. The existing Blu-ray is spectacular, but I would be happy to see some Criterion extras...perhaps a rare interview with the normally interview-shy Cormac McCarthy.

I don't usually "get" the Coen Brothers films, though. In the same way that I do not relate to the quirks of Wes Anderson movies, I do not usually get drawn into the particular style of the Coen Brothers. (Although I like the films of the Coen Brothers a lot more than Anderson's.)

[lemonski]

Originally Posted by monorail91

Just rented Army of Shadows (after B&N botched my order of it) - good not great. I don't mind that this one slipped away from me.

On hearing it was going out of print, I watched Army of Shadows for the first time as well. I thought it was great - BUT - not quite great enough that I could see myself re-watching it multiple times. I find it's very easy to get caught up in OOP-mania and buy just for the sake of it.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by lemonski

On hearing it was going out of print, I watched Army of Shadows for the first time as well. I thought it was great - BUT - not quite great enough that I could see myself re-watching it multiple times. I find it's very easy to get caught up in OOP-mania and buy just for the sake of it.

I also wasn't very enthusiastic about it.

I also just bought Le Cercle Rouge and had the exact same experience. I didn't hate the film, but I don't find much that appealed to me in it...neither visually or narratively. I don't really see myself watching it again. I'm not sorry I bought it, but I'm glad I didn't have to pay high OOP prices for it.

[jayj15]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

The only films of theirs not on Region A BluRay are:
LadyKillers
Intolerable Cruelty
The Man Who Wasn't There
Barton Fink

It's a toss up between the last two for me.

Intolerable Cruelty and Barton Fink are region free in the Coen UK boxset. I thought they both looked great. I don't get the push (by criterion facebook fans mostly) for Barton Fink to get a Criterion release, as the UK bluray is fine as it is.

[Scottie]

I've been taking a break on the Criterions lately with the exception of Naked Lunch last week. I'm going to definitely watch Repo Man this week and hopefully The Wages Of Fear (as I've been meaning to check it out but haven't gotten around to yet). I've honestly been watching my regular Blu-rays lately to thin down my collection with the films that don't appeal to me. Plus, Mad Men has been consuming my late nights.

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I thought there were far creepier things in the film

Speaking of creepy, We are all still awaiting yourSalo review

I honestly think that was the creepiest part of the film aside from the general atmosphere of the movie where the viewer is constantly waiting for something to happen. Lol and Salo will probably be the last Criterion in my collection that I will watch!

Originally Posted by nich0103

Does anyone know if Best Buy will ship you the slipcover if you order The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Criterion Collection from their website?

No places will ship the Slipcover unless you order it from eBay and a Slipcover is specified. I ordered a copy from both Amazon and Best Buy and neither place had it. I also e-mailed Criterion directly and they said they don't have any anymore.

Originally Posted by ElliesDad

If you thought that was creepy check out the actual clip on you-tube! Thank you Abdrewes. I'll be spending the rest of the evening endlessly re-playing Under the Tuscan Sun trying to erase the retinal burn from those images...

Oh, I saw it on my TV a couple months ago. I honestly had chills.

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Any opinions on That Obscure Object of Desire?

I am still watching my Bond Blu-rays in order and just finished revisiting For Your Eyes Only, my favorite of the Roger Moore Bond films by far. I had a big crush on Caroline Bouquet after I saw this movie during childhood, and I still consider her to be one of the best Bond girls. I understand that she is featured prominently in That Obscure Object of Desire, and I've wanted to see that film for a while.

Criterion does not have a Blu-ray, sadly, but I just saw that StudioCanal has a Region A Blu-ray of the movie.

I've always wanted to see the film to the point that I actually bought the Blu-ray. Unfortunately I haven't gotten around to it.

I think sometime soon (maybe this week), I will have a StudioCanal marathon and watch all of my titles.

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

I also wasn't very enthusiastic about it.

I also just bought Le Cercle Rouge and had the exact same experience. I didn't hate the film, but I don't find much that appealed to me in it...neither visually or narratively. I don't really see myself watching it again. I'm not sorry I bought it, but I'm glad I didn't have to pay high OOP prices for it.

Are you a war era kind of guy? I think my love for World War II and seeing different perspectives to it is what drove me to love both of those titles. I wasn't as won over by Leon Morin, but Le Cercle Rouge was definitely my favorite of the Melville bunch.

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I've been taking a break on the Criterions lately with the exception of Naked Lunch last week. I'm going to definitely watch Repo Man this week and hopefully The Wages Of Fear (as I've been meaning to check it out but haven't gotten around to yet).

Wages of Fear is my second favourite Criterion so far (after Night of the Hunter). Just watched it over the weekend myself.

[jrsl76]

Originally Posted by The Bronx Bull

Just watched "Le Trou." Excellent prison movie, and as I'm sure many around here have watched "A Man Escaped" recently due to its BD release, I highly recommend "Le Trou" to compliment it. The two films are similar in some ways, but remarkably different in others.

What a film!

Le Trou is one of my favorite films in the entire collection. A real gem! I did just watch A Man Escaped and thought the same thing. The 2 would make for a great double feature.

[jrsl76]

Originally Posted by nich0103

Does anyone know if Best Buy will ship you the slipcover if you order The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Criterion Collection from their website?

A couple of people have answered you that you won't get it anywhere unless someone is selling a used copy with slip. Let me say that when it came out, I was still buying DVDs for a few more months so I originally had the movie on DVD. When I upgraded it to blu, the slips were gone and it was not easy for me to track down a mint condition slip for this. I eventually did it and paid about $10 - $12 for it. I'm just happy to have it now.