The Criterion Collection

[Mansinthe]

i startet my criterion collection too.. but im only into asien cinema right now but i got already

all Masters of cinema asia blurays

+ criterions:

seven samurai
kagemusha
pale flower
High & low
Sanjuro / yojimbo
samurai trilogie

next order will be:

branded to kill + three outlaw samurai
or should i get rashomon first?

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

i startet my criterion collection too.. but im only into asien cinema right now but i got already

all Masters of cinema asia blurays

+ criterions:

seven samurai
kagemusha
pale flower
High & low
Sanjuro / yojimbo
samurai trilogie

next order will be:

branded to kill + three outlaw samurai
or should i get rashomon first?

Rashomon is undoubtedly the greatest film of the three, the structure was hugely influential. The flashbacks, the driving question ("what is truth?") and the way it makes us question/engage with narratives is fascinating.

I have to give a shout out for Harakiri, it is the greatest Samurai film Ive ever seen (sorry Kurosawa), so it goes without saying that it deservs to be in every collection.

[Blu-Velvet]

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

i startet my criterion collection too.. but im only into asien cinema right now but i got already

all Masters of cinema asia blurays

+ criterions:

seven samurai
kagemusha
pale flower
High & low
Sanjuro / yojimbo
samurai trilogie

next order will be:

branded to kill + three outlaw samurai
or should i get rashomon first?

All three are very good for different reasons. RASHOMON is the most thoughtful, philosophical, and an historically important classic. BRANDED TO KILL is the most stylish, intriguing, and unpredictable, a cross between American noir and French new wave with a Japanese flavor. THREE OUTLAW SAMURAI is the most entertaining as genre formula and probably would appeal to the widest variety of viewers.

[Mansinthe]

thanks to you two. well .. i will just order all 3 next week after the MoC announcment

(harakiri i already own, its part of Eurekas Masters of cinema label and superior to the criterion release)

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Rashomon is undoubtedly the greatest film of the three, the structure was hugely influential. The flashbacks, the driving question ("what is truth?") and the way it makes us question/engage with narratives is fascinating.

I have to give a shout out for Harakiri, it is the greatest Samurai film Ive ever seen (sorry Kurosawa), so it goes without saying that it deservs to be in every collection.

Sounds like he already has Harakiri from MOC, but yeah, total must have.

[The Great Owl]

I'm going to miss reviewing Bond movies in the 50 Years of Bond thread after I'm done in a few days.

Thankfully, I have a handful of Criterion Blu-ray viewings (Videodrome, Rosemary's Baby, Vivre Sa Vie, and Pierrot Le Fou) forthcoming. I've seen them all before on DVD, but cannot wait to experience them in high definition.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I'm going to miss reviewing Bond movies in the 50 Years of Bond thread after I'm done in a few days.

Thankfully, I have a handful of Criterion Blu-ray viewings (Videodrome, Rosemary's Baby, Vivre Sa Vie, and Pierrot Le Fou) forthcoming. I've seen them all before on DVD, but cannot wait to experience them in high definition.

I still have yet to see Rosemary's Baby in HD, can't wait! I think the last time I saw it was on AMC or something.

[ElliesDad]

Whew! another seven pages of catch-up.

I wonder if it's possible to use some of the techniques variously employed by intervention groups, cult deprogrammers, and Chinese and North Korean re-educational programs to rid someone of 'Salo-obsession'. Are there any plans by the APA to have it listed as a legitimate, recognized clinical condition, I wonder.

[ElliesDad]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Bebe as we call her in French (BB for Brigitte Bardot) Just like Marilyn Monroe I never understood what guys found so incredible about that woman That being said I would not mind if they release her only movie I truly like Les Petroleuses

Actually with Marilyn Monroe I tend to agree. But BB!!

Hats off incidentally to the good folks at Criterion customer service. I put in my first Criterion-order during the last sale and bulloxed it to the point that three of my five selections were shipped as DVDs rather than blu-rays. Long story short~ the blu-ray replacements arrived yesterday, with no change to the original billing despite the up-grade and with no further shipping costs, despite that the error was entirely my own. And the wait has only added to the anticipation!

[Joe Dalek]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

What fan club?

Nobody here likes to talk about his films past1970 or so.

They aren't really relevant to Criterion conversation, beyond Tout Va Bien (which was largely Gorin), nor are many of them readily available to view. Anyway, there are certainly fans of Godard here, just not conversation.

[JackTwist]

So new topic: The Human Condition

Thoughts? Opinions? Worth a purchase at a decent price now or do we suspect a re-release on blu-ray? I asked the same question a couple of weeks ago on Rossellini's War Trilogy and went ahead and purchased the DVD edition as both of these sets came out during Criterion's blu days.

[AverageAtBest]

And was actually able to order Repo Man. So I got that going for me.

[Sherlock_Jr]

Originally Posted by JackTwist

So new topic: The Human Condition

Thoughts? Opinions? Worth a purchase at a decent price now or do we suspect a re-release on blu-ray? I asked the same question a couple of weeks ago on Rossellini's War Trilogy and went ahead and purchased the DVD edition as both of these sets came out during Criterion's blu days.

Criterion stated at the time that the film elements for Rossellini's War Trilogy weren't in good enough shape to warrant a blu-ray release. I suspect the same with The Human Condition, but you never know when a restoration might happen.

[JackTwist]

Originally Posted by Roninblues

Upgrade welcomed here. One of Masaki Kobayashi’s best.

Its a movie I hear hailed as either an absolute masterpiece a flawed epic. It sounds fascinating, but at the price it is a film set I'd hate to purchase and then feel the need to repurchase should a re-release be on the horizon. I have a feeling based on the available elements that they chose not to release on blu-ray given the result may not be improved enough to warrant the cost. Similar to Masters of Cinema not releasing Trouble in Paradise on blu-ray with the recent DVD release.

[Abdrewes]

Revisiting Zero de Conduite. God, this film never gets old.

[COLD_COBRA_]

Looks like I'll be adding some Criterions to the shelf next week. I haven't bought any since November.

I stopped by Best Buy to see what they have for the upcoming U$S. The were scattered with everything so it was tough to find any. I do believe they carry Brazil and A night to Remember, and maybe On the Waterfront. Then I wait until July for more of the obscure titles BB doesn't have.

[Snicket]

Originally Posted by COLD_COBRA_

Looks like I'll be adding some Criterions to the shelf next week. I haven't bought any since November.

I stopped by Best Buy to see what they have for the upcoming U$S. The were scattered with everything so it was tough to find any. I do believe they carry Brazil and A night to Remember, and maybe On the Waterfront. Then I wait until July for more of the obscure titles BB doesn't have.

[Show spoiler]

I hope to pick up Badlands during the U+S, I also have a nice $10 cert for it. Very nice collection thus far, you have a lot of titles on my wishlist.

As a reminder for those of you looking to pick up Criterions through BB during the sale, even if your store is OOS, you can still place an order through the Express Lane (in store) and use the $5 off coupon, and shipping is free. A very nice time to pick some up if you just cant wait until July.

[jrsl76]

Originally Posted by Snicket

I hope to pick up Badlands during the U+S, I also have a nice $10 cert for it. Very nice collection thus far, you have a lot of titles on my wishlist.

As a reminder for those of you looking to pick up Criterions through BB during the sale, even if your store is OOS, you can still place an order through the Express Lane (in store) and use the $5 off coupon, and shipping is free. A very nice time to pick some up if you just cant wait until July.

I've never used Express lane. Is it only for items carried in store or if an item is also on the website?

[Snicket]

Originally Posted by jrsl76

I've never used Express lane. Is it only for items carried in store or if an item is also on the website?

Both, although if the website lists it as OOS you can't place an order (from what I understand). Otherwise it's super convenient.

So I'll be picking up Badlands even if my store is out.

[R o d]

Originally Posted by Sherlock_Jr

Criterion stated at the time that the film elements for Rossellini's War Trilogy weren't in good enough shape to warrant a blu-ray release. I suspect the same with The Human Condition, but you never know when a restoration might happen.

They had better NOT release these films on Blu-ray because they came out AFTER Criterion started releasing Blu-rays. To upgrade these DVDs with anything short of a complete restoration (or customer exchange) would be a betrayal to customer loyalty. Same thing goes for The Earrings of Madame De..., Make Way for Tomorrow, the Sternberg silents and a few others.