The Criterion Collection

[*DrStrangelove*]

I think Early Fassbinder might be my first eclipse set. I've never had interest in buying a DVD until now. I just wish they would anounce the BRD trilogy already

[SpiderBaby]

Let's see, Fassbinder, Satyajit Ray, Lubitsch, Ophuls, and people have no interest in the month. Yeah, I overstayed my welcome here.

[lastemp3ror]

I got to say this thread is pretty hilarious. Some people seem to get offended pretty easily about if someone likes or dislikes something. Am I missing something? Or did some of you play a role in creating some of these movies?

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by SpiderBaby

Let's see, Fassbinder, Satyajit Ray, Lubitsch, Ophuls, and people have no interest in the month. Yeah, I overstayed my welcome here.

Let's see. Someone has a different opinion than me. Can't abide by that.

[shortmartin]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

Out of curiosity, to those who consider this a "weak" or "the worst" month, how many of these pictures have you seen?

I mean, 3 Satyajit Ray films, 5 Rainer Werner Fassbinder films, a Lubitsch starring the gorgeous Carole Lombard, The Earrings of Madame... (widely-regarded as one of the greatest films of all-time), and Seconds (a great, tense sci-fi tinged B-thriller)...that is a pretty decent line-up. 11 films, 5 nations, spanning 4 decades. Everyone's tastes are different, but it's hard to believe anyone interested in Criterion in general would scoff at this output. And yet this thread is teeming with disregard. You're doing yourselves an injustice by writing off stuff that you don't know yet, IMHO.

Originally Posted by Cinemach

+11.

There are some months where I can see the 'meh' - last year was chock full of them - but for the reasons Joe Dalek has listed, I don't see how you can look at this announcement and say that it's one of the worst months ever. Even if you legitimately harbor no interest for any of these films - a possibility I certainly recognize - I don't know how any reasonable fan of the cinema can call this batch boring. The swath that it cuts from genre to country to era is astounding.

I agree with both of these posts and believe they make important points. There is such a wide swathe of offerings this month that Criterion as a brand is doing a great deal to market to many fans and interests, and they are helping to foster new interests in the process (for example, folks who might not have wide exposure to Ray . . . like me, I've only seen Music Man and absolutely loved it).

Besides the Ray films, I'm really excited about Seconds. It is indeed a masterpiece that successfully bends together elements of different genres to create a really unique sci-fi tinged thriller, and it maintains an intentional b-level aesthetic that is classic and feels edgy and raw. Hudson is terrific and it's very ironic that the movie is in many ways about appearance and vanity. Reminds me a lot of Abre Los Ojos and Vanilla Sky, but better.

The Ophuls is also amazing - all of his work that is on Criterion is great, and Madame is one of the best. I love the photography, the set design, and the opulence of his artistry. And Fassbinder . . . he has quickly become one of my favorite directors after World on a Wire, and several others that I've caught here and there. I'm really excited about this Eclipse release. Lastly, I haven't seen the Lubitsch film but my interest is piqued and I'll inevitably pursue it also, as I've long read about this movie that up until now has been difficult to come across in terms of a high quality print.

All in all, I feel about the same as I do every month. I'm pining for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (we all have our handful of movies that we just absolutely want released). But I'm also appreciative of the diversity, the possibility for encountering something new and as yet unknown, and the work that Criterion obviously does to cultivate a brand that brings the best of world cinema to multiple audiences while also appealing for the interests of many fans in more popular work. Criterion does a nice job of balancing these interests, I think, and that's part of why I'm a fan of Criterion.

[shortmartin]

Originally Posted by Tin Drum

I about passed out when I saw Seconds included. That movie is amazing and easily in my top five of all time. Keeping the OOP dvd anyway.

August is a killer month. All August titles will be mine (including the eclipse). BEST MONTH EVER from them, IMO.

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing . . . I think I'm going to try to sell mine. But I was considering keeping it, as I've watched it many times. Seconds is a movie that rocks hard, maintains a gritty aesthetic, and delivers a nuanced character study at the same time. I'm also reminded of Alphaville. That would be a good pairing too.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

Let's see. Someone has a different opinion than me. Can't abide by that.

Is it an opinion or just shooting down films because of ignorance towards them and rather have some Kubrick or Lynch?

[Jr7936]

just the ray films here but I might wait to get them.

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by SpiderBaby

Is it an opinion or just shooting down films because of ignorance towards them and rather have some Kubrick or Lynch?

That would still be an opinion, yes.

Look, this is the most exciting list of announcements since I've been here, for me, but you're threatening to rage-quit because a few people don't feel the same way you do...

[kolosomo]

It's a bit rich coming from SpiderBaby who claims to have almost no interest every single month. Maybe it's ignorance, maybe it's not. Who cares.

Personally I'm very excited about Charulata. It's such a wonderful film. I haven't seen the other Ray title but I'll definitely be getting it. I only watched To Be Or Not to Be a few weeks ago also; really enjoyable film. Very solid month I think.

[UNCMT9]

I think it's funny and unique how different Criterion tastes appeal to different members. What some are calling a great month, others are calling it the worst month in a while.

On a side note, will the B&N 50% off sale in July allow for preorders to be 50% off as well?

[shortmartin]

Originally Posted by shortmartin

I'm also appreciative of the diversity, the possibility for encountering something new and as yet unknown, and the work that Criterion obviously does to cultivate a brand that brings the best of world cinema to multiple audiences while also appealing for the interests of many fans in more popular work. Criterion does a nice job of balancing these interests, I think, and that's part of why I'm a fan of Criterion.

It's not as though the multiple interests that Criterion engages with and caters to are mutually exclusive . . . Lubitsch's To Be very clearly played into the many influences that drove Mel Brooks (watch To Be alongside The Producers), and as others have pointed out, Ophuls has been a primary source of inspiration and innovation for directors as diverse as Kubrick and Linklater, and Seconds in its engagement with sci-fi, the thriller, and paranoia as genre forms would make a wonderful double-bill with something like Vanilla Sky, Following, Memento, or Inception. So to me, these movies are not only exceptional in themselves - they also provide a helpful and necessary context for understanding more recent and perhaps more popular, or publicly, or critically recognized work. My respect for Criterion has to do with the fact that the company brings out a range of releases so that these contexts can be part of how we as fans and consumers experience the films, because they do enrich those experiences. Being able to watch Dazed and Confused just wouldn't be the same without being able to pop in Ophuls - for its own sake, and for the sake of understanding film as art and history.

[AverageAtBest]

Originally Posted by jw007

Yes, I still have the email that I wrote (on November 23, 2009 at 3:32 AM) to a friend about "The Man Who Fell to Earth" where I boasted that I bought this for 85% off! If you ever find a way to combine a 25% off coupon in conjunction with a 50% off sale (with 10% member discount on top of that) at Barnes & Noble, you will be one happy person.

I still need to invest in a barnes and noble membership card for those type of deals.

Right now I have a friend who lets me use their card but I really should invest.

[The Great Owl]

There's something for everybody on Criterion. Each month, I see one or two releases that I plan to buy, while the rest of them quietly slip under my radar, to be forgotten or to be brought to my attention at a later date. I have no inclination whatsoever to own every single Criterion Collection Blu-ray, but I do somehow continue discovering some previously-unknown jewels.

[*DrStrangelove*]

Originally Posted by SpiderBaby

Is it an opinion or just shooting down films because of ignorance towards them and rather have some Kubrick or Lynch?

What's wrong with wanting more Kubrick? Is he not obscure enough?

[MitchA17]

The way I see it, the inevitable clash between joy and disappointment has mainly to do with:

1: Criterion is a company with a massive back catalogue, containing many films that many people are very passionate about, and have the (forgivable) urge to see in the best way possible. At the risk of internet tar-and-feathering, I am one of the people who is anticipating a Life Aquatic upgrade (and a Slacker blu, while we're at it). It is a film people love. Some people don't love it. Isn't that how all films are?

2: There is a difference between films people anticipate and those that are curiosities. That is one of the main positives of Criterion is the restoration and presentation of films that we wouldn't know about. Leading to:

3: It can be hard to be excited about a curiosity, as the majority of curiosities are difficult to find. Blind buying is always a tricky proposition (especially with Criterion titles), and if you want to watch a title in time to pick it up for the 50% off sales, you have a specific time window in which to do so.

So, overall, this month is primarily curiosities for me. I definitely want to see the works of Ray, so The Big City is a good place to start.

None of the titles sound like things I would buy sight unseen (and I have seen none), but I am fine with that. I will try to watch them if I am able. Nothing wrong with having some extra money (plus, my two must-haves, Medium Cool and Shoah, will be sucker punches to my wallet ).

[AverageAtBest]

I kinda like when I haven't heard of a movie in a month of criterion releases. Not even being sarcastic I like it because I get to discover new directors or genres most of the time.

[Scottie]

I think Criterion forgot about Y Tu Mama Tambien? and Grey Gardens.

Both have been hinted for a while.

[lastemp3ror]

Originally Posted by AverageAtBest

I kinda like when I haven't heard of a movie in a month of criterion releases. Not even being sarcastic I like it because I get to discover new directors or genres most of the time.

I agree in the most part. Mainly because my knowledge of movies (especially compared to most on this thread) isn't that great, and I get to discover movies I have never heard of.

[Blu-Velvet]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

There's something for everybody on Criterion. Each month, I see one or two releases that I plan to buy, while the rest of them quietly slip under my radar, to be forgotten or to be brought to my attention at a later date. I have no inclination whatsoever to own every single Criterion Collection Blu-ray, but I do somehow continue discovering some previously-unknown jewels.

Exactly. One gets the impression that the people claiming it's a weak month or a bad month or the worst month for Criterion are really saying, is that there are no films made after 1970 being released this month, or after 1980 or 1990, or titles or directors I've ever heard of. For me, on the other hand, it's one of many great months Criterion has had this year, and is among the very best of this year specifically BECAUSE all of the Blu-rays are of films made before 1970 (although there are certainly plenty of post-1970 and even post-2010 films worthy of Criterion treatment). I've seen three of the five August titles (all but those Ray films), and plan to buy all of them on Blu-ray.

Criterion (and Eureka's Masters of Cinema) are wonderfully eclectic distributors comparable to a classic arthouse cinema or film society that makes a few familiar classics available, a few more recent popular and critical hits, and plenty of off-beat obscurities made by many of the same directors and stars, as well as little-known filmmakers that deserve wider recognition. Regular patrons wind up getting a well-rounded education in world cinema from its beginnings through the present-day, discovering things they never new existed, getting a taste for other styles and cultures, and finding new likes (and dislikes).

The entire point of blind-buying or renting Criterion films is really missed by people who dismiss anything out of their particular comfort zone. There are a few Criterion titles I never plan to buy, but others I'd never previously heard of that I've watched or bought on recommendation from others (often from this forum) that have become favorites, or at least an interesting change of pace even if I'm not particularly enthralled by them.