The Criterion Collection

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by iScottie

The other 5 don't really interest me, but I'll still watch them.

I'm more interested in your reactions to those than the others...they can be divisive.

[brandon_260]

So, I'm looking to start using my library as a resource for checking out Criterion releases again. Could anyone give me some recommendations? As a guide, here is my collection: http://www.criterion.com/my_criterio...dge/collection

and my top 10 (from my collection):

The Thin Red Line
Breathless
Rosemary's Baby
Still Walking
Che
Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence
Solaris
Chungking Express
Fanny and Alexander
Paris, Texas

The stuff in my collection aren't the only titles I've seen, I've actually seen about 100 of the films, but I'm open to any suggestions.

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Having seen 9 out of 15 titles from the Alfred
Excited to watch The Birds within the next day or so. The other 5 don't really interest me, but I'll still watch them.

I like Torn Curtain a lot.

The other four are the lesser films for sure.

[Snicket]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Having seen 9 out of 15 titles from the Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection, I can rank them in the following order:

1. Rear Window
2. Vertigo
3. The Trouble With Harry
4. Psycho
5. North By Northwest
6. The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
7. Shadow Of A Doubt
8. Saboteur
9. Rope

Excited to watch The Birds within the next day or so. The other 5 don't really interest me, but I'll still watch them.

I don't see hardly any discussion about #3, perhaps I'm not looking in the right places, but what about it specifically did you enjoy? (I'm not calling you out, I have never seen it and am genuinely curious).

[jw007]

Originally Posted by brandon_260

So, I'm looking to start using my library as a resource for checking out Criterion releases again. Could anyone give me some recommendations? As a guide, here is my collection: http://www.criterion.com/my_criterio...dge/collection

and my top 10 (from my collection):

The Thin Red Line
Breathless
Rosemary's Baby
Still Walking
Che
Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence
Solaris
Chungking Express
Fanny and Alexander
Paris, Texas

The stuff in my collection aren't the only titles I've seen, I've actually seen about 100 of the films, but I'm open to any suggestions.

I noticed you like a lot of mostly recent movies. You have some good picks. Seeing that you have "Le Havre", I'd get into a bit of Jim Jarmusch films if you haven't discovered him yet.

[jw007]

Who else agrees with me that we need to see Fishing with John on blu? I love Jim Jarmusch Criterion editions (lots of supplements on all) and I'll bet Fishing with John will be a great addition.

What do you think the chances are Criterion upgrades this within the next 12 months?



I mean, how can you say no to Tom Waits! Dennis Hopper! Willem Dafoe! John Lurie!

I love upgrades!

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by Snicket

I don't see hardly any discussion about #3, perhaps I'm not looking in the right places, but what about it specifically did you enjoy? (I'm not calling you out, I have never seen it and am genuinely curious).

It used to be one of my favourites, but upon rewatching his movies many times, others have risen in my estimation, and this has dropped.

It's a fun movie for sure, and far from his worst work.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by MitchA17

(and a Slacker blu, while we're at it).

I think Slacker needs to be upgraded even more than Life Aquatic. Mainly because Slacker is such a unique film, I find a need to discriminate against having every single Anderson film on BD. What makes Wes Anderson so special that his films must ALL be on Criterion BD? Maybe its ok to leave a couple of films out.

Slacker is a film that I could re-watch many, many times over again compared to many films out there.

This film must be upgraded because its such a cultural tour-de-force and ever more timely in today's society.

So yes, while we're at it, I look forward to a BD edition of Slacker!

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by jw007

I noticed you like a lot of mostly recent movies. You have some good picks. Seeing that you have "Le Havre", I'd get into a bit of Jim Jarmusch films if you haven't discovered him yet.

Thanks for the rec. I just recently started looking into his work. I've seen Broken Flowers already and sort of loved it. I've got Coffee and Cigarettes already on hold at my library as well. Do you have any specific film of his you'd recommend?

[jw007]

Originally Posted by brandon_260

Thanks for the rec. I just recently started looking into his work. I've seen Broken Flowers already and sort of loved it. I've got Coffee and Cigarettes already on hold at my library as well. Do you have any specific film of his you'd recommend?

Oh yes!

Start with his earliest films such as Stranger Than Paradise and especially Down by Law. You will most likely enjoy Down by Law tremendously as it is a quirky and amusing little movie. Also Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (even though its not on Criterion) is also an amazingly enjoyable film. Finally, you can also check out Mystery Train and Night on Earth, both very good too. Aki Kaurismäki and Jim Jarmusch are nearly synonymous in terms of subtle filmmaking and deadpan humor, both of which I thoroughly appreciate.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by dsman71

http://www.criterion.com/

Ah, yes, the "I'm the only TRUE patriot!" troll defense, who tries to take the conversation off of himself by wrapping himself in the forum-topic flag and making it look like anything else (like, complaining about his being the bannable jerk) would be "betraying" the very purpose of the forum...

...Geez, I don't miss the days of unmoderated Usenet.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by brandon_260

Thanks for the rec. I just recently started looking into his work. I've seen Broken Flowers already and sort of loved it. I've got Coffee and Cigarettes already on hold at my library as well. Do you have any specific film of his you'd recommend?

Jarmusch talk

I'd suggest holding off on Coffee & Cigarettes until you see his earlier films, especially Strangers in Paradise, Down By Law, Mystery Train & Dead Man. Although it has a couple strong segments (Alfred Molina's segment is absolutely terrific), its a bit slap-dash.

I think you'll have a blast going through his work. He makes my brand of comedy

[Blu-Velvet]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Jarmusch talk

I'd suggest holding off on Coffee & Cigarettes until you see his earlier films, especially Strangers in Paradise, Down By Law, Mystery Train & Dead Man. Although it has a couple strong segments (Alfred Molina's segment is absolutely terrific), its a bit slap-dash.

I think you'll have a blast going through his work. He makes my brand of comedy

DEAD MAN was the first Jarmusch I saw and still ranks among the best. MYSTERY TRAIN is great fun and very off-beat with beautiful use of colors. DOWN BY LAW is also very good. I have not yet seen STRANGERS IN PARADISE, but I definitely want to get into more Jarmusch films when I get the chance, as the more I see the more I like of them.

[Joe Dalek]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Having seen 9 out of 15 titles from the Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection, I can rank them in the following order:

This is the Criterion thread.

Originally Posted by jw007

Who else agrees with me that we need to see Fishing with John on blu? I love Jim Jarmusch Criterion editions (lots of supplements on all) and I'll bet Fishing with John will be a great addition.

What do you think the chances are Criterion upgrades this within the next 12 months?



I mean, how can you say no to Tom Waits! Dennis Hopper! Willem Dafoe! John Lurie!

I love upgrades!

I don't know that it would benefit greatly from a Blu-ray, other than to have an anamorphic transfer, but I love this show so I wouldn't complain if they did it anyway.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

especially Strangers in Paradise

Originally Posted by Blu-Velvet

I have not yet seen STRANGERS IN PARADISE

Just a correction, it is called Stranger Than Paradise.

[tonylopez]

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.

Perfectly said my friend. I am thankful for Criterion for introducing to me films I would have never seen or heard of before. I buy the few " have to haves " and then there are the films I do truly want to blind buy when both the time and price are just right. Thanks CC for doing what you do.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Snicket

I don't see hardly any discussion about #3, perhaps I'm not looking in the right places, but what about it specifically did you enjoy? (I'm not calling you out, I have never seen it and am genuinely curious).

I think the entire atmosphere and mood of the film. It was a dark comedy with great acting. Not to mention, it was absolutely beautiful and enjoyable from the beginning to the end.

[tenia]

Originally Posted by MitchA17

Blind buying is always a tricky proposition (especially with Criterion titles).

To be honest, I'm blind-preordering almost all Criterion BDs every months. I've bought so many from them and have been disappointed so few that it has become a wonderful pool to enlighten my personal culture.

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

It must have excited you enough if you've decided to buy them!

Not that much, in the end, but I'm extremely curious, and have a budget which allows me to do so (because in France, import Criterions, with shipping fees, bank fees, possible customs fees, is quite expensvie and tiresome when your parcel takes a month to arrive from Amazon). But I'm quite sure it will interest me enough to enjoy them.

I'm also the type "I pre-order them all, and will watch them one day".

[R o d]

Originally Posted by Archedamian

I am pretty excited about The Earrings of Madame De... I will definitely be picking it up.

That's the way I felt when I bought the Criterion DVD in 2008. They decided not to release it in Blu-ray even though they had been releasing films in Blu for quite a while.

At that time Criterion was in effect telling us that there would be no Blu-ray for this title. The message was clear: you should buy the DVD because that’s the only format we are going to release. So that's what I did. And now I feel a little burned.

It would be different if this was a complete restoration or if they offered new supplements, but that doesn’t appear to be the case. So the honest thing to do is for Criterion to offer their customers the option of an upgrade for the cost difference between the two formats. That would be fair.

They are setting a precedent with this release. It will be interesting to see how they respond.

[secretsquirrel]

Originally Posted by DasMarcos

Guys I need help. I have 80 dollars worth of credit on Amazon. Are there any Criterion titles that are essential for owning? Also, how about upcoming titles? There are just so much to choose from I'd love some recommendations.

Because it is OOP and getting hard to find start with:

Army of Shadows

Then...

The Double Life of Veronique
The Thin Red Line
Bigger Than Life
Anatomy of a Murder

That'll give you some variety.

If you have seen and like Veronique, or buy it and really like it, I would HIGHLY reccommend The Three Colors trilogy.