The Criterion Collection

[SolidBlu]

Originally Posted by thelittleprince

Really dated but definitely has historical significance. Not one I would blind buy. You can watch the trailer on you tube.

thanks buddy

[MitchA17]

Well, I watched Antichrist for the first time last night. Ho-ly cow. I really liked it, but definitely in the non-traditional way you can "like" a Von Trier film (the thrill of the horrifying). Maybe I'll buy the Blu just so I have something on the shelf that can be an occasional test of will.

I'm going over what I'll order from Amazon in case the sale ends tomorrow, so I'm considering:

Antichrist
America: Lost and Found (Having seen Last Picture Show and Easy Rider (and loving both), 4 of the 6 would be blind buys. Worth it?)
On the Waterfront
Medium Cool (Blind buy)
Pierre Etaix (I've seen Yoyo. Are the rest as good?)
Kiss Me Deadly
Hunger
If....
Badlands (Blind buy, but I'm a pretty big Malick fan)
Harold and Maude
Two-Lane Blacktop

I already ordered Playtime, given that it's back in stock for the time being. I know there'll be a restoration, but there's no telling how long that could be, and I can just double dip when its released.

Any other recommendations?

[deepbreathsanddeath]

I don't know what's up with me. Lately I've been wanting to buy some Criterion titles on DVD! :O

I ordered Vampyr and Carnival of Souls already and next time (Barnes and noble sale) I'm considering buying the The Actuality Dramas of Allan King box set and Equinox, perhaps a couple more. The Actuality Dramas of Allan King is an eclipse set so that's likely to never get a blu release and I honestly can't see Criterion ever bothering with Equinox on a blu-ray either.

Same goes for Vampyr and Carnival of Souls. MoC already told another member that no good HD master currently exists for Vampyr so if it bet happens, it won't be for a long time. I guess I'm just grabbing these ones that will likely never get a Criterion blu release and I would hate for any of them to go out of print one day.

Plus I just need more great horror in my collection. The output of them on blu-ray is far too slow. Can anyone else recommend any other good horror or disturbing movies from the criterion collection they think would be worth buying on DVD or blu-ray?

Keep in mind, I've got all the obvious ones on blu-ray.

[tdwp117]

Originally Posted by RiFiFi1955

tdwp117, I have a quick question. I see you have Parkway's Killing with a smile as your avatar. On my copy of Killing with a smile the track knives pro guns show does not use the Die Hard snippet 'Yippie Ki Yay ...'. There is just a moment of silence before the breakdown that kicks in after that snippet. In concert and on the internet I heard the Die Hard snippet, does it actually appear on the album and I somehow get a clean version or something?

I was wondering the same thing a while ago. I purchased my copy from itunes and it did not say that it was clean; however, i read somewhere that it was copyright infringement, therefore, they couldn't include it. Not sure if that's true but it would make sense, because later in the song he does saying returning for your F****ng heart so it definitely isn't a clean version haha.

[Jett Rink]

Originally Posted by deepbreathsanddeath

I don't know what's up with me. Lately I've been wanting to buy some Criterion titles on DVD! :O

I ordered Vampyr and Carnival of Souls already and next time (Barnes and noble sale) I'm considering buying the The Actuality Dramas of Allan King box set and Equinox, perhaps a couple more. The Actuality Dramas of Allan King is an eclipse set so that's likely to never get a blu release and I honestly can't see Criterion ever bothering with Equinox on a blu-ray either.

Same goes for Vampyr and Carnival of Souls. MoC already told another member that no good HD master currently exists for Vampyr so if it bet happens, it won't be for a long time. I guess I'm just grabbing these ones that will likely never get a Criterion blu release and I would hate for any of them to go out of print one day.

Plus I just need more great horror in my collection. The output of them on blu-ray is far too slow. Can anyone else recommend any other good horror or disturbing movies from the criterion collection they think would be worth buying on DVD or blu-ray?

Keep in mind, I've got all the obvious ones on blu-ray.

Does anyone know if Criterion plans to bring their DVD only titles to Blu-ray?

[RiFiFi1955]

Originally Posted by tdwp117

I was wondering the same thing a while ago. I purchased my copy from itunes and it did not say that it was clean; however, i read somewhere that it was copyright infringement, therefore, they couldn't include it. Not sure if that's true but it would make sense, because later in the song he does saying returning for your F****ng heart so it definitely isn't a clean version haha.

AH I see, thanks for the reply. That was an awesome snippet too. Maybe that is why bands have not been including those movies snippets as of late, they must have cracked down on them because in the early 2000's bands where using them all the time and I loved that. Oh Well.

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by Jett Blu

Does anyone know if Criterion plans to bring there DVD only titles to Blu-ray?

A new fine grain master was made of Carnival of Souls in 2012, so there is a chance a new release could come some day, and I would assume it would come from Criterion. However, it is all guesswork until they announce something.

[Hypnosifl]

Originally Posted by tdwp117

How can I forget Obayashi's House? Crazy, funny, scary, and ridiculous.

Speaking of classic Japanese horror, there's also Kuroneko, Onibaba, Jigoku, and Kwaidan...first two are on blu, rest are DVD only.

[brandon_260]

Not directly Criterion related, but I went to watch The Thief of Paris on TCM tonight and they were showing an English dubbed version of the film. Is this something of a norm for them? They've got some great Truffaut spotlights next month but I don't want to get my hopes up for half of them to be dubbed version of the films.

[oildude]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Don't! It's a terrific movie. It makes Spielberg's Empire of the Sun look like amateur hour.

The Last Emperor is a beautiful and moving film. It fully deserved the 1987 Best Picture Oscar, and I knew it would win leaving the theater the night I saw it on the big screen. It was the first Western film to receive permission to shoot inside the Forbidden City. In addition to its fine acting, almost lyrical script, striking use of color, and epic spectacle with incredibly detailed costumes and sets, the film has a fantastic score composed by a collaboration between David Byrne of The Talking Heads and Ryuichi Sakamoto, who also scored the music for Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence.

But to say it makes Spielberg's Empire of the Sun look like amateur hour is utter nonsense. The Last Emperor and Empire of the Sun are two magnificent but vastly different films from two highly acclaimed and very accomplished directors. There is no point in comparing them to each other, much less elevating one by disparaging the other in such a flippant and undeserved way.

You make casually dismissive statements like this quite often.

[Blu-Velvet]

Originally Posted by MitchA17

I'm going over what I'll order from Amazon in case the sale ends tomorrow, so I'm considering:

America: Lost and Found (Having seen Last Picture Show and Easy Rider (and loving both), 4 of the 6 would be blind buys. Worth it?)


Pierre Etaix (I've seen Yoyo. Are the rest as good?)
Kiss Me Deadly

Badlands (Blind buy, but I'm a pretty big Malick fan)
Harold and Maude
Two-Lane Blacktop

I already ordered Playtime, given that it's back in stock for the time being. I know there'll be a restoration, but there's no telling how long that could be, and I can just double dip when its released.

Any other recommendations?

The Pierre Etaix set is the best value in this sale, with five features and three shorts plus other bonuses for only $30. I'd say all the other films are actually better than YO YO, which is amusing but perhaps a bit overly quirky at times. The only one I haven't yet seen on the set is LE GRAND AMOUR, which I'm saving to run as a double feature with TRISTANA next month.

AMERICA LOST AND FOUND is a must-own set, even if you don't like all the features. The documentary on how the BBS films came to be made is great in itself, and the only really weakish movie is A SAFE PLACE, which is still worth seeing.

KISS ME DEADLY is a must if you have or plan to get REPO MAN or PULP FICTION.

If you're a Malik fan, you should have BADLANDS, although it may be my least favorite of his films. It is the most narratively coherent for most viewers, however.

HAROLD AND MAUDE -- gotta see it if you haven't. May well want to own it.

TWO-LANE BLACKTOP is sort of laid-back and interesting, and should be appealing to Criterion Collection enthusiasts but may not grab an average audience.

Get a few classics if you don't already have them, like FOUR FEATHERS, ISLAND OF LOST SOULS, NIGHT OF THE HUNTER, THE GOLD RUSH, etc. Any of Criterion's Japanese films are well-worth getting, really any of them you don't already have you should get, and they cover a wide variety of styles. EVERLASTING MOMENTS, among other foreign films, is also outstanding.

[Mansinthe]

Originally Posted by Hypnosifl

Speaking of classic Japanese horror, there's also Kuroneko, Onibaba, Jigoku, and Kwaidan...first two are on blu, rest are DVD only.

Onibaba , kuroneko , naked island .. i would go for the Masters of cinema bluray releases. the criterion kwaidan DVD is only a shorter cut (theres something like 20 mins missing) , masters of cinema has the uncut DVD. and besides, colors at the criterion DVD are totaly wrong.

[JohnWayne]

Originally Posted by Blu-Velvet

The Pierre Etaix set is the best value in this sale, with five features and three shorts plus other bonuses for only $30. I'd say all the other films are actually better than YO YO, which is amusing but perhaps a bit overly quirky at times. The only one I haven't yet seen on the set is LE GRAND AMOUR, which I'm saving to run as a double feature with TRISTANA next month.

AMERICA LOST AND FOUND is a must-own set, even if you don't like all the features. The documentary on how the BBS films came to be made is great in itself, and the only really weakish movie is A SAFE PLACE, which is still worth seeing.

KISS ME DEADLY is a must if you have or plan to get REPO MAN or PULP FICTION.

If you're a Malik fan, you should have BADLANDS, although it may be my least favorite of his films. It is the most narratively coherent for most viewers, however.

HAROLD AND MAUDE -- gotta see it if you haven't. May well want to own it.

TWO-LANE BLACKTOP is sort of laid-back and interesting, and should be appealing to Criterion Collection enthusiasts but may not grab an average audience.

Get a few classics if you don't already have them, like FOUR FEATHERS, ISLAND OF LOST SOULS, NIGHT OF THE HUNTER, THE GOLD RUSH, etc. Any of Criterion's Japanese films are well-worth getting, really any of them you don't already have you should get, and they cover a wide variety of styles. EVERLASTING MOMENTS, among other foreign films, is also outstanding.

So basically, I should just get every criterion that has ever been released on blu ray.

[deepbreathsanddeath]

Originally Posted by JohnWayne

So basically, I should just get every criterion that has ever been released on blu ray.

I only wanted a few when I began with Criterions. Now I have over 100. My mind was opened further and I kept letting it expand and discovering that criterion had the rights to some excellent films I already knew. Ive just got faith in criterion to deliver the goods if it sounds promising.

[JohnWayne]

Originally Posted by deepbreathsanddeath

I only wanted a few when I began with Criterions. Now I have over 100. My mind was opened further and I kept letting it expand and discovering that criterion had the rights to some excellent films I already knew. Ive just got faith in criterion to deliver the goods if it sounds promising.

Yeah, I know what you mean. I used to hate B&W movies and now I sort of am getting the hang of them (if that makes sense).

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by oildude

The Last Emperor is a beautiful and moving film. It fully deserved the 1987 Best Picture Oscar, and I knew it would win leaving the theater the night I saw it on the big screen. It was the first Western film to receive permission to shoot inside the Forbidden City. In addition to its fine acting, almost lyrical script, striking use of color, and epic spectacle with incredibly detailed costumes and sets, the film has a fantastic score composed by a collaboration between David Byrne of The Talking Heads and Ryuichi Sakamoto, who also scored the music for Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence.

But to say it makes Spielberg's Empire of the Sun look like amateur hour is utter nonsense. The Last Emperor and Empire of the Sun are two magnificent but vastly different films from two highly acclaimed and very accomplished directors. There is no point in comparing them to each other, much less elevating one by disparaging the other in such a flippant and undeserved way.

You make casually dismissive statements like this quite often.

Feel free to inquire on my reasoning for such "casually dismissive" statements.

He doesn't have to give a discourse that meets your needed definitions, or provide a basis for further discussion. You like the film, he does not. End of story.

So, I'm gonna forget you weote this for a second and just briefly discuss with you my quibbles with The Empire of the Sun and how I feel Last Emperor is the stronger film. (even though I am an "undesirable")

I think they do warrant discussion together and heres why. Though they both reside in different genres, theres no reason why we shouldn't talk about them together. The Last Emperor and Empire of the Sun are both films about China directed by a non-native released in the United States on December of 1987 (one week apart). I feel Spielberg's film gives you the outsider's view of China during the War (literally, because its filtered through a child's lens). Leaving one distanced from the proceedings. I feel Spielberg completely neglects the Chinese perspective here as I really dislike the use of a white conduit. Why not just tell the story from the perspective of the Chinese?

Bertolucci's film, on the other hand, manages to get so much closer by 1) not having the schmaltz of the Spielberg film & 2) being centered around a Chinese protagonist, Puyi, the last emperor of China. We get a first-rate view of his life from his pampered upbringing to the his days as a commoner after the People's Republic has been established. In a very moving scene at the end, we see him revisiting the Forbidden City, and it was exactly this type of unfiltered intimacy that I failed to get from the Spielberg film.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by octagon

Which? I recently read 11/22/63 and The Wind Through the Keyhole and both were pretty good. I thought Under the Dome had a real 'been here, done this, have a drawer full of tshirts' feel to it but he rebounded pretty well with those two.

Stephen King's new novel, Joyland, is published by the Hard Case Crime paperback publisher. This is the same publisher that he used for his book, The Colorado Kid, back in 2005. Joyland is a much better read, though.

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by JohnWayne

Yeah, I know what you mean. I used to hate B&W movies and now I sort of am getting the hang of them (if that makes sense).

Why? What makes the color scheme a film is presented in better or worse?

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by JohnWayne

Yeah, I know what you mean. I used to hate B&W movies and now I sort of am getting the hang of them (if that makes sense).

That's really great to hear! When I first got into Hitchcock I refused to see any of his B&W films (save Psycho), but oh boy was I wrong (I knew I was wrong at the time, but still). The films he made in the 40's are now pretty much my favorite of his (Notorious, Spellbound,).

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

The films he made in the 40's are now pretty much my favorite of his (Notorious, Spellbound,).

Notorious is my fave Hitchcock. I really love the way it's essentially a story of a romantic triangle cleverly disguised as a spy thriller on the exterior.