The Criterion Collection

[ultlife2013]

Originally Posted by EricJ

In other words, the sole advantage over getting film education through rental is that you're addicted to the adrenaline. Which, psychiatry tells us, is how most addictions happen.
Maybe you feel it's a "good" addiction in that it doesn't have "harmful" effects like gambling, horse racing, alcohol or thrillseeking, but it doesn't exactly seem that way to other readers for whom $29.95 isn't as disposable.

(And like gambling addiction, has that same rationalization, where, don't worry, you have a system where you'll get your money back for every loss, so it all evens out...)



If you can screen even half your future purchases on Hulu, that's half your money saved, and no loss of "Eye-opening film discovery at home". Knowledge SHOULD be free, and only bad experiences paid for.

The point was that some people like blind buying criterions because its nice to own things and trying out new movies is fun. If its not cost effective for someone to do so then any other outlet to view those movies is fine, doesn't bother me at all.

[Abdrewes]

Time to watch Life is Sweet

[hendersd]

So what's the deal with Safety Last being 1080i? Does it have something to do with the "variable frame rate" mentioned in the review?

[octagon]

Originally Posted by EricJ

Which, psychiatry tells us, is how most addictions happen.

By any chance does psychiatry tell us these things personally?

Through say our car radios or a beloved household pet?

I'm not judging, mind you.

I'm just curious.

[The Bronx Bull]

Originally Posted by EricJ

In other words, the sole advantage over getting film education through rental is that you're addicted to the adrenaline. Which, psychiatry tells us, is how most addictions happen.
Maybe you feel it's a "good" addiction in that it doesn't have "harmful" effects like gambling, horse racing, alcohol or thrillseeking, but it doesn't exactly seem that way to other readers for whom $29.95 isn't as disposable.

(And like gambling addiction, has that same rationalization, where, don't worry, you have a system where you'll get your money back for every loss, so it all evens out...)



If you can screen even half your future purchases on Hulu, that's half your money saved, and no loss of "Eye-opening film discovery at home". Knowledge SHOULD be free, and only bad experiences paid for.

No. You don't know what adrenaline is.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by The Bronx Bull

No. You don't know what adrenaline is.

Oh, whew.
For a second there, thought you were actually going to BE like the Intervention-confronted addict, and say, "You don't understand, man!--I'm into my own whole new thing; you can't even get your mind around it unless you've been there and felt it! And I don't need you coming in and preaching at me how to run my life, I don't need anybody!"

[Scottie]

Adding to the whole blind buying discussion, I will be the first to admit that I blind bought way too much in the past.

When I began collecting films with the introduction of the DVD, most of my film purchases were blind buys. I had very little film experience before that.

In one way blind buying was bad because I wasted a lot of money on a lot of films with minimal to no replay value. However, I was introduced to a wide experience of films that I would consider favorites.

As of this year, I sold about 4,500 films between DVDs, Blu-rays, and beyond. I'm at the point where I just want a smaller collection with my favorite films or films I really enjoy so that I can rewatch them whenever.

I have found myself not blind buying as many new releases either, like I had in years prior. The film industry, in my opinion, hasn't been producing as many good films. Sure, some of them are entertaining, but none of them are very good or have many replay value. I've found the more rare and subtle films to be the best.

The only thing that I do continue to blind buy are Criterion films because I have a lot of respect for the company and I enjoy the majority of what they put out. Some of the films in the collection have become a part of my favorite films of all time. While some of them can be hit or miss, there's enough cinephiles in this thread that can make a certain film worth rewatching again. Plus, the essays included within the packaging allow the person to get a new understanding or recognize something they didn't quite see or familiarize themselves with before.

To each his own.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by James78

Eric, I agree with your point that renting is an excellent way to watch films, but I don't think there is any need to post that members who choose to blind buy have some connection with mental illness. At the very least, it's rude.

Psychiatry tells us otherwise

[ultlife2013]

Originally Posted by EricJ

Oh, whew.
For a second there, thought you were actually going to BE like the Intervention-confronted addict, and say, "You don't understand, man!--I'm into my own whole new thing; you can't even get your mind around it unless you've been there and felt it! And I don't need you coming in and preaching at me how to run my life, I don't need anybody!"

EricJ, if this wasn't about blind buying criterions would you have the same responses? What if it was blind buying steelbooks? Is that the same thing?

[ultlife2013]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Adding to the whole blind buying discussion, I will be the first to admit that I blind bought way too much in the past.

When I began collecting films with the introduction of the DVD, most of my film purchases were blind buys. I had very little film experience before that.

In one way blind buying was bad because I wasted a lot of money on a lot of films with minimal to no replay value. However, I was introduced to a wide experience of films that I would consider favorites.

As of this year, I sold about 4,500 films between DVDs, Blu-rays, and beyond. I'm at the point where I just want a smaller collection with my favorite films or films I really enjoy so that I can rewatch them whenever.

I have found myself not blind buying as many new releases either, like I had in years prior. The film industry, in my opinion, hasn't been producing as many good films. Sure, some of them are entertaining, but none of them are very good or have many replay value. I've found the more rare and subtle films to be the best.

The only thing that I do continue to blind buy are Criterion films because I have a lot of respect for the company and I enjoy the majority of what they put out. Some of the films in the collection have become a part of my favorite films of all time. While some of them can be hit or miss, there's enough cinephiles in this thread that can make a certain film worth rewatching again. Plus, the essays included within the packaging allow the person to get a new understanding or recognize something they didn't quite see or familiarize themselves with before.

To each his own.

I'll usually blind buy a movie if I liked the actors, or the director, or even the writer of the screenplay. If I heard good things and I like the synopsis I'll blind buy a movie. If spending money on movies without having watched it on the Internet is crazy then lock me up!

[Edward J Grug III]

OK, I think this troll has derailed the thread long enough - Nearly time for the next announcement of Criterion titles, and very little speculation so far!

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by ultlife2013

I'll usually blind buy a movie if I liked the actors, or the director, or even the writer of the screenplay. If I heard good things and I like the synopsis I'll blind buy a movie. If spending money on movies without having watched it on the Internet is crazy then lock me up!

I did that for a while, too. Hell, I even held on to movies I knew I hated because of a certain actor or actress.

I'll admit that I have a somewhat addicting personality. I used to collect a lot of items as a child and it even progressed to movies. The worst thing was probably buying SteelBooks and DigiBooks. I felt if I had one, I had to have them all. I used to have 5-6 copies of 300, for example and I never even saw the movie nor had any desire to see the movie. I only had it because of the packaging, which I realized recently was stupid.

I sold all of my SteelBooks and DigiBooks (despite owning them all) a month ago and I don't regret it. I did repurchase 5-6 DigiBooks because I figured I shouldn't deprive myself of a film because of the packaging. If worse comes to worse, I'll have somebody make me a custom cover for me and switch it out of the packaging.

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

OK, I think this troll has derailed the thread long enough - Nearly time for the next announcement of Criterion titles, and very little speculation so far!

We won't get the announcement unfortunately until Monday (because the 15th is a Saturday). I hope we get Life Aquatic so people stop talking about it (even though it'll just go on to another film).

[The Bronx Bull]

Originally Posted by EricJ

Oh, whew.
For a second there, thought you were actually going to BE like the Intervention-confronted addict, and say, "You don't understand, man!--I'm into my own whole new thing; you can't even get your mind around it unless you've been there and felt it! And I don't need you coming in and preaching at me how to run my life, I don't need anybody!"

I know, man. I own about 100 Blu-Rays (including my Criterions)... I should really start taking some meds or something, maybe head to a doctor and get examined. Thank you for enlightening me about my problems.

But wait... I'm not the one on here with over *ten thousand* posts on a forum dedicated to Blu-Rays... do you have a life, or...?

[The Great Owl]

Here is my general approach to blind buying, as illustrated by a specific example.

• I like movies about prison escapes (Escape from Alcatraz, The Great Escape, The Shawshank Redemption, Le Trou, The Count of Monte Cristo, etc.).

• I like movies that involve the French Resistance during WWII (Army of Shadows, Léon Morin, Priest, To Catch a Thief, etc.).

• I've never seen a 1950s French language film that I did not like.

• I had never seen the recent Criterion title, A Man Escaped, before, but a few searches about the movie revealed that it is a 1950's French language film about a French Resistance member escaping from a Nazi prison.

• I made a blind buy purchase of A Man Escaped and I absolutely love the film.

The handful of blind-buy purchases that I have made on Blu-ray were all decided on by a similar approach. The Twilight Time films that I own (The Big Heat, Experiment in Terror, Rapture) were all blind buys, but were purchased after using logic that I loved other films featuring the same actors, directors, storylines, etc.

With DVDs, I was not so careful, and I made a great many blind buys that I regretted.
Here's a tip that I learned the hard way: Never blind buy a newer movie from the New Release rack at Best Buy, Target, Walmart, or another such store.
Why?
Because these movies suck 99% of the time. That's why.
Okay, maybe they do not outright suck, but each mass-marketed New Release is simply one out of hundreds of New Releases this year with which you will soon fall out of love and which will be forgotten in time.

[White Dang]

I'm very heavily thinking about blind buying based on those qualifications ^ "To the Wonder" and "Stoker." Big fan of both directors. "Tree of Life" is in my top 10 and "Oldboy" is very artistically solid. But there have been plenty of times I decided to rent first and have been very happy for it.

Can't wait for the next announcements. Been waiting on Eraserhead for awhile. It's not my favorite Lynch film, but having it released by Criterion with their awesome booklet and extras will be just enough to cause me to jump.

[octagon]

[Show spoiler]

[joie]

Originally Posted by deepbreathsanddeath

I really enjoyed Orpheus and am considering picking up Beauty and the Beast next sale. Prior to watching Cocteau's Orpheus I didn't have a lot of interest in it but I was blown away. How would you say Beauty and the Beast compares?

The film is in worse condition. There are a couple really soft/low-contrast shots, and sharpness/contrast varies throughout. It is definitely an improvement over the DVD, if you sit close enough to notice and/or pause to step frame-by-frame. Other than that, it is a great movie for kids of all ages. I was surprised that it's in so many collections here. It also has an alternative score (an opera by Philip Glass), which can be quite amusing.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by White Dang

I'm very heavily thinking about blind buying based on those qualifications ^ "To the Wonder" and "Stoker." Big fan of both directors. "Tree of Life" is in my top 10 and "Oldboy" is very artistically solid. But there have been plenty of times I decided to rent first and have been very happy for it.

Can't wait for the next announcements. Been waiting on Eraserhead for awhile. It's not my favorite Lynch film, but having it released by Criterion with their awesome booklet and extras will be just enough to cause me to jump.

I'm thinking that To the Wonder and Stoker will be available for Redbox rental if there's such a rental booth near you. It make take them a couple of weeks to get it after release, but I'm thinking they'll have them.

To the Wonder is my favorite 2013 movie so far, but my taste in cinema is admittedly off the beaten path. Besides, I've only seen two movies in 2013.

[ultlife2013]

I mean when we go to the theaters to see a movie isn't that blind buying? It's still spending sometimes upwards of 20 dollars to watch a movie we've never seen before. Should no one goto the movies anymore because its an addiction to goto the theaters? Sorry for slight thread derailment but I feel it's a valid argument.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by octagon

[Show spoiler]

[Show spoiler]I've never been in a Turkish prison.