The Criterion Collection

[BluPix]

Originally Posted by WiWavelength

Am I alone in wishing for Criterion to grant David Gordon Green's "George Washington" the upgrade from DVD to BD? If Criterion truly does have Malick's "The Thin Red Line" on its upcoming BD slate, then "George Washington" would be a superb companion release.

AJ

"George Washington" would be a very nice release by Criterion on blu. I remember that film from theaters a few years ago. Malick's "The Thin Red Line" would be a day-one purchase for me. While they're at it, why not do the remaining Malick titles on Criterion Blu: "Badlands" and "The New World"?

[BluPix]

Originally Posted by br0k3nglass

Doesn't work for me either.

It's a no-go for me too. I tried just today. I don't think the code is valid. Guess I'll just have to wait for the resellers (Amazon, Deep Discount, etc.) to restore their lower prices before I order films like Bigger than Life, Che, Paris Texas, Hunger and the like.

[jsummers157@]

Originally Posted by BluPix

"George Washington" would be a very nice release by Criterion on blu. I remember that film from theaters a few years ago. Malick's "The Thin Red Line" would be a day-one purchase for me. While they're at it, why not do the remaining Malick titles on Criterion Blu: "Badlands" and "The New World"?

I would definitely like to see them release Badlands, but New Line/WB released The New World last fall, which was a fantastic presentation, so a Criterion re-release seems unlikely.

[styl3s]

Can anyone recommend some movies from criterion that are currently out on blu? i just started this month (collecting them) i dont want to buy for the sake of owning them but im willing to blind buy a few if people have really good things to say about them here

currently i ordered Bottle Rocket and the Yojimbo/Sanjuro set from amazon.com

I have heard good things about Chungking Express, Gomorrah, Che and The Last Emperor, anyone think all 4 are worth blind buys?

[jacobsever]

Just watched Days of Heaven and I have to say, I didn't really like it.

The first 2/3s of the movie seemed to me like random 30 second clips strung along together, and it barley held my attention.

I also found the story to be rushed, and the characters to be quite flat.

(using spoiler tags in case people haven't seen it)

[Show spoiler]A few things that bothered me is Sam Shepard's character fell in love with Abby after just watching her work for a while? They had almost no interaction, he just stared at her from afar.

Also, the old man randomly, out of nowhere said, "I think they are con-artists". I mean, there was nothing to suggest that what-so-ever, it was just randomly thrown in there to move the plot along faster.

And even though the characters aren't developed that well, you get the idea that Sam Shepard is a shy, quiet, calm guy...and he goes as far as to tie Abby up to the house? Really? I understand the dude was upset, but I do not think his character would go that far.

I donno, the movie LOOKED amazing, I just didn't enjoy it too much.

[recS-12]

Originally Posted by styl3s

Can anyone recommend some movies from criterion that are currently out on blu? i just started this month (collecting them) i dont want to buy for the sake of owning them but im willing to blind buy a few if people have really good things to say about them here

currently i ordered Bottle Rocket and the Yojimbo/Sanjuro set from amazon.com

I have heard good things about Chungking Express, Gomorrah, Che and The Last Emperor, anyone think all 4 are worth blind buys?

Curious Case of Benjamin Button was a heartwarming tale if you don't mind the "Forrest Gump" way that the story was told. Great Story, Great Performances.

[styl3s]

Originally Posted by recS-12

Curious Case of Benjamin Button was a heartwarming tale if you don't mind the "Forrest Gump" way that the story was told. Great Story, Great Performances.

I should of posted i watched some of it, i could not get into that movie i turned it off about half way through i just couldn't get into it.

[stobbart]

I would say Chungking Express is a must own, its a rare type of movie that engages the viewer to look at common themes (love, companionship, relationships) in a totally new way then you have before.

Then again I feel that 'In the Mood for Love' also did this, Wan Kar Wai is just the best hopeless romantic filmmaker out there.

Off topic but I would love for Synecdoche, New York to come to criterion. It already has a great blu-ray but I feel it is one of the best/mature/intelligent/perplexing movies to come out in a long long time.

[Juiceboxjerry]

Originally Posted by styl3s

Can anyone recommend some movies from criterion that are currently out on blu? i just started this month (collecting them) i dont want to buy for the sake of owning them but im willing to blind buy a few if people have really good things to say about them here

currently i ordered Bottle Rocket and the Yojimbo/Sanjuro set from amazon.com

I have heard good things about Chungking Express, Gomorrah, Che and The Last Emperor, anyone think all 4 are worth blind buys?

I don't know if this would qualify as a good recommendation for a blind buy because I'm sure many of the images and aspects of the story would upset a lot of people, but I thought Hunger was a really beautiful movie. There were some incredible performances, and it was just a very powerful film.

It is kinda tough to watch at times though, very graphic, so if you don't like to watch stuff like that I would stay away. I've watched quite a few of the Criterion Blu Ray releases recently and that one has probably stuck with me the most. (The Third Man is amazing as well, and i would definitely call that blind buy worthy, but it is out of print. I just dropped $60 to get a copy. But if you don't mind paying a little more, it really is worth it, if not just for Orson Welles' performance alone.)

[Old Geezer]

Originally Posted by styl3s

Can anyone recommend some movies from criterion that are currently out on blu? i just started this month (collecting them) i dont want to buy for the sake of owning them but im willing to blind buy a few if people have really good things to say about them here

I'm new to the Criterion craze myself. My personal favorites so far are "Wages of Fear", "Revanche", and "The Seventh Seal". "Chungking Express" is also very good.

[jimonee78]

Having read this forum for a long time, it is awesome to see so many new Criterion fans since the shift to blu-ray. I know most of you have sworn off SD DVDs, but new Criterion fans shouldn't limit themselves to what's offered only on blu-ray. It is only a mere fraction of what this amazing company has to offer.

Side note, glad I got all my orders in at the Criterion store before Apr. 1. Hopefully they make the 25% coupons a regular thing because I'd much prefer to give my money directly to them.

[spencerf]

Originally Posted by styl3s

Can anyone recommend some movies from criterion that are currently out on blu? i just started this month (collecting them) i dont want to buy for the sake of owning them but im willing to blind buy a few if people have really good things to say about them here

currently i ordered Bottle Rocket and the Yojimbo/Sanjuro set from amazon.com

I have heard good things about Chungking Express, Gomorrah, Che and The Last Emperor, anyone think all 4 are worth blind buys?

I would have to say Chungking Express. Great movie by Wong Kar Wai and was beautiful eye candy to watch too, the blu ray is the best the film has ever looked. The Last Emperor is also a great film with beautiful cinematography. As for the new releases that have come out I would highly recommend Revanche.

Also with what Jimonee78 said about not only buying the blu ray releases. There are so many great movies that are only on standard dvd from Criterion that need to be seen. Don't limit yourself to just blu-ray.

[styl3s]

Thanks for the reco's i think im gonna go ahead and get express and rent a few others, to the guy above im waiting to see if the others come on BR because i i made the full jump to BR i don't wanna start buying DVDs only to have them come out on BR a month later, 2 months later etc.

I don't have the money to do that

[jimonee78]

Originally Posted by styl3s

Thanks for the reco's i think im gonna go ahead and get express and rent a few others, to the guy above im waiting to see if the others come on BR because i i made the full jump to BR i don't wanna start buying DVDs only to have them come out on BR a month later, 2 months later etc.

I don't have the money to do that

I totally understand where you're coming from. I had taken a 2 year hiatus from buying Criterion SD DVDs until recently. I came to the realization that it's going to take years before they release even 25% of their back catalog. There are your obvious titles which will probably receive the blu-ray treatment (read captveg's posts) within the next 2-5 years, but for 75% of the collection you're pretty safe. For example, if and when will Red Beard, my favorite Kurosawa, come out on blu-ray? My guess 4 years to never. Look how long we've been waiting for Andrei Rublev. Unless Criterion ramps up their monthly blu-ray production it will be a long time before we see the Criterion blu-ray treatment for many, many films.

[Belloche]

Originally Posted by styl3s

Thanks for the reco's i think im gonna go ahead and get express and rent a few others, to the guy above im waiting to see if the others come on BR because i i made the full jump to BR i don't wanna start buying DVDs only to have them come out on BR a month later, 2 months later etc.

I don't have the money to do that

You and me both. The last Criterion DVD I bought was The Friends of Eddie Coyle and even that bothered me. It would have to be a very special movie of a very special price to make me buy DVDs at this point. My local library is pretty well stocked with Criterion stuff so it helps me be patient about buying.

[styl3s]

Originally Posted by Belloche

You and me both. The last Criterion DVD I bought was The Friends of Eddie Coyle and even that bothered me. It would have to be a very special movie of a very special price to make me buy DVDs at this point. My local library is pretty well stocked with Criterion stuff so it helps me be patient about buying.

Yup, i just sold over over 700 dvds a few months back to make the full jump only keep special dvds that i did not want to get rid of (like clerks X signed by smith, ultimate dawn of the dead, a few steelbooks and some movies that arent on blu or im keeping till i get the blu) and i kept all the shows that arent on blu (like the shield, six feet under, alias, house etc)

since then i have not bought a dvd i just don't wanna get in the habbit of buying them again, i have a feeling all the criterion dvds will make their way to blu eventually, the only criterion i have on DVD that i refuse to part with is the seven samurai (the black case one) i might get rid of it if the BR release has all the same features

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by BluPix

The company did a wonderful job with Days of Heaven, a film I'd seen previously and loved. The only quip I have is that the theatrical trailer wasn't included.

What other titles did you order?

Other titles I received this last order are The Wages of Fear, Gimme Shelter, Man Who Fell to Earth, Monsoon Wedding, Revanche, Hunger and Bigger Than Life.

[kndy]

Originally Posted by styl3s

since then i have not bought a dvd i just don't wanna get in the habbit of buying them again, i have a feeling all the criterion dvds will make their way to Blu eventually, the only criterion i have on DVD that i refuse to part with is the seven samurai (the black case one) i might get rid of it if the BR release has all the same features

Originally when I started on Blu-ray, I said I was never going to purchase DVD's. But I'm pretty hardcore when it comes to art house, silent films, golden era, anime and BBC America releases and as I've mentioned before, there are Criterion titles I have been waiting since the LD years when I was in my late teens and now I'm in my 30's and they are still not out on DVD let alone Blu-ray. I do not want to wait until my 40's-50's to watch a film.

For those buying Criterion, KINO, Eureka/MoC, Flicker Alley DVD's, just remember that you can easily resell it and make your money back.

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by captveg

Well, I'd still say it's unlikely anytime soon, if not the near impossibility I implied earlier.

I believe the remaster was done to run at 25fps as well (Criterion's NTSC set is actually slowed by 4%), so any good BD release would involve them re-rendering an HD master from the 16mm film elements at 24fps.

In other words, it's probably years away. The Fassbinder Foundation probably wants to get some of his theatrical films out first (and bring on Ali: Fear Eats the Soul first, please!).

[Blu Titan]

Just watched my 2003 Criterion Seven Samurai, and I was surprised at the amount of print damage in this release. I believe there's a 2006 DVd that was digitally restored? However, I am glad that Criterion is taking the extra time to release this film in DVD. I am sure that this topic has been discussed before in this thread, but hard to find it among thousands of posts. for me this is the best Japanese film ever, and the performance by Toshiro Mifune is an unforgettable one. I was going to wait until the Blu-ray release to watch this movie again, but I gave in today.