The Criterion Collection

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Black Dahlia may have some narrative issues, but the images are indelible.

I rented it a few years ago and remember virtually nothing. If I bought it tomorrow it would be the functional equivelant of a blind buy. Indelible must be in the intoxicated eye of the beholder. Or eye of the intoxicated beholder.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Don't expect to like The Black Dhalia very much. There's so much wrong with that film that it isn't even funny.

Terrible film. What a disappointment it was.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by octagon

I rented it a few years ago and remember virtually nothing. If I bought it tomorrow it would be the functional equivelant of a blind buy. Indelible must be in the intoxicated eye of the beholder. Or eye of the intoxicated beholder.

maybe the sleepy central performance by Josh Hartnett put you off. Now THAT I can't defend.

[The Bronx Bull]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I made a final trip to Barnes & Noble for this month's 50% off sale today after getting more coin than I expected from selling off some DVDs. Here's my Criterion haul...

The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
Bigger Than Life
The Double Life of Veronique
Three Colors Trilogy (Blue/White/Red)

Two older Technicolor films that I look forward to seeing in high definition.
Two 1990s eye candy purchases that I look forward to seeing in high definition.

I've already seen The Double Life of Veronique and the Three Colors Trilogy, as I owned them on DVD, so I know what kind of puzzles I'm getting into, and they're all great offbeat titles.
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp and Bigger Than Life are blind buys, but I've done some extensive homework on them.

Also...

When I was at the used store, I spotted a $10 used copy of the 3-disc Battle Royale (The Complete Collection). For years, I've owned a bootleg DVD copy of the first Battle Royale that I found at an Asian specialty store at a local mall. That first film is a guilty pleasure of mine, so I'm glad to kick the bootleg to the curb at long last. I would not have been surprised if the first Battle Royale film had been picked up by Criterion, but this is an Anchor Bay Blu-ray release.

[Show spoiler]

Really thinking about picking up both Black Narcissus, based on your recommendation [and comparison to Shutter Island, one of my favorite films], and Bigger than Life, based on my own interest.

[Figster]

Most of my Criterions are blind buys except for Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence.

Favorite: Three Colors Trilogy

Will not watch again: Fish Tank

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

[Purplenoon]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I made a final trip to Barnes & Noble for this month's 50% off sale today after getting more coin than I expected from selling off some DVDs. Here's my Criterion haul...

The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
Bigger Than Life
The Double Life of Veronique
Three Colors Trilogy (Blue/White/Red)

Two older Technicolor films that I look forward to seeing in high definition.
Two 1990s eye candy purchases that I look forward to seeing in high definition.

I've already seen The Double Life of Veronique and the Three Colors Trilogy, as I owned them on DVD, so I know what kind of puzzles I'm getting into, and they're all great offbeat titles.
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp and Bigger Than Life are blind buys, but I've done some extensive homework on them.

Also...

When I was at the used store, I spotted a $10 used copy of the 3-disc Battle Royale (The Complete Collection). For years, I've owned a bootleg DVD copy of the first Battle Royale that I found at an Asian specialty store at a local mall. That first film is a guilty pleasure of mine, so I'm glad to kick the bootleg to the curb at long last. I would not have been surprised if the first Battle Royale film had been picked up by Criterion, but this is an Anchor Bay Blu-ray release.

[Show spoiler]

BTW, the CC sale has been extended to 8/10, at least at my local B&N in Wisconsin.

[starman15317]

I can't really afford to blind buy Criterions either (though their resale value usually stays intact) because there are so many Criterions that I want as it is, and I don't have the money to get them all. But you've got to make it work. And don't complain because others can afford their hobby. I'm a little envious of people who can afford over 20 Criterions during the sale, but they put work and saving behind that, so who am I to complain about them? Admittedly, if I saved more money, I would be able to get more Criterions too, but I don't because there are always other things I like to indulge in (other Blu-Rays, CDs, concert tickets, a nice dinner, etc.) Personally, I need to save money because I'm entering my senior year in high school and there are things I will need money for that are more important than Blu-Rays (Prom, Senior pictures, etc.) Also, next year, I will be moving on to some form of post high school education and I would like to go see U2 more than once when they tour next time (most likely next year), so I have to make my budget work.

Don't know what the point of all of that was, but the point is, don't complain about what you don't have and be thankful for what you do. I have to remind myself of this at times too.

[White Dang]

I'm convinced that these arguments about blind buying are nothing more than a failure to reconcile the lifestyles of the frugal with those of the free spenders.

One side wants to know that they do in fact want to own what they are buying and the other side is content to buy what they perhaps will never watch again.

I saw one here mention that he was thinking about selling a Criterion that he blind bought and hasn't seen yet...!!!

But I think the argument has flogged itself to death, haha. If people want to blindly step out into the water for a film collection like Criterion, then I cheer them. Criterion needs all the support it can get

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I really suggest going chronological with DePalma. Or something like that. Black Dahlia and Mission Impossible, Mission to Mars, etc. you should check out last.

Try seeing Scarface, Blow Out, Dressed to Kill, and maybe Carlito's Way first. Not because if their quality, but just to get a gist of what DePalma is all about, what the average cinephile has seen by him. When you go deeper (Body Double, Femme Fatale, The Fury, etc), it'll be that much more satisfying. I didn't discover DePalma as an artist, something more than a commercial filmmaker until I saw Femme Fatale, Body Double, Dressed to Kill & Blow Out. I think they are much stronger pieces than his gangster films.

One thing to keep in mind: DePalma is a bloody, sexual expressionist. Set pieces & images is what he is all about. Black Dahlia may have some narrative issues, but the images are indelible. I'd rather have an extravangantly intoxicating incoherent mess over a film with a good story, yet nothing that captivates my senses.

Can't wait to see Passion.

I think I'll pick up Blow Out before the B&N sale ends. I typically go with what is most easily available to me (what the library has), before going out of my way for other works. Their De Palma choices are pretty scarce, with only Scarface, Femme Fatale, Mission Impossible, Black Dahlia,The Untouchables, and Casualties of War to choose from, so I just went with the ones I am most interested in to start with. If it's a film maker whose entire body of work is readily available to me (see: Hitchcock's Hollywood years), I will almost always go through in chronological order. How is Snake Eyes? I love a little Nic Cage in my life from time to time, and it's getting a blu release soon.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by brandon_260

I think I'll pick up Blow Out before the B&N sale ends. I typically go with what is most easily available to me (what the library has), before going out of my way for other works. Their De Palma choices are pretty scarce, with only Scarface, Femme Fatale, Mission Impossible, Black Dahlia,The Untouchables, and Casualties of War to choose from, so I just went with the ones I am most interested in to start with. If it's a film maker whose entire body of work is readily available to me (see: Hitchcock's Hollywood years), I will almost always go through in chronological order. How is Snake Eyes? I love a little Nic Cage in my life from time to time, and it's getting a blu release soon.

I haven't seen Snake Eyes in a good seven years. I too like Cage (esp. Bad Lieutenant, Leaving Las Vegas). If nothing else, that crazy 8 minute tracking shot should look amazing on BluRay.

[FaceInTheLeaves]

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

another movie i have to get in the next sale. but since i have already ordered 8 in the current sale from b&n and 4-5 from amazon before i will have to wait till november?.

malicks movies are just beautiful. i only own tree of life / new world / thin red line, and have seen badlands years ago.

probably will get Days of Heaven , seconds , things to come, double life of veronique , eyes without face in the next sale.


and i just watched "high & low" ,mifune with that shoe in his hand..awesome.
another great movie by Kurosawa.

The Barnes & Noble sale prompted me to start watching all the Criterion blu-rays I own and haven't seen. I've watched 10-15 in the last couple of weeks. I swear I'm seeing the world with subtitles!

I watched High and Low after reading your post and it's one of the best Criterion releases I own. It reminded me of 12 Angry Men, especially the use of (confined) space in the first hour and the way justice and morality drive the narrative.

Then I watched The Double Life of Veronique, which I'm still digesting. It was like a depressing Eastern European Amelie lit by Dario Argento! The exaggerated use of red and green made me feel ominous rather than existential.

And I prefer The Tree of Life to Days of Heaven, even though Days of Heaven is arguably a better film. Watching Days of Heaven was quite a lonely experience.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I haven't seen Snake Eyes in a good seven years. I too like Cage (esp. Bad Lieutenant, Leaving Las Vegas). If nothing else, that crazy 8 minute tracking shot should look amazing on BluRay.

Spring Breakers reminded me of The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call - New Orleans in several ways. I kept thinking about the reptile point-of-view tracking shots by Herzog in that movie.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Spring Breakers reminded me of The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call - New Orleans in several ways. I kept thinking about the reptile point-of-view tracking shots by Herzog in that movie.

That's a great way of looking at it...hmmm

[Steve Freeling]

When can we expect The Last Wave (1979)?

[Movie Nut]

Guys, gals...throttle it back a little. Besides...I think we all just glossed over the biggest issue in the last several pages of this thread. And it's not conspicuous Criterion consumption.

Did you guys see this?

Originally posted by The Great Owl

[quote/] Like a new house, a new car, a new girlfriend, or anything else, I research potential movies before blind buying them, and, if possible, I try to rent them and watch them first before blind buying them. [/quote]

Do you think The Great Owl's new girlfriend is aware she was watched and researched before he rented her and then blind bought her?

I'm not even sure I want to know what that meant.

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I haven't seen Snake Eyes in a good seven years. I too like Cage (esp. Bad Lieutenant, Leaving Las Vegas). If nothing else, that crazy 8 minute tracking shot should look amazing on BluRay.

I'll almost definitely get it, cause it looks like the price point will be very decent. Bad Lieutenant is one of my favorite Nic Cage films, but Wild at Heart and Raising Arizona are the tops for me.

[Rich Pure Doom]

Originally Posted by brandon_260

I'll almost definitely get it, cause it looks like the price point will be very decent. Bad Lieutenant is one of my favorite Nic Cage films, but Wild at Heart and Raising Arizona are the tops for me.

I also like Nic Cage in Moonstruck.

[Blu-Velvet]

Originally Posted by brandon_260

I'll almost definitely get it, cause it looks like the price point will be very decent. Bad Lieutenant is one of my favorite Nic Cage films, but Wild at Heart and Raising Arizona are the tops for me.

Originally Posted by Rich Pure Doom

I also like Nic Cage in Moonstruck.

All good, but Cage's best performances: LEAVING LAS VEGAS and ADAPTATION.

Both would be worth getting Criterion treatment!

[Purplenoon]

Originally Posted by Purplenoon

BTW, the CC sale has been extended to 8/10, at least at my local B&N in Wisconsin.

Sorry, it ends on 8/5. I was given bad info.

[shamus]

Thanks all for the help. I originally asked for help in picking out 5 blind buys from a list. I ended up picking out 6:

charade
breathless
diabolique
m
8 1/2
the seventh seal

After reading a bit in this thread, these titles popped up a lot and I'm curious if any of these should replace any of the above picks?

on the water front
paris, texas
black narcisus
blow out
the ice storm
howards end
videodrome