The Criterion Collection

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by jw007

Got an important question and looking for advice.

I found The Man Who Fell to Earth for $60 used at a local record shop. The Blu-ray is in mint condition and is still in its original digipack. The only problem is, the booklet is missing. I have this already on DVD with the large booklet in any case.

My question is, should I buy this for the price? It seems like a great deal since this is normally selling for $100+ used online.

I really want the Blu-ray of this OOP Criterion too.

Advice?

Well, I'd say that the DVD is worth keeping around if only because it includes a copy of Tevis's novel, which they didn't include with the Blu-ray. That's assuming that you want it and don't already own a copy.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by PK22

I was wondering what to buy next. I'm interested in seeing Bergman's work, Kurosawa's, Chaplin's and Truffaut's. Any idea what films are the best introduction to each director's work? (BTW I have the UK BD of Ran, but haven't saw it yet)

My suggestions:

Bergman: Smiles of a Summer Night and The Seventh Seal
Kurosawa: Seven Samurai and Rashomon
Chaplin: The Gold Rush and Modern Times
Truffaut: The 400 Blows and The Last Metro (which are the only two of his films yet released on Criterion BD)

[thebard]

Originally Posted by jw007

Got an important question and looking for advice.

I found The Man Who Fell to Earth for $60 used at a local record shop. The Blu-ray is in mint condition and is still in its original digipack. The only problem is, the booklet is missing. I have this already on DVD with the large booklet in any case.

My question is, should I buy this for the price? It seems like a great deal since this is normally selling for $100+ used online.

I really want the Blu-ray of this OOP Criterion too.

Advice?

I would jump on it; that's about what I paid for it shortly after it went OOP. I don't think you'll see it that low again.

Also, if the booklet you're talking about is the novel, the blu-ray didn't ship with it.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by baheidstu

For me, around 1999-2000, so it was on DVD. I had seen some of their titles on the shelves at my local Virgin Megastore and they were impressive but they were too pricey for me at the time. But I really, really wanted to get Charade on disc but my choices were extremely poor quality public domain or Criterion, so I ponied up and paid the sixty (SIXTY!) bucks to get it. I didn't buy too many of their titles on DVD. I do remember getting the big, bulky Two-Lane Blacktop release from 2007 which was a great disc but I hated that packaging. I've purchased a lot more of them since the introduction of blu ray because they seem to be more affordable nowadays.

As an aside, I was a big seller/buyer on E-Bay about ten years ago and the OOP copy of Salo was the holy grail of OOP titles, routinely selling for about $300!

I can only imagine what people thought when they actually got around to watching Salò, and said, "I paid $300 for this?!?"

When Criterion started releasing DVDs, I hadn't yet gotten into the format (the authoring on the early DVDs was, I thought, sub-par compared to a well-mastered LD). As I'd said earlier, my first Criterion DVDs were the two John Woo films after I found out they'd gone quickly OOP, though actually, now that I think about it, I'd only found The Killer, and had to get Hard-Boiled from eBay, along with the two other OOPs at the time: This Is Spinal Tap and Salò. I managed to get all three off of eBay for, on average, $50 each.

[Mr. Thomsen]

Originally Posted by starman15317

So here's a little question for everyone: when were you introduced to the Criterion Collection? Was it in the Laserdisc days? DVD era? Or were you introduced with Blu-Ray? And what was the first Criterion you saw or bought?

I am pretty sure I first heard about Criterion from the small Danish company Laserdisken. They started importing laserdiscs sometime in the 1980s and when sell-through VHS casettes began to become more common here, around 1990-1992, I bought a lot of movies from them. They would every once in a while make a catalogue to send out to customers and it usually included articles on related topics like early home cinema surround sound, the laserdisc system, or... The Criterion Collection.

I bought my first laserdisc player in 1995 and I am pretty sure the first Criterion LD I got was the huge and very expensive box set of Terry Gilliam's 'Brazil'. It must have been around october 1996 because I got it on release date even though I could not afford it. I had just moved to the capital to enroll in the university and I knew I had to cut back on expenses like laserdiscs (I had a well-paying job before), but that was the single movie I had decided I would buy on release date, if Criterion ever came around to release it (the release had been post-poned several times for at least a year).

All in all, I only got around 20 Criterion laserdiscs in the few years I collected the format. But my very first DVD was a Criterion, too: It was their release of 'Hard Boiled' which I rushed out and bought i 1999, shortly after I heard it had gone OOP (I never managed to pick up 'The Killer', though). Nowadays, I only buy Criterion BDs, but I still have around 150 Criterion DVDs, having sold off roughly the same number because I intend to upgrade them along the way.

[Kevin Holly]

B&N Haul:



Sorry for poor picture quality.

[Jobla]

I didn't yet have a laserdisc player, but when I heard that Criterion had released laserdiscs of Sam Fuller's THE NAKED KISS and SHOCK CORRIDOR (with the color footage restored) in the late 1980's, I bought those two discs in the San Francisco branch of Tower Records (in the Castro district, perhaps Market Street) while on vacation. Soon enough, I then purchased a Pioneer deck so that I could watch the two Fuller films. That was my introduction to both Criterion and the world of laserdisc.

[dizzy4111]

What do you guys think about the possibility of a George Washington blu ray upgrade? Has their been any talk of this? I really want pick up the DVD but not if there's been rumblings of an upgrade?

Is it a likely upgrade candidate?

[georgec]

You know what movie needs the CC treatment?

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by dizzy4111

What do you guys think about the possibility of a George Washington blu ray upgrade? Has their been any talk of this? I really want pick up the DVD but not if there's been rumblings of an upgrade?

Is it a likely upgrade candidate?

They should have timed it with the release of Prince Avalanche if they were going to release it. As for the film, It's a great one that has left quite the impression on me. David Gordon Green is a born-filmmaker that just needs to be steered in the right direction.

[paulgeneacepeter]

I'm sure I'm not the only one who hasn't seen this video before - http://vimeo.com/69581129

They do confirm that Tati's films that went OOP are licensed again. So that either means they will start printing Playtime again or they will possibly upgrade the DVD only films and create a box set. Hopefully they will just start printing the Playtime blu ray again.

Also seems unlikely that they will release Moonrise Kingdom or Fantastic Mr. Fox since they already have strong blu ray releases.

[Egbert Souse]

A Tati box would be a good opportunity to remaster Playtime. It's not a terrible master, but there's too much filtering and sharpening. I think there's already a project underway to do a new digital overhaul. Especially since Jour de Fete, Mr. Hulot's Holiday, and Mon Oncle are all already done. Maybe they can get Trafic from Lionsgate.

[joie]

I don't know why this thread isn't in the North America -> Wish Lists section.

[COLD_COBRA_]

I'm convinced nothing is worse than

[Show spoiler]worrying if you've gotten a girl pregnant that you didn't want to. For the past 8 days I haven't been able to enjoy anything. let alone give my attention to a criterion. I must have put 400 miles on my car just driving around thinking, and wondering what mistake I just made in the "moment." I even looked up how much child support would be based off my salary, my heart sank.

[Show spoiler]Point is, 3,000 pampers I won't have to buy buys a lot of Criterion's
I might even buy one of those paper things in the front of the store tomorrow. Hell I might even buy a $9 coffee and leave them a tip, and then smile like I think their profit margin is <15%

Anyhow, what's the consensus on

Summer with Monika
3 Women
Two lane Blacktop

Sorry for off topic.

[lordmorpheus72]

New to this thread, but not Criterion discs. Just picked up The Ice Storm, Wings of Desire, and Traffic in the B&N sale. What I'd really like to see get a BD release, is Armageddon. I was suprised to see it on dvd years ago, but have to admit it's a guilty pleasure. Would love to see it on my big screen. Am I the only one?

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by dizzy4111

What do you guys think about the possibility of a George Washington blu ray upgrade? Has their been any talk of this? I really want pick up the DVD but not if there's been rumblings of an upgrade?

Is it a likely upgrade candidate?

This is basically my most wanted upgrade in the entire collection.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Well, I'd say that the DVD is worth keeping around if only because it includes a copy of Tevis's novel, which they didn't include with the Blu-ray. That's assuming that you want it and don't already own a copy.

I do own the DVD indeed.

Originally Posted by thebard

I would jump on it; that's about what I paid for it shortly after it went OOP. I don't think you'll see it that low again.

Also, if the booklet you're talking about is the novel, the blu-ray didn't ship with it.

I jumped on it today! Check out my 9th haul below which I'm about to post. It's part of my 9th and final haul for this sale! What a way to end it!

[oildude]

Originally Posted by COLD_COBRA_

I'm convinced nothing is worse than

[Show spoiler]worrying if you've gotten a girl pregnant that you didn't want to. For the past 8 days I haven't been able to enjoy anything. let alone give my attention to a criterion. I must have put 400 miles on my car just driving around thinking, and wondering what mistake I just made in the "moment." I even looked up how much child support would be based off my salary, my heart sank.

[Show spoiler]Point is, 3,000 pampers I won't have to buy buys a lot of Criterion's
I might even buy one of those paper things in the front of the store tomorrow. Hell I might even buy a $9 coffee and leave them a tip, and then smile like I think their profit margin is <15%

.

I feel for you, and hope things work out for the best.

[Show spoiler]The fact that you felt compelled to post this to a group of internet strangers is a cry from the heart. And if the best turns out to be not what you were expecting, then make the most of a wonderful event, and recognize that you have been blessed, even if it doesn't fit your personal timetable. Whether or not you decide to cohabit - or even marry - the girl, I urge you to be a positive influence in the child's life, a role model appreciative of the awesome responsibilities and marvelous discoveries of the single greatest thing that can happen to a man - being a dad.

Not trying to lecture you or anything, but I hope that your thinking quickly moves beyond how many Criterions you could buy with diaper money. Reading that in your post frankly sounds awful, but I also realize you wrote it out of stress and frustration. I wish you strength, courage, and most of all, wisdom.

[jw007]

This was it! My 9th and final haul for this epic July sale.

Not only did I buy 3 Criterion titles at B&N, but I managed to buy the Blu-ray of The Man Who Fell to Earth for $60 + tax at a local record shop just a bit later! I now officially own every OOP Criterion Blu-ray! A month ago I bought The Third Man on Ebay for $125 but I feel I got a great deal today for a used copy of the famous David Bowie film with a mint condition Blu-ray disc.

Here is today's tally.

La Haine ($13.80 + tax) (15% off coupon + $5/50 coupon + 10% member discount)
Blow Out ($16.24 + tax) ($5/50 coupon + 10% member discount)
The Kid With a Bike ($16.23 + tax) ($5/50 coupon + 10% member discount)
The Man Who Fell to Earth ($60 + tax) (purchased at a record store)

I think this is it for me for this summer's sale. The next time I buy Criterion titles will be in November for the next 50% sale.

I'm glad I was able to use all the coupons I wanted today. It's a great way to end it all.

(ps. unfortunately Blow Out didn't have the Brian DePalma blue sticker I wanted, but no big deal... I tried other stores and even special ordered it to 2 other stores, but none came with the blue sticker).

COMING SOON: I will be posting my full haul from all 9 trips with a picture of all the titles I bought.

pic:

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by lordmorpheus72

New to this thread, but not Criterion discs. Just picked up The Ice Storm, Wings of Desire, and Traffic in the B&N sale. What I'd really like to see get a BD release, is Armageddon. I was suprised to see it on dvd years ago, but have to admit it's a guilty pleasure. Would love to see it on my big screen. Am I the only one?

Probably. When I saw a sneak preview of the film in a theater, I quite literally -- and I actually do mean literally -- had a splitting headache when it was over.

That said, the package that Criterion put together for the LD and DVD was an impressive effort for such a lousy film.

The joke I like to make is that Criterion's first laserdisc release was Citizen Kane and its last laserdisc release was Armageddon, which is a perfect illustration of the phrase "from the sublime to the ridiculous".

But guilty pleasures are guilty pleasures. Mine are Independence Day and Spice World, so who am I to judge?