The Criterion Collection

[thebard]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I just found out that Davy Jones was actually in my town a couple years back performing as part of a beach festival. Pretty neat.

I got to see the Monkees on their reunion tour back in '89-'90. I worked at an outdoor music pavillion... awesome job!

Also met Peter Tork once, back when I worked in a recording studio...

[jw007]

Originally Posted by oildude

Lone Star needs a blu release ASAP. As much as I have always thought it would fit nicely into the Criterion Collection, I'd take it from anyone as long as it is a quality transfer.

This.

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

There was a point when I would agree. Thanks for reminding me of his genius. It's about time I put his music back on my iPhone.

I usually listen to Nick Cave's music in the winter or whenever its cold outside...why, I don't know.

Originally Posted by iScottie

I will be starting the America: Lost And Found set in a little while.

Just curious as to what everyone's reactions are to the set? (Maybe a film ranking of best to worst, too).

This in order of best to worst in my opinion after having seen all the films in this set:

1. Easy Rider
2. Five Easy Pieces
3. The Last Picture Show
4. Head
5. The King of Marvin Gardens
6. Drive, He Said
7. A Safe Place

[Nighteyes]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

I don't listen to commentaries as often as I'd like, but I think anyone that has any interest in film must listen to Ebert's commentary for Citizen Kane.

That is indeed one of the best commentaries out there. Ever.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by silverlakephil

The Michael Jeck commentary for Seven Samurai has always been my favorite. I think I first heard it on the Criterion Laserdisc.

I've heard good ones about that one.

I hear Scorsese/Schrader's commentary that Criterion was apart of is incredible as well.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Nighteyes

That is indeed one of the best commentaries out there. Ever.

Gah. I think I need to have a Dark City/Citizen Kane Ebert commentary double feature one of these days.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by The Narrator

Actually, you'll be happy to learn that a Criterion release of Until the End of the World isn't so unlikely. Wim Wenders himself confirmed it (in addition to the Road Trilogy), if I remember correctly.

That would be interesting and cool. I would've expected Warner to still have the North American rights. Maybe Criterion will put both the US cut and the Extended cut on their release?

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by rock, stone

As much as I like Videodrome, I rate all of Cronenberg's post Fly work much higher than his early horror stuff. Although it has been a while since I've seen a fair amount of it. I'm curious to see how Spider or M. Butterfly plays while not viewed on VHS.

Crash is on my tippity top wishlist to get a spine, or at least a solid release somewhere.

I was not a fan of M. Butterfly, but Crash is definitely one I'd like to see.

Apropos of nothing, where is John Sayles on Blu? Is he even in the CC? It would seem like he would be a lock, but I can't think of anything.

He's not to be seen in the Collection, except for his appearance as a cop in Something Wild.

But, yeah, he seems like a natural for Criterion. At the very least, I'd love to see The Secret of Roan Inish, Lone Star, and PassionFish from Criterion.

[Dragun]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

I hear Scorsese/Schrader's commentary that Criterion was apart of is incredible as well.

It is indeed a great commentary and is available on the Taxi Driver Blu-Ray.

[SilentDawn]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Gah. I think I need to have a Dark City/Citizen Kane Ebert commentary double feature one of these days.

Plus the Casablanca commentary! Those are amazing and very insightful commentaries, so good.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

but with the upcoming Zatoichi box i would say there is already enough japanese stuff for this year

Not when there's so much more Ozu, Mizoguchi, Ichikawa, Kobayashi, Imamura, and Suzuki to be released. Not to mention Akira Whats-his-name...

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by silverlakephil

The Michael Jeck commentary for Seven Samurai has always been my favorite. I think I first heard it on the Criterion Laserdisc.

Fun anecdote. Back about 15 years ago, I was buying and selling some LDs on eBay. One of the LDs I sold was The Year of Living Dangerously (I'd gotten the DVD) and I sold it to a fellow named Maurice Yacowar, a film studies teacher in Calgary.

The same week, I bought a copy of the original Criterion silver jacket edition of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. When it came in the mail, and I looked it over, I noticed that the commentary was by...Maurice Yacowar (who at that time was a film studies teacher in Ontario). I had had a later Criterion edition, but never listened to, or made note of, the commentary.

He was amused when I wrote back to him regarding the synchronicity.

[lordmorpheus72]

just got $115 in best buy rewards! already have Three Colors, Seventh Seal, and Spy Who Came in from the Cold in my cart. Looking to see if I want to switch anything out, but so far it'll cost me about $15 or so. Best part is Three Colors is only sale on their site for $49.99, instead of their inflated $89.99 price. trying to wait for another $5 to $10 in rewards, but don't want to miss the sale price. shouldn't change in the middleof the weak right...

[*PREACHER*]

So still no response from Mr. Mulvaney in regards to the Breathless and 400 Blows OOP rumors...all in all they will be delivered to my doorstep sometime tomorrow and I can finally cross them off of my long list of wanted titles.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by jayembee

He's not to be seen in the Collection, except for his appearance as a cop in Something Wild.

But, yeah, he seems like a natural for Criterion. At the very least, I'd love to see The Secret of Roan Inish, Lone Star, and PassionFish from Criterion.

Yes! Where is John Sayles in the Criterion Collection?! His movies are socially-driven gems! How about Matewan for starters? Lone Star is another great one. Then there is Brother from Another Planet. Then there is Return of the Secaucus Seven, that inspired The Big Chill, which came out three years later. Finally, how about City of Hope! Now that is one amazing film, no?

Passion Fish is also amazing.

I even liked his film, Limbo, that came out in 1999! And Sunshine State wasn't bad either.

Come on, Criterion, we need some JOHN SAYLES!. Where is the love???

John Sayles is the David Byrne of cinema! (Heck, he even looks like him too!)

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by *PREACHER*

So still no response from Mr. Mulvaney in regards to the Breathless and 400 Blows OOP rumors...all in all they will be delivered to my doorstep sometime tomorrow and I can finally cross them off of my long list of wanted titles.

I've never had luck getting responses, it's not just you..

[Dumbhuman]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Not when there's so much more Ozu, Mizoguchi, Ichikawa, Kobayashi, Imamura, and Suzuki to be released. Not to mention Akira Whats-his-name...

Koreeda. And it's actually Hirokazu, not Akira. Common mistake though.

[silverlakephil]

Thanks to DVD Freak for mentioning this on the Movie Deals Forum, DVD Planet is having a Criterion sale,up to 45% off. No tax and free shipping with at least 35.00 purchased.

http://www.dvdplanet.com/pg/4188/Big...ion-Collection

Criterions titles below whose List Price is 29.95, up to 43% off. Not as good as BN's 50% off sale, but if you want one or two titles, I think it's worth it if you can't wait until November. Also, they have Howard's End ($22.29) which is now OOP I believe.

Gate of Hell-16.95
Identification of a Woman-17.58
The Makioka Sisters-17.27
Three Outlaw Samurai-17.18
The Ballad of Narayama-17.37
Ministry of Fear-16.86
Summer Interlude-17.13
Jimi Plays Monterey-17.11
Letter Never Sent-17.30
The Moment of Truth-17.23
The Organizer-16.93

[SammyJankis]

Speaking of commentaries, I stumbled across this last night: a collection of excerpts from vital filmmakers on filmmaking. Some of them are really interesting.

I especially love Paul Thomas Anderson's segment in this (which I had heard before, but it's always a great listen.)

part

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by jw007

This in order of best to worst in my opinion after having seen all the films in this set:

1. Easy Rider
2. Five Easy Pieces
3. The Last Picture Show
4. Head
5. The King of Marvin Gardens
6. Drive, He Said
7. A Safe Place

Thanks for the rating. I've only seen Head thus far and I'm really iffy about it. (Great soundtrack, though!)

[JJJ225]

Originally Posted by rock, stone

As much as I like Videodrome, I rate all of Cronenberg's post Fly work much higher than his early horror stuff. Although it has been a while since I've seen a fair amount of it. I'm curious to see how Spider or M. Butterfly plays while not viewed on VHS.

I like M. Butterfly A LOT.