The Criterion Collection

[OldPangYau]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Because it's a rather uncomfortable film. It's well-acted, well-written, and well-filmed, but it's tough to watch in certain scenes. I'm glad that I saw Shame once, but I won't own it.

My gf and I actually caught Shame in theaters... my first theatrical NC-17 film

[jw007]

Originally Posted by jayembee

It also means that when you say something stupid, you can use the excuse that you're having a "Senior Member moment".

Given that I've reached the age where I'm starting to get "Senior Citizen discounts" at some establishments, becoming a Senior Member was just another "boy do I feel old" kinda thing.

LOL. That was hillarious, sir. Thanks for the laugh. Thankfully, I have about another 30 years to go until I hit Senior citizen status (or ranking). I can't wait to become a "special member" after I'm an "expert member", but sometimes I feel experts are cooler than special people too. (Special people might be interpreted as people with retardation/down syndrome too).

[jw007]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

I think the only time I did it was for Badlands. I wanted it so badly I broke my usual pattern of only buying during 50% off sales. I'm playing catch-up on titles anyway so I've learned to be patient.

I basically did the same thing as you! I bought Badlands a week or two after it was released without waiting for a special sale! I guess directors like Terrence Malick make me run, not walk, to the local Barnes & Noble.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by OldPangYau

My gf and I actually caught Shame in theaters... my first theatrical NC-17 film

Caught it in theaters first day it came out.

[jw007]

Ya know, I was just thinking about the Martin Scorcese World Cinema Project box set.... Criterion should release his stuff every year or so (like an Eclipse set) and name this "Volume 1". I think this should be the beginning of a trend of Scorcese-restored or endorsed films.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by ultlife2013

Do you guys ever buy criterions on release date or just on the sales?

I won't wait only for the B&N 50% sales but I don't think I've ever paid more than $20-$25 for a standard Criterion. There are plenty of sales throughout the year.

Rosemary's Baby was almost a big test though. That one came out on Oct 30th and the Nov B&N sale started a week or so early last year. If it hadn't, well, do the math.

[rock, stone]

Originally Posted by octagon

Tell me if this is petty...

When Grey Gardens was first teased I wasn't exactly intrigued but I was at least curious. Then several months later there was an off-hand reference to it/them in an episode of Bored to Death (the main character didn't want to let somebody see his messy apartment and demured by saying 'it's very grey gardens in here right now') and it really turned me off.

It gave the whole thing a sort of trendy/New York/hipster kind of vibe.

Is that petty? Cause it sounds pretty petty even to me.

I can't say I would consider the line of thinking constructive in any way. There are too many contemptible people in the world who may like good stuff to let it color your perceptions.

If it makes any difference, I don't associate Grey Gardens with hipsters (besides, we all know hipsters only hate things), but with certain facets of the gay community. I know that Little Edie was a popular Halloween costume/drag character for years.

If you like bizarre character based documentaries, Grey Gardens is very much worth your time. The movie itself stands on its own despite its various fans.

[alien2010]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Indeed! I'm glad that I gave the 2012 French Pathe Blu-ray a chance, but Le Samourai deserves a Rolls Royce treatment from Criterion.

Hear, hear.

[alien2010]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Nicely put. I can totally imagine a fresh faced college kid picking it up during a sale, watching it, then changing his major the following day. One is changed for life after seeing that movie

I sure was, I became a Melville fan because of it.

[Blu-Velvet]

Originally Posted by lordmorpheus72

Thanks for this Pro-B! Looks like some good features on these. I've only seen one of these, and it happens to be in the WCF Collection (The Housemaid). I wish it was a single release, but thinking I may blind buy the set for the right price and take my chances. I've read up on Nashville, since many people are excited, and it has peeked my interest as well.

As for the rest... not sure but always willing to watch something new/old. I'm also interested to see the size of the new combo packages... hoping they aren't too thick. but that's just me, since I'm running out of space.

All the recommendations and hype about THE HOUSEMAID is really getting me hyped to see it (and buy this box set) but having just finished watching the devastating performance by Do-yeon Jeon in SECRET SUNSHINE a few hours ago for the first time, I now wish they'd have included the 2010 version as a bonus feature.

[GentleGiant]

I've just started watching Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion. The first thing that popped out for me is the Ennio Morricone's score - the melody is instantly recognizable. I'll let you guys know my opinion when I'm done (if you're interested).

[ravenus]

Thanks to a relative kindly ferrying them in from the states, I just hauled in a bunch of movies I'd ordered over a period of time, including:

Monsieur Verdoux - the film's blend of slapstick and macabre is not quite right for me but it has two powerful scenes

[Show spoiler](the one with the vagrant girl in the house and the courtroom + pre-execution scene)

that really push the film up. I wish Chaplin had played the character a little more straight and serious, like he does in its best scenes, it would have been that much more extraordinary IMO.

Charulata - Not my favorite Ray film but admittedly one of his most visually captivating with a luminous lead presence from Madhabi Mukherjee.

On The Waterfront - Saw this years ago on TV and was very entertained, and Marlon Brando is amazing here. Not quite sure I'll ever sit through 3 different aspect ratios of the film, but the package looks good.

The Man Who Knew Too Much - It seems a trifle amateurish if compared with some of Hitchcock's later movies, but this is still very good fun, I love the old-school British atmosphere and Peter Lorre is a hoot.

Stagecoach - Superb entertaining adventure with some very well-written characters and solid casting. Looking forward to the extras on this one, really liked the source short story given in the booklet.

Babette's Feast, Life & Death of Colonel Blimp, Ivan's Childhood - blind buys, I'm thinking they'll be good

[KRW1]

Originally Posted by smoss469

I would like to see a mix of releases to keep everyone at least marginally happy. 1 foreign film, 1 art house film, 1 classic American film, 1 cult following film.

Like Nashville, (American Classic), Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion (Art House), Grey Gardens (Cult) and 6 (six!) foreign films. I'd like to see that too.

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Monsieur Verdoux - the film's blend of slapstick and macabre is not quite right for me but it has two powerful scenes

[Show spoiler](the one with the vagrant girl in the house and the courtroom + pre-execution scene)

that really push the film up. I wish Chaplin had played the character a little more straight and serious, like he does in its best scenes, it would have been that much more extraordinary IMO.

I'm going to order this one soon, I hope it doesn't disappoint!

Originally Posted by ravenus

The Man Who Knew Too Much - It seems a trifle amateurish if compared with some of Hitchcock's later movies, but this is still very good fun, I love the old-school British atmosphere and Peter Lorre is a hoot.

I didn't watch this one until after I'd seen the remake. The original seems rushed in comparison, but when it's (If memory serves correctly) 1/2 the run time that'll do it. Still it was very enjoyable; Peter Lorre is awesome in everything he does. I'd love to see them do some releases of his earlier work.

[ccg1978]

Originally Posted by smoss469

I'm going to order this one soon, I hope it doesn't disappoint!



I didn't watch this one until after I'd seen the remake. The original seems rushed in comparison, but when it's (If memory serves correctly) 1/2 the run time that'll do it. Still it was very enjoyable; Peter Lorre is awesome in everything he does. I'd love to see them do some releases of his earlier work.

Watch him in M

[smoss469]

That's on the list to buy as well. Once my last reward zone certs clear I'm going to pick up 2 or 3 from Best Buy.

[GentleGiant]

Originally Posted by KRW1

Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion (Art House)

I've just watched it, and it's quite good. Gian Maria Volonté's intense performance is especially remarkable and quite possibly crucial to the success of the film, as is Ennio Morricone's score. That said, I wasn't bowled over by it. I found the premise very interesting but the execution - that's where it fell a bit short for me.

Still, despite a few minor flaws, it's a solid film and well worth checking out.

[JJJ225]

I'm probably in the minority, but I think I prefer the remake of The Man Who Knew Too Much. I sort of feel bad comparing them; same story but the movies are totally different in tone.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by starman15317

Hunger is pretty great but I'm not sure if I'd like to own it.

I owned Hunger on Criterion DVD, but am in no frantic rush to upgrade it. I liked the film, but it's not exactly an infinitely rewatchable feature.

[Judex]

Originally Posted by jw007

Ya know, I was just thinking about the Martin Scorcese World Cinema Project box set.... Criterion should release his stuff every year or so (like an Eclipse set) and name this "Volume 1". I think this should be the beginning of a trend of Scorcese-restored or endorsed films.

That's what Masters of Cinema are doing over here. We get Martin Scorcese Presents WCF: Volume 1 in November. They're aiming to release 2 WCF boxsets a year.