The Criterion Collection

[SimBelm]

My first Criterion was Tokyo Drifter, wasn't much of a fan the first time, but now I love it.

[billyearle]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Part of me thinks some people give In the Mood for Love the edge just because it deals with heterosexual love...but that's opening a big can of worms there.

Yep, but glad you brought it up. I liked Happy Together, but didn't think it was a visually strong as his other movies, and that's a big issue for me, especially with this director. I think some critics & viewers liked this film so much because it has a much more straight-forward story that allows for a stronger emotional connection than many of his films. I have to admit I am a hetorosexual male, so homo-erotic themed films have to be pretty distinguished to interest me. So going in, the film has a slight handicap. Hey, I loved Warhol/Morrisey's Lonesome Cowboys, and Love most of Kenneth Anger's films (for some reason bluray.com won't let me click being a "fan" of the Magick Lantern Cycle). But our sexuality certainly affects our taste, and right or wrong, I often suspect that many people who adore any given gay themed movie are motivated by their sexual preference (not saying that's always the case). My dad worried I was gay because I listened to classical music, if that mitigates my comments. Hey, most "guys" are going to cut a movie a lot of extra slack if it has lots of T & A, so why wouldn't that work for gays?
Anyway, I thought In the Mood For Love was a great film with the deleted scenes too, but I have my own obstacle with that film. The story of the film hit way too close to home for me, felt like I was watching my recent life story. Chung King Express would be my favorite. Of course everybody's taste is right for them, it just gets tricky when critics try to declare what's best. That's one thing I like about many (not all maybe) of the reviews on this site, is that in the end they try to take into account the viewers taste.
sorry for the rant, i am groggy with the flu, like posting while drunk.

[billyearle]

Originally Posted by SimBelm

My first Criterion was Tokyo Drifter, wasn't much of a fan the first time, but now I love it.

ditto, but not my first Criterion. I think seeing it on blu vs dvd was another big help in appreciating this film. I think my first Criterion was the Juliet of the Spirits DVD when it came out (seeing that on the movie screen was one of the best movie experiences of my life for sure). My first blu was either Amarcord or 81/2 probably.

[Figster]

My firsts:
LD: The Man Who Fell to Earth
DVD: 400 Blows
Blu Ray: Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence

Yes, I used to be a huge Bowie fan.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by ccg1978

What was your first Criterion? Mine was Benjamin Button....no comments please

My first Criterions (all DVDs) were:

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Fishing with John
Naked
Solaris

Pretty sure the first one was either Solaris or Fishing with John though.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by billyearle

ditto, but not my first Criterion. I think seeing it on blu vs dvd was another big help in appreciating this film. I think my first Criterion was the Juliet of the Spirits DVD when it came out (seeing that on the movie screen was one of the best movie experiences of my life for sure). My first blu was either Amarcord or 81/2 probably.

Glad to see another admirer of Juliet of the Spirits. Likewise, it was a landmark film for me. I saw it and Black Orpheus as a double feature at the Circle Theater in D.C. sometime in the '70s and talk about being dazzled by what I saw on the screen! Two of the most visually striking films I've seen, then or since. I'm pretty sure they opened the door for my appreciation of foreign films which up until that time probably consisted of British films, badly dubbed Japanese monster, and Italian sword and sandal films.

[CriterionJunkie]

New poster here! Hi everyone!

My first Criterion movie is Robocop! Still have it today and never got any other release of it since! There's quite a number of Criterion released films I wish I had gotten my hands on!

I find myself buying most of my movies these days from the Criterion Collection. I hardly care for anything else if it isnt' from Criterion. I'm not too fond of movies today. The Criterion titles are films that have stood the test of time for me and I can rewatch countless times.

Movies aren't what they used to be sadly.

[yhzmr]

Originally Posted by CriterionJunkie

New poster here! Hi everyone!

My first Criterion movie is Robocop! Still have it today and never got any other release of it since! There's quite a number of Criterion released films I wish I had gotten my hands on!

I find myself buying most of my movies these days from the Criterion Collection. I hardly care for anything else if it isnt' from Criterion. I'm not too fond of movies today. The Criterion titles are films that have stood the test of time for me and I can rewatch countless times.

Movies aren't what they used to be sadly.

Welcome to the site! If your first movie is Robocop you are certainly not new to Criterion. While Criterion is the king of niche labels there are some titles that I have no interest in seeing or owning. That being said I happen to enjoy a little junk food (typical Hollywood output) along with my meat and potatoes (Criterion).

[GxyExpress999]

My first Criterion BD was...

[GentleGiant]

Originally Posted by ccg1978

What was your first Criterion? Mine was Benjamin Button....no comments please

Mine was Le Samourai.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by ccg1978

What was your first Criterion? Mine was Benjamin Button

Mine was The Magic Fl--

....no comments please

--Oh. Sorry.

[Metallix87]

Originally Posted by ccg1978

What was your first Criterion? Mine was Benjamin Button....no comments please

Seven Samurai and The Life Aquatic on DVD may years back.

[14728]

Since it seems like a big topic, my 1st criterion was the Gold Rush.
I've only been following Criterion for about a year (unlike some of you who where there from the beginning).

[ravenus]

My first Criterion DVD was A Taste of Cherry, which was gifted by a friend. The first CC DVD I bought was the Kurosawa Samurai movie pack (Yojimbo / Sanjuro / Seven Samurai / Hidden Fortress). My first blu-ray was Wings of Desire. I was initially hesitant because a friend of mine who is completely invested in CC DVD was making these little whiny noises about how the booklets for the BD version are smaller and hard to read etc, so in fact I had at the time also purchased DVD editions of The Thin Red Line and The Seventh Seal but as soon as I saw that the BD booklets were perfectly OK, and the difference in HD and SD, I knew there would be no more mainstream DVD purchases for me.

[mimurph1]

My first Criterion DVD was either The Seventh Seal, The Wages of Fear or Ballad of a Soldier, purchased maybe around 2003. My first Criterion blu-ray was House, purchased in 2010.

[Page14]

My first Criterions (if my memory is working right):

DVDs (the only Criterion DVDs I own)
Robinson Crusoe On Mars
Black Orpheus
The Third Man
Equinox

Bluray
Harold and Maude

[lordmorpheus72]

Just got my shipment of Criterion blu-rays from Best Buy:

Three Colors Blue White Red
The Seventh Seal
The Spy Who Came in From the Cold

I got all three for $5! Thanks Best Buy Rewards!

On another note.. watched the trailer for the 35th Anniversary Man Who Fell to Earth and it just makes me want this more. I just can't pay a crazy price for it. Come on Criterion, release it again!!!

[CMNPlanet]

First CC DVD:
This is Spinal Tap or The Killer (it was back in the late '90s so I really can't remember too exactly)

First CC BD:
The Third Man

[Abdrewes]

The top 20 films of the 1960s poll is up!

[exolstice]

First Criterion DVD: The Rock

First Criterion Blu-ray: The Red Shoes

Notice the evolution there. I consider the more mainstream films to be a sort of "gateway drug" for potential future cinephiles.