The Criterion Collection

[retablo]

Originally Posted by ccg1978

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

Laserdisc: Raging Bull, Repulsion, Ghostbusters, Dr. No, Jules & Jim

[baheidstu]

Originally Posted by ccg1978

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

First DVD was Charade, 2nd DVD was also Charade because the first was non-anamorphic. The first blu was, wait for it... Charade! Not that I'm a huge fan of the film, I obviously like it, but it's just the way things worked out.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by baheidstu

I have heard of Le Samourai but never got around to seeing it before Now that I have seen the extreme enthusiasm many people including yourself have for it and I realize that it's my type of movie, I have ordered the Criterion DVD. Hopefully I will soon be joining the ranks clamoring for its upgrade to blu.

I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts about the movie. It's probably just as well to order the DVD now, since there may not be a Criterion upgrade for a little while. (Of course, for all I know, one could be announced next month.)

[baheidstu]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts about the movie. It's probably just as well to order the DVD now, since there may not be a Criterion upgrade for a little while. (Of course, for all I know, one could be announced next month.)

I know, right? But, hey, maybe now that I've spent money on the DVD, Murphy's Law will work against me and in everyone else's favor, and the blu will be announced right away.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by baheidstu

I know, right? But, hey, maybe now that I've spent money on the DVD, Murphy's Law will work against me and in everyone else's favor, and the blu will be announced right away.

I was hoping that, since I opted to buy the French Pathe Blu-ray of Le Samouraï out of curiosity last month, the Criterion upgrade would be announced for December. That did not happen, though.

You're better off with the Criterion DVD of Le Samouraï than you would be with the French Pathe Blu-ray, because of the horrible transfer of that Blu-ray. I'll be watching my Criterion DVD when I wanted to revisit the movie, but the Blu-ray is, at least, an interesting memento of my favorite film.

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I was hoping that, since I opted to buy the French Pathe Blu-ray of Le Samouraï out of curiosity last month, the Criterion upgrade would be announced for December. That did not happen, though.

You're better off with the Criterion DVD of Le Samouraï than you would be with the French Pathe Blu-ray, because of the horrible transfer of that Blu-ray. I'll be watching my Criterion DVD when I wanted to revisit the movie, but the Blu-ray is, at least, an interesting memento of my favorite film.

OT since there's a thread for that however... I love your collection. 10/10!

[Ausjdm]

Besides Melville I'm slowly trying to buy all of Godard's films...

Has anyone compared Godard's contempt Criterion version vs the blu canal version? The CC version is pricey compaired to canal one but I read on amazon it sucks quality wise considering its a bluray. Any advice? Thanks all!

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by smoss469

OT since there's a thread for that however... I love your collection. 10/10!

Thank you! You've got some outstanding selections in your collection as well.

I'm completely caught up watching everything in my collection except for the last two seasons of The Twilight Zone: The Complete Series set and the Dirty Harry Collection, which I just received a week ago and am going to start watching tonight.

I might lose some indie credibility here, but I'm really fired up about watching the five Dirty Harry Blu-rays this weekend and seeing these old favorites in high definition for the first time. I'll try my best to refrain from quoting the movies on the forum all weekend, though.

[SammyJankis]

First Criterion Blu: Paris, Texas and Stagecoach. Both blind-buys.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

First Criterion Blu: Paris, Texas and Stagecoach. Both blind-buys.

I'm loving your new avatar.

That movie was in consideration for my 1960s Top 20, and, although it was a near-miss, it's wonderful part of my collection. Antonioni does some amazing things with the colors.

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Thank you! You've got some outstanding selections in your collection as well.

I'm completely caught up watching everything in my collection except for the last two seasons of The Twilight Zone: The Complete Series set and the Dirty Harry Collection, which I just received a week ago and am going to start watching tonight.

I might lose some indie credibility here, but I'm really fired up about watching the five Dirty Harry Blu-rays this weekend and seeing these old favorites in high definition for the first time. I'll try my best to refrain from quoting the movies on the forum all weekend, though.

I'm on the last disc of the Samurai Trilogy, then I have Breathless and The Darjeeling Limited to watch, after that? A batch of Olive releases and some other misc discs. I'm slowly buy surely getting through the pile.

[The Great Owl]

Speaking of Michelangelo Antonioni, he gets a nod from Richard Linklater in Slacker.

There's a bar scene late in the film when one of the characters mentions Blow-Up.

This did not register with me during earlier viewings, but my ears lit up when I heard the mention while watching the new Blu-ray yesterday.

I did not go into all of this during my review of Slacker yesterday, but Linklater shows undeniable influence from Antonioni, Bunuel, and other European directors.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I'm loving your new avatar.

That movie was in consideration for my 1960s Top 20, and, although it was a near-miss, it's wonderful part of my collection. Antonioni does some amazing things with the colors.

Thanks! Just finished watching it again (I've watched it twice this year, I think) and my love just grows with each viewing. No one composes a shot like Antonioni. No one.

And Monica Vitta. Few actresses match her beauty. I think it's her best performance, too.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

Thanks! Just finished watching it again (I've watched it twice this year, I think) and my love just grows with each viewing. No one composes a shot like Antonioni. No one.

And Monica Vitta. Few actresses match her beauty. I think it's her best performance, too.

When I was hunting for a new avatar last week, this one from Antonioni's Identification of a Woman was in consideration...

[orbital]

1st CC DVD: THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS; 1st CC BD: RUSHMORE.

[CriterionJunkie]

Originally Posted by lordmorpheus72

Welcome! I've only been around this thread for a little while myself. My only issue is it makes me want to buy even more Criterion discs! Which isn't such a bad thing...

Thanks! I know what you mean! Criterion is tops in my book as they put out quality stuff! I'm already reaching into my wallet for that Zatoichi boxed set!!!

Leave it to Criterion to set a standard for releasing films properly with the right packaging and features! They may charge a hefty price tag, but at least when I pop the films in my player, I can see why! And it also doesn't hurt that it looks nice in my movie collection on my shelf!

[klauswhereareyou]

First Criterion DVD was Sisters (1973), and my fist blu-ray was Bigger Than Life (1956).

[CriterionJunkie]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Welcome aboard! You've got my all-time favorite movie, Le Samouraï, so you're all good in my book.

Thanks! Yeah, that is a classic film!!! I cannot wait to upgrade that when it comes to blu!!

Just so many great movies in that collection! Yet, such a tight budget on our accounts! Hahaha!

[baheidstu]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Thank you! You've got some outstanding selections in your collection as well.

I'm completely caught up watching everything in my collection except for the last two seasons of The Twilight Zone: The Complete Series set and the Dirty Harry Collection, which I just received a week ago and am going to start watching tonight.

I might lose some indie credibility here, but I'm really fired up about watching the five Dirty Harry Blu-rays this weekend and seeing these old favorites in high definition for the first time. I'll try my best to refrain from quoting the movies on the forum all weekend, though.

Well, if you want to go over to the DH forum I'll gladly indulge you if you want to quote them... "Here's a seven point suppository...."

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

Thanks! Just finished watching it again (I've watched it twice this year, I think) and my love just grows with each viewing. No one composes a shot like Antonioni. No one.

And Monica Vitta. Few actresses match her beauty. I think it's her best performance, too.

It's probably been about two years since I last watched the Passenger (maybe even more) but now and again that long final static shot still pops into my mind as I ponder what exactly was going on out of frame. Brilliant. I love films that resonate like that.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

When I was hunting for a new avatar last week, this one from Antonioni's Identification of a Woman was in consideration...

I've been going back and forth on this one, but I'll definitely be picking it up during the next sale - or during Criterion's annual September sale, if it even happens.

Originally Posted by baheidstu

It's probably been about two years since I last watched the Passenger (maybe even more) but now and again that long final static shot still pops into my mind as I ponder what exactly was going on out of frame. Brilliant. I love films that resonate like that.

I was so stunned by the execution that I immediately went online to look up how the hell he pulled it off. It remains one of the greatest scenes I've seen.

[Show spoiler]