The Criterion Collection

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

If I end up going back to B&N for another Criterion fix, then I'll pick up a Volume 1 disc to mail to you if they have any left. Not sure if I'll get a chance, but I'll look if I do.

I believe Volume 1 was only ever available free with any order from Criterion.com for a period of time. Volume 2 was the only one available via Barnes and Noble.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

But looking back at Criterion DVDs to draw parallels/formulate conclusions as to what the proper color scheme of a film should be is a very tricky business. This is especially true with European/French films. For some reason -- and this is actually something Criterion have addressed -- there are major discrepancies between how many French films were released on DVD in France/Europe and in the U.S.

True. I don't know which is more "correct" but I definitely prefer the cooler color scheme on the region B releases of Belle de Jour and Le Cercle Rouge, it does seem more in keeping with the themes and styles of these films.

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Probably better to see something wilder, perhaps Bava's Danger: Diabolik

Oh I loved this movie when I saw it, has such a delightful tongue-in-cheek element.

[Mansinthe]

received Summer Interlude & On the Waterfront today, yesterday The Magician

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by Iosguy

if anybody is interested, they have gamorra criterion dvd at family dollar disc only for $2, i decided to pick it up just because i dont have any criterions in my collection yet

Wow... that's kind of crazy. May have to swing by and see if they have it at my local store.

[JoeBuck]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

I am sure that eventually we will get a new transfer for Le Mepris. (Actually, this is a film where a simple new transfer won't be enough; restoration work is definitely needed). But I would like to be on record here that when it comes out, its color scheme will be a lot closer to what is on the Canal disc.

Pro-B

A restoration was just finished on it not too long ago actually! Its been playing at the Film Forum in new york for a while now.
I've been keeping my fingers crossed that it will play here after at some point because I'm dying to see it again and seeing it on the big screen would be the best way!

[Carletty]

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

received Summer Interlude & On the Waterfront today, yesterday The Magician

Ebay or B&N?

Edit: Sorry, just read your message.

[mimurph1]

got lucky yesterday and found a 'like new' copy of the people on sunday blu-ray on ebay for $12 (including shipping)

hope it's as described

[TheCoryJihad]

I know it's probably an oxymoron, but where are you having luck finding cheap Criterion movies? I hit all of my local record stores on a relatively regular basis, scour Amazon and B&N looking for deals, but it seems they never really drop too much.

Anyone have any tips out there?

[mimurph1]

Originally Posted by TheCoryJihad

Anyone have any tips out there?

Not sure if this is much of a tip, but I keep this bookmarked and visit it through the day. Every now and then something pops up and I'm able to grab it.

[GentleGiant]

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

received Summer Interlude & On the Waterfront today, yesterday The Magician

Good for you!

Hope to hear your thoughts regarding both Bergmans, really interested in those two.

[14728]

Originally Posted by sc1957

You still have record stores????? You must live near a college campus.

I live about 40 minutes away from a record store, and it's pretty cool. Every record store day I go and stack up on titles.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

For example, I saw quite a few of Melville's films in Europe back in the days -- and NO, I am not one of those guys that remembers exactly how every film looked in the theater , but Melville's films were known for their cool (cold) atmosphere -- and when some of them started coming out on DVD via Criterion they looked very different. In France, Melville's color films always looked very cool, but in the U.S. they looked surprisingly warm.

I think the only R1 release that I was pleased with was Anchor Bay's Un Flic, because it had those typical cool blue Melville-esque tones. I also preferred Rene Chateau's DVD release of Le Samourai.

I have the Lionsgate DVD release of Un Flic (with the Dirty Money title on the cover art). I'm eagerly awaiting a good high definition presentation of the movie at some point. (I hope.)

The French Pathe Blu-ray of Le Samouraï is lacking in so many ways, but the darker color scheme compared to the brighter Criterion DVD presentation is interesting. I'm not sure which is "correct", but the Criterion DVD is the one that I'm most accustomed to seeing. The colors on the French Blu-ray seem to fall more in line with the colors on the Criterion Blu-ray of Army of Shadows.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

There are some pretty good films, but the English-friendly ones are very few. This is a very entertaining film, and the Paramount transfer is also very nice

[Show spoiler]


This is also a top film (one of those famous European shorts collections) and the Italian DVD is English-friendly.



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This is a cracking film, but the Italian DVD isn't English-friendly:



The Scarlet Lady is a very entertaining film, but the U.S. DVD is not anamorphic.

Also, none of the DVDs from Franco Cristaldi's library are English-friendly.

Forgot to mention (I was going to post the DVD press release in the Carlotta thread), Carlotta just released a new DVD of Antonioni's The Mystery of Oberwald. It is not English-friendly.

Pro-B

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

This is probably one of her weakest films.

Probably better to see something wilder, perhaps Bava's Danger: Diabolik

[Show spoiler]



This would be really great to bring to Blu-ray, (possibly from Arrow), and I don't think there was ever a legit DVD release: Edouard Logereau's The Golden Claws of the Cat Girl, with beautiful Danièle Gaubert.

Pro-B

Thanks, Pro-B! I appreciate your knowledge of these Italian films that do not receive proper recognition on these shores.

The Pacifist (La Pacifista) looks great, from what I gather investigating the film online.

I'll have to pursue some of the more English-friendly titles, and, perhaps, brush up on my Italian to pursue the others. (Yes, I would learn to speak Italian just to find more Monica Vitti movies.)

[TheCoryJihad]

Originally Posted by sc1957

Like Apple computer hardware, Swarovski crystal, and weapons-grade plutonium, the price of Criterions is pretty much the price.

Your best best is to wait for the sales that everyone on here will be talking about (like the current Barnes & Noble "buy 2 get 1 free" sale that's in effect through Sep. 30).

PS: You still have record stores????? You must live near a college campus.

There are 3 different record stores within 10 miles of my house and they sell their movies crazy cheap, not to mention a bunch of farmer's markets on the weekends. I find all KINDS of crazy stuff there and no one knows that they've got.

I live in a pack rat heaven.

[JJJ225]

Originally Posted by TheCoryJihad

I know it's probably an oxymoron, but where are you having luck finding cheap Criterion movies? I hit all of my local record stores on a relatively regular basis, scour Amazon and B&N looking for deals, but it seems they never really drop too much.

Anyone have any tips out there?

B&N membership and get lucky with coupons during the 50% off sale.

[baheidstu]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

This is probably one of her weakest films.

Probably better to see something wilder, perhaps Bava's Danger: Diabolik

[Show spoiler]

I'd have to agree that Modesty Blaise was a bit of a disappointment in that it's kind of dull, though Monica Vitti is quite sexy in it and it does have a few great camp moments, the villains' island lair being one of them. Danger Diabolik is far superior though, I'd love to see that on blu. I envision that it'll probably be released by Paramount in the Italian market long before we see it on North American shores though.

For anybody who likes Diabolik and has a hard time keeping its insanely catchy theme tune out of their heads, you might enjoy this:

[Show spoiler]

Mike Patton´s Mondo Cane-08- Deep Deep Down - YouTube

[14728]

Originally Posted by TheCoryJihad

I know it's probably an oxymoron, but where are you having luck finding cheap Criterion movies? I hit all of my local record stores on a relatively regular basis, scour Amazon and B&N looking for deals, but it seems they never really drop too much.

Anyone have any tips out there?

As everyone has mentioned, Criterion has two sales: one is a 1/2 off sale(which happens twice a year), and a buy 2, get the 3rd free sale, which occurs every September. Third party sellers from Amazon have pretty good deals, and amazon in general is pretty good. There, I contributed something.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by JoeBuck

A restoration was just finished on it not too long ago actually! Its been playing at the Film Forum in new york for a while now.
I've been keeping my fingers crossed that it will play here after at some point because I'm dying to see it again and seeing it on the big screen would be the best way!

Hello Joe. Are you sure this is true? My understanding is that what is shown at Film Forum is in fact sourced from Canal (not the new resto).

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Thanks, Pro-B!

You are welcome. But you should not set your expectations too high. There is nothing out there that matches Monica's work with Antonioni. The rest really is in an entirely different category.

But if you are interested in Italian Cinema that has similar overtones as those in Antonioni's films with Monica, there are some quite good films to explore.

Pro-B

[jw007]

I just spent an hour or two rating 222 films in my collection of 265 Blu-rays! (that means I still have 43 films on Blu-ray that I haven't seen yet - and need to rate after watching them)

[mimurph1]

good use of a rainy saturday afternoon