The Criterion Collection

[jw007]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

The vast majority of my Criterion Blu-rays are upgrades of Criterion DVDs that I used to own. I sold off most of my DVDs earlier this year with the intent of upgrading my favorites, and I made some pretty good coin by selling the Criterion DVDs.

I have pretty much upgraded all of the Criterions that I loved enough to upgrade, when considering the ones that are available on Blu-ray. There are a few stragglers that I have yet to upgrade (The 400 Blows , Rashomon, Samurai Trilogy, Beauty and the Beast, The Four Feathers, Au Revoir Les Enfants), but I'm not in an urgent hurry to buy these Blu-rays right now. I'll grab them at sales as I can conveniently do so.

All of the Criterion DVDs that are in my DVD collection (listed below my avatar) will be upgraded the split second that they are released on Blu-ray.

One of the first things I got excited about when I discovered Criterion blu-ray was finding and upgrading all of my existing DVDs. Now that I've gone through that phase, I am pretty much "finished" with the overall upgrade (unless new titles come out that need upgrading...like Grey Gardens which comes out in December - I look forward to buying the blu-ray release of that one). Fortunately, I basically started building my own Criterion Collection once I switched fully to blu-ray. So I bypassed the Criterion DVD period (although I had just started buying Criterion DVD releases on a more consistent basis just prior to me switching over to Criterion blu-ray releases).

The predicament that I'm in though now is that I haven't sold any of my Criterion DVDs even though I've upgraded them all to Blu-ray! Should I just sell all my Criterion DVDs (that were upgraded) and use the money for future Criterion BD purchases? At this point, the DVDs are still sort of valuable and retain a good resale value even though the BDs are more relevant now.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by ravenus

I saw this docu a couple years ago, and it was, as you say, quite fascinating, although also VERY discomfiting, especially the relationship between Crumb and his brother. Based on my liking this I got some books of his illustrations, one of which is a surprisingly straight-ahead retelling of stories from the Book of Genesis.
I could not stand Zwigoff's movies like Bad Santa and Ghost World, which I thought were so much crap, but this one kept me interested throughout.

I actually felt "slimy" after watching Crumb last night. I felt nearly ashamed that I exposed myself to this film. I feel like, if I ever get around to watching Salo, I'll feel the same way.

The question I'm pondering is, whether this is an "essential" Criterion release to own? For a documentary film, I think its essential, but for an overall release, I'm not so sure. I'm more interested in owning Criterion films that I find 1) essential to my life and 2) movies I'd want to watch a 2nd time. This is how I choose my films. I am not really interested in owning every single Criterion movie in the blu-ray collection, so for me, its all about owning movies that I'd actually enjoy or find, in this case, disturbing. Seeing that I was disturbed, this is probably an effective film for my collection (I just don't like being disturbed, thats all).

[brandon_260]

Got my copy of The Uninvited today. I may end up saving it for next Thursday though.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by jw007

The predicament that I'm in though now is that I haven't sold any of my Criterion DVDs even though I've upgraded them all to Blu-ray! Should I just sell all my Criterion DVDs (that were upgraded) and use the money for future Criterion BD purchases? At this point, the DVDs are still sort of valuable and retain a good resale value even though the BDs are more relevant now.

You really should sell them now. Once CC's dual format phase starts in full earnest, the value of used DVD copies will, I assume, drop significantly even for people that have not made the transition to HD.

[GentleGiant]

Originally Posted by jw007

Should I just sell all my Criterion DVDs (that were upgraded) and use the money for future Criterion BD purchases?

I think that's a reasonable thing to do if you're not an avid collector. Some of those Criterion DVD packages are beautifully done, though, so I'd keep those.

[jrsl76]

Originally Posted by octagon

No The Ghost and Mr Chicken = no sale.

I would take TGAMC and The Love God? in a second whoever releases them.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by GentleGiant

I think that's a reasonable thing to do if you're not an avid collector. Some of those Criterion DVD packages are beautifully done, though, so I'd keep those.

Originally Posted by ravenus

You really should sell them now. Once CC's dual format phase starts in full earnest, the value of used DVD copies will, I assume, drop significantly even for people that have not made the transition to HD.

Thanks for your input, guys.

I think the dual-format releases that are soon to come may indeed diminish my existing Criterion DVDs in resale value. Now the question is, other than Ebay, where should I sell these? There is a local "Record Exchange" franchise store here which I usually sell/trade my movies at. I may just get an estimate over there. I'd be happy to receive $4-8 per DVD, but we shall see.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by GentleGiant

Some of those Criterion DVD packages are beautifully done, though, so I'd keep those.

Never kept any of the CC DVD's I upgraded, but yeah, Second Sight's Picnic at Hanging Rock DVD packaging was so gorgeous that I preferred just giving away the discs to a friend than selling it when I upgraded that one to blu. Also I retained the disc with the longer theatrical cut as a curiosity value thing, since that one was not included in the blu-ray edition. Mirandaaaa!

Also the US release of Casino Royale Deluxe Edition, the plain-jane BD case just sucked, so I kept the discs in the beautiful DVD digipack.

[Hintermann]

I am thniking of getting 3 Criterion BDs

1. Blow Out
2. Richard III
3. Something Wild

Any opinions?

[jw007]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Never kept any of the CC DVD's I upgraded, but yeah, Second Sight's Picnic at Hanging Rock DVD packaging was so gorgeous that I preferred just giving away the discs to a friend than selling it when I upgraded that one to blu. Also I retained the disc with the longer theatrical cut as a curiosity value thing, since that one was not included in the blu-ray edition. Mirandaaaa!

Also the US release of Casino Royale Deluxe Edition, the plain-jane BD case just sucked, so I kept the discs in the beautiful DVD digipack.

The only Criterion DVD I would retain would be Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas because of 2 factors. First is the unique see-through packaging and second is the amazing main menu on the DVD. Also, of course anything that is out of print will be kept here, especially The Man Who Fell to Earth.

[Carletty]

Originally Posted by Hintermann

I am thniking of getting 3 Criterion BDs

1. Blow Out
2. Richard III
3. Something Wild

Any opinions?

Richard III is Shakespeare in perfection. Get it!

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Kwaidan would make a good Blu-ray, because it really does have a fascinating use of color. I have not seen this movie in ages, but it's spot-on.

IIRC, it was on the Criterion poll a year or two ago, of what to Blu next, and everyone said "I voted for Howard's End, 'cause that's the one I've HEARD of! "

The spot we're in, right here, that's the exact location where you're not supposed to come crying to us...

[14728]

I made some fake criterions, but they were crap though. My kill bill fake criterion was once my avatar.

[Zen_Amako]

Originally Posted by EricJ

IIRC, it was on the Criterion poll a year or two ago, of what to Blu next, and everyone said "I voted for Howard's End, 'cause that's the one I've HEARD of! "

The spot we're in, right here, that's the exact location where you're not supposed to come crying to us...

Criterion released Howard's End in 2009, so it's been a bit longer than that since the poll.

I would like to see Kwaidan, but I'm not as interested in titles that already have good Blu-ray releases in other territories that are region free. For example, I already own Picnic at Hanging Rock, Umbrellas of Cherbourg and Eraserhead on BD with great transfers.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by jw007

The predicament that I'm in though now is that I haven't sold any of my Criterion DVDs even though I've upgraded them all to Blu-ray! Should I just sell all my Criterion DVDs (that were upgraded) and use the money for future Criterion BD purchases? At this point, the DVDs are still sort of valuable and retain a good resale value even though the BDs are more relevant now.

I sold all of my Criterion DVDs that are currently available on Blu-ray, because I wanted to get some good money for them while I could, and because I was planning to upgrade most of them (and I finally have).

The exception is my Criterion DVD of The Third Man, which still looks fantastic and serves as a great placeholder until I find an inexpensive Blu-ray of that movie.

The other Criterion DVDs in my DVD collection (The Vanishing, Touchez Pas Au Grisbi, Bob Le Flambeur, Carnival of Souls, Equinox, Insomnia, etc.) are all ones that have not yet been released on Blu-ray.

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by jw007

Thanks for your input, guys.

I think the dual-format releases that are soon to come may indeed diminish my existing Criterion DVDs in resale value. Now the question is, other than Ebay, where should I sell these? There is a local "Record Exchange" franchise store here which I usually sell/trade my movies at. I may just get an estimate over there. I'd be happy to receive $4-8 per DVD, but we shall see.

Depending what you have, I might be interested in buying some

[dwk]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

I was watching Kwaidan on TCM the other night. Has anyone heard about a CC upgrade on this? Checking out other sources it seems that the current DVD from Criterion has some framing issues (DVD Beaver review) as well as being some 20 minutes shorter than the MoC edition. Even on my SD feed I was impressed with the bright painted colors for the backdrops and, of course, the film itself was quite creepy.

According to the Masters of Cinema guys, there is no HD master of KWAIDAN and Toho seems to not be in a hurry to create one (or even have any interest in creating one), so Criterion would have to spend the money to create one.

About the running time, I believe that there is some debate about Kobayashi's preferred cut.

[Joe Dalek]

Originally Posted by jw007

Thanks for your input, guys.

I think the dual-format releases that are soon to come may indeed diminish my existing Criterion DVDs in resale value. Now the question is, other than Ebay, where should I sell these? There is a local "Record Exchange" franchise store here which I usually sell/trade my movies at. I may just get an estimate over there. I'd be happy to receive $4-8 per DVD, but we shall see.

Speaking from experience eBay is more work but you'll get much more for them there than from a second-hand store. For DVDs I would expect them to sell in the $10-$15 range, maybe higher depending on the title. At a second-hand store you might get $5 each depending on the buyer, but very likely not $8 like you're hoping. I only sell to second-hand stores if I need some quick cash or just want to be rid of whatever I'm selling.

[Joe Dalek]

Originally Posted by dwk

According to the Masters of Cinema guys, there is no HD master of KWAIDAN and Toho seems to not be in a hurry to create one (or even have any interest in creating one), so Criterion would have to spend the money to create one.

About the running time, I believe that there is some debate about Kobayashi's preferred cut.

I heard the same thing, but...cue the debate over why Amazon/Criterion would list Kwaidan in their upgrade poll a few years back if there was no HD master.

[Judex]

Originally Posted by jw007

[Show spoiler]One of the first things I got excited about when I discovered Criterion blu-ray was finding and upgrading all of my existing DVDs. Now that I've gone through that phase, I am pretty much "finished" with the overall upgrade (unless new titles come out that need upgrading...like Grey Gardens which comes out in December - I look forward to buying the blu-ray release of that one). Fortunately, I basically started building my own Criterion Collection once I switched fully to blu-ray. So I bypassed the Criterion DVD period (although I had just started buying Criterion DVD releases on a more consistent basis just prior to me switching over to Criterion blu-ray releases).

The predicament that I'm in though now is that I haven't sold any of my Criterion DVDs even though I've upgraded them all to Blu-ray! Should I just sell all my Criterion DVDs (that were upgraded) and use the money for future Criterion BD purchases? At this point, the DVDs are still sort of valuable and retain a good resale value even though the BDs are more relevant now.

Sell them on eBay, and offer international shipping you'll get more for them