The Criterion Collection

[baheidstu]

Originally Posted by andsoitgoes

Whoa.

A part of me is excited.

Another part of me is terrified they're going to destroy criterion.

I hope it's not an EA-esque partnership. I use Mass effect as an example. Even from the first game in the series, there was a special sort of magic. Fresh and perfect. Then EA bought bio ware and while I love ME 2 and most of 3, they cheapened them with multiplayer, codes to get unique equipment and stuff that just doesn't belong in the series.

Criterion was criterion, they matter a great deal. Every criterion I own is a work of art. From the case to the booklet to the extras, they exude class and perfection. They were relatively small, and I think that allowed them to be so specific and unique.

That said, this could be a huge win if they're able to take awesome movies that are deserving of the Criterion stamp and present them to us In the manner we rightly deserve.

Only time will tell! I'd live to hear more thoughts on it for sure.

Man, wouldn't it be great if the whole reason Sony hasn't been releasing very many catalogue titles recently is because they're going to put them all out as Criterions now?

[RiFiFi1955]

Just put in a nice order online. I signed up for the free 2 month membership too, getting a little quicker shipping out of it. I don't know if I will keep the membership after the 2 month trial is over though...don't know if the benefits would out way the cost.

Actually maybe it would pay off....

"At the end of 2 months, you will be charged $25 annual fee for Membership. Soon after, you'll receive an email with over $50 in bonus coupons to welcome you to your first full year of Membership." - B&N

Now if I could use all those $50 bonus coupons all during July's CC sale then it would be worth it because I would make out $25 ahead. I only shop at B&N during the Criterion half off sale so what do some of you guys think...worth the membership or nah?

[lordmorpheus72]

First haul from BN wasn't too big, but did get Jimi Plays Monterey and the 2 disc release of Life Aquatic (somehow missed that there were 2 dvd releases, single and dual disc). Got both for $21.95 with my Member discount. Hoping to get a few coupons via email soon so I can pick up City Lights and Tokyo Story later this month. And maybe 3 Films by Roberto Rossellini.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by andsoitgoes

Whoa.

A part of me is excited.

Another part of me is terrified they're going to destroy criterion.

Wait, they're not "owning" them, they're just linking up for a "partnership"--
Which, I assume, means being a little looser on vault titles, giving Criterion more sanctioned first-looks at Sony Classics, so they don't have to bother with the disks themselves, and maybe showing off once in a while by letting Criterion take its own bash at Lawrence of Arabia.
It's not like Sony's already the most enthusiastic vintage-catalog studio out there.

[Brad1963]

I used RMN15BN and bought the Cassavetes collection like everyone else. Thank you OP for posting that code. I also pre-ordered City Lights, Frances Ha and Tokyo Story.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by EricJ

Wait, they're not "owning" them, they're just linking up for a "partnership"--
Which, I assume, means being a little looser on vault titles, giving Criterion more sanctioned first-looks at Sony Classics, so they don't have to bother with the disks themselves, and maybe showing off once in a while by letting Criterion take its own bash at Lawrence of Arabia.
It's not like Sony's already the most enthusiastic vintage-catalog studio out there.

Exactly. Criterion is just outsourcing production, distribution, and some accounting to Sony. There's no indication that Sony will have any say in what Criterion wants to do or how they do it, any more than Image had any say over Criterion's decision-making when they were handling production and distribution.

So the effects from a consumer point of view will be minimal, except that (a) we might start seeing more Criterions available from a wider range of retailers, which might turn into more regular discounting, and (b) we'll probably start seeing more Sony-owned titles coming out from Criterion.

I'm definitely excited by the latter. For one thing, Sony Pictures Classics has the rights to a lot of Zhang Yimou's earlier films. I wonder what this means for Twilight Time, though: about half their output have been Columbia or TriStar titles. I suppose it's a good thing they appear to have picked up MGM/UA as a new licensor.

(Not that I'd be crying if Twilight Time lost one of their major licensing sources.)

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by lordmorpheus72

First haul from BN wasn't too big, but did get Jimi Plays Monterey

You should've gone for The Complete Monterey Pop Festival instead of just half of it.

[Egbert Souse]

Lonesome is one of the best hidden jewels of Criterion's releases. I can't recommend it enough.

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by Brad1963

I used RMN15BN and bought the Cassavetes collection like everyone else. Thank you OP for posting that code. I also pre-ordered City Lights, Frances Ha and Tokyo Story.

Tried to use it on the World Cinema Collection, just to see if it would work. of course it didn't, but thanks for the code OP! I'll be using it for other discs

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by jayembee

I'm definitely excited by the latter. For one thing, Sony Pictures Classics has the rights to a lot of Zhang Yimou's earlier films. I wonder what this means for Twilight Time, though: about half their output have been Columbia or TriStar titles. I suppose it's a good thing they appear to have picked up MGM/UA as a new licensor.

Maybe this bodes well for...

Faraway, So Close!
Lone Star
Suburbia
The Spanish Prisoner
Pollack
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

And many others...

[jmbenesh]

Originally Posted by jayembee

And that's bad because...?

I'm not as big on Argo as a lot of people, but I thought they did a great job with the Blu-ray release. Hell, I found the extras more interesting than the movie.

It's not a problem with the release per se, it's a problem with how WB seems to be going about its films these days. The content isn't terrible, but they always hold back. Money, money, money.

Not more than a year after its initial release, WB is issuing Argo: Declassified Extended Edition, with additional special features, an additional cut of the film, and other supplemental materials. It's basically The Town all over again, but on a faster re-release schedule.

[The Great Owl]

I am planning to stop by Barnes & Noble on the way home to use a 20% Off coupon on the new Rebel Without a Cause digibook, so I'll have to exercise some self-control to keep from picking up one of the Criterion titles in person. I've done well with my two online purchases of Criterions from Barnes & Noble this morning, though, so all is right in the world.

If the Ingrid Bergman box set is in good condition, though, then... Argh.

[RiFiFi1955]

So I just got back from Best Buy where I had a 5 dollar coupon. I have a hard time finding titles I actually don't have and actually still want to buy in-store at the best buy near me but I found Repo Man on the shelf, told the cashier it was $19.99 at B&N so she priced matched it and I got to use my 5 dollar coupon too, so ended up getting it for $15.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Maybe this bodes well for...

Faraway, So Close!
Lone Star
Suburbia
The Spanish Prisoner
Pollack
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

And many others...

Yes! It's about time John Sayles got a spot in the Collection. But Lone Star is a Warner title. On the other hand, I'd prefer two of his Sony-owned titles anyway: The Secret of Roan Inish (which would make a great double-bill viewing with Neil Jordan's Ondine) and Passion Fish.

(And, yes, I'd like a Criterion Blu of Faraway, So Close! to go along with my copy of Wings of Desire.)

[ravenus]

Just finished watching Ivan's Childhood. By anyone's measure, it's a fast-paced and dramatic film. By Tarkovsky's, it's incredible. Great imagery, and what a wonderful performance from child actor Nikolai Burlyaev.

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by jayembee

You should've gone for The Complete Monterey Pop Festival instead of just half of it.

I did look at it, but was really just interested in the Jimi and Otis performances. Looked over the complete, but really didn't have the need to get the whole thing. I may regret it in the future, but ok for now.

[andsoitgoes]

Originally Posted by Snicket

My shelf is ready for some new friends!

Wait WHOAH what when I though Fantastic Mr. Fox was just rumored?!?

As for the sale, well thanks to it beings birthday at the end of the month, I talked my wife into letting me just snag a bunch of films for a present.

Between this order and the breaking Bad complete series , I'll be set for a bit

Tokyo Story$19.99
To Be or Not to Be$19.99
Criterion Collection: 3 Films By Roberto Rossellin$33.99
City Lights$19.99
Autumn Sonata$19.99
Harold and Maude$19.99
Late Spring$19.99
Naked$19.99
Sansho the Bailiff$19.99
Complete Monterey Pop Festival$34.99

Sub Total:$228.90
Shipping & Processing:$23.89 (the joy of Canada!)
Tax $11.45
Discounts/Rebates:-$6.00

If I was smarter, I'd have done the $75 in gift cards trick, but I'm not smart and I'm too lazy to redo it all.

Can't wait. I'm most excited about Tokyo Story and Late Spring. Can't wait to see Late Spring for the first time, and experience the commentary on both. I'm a stickler for commentaries, and sadly it's what turned me off of the Zatoichi box set.

So with the speed of shipping, I've got about a month to catch up on everything else.

And thanks for the suggestions, Danny. I'm watching Bigger Than Life now. Crazy all the big names in the film, and holy crap it's gorgeous. The grain is delicious.

[sunsolid]

Another thanks to the OP for the RMN15BN code; I had intended to sit out this sale, but picking up the Cassavetes set for $53.00 when it retails for around $130.00 in Canada was too tempting to pass up.

[Akijama]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Maybe this bodes well for...

Faraway, So Close!
Lone Star
Suburbia
The Spanish Prisoner
Pollack
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

And many others...

Not so well for Lone Star and Suburbia, since I believe they are still with WB.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Snicket

This is huge:

http://m.homemediamagazine.com/sony-...riterion-31792

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Maybe this bodes well for...

Faraway, So Close!
Lone Star
Suburbia
The Spanish Prisoner
Pollack
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

And many others...

That is awesome news!

I am a bit clueless as to which big catalog titles Sony has yet to release on blu-ray that Criterion might pick up though? Can anyone name some major catalog titles from Sony that we might just see come out in the Criterion Collection?

I love all those movies mentioned above by Owl, especially "Suburbia" (lost, great Richard Linklater film) but what other titles does Sony own that are major or classic movies?