The Criterion Collection

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Meek12345

Also, I'm considering blind buying the following titles:
The Spy Who Came In From The Cold
Seconds
Letter Never Sent
Lonesome
Branded to Kill
Please let me know if you think they are good/safe blind buys, or which one you would pick if you could only buy one.

I haven't seen Lonesome, so I can't say.

The first three are all quite good, and worth getting.

Branded to Kill is awesome, but if you've never seen a Seijin Suzuki film before, you might want to start with the other one that Criterion released: Tokyo Drifter. To once again trot this comment from Usenet from a couple of decades ago: "Branded to Kill, on the other hand, is like Tokyo Drifter's drunk, crack-addict cousin who just happens to have taken some acid on the day you run into him."

[format916]

Originally Posted by RiFiFi1955

the interviewer asks De Palma like 3 times if he thought Blow Up was a great movie.!

i thought blow up was rather crappy. couldnt finish it.

[RiFiFi1955]

Originally Posted by format916

i thought blow up was rather crappy. couldnt finish it.

Oh I finished it but I didn't like it...except for the whole Blow Up section which was only like 20% of the movie and toward the end. The first hour of swinging London I could have done without imo.

Here is the main IMDB description "A mod London photographer seems to find something very suspicious in the shots he has taken of a mysterious beauty in a desolate park." Yet they fail to mention that plot only begins about an hour twenty into the film.

[Banned User]

Considering Sony doesn't release catalog titles and is shelling out titles to Twilight Time you would think they would be open to licensing more titles to Criterion. Even if its time limited.

Originally Posted by Dubstar

Coppola's Dracula? - with all the extras?

The Fisher King??

I would love that. Great film. Would be even better if they could somehow make a cut and replace Keanu. Weakest link in the film IMO. His accent is horrible. Makes me cringe every time he talks. "I know where the bastard sleeps" Ughhh

Originally Posted by jayembee

Well, there's...

(a) A shïtload of Frank Capra titles, including It Happened One Night, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Lost Horizon, and Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

(b) A couple of terrific Howard Hawks titles: His Girl Friday and Only Angels Have Wings

So many great films. Its funny the studio's claim there is no real market for catalog titles. As a result we get recent releases and blockbusters and then we have a few companies releasing fairly obscure older titles, but there are so many great classics that have yet to reach Bluray. Like the ones you mentioned. Can't believe some of the obscure titles I see released, yet I'm still waiting for The Philadelphia Story, The Big Sleep, To Have and Have Not, Key Largo. Hoping one day Criterion will get the rights to Hawks Scarface. That movie deserves a restoration/release. Wouldn't mind seeing some of Howards Hawks other films either like Bringing Up Baby, Sergeant York. And speaking of Capra how about Arsenic and Old Lace. Been waiting ages for that.

If a studio has no intention of releasing a film they should atleast be open to licensing it out.

[RiFiFi1955]

Originally Posted by Banned User

So many great films. Its funny the studio's claim there is no real market for catalog titles. As a result we get recent releases and blockbusters and then we have a few companies releasing fairly obscure older titles, but there are so many great classics that have yet to reach Bluray. Like the ones you mentioned. Can't believe some of the obscure titles I see released, yet I'm still waiting for The Philadelphia Story, The Big Sleep, To Have and Have Not, Key Largo. Hoping one day Criterion will get the rights to Hawks Scarface. That movie deserves a restoration/release. Wouldn't mind seeing some of Howards Hawks other films either like Bringing Up Baby, Sergeant York. And speaking of Capra how about Arsenic and Old Lace. Been waiting ages for that..

A Hawks Box Set would be awesome...the man made so many great films. I am glad however I just got MOC's Red River & shipping soon will be my copy of the German release of El Dorado

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Branded to Kill is awesome, but if you've never seen a Seijin Suzuki film before, you might want to start with the other one that Criterion released: Tokyo Drifter. To once again trot this comment from Usenet from a couple of decades ago: "Branded to Kill, on the other hand, is like Tokyo Drifter's drunk, crack-addict cousin who just happens to have taken some acid on the day you run into him."

Personally I preferred Branded to Kill over Tokyo Drifter and it completely has nothing to do with the girl in my avatar.

Originally Posted by RiFiFi1955

A Hawks Box Set would be awesome...the man made so many great films. I am glad however I just got MOC's Red River & shipping soon will be my copy of the German release of El Dorado

I must have been sleeping! I didn't know MoC released Red River. I just ordered their Nosferatu and Dr Mabuse steelbooks the other day and never saw it.



I'm thinking of picking up a couple from this list and can't decide. My funds are getting low. So I'll probably grab 2, maybe 3.

3:10 to Yuma
Heavens Gate
The Blob
The Big City
The Devils Backbone
Naked Lunch

[shortmartin]

Originally Posted by Banned User

I'm thinking of picking up a couple from this list and can't decide. My funds are getting low. So I'll probably grab 2, maybe 3.

3:10 to Yuma
Heavens Gate
The Blob
The Big City
The Devils Backbone
Naked Lunch

I'd go with the two westerns, they are superb, and the Devil's Backbone is a minor masterpiece IMO.

[tama]

Picked up last night at B&N the John Cassavetes box set

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by Meek12345

Just finished watching Blow Out on my DVR. I enjoyed it much more than Sisters, which I watched last week. I'm not a John Travolta fan, but I think his performance in Blow Out is impressive. I frequently thought about Blow-Up and The Conversation as I watched Blow Out. These 3 films would be an interesting triple feature.

I may purchase the following titles at B&N or Amazon this month:
Blow Out
The Gold Rush

Also, I'm considering blind buying the following titles:
The Spy Who Came In From The Cold
Seconds
Letter Never Sent
Lonesome
Branded to Kill
Please let me know if you think they are good/safe blind buys, or which one you would pick if you could only buy one.

Go with Lonesome. It's my second favorite film from the 1920s. I really wish Criterion would release more silent films on blu-ray. That's why I've been leaning towards MOC with most of my new purchases. At 10% of Criterion's releases, they've already put out 11 silents.

[PBateman87]

I'll be picking up The Devil's Backbone and the new Frances Ha during the B&N sale.

Regarding the Sony/Criterion news, maybe it's just a distribution deal but hopefully down the line it means we'll see some Sony catalog titles released under the Criterion label.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Banned User

Personally I preferred Branded to Kill over Tokyo Drifter and it completely has nothing to do with the girl in my avatar.

Oh, I prefer BTK as well. But it can be somewhat daunting for someone who hasn't experienced Suzuki before.

Though, actually, I prefer his "prostitute dramas" -- Gate of Flesh and Story of a Prostitute -- to his action/crime thrillers.

I'm thinking of picking up a couple from this list and can't decide. My funds are getting low. So I'll probably grab 2, maybe 3.

3:10 to Yuma
Heavens Gate
The Blob
The Big City
The Devils Backbone
Naked Lunch

Originally Posted by shortmartin

I'd go with the two westerns, they are superb, and the Devil's Backbone is a minor masterpiece IMO.

Personally, I'd suggest the other Delmer Daves/Glenn Ford western, Jubal, instead of 3:10 to Yuma.

I'd also suggest The Devil's Backbone, and for a third, The Big City.

[ThePhantom]

Originally Posted by PBateman87

Regarding the Sony/Criterion news, maybe it's just a distribution deal but hopefully down the line it means we'll see some Sony catalog titles released under the Criterion label.

One of my most-wanted-on-Blu titles is All the Real Girls by David Gordon Green, which I believe is owned by Sony Pictures Classics. Considering that Green is already in the collection with George Washington, I really hope we get this one eventually.

[smoss469]

Wal-Mart has blocked all orders until they fix the Criterion prices.

[Infernal King]

Originally Posted by The Bronx Bull

FYI:

Mis-priced Criterion Blu-rays on Walmart.com for $11.87 each:

Seven Samurai
The Phantom Carriage
Harold and Maude
Rosemary's Baby
Robinson Crusoe On Mars
Rushmore

Originally Posted by smoss469

Wal-Mart has blocked all orders until they fix the Criterion prices.

lol yeah I just checked. It's pretty hilarious.

[Meek12345]

Thanks for all of the replies so far on which Criterions I should purchase.

Blow Out is a better film than Blowup and The Conversation in my opinion. I enjoyed The Conversation, but wasn't impressed with Blowup. I like Antonioni's films, but the first 30 to 60 minutes as some people have already said aren't integral enough to the plot for me.

I have seen Tokyo Drifter and I liked it. I am on the fence about buying it some day. So, I probably shouldn't blind buy Branded to Kill. I have also considered blind buying the Nikkatsu Noir Eclipse set.

Letter Never Sent is on my blind buy list because I enjoyed The Cranes are Flying.I wonder why there are no significant special features for either film

Seconds has been receiving rave reviews here, so my interest is piqued. I have heard that it is like a long Twilight Zone episode, which I wouldn't have a problem with. Also, I liked The Manchurian Candidate, The Train, and Seven Days in May. I know those are different types of films by Frankenheimer, but I'm hoping that I will like Seconds as much as those other films.

By the way, what is your favorite film from the 1920s brandon_260? Mine is Metropolis. I was fortunate enough to see it at Grauman's Chinese Theatre as the closing film for the 2010 TCM Film Festival. It was an awesome experience. The Alloy Orchestra provided a live performance of their music for the film. Unfortunately, their soundtrack isn't on my Complete Metropolis blu-ray. I sometimes consider double dipping on the MOC Metropolis release. I don't have a region free player though. I guess I could try to find one at a reasonable price.

[ColdRiverPatriot]

Just curious, does anyone know if "Shoah" is carried at Barnes & Noble in stores? I couldn't seem to locate it on their website. Wouldn't mind picking that one up at 50% off. Thanks!

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by ColdRiverPatriot

Just curious, does anyone know if "Shoah" is carried at Barnes & Noble in stores? I couldn't seem to locate it on their website. Wouldn't mind picking that one up at 50% off. Thanks!

I know that I've seen it at my local B&N (seacoast New Hampshire).

[format916]

i saw shoah in store yesterday.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by SilentxStatik24

Thanks for the reply! It makes quite a bit of sense and I can definitely see it being released faster than Hoop Dreams.

Paris, Texas
Hoop Dreams
Heaven's Gate

Above is my first haul of the Criterion sale, I can't wait to dig into them!

You chose wisely. If you have never seen Hoop Dreams, you are in for a treat. IMO, best documentary ever.

[Mansinthe]

Originally Posted by Banned User

Personally I preferred Branded to Kill over Tokyo Drifter and it completely has nothing to do with the girl in my avatar.

same here. branded to kill is the "better" movie. but tokyo drifter has more rewatch value for me (since its more"fun")

ive just watched de palmas "obsession" and i really liked it although not even half through the movie i had already a pretty good feeling how the movie is gonna end, reminded me way to much of

[Show spoiler]oldboy in the mother / daughter deparment