The Criterion Collection

[GenPion]

Originally Posted by brandon_260

His entire filmography, except for 2046, is currently available on blu. The Grandmaster, As Tears Go By and Days of Being Wild can all be imported from YesAsia. Kino released Happy Together and Fallen Angels in North America. My Blueberry Nights is available in the UK as a Region B release and Japan as Region A/B.

His films are absolutely worth checking out. I recently completed a semi-complete retrospective of his works (left out 2046) and it solidified him as one of my top 5 directors.

Days of Being Wild has an AWFUL release for English speakers. The transfer and audio were impressive but the subtitles ruined it. It was almost indecipherable watching it with those subs.

As Tears Go By is a good import though -- it has much, much better subs. Only one or two minor issues in the whole presentation.

Kino or Criterion should license these and release them on Blu-ray in the US. Including 2046.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by UncleBuckWild

Eyes without a Face ... is it worth buying?


The story seems quite interesting... what are your thoughts?

It's one of the greatest horror films ever, and way, way ahead of its time. Poetic, horrifying, and surprisingly moving. You'll see how it appeals to modern directors such as Del Toro. It operates unlike any horror film I've seen from that period. The ending is as thematically perfect as Path of Glory's. Just.. see it.

Then watch Holy Motors after you see it.

[UncleBuckWild]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

[Show spoiler]It's one of the greatest horror films ever, and way, way ahead of its time. Poetic, horrifying, and surprisingly moving. You'll see how it appeals to modern directors such as Del Toro. It operates unlike any horror film I've seen from that period. The ending is as thematically perfect as Path of Glory's. Just.. see it.

Then watch Holy Motors after you see it.

Hell yeah! it's got all the right ingredients for a perfect horror flick!
... As for Holy Motors - looks like a must have.. even more now that i know it stars Eva Mendes.

[The Great Owl]

I picked up Tokyo Story from Barnes and Noble for $19 and change on the way home. It's a sturdy and beautiful digipak.

This will be my first Ozu movie, and I'm looking forward to diving in when I get home from the gym later.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I picked up Tokyo Story from Barnes and Noble for $19 and change on the way home. It's a sturdy and beautiful digipak.

This will be my first Ozu movie, and I'm looking forward to diving in when I get home from the gym later.

I plan on purchasing this also soon. It will also be my very first Ozu film in my film library.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by UncleBuckWild

Hell yeah! it's got all the right ingredients for a perfect horror flick!
... As for Holy Motors - looks like a must have.. even more now that i know it stars Eva Mendes.

It's obvious from this film how much she excites those around her.

[UncleBuckWild]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

It's obvious from this film how much she excites those around her.

Hopefully not too much, I'd like to focus on the movie.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I picked up Tokyo Story from Barnes and Noble for $19 and change on the way home. It's a sturdy and beautiful digipak.

This will be my first Ozu movie, and I'm looking forward to diving in when I get home from the gym later.

I predict you will award it "5s" across the board. It really is an (the most?) outstanding family drama.

(Limiting ourselves to BluRay) Naturally, if you like it, seek out Ozu's Late Story and Still Walking. A Simple Plan (Well Go USA) is another sensitive Ozu-like movie available on BluRay.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by LegacyCosts

I found a part time job at a used media store by my house and on my first day I noticed a beautiful wong kar-wai collection on dvd. I've never watched his films but they seem right up my alley. Is everything in this set available on blu ray/criterion? If not I'll probably pick it up. Ah hell chungking express alone is like 70 bucks on blu ray. Maybe I will get this set.

I'm assuming that you're referring to the set from Kino, which includes:

As Tears Go By
The Days of Being Wild
Chungking Express
Fallen Angels
Happy Together

The first two have not been released on Blu-ray. At least, not in the US; I don't know about Europe or Asia.

The last two have since been released on Blu-ray by Kino.

Chungking Express has had an interesting video history. It was released on laserdisc by Criterion back in the late 90s as part of their & Quentin Tarantino's "Rolling Thunder" series. The DVD rights for the Rolling Thunder titles were picked up by Miramax, and that's the DVD that was included in the Kino set (Kino licensed it from Miramax specifically for this collection).

Five years ago, Criterion re-acquired the rights and released it on DVD and Blu-ray. It was, in fact, one of the first three titles they released on Blu-ray. But they lost the rights again a couple of years ago, and the title has been OOP since then. I haven't the foggiest who owns the rights at the moment, but as far as I know, there's no current available version in the US on DVD or BD.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by jw007

I plan on purchasing this also soon. It will also be my very first Ozu film in my film library.

It always makes me happy to see people getting their first Ozus. I hope his filmmaking style resonates with each of you.

[thomasomalley]

Criterion panel at the Wexler center is streaming live at 7pm EST at http://wexarts.org/live

Should be a very interesting evening.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by thomasomalley

Criterion panel at the Wexler center is streaming live at 7pm EST at http://wexarts.org/live

Should be a very interesting evening.

Thanks for that.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by lordmorpheus72

Thanks jayembee, this is why I ask these questions here. It was funny, and a bit overwhelming, as I looked through all the pages of Criterion LDs. Not sure if I want to go down the road of trying to collect all the LDs, but there may be a few I try to pick up.

Again, thanks for the wealth of information!

No problem.

Here's a handy web page: an alphabetic listing of their LDs captured before Criterion removed it from their website. Even though it was originally from Criterion's website, it's not 100% accurate. There's at least one release (that I have a copy of) that's missing from the list: a double-feature release of Tunes of Glory and The Horse's Mouth. These were later released individually. There's also another title listed as a Criterion release (#213: Salt of the Earth) that I'm not sure was actually released as a Criterion, though I don't know of any other title with that spine number. But I do know it was an early Voyager (the company that co-owned Criterion back in the day) release.

Still, this page will at least give you a checklist that you can work from in deciding which titles you want to shoot for.

[GoldMotel]

Just bought The Red Shoes from B&N, as it was always on my list.

Loving the Feb. releases as well. It's nice to see Criterion mix older films with more recent ones for their releases.

[Snicket]

Originally Posted by thomasomalley

Criterion panel at the Wexler center is streaming live at 7pm EST at http://wexarts.org/live

Should be a very interesting evening.

Yay! It's like a second new announcement day in 1 month!

[JJJ225]

Originally Posted by Snicket

Yay! It's like a second new announcement day in 1 month!

Won't be able to watch. Post any scoops please!

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by jayembee

No problem.

Here's a handy web page: an alphabetic listing of their LDs captured before Criterion removed it from their website. Even though it was originally from Criterion's website, it's not 100% accurate. There's at least one release (that I have a copy of) that's missing from the list: a double-feature release of Tunes of Glory and The Horse's Mouth. These were later released individually. There's also another title listed as a Criterion release (#213: Salt of the Earth) that I'm not sure was actually released as a Criterion, though I don't know of any other title with that spine number. But I do know it was an early Voyager (the company that co-owned Criterion back in the day) release.

Still, this page will at least give you a checklist that you can work from in deciding which titles you want to shoot for.

Sweet.. really appreciate this link! I'll be pouring over this for a while. And may need a new LD player too.

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by thomasomalley

Criterion panel at the Wexler center is streaming live at 7pm EST at http://wexarts.org/live

Should be a very interesting evening.

Awesome, thanks for the link... already watching!!

[The Narrator]

Wes Anderson apparently has it in his contract that Criterion releases his movies, so I think anyone who was asking earlier now has an answer.

[octagon]

Is Wes Anderson even a real person? Maybe he's just made up like John Mulvaney.