The Criterion Collection

[Clare2904]

Originally Posted by Infernal King

lolwut



Oh, I didn't know he won Best Actor! That's so cool, considering how young he was. And you're absolutely right about the child casts of those two films. It's probably a harder thing to pull off successfully than most people realize.

And Clare2904, if you gravitate toward movies that present the world through the eyes of children, I'd imagine you'll love Nobody Knows and I Wish.

I sure hope so

[Joe Dalek]

Originally Posted by octagon

Yeah, that anvil is always hanging over your head and it can be really hard to pull the trigger on overseas orders because of that.

Of course, on the plus side, I can now A/B the Concorde and Criterion Cassavettes sets anytime I want

I can understand the desire to hold out for a Criterion edition of something that is available overseas, but now I only waver if the reviews are poor or there aren't many extras. No point in waiting for years just for a local region edition. I'm behind on my wishlist (Possession, Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, The Conformist, etc.) but in the meantime I'm enjoying stuff that still has no imminent US release: La Chinoise, Ashes and Diamonds, Fantastic Planet, Touch of Evil, The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, Tabu, the Magick Lantern Cycle, Mulholland Dr., The Passion of Joan of Arc, etc. (Some of these are even region-free.)

[villadelrefugio]

Originally Posted by jw007

I can attest to this as well. I picked up a copy of Pale Flower at one of the local B&Ns and the blue sticker had faded off and it looked like it had been sitting there on the shelf for decades. I put the item back on the shelf in hopes of finding another one of these in better condition. It seems like not many people are buying this film as I can see its been tossed around one too many times. Too bad.

The reason they are faded and/or worn looking is that is where they put the "50% off" sticker. If the title doesn't sell, the sticker is pulled.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

I can understand the desire to hold out for a Criterion edition of something that is available overseas, but now I only waver if the reviews are poor or there aren't many extras. No point in waiting for years just for a local region edition. I'm behind on my wishlist (Possession, Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, The Conformist, etc.) but in the meantime I'm enjoying stuff that still has no imminent US release: La Chinoise, Ashes and Diamonds, Fantastic Planet, Touch of Evil, The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, Tabu, the Magick Lantern Cycle, Mulholland Dr., The Passion of Joan of Arc, etc. (Some of these are even region-free.)

Yeah, I'm kind of there myself but to be perfectly honest, the $20ish price points help me waver too. The individual prices are totally reasonable (and some are a steal) but to minimize shipping I try to group things together which has the Catch-22 effect of making me less prone to completely pull the trigger on anything.

I am overdue though. I really want the Mabuse the Gambler and Nosferatu steelbooks and Arrow's The Long Goodbye looks absolutely fantastic.

[Mansinthe]

Originally Posted by smoss469

Aren't they always in PAL format though?

Nope 1080@24p
And us blurays are not ntsc.

[Joe Dalek]

Originally Posted by jayembee

I wouldn't count on seeing an upgrade for either film soon. That said, both films are worth picking up as is, even with the risk of an upgrade in the foreseeable future. I was very close to picking up Vampyr during the November Criterion/B&N sale, and only balked because I have a previous DVD from Image/Blackhawk, and decided to use the money for a BD of a film I didn't already have. The Criterion edition of Vampyr, however, is an outstanding package.

There's really no reason Vampyr couldn't be upgraded, though. I had low expectations for Nosferatu given the somewhat waxy look of the last SD restoration and stories about its source elements being in poor condition, only for it to look great on Blu-ray.

It'd be a shame if Criterion didn't deem it worthy of an upgrade, but I don't think they really feel that way. Look at Design For Living or I Married A Witch. If those were worthy of Blu-ray in their condition, anything is.

[momaw]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

I can understand the desire to hold out for a Criterion edition of something that is available overseas, but now I only waver if the reviews are poor or there aren't many extras. No point in waiting for years just for a local region edition. I'm behind on my wishlist (Possession, Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, The Conformist, etc.) but in the meantime I'm enjoying stuff that still has no imminent US release: La Chinoise, Ashes and Diamonds, Fantastic Planet, Touch of Evil, The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, Tabu, the Magick Lantern Cycle, Mulholland Dr., The Passion of Joan of Arc, etc. (Some of these are even region-free.)

Last time I decided not wait was when MOC released Gate of Hell. Sure enough not 2 months after I got it Criterion announced it. Now I've bought The Burmese Harp I'm expecting that to be announced shortly.

[Joe Dalek]

Originally Posted by octagon

Yeah, I'm kind of there myself but to be perfectly honest, the $20ish price points help me waver too. The individual prices are totally reasonable (and some are a steal) but to minimize shipping I try to group things together which has the Catch-22 effect of making me less prone to completely pull the trigger on anything.

I am overdue though. I really want the Mabuse the Gambler and Nosferatu steelbooks and Arrow's The Long Goodbye looks absolutely fantastic.

Usually with Amazon.co.uk the lack of VAT offsets a good amount of the shipping when you actually go through the order process and the prices adjust (which is reasonable anyway considering you will receive your stuff within a week from halfway around the world -- we're just used to having everything free). MoC ships free when you order direct (which you probably knew, but doesn't hurt to let the public know ). I don't know. To each their own, but it's really just nickels and dimes to me when the choice is between enjoying something now or waiting and hoping.

[The Great Owl]

I received Dark City: The Lost World of Film Noir by Eddie Muller in the mail today, and have been enjoying the book quite a bit.

A handful of Criterion titles get nods in the book with respect to the genre.

Kiss Me Deadly
The Killing/Killer's Kiss
M
Ministry of Fear
Brute Force
Thieves' Highway
Night and the City
The Naked City
Pickup on South Street
The Killers

It goes without saying that the last six titles would make great Blu-ray upgrades at some point. Maybe we'll see more Dassin films upgraded now that Rififi is coming out.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by villadelrefugio

The reason they are faded and/or worn looking is that is where they put the "50% off" sticker. If the title doesn't sell, the sticker is pulled.

Possibly. But I have yet to go to a Barnes & Noble store where I saw a 50% sticker on every single Criterion movie. Might be a waste of stickers, so usually the employees put a sticker on the front item in the shelf on each row (or at least on the new/est releases). Pale Flower will be mine though before the 40% sale ends this year.

[Joe Dalek]

Originally Posted by momaw

Last time I decided not wait was when MOC released Gate of Hell. Sure enough not 2 months after I got it Criterion announced it. Now I've bought The Burmese Harp I'm expecting that to be announced shortly.

Sure, but the Criterion isn't vastly superior to the MoC, and that's the case almost across the board thanks to some great UK labels. Granted, I'll be suffering if my region-free player goes kaput.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by smoss469

I'm watching Vampyr as we speak and the lead in kind of implies that it might not ever happen. If they had to compile a DVD version from mixed language copies from different sources would the elements even be there for an HD upgrade?

Well, even Island of Lost Souls was compiled from multiple sources. So long as the bulk of the sources are HD grade it should be possible to do a blu-ray. Vampyr does say it comes from a High Definition Transfer. I'm rather hoping for Eureka to do a BD so I have an excuse to grab it for the Guillermo Del Toro commentary

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

Nope 1080@24p
And us blurays are not ntsc.

Wow, I had no idea. DVDs are still in PAL format though, correct? I guess that comes from starting the media collecting back in the days of VHS.

Guess it doesn't matter though, everything on my UK wishlist is Region B anyways. Oh well.

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by smoss469

Wow, I had no idea. DVDs are still in PAL format though, correct? I guess that comes from starting the media collecting back in the days of VHS.

You are correct about the DVDs. There is no PAL or NTSC format among the hi-definition format (blu-ray), though. However, there are some region-free UK blu-rays that have extra features in standard definition (PAL) that you won't be able to play unless you have a region-free blu-ray player that will convert the PAL format.

[Mansinthe]

[Maybeuote=smoss469;8547771]Wow, I had no idea. DVDs are still in PAL format though, correct? I guess that comes from starting the media collecting back in the days of VHS.

Guess it doesn't matter though, everything on my UK wishlist is Region B anyways. Oh well.[/quote]


Dvds are pal.
Some blurays might have pal bonus features
Just go region free. Some uk releases are even better than the U.S. ones. I wouldnt want to wait years only to get (Maybe) a criterion release.

[Edward J Grug III]

Is it that hard to get region free Blu Ray players in the US? Mine was $70

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by ravenus

That's IMO a silly argument. Did you make sure you got a region locked DVD player when you bought DVD's? The idea of having a region-free player is that your choices are not restricted by some arbitrary limitation, and you can get the (in your view) BEST version of a film you want, the most economically suitable version* or in some cases get a film you absolutely love but for whatever reason is not available in your region. You still have your discretion as to what titles you think are essential to your collection. Also, titles that are less essential can be sold off to recoup your costs. Anyway, that's just my view.

I will say this... If we do not get domestic editions of Double Indemnity, The Lost Weekend, Lifeboat, and Touch of Evil in the near future, then I might start searching for a Region Free player to place alongside my current player.

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I will say this... If we do not get domestic editions of Double Indemnity, The Lost Weekend, Lifeboat, and Touch of Evil in the near future, then I might start searching for a Region Free player to place alongside my current player.

That's half my wishlist... hence the urge to get a player but the resistance to do so!

[momaw]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

Sure, but the Criterion isn't vastly superior to the MoC, and that's the case almost across the board thanks to some great UK labels. Granted, I'll be suffering if my region-free player goes kaput.

Yeah, but the box art on the criterion Gate Of Hell is so much better. Isn't that what matters?

[momaw]

Originally Posted by smoss469

Wow, I had no idea. DVDs are still in PAL format though, correct? I guess that comes from starting the media collecting back in the days of VHS.

Guess it doesn't matter though, everything on my UK wishlist is Region B anyways. Oh well.

The menu's on a lot of early Region B blu-rays (I say early because I don't know if it's still the case) were encoded as PAL. So a lot of films, while the film itself was perfectly playable (1080p24) in the US, didn't work because the discs defaulted to menu's that weren't supported by the player/display.

So long as your player and display support PAL, you won't have an issue with region free discs. If they don't, I'd do some research before buying any discs.

There are also some discs out there that are 1080i24. I'm not sure if they play nice with US equipment.