The Criterion Collection

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

A holiday movie marathon... I'm good for that.

I'll be working every day except for on the official holidays this week and next week, since my family lives close by, and since I like the slack atmosphere in the office when I'm basically the only person here. I've always enjoyed working during Christmas/New Year week, because the few people who do come into the office are always in a cheerful mood, people always bring food into the office, and the vibe is pretty laid back.
I always wait until late January or early February to take my personal leave time, because that's when everyone else in the office is grumpy with the winter weather and having received their post-holiday credit card bills.

Anyway, I took a break from my "Film Noir Marathon" this past weekend to watch Mary Poppins, It's a Wonderful Life, and Saving Mr. Banks. Two five-star classic films and one slightly-schmaltzy, but nonetheless engaging new flick that I was able to see for free at the theater.

Last night, I returned to film noir with Secret Beyond the Door and The File on Thelma Jordan. It's great to be back in "Dark City" again.

I've saved my most eagerly-awaited film noir Blu-rays for last, so here's what's on my agenda for the next week or two...

The Big Combo
Plunder Road
Private Hell 36
Crashout
Force of Evil
City That Never Sleeps
Shack Out on 101
Body and Soul
The Hitch-Hiker
The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
Panic in the Streets
Pursued

I'll fit these movies, in no particular order, into my schedule as I make my way to see family and such.

The last six Criterion flicks that I bought last week at the end of the 50% off sale will have to wait until 2014.

Thats quite the noir list there... I like it and am kind of jealous! Good luck fitting movies in, and I won't brag too much about my days off (work at a school so I do get a nice break.. and yes I do work summers).

Originally Posted by 14728

Speaking of movie marathons, I watched Die Hard last night for a marathon I started on the 10th. I call it the "Keeping My Sanity Until Christmas" marathon. Since the 10th is when presents started going under the tree, I decided to watch one film each day to keep my sanity until Christmas. However, last week I was busy, so I didn't watch 6 of the films. So I'm watching 2 films today, 2 films on Xmas eve, and one film everyday after Christmas until I finish them. Today I'll be watching Seconds and 8 1/2

I like that marathon title, and it rings true!! Luckily this year I'm not traveling for the holidays, so it's just me and the wife... and she has to work everyday but Christmas day and New Year's day. So I get a lot of time to decompress and catch up on my movies. Just hope I can convince her to watch some of these at night with me when she gets home. I'm hoping the fact that I'm doing laundry and dusting will help my case. ;-)

[Ysvsr1]

Hi,

I am new to Criterian movies. Can someone recommend some movies which are good in video & audio quality (Color is preferable). I liked "The last emperor" movie a lot. Thank you very much for your help in advance.

fyi, itunes has some nice Criterian HD movies selection on sale for 9.99$.

Thanks

[Mansinthe]

Paris Texas , badlands

[bwdowiak]

I'm envious of all of you... My son was born 3 months ago and I just don't have the time any more to see many movies at a time. My wife has reasonable taste and sometimes wants to watch with me, so I have to hold off on watching certain titles until the time is right. A few weekends ago, my son made The Deer Hunter an all weekend endeavor. Last night, he made Le Havre (a 90 minute movie) into a 3 1/2 hour experience.

Tomorrow morning, I'll wake up and catch up on some of what I bought this holiday season - probably a b&w title. My wife usually (not always) uses the time spent on older films to be 'catch up on sleep' time.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

A few weekends ago, my son made The Deer Hunter an all weekend endeavor.

The Deer Hunter is probably well-suited for life's interruptions, because it's quite a depressing flick when viewed in one sitting. I rented that movie on VHS about 20 years ago, and it still haunts me. (Meaning that it's an awesomely affecting film that does it's intended job)

[bwdowiak]

holiday blu-ray shopping was a hit and miss affair. I scored on some good deals, that is for sure.. but I was hoping to be 'swinging' a bit more often. those Amazon deals never happened.

here's my holiday buying season lineup:
Criterion:
12 Angry Men
Fanny and Alexander
Army of Shadows

The Apartment
Strangers On a Train
The Best Years of Our Lives
The Grapes of Wrath
Laura

these 8 titles (all purchased 'new') for $122.82

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Ysvsr1

I am new to Criterian movies. Can someone recommend some movies which are good in video & audio quality (Color is preferable). I liked "The last emperor" movie a lot. Thank you very much for your help in advance.

You might like Days of Heaven. It looks amazing (natural photography, no digital effects). The story is similar to that of the 1977 Amol Palekar film Gharaonda, but treatment is different. In The Mood for Love is a fantastic looking and sounding wistful romantic story. Howard's End is another great looking drama from Merchant-Ivory. If you're not obsessed with color, Satyajit Ray's Charulata looks fantastic on blu-ray.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

The Deer Hunter is probably well-suited for life's interruptions, because it's quite a depressing flick when viewed in one sitting. I rented that movie on VHS about 20 years ago, and it still haunts me. (Meaning that it's an awesomely affecting film that does it's intended job)

It was nearly 15 years since the first and only other time I had seen it. I found it interesting that my 20-ish year old self found the beginning to be merely 'tolerable' and now I found the wedding and pre-war scenes to be the heart and soul and most beautifully executed portion of the film. It held up fine, but I kinda felt that this second viewing would elevate it to an 'all time top 20' film for me and that didn't quite happen.

[Ysvsr1]

Originally Posted by ravenus

You might like Days of Heaven. It looks amazing (natural photography, no digital effects). The story is similar to that of the 1977 Amol Palekar film Gharaonda, but treatment is different. In The Mood for Love is a fantastic looking and sounding wistful romantic story. Howard's End is another great looking drama from Merchant-Ivory. If you're not obsessed with color, Satyajit Ray's Charulata looks fantastic on blu-ray.

Thank you very much for your recommendations. i will explore them.

[Mansinthe]

26. dec we should receive our B&N 10$ giftcard from the 75$ giftcard deal,right? and the currently 40% off deal is going till january?

if im correct here i will hold out a few more days with my current order.


how did you all think about la Notte? (without spoilers)

[StonesEGF]

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

how did you all think about la Notte? (without spoilers)

Thanks in part to Criterion, I have become a huge fan of Antonioni. I've only seen six of his films thus far, including:

L'Avventura
La Notte
L'Eclisse
Red Desert
Blow-Up
Identification of a Woman

Of these, La Notte is probably my favorite. The Criterion Blu-ray is beautifully presented. I was amazed at the image quality.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by lordmorpheus72

Nice!! Great haul and way to stack the coupons!! I've got 1 25% I need to use today to pick up Pale Flower, my order finally came in.

All this talk of Pale Flower recently in this forum has made me antsy to watch this already. Let me know what you think of that movie too, after you see it?

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by jw007

All this talk of Pale Flower recently in this forum has made me antsy to watch this already. Let me know what you think of that movie too, after you see it?

I will... I'm waiting to finish For a Few Dollars More before I head out to BN.

[The Great Owl]

Glad to see more people lining up for Pale Flower. It's a glorious Criterion title, and it fit like a glove with my film noir marathon.

As far as Christmas season Blu-ray shopping, I've overindulged over the past several days with some "big classic movies" for my collection...

The Sound of Music
The Graduate
Singin' in the Rain
West Side Story
Serpico
All the President's Men
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

These are all titles that I saw many years ago, and have been wanting to revisit in high definition. The sale prices this past week or two pushed me over the edge, especially with the Barnes & Noble 40% Off All Blu-rays sale combined with their coupons, so I've snagged all of these for less than $10 apiece, with the exception of The Sound of Music, which I got from Target for $17.99 (Seeing Julie Andrews on the outstanding new Mary Poppins Blu-ray pushed me over the edge.).
It's also nice to be one step closer to having every Marilyn Monroe Blu-ray.

I'll probably get a Barnes & Noble gift certificate or two, so that may help me grab Throne of Blood, Rififi, and Thief next month.

[manunited1]

So all said in December I purchased Carlos, Hunger, Salo, Seven Samurai, Three Outlaw Samurai, Yojimbo/Sanjuro, and Zatoichi box set for around $210

Love B&N

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

It's also nice to be one step closer to having every Marilyn Monroe Blu-ray.

I'm working on that as well... but so far just have the Forever Marilyn set. Still holding on to individual dvds from the two Diamond Collections. Marilyn is one of my all time favorites.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by lordmorpheus72

I'm working on that as well... but so far just have the Forever Marilyn set. Still holding on to individual dvds from the two Diamond Collections. Marilyn is one of my all time favorites.

I've got them all now, except for How to Marry a Millionaire, Bus Stop, and There's No Business Like Show Business. I'm not in a frantic hurry to grab these remaining titles, but they'll go into my collection as I find them at low prices or at used stores.

I really want The Asphalt Jungle on Blu-ray. I'm hoping that Warner Bros. will follow up on their amazing 2013 Ultimate Gangsters Collection: Classics box set with a film noir box set in 2014. A Blu-ray replica of the Film Noir Classic Collection DVD box set would rock my world.

[Ausjdm]

Due to this forum the Pale Flower sales have skyrocketed in the last month lol. Even I joined in and blind bought it. The description sounds great!

[jetthead]

Originally Posted by lordmorpheus72

I'm working on that as well... but so far just have the Forever Marilyn set. Still holding on to individual dvds from the two Diamond Collections. Marilyn is one of my all time favorites.

Don't Bother to Knock is a highly underrated film and MM is very good in it. Hopefully we'll see a Blu-ray release of that sometime soon as it was on the FoxConnect poll that was done last year.

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I've got them all now, except for How to Marry a Millionaire, Bus Stop, and There's No Business Like Show Business. I'm not in a frantic hurry to grab these remaining titles, but they'll go into my collection as I find them at low prices or at used stores.

I really want The Asphalt Jungle on Blu-ray. I'm hoping that Warner Bros. will follow up on their amazing 2013 Ultimate Gangsters Collection: Classics box set with a film noir box set in 2014. A Blu-ray replica of the Film Noir Classic Collection DVD box set would rock my world.

Originally Posted by jetthead

Don't Bother to Knock is a highly underrated film and MM is very good in it. Hopefully we'll see a Blu-ray release of that sometime soon as it was on the FoxConnect poll that was done last year.

Agreed to all! :-) I've got all her films in one form or another... though my 3 favorites are Misfits, Some Like it Hot, and of course Seven Year Itch. I know it's everyone's, but I really do love her in that film.... the last scene as she is waving bye... just gets me.