The Criterion Collection

[Brad1963]

Originally Posted by Coen

You are on a desert island and are allowed 1 Criterion BD from USA, Japan, Sweden, France, Italy and UK. What are your choices?

USA: Nashville
SWEDEN: Fanny & Alexander
FRANCE: Breathless
ITALY: Bicycle Thieves
UK: Brief Encounter
JAPAN: High & Low

[GenPion]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

A few observations about my latest Criterion viewing...



In a perfect world, Toni Servillo, who portrays the has-been writer-turned-Rome-socialite Jep Gambardella, would play the main villain in the next James Bond 007 film. This actor, with his mannerisms and his appearance, was clearly put on this planet to be a Bond villain, and he has the potential to be the most suavely sinister bad guy of the entire Bond franchise. Yeah, I know that, once again, the fact that I'm even thinking along these lines probably means that I entirely missed the boat on what The Great Beauty is supposed to convey, but...whatever...being a Bond villain is Servillo's calling. Hey, Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson, if you're reading this, make it happen. I want to see Tony Servillo in a face-off with Daniel Craig in a splendidly lavish hidden lair in Italy.

I had mixed feelings about the film. I will be writing a review for it soon. I just want to chime in to say that I ABSOLUTELY AGREE he would make a excellent Bond villain. The actor could pull it off. That would be amazing...

[thompsonjohn]

Has anyone cleared up what this re-issue of "Night of the Hunter" is all about? My guess is a simple re-issue in the clear case packaging? Possibly making it a 3-disc set throwing in a DVD version like they have been doing recently?

Everyone on criterionforum.org are wondering the same things, no one seems to have any answers yet.

[Wildcat47]

USA: On The Waterfront
Sweden: Wild Strawberries
France: The Rules of the Game
Japan: Seven Samurai
Italy: Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion
UK: The Third Man / The Red Shoes (can't decide...)

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by thompsonjohn

Has anyone cleared up what this re-issue of "Night of the Hunter" is all about? My guess is a simple re-issue in the clear case packaging? Possibly making it a 3-disc set throwing in a DVD version like they have been doing recently?

Everyone on criterionforum.org are wondering the same things, no one seems to have any answers yet.

I e-mailed Criterion several times with no luck.

I did order it so when it comes in, I'll let you guys know. I'll more than likely end up returning it, as I don't need two copies.

[Joe Dalek]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

There must be a niche (library?) demand for some of these titles. Notice how many of the DVD releases don't contain all special features and essays.

Maybe they've had a vocal outcry from their DVD customers about paying extra for a format they have no intention of adopting (which would be ironic). They jumped into dual-format too late, I think. At this point I'd rather they offer digital copies;a paper slip with a download code for iTunes would be so much cheaper to produce and distribute than dual-format discs. Instead I'll have to rip my own SD digital copies off of the DVDs.

I was pleased to discover that my local library system, which orders all new Criterions, now has dual-format releases. So when I requested Thief, expecting just a DVD, I actually got the dual-format and was able to watch it on Blu-ray. These are the only Blu-rays they currently stock to my knowledge. One happy outcome of the dual format.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

Maybe they've had a vocal outcry from their DVD customers about paying extra for a format they have no intention of adopting (which would be ironic). They jumped into dual-format too late, I think. At this point I'd rather they offer digital copies;a paper slip with a download code for iTunes would be so much cheaper to produce and distribute than dual-format discs. Instead I'll have to rip my own SD digital copies off of the DVDs.

I was pleased to discover that my local library system, which orders all new Criterions, now has dual-format releases. So when I requested Thief, expecting just a DVD, I actually got the dual-format and was able to watch it on Blu-ray. These are the only Blu-rays they currently stock to my knowledge. One happy outcome of the dual format.

I was quite surprised to see my local library has several of the recent Criterion blu-ray releases I did not purchase because of low interest level. Now I'm free to borrow it for a week and give it a spin.

[Namuhana]

USA: The Night of the Hunter
Sweden: Persona
France: Breathless
Italy: 8 1/2
UK: The Red Shoes
Japan: Rashomon

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

same number of Swedish films I have! off the top of my head, I can't think of any others aside from Bergman and My Life as a Dog, so basically the question is, "which is your favorite Bergman film?" which I have yet to determine.

There are also Everlasting Moments (Jan Troell) and The Phantom Carriage (Victor Sjöström).

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by jayembee

There are also Everlasting Moments (Jan Troell) and The Phantom Carriage (Victor Sjöström).

Everlasting Moments is terrific and beautifully lensed. Criterion has the rights to some more Troell films they should release on blu-ray.

[thompsonjohn]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I e-mailed Criterion several times with no luck.

I did order it so when it comes in, I'll let you guys know. I'll more than likely end up returning it, as I don't need two copies.

So, you essentially ordered a rather high-priced blu-ray (like most Criterion blu-rays), that you already own, just to see what's different about it? I guess if you have that kind of disposable income, God bless ya, but damn, a little off the wall to me. I mean all things considered, they aren't going to re-issue a title with anything new bonus material-wise without telling us. This is going to be simply new packaging in a clear case and nothing new or the new packaging plus a DVD of the film.

Gotta credit you for your dedication on giving all of us the lowdown by ordering this just to see what's different.

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

A few observations about my latest Criterion viewing...



Despite my above superficial observations, I actually was paying attention during The Great Beauty, and I personally took home a reminder that we should not overlook the supposedly small treasures in life by trying to grasp some all-encompassing "great beauty." A few quiet moments conversing with a longtime friend on a sofa in a quiet corner of a crowded room and relating to that friend, a cognizance of every acquaintance that passes through your life, the ability to stop and take in your surroundings at any given moment, and a willingness to travel outside the confines of your comfort zone could very well be the truly significant things that many of us ignore in favor of our searches for grand-scale self-realization and closure. While I was watching The Great Beauty, I thought about the low-key fun of my 20-year high school reunion, where small grudges and conflicts of the past were forgotten in favor of the happiness of simply seeing old faces. I thought about a conversation with a friend during a recent training run where I revealed my insecurities about having not amounted to anything significant in life at the age of 42, and where my friend, who was going through the same midlife crisis, replied with a laugh, "On the bright side, we should be happy that we've lived long enough to realize that life is pointless and has no purpose."

Great review, i am not sure why many people seem to dismiss the film saying it's all style over substance, it's been a while since i have seen a modern film that grabbed me quite like this, i am not sure if it is necessarily because of the themes, it's not like they are super deep, but it is the way it makes you think about that seemingly small things that impressed me most, it was easily around the top 3 of the films i saw of last year.

[Clare2904]

I know the next 50% sale is not due until July but I am not certain if they hold a 40% sale / B2G1 offer before then. Can anyone comment?

I only started to collect Criterion in June last year (when Amazon had a 50% sale) and I'm trying to arrange my purchase plans for the coming months.

[Wildcat47]

Originally Posted by thompsonjohn

So, you essentially ordered a rather high-priced blu-ray (like most Criterion blu-rays), that you already own, just to see what's different about it? I guess if you have that kind of disposable income, God bless ya, but damn, a little off the wall to me. I mean all things considered, they aren't going to re-issue a title with anything new bonus material-wise without telling us. This is going to be simply new packaging in a clear case and nothing new or the new packaging plus a DVD of the film.

Gotta credit you for your dedication on giving all of us the lowdown by ordering this just to see what's different.

Lol...

[Wildcat47]

Originally Posted by Clare2904

I know the next 50% sale is not due until July but I am not certain if they hold a 40% sale / B2G1 offer before then. Can anyone comment?

I only started to collect Criterion in June last year (when Amazon had a 50% sale) and I'm trying to arrange my purchase plans for the coming months.

It seems like there was a B2G1 last year a month or so before the 50% sale. Also, I think Amazon had a 50% sale very close to the time of B&N too. It wasn't all titles, but it was quite a few. No coupon tricks, but 19.99 with no tax and free prime shipping was appealing enough to get me to pick up a few from them too. My B&N's have pretty much outlawed coupons, so I don't even try anymore.

[Clare2904]

Originally Posted by Wildcat47

It seems like there was a B2G1 last year a month or so before the 50% sale. Also, I think Amazon had a 50% sale very close to the time of B&N too. It wasn't all titles, but it was quite a few. No coupon tricks, but 19.99 with no tax and free prime shipping was appealing enough to get me to pick up a few from them too. My B&N's have pretty much outlawed coupons, so I don't even try anymore.

I don't know the start date for Amazon but my 1st ever Criterion order was placed on the 14th A quick Google search shows posts from as early as the 4th mentioning the sale.

Even though I get hit for shipping via Amazon it still works out a better deal then a 40% ($24) / B2G1 ($26.60) from B&N. At least I will have the 50% to fall back on (hopefully) if the Amazon sale fails to materialise.

[GentleGiant]

Does anyone think Criterion will eventually release Spirit of the Beehive on Blu-ray? I mean, does it still own the rights? I watched the Criterion DVD of that film the other day and really loved it. I know a Spanish bluray box set has been put out recently (https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Victo...Blu-ray/29179/). Can anybody comment on the quality of the transfers?
Thanks.

[biglou114]

I was just musing to myself that I'd really like to see Criterion to release of Soderbergh's The Limey and (either as bonus or separate release of) Loach's Poor Cow

[lemonski]

Originally Posted by biglou114

I was just musing to myself that I'd really like to see Criterion to release of Soderbergh's The Limey and (either as bonus or separate release of) Loach's Poor Cow

+1 on The Limey. Terence Stamp is the man.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by Clare2904

I don't know the start date for Amazon but my 1st ever Criterion order was placed on the 14th A quick Google search shows posts from as early as the 4th mentioning the sale.

Even though I get hit for shipping via Amazon it still works out a better deal then a 40% ($24) / B2G1 ($26.60) from B&N. At least I will have the 50% to fall back on (hopefully) if the Amazon sale fails to materialise.

I think there's a good chance Criterion.com has another flash sale to coincide with their 30th anniversary. I'm not sure of their exact founding date.