The Criterion Collection

[Polaroid]

My Thoughts on Scanners

It was a nice release from Criterion, though its 50% good 50% bad.

The transfer at times is brilliant and look great and other times looks a bit weak, same goes for the film itself, I haven't seen in a while and it wasn't as good as I remember. There were some incredible scenes that looked great and worked so well and other scenes that seemed rushed or not as well thought out.

I have no regrets buying this release as it has great supplements, would have loved commentary but not end of world, the artwork for packaging is stunning. The transfer at times is superb - I wish ending didn't end so fast though.

I also thought there was more body horror in it but must have remembered stuff from other films but no its a good film to sit back and watch without having to over think, and nice addition to my collection alongside Videodrome (which for me is far superior), need to watch STEREO soon as I have never seen.

Im going to give it a rewatch soon to make mind up on entire film but definitely a film I will revisit for certain scenes .

[Thebunk]

My essentials, which I should preface by saying I am generally more of a modern film lover but not to say I do not appreciate some of the classics:

The Three Colors (absolutely no contest for me and my tastes)
Seven Samurai
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
12 Angry Men
The Kid with a Bike

Honarable Mentions:

Le Cercle Rouge
The Double Life of Veronique
Dazed and Confused
High and Low

[Wickerman1972]

So I just received 3 Criterion blu rays I ordered from Barnes and Noble: Blow Out, Being John Malkovich, and Thief.

Firstly the cases these things come in are TANKS. Seriously, these are the most robust disc cases I've seen. And that being the case just irritates me even more considering the condition these are in. It must have taken considerable negligence to mess these things up. Both BJM and BO have dents in the cases severe enough to also have left impressions in the slipcovers that I can't press out. Considering how thick these things are it must have taken something like a screwdriver brought down in a stabbing motion to cause this damage. Oh, and one of the pegs that hold the disc into place is broken off with Blow Out. Thief is the only one of the three to not have damage to the case. But I opened it up and discovered a booklet that had about an inch of it mangled, crumpled and bent backwards. I've tried straightening it out but there's no fixing it. Basically all 3 of them look like something I bought used at a pawn shop for $3-$4 each. But I payed $65 NEW for the 3 of them (And that was a sale price!) and haven't even gotten to watch them yet.

Gotta say that I'm getting pretty tired of this now. I'm new to the blu ray thing, bought the collection I have in a fairly short period of time. Happened to have picked up a player and figured I needed some discs to go along with it and that's how this started. Then after I had a few I decided I'd build a collection. But I'm having my doubts now. Am tired of 50% of the discs I buy NEW looking like used from a thrift store before they've even been played. I don't know, blu ray looks better than streaming but I don't get ripped off by Netflix like these blu ray retailers are doing to me ROUTINELY.

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by Wickerman1972

So I just received 3 Criterion blu rays I ordered from Barnes and Noble: Blow Out, Being John Malkovich, and Thief.

Firstly the cases these things come in are TANKS. Seriously, these are the most robust disc cases I've seen. And that being the case just irritates me even more considering the condition these are in. It must have taken considerable negligence to mess these things up. Both BJM and BO have dents in the cases severe enough to also have left impressions in the slipcovers that I can't press out. Considering how thick these things are it must have taken something like a screwdriver brought down in a stabbing motion to cause this damage. Oh, and one of the pegs that hold the disc into place is broken off with Blow Out. Thief is the only one of the three to not have damage to the case. But I opened it up and discovered a booklet that had about an inch of it mangled, crumpled and bent backwards. I've tried straightening it out but there's no fixing it. Basically all 3 of them look like something I bought used at a pawn shop for $3-$4 each. But I payed $65 NEW for the 3 of them (And that was a sale price!) and haven't even gotten to watch them yet.

Gotta say that I'm getting pretty tired of this now. I'm new to the blu ray thing, bought the collection I have in a fairly short period of time. Happened to have picked up a player and figured I needed some discs to go along with it and that's how this started. Then after I had a few I decided I'd build a collection. But I'm having my doubts now. Am tired of 50% of the discs I buy NEW looking like used from a thrift store before they've even been played. I don't know, blu ray looks better than streaming but I don't get ripped off by Netflix like these blu ray retailers are doing to me ROUTINELY.

You must have horrible luck with your local delivery people. The only real damage I've had has been with the cheap cardboard cases and the very rare plastic case. Digipacks on the other hands... come out looking like they were tossed in a dryer and tumbled for hours on end.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by Wickerman1972

So I just received 3 Criterion blu rays I ordered from Barnes and Noble: Blow Out, Being John Malkovich, and Thief.

Firstly the cases these things come in are TANKS. Seriously, these are the most robust disc cases I've seen. And that being the case just irritates me even more considering the condition these are in. It must have taken considerable negligence to mess these things up. Both BJM and BO have dents in the cases severe enough to also have left impressions in the slipcovers that I can't press out. Considering how thick these things are it must have taken something like a screwdriver brought down in a stabbing motion to cause this damage. Oh, and one of the pegs that hold the disc into place is broken off with Blow Out. Thief is the only one of the three to not have damage to the case. But I opened it up and discovered a booklet that had about an inch of it mangled, crumpled and bent backwards. I've tried straightening it out but there's no fixing it. Basically all 3 of them look like something I bought used at a pawn shop for $3-$4 each. But I payed $65 NEW for the 3 of them (And that was a sale price!) and haven't even gotten to watch them yet.

Gotta say that I'm getting pretty tired of this now. I'm new to the blu ray thing, bought the collection I have in a fairly short period of time. Happened to have picked up a player and figured I needed some discs to go along with it and that's how this started. Then after I had a few I decided I'd build a collection. But I'm having my doubts now. Am tired of 50% of the discs I buy NEW looking like used from a thrift store before they've even been played. I don't know, blu ray looks better than streaming but I don't get ripped off by Netflix like these blu ray retailers are doing to me ROUTINELY.

Ive had such bad luck with plastic cases, they usually come cracked/parts snapped off or the plastic wrap melted to the spine thus ruining the part you see on shelf.

I've had a few digipaks come slightly damaged but nothing really major but more damage is with plastic cases for me :/ but newer dual format digipaks have been perfect every time and feel so robust and secure

Ive had bad luck with custom cutting my parcels open with knives, cutting into the plastic casing and slicing it open! so horrifying!

Ive had a few issues with booklets being slightly damaged, more with bran new releases, very frustrating - if you can get refund or anything speak to Criterion and you can buy replacements for $5, and they come really well packed

[Wickerman1972]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Ive had such bad luck with plastic cases, they usually come cracked/parts snapped off or the plastic wrap melted to the spine thus ruining the part you see on shelf.

I've had a few digipaks come slightly damaged but nothing really major but more damage is with plastic cases for me :/ but newer dual format digipaks have been perfect every time and feel so robust and secure

Ive had bad luck with custom cutting my parcels open with knives, cutting into the plastic casing and slicing it open! so horrifying!

Ive had a few issues with booklets being slightly damaged, more with bran new releases, very frustrating - if you can get refund or anything speak to Criterion and you can buy replacements for $5, and they come really well packed

So can you buy replacement cases for these from them? I have standard cases but these are different. I'd like to replace the cases of 2 out of the 3 of them. As far as the discs go Blow Out has a few tiny scratches on it from banging around loose in the case since one of the pegs is broken off. But I think it'll probably be OK. No point in calling Barnes and Noble because any replacements will be just as bad.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by Wickerman1972

So can you buy replacement cases for these from them? I have standard cases but these are different. I'd like to replace the cases of 2 out of the 3 of them. As far as the discs go Blow Out has a few tiny scratches on it from banging around loose in the case since one of the pegs is broken off. But I think it'll probably be OK. No point in calling Barnes and Noble because any replacements will be just as bad.

Yah email Criterion and you send them $5 over paypal and they ship you desired item.

Basically its $5 per item, so case $5, booklet $5 and artwork $5, they actually make loss on doing this so its not that bad.

Ive done a few times from UK and had fast and safe deliveries

You can buy the Criterion cases on Ebay and stuff but they are like £10 or so which is stupidly expensive, seeing s you an get for like £3 from Criterion. I had Shoah packaging replaced and came perfect condition and NO problems at all, and a few booklets which came perfect

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by Wickerman1972

So can you buy replacement cases for these from them? I have standard cases but these are different. I'd like to replace the cases of 2 out of the 3 of them. As far as the discs go Blow Out has a few tiny scratches on it from banging around loose in the case since one of the pegs is broken off. But I think it'll probably be OK. No point in calling Barnes and Noble because any replacements will be just as bad.

They are Scanavo cases.

http://www.casetopia.com/product_p/br1-cri.htm

I bought a 5 pack a while ago (I bought a BD disc off smoeone, no case or artwork was included) so I have 4 spares in case I ever receive any damaged.

[Clare2904]

Originally Posted by Wickerman1972

So can you buy replacement cases for these from them? I have standard cases but these are different. I'd like to replace the cases of 2 out of the 3 of them. As far as the discs go Blow Out has a few tiny scratches on it from banging around loose in the case since one of the pegs is broken off. But I think it'll probably be OK. No point in calling Barnes and Noble because any replacements will be just as bad.

You are not going to even try with B&N

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by smoss469

They are Scanavo cases.

http://www.casetopia.com/product_p/br1-cri.htm

I bought a 5 pack a while ago (I bought a BD disc off smoeone, no case or artwork was included) so I have 4 spares in case I ever receive any damaged.

Ah do these ship to UK? eBay is stupidly expensive for replacements >.<

EDIT they do but cheapest delivery is $22 o,o - think that works out roughly $3 a case which is still cheaper than Criterions $5 price

[Wickerman1972]

Originally Posted by Clare2904

You are not going to even try with B&N

If I called Amazon and/or B&N every time I had problems like this I'd have returned 40-50 blu rays already. If I did it this time the chances are like 50% that the replacements would look the same.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by Wickerman1972

If I called Amazon and/or B&N every time I had problems like this I'd have returned 40-50 blu rays already. If I did it this time the chances are like 50% that the replacements would look the same.

Ive been banned from amazon for too many returns/replacements - despite being valid and Amazon being the ones who recommended I do it ...

I mean a clothes shop or any shop in city wouldn't ban you for returning stuff if its valid...

[Ausjdm]

Any help picking 3? I'm going on my B&N haul in an hour:

Jules & Jim
Weekend (Godard)
Ace in the hole
Amarcord
Branded to kill
Red Desert
Picnic at hanging rock
Bad sleep well

[Polaroid]

Weekend (Godard)

Amarcord

Picnic at hanging rock

Is what I would pick personally - but you have a good selection so others will disagree with my choice :P

[Wickerman1972]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Ive been banned from amazon for too many returns/replacements - despite being valid and Amazon being the ones who recommended I do it ...

I mean a clothes shop or any shop in city wouldn't ban you for returning stuff if its valid...

Yeah, the cases are messed up frequently. I'm thinking it must be from some type of machine because what I get all the time are these small dents that you might get if you were to jam a screwdriver down into it. Normally it isn't a big deal because I bulk order cases from discmakers and replace them. But these Criterion cases are a different kind of problem cuz I can't replace these so easily.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by Wickerman1972

Yeah, the cases are messed up frequently. I'm thinking it must be from some type of machine because what I get all the time are these small dents that you might get if you were to jam a screwdriver down into it. Normally it isn't a big deal because I bulk order cases from discmakers and replace them. But these Criterion cases are a different kind of problem cuz I can't replace these so easily.

Yeah its frustrating, but I do love that they are custom cases and don't have the blue top of the cases lol

What bugs me most is when I get a delivery and its a single releases in a vacuum plastic bag :/ NO protection at all, its horrifying :/

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by Ausjdm

Any help picking 3? I'm going on my B&N haul in an hour:

Jules & Jim
Weekend (Godard)
Ace in the hole
Amarcord
Branded to kill
Red Desert
Picnic at hanging rock
Bad sleep well

Those are the 3 I'd run with. Wilder, Kurosawa and Suzuki are a nice mix and are all great directors.

[Clare2904]

Originally Posted by Ausjdm

Any help picking 3? I'm going on my B&N haul in an hour:

Jules & Jim
Weekend (Godard)
Ace in the hole
Amarcord
Branded to kill
Red Desert
Picnic at hanging rock
Bad sleep well

My choices

[bstv69]

I attempted to search this question but no luck. Is there a list of the Criterion films not available on hulu plus? After this sale I hope to do my best in limiting the titles I buy if they're available on hulu, unless I truly love the film. - thanks

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by bstv69

I attempted to search this question but no luck. Is there a list of the Criterion films not available on hulu plus? After this sale I hope to do my best in limiting the titles I buy if they're available on hulu, unless I truly love the film. - thanks

http://www.criterion.com/library/exp...hulu&p=1&pp=25

List of all Hulu films