The Criterion Collection

[RojD]

Originally Posted by iScottie

The film was a bit redundant at times, but it was surprisingly not as predictable as I had imagined it to be. I would say that it was a decent film overall and the best of the four films in the set that I have seen thus far.

Going back to the animal cruelty issue, I usually do not have as big of an issue with it in films as I did with it tonight. Yes, there have been times where I have almost thrown up because of the live slaughter of animals (see: "Blood of the Beasts"), but the difference between that and this was educational vs. entertainment purposes. Killing any animal, especially a domesticated one, for entertainment purposes is as wrong as it gets, in my opinion. In an earlier WCP film, Touki Bouki, we see the live slaughter of an ox at a slaughterhouse, the job of one of the main characters in the film. I am going to assume that the director asked the factory if they could film a scene in that location for story purposes - not for the hell of it.

Yes, especially because I had no idea it was coming. Also, the scene came minutes after one of the main characters decapitated a chicken and threw it at a woman.

I'm constantly trying to deal with things like this when I respond to movies. I have certain buttons that, if a movie pushes, I can't get around. Racism ruins a movie for me (can't enjoy Birth of a Nation, and I've tried), as does colonialism (Bert Lancaster or not, I can't bear Zulu Dawn; I'm hoping Thief of Bagdad will finally be a Korda film I can enjoy). Homophobia throws me right out of a film and can even make me angry (Rome Open City, for example).

For some reason, animal cruelty in film doesn't affect me as deeply. I certainly flinch, like in Dry Summer and Moment of Truth, but I don't experience the almost reflexive rejection of the film I get with other things. In thinking about it, I guess responses to things like these are a function of our individual experiences in life. I think if you enjoy or have experience in things like hunting, fishing, farm life.....even animal science research or living in a developing country.....it can desensitize you to animal cruelty.

That said, Dry Summer is deliberately in-your-face with the way the dog scene is treated. It didn't spoil the movie for me the way the imperialist attitude in Four Feathers did my experience of that film, but I felt it.

[ultlife2013]

I think it's sad state of affairs when so many people are only buying criterion blurays during the sale because they can get them for around 10 dollars. I mean so much value in these releases and people are using so much coupon stacking that shouldn't even be allowed to game the system. I mean half off is already an amazing deal on these films, and I know of course this is an unpopular opinion.

On topic post: I really want to blind buy all the Wes Anderson films that I haven't got yet. But I'm afraid!

[Zen_Amako]

Below are my personal favorites in the collection:

The Double Life of Veronique
Chungking Express
In the Mood for Love
Three Colors Trilogy
Belle de Jour

Honorable mentions:

Pierrot le Fou
Black Narcissus
Videodrome
Picnic at Hanging Rock
Repulsion

I would put down the Demy box as we'll but I already own the great French editions a of Umbrellas of Cherbourg and The Young Girls of Rochefort.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by ultlife2013

I think it's sad state of affairs when so many people are only buying criterion blurays during the sale because they can get them for around 10 dollars. I mean so much value in these releases and people are using so much coupon stacking that shouldn't even be allowed to game the system. I mean half off is already an amazing deal on these films, and I know of course this is an unpopular opinion.

On topic post: I really want to blind buy all the Wes Anderson films that I haven't got yet. But I'm afraid!

I am happy to pay full whack, the releases are incredible - the amount of effort and attention of details put into every film, the artwork, the supplements etc

Its incredible and I don't care about price really as long as Criterion continue to release these incredible films

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by ultlife2013

I think it's sad state of affairs when so many people are only buying criterion blurays during the sale because they can get them for around 10 dollars. I mean so much value in these releases and people are using so much coupon stacking that shouldn't even be allowed to game the system. I mean half off is already an amazing deal on these films, and I know of course this is an unpopular opinion.

On topic post: I really want to blind buy all the Wes Anderson films that I haven't got yet. But I'm afraid!

I buy a few throughout the year, but I frequently check my Amazon wish list and see how often the prices drop on them. If it drops to around $23 or so, I'll buy. Any more and normally I can patiently wait.

[Polaroid]

But if we all pay full price - that is more profit for Criterion, which allows them to get and release better films with extras and stuff...

In a way, us trying to get a deal is preventing us getting better and more incredible releases :P

[DaveyJoe]

Originally Posted by ultlife2013

I think it's sad state of affairs when so many people are only buying criterion blurays during the sale because they can get them for around 10 dollars. I mean so much value in these releases and people are using so much coupon stacking that shouldn't even be allowed to game the system. I mean half off is already an amazing deal on these films, and I know of course this is an unpopular opinion.

On topic post: I really want to blind buy all the Wes Anderson films that I haven't got yet. But I'm afraid!

I don't bother with the coupons. I'm more than happy paying $20 per Criterion.

[ultlife2013]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

But if we all pay full price - that is more profit for Criterion, which allows them to get and release better films with extras and stuff...

In a way, us trying to get a deal is preventing us getting better and more incredible releases :P

I know it's bad to say it but these films are even worth MSRP. Obviously nobody wants to pay that but for OOP releases are easily worth the MSRP.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by ultlife2013

I know it's bad to say it but these films are even worth MSRP. Obviously nobody wants to pay that but for OOP releases are easily worth the MSRP.

I'd happily pay $80 (£50) a release if it was dual format, digipak, more supplements and awesome transfer :P

That's just me though haha, but yeah Criterions are pretty low priced for what they offer even before sale.

May seem like a lot but people pay £60-£90 for a PS4/Xbox game :P so not that crazy

[bstv69]

Originally Posted by ultlife2013

I think it's sad state of affairs when so many people are only buying criterion blurays during the sale because they can get them for around 10 dollars. I mean so much value in these releases and people are using so much coupon stacking that shouldn't even be allowed to game the system. I mean half off is already an amazing deal on these films, and I know of course this is an unpopular opinion.

On topic post: I really want to blind buy all the Wes Anderson films that I haven't got yet. But I'm afraid!

You realize that buying them for $10 only hurts BN not criterion. BN purchases their stock from criterion at whatever price criterion determines, so criterion makes the money that they want, it's BN that loses. So actually purchasing at lower prices should equal an increase in demand therefore leading to criterion making more money because they are selling more at their own price. If you want to pay full price, only purchase directly through criterion because that is how they will generate more revenue and in theory purchase more expensive title rights

[ultlife2013]

Originally Posted by bstv69

You realize that buying them for $10 only hurts BN not criterion. BN purchases their stock from criterion at whatever price criterion determines, so criterion makes the money that they want, it's BN that loses. So actually purchasing at lower prices should equal an increase in demand therefore leading to criterion making more money because they are selling more at their own price. If you want to pay full price, only purchase directly through criterion because that is how they will generate more revenue and in theory purchase more expensive title rights

Yeah, B&N can't possibly be making any profit off 10 dollar criterion blu-rays. But try getting people on this forum to understand that, they'll bite my head off if I even state that in the deals forum.

[Polaroid]

I dunno whether to sell my Criterion DVD's (I have pretty much all of them on blu now)... Id use money to buy more Blus...

But there are a lot I wouldn't sell as they aren't upgraded yet... 1. hassle of having to go out and post them 2. Ebay like to take a nice chunk of th money 3. I love them so much lol

Just seems like a waste having them as I don't watch now cause I have bluray version - unless anyone here wants to buy 100 odd Criterion DVDs in one sale :P?

[jw007]

Originally Posted by smoss469

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.

After reading Wickerman1972's post as well as Polaroid's and yours, I have to say that my days of purchasing movies online through B&N's website are done. I gave up after so many movies arrived to my mailbox damaged. The worst being the America: lost and found box set which I had to re-order 3 times and all 3 times the box set arrived very damaged with dents and creases. Ultimately, I bought it from Amazon on a 4th attempt and it arrived in pristine condition and taped well to a thick piece of cardboard so it didn't shuffle around while in transit.

Fortunately, living in a city, I can just go down to the local B&N and buy the movie in person and I know 100% that what I'm buying is a quality product because I hand select which case/movie I want (sometimes, I'm lucky to have 2 or 3 different cases to choose from based on how the condition is...and the worst case scenario, while in store, is when the slip art is not aligned in the plastic sleeve - maybe sometimes being too far down or high). It is totally a first world problem but I feel far more secure just buying in store. For those of you who don't have this luxury, I can imagine that its like Russian roulette ordering online and crossing your fingers that the package doesn't arrive mutilated in the mail.

[AnamorphicWidescreen]

Originally Posted by ultlife2013

I think it's sad state of affairs when so many people are only buying criterion blurays during the sale because they can get them for around 10 dollars. I mean so much value in these releases and people are using so much coupon stacking that shouldn't even be allowed to game the system. I mean half off is already an amazing deal on these films, and I know of course this is an unpopular opinion.

I have to respectfully disagree with the above. I personally find a lot of Blu's (especially Criterion's) to be overpriced anyway, so if someone can figure out how to get these for a good, reasonable price, IMHO more power to them.

There was a post several days ago about someone finding the great film Fish Tank (on the Criterion label) @ 7-11 for around $2....I think this is a great find, and wish I could have found this film for that price.

Re: Barnes & Noble, in general I find their DVD's/Blu's & CD's extremely overpriced (if they're not on sale). The prices are definitely 2-3 times as much as what you would find @ Wal-mart or Target. That being said, Wal-mart/Target don't typically carry Criterion DVD's/Blus'....

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by jw007

After reading Wickerman1972's post as well as Polaroid's and yours, I have to say that my days of purchasing movies online through B&N's website are done. I gave up after so many movies arrived to my mailbox damaged. The worst being the America: lost and found box set which I had to re-order 3 times and all 3 times the box set arrived very damaged with dents and creases. Fortunately, living in a city, I can just go down to the local B&N and buy the movie in person and I know 100% that what I'm buying is a quality product because I hand select which case/movie I want (sometimes, I'm lucky to have 2 or 3 different cases to choose from based on how the condition is...and the worst case scenario, while in store, is when the slip art is not aligned in the plastic sleeve - maybe sometimes being too far down or high). It is totally a first world problem but I feel far more secure just buying in store. For those of you who don't have this luxury, I can imagine that its like Russian roulette ordering online and crossing your fingers that the package doesn't arrive mutilated in the mail.

If a local store here in UK sold Criterions I would only buy from here, no more wait times, no more waiting and hoping its all ok.

This goes for all sorts of orders down online, not just Criterions or for films. It is really bad that we can't even trust delivery people to safely send us our items and they can't even show some respect when delivering them... :/

But its not all bad, when a delivery is in perfect condition its such a great feeling

I do wish there wasn't all these rights for each country, if Criterion could open their market to other countries and sell them in other countries, it would be pretty awesome - but then again, I never see MoC film ins stores, I think I have seen 1 or 2 in CEX... but thats it :/

[pro-bassoonist]

PACKAGING:



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[jw007]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

If a local store here in UK sold Criterions I would only buy from here, no more wait times, no more waiting and hoping its all ok.

This goes for all sorts of orders down online, not just Criterions or for films. It is really bad that we can't even trust delivery people to safely send us our items and they can't even show some respect when delivering them... :/

But its not all bad, when a delivery is in perfect condition its such a great feeling

I do wish there wasn't all these rights for each country, if Criterion could open their market to other countries and sell them in other countries, it would be pretty awesome - but then again, I never see MoC film ins stores, I think I have seen 1 or 2 in CEX... but thats it :/

It is totally unacceptable to spend one's hard earned money and "hope" that your purchase arrives undamaged. This is why today its all about quantity over quality. The quality and care of shipping is just deteriorating all the time now and its very unfair that one consumer can purchase a product in a store that is in mint condition and another consumer can purchase the very same product through the mail but it arrives in poor condition. And even after returning the product there is no guarantee that the 2nd attempt will be any better (because for all one knows, there is a whole pile of the same damaged items of the same exact product sitting in the warehouse that people have ordered and exchanged over and over again throughout the years).

I will not accept damaged goods in the mail if I can find higher quality in person. I always opt for that over anything.

The only other option is finding a buyer in the states who you can trust and safely ship everything to you undamaged and packed well.

[joie]

To make a 10% markup on a movie sold for $18 (1/2 off + 10% discount), a retailer should buy the movie from the distributor for no more than $16.36. This comes from: $18 = x + 0.1x, which is equivalent to $18 = x(1.0 + 0.1), which is x = $18/1.1, which is $16.36, rounded. Of course, the greatest price the retailer can pay may be less (to make 10% profit) because the retailer also incurs the costs of inventory, shipping, marketing, etc.

Anyway, I got "Il Sorpasso" and will always remember Bruno's concern for other motorists when he parked illegally, realizing, of course, that the trick may depend on parking police with short memories or a recent parking police shift change. Also got l'eclisse, which is a big improvement over the older DVD. May go back for "The Great Beauty," and "Jules and Jim," but not in a hurry to see the first and interested in the second primarily because it's derived from the negative. "Il Soroasso" was, too, but a few parts of it were poorly focused or from a print.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by jw007

It is totally unacceptable to spend one's hard earned money and "hope" that your purchase arrives undamaged. This is why today its all about quantity over quality. The quality and care of shipping is just deteriorating all the time now and its very unfair that one consumer can purchase a product in a store that is in mint condition and another consumer can purchase the very same product through the mail but it arrives in poor condition. And even after returning the product there is no guarantee that the 2nd attempt will be any better (because for all one knows, there is a whole pile of the same damaged items of the same exact product sitting in the warehouse that people have ordered and exchanged over and over again throughout the years).

I will not accept damaged goods in the mail if I can find higher quality in person. I always opt for that over anything.

The only other option is finding a buyer in the states who you can trust and safely ship everything to you undamaged and packed well.

No I agree completely, and fact I got banned from Amazon for too many returns/refunds - why should I keep quiet and make do with a crappy item when I pay full price for item advertised brand new - its not acceptable and shocking, and tbh I'm glad I am banned cause their site is crap - Ebay is a lot better and flexible with items.

Yah I can trust someone, but delivery is crazy usually, I mean Ebay its £2 but when its not a big company its loads more and I dunno why :S

Amazon does have a warehouse part of site where they sell stock that has been returned due to damages etc for cheaper prices, but they are still pretty pricey for damaged goods...

Its crazy, a local store wooden ban you fi you bought damaged goods?

Im not going to work my arse off just to buy damaged/crappy goods, I want the best my money can get ! call me a snob, but why should anyone work hard and buy crappy stuff lol

[pro-bassoonist]

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