The Criterion Collection

[diskspinner]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

It's in the criterion offices :-)

That makes sense...I only watched the video with mute on...

[JeffTheMovieGuy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=348qOuXOAXo

[silverlakephil]

Originally Posted by dtyner92

What Polaroid said. Criterion lets people who are working with them, come into the holy grail, that is the Criterion Closet. A room that very few have seen and everybody wants to go into.

I remember the video with Nicolas Winding Refn doing the same thing. I think they tell these Directors to go at it like a kid in a candy store, and take home whatever they want with no charge.

[dtyner92]

Originally Posted by silverlakephil

I remember the video with Nicolas Winding Refn doing the same thing. I think they tell these Directors to go at it like a kid in a candy store, and take home whatever they want with no charge.

Is it cynical to feel a little angered, when Criterion throws multi-millionaires in there, and lets them grab everything in sight. Example, Alec Baldwin......

[JeffTheMovieGuy]

Originally Posted by dtyner92

Is it cynical to feel a little angered, when Criterion throws multi-millionaires, and lets them grab everything in sight. Example, Alec Baldwin......

And I think he was actually just in there choosing gifts for other people.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by dtyner92

Is it cynical to feel a little angered, when Criterion throws multi-millionaires in there, and lets them grab everything in sight. Example, Alec Baldwin......

I enjoy watching these, and it makes me happy how excited these actors and filmmakers are when they are picking out their favorites.

Also, more often than not, the actors and filmmakers are people who have either contributed to a Criterion Collection supplementary feature (Alec Baldwin on Seconds, for example) or furthered Criterion's general aesthetic of giving attention to wonderful films.

Over in the Scream Factory Facebook page and forum thread, there has been a controversy about people's negative reactions to the studio giving a bunch of free titles to Eli Roth after he recorded a commentary track without asking to be paid.



I think that it's fun, and it was quite generous of him to record a commentary track without asking for compensation.

[dtyner92]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I enjoy watching these, and it makes me happy how excited these actors and filmmakers are when they are picking out their favorites.

Also, more often than not, the actors and filmmakers are people who have either contributed to a Criterion Collection supplementary feature (Alec Baldwin on Seconds, for example) or furthered Criterion's general aesthetic of giving attention to wonderful films.

I like watching them as well. However, that thought is always in the back of my head. It would be nice if Criterion continuous with that Golden Ticket idea, they did during the last sale. A nice way to spread the love around.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by dtyner92

I like watching them as well. However, that thought is always in the back of my head.

I have to pay for all of my Criterion titles, but I don't have to deal with the hassle of being a famous celebrity. I'm quite content with this tradeoff.

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by dtyner92

I believe this is the collection from one of the guys who's apart of the CriterionCast podcast.... His name slips my mind though.

Edit: https://twitter.com/CriterionRefs

He also has a blog about Criterion:

http://criterionreflections.blogspot.com/

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by Moviefan2247

Hey,

I just went to Barnes and Noble and purchased Royal Tanenbaums and Hard Day's Night. I haven't watched Hard Day's Night and hope its a good Blind Buy. I saw they had one copy left of Fish Tank and a movie called Beneath The Wave, which I'm told is fantastic. They didn't have any copies of Fat Girl. I was wondering if anyone had seen those three movies as well as Hard Day's Night. I'd love to know your opinion.

Fat Girl is pretty divisive, but it is one of my favorite titles, especially among the recent films they have released. At the very least you should watch it sometime, even if you don't end up buying it.

[dtyner92]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I have to pay for all of my Criterion titles, but I don't have to deal with the hassle of being a famous celebrity. I'm quite content with this tradeoff.

To each his own.

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I enjoy watching these, and it makes me happy how excited these actors and filmmakers are when they are picking out their favorites.

Also, more often than not, the actors and filmmakers are people who have either contributed to a Criterion Collection supplementary feature (Alec Baldwin on Seconds, for example) or furthered Criterion's general aesthetic of giving attention to wonderful films.

Over in the Scream Factory Facebook page and forum thread, there has been a controversy about people's negative reactions to the studio giving a bunch of free titles to Eli Roth after he recorded a commentary track without asking to be paid.



I think that it's fun, and it was quite generous of him to record a commentary track without asking for compensation.

I've read that it costs as little as $2.00 to manufacture a blu-ray disc, including the cost of the case, the disc, the artwork, and the pressing. But just for the sake of argument, let's double that and call it $4.00 ... and I think that's quite a stretch when you consider that some major titles go on sale for as little as $5.00.

Anyway, the man in the picture is holding 24 or 25 discs. Using $4.00 as a guideline, he's got about $100.00 worth of product there. That's really nothing to speak of in the grand scheme of things, and is probably charged to promotional expenses, just like all the free copies that are sent out to major reviewers.

No doubt Criterion discs are more expensive to produce, because of licensing fees, additional content and higher quality standards, but contrary to what some might choose to believe, Barnes & Noble didn't lose much (if any) money on that copy of Picnic at Hanging Rock I got for $14.39 ... especially not when you factor in the fact that I spent another $60 on other merchandise while I was in the store.

[bstv69]

Question: I purchased The Wages of Fear & Diabolique, but since they are on hulu plus I am debating exchanging them for, In the Mood for Love and Black Narcissus. Does anyone have any thoughts on this. (Not sure if this helps but I am a huge Scorsese fan, and the latter two films he has spoken very highly of)
Thank you in advance

[anthonyg]

For the most part directors and actors don't get paid for their contributions to audio commentaries and other special features. So Criterion is basically paying them with product, who cares? Also, Alec Baldwin only took 3 titles - 2 for friends and 1 for himself. These videos also help cross promote Criterion with people who might just be a fan of the actor/director.

The only thing I find odd about these closet videos are when people say "this is one of my favorite movies I'm glad to finally own it on blu-ray" when it has been out for years - you'd think they'd already own the title.

I love these videos - this is one of my favorite thus far, I'd love to see Wes Anderson, Godard, Lynch, Chloe Sevigny, Harmony Korine, etc in there.

I'd also love to see a raffle in which for $5 you can buy a chance to fill a Criterion bag at their office - they'd draw monthly and film the winner. They could donate the money made to a film driven charity.

[soarinsteven]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Old Yeller packs an emotional gut punch.

The saddest film of my childhood, though, was The Earthling (1980), which starred Ricky Schroder and William Holden. The movie was never released on DVD, and I'd love to see a Blu-ray release. Such a tremendous film.

Bambi had its sad moments, but I was not particularly fazed, probably because I come from a family of deer hunters and because I kept craving venison during the movie.

That's one of the more disturbing comments I've seen in this forum. LOL

[soarinsteven]

Revisited Stagecoach and The Searchers for the first time since getting them on blu. The latter is easily one of the best looking blus I own. Jaw-dropping transfer.

I love the dolly zoom shot of John Wayne in Stagecoach so much. Talk about introducing a star.

I watched the 1968 interview with John Ford on the disc, and oh my god, does he not come off as the most curmudgeon old man of all curmudgeons. Kinda entertaining and kinda maddening to watch tbh.

[Snicket]

I had the day off before I start my new job so I popped in Wages of Fear,

WOW! This film needs to be in everyone's collection, not just Criterion fans. What a complete thrill. It was a bit slow to get up off the ground but once it takes flight it kept me breathless. The tension and pacing were so perfectly balanced, the film become so unpredictable (up to a point) that i agree with a thought shared in the film's essay that "even a whisper from someone in the audience may send the trucks into turmoil"

The only segment that pulled me out of the film was the ending, which I could see coming from 10 miles away and did not hold even close the same level of drama or tension the other segments did.

I own the remake, but will wait a few weeks before I watch it to let Wages really sink in.

[Snicket]

Originally Posted by soarinsteven

I watched the 1968 interview with John Ford on the disc, and oh my god, does he not come off as the most curmudgeon old man of all curmudgeons. Kinda entertaining and kinda maddening to watch tbh.

John Ford interviews are great! His contempt for the interviewer really shines though.

Q: "How did you shoot this iconic scene?"

A: "With a camera"

[Helikaon]

I had a dream once that I was invited into the Criterion closet to pick out some films, but had to turn to them and say I already had all the ones I wanted. I suppose it was kind of a nightmare.

[smoss469]

Note to self: Finish screenplay and hope to get invited to the CC closet.

Self... move your ass!