The Criterion Collection

[TJS_Blu]

Originally Posted by easyblu

Picked up A Hard Day's Night on blu-ray. ...I really want to get into their music more now, and was thinking of getting one of their complete collections on CD. There is so many options, though. Is there a definitive complete collection?

I think most purists would direct you to

The Beatles in Mono (The Complete Mono Recordings)
and then you'd need to pick up the stereo releases individually.

Here's why

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

To your last question, in my opinion, it is a strong yes.

Persona has all the features that make a Bergman film a Bergman film: a great psychological drama, cinematography by the master Sven Nykvist, Liv Ullmann, etc...

If you liked Persona, I am almost certain you would enjoy Hour of the Wolf. It has a similar style and atmosphere. It has not been released on blu-ray yet, hopefully in the near future. The Silence is another film that falls in the same vein.

There are many film masterpieces by Bergman. It really depends on the film content you want to see. Films about religious dilemmas (The Seventh Seal, Winter Light), epic family dramas (Fanny and Alexander or Through a Glass Darkly ), about aging (Wild Strawberries), marriage (Scenes from a Marriage).

Even what some people consider his lesser films, The Passion of Anna or The Serpent's Egg (with David Carradine) are great in my opinion.

You cannot go wrong with Bergman. Have fun exploring his filmography.

The Passion of Anna is considered a less work? It's one of my absolute favorites.

[SilentDawn]

So, I'm finally going into B&N today to embark on my 50% Criterion haul.

I may not survive, and it will be rough in there, but my love of film should hopefully let me out unscathed.

Anyways, here are the films I am planning to pick up, which are all blind-buys. I might not walk out with those though, depending on availability or a change of heart.

1. Persona by Ingmar Bergman
2. Harakiri by Masaki Kobayashi
3. 8 1/2 by Federico Fellini
4. Throne of Blood by Akira Kurosawa
5. Blow Out by Brian De Palma

So, those are my five pickups, but you never know what I will be walking out with.

However, I'm also thinking about picking up the John Cassavetes set, but I am completely unfamiliar with his work, and I have no clue what his films are even like.

[StonesEGF]

Based upon your collection (which is very nice, by the way) and your list of favorites, I think you would very much enjoy the Cassavetes set. The first time I saw Faces was like a revelation. The box is one of my most prized pieces in my collection.

Originally Posted by SilentDawn

So, I'm finally going into B&N today to embark on my 50% Criterion haul.

I may not survive, and it will be rough in there, but my love of film should hopefully let me out unscathed.

Anyways, here are the films I am planning to pick up, which are all blind-buys. I might not walk out with those though, depending on availability or a change of heart.

1. Persona by Ingmar Bergman
2. Harakiri by Masaki Kobayashi
3. 8 1/2 by Federico Fellini
4. Throne of Blood by Akira Kurosawa
5. Blow Out by Brian De Palma

So, those are my five pickups, but you never know what I will be walking out with.

However, I'm also thinking about picking up the John Cassavetes set, but I am completely unfamiliar with his work, and I have no clue what his films are even like.

[Page14]

Originally Posted by easyblu

Picked up A Hard Day's Night on blu-ray. ... I really want to get into their music more now, and was thinking of getting one of their complete collections on CD. There is so many options, though. Is there a definitive complete collection?

Originally Posted by TJS_Blu

I think most purists would direct you to

The Beatles in Mono (The Complete Mono Recordings)
and then you'd need to pick up the stereo releases individually.

Here's why

Yeah, IMO, it would be between the mono box set that TJS_Blu linked to above, or the stereo box set in this link:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Beatles-Or.../dp/B002BSHWUU

It's a tough call between the 2 of them. Personally, I couldn't figure out which of them was the better way to go and ended up buying them both. (And the really sad part is that I spend more time listening to the original CDs that I bought as they came first out, than either of the box sets. Old habits die hard, I guess. The box sets are packaged so nicely that I'd rather scuff up my old CDs than risk messing up the new ones. Silly, I know).

[Polaroid]

My local Odeon is showing Boyhood (YAY)!

Going to go see it tomorrow, hopes its good, just worried about the idea of using same actors over years will overshadow the actual film or not? They ar banging on about it which is a tad annoying.

Will see tomorrow and see :P

[SilentDawn]

Originally Posted by StonesEGF

Based upon your collection (which is very nice, by the way) and your list of favorites, I think you would very much enjoy the Cassavetes set. The first time I saw Faces was like a revelation. The box is one of my most prized pieces in my collection.

Thank you!

Yeah, I'm definitely thinking about picking it up; yet, those other films are beckoning to me as well.

Decisions, decisions.

And what do you guys around here think of Judex? That cover art is awesome and I loved Eyes Without a Face.

[ijustblumyself]

Originally Posted by SilentDawn

Thank you!

Yeah, I'm definitely thinking about picking it up; yet, those other films are beckoning to me as well.

Decisions, decisions.

And what do you guys around here think of Judex? That cover art is awesome and I loved Eyes Without a Face.

Just continuing on the topic of the box-set, if you like PTA, then I think you will definitely enjoy Cassavetes.

Faces in some ways reminds me of The Master in the way that it focuses so intently on harrowing moments.
I absolutely loved Faces.

[SilentDawn]

Originally Posted by ijustblumyself

Just continuing on the topic of the box-set, if you like PTA, then I think you will definitely enjoy Cassavetes.

Faces in some ways reminds me of The Master in the way that it focuses so intently on harrowing moments.
I absolutely loved Faces.

Thanks for the advice!

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by SilentDawn

However, I'm also thinking about picking up the John Cassavetes set, but I am completely unfamiliar with his work, and I have no clue what his films are even like.

If it will make you feel any better, I made a blind purchase of John Cassavetes: Five Films earlier this month without having any idea what the movies are really about and without knowing anything about the movies except that they are often featured prominently on reputable independent movie lists. I know that the movies have a great reputation among moviegoers who share my basic mindset, and that was enough for me to make the leap.

Well, that and the fact that I bought the set for $47, which is less than $10 per movie.

[ijustblumyself]

BBS or Demy box-set, which would be a better blind buy?
Trying to work out my final purchase for the sale and cannot decide!

[SilentDawn]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

If it will make you feel any better, I made a blind purchase of John Cassavetes: Five Films earlier this month without having any idea what the movies are really about and without knowing anything about the movies except that they are often featured prominently on reputable independent movie lists. I know that the movies have a great reputation among moviegoers who share my basic mindset, and that was enough for me to make the leap.

Well, that and the fact that I bought the set for $47, which is less than $10 per movie.

Thanks Owl!

I have given it a lot of thought, and I'm probably going to stay with the individual releases for this sale. Usually, I stick with individual Criterions for the July sale and Box-Sets for November, because some are given to me as Christmas gifts. Yes, my Criterion purchases are way too organized.

However, that John Cassavetes set is tempting, but I don't think I will pull the trigger on it right now.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by ijustblumyself

BBS or Demy box-set, which would be a better blind buy?
Trying to work out my final purchase for the sale and cannot decide!

I'm going to blind buy the Jacque Demy set next week, because the screenshots have beguiled me.

If I had to choose, though, then America Lost and Found: The BBS Story would be a clear choice.

America Lost and Found has three masterpieces (Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces, The Last Picture Show), three rather fascinating if somewhat flawed films (Head, Drive, He Said, and The King of Marvin Gardens) and one film (A Safe Place) that does not quite measure up, but that I like better than most of the folks here.

[ParticleDan]

Originally Posted by SilentDawn

So, what are some of the thoughts on Judex?

Have you tried the 'search this thread' button? Lots of comments have been posted

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

It occurs to me that I might have In the Realm of the Senses confused with Empire of Passion in terms of the descriptions that I've read. I might check out In the Realm of the Senses someday, but I'm not in a hurry, and I don't want to make a blind buy of the film.

It's a very polarizing film (the definition of a love it or hate it type of film, no in betweens). It's very much worth a look for no other reason than to finally see what all the fuss is about (as you very well may know already, it has had to fight with censorship throughout its existence).

Obligatory Criterion Wishlist Request: I just ordered a book on Johannes Vermeer, so I got to thinking and I would really love to see The Girl with the Pearl Earring get a spine number. As should be the case with anything pertaining to the great artist, it has some of the most exquisite lighting you'll ever see in a movie.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Obligatory Criterion Wishlist Request: I just ordered a book on Johannes Vermeer, so I got to thinking and I would really love to see The Girl with the Pearl Earring get a spine number. As should be the case with anything pertaining to the great artist, it has some of the most exquisite lighting you'll ever see in a movie.

I saw The Girl with the Pearl Earring at the theater when it was released. I'm surprised that it's not on Blu-ray already, but I'd be happy to see a high definition presentation.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by ijustblumyself

BBS or Demy box-set, which would be a better blind buy?
Trying to work out my final purchase for the sale and cannot decide!

Very tough one. For my money, I may have to go with the BBS set because it contains films I would revisit more often, namely, Last Picture Show, King of Marvin Gardens, and Easy Rider. It does, however, contain two bona fide duds:A Safe Place and Drive, He Said. The former is probably a keeper too because it is just such an outright failure that it borders on so-bad-it's-good.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I saw The Girl with the Pearl Earring at the theater when it was released. I'm surprised that it's not on Blu-ray already, but I'd be happy to see a high definition presentation.

As am I. Fortunately, an HD version can probably be seen on HBO or Showtime (I'm not sure which channel I caught it on). I saw it a few years back in glorious 1080i...now bring on the 1080p!!

[Polaroid]

Time to watch Grey Gardens VERY excited about this one!

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Time to watch Grey Gardens VERY excited about this one!

I'm very excited to seeing that one, too, especially over the past few weeks where others have shared their positive attitudes towards it.

If I don't go to the cinema to see Ida today, I'll probably throw that one in.