The Criterion Collection

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by mande2013

Well as for more off the beaten path fare, Criterion led me to A Nos Amours, Dillinger Is Dead, and Les Rendez-Vous d'Anna, so there's that. There are plenty of others of course that Criterion has nothing to do with to begin with.

A Nos Amours might be my favourite ever Criterion blind buy. I bought it solely on the blurb on the back of the case that declares Maurice Pialat "the John Cassavetes of French cinema", and he's since developed in to one of my very favourite filmmakers.

[Jef Costello]

Ordered La Dolce Vita and Sundays and Cybelle for starters. I'm eyeing the Jacques Demy Box and Tati Box. I think I could only choose one. Tough choice.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by Jef Costello

Ordered La Dolce Vita and Sundays and Cybelle for starters. I'm eyeing the Jacques Demy Box and Tati Box. I think I could only choose one. Tough choice.

Get both while its on the sale! - will only work out to cost of one boxset price normally :P Just go without food for a week or two?

[Sifox211]

Originally Posted by Movie Nut

Aberdeen heh? I'll be in Dunblane and a few other locales in Scotland in 2016...

I'm sure there'll be a sale nearer the date

[nondiatonic]

Originally Posted by bstv69

[...]As you can see I am a fan of, for the most part, darker nontraditional love stories. Are there any other films in the collection similar to these?
In addition, I was planning on picking up Close-up, Certified Copy, and maybe Naked. Thoughts?

I would suggest Like Someone in Love based on your interest in Kiarostami. Certified Copy isn't dark, but it is non-traditional.

However, I would most highly recommend Breaking the Waves, a phenomenal love story (and I feel it fits the description of what you're looking for extremely well).

Also, White is a dark(-ish) non-traditional love story. What didn't you like about it?

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by nondiatonic

I would suggest Like Someone in Love based on your interest in Kiarostami. Certified Copy isn't dark, but it is non-traditional.

However, I would most highly recommend Breaking the Waves, a phenomenal love story (and I feel it fits the description of what you're looking for extremely well).

Also, White is a dark(-ish) non-traditional love story. What didn't you like about it?

I couldn't recommend Breaking the Waves enough - if you haven't seen it, I recommend you stop right now, and go watch it! The Criterion has done an INCREDIBLE job on the transfer and its the best the film has ever looked. It still has the grit and rough look but its juts looks so beautiful.

[mande2013]

Originally Posted by StLouisRibs

I'd say slowly phased in. Criterion has to make an announcement and include it in press releases when they even change the packaging, so if it were to return to print they'd likely make some hoo-haa out of it (not to mention that, oddly enough, it'd give the first oppurtunity for the BD titles to be upgraded to newer scans; I had hoped the Dual-Format change could do this with nice new 4K scans for 400 Blows and Breathless, but they simply stuck to the old discs (compare with Playtime, which was given a new scan that's apparently much improved))

Anyhow, as far as this whole Studio Canal issue is concerned, I think pissed a lot of people off, constantly bringing it up on forums like Mubi and Criterionforum.org back in the day, since I seemed to have a fetish over the issue, and I did sort of, and it's largely because Contempt was literally my number one film of all time back in 2010/2011, and that I was right around the same time I sort of "discovered the cinema" beyond the level of "movie buff". So I guess bringing up the issue so much back then is a sin I still need to atone for, since the whole SC 'scandal' itself developed into a bit of a canard on those forums. Oh well...

I graduated college at right around that time in the spring of 2010, and finished on a somewhat sour note academically (didn't fail out by any means). I had a revelation that same semester suddenly deep diving into the Criterion catalog with my cinephilia becoming an 'escape' from my academic difficulties, and it was right around that time all these Canal titles were getting axed, so I couldn't possibly treat it like a canard.


P.S. I didn't like Breaking the Waves at all, but that's just me. I have an aversion to Lars von Trier in general. I won't spoil your party anymore though. Don't worry

By the way, what can people tell me about Les Blank? It looks interesting, although I'm not sure I'd completely blind buy something with a $125 MSRP.

The Tati set is getting more enticing by the day, and I have had my eye on Demy for a while, but I just don't feel comfortable springing for either one of them this time around.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by mande2013

P.S. I didn't like Breaking the Waves at all, but that's just me. I have an aversion to Lars von Trier in general. I won't spoil your party anymore though. Don't worry

It's not for everyone I suppose! :P

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by jw007

Okay folks, its that time of year again! 50% Criterion B&N sale time!

Before this already massive thread mildly explodes for the next month, I just want to give my 2 cents and advice for anyone who is new to the B&N Criterion 50% sales.

THIS APPLIES ONLY TO IN-STORE PURCHASES!

1) The best way, in general, to use coupons during the sale is NOT TO PRINT out the coupon.

2) I'll say this again, the best way, in general, to use coupons during the sale is NOT TO PRINT out the coupon.

3) Okay, you heard me, now if you do want to use the coupon, make sure you use the coupon from your smartphone. Find the digital coupon and have it ready to show the CSR (customer service representative) and he or she will manually punch in the code. The reason why I urge all of you not to print the coupon is, a lot of the times a perfectly valid coupon won't scan effectively, such as the $8/40 coupon. However, if the CSR manually punches in the coupon from your smartphone, the coupon WILL work!

4) Don't pressure the CSR or make him or her angry about why your coupon should work and it does not. Don't feel you're self-entitled as YMMV (your mileage may vary) in any case. Feel fortunate that you were able to use additional discounts because of your coupon, whether its 15% off, 20% off, 30% off or the $5/50 or $8/40 coupons.

5) Don't even attempt to try stacking any coupons! You'll save yourself a world of pain. The only time you might be able to do this is if you use a single coupon for one item (maybe 20% off one Criterion title) and then if you buy 3 titles and it exceeds $50 you can use the $5 off $50 or more coupon to save a few more bucks. That's what I usually do, on top of my 10% members discount of course.

6) During this sale, only go at most once a week to your local Barnes & Noble store as if you go more often during this sale you might run into those same CSRs and some of them might not like your rampant use of coupons. Try and investigate when certain CSRs work, what shifts they're on and if they're cool with you using coupons during the Criterion sale. You need to do some research and recon for your Criterion shopping spree to pay off.

7) Last but not least, save all your receipts if possible so that one day you can create a vast spreadsheet where you can track how much money you spent on all your purchases and how much money you saved and then show it off to people on this forum!

I really am lucky ... for whatever reason, all the people at my Barnes & Noble love me, and they often let me use my coupons more than once.

In fact, just last week I had a 20% off coupon and handed it to the CSR ... who scanned it and then handed it back to me "in case you come in again before it expires."

"Well," I replied, "there is another title I have my eye on!"

"Oh, go get it," the CSR responded, "and I'll just ring it up on this same receipt."

And that's what happened. This is the same store at which the employees chipped in and paid for my membership renewal as a surprise birthday present. I love my B&N.

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by Vinyl

What is everyones take on "The Lady Vanishes" criterion Blu? I really like the movie and have it on a Hitchcock multi-dvd set with okay PQ.

I thought it was amazing. I'd only seen a bargain bin VHS release of the film, and had no interest in picking up the CC blu-ray until I met someone who raved about the remastered edition. I picked it up this past summer as a Blind Buy and enjoyed it so much I've already watched it twice. Definitely highly recommended.

[Mansinthe]

Originally Posted by jmclick

And that's what happened. This is the same store at which the employees chipped in and paid for my membership renewal as a surprise birthday present. I love my B&N.

they probably make more money by letting use the coupons more than once. i cant imagine that B&N or Criterion dont make money in these sales with or without multiple coupon use.

[Helikaon]

Originally Posted by jmclick

I thought it was amazing. I'd only seen a bargain bin VHS release of the film, and had no interest in picking up the CC blu-ray until I met someone who raved about the remastered edition. I picked it up this past summer as a Blind Buy and enjoyed it so much I've already watched it twice. Definitely highly recommended.

I agree, a great movie. Even though I knew the storyline it still entertained. Definitely one of Hitchcock's best!

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by bstv69

Hi you all have been wonderful at your suggestions so I was hoping to maybe get some more for this sale. So far my favorite movies have been In the Mood for Love, Vivre sa Vie, Revanche, and Blue & Red (not so much white). As you can see I am a fan of, for the most part, darker nontraditional love stories. Are there any other films in the collection similar to these?
In addition, I was planning on picking up Close-up, Certified Copy, and maybe Naked. Thoughts?

Definitely pick up Close-Up (one of my all-time favorite films) and Certified Copy. Naked is a good movie, as well, and probably the best I've seen from Mike Leigh. It's incredibly dark and riddled with relatable philosophy.

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by mande2013

Anyhow, as far as this whole Studio Canal issue is concerned, I think pissed a lot of people off, constantly bringing it up on forums like Mubi and Criterionforum.org back in the day, since I seemed to have a fetish over the issue, and I did sort of, and it's largely because Contempt was literally my number one film of all time back in 2010/2011, and that I was right around the same time I sort of "discovered the cinema" beyond the level of "movie buff". So I guess bringing up the issue so much back then is a sin I still need to atone for, since the whole SC 'scandal' itself developed into a bit of a canard on those forums. Oh well...

I'm a big fan of Contempt too (my wife walked down the aisle to the main theme). The Studio Canal disc is pretty good, not to mention cheap!

[Scottie]

TCM will be playing Master of the House and La Ciénaga on 11/24.

This is a good opportunity for those who have not seen CTD's film. Also, for those like myself who have never seen the upcoming Argentinian film, this is as great of a time as any.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Definitely pick up Close-Up (one of my all-time favorite films) and Certified Copy. Naked is a good movie, as well, and probably the best I've seen from Mike Leigh. It's incredibly dark and riddled with relatable philosophy.

I agree with Cert. Copy, such an awesome film its more driven by the narrative and the conversations between the characters but if you enjoy that and can appreciate that then you will enjoy a lot, I loved the acting it felt so natural and real - I also loved the conversation they had throughout the film .

It stays with you and leaves you wondering but I won't spoil !

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

I Really enjoyed the 3 films from the Eclipse set, watched them on hulu, the one you haven't seen An Enemy of the People was very good, and as for The Stranger(Ray's last film) i think it is a shame it is released via the Eclipse set, i'd say it is good enough to warrant it's own spine, since i want it on blu

late reply here...

thanks for replying, Pedro! now I have only seen his first film (Pather Panchali), his last (The Stranger), and The Home and the World... so open the flood gates! I've discovered a new great director! nice to know there are several titles out there available to pick up. and of course, we've got Apu coming in 2015.

Pedro: read this about The Stranger if you have a chance. fantastically written film analysis. it'll only take you 10 minutes to read it. such a light film that is thematically as deep as Solaris or 2001. ah see?? now I'm guilty of making that comparison!! good stuff, though.

http://www.letstalkaboutbollywood.co...-22320498.html

[Alex DeLarge]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

late reply here...

thanks for replying, Pedro! now I have only seen his first film (Pather Panchali), his last (The Stranger), and The Home and the World... so open the flood gates! I've discovered a new great director! nice to know there are several titles out there available to pick up. and of course, we've got Apu coming in 2015.

http://www.letstalkaboutbollywood.co...-22320498.html

You are in for a treat! I too "discovered" Satyajit Ray this year though I've been reading about his films for many years, well, since I discovered a love of cinema! I cannot recommend W. Andrew Robinson's book on ray enough as it helped me understand the cultural nuances within the families and relationships Ray examines. My personal favorite is CHARULATA (THE LONELY WIFE) as it's very sad and touching and beautiful. DEVI is another great film and one I'd like to see on blu in the Criterion collection. Read Robinson's book as you watch the films and you will discover a higher level of cinematic enlightenment! I promise.

[mande2013]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

I'm a big fan of Contempt too (my wife walked down the aisle to the main theme). The Studio Canal disc is pretty good, not to mention cheap!

By the way, I've seen Contempt twice in the theater and both times, it would switch to the all-English audio track for a few minutes during the projection room scene. Has anybody else experienced this? At one of the screenings, there was a Q&A afterwards, and I asked about this. They just said, "Oh, c'est Godard." Really, is it Godard? If it had been, I'm sure it would have been incorporated into the Criterion transfer.

[Alex DeLarge]

I just returned from my local B&N with my sale loot:

THE SHOOTING/RIDE IN THE WHIRLWIND
THE VANISHING
LA JETEE/SANS SOLEIL (has been on my list forever!)
VENGEANCE IS MINE (upgraded my MoC blu)
SUNDAYS AND CYBELE (discovered after watching TT's RAPTURE)
MACBETH (double feature with the French import of Welle's version)
SALO (finally upgraded my BFI blu. Actually a nice double feature with Cronenberg's SHIVERS from Arrow UK)
ERASERHEAD (one of only two films my wife could not complete. The other was Wook's OLDBOY)
NASHVILLE

Now I need to take a vacation week to catch up:-)