The Criterion Collection

[octagon]

Yup, the corrugated mailers were definitely a step backwards. They used to box stuff as well as anybody and better than most.

The good news is if your store has one in stock you should be in and out in five minutes. I've always had very good luck replacing or returning shipments instore.

The even better news is you bought a great set

[CHEЯNOБLY!]

Are we talking B&N?

I don't think I have ever ordered a Criterion from them online. I just go to the store and hand pick...Hello, OCD here.

I did recently order a $75 De Kooning book from them. It came basically in a folded piece of cardboard and was completely smashed. I said to myself "Are you serious with this? Return."

Edit: Actually, I think I might have ordered Marketa Lazarova from them online.

[BohemianGraham]

I've never had issues with smashed up Criterions from B&N through the mail. I have a thin knife line in Night of the Hunter (dull knife, so the cover is still black, but it's a line down the centre), but that was from my mother opening my package for me at my request. Nothing too tragic as you can only see it if you hold the digipack right up to your face. However, there was a smashed up copy of Harakiri in Portsmouth in fall of 2011, so I refused to buy it from them because it was their only copy, and went to Augusta instead.

Amazon, in comparison, is less careful. I have a ripped plastic sleeve on The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp. Annoying, but it would have been really stupid to do a return on. I'm honestly more concerned about the insides, i.e. the discs, than I am about the cases.

[grunt149]

Off topic sorry for that, but I hope one day Criterion will release Festen on blu

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

I've never had issues with smashed up Criterions from B&N through the mail. I have a thin knife line in Night of the Hunter (dull knife, so the cover is still black, but it's a line down the centre), but that was from my mother opening my package for me at my request. Nothing too tragic as you can only see it if you hold the digipack right up to your face. However, there was a smashed up copy of Harakiri in Portsmouth in fall of 2011, so I refused to buy it from them because it was their only copy, and went to Augusta instead.

Amazon, in comparison, is less careful. I have a ripped plastic sleeve on The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp. Annoying, but it would have been really stupid to do a return on. I'm honestly more concerned about the insides, i.e. the discs, than I am about the cases.

I've gotten cracked cases from everyone-B&N, Amazon, even Criterion themselves. I don't know if it's bad luck or if their plastic cases are more susceptible to cracking. The digipaks, on the other hand, I've been extremely lucky with; only very minor stuff like a rounded corner or so.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

I've gotten cracked cases from everyone-B&N, Amazon, even Criterion themselves. I don't know if it's bad luck or if their plastic cases are more susceptible to cracking. The digipaks, on the other hand, I've been extremely lucky with; only very minor stuff like a rounded corner or so.

Same situation, I've ha more plastic cases cracked or damaged than digipaks lol

[I KEEL YOU]

Originally Posted by grunt149

Off topic sorry for that, but I hope one day Criterion will release Festen on blu

It was shot on SD video, it would be pointless to release it. It would have to be because so the bonus material could get shown in HD, and the bonus material would be hilariously in better quality than the main feature.

I think that I saw it once in its native resolution/quality on Danish HDTV, and it looks about as you would expect something shot on a handheld home video camera from the latter half of the 90s. In fact, it might look better on DVD because a blu ray release would just emphasize all the digital video related anomalies it has.

I think there was a Criterion blu ray release where they did something to "clean up" SD video elements, but I don't know how much it helps.

In that case, I sure would like a release of Hoop Dreams. There must be dozens of hours of bonus material for that movie.

[nondiatonic]

Originally Posted by jw007

I watched David Cronenberg's Cosmopolis last night from a DVD that I borrowed from the library. What a weird film. I never read Delillo's novel so I still am trying to figure out this story but compared to Cronenberg's other movies, I unfortunately found this one to be one of his weakest films (for those out there who think its a classic, I challenge you to prove this to me).

I'm guessing you're calling me out since I stated that I liked the film when you previously asked about it.

I don't think there's any need for me to prove anything about the film. If you don't like it, you don't like it.

Do I think it is a classic? No. But, the dialogue really stood out upon the second viewing. And, I love everything about the scene with Paul Giamatti. I admit I don't understand everything he was going for, but

[Show spoiler]I got a lot out of the distance that money and technology put between people. In every conversation, no one is paying attention to what the other party is saying. Each person is simply talking without engaging. Also, Packer cannot have any true relationships now that he is filthy rich. All interactions must involve money, even if not directly (like family members coming out of the woodwork when someone wins the lottery). This distance and the hollowness of his life push Packer to start taking unnecessary risks in a subconscious, self destructive manner. As the results of his gambling start to turn for the worst, his self destructive behavior turns conscience until he purposely put himself in harms way at the hands of someone whose life he has indirectly helped to disrupt.

Do I think it is his weakest films? Far from it (That honor goes to Rabid, followed by Scanners and The Brood).

Edit:

[Show spoiler]While none of the basic concepts addressed are new or very original, the way they are handled in such a cold and sterile environment with wooden faces and a familiar yet uncomfortably foreign city backdrop is what sets it apart. It also has this mystique of not giving out all it has to say easily. It might just be a facade, but I feel like repeat viewings will make the concepts more crystalline as much of what is quickly spit out in the fast moving dialogue is quite amorphous.

[TJS_Blu]

Four weeks from today, about this time, we'll be hitting refresh on the CC home page to get the New Year's cartoon. What the hell happened to 2014?

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by KrugerIndustrial

All Kaurismäki films are available on region free and English-friendly Blu-ray's in Finland. Currently on sale for €9.95 or $12.25 each.

Are they on sale somewhere in particular?

[KrugerIndustrial]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

Are they on sale somewhere in particular?

CDON.fi (no international shipping) but you can also purchase them from Recordshopx.com for €10.95 or $13.50 each.

[Vinyl]

Okay, finally went through and checked off if I watched the movies in my collection. Not surprisingly, the most unwatched movies are from Criterion. Now if I just had some time to watch them with my viewing partner. Anyone else in the same boat as me?

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by jw007

I watched David Cronenberg's Cosmopolis last night from a DVD that I borrowed from the library. What a weird film. I never read Delillo's novel so I still am trying to figure out this story but compared to Cronenberg's other movies, I unfortunately found this one to be one of his weakest films (for those out there who think its a classic, I challenge you to prove this to me).

Ironically, it's my favorite film by him. Still, I couldn't tell you a thing about it haha.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Vinyl

Okay, finally went through and checked off if I watched the movies in my collection. Not surprisingly, the most unwatched movies are from Criterion. Now if I just had some time to watch them with my viewing partner. Anyone else in the same boat as me?

Sure am.

I still have to watch Children of Paradise, David Lean Directs Noel Coward, Kagemusha, Les Blank: Always for Pleasure, Marketa Lazarova, The Organizer, Shoah, World on a Wire, and Zatoichi.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Ironically, it's my favorite film by him. Still, I couldn't tell you a thing about it haha.

Have you seen Maps to the Stars yet? I really loved it, only flaw for me was some bad CGI lol... but the rest of film made up for that.

Watch Marketa Lazarova when you have time and patiences and don't try understand it first time, just sit back and enjoy the incredible piece of cinema it has PLENTY of rewatch value in my opinion.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Have you seen Maps to the Stars yet? I really loved it, only flaw for me was some bad CGI lol... but the rest of film made up for that.

Watch Marketa Lazarova when you have time and patiences and don't try understand it first time, just sit back and enjoy the incredible piece of cinema it has PLENTY of rewatch value in my opinion.

I have not seen it yet as it is playing nowhere near me.

Regarding Marketa Lazarova, I started watching it a few nights ago but I ended up turning it off. I liked what I saw, but the crazy narrative was throwing me off a bit that night.

[Rich Pure Doom]

Originally Posted by jw007

I watched David Cronenberg's Cosmopolis last night from a DVD that I borrowed from the library. What a weird film. I never read Delillo's novel so I still am trying to figure out this story but compared to Cronenberg's other movies, I unfortunately found this one to be one of his weakest films (for those out there who think its a classic, I challenge you to prove this to me).

I love Cosmopolis but I'm a huge Cronenberg fan and love most of his output with the exception of Scanners and Existenz. If you didn't like it, you probably can't be convinced, but I love Cronenberg's complete control of tone in his films. They move at the rhythm he WANTS them to move at, and I think the film has a very foreboding and uneasy mood about it. I've watched it a few times now and like it more each time.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by Vinyl

Okay, finally went through and checked off if I watched the movies in my collection. Not surprisingly, the most unwatched movies are from Criterion. Now if I just had some time to watch them with my viewing partner. Anyone else in the same boat as me?

Yep, waiting for B&N stuff, and watching as much as possible in spine order. The Mikado is holding me up. I also have 4 CC Preordered titles.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by Rich Pure Doom

I love Cosmopolis but I'm a huge Cronenberg fan and love most of his output with the exception of Scanners and Existenz. If you didn't like it, you probably can't be convinced, but I love Cronenberg's complete control of tone in his films. They move at the rhythm he WANTS them to move at, and I think the film has a very foreboding and uneasy mood about it. I've watched it a few times now and like it more each time.

Plus it has Samantha Morton in it and she is just mesmerising to watch, in any role, she even made Minority Report worth seeing!

[Rich Pure Doom]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Plus it has Samantha Morton in it and she is just mesmerising to watch, in any role, she even made Minority Report worth seeing!

Minority Report is worth seeing for a lot more than just Samantha Morton. Great film.