The Criterion Collection

[adamhopelies]

I never have any luck with the B&N sale. I made an order on November 29th, and it still hadn't shipped by this afternoon so I decided to cancel it. I've spoken to two online customer service agents and they've both agreed to cancel it, but it's still showing up in my account as "processing". I paid by paypal, which is the most annoying aspect as the payment is held in a kind of limbo.

[tisdivine]

Originally Posted by movieben1138

I ordered the David Lean directs Noel Coward box with the coupon and even that came in that ridiculous crushed cardboard junk they ship single discs in. For those, I usually don't have a problem, but this box set definitely came with some corners dinged up. I'm going to take it to a local store tomorrow or the next day and see if I can't exchange it for a nicer copy. This was disappointingly careless on their part.

-Ben

I ordered the same boxset and Im doing the same it arrived crushed and bent up. Was not impressed. My other arrived alright but that box set was hilariously bad.

[ShellOilJunior]

Coming Soon: 4th Annual Year-end Criterion Poll

I'll draft the questions soon.

Does anyone mind if the voting is done by PM? I prefer not to use Google for obvious reasons and PM ensures there are no bogus votes.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Coming Soon: 4th Annual Year-end Criterion Poll

I'll draft the questions soon.

Does anyone mind if the voting is done by PM? I prefer not to use Google for obvious reasons and PM ensures there are no bogus votes.

Works for me.

Crap, was I supposed to PM that?

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by KrugerIndustrial

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

Neat. Thanks!

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

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.

That's the way I approached it. I had read the posts about how frustrating it was to follow/understand so I just went into it without thinking too hard. Worked perfectly.

[CarsonDyle]

Originally Posted by iScottie

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.

Children of Paradise, Children of Paradise, Children of Paradise. (Watch ASAP)

[CHEЯNOБLY!]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

I never have any luck with the B&N sale. I made an order on November 29th, and it still hadn't shipped by this afternoon so I decided to cancel it. I've spoken to two online customer service agents and they've both agreed to cancel it, but it's still showing up in my account as "processing". I paid by paypal, which is the most annoying aspect as the payment is held in a kind of limbo.

I placed a B&N order on cyber Monday and just received it today. They never sent me a shipping notice and I wasn't expecting it. Maybe it has to do with the craziness of BF and CM orders. Everything was smashed by the way...I'm done with online ordering of fragile materials.

Originally Posted by Polaroid

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.

Originally Posted by hoytereden

That's the way I approached it. I had read the posts about how frustrating it was to follow/understand so I just went into it without thinking too hard. Worked perfectly.

I never had trouble following the structure or plot of the film.
I was frustrated by Marketa herself, but that is not to say its a fault in the film.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by nondiatonic

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.

I respect everything you wrote. Maybe I need to re-watch this film again. I agree that Paul Giamatti's scene at the end was the best in the story/film.

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.

I'm a big fan of Cronenberg too, its just that the pacing of Cosmopolis was off. I watched the 2 hour documentary that came with the DVD and saw that Cronenberg wrote the script in 6 days and spent only 3 days making specific edits (which I do not believe). He also shot the film chronologically, mainly because of the psychological ambiguity behind the characters. It was Samantha Morton's most difficult role and film she ever worked on in her life according to her words in the documentary. The dialogue is so strange in this film too... its not "naturalistic" dialogue.. its been taken from the pages of the novel. It's a bizarre film to me...one I'll probably see again one day.

[jw007]

Not Criterion-related in any way but I finally watched Enter the Void last night. At first I liked it, but eventually I found myself starting to detest this film. By the end, I liked the film again, but Gaspar Noe's Kubrickian use of titles and editing at times made it feel disingenuous to me. This is a torturous film to watch, especially the 2 hour and 40 minute directors cut which I chose to watch for a first-time viewing. I have massive mixed feelings on this one. Maybe its just too far out for me to appreciate. I've read its an arthouse exploitation film. At this point, I can say its partly mind-blowing but also an unnecessary film despite the fact that it is amazingly ambitious to make a movie about what happens after death prior to being born again. It's totally a crazy movie. Still trying to digest this.

[StLouisRibs]

Originally Posted by CHEЯNOБLY!

I placed a B&N order on cyber Monday and just received it today. They never sent me a shipping notice and I wasn't expecting it. Maybe it has to do with the craziness of BF and CM orders. Everything was smashed by the way...I'm done with online ordering of fragile materials.

I placed an order Sunday evening for the David Lean set, got almost immediate notice it was preparing for shipment, and official confirmation of its being sent on Tuesday morning.

It arrived a bit damaged, but far better than any of the copies at any local BNs I've been to (something about this release in particular seems to always end up rotten). Not regretting it given the price I paid at all.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by jw007

Not Criterion-related in any way but I finally watched Enter the Void last night. At first I liked it, but eventually I found myself starting to detest this film. By the end, I liked the film again, but Gaspar Noe's Kubrickian use of titles and editing at times made it feel disingenuous to me. This is a torturous film to watch, especially the 2 hour and 40 minute directors cut which I chose to watch for a first-time viewing. I have massive mixed feelings on this one. Maybe its just too far out for me to appreciate. I've read its an arthouse exploitation film. At this point, I can say its partly mind-blowing but also an unnecessary film despite the fact that it is amazingly ambitious to make a movie about what happens after death prior to being born again. It's totally a crazy movie. Still trying to digest this.

I've watched this film more times than I can count and for me I want more!

I love love love love love Paz de la Huerta in this, she was PERFECT, her emotions and she didn't hold back.

I dunno what to say really for me its an incredible piece of cinema and I can't get it off my mind, I watch when I can and even if I don't have time I will watch certain scenes or even the trailer!

Not sure what you mean by the titles? Its very similar to Irreversible, but also very different. I loved the explosion of typography and colour and being the first thing you see really makes you brain pop and prepare you for the film.

I find it such a sad and tragic film, especially the relationship between the brother and the sister - and the isolation, being stuck in a country that speaks a different language! (He kept it english so you didn't get distracted form the visuals).

I really have nothing bad to say about this film, I can see why it is dislike by others or hard for people to watch - I am just so used to dark/depressing things so its not as bad I suppose?

Maybe you should give it a second viewing at some point to take it all in and it will definitely help you decide if you like it or not - But you can't fault the technical side of the film, the film making in this is phonemail, the camera work, the effects - the acting is just incredible.

[CHEЯNOБLY!]

Originally Posted by StLouisRibs

I placed an order Sunday evening for the David Lean set, got almost immediate notice it was preparing for shipment, and official confirmation of its being sent on Tuesday morning.

It arrived a bit damaged, but far better than any of the copies at any local BNs I've been to (something about this release in particular seems to always end up rotten). Not regretting it given the price I paid at all.

I received an order confirmation and a preparing for shipment email, but I never received a email telling me the order was shipped...but it showed up.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by 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?

About 250 or so Blu-ray purchases, that's what happened. Including a few choice Criterions.

The funny thing is that, when the end-of-the-year polls come through, I always forget about the titles that were released early in the year (Riot in Cell Block 11, etc.), because there have been so many great new announcements since then.

The last New Year's cartoon does seem like yesterday, though.

[yoyokid8]

Hey guys. Should I pick up the Jacques Tati set? It sounds awesome. I'm looking for a christmas present to ask for. Can someone confirm if these films are good?

[willtopower]

What are the chances the titles Haxan and Vampyr will receive a blu ray release in the near future? I'd love to pick these up, but wondering if it'd be better to wait.

[soarinsteven]

I watched In Realm of the Senses for the first time last night, and I thought Nymphomaniac and Shortbus were graphic!

I thought it was pretty good, and better than Nymphomaniac though both have very different tones and styles. Kind of amazing this was made in 1976, and I will admit I really know nothing about the production and initial release of the film, and how it was even able to get made! I love it though that the film is about sexual obsession, and filmmakers go all in. Deciding to show it in great detail (including some kinky sex acts most movies wouldn't even suggest) instead of tip-toeing around it, and having to do strategic blocking and what not is admirable.

I Netflixed the blu-ray, and my god, the transfer on this is immaculate. Probably won't be adding this to my wishlist, but I'm glad I watched it once.

[Ausjdm]

Originally Posted by jw007

Not Criterion-related in any way but I finally watched Enter the Void last night. At first I liked it, but eventually I found myself starting to detest this film. By the end, I liked the film again, but Gaspar Noe's Kubrickian use of titles and editing at times made it feel disingenuous to me. This is a torturous film to watch, especially the 2 hour and 40 minute directors cut which I chose to watch for a first-time viewing. I have massive mixed feelings on this one. Maybe its just too far out for me to appreciate. I've read its an arthouse exploitation film. At this point, I can say its partly mind-blowing but also an unnecessary film despite the fact that it is amazingly ambitious to make a movie about what happens after death prior to being born again. It's totally a crazy movie. Still trying to digest this.

I think enter the void would of been the best 30 min short ever after that I lost interest. And yes Polaroid if Paz de la Huerta wasn't in it, i would of turned off the movie...

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

I've watched this film more times than I can count and for me I want more!

I love love love love love Paz de la Huerta in this, she was PERFECT, her emotions and she didn't hold back.

I dunno what to say really for me its an incredible piece of cinema and I can't get it off my mind, I watch when I can and even if I don't have time I will watch certain scenes or even the trailer!

Not sure what you mean by the titles? Its very similar to Irreversible, but also very different. I loved the explosion of typography and colour and being the first thing you see really makes you brain pop and prepare you for the film.

I find it such a sad and tragic film, especially the relationship between the brother and the sister - and the isolation, being stuck in a country that speaks a different language! (He kept it english so you didn't get distracted form the visuals).

I really have nothing bad to say about this film, I can see why it is dislike by others or hard for people to watch - I am just so used to dark/depressing things so its not as bad I suppose?

Maybe you should give it a second viewing at some point to take it all in and it will definitely help you decide if you like it or not - But you can't fault the technical side of the film, the film making in this is phonemail, the camera work, the effects - the acting is just incredible.

Thanks for your comments. I'll probably watch it again, next time in HD or on blu-ray when I get my hands on it. I can see this as a very polarizing film. Paz de la Huerta was incredibly attractive I agree. Like Ausjdm said also, the first 30 minutes were where it was at, or at least up until

[Show spoiler]the main character dies

. I have to say, it was a pretty brave depiction of what death might

[Show spoiler]be like, and making a movie where the main character is basically a disembodied spirit is pretty amazing

. And sure, the CGI and effects work facilitate such a "vehicle" as the main theme, but is it truly a profound movie? That depends of course on context. For a visually driven film, it hits the mark, but narratively, its weak I hate to say. I'll watch it again though.

[jmclick]

Just a friendly heads up to Criterion fans in the United States. If you've ever debated about whether or not to add Make Way for Tomorrow to your collections, you'll have the opportunity to "pre-screen" it on TCM twice this month. It's showing on Monday, December 8 at 7:15 AM CT and again on Monday, December 15 at 5:15 PM CT. Enjoy!