The Criterion Collection

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by CinemaBlu

I pretty much ignore all the other ones. I read who won later but don't watch them. The Oscars is the only one I watch from beginning to end.

This is my first year throwing an actual Oscar party. None of "my friends" were ever interested, but my wife's on the other hand... they are all excited about getting dressed up and coming over to watch the show. So we are decorating, having a red carpet, a contest to see who can guess the most correct categories, and just going to have a great time!

[The Great Owl]

I just finished watching Mario Bava's A Bay of Blood for the first time. I kept wondering where I had seen Leopoldo Trieste until I realized that he also appears in Nicolas Roeg's Don't Look Now as a hotel manager. He's not a particularly distinctive-looking actor, but his mannerisms looked quite familiar to me, since I revisited the Roeg film just yesterday.

Watching the lovely Claudine Auger in the Bava film reminds me once again that I should get around to buying the Pierre Etaix box set, since she appears in Yoyo.

[oildude]

I don't think Criterion has ever had an MSRP increase on their blu-rays since they first went high def with Bottle Rocket in December 2008. That is over six years at the same price.

I would prefer the booklets, but if going to pamphlets allows them to control costs and keep the same price point, then I am okay with that.

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by oildude

I don't think Criterion has ever had an MSRP increase on their blu-rays since they first went high def with Bottle Rocket in December 2008. That is over six years at the same price.

I would prefer the booklets, but if going to pamphlets allows them to control costs and keep the same price point, then I am okay with that.

That sounds like a very rational and reasonable attitude. The only observation I might offer is that overall, blu-ray prices have declined during the past six years, so Criterion's unchanging pricing could be perceived as a de facto increase, at least theoretically.

Let me be the first, however, to admit that I don't have the numbers or the know-how to make a definitive analysis one way or the other. It's all just "food for thought."

[mallomar]

Originally Posted by jmclick

Okay, this is just my personal perspective, but I feel the Criterion label has a certain cachet ... a prestige ... that other labels don't.

[Show spoiler] The company itself has molded my expectations. When I buy a Criterion product, I have been taught to expect: superlative picture and audio quality; a wealth of bonus content on the disc; deluxe packaging with provocative artwork; and a printed booklet that contains an essay and credit information that I can refer to as I'm watching the film. I also expect to pay a comparatively high MSRP; to be offered limited promotions; and for their titles to be treated as specialty, niche products that aren't going to show up in a discount bin at Wal-Mart for $7.88, or on a cardboard display at Best Buy for $4.99, making me feel like a doofus for having paid $20.00 last month for that same title during the Criterion 50% Off Sale.

That's the unspoken "gentleman's agreement" I have with the company. Sure, we both "cheat" a little bit: I have my Barnes & Noble coupons, and they don't always include some of the expected bonus features which are de rigueur within the industry, like theatrical trailers ... but in general, both sides follow the rules. I don't always super-discount everything down as low as I could so they will continue to be profitable for retailers, and on occasion, they will lower the MSRP on a title that is light on bonus features (The Uninvited, I Married a Witch, Ministry of Fear, etc.). You gotta give and take a little in every successful relationship.

What is going to upset the proverbial applecart is a dramatic change in the overall rules of the game, as established by Criterion. I like the booklets, and I'm willing to compromise by accepting a fold out without staples that is the same size as a booklet, and as easy to handle; but I'm not happy about being given a multi-folded road map that is going to show wear and tear the first time I look at it. I prefer the clear plastic cases and will accept a digi-pak if it's absolutely necessary, but don't think that you can go to a standard blu-ray case and keep me happy. I display my Criterion titles separately because they're special to me ... unlike my Olive Films and Kino titles which are mixed in with the rest of my collection, because I'm annoyed by the paucity of extras those companies offer on their discs.

Okay, so that's my two cents worth. Now if someone will be kind enough to help me down ...? Standing on a soapbox always makes me a little dizzy.

[Show spoiler]

That was very very nicely put. I also feel weirdly confused and even slighted by the booklets thing. Kind of like waking up next to a significant other and being like, Who are you? Do I even know you? Not to put too fine a point on it.

But I've been looking at getting a region free player and getting some MOCs. That illusion of a company going to the wall for a particular film, that's what I've been missing since the dual format era and its messy aftermath. Again, I know I'm overreacting, but aren't collectors of every stripe a bit emotional, irrational, and romantic? I mean, let's face it, we don't need to buy these films to watch them. So a certain over-exuberance is part of the contract, as you say. I expect Criterion to iron it all out after their finances settle, but I do hope they understand some of us are dissapointed with recent developments....

[WonderWeasel]

I hit up a Vintage Stock on the other side of the city today, and picked up a used copy of 'City Lights' There's a couple of used Ozu films I need to grab from there, as well. I have now, with the exception of one Vintage Stock location about 40 minutes away, exhausted every potential source of used Criterion blu-rays in the Kansas City metro area. Nooooo!!!!!! I have to start paying retail prices again!!!!!

I also had my first encounter with a defective, "bronzing" Criterion disc in the form of a used copy of 'The Seventh Seal'. I'm glad I checked the discs before I left the store!

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by BrianS

I would love a blu-ray of this, but I think rights are the biggest problem in getting a decent release in the U.S.

With 'Chimes' I'm most interested in the audio. I've seen the film on DVD and 35 mm and each presentation offered poor audio. It was very difficult to discern what the characters were saying.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

With 'Chimes' I'm most interested in the audio. I've seen the film on DVD and 35 mm and each presentation offered poor audio. It was very difficult to discern what the characters were saying.

I wonder how it is on the version I just got? I know there were 2 dvds out there when I was shopping, and this was supposedly the newer one with improved audio.

Re: the booklet vs leaflet thing. Just in case anyone was worried about me, I can let everyone know that I've transitioned from never looking at the booklets to never looking at the leaflets without incident. Crisis averted.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

Re: the booklet vs leaflet thing. Just in case anyone was worried about me, I can let everyone know that I've transitioned from never looking at the booklets to never looking at the leaflets without incident. Crisis averted.

Have you noticed any drop in your literacy?

[Meek12345]

Originally Posted by lordmorpheus72

Thanks, that's all good to hear. Depending on prices, I may upgrade late this year... just to make sure I can still get a plasma in case I go that direction. I really love my Panasonic, I wish they still made them.

Hey lordmorpheus...We have the same TV! My brother has a really nice projector, but he still wants my plasma also. He will be sad to hear that Panasonic is no longer making plasmas. I love mine so much that it would have to blow up for me to get rid of it.

Originally Posted by bstv69

Wow, just watched 'A Citizen Above Suspicion' and thought it was a really cool movie, very Hitchcockian (which I loved). But the main reason I'm posting is about the transfer, Holy S**t! My parents got a 65 inch 4k so I brought a bunch of my Criterions home to see how much of a difference there would be and I was blown away. The amount of detail visible was astonishing, the colors and texture of the film were insane. So if anyone looking for a cool film and an amazing transfer I would definitely recommend this movie.

I'm glad that you enjoyed Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion. It is my favorite release of 2013 next to Zatoichi. It is beautiful on a 1080p plasma, so I can only imagine that seeing it on a 4K tv is mind-blowing.

Originally Posted by WonderWeasel

Olivier was so good in 'Richard III'. He plays an arrogant, narcissistic a**hole almost too well.

I take it 'Titus' is even bloodier than Polanski's 'Macbeth'?

I haven't seen Polanski's Macbeth, but I have heard that it is quite violent. I guess that Titus is probably more violent and gruesome. I think you should give it a try though. I usually avoid violent/gruesome movies, but I made it thru Titus just fine.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Have you noticed any drop in your literacy?

Can someone tell me what this says?

[filmmusic]

I'm sorry, I see here in Stagecoach release, that it says 1 movie, 2 cuts, 149 minutes, but I can't find any information on a long cut!
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Stage...y/9842/#Review

[Andrew13]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

I'm sorry, I see here in Stagecoach release, that it says 1 movie, 2 cuts, 149 minutes, but I can't find any information on a long cut!
https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Stage...y/9842/#Review

The Blu-Ray release only has the single theatrical cut of Stagecoach. I believe the "2 cuts" is referring to the release's inclusion of Bucking Broadway, an early silent film from Ford, as an extra.

[Vinyl]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Watching the lovely Claudine Auger in the Bava film reminds me once again that I should get around to buying the Pierre Etaix box set, since she appears in Yoyo.

You won't be disappointed because Yoyo is a wonderful movie.

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by Meek12345

Hey lordmorpheus...We have the same TV! My brother has a really nice projector, but he still wants my plasma also. He will be sad to hear that Panasonic is no longer making plasmas. I love mine so much that it would have to blow up for me to get rid of it.

Yeah, it's an amazing tv. I actually heard they were discontinuing the plasmas right after they announced it, but had no money to buy one at the time. When I did have the cash, there were only Samsung and LG... now Samsung pulled the plug in June, so only LG is left. If you want a bigger plasma buy it now!

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/n...-one/index.htm

[myka22]

Originally Posted by lordmorpheus72

Yeah, it's an amazing tv. I actually heard they were discontinuing the plasmas right after they announced it, but had no money to buy one at the time. When I did have the cash, there were only Samsung and LG... now Samsung pulled the plug in June, so only LG is left. If you want a bigger plasma buy it now!

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/n...-one/index.htm

This is sad, hadn't realized Samsung also jumped ship. I'm glad I got my Panasonic ST-60 when I did.

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by Meek12345

Hey lordmorpheus
I haven't seen Polanski's Macbeth, but I have heard that it is quite violent. I guess that Titus is probably more violent and gruesome. I think you should give it a try though. I usually avoid violent/gruesome movies, but I made it thru Titus just fine.

I made it through Titus, too, but I have no desire to watch it again. Ever. Polanski's MacBeth is on my wishlist, though.

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by Andrew13

The Blu-Ray release only has the single theatrical cut of Stagecoach. I believe the "2 cuts" is referring to the release's inclusion of Bucking Broadway, an early silent film from Ford, as an extra.

Oh, i see, thanks!

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by belcherman

I made it through Titus, too, but I have no desire to watch it again. Ever.

I think so too.
I don't like modernised Shakespeare.
Except maybe Romeo and Juliet (1996), but still not entirely.

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by myka22

This is sad, hadn't realized Samsung also jumped ship. I'm glad I got my Panasonic ST-60 when I did.

Yeah, I didn't realize it until just recently... I've gotta make a decision quick. I want a bigger tv, but just gotta find the room.