The Criterion Collection

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by Spanish Scott

As a short term lurker and even shorter term poster, I don't really see the problem with occasional discussions on films like Whiplash or Marvel Studios' output.

You're more likely to get a substantive discussion about Whiplash here, along with some tangential ties to Criterion films like Red Shoes, than you are in the dedicated Whiplash thread. One thing I've found to be true more often than not here is that most of the threads discuss every part of the home-video release except the movie itself. Half the time I feel like people are more interested in slip covers or steel cases or OCD-level nitpicking about aspect ratio than the actual content of the film. This thread is, save for digipack discussions, mercifully free from almost all of that.

There's nothing OCD or nitpick about aspect ratio. Slip covers, yes, because their inclusion or non-inclusion doesn't alter the content of the film. Changing OAR does.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Infernal King

I'm disappointed too, since I buy very few Criterions compared to most people here and usually use the Flash Sale to my full advantage, as it gives me points towards that $50 gift certificate. But oh well. I suppose I'll have to wait until the Barnes & Noble sale in July and deal with all their bullshit (it's so much easier just ordering from Criterion).

Why bullshit? If you know what you're doing, Barnes & Noble sales can be the best value around. Over the years, I've learned which coupons I should and can use and which not to. You save more money without question at B&N sales than you do with the Criterion flash sales. Plus you have no minimum for free shipping with B&N if you're a member and if there's stores near you, you can buy it in person for $18 + tax without coupons (with the 10% member discount). With a 15% or 20% coupon you can save a couple of more dollars on top of that. If you buy in 3's like I do, you can use the "$5 off $50 or more" coupon for additional savings. I look forward to July and stocking up on some Criterions I've been eyeing. No problem here.

[themp3000]

Originally Posted by jw007

Why bullshit? If you know what you're doing, Barnes & Noble sales can be the best value around. Over the years, I've learned which coupons I should and can use and which not to. You save more money without question at B&N sales than you do with the Criterion flash sales. Plus you have no minimum for free shipping with B&N if you're a member and if there's stores near you, you can buy it in person for $18 + tax without coupons (with the 10% member discount). With a 15% or 20% coupon you can save a couple of more dollars on top of that. If you buy in 3's like I do, you can use the "$5 off $50 or more" coupon for additional savings. I look forward to July and stocking up on some Criterions I've been eyeing. No problem here.

It must be nice having a B&N who allows coupons on sale items. Mine stopped years ago after people started to abuse the coupons like the $8 off $40, the $5 off $50 and the various percentage coupons. The Criterion selection here has really dwindled down from last sale, encouraging more ordering in store to prohibit coupon abuse (had to order half of what I wanted last time). DVDs haven't shrunk at all though.

That being said, I'll probably take advantage of the $22.99+tax Criterions on Amazon or go for $23.99+$1.99 S/H from Family Video. I have flow from the no flash sale so might as well keep to the plan. I can't afford to overextend myself in July since things are uncertain and I don't know if the money will be there then.

[Polaroid]

Does Criterion actually promise or say they do these sales or are people just relying on past sales?

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Does Criterion actually promise or say they do these sales or are people just relying on past sales?

The latter.

[themp3000]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Does Criterion actually promise or say they do these sales or are people just relying on past sales?

Relying and nothing more. Criterion has been pretty habitual about the sales as past history has shown. They never say or reveal when the flash sale occurs. It'll come when we least expect it because that's part of the "flash" in flash sale.

[Infernal King]

Originally Posted by jw007

Why bullshit? If you know what you're doing, Barnes & Noble sales can be the best value around. Over the years, I've learned which coupons I should and can use and which not to. You save more money without question at B&N sales than you do with the Criterion flash sales. Plus you have no minimum for free shipping with B&N if you're a member and if there's stores near you, you can buy it in person for $18 + tax without coupons (with the 10% member discount). With a 15% or 20% coupon you can save a couple of more dollars on top of that. If you buy in 3's like I do, you can use the "$5 off $50 or more" coupon for additional savings. I look forward to July and stocking up on some Criterions I've been eyeing. No problem here.

It's bullshit because I'm lazy and like I said, I prefer ordering through Criterion, which is much easier and simpler. I know people have managed to get away with paying less than 10 bucks for a Criterion Blu-ray during the B&N sales but I'm not the type of customer who needs to save every penny I can. Just my personal preference.

[Roninblues]

Originally Posted by Infernal King

It's bullshit because I'm lazy and like I said, I prefer ordering through Criterion, which is much easier and simpler. I know people have managed to get away with paying less than 10 bucks for a Criterion Blu-ray during the B&N sales but I'm not the type of customer who needs to save every penny I can. Just my personal preference.

Then order.

[Infernal King]

Originally Posted by Roninblues

Then order.

I'm also not the type of customer who pays 30+ dollars for a movie unless it's out of print or an import. A little middle ground is all I ask.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by themp3000

It must be nice having a B&N who allows coupons on sale items. Mine stopped years ago after people started to abuse the coupons like the $8 off $40, the $5 off $50 and the various percentage coupons. The Criterion selection here has really dwindled down from last sale, encouraging more ordering in store to prohibit coupon abuse (had to order half of what I wanted last time). DVDs haven't shrunk at all though.

That being said, I'll probably take advantage of the $22.99+tax Criterions on Amazon or go for $23.99+$1.99 S/H from Family Video. I have flow from the no flash sale so might as well keep to the plan. I can't afford to overextend myself in July since things are uncertain and I don't know if the money will be there then.

YMMV. (your mileage may vary). That's the key acronym regarding B&N sales. Depending on your location, access to real stores and managers who run them, it all varies. Fortunately, being that I live in a city with a major metropolitan area, we have 3 different B&N stores with vast media departments, stocked full of Criterions during every sale. I think it can be a matter of luck and fortune whether or not you are able to use coupons consistently during every B&N Criterion sale, depending on local store options. Some people who live in the boondocks who don't have access to a store would have to order from their website of course. I guess I'm just "lucky"?

Originally Posted by Infernal King

It's bullshit because I'm lazy and like I said, I prefer ordering through Criterion, which is much easier and simpler. I know people have managed to get away with paying less than 10 bucks for a Criterion Blu-ray during the B&N sales but I'm not the type of customer who needs to save every penny I can. Just my personal preference.

Don't worry... I'm sure Criterion will have another flash sale soon enough. Just because the February sale didn't happen doesn't mean there might not be one in March or later this year (at least before summer begins).

First world problem. Not to get stressed over whatsoever.

[Infernal King]

Originally Posted by jw007

Don't worry... I'm sure Criterion will have another flash sale soon enough. Just because the February sale didn't happen doesn't mean there might not be one in March or later this year (at least before summer begins).

First world problem. Not to get stressed over whatsoever.

I'm not stressed, just surprised. I was absolutely sure they were going to do a flash sale last week and dumbfounded when they didn't.

[Page14]

Originally Posted by jw007

Breaking the Waves is a very dark film. But I consider it Lars Von Trier's finest film as well. I think if you can survive watching the rest of the film, try and revisit it within the next year like I did and you will see just how you'll appreciate it even more. It's an absolutely "beautifully horrifying" film and that is the best way I can describe it. It's as tragic and dark as any film I've seen in my life. Von Trier is one of the darkest filmmakers in general but unlike some of his later work, the story here works so well because of the editing and casting.

You might be right about people having OCD as well where just about every page must have relevant posts related to Criterion. Like I've said before and I'll say it again, this thread is not insecure enough to derail anytime soon. It will always get back on track and continue rolling ahead with Criterion Collection Discussion. No worries.

All of this recent talk of Breaking the Waves has me longing to watch it very soon! It's been sitting on my shelf for way too long (as are many before it and after it).

I'm spoilering this next part as it isn't Criterion-related. :

[Show spoiler]But due to being a member of another Harryhausen/sci-fi group on Facebook, I sort of committed to a "mass viewing" of The Day The Earth Stood Still (1951), starting tonight at 8 eastern time, so that's next in the queue.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by depooter

Do we know for sure if some of the digipacks are being re-released in standard clear criterion cases? I'm interested in Dazed and Confused and Fantastic Mr. Fox...thanks

Well, we know for sure that some of them are -- The Night of the Hunter being an example. But I don't think that Criterion has issued any statement to the effect that they will reissue the digipacks as clear cases. If they do, it'll be most likely on a case by case (no pun intended) basis as a given title's stock depletes and they need to press more. Which means that there's no telling when (let alone if) any given title will be switched from one to the other.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by mdawg1972

Has anybody ever contacted Mulvaney @ Criterion or someone else @ Criterion to see if they are planning a flash sale? Just curious if they give a response because I am overwhelmed with disappointment we did not get a Feb sale.

Wouldn't that just kinda void the entire point of a flash sale, knowing that one's coming?

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

There's nothing OCD or nitpick about aspect ratio. Slip covers, yes, because their inclusion or non-inclusion doesn't alter the content of the film. Changing OAR does.

To a point, yes. There are some 2.39:1 movies that are released in 1.78:1 on Blu-ray (and I tend to refuse watching 2.39:1 films on HBO, because they insist on showing everything in 16x9 "fullscreen"). But some of the A.R. discussions ***** about 1.78 vs. 1.85. The Snowpiercer thread had a fair amount of to and fro about that. While it was clear from some of the comparative screenshots that the US (1.78) release was cropped, it wasn't significant enough to be worth all the sturm und drang.

On the other hand, discussions about which A.R. on Criterion's edition of On the Waterfront is the most aesthetically pleasing, or whether the A.R. of Kino's edition of Marty is a crime against art are certainly discussions worth having.

[Polaroid]

The main film that has bugged me ratio wise is Koyaanisqatsi.

I know the director changed his mind and at time widescreen wasn't an option but I have always loved the original ratio, it showed more of the image and just looked more cinematic, the new ratio cuts a lot of the image off and certain scene are ruined.

[myka22]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Sweet Movie is worse than Salo, or the 120 Days of Sodom - You rarely see anyone discuss that film, which is made for pure shock value haha, its hilarious

I agree that Sweet Movie is probably worse. I am still hoping for a blu-ray upgrade of it though. I have to give credit to Criterion for releasing it. Some of these movies would be nearly impossible to see if it hadn't been for them.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by myka22

I agree that Sweet Movie is probably worse. I am still hoping for a blu-ray upgrade of it though. I have to give credit to Criterion for releasing it. Some of these movies would be nearly impossible to see if it hadn't been for them.

Yes, I would loooooove an upgrade of this - I'm a big fan of transgressive cinema and I love the controversy behind Sweet Movie

I really enjoyed it and would love more films like it added to collection

[fdm]

Originally Posted by jw007

You might be right about people having OCD as well where just about every page must have relevant posts related to Criterion. Like I've said before and I'll say it again, this thread is not insecure enough to derail anytime soon. It will always get back on track and continue rolling ahead with Criterion Collection Discussion. No worries.

I think the motivating factor behind all that was that there are too many unflagged spoilers being thrown out and about. The off topic-ness probably wouldn't be such a deal if it weren't for the corresponding risk of having a movie you haven't seen get spoiled in some way. Include me among those who don't want to know much beyond cast and crew and maybe a brief synopsis when I get around to watching a film... the rest is spoilers.

And no, it is not all that easy to read around the spoliers.

[The Great Owl]

I just finished watching Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, and I was mesmerized.

David Bowie, who brilliantly utilizes skills that he learned working as a mime in the mid-1960s, delivers the best acting role of his that I have seen. The scenes involving a betrayal from his character's early years must have been difficult for Bowie, because his own half-brother suffered from schizophrenia and committed suicide in 1985. Bowie's 1970 song, "All the Madmen", was written for his half-brother, who was an inmate at a mental institution at the time. Bowie's 1993 song, "Jump They Say", is, in part, an attempt to deal with his half-brother's suicide. Since Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence touches on brotherly responsibility, I can imagine that a lot of thoughts must have been going through Bowie's head during the filming of those scenes.

I quickly recognized actor Takeshi Kitano from his wonderfully skewed role in Battle Royale (2000). I did not realize that he was such an expressive actor in his younger years, and his role drives a lot of the film's driving impact.

Ryûichi Sakamoto's score is superb, and I'm smiling at the fact that one of the tracks was co-written by David Sylvian, who modeled a lot of his early career after David Bowie.

Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence seems to have been quite inspired by David Lean's The Bridge on the River Kwai, and I love how the look of this 1983 Nagisa Oshima film resembles that of a Technicolor 1950s movie.

The film is brutal in many scenes, but it's also quite emotionally resonant with its complex explorations of Japanese values of honor conflicting with the notion of the soldiers running a prison camp.

On a twisted lighter note, one pivotal torture sequence reminds me of the story, "Something to Tide You Over", from the 1982 horror anthology movie, Creepshow.