The Criterion Collection

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by demonknight

In fact, the BBS set was a great buy for me, seeing as it was mostly a blind buy. The only one I wasn't crazy about, having not seen A Safe Place or not finished King of Marvin Gardens, was Last Picture Show.

And just to show how tastes differ, were I to purchase the set, it would be only to upgrade my DVD copy of The Last Picture Show, which has a bit of a special and very personal appeal to me.

Archer City, Texas, where the movie was actually shot, became a favorite destination of mine in the late 1980's and early 1990's. Larry McMurtry, who wrote the novel on which the film was based (and who would later win an Oscar for co-writing the adapted screenplay for Brokeback Mountain) later returned to the town and opened up a complex of rare and used bookstores. There were four storefronts scattered around the town square, with the cash register located in Building One, which also housed children's books, adult mysteries, and westerns, among other genres. Across the street were biographies, fiction, plays, and the rare book room (which was supposed to be locked up at all times, but was always open and unattended when I went in ... and oh, my goodness, what treasures it housed!). Down the street was Building Three, which I rarely browsed, and on the other side of the courthouse was Building Four, which housed the film books and all the unshelved books.

The whole place operated on the honor system ... you could shop all day if you wanted to, but when you were finished, you were expected to return to Building One and pay for your goodies. All the employees were very friendly, except for the caretaker, who was always quiet and shy, almost circumspect; he would push his broom around and rarely lift his head up. I think it was my third or fourth trip to Archer City before I noticed another bookbuyer approach him and ask in hushed tones, "Mr. McMurtry, would you please sign this for me?"

Anyway, I had loved the film when I first saw it in the early 1980's, and after visiting the location and immersing myself in the atmosphere, I began to appreciate it on an even higher level. Today, I wish Criterion was making The Last Picture Show available as a single disc release, instead of Five Easy Pieces. But maybe that will happen in time.

[JJJ225]

Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces, and The Last Picture show are masterpieces, and make the BBS Set well worth the purchase.

[Spire]

Been a while since I've perused the Criterion thread, any mentions/hints of more Harold Lloyd in the future?

[oildude]

Originally Posted by jmclick

And just to show how tastes differ, were I to purchase the set, it would be only to upgrade my DVD copy of The Last Picture Show, which has a bit of a special and very personal appeal to me.

Archer City, Texas, where the movie was actually shot, became a favorite destination of mine in the late 1980's and early 1990's. Larry McMurtry, who wrote the novel on which the film was based (and who would later win an Oscar for co-writing the adapted screenplay for Brokeback Mountain) later returned to the town and opened up a complex of rare and used bookstores. There were four storefronts scattered around the town square, with the cash register located in Building One, which also housed children's books, adult mysteries, and westerns, among other genres. Across the street were biographies, fiction, plays, and the rare book room (which was supposed to be locked up at all times, but was always open and unattended when I went in ... and oh, my goodness, what treasures it housed!). Down the street was Building Three, which I rarely browsed, and on the other side of the courthouse was Building Four, which housed the film books and all the unshelved books.

The whole place operated on the honor system ... you could shop all day if you wanted to, but when you were finished, you were expected to return to Building One and pay for your goodies. All the employees were very friendly, except for the caretaker, who was always quiet and shy, almost circumspect; he would push his broom around and rarely lift his head up. I think it was my third or fourth trip to Archer City before I noticed another bookbuyer approach him and ask in hushed tones, "Mr. McMurtry, would you please sign this for me?"

Anyway, I had loved the film when I first saw it in the early 1980's, and after visiting the location and immersing myself in the atmosphere, I began to appreciate it on an even higher level. Today, I wish Criterion was making The Last Picture Show available as a single disc release, instead of Five Easy Pieces. But maybe that will happen in time.

My family roots are from Wichita Falls-Archer City-Burkburnett area. The relatives who lived in Archer City moved to Wichita Falls in the mid-1980s, so I haven't been to Archer City in many years. I have so many fond childhood memories of North Texas from summers spent with my grandparents when we were back in the States (most of my kid years were spent in Europe where my father was stationed in the military for extended periods). Later, as a teenager, Larry McMurtry became a presence in my reading life for a time; much of what he writes about the region felt very much a part of me. I keep thinking about revisiting him again. The irony is that everyone was proud of McMurtry for being a famous writer from the area, but The Last Picture Show was not thought of fondly by many of my relatives. The subject matter of the book and film was not to their taste. It had something of a scandalous reputation locally in the 1970s and 80s.

[TraverseTown]

Originally Posted by Spire

Been a while since I've perused the Criterion thread, any mentions/hints of more Harold Lloyd in the future?

Speedy seems like it will come this year.

[MikeZ.]

Wish you could search by thread here, otherwise I have to ask questions like...when is the next Criterion 50% off sale, and who will be throwing it ?

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by MikeZ.

Wish you could search by thread here, otherwise I have to ask questions like...when is the next Criterion 50% off sale, and who will be throwing it ?

Criterion has 50%-off flash sales (they last 24 hours) twice a year, in Feb/Mar and Sep/Oct.

Barnes & Noble has 50%-off Criterion sales twice a year, in July and November, each lasting about 3 weeks. B&N has various other sales going on through the year (there's hardly ever a stretch of time when they aren't having some sort of special deal), with varying discounts, and that may or may not include Criterions.

Other retailers and etailers may have random Criterion sales, but I don't think they do them on any kind of regular schedule.

[demonknight]

Originally Posted by oildude

My family roots are from Wichita Falls-Archer City-Burkburnett area. The relatives who lived in Archer City moved to Wichita Falls in the mid-1980s, so I haven't been to Archer City in many years. I have so many fond childhood memories of North Texas from summers spent with my grandparents when we were back in the States (most of my kid years were spent in Europe where my father was stationed in the military for extended periods). Later, as a teenager, Larry McMurtry became a presence in my reading life for a time; much of what he writes about the region felt very much a part of me. I keep thinking about revisiting him again. The irony is that everyone was proud of McMurtry for being a famous person from the area, but The Last Picture Show was not thought of fondly by many of my relatives. The subject matter of the book and film was not to their taste. It had something of a scandalous reputation locally in the 1970s and 80s.

As Wichita falls, so falls Wichita Falls.

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by Yami

If you like The Story of Film, I encourage you to see Cousins' film A Story of Children and Film - a wonderful feature length essay.

Similarly, if you like either I'd recommend seeking out the book that inspired the documentaries, A Story Of Film.

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by Spire

Been a while since I've perused the Criterion thread, any mentions/hints of more Harold Lloyd in the future?

There's speculation that a box-set of his sound films is forthcoming too.

[ChromeJob]

Originally Posted by Vendetta-akk

Just read the Friends of Eddie Coyle review. I've never seen this, but I loved gangster and heist films. I should probably check this out!

I just watched it (DVD), great post-noir crime drama. Better than average. Can't believe I'd never seen it.

[tisdivine]

Just finished watching the Tokyo Story blu and I don't think I need to state how amazing the actual movie is but its the supplements that are killer.

I've Lived, But... a two hour documentary on Ozu's life with interviews from not only people he worked with but also his school friends and his family (brothers and sister) that is priceless. Information on Ozu seems to be fairly scarce so it was quite exciting getting first hand accounts from his birth, all through his career, and from the people that were with him at the time of his death.

The story of the final picture taken of Ozu in the hospital, by his friend who felt he needed to make up a story that he didn't have any pictures of his son and Ozu together, when in reality he just wanted a picture of Ozu to remember him by was so touching. I actually paused it on the picture for a minute because Ozu's face seemed so different with his white beard grown in. Yet he managed to look so peaceful which seems impossible with all the pain he was in. He still had the bandages from the cancer surgery around his throat.

Plus the 45 min interview with Chishu Ryu and his walk through tour of Shochiku's now long gone Ofuna Studio were amazing. Omg I would have bought a blu just of these two pieces.

I always enjoy the supplements but rarely do I get this excited and enthralled with them. Criterion gets 1000000 high fives for bringing me all this.

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by oildude

My family roots are from Wichita Falls-Archer City-Burkburnett area. The relatives who lived in Archer City moved to Wichita Falls in the mid-1980s, so I haven't been to Archer City in many years. I have so many fond childhood memories of North Texas from summers spent with my grandparents when we were back in the States (most of my kid years were spent in Europe where my father was stationed in the military for extended periods). Later, as a teenager, Larry McMurtry became a presence in my reading life for a time; much of what he writes about the region felt very much a part of me. I keep thinking about revisiting him again. The irony is that everyone was proud of McMurtry for being a famous writer from the area, but The Last Picture Show was not thought of fondly by many of my relatives. The subject matter of the book and film was not to their taste. It had something of a scandalous reputation locally in the 1970s and 80s.

Thank you for sharing that. My trips to Archer City were for pleasure; in addition to films, I also collect rare books. But at one point, my job required me to travel extensively through North Texas and Oklahoma, and I'm very familiar with all the small towns in the area you mentioned. It was always particularly beautiful in the spring, and I enjoyed my trips immensely.

I remember the reaction to The Last Picture Show when the film came out. My father wanted to see it, but my mother adamantly refused to go with him, based on what she had read about it, so (to my knowledge) he didn't see it either. I, of course, was too young, but after Cloris Leachman and Ben Johnson won Oscars for their performances, I vowed to see it the first chance I got. I did, and it was sweet, tasting that heretofore forbidden fruit!

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by jmclick

I remember the reaction to The Last Picture Show when the film came out. My parents father wanted to see it, but my mother adamantly refused to go with him, based on what she had read about it, so (to my knowledge) he didn't see it either. I, of course, was too young, but after Cloris Leachman and Ben Johnson won Oscars for their performances, I vowed to see it the first chance I got. I did, and it was sweet, tasting that heretofore forbidden fruit!

I had a similar (but not quite the same) experience. My parents had gone to see The Graduate back when it was released. I was 14 at the time. When they came home, I asked how it was. My mother said, "It's definitely for grown-ups". I don't recall how long after that I finally got a chance to see it, but I remember that when I did, I was somewhat disappointed in how tame it seemed. Not that I was expecting pornography, but seriously, I expected something a bit racier.

[Ausjdm]

Any word on the re-release for Blue Is the Warmest Colour? I've been holding off over a year to watch it when the special edition comes out but I've almost lost hope and just will give in and just watch on Netflix. Anything??

[bwdowiak]

I just plunged head first into region-free viewing. I bought this.....

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-F...lu-ray/114560/

[Show spoiler]

for $67.65 USD. pretty amazing for a 8 title set, I think. some of these titles will never see the light of day in the U.S. with the few Twilight Time releases, I should be entertained long enough 'til Criterion upgrades the Antoine Doinel box set.

thanks to Octagon for posting about the Seiki player at Sears. I lost out on the $50 deal, but that coupon for $10 is good until early May. I'll wait to see if the price drops.. right now I can get it for like $74. so I'll be region free and have an 8 disc set for the approximate going price of just one of some of the OOP titles.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I just plunged head first into region-free viewing. I bought this.....

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-F...lu-ray/114560/

[Show spoiler]

I'd be interested to find out your thoughts on The Soft Skin.

I quickly decided that it was my favorite Francois Truffaut movie yet when I saw it two weeks ago, but it has not received a lot of love in this thread.

Sadly, it's one of those movies about which I cannot write in detail without spoiling its riches for everyone else.

[Roninblues]

Originally Posted by jmclick

Thank you for sharing that. My trips to Archer City were for pleasure; in addition to films, I also collect rare books. But at one point, my job required me to travel extensively through North Texas and Oklahoma, and I'm very familiar with all the small towns in the area you mentioned. It was always particularly beautiful in the spring, and I enjoyed my trips immensely.

I remember the reaction to The Last Picture Show when the film came out. My parents father wanted to see it, but my mother adamantly refused to go with him, based on what she had read about it, so (to my knowledge) he didn't see it either. I, of course, was too young, but after Cloris Leachman and Ben Johnson won Oscars for their performances, I vowed to see it the first chance I got. I did, and it was sweet, tasting that heretofore forbidden fruit!

But being married to a brother was no problem?

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I just plunged head first into region-free viewing. I bought this.....

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-F...lu-ray/114560/

[Show spoiler]

for $67.65 USD. pretty amazing for a 8 title set, I think. some of these titles will never see the light of day in the U.S. with the few Twilight Time releases, I should be entertained long enough 'til Criterion upgrades the Antoine Doinel box set.

I picked up a couple of the discs as and when they were released. I actually just watched A Gorgeous Girl Like Her, which is a really odd, very special film. The Soft Skin is probably the best film in the set, so much so that I double-dipped on the Criterion last month, purely for the extras.

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I just plunged head first into region-free viewing. I bought this.....

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-F...lu-ray/114560/

for $67.65 USD. pretty amazing for a 8 title set, I think. some of these titles will never see the light of day in the U.S. with the few Twilight Time releases, I should be entertained long enough 'til Criterion upgrades the Antoine Doinel box set.

I checked the other time they were on sale individually and found that the only one Criterion doesn't have the rights (at least is not on hulu) is A Gorgeous Girl Like Me.

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

thanks to Octagon for posting about the Seiki player at Sears. I lost out on the $50 deal, but that coupon for $10 is good until early May. I'll wait to see if the price drops.. right now I can get it for like $74. so I'll be region free and have an 8 disc set for the approximate going price of just one of some of the OOP titles.

That is a bad investment i got one of the old Seiki model and it just makes me spend more money when Amazon UK or Eureka has sales

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I'd be interested to find out your thoughts on The Soft Skin.

I quickly decided that it was my favorite Francois Truffaut movie yet when I saw it two weeks ago, but it has not received a lot of love in this thread.

Sadly, it's one of those movies about which I cannot write in detail without spoiling its riches for everyone else.

The Soft Skin is a great Truffaut movie, all his early films i have seen have a certain unique quality in that they make you feel the emotions from the characters very clearly without being overly or melodramatic in style, unfortunately i just haven't seen that yet or maybe not as effective on his latter works like The Last Metro and The Woman Next Door, i would love to see Shoot The Pianist next, so here's hope for a Criterion upgrade.