The Criterion Collection

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

It is really good, Aaron

It covers just about everything, from the noir films all the way to the American films (Atlantic City). There are some terrific comments from Malle about the scandals, his trip to India, his first impressions of America, etc. You'll like it.

Pro-B

Thanks. Sounds great!

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by kuro_sawa

I feel like this is a load of bullocks and it all boils down to money instead of film. So you're saying that you'll buy a film from criterion for $15 you've never seen because it's going to have extras and the people deciding what to release have taste, but you won't buy a film you've actually seen from a different company because it doesn't have extras and costs $16? And stick with the DVD? Perhaps you would have known the Siegel film otherwise; anyway it seems off to me.

Where did I say anything in my post about "the people deciding what to release [having] taste"?

Yes, I actually buy films I've never seen before, and yes, the extras matter to me. (I think they do to a lot of people. Why else do some new releases include retailer exclusive "bonus material" unless that's intended to be a marketing ploy?) And no, I won't buy a bad transfer of a film I have seen and enjoyed, especially if there's nothing else on the disc to attract my interest.

Look, you're more than welcome to tell me that you don't understand or agree with my reasoning. But don't be a jerk about it, and don't put words in my mouth. End of discussion. Enjoy your day.

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

You missed the part about Kino being sloppy with their transfers at times, thus not being a company to trust. A very important point.

Exactly. Thank you.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

My Dinner with André Blu-ray REVIEW



I have seen this film a number of times during the years, but I don't find it as fascinating as many people are convinced it is. It is different and very bold, but in my opinion it is not one of Louis Malle's best efforts. (Actually, it is Wallace Shawn and Andre Gregory's film). I much prefer Vanya on 42nd Street.

There is a terrific documentary on the Blu-ray, My Dinner with Louis, which covers the French director's entire body of work. It is excellent



Pro-B

Honestly, I don't enjoy this film. I kept thinking as the guy droned on and on and on...."take a bite....take a breath. ....anything, just Shut-Up!" My idea of hell would be sharing an eternal meal with that guy.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by octagon

How many 'Criterion Completists' are there really, though?

Are there large numbers of people who post 'gotta have all of them' month after month after month?

I don't see it.

I don't see it, either. I'd say that once in a while someone might say that they want all of the releases announced in a given month, but I don't think anyone here has ever said that month after month after month.

And there's nothing really wrong with "Criterion completists". I imagine that some might do that because they think it makes them elitists of some sort. But I'd warrant that most people who do it are simply Collectors. Criterion Collectors are no different than people who collect postage stamps, or coins, or dolls, or comic books, or baseball cards, or ceramic plates, or cookbooks.

[pedromvu]

Well at least i got some good news criterion related to alleviate for the announcements, i just checked twitter and saw they were coming so i kept waiting and waiting, and checked twitter from time to time, seems weird they sometimes decide to postpone via Twitter and sometimes Facebook.

But......

My Tie me Up! Tie me Down! Blu ray from amazon.ca actually shipped today, the tracking already updated to in Transit not just label created.

Since i ordered only one and to the US, it wasn't like crazy cheap, but still way cheaper than most of my Criterions: $11.75, it was the only one on my wishlist, probably didn't get cancelled because i didn't ordered a lot of titles, who knows

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

But my posts didn't refer to the quality of the transfers, but the films themselves.
I was referring to blind buys based on a company's name.

But isn't that a good thing? The curatorial experience is a valuable one. It's no different to trusting the perspective of the programmer at my local arthouse cinema, or a writer whose opinion I hold in high regard.

Originally Posted by AaronJ

Yeah, but that brand loyalty and appreciation is built through experience. All my tech devices are Apple. Why? Because I've had great experience with their products, had great experience with the few costumer service needs I've had, like their retail presence, and I'm already heavily engaged in their ecosystem. If I hadn't absolutely loved that fantastic 17" PPC PowerBook I first bought a decade-plus ago, my experience, and thus what I now own, would be very different.

This is eerily similar to my own relationship with Apple. I started using Macs 16 years ago and haven't looked back since. This isn't because I worship at the altar of the mighty Steve Jobs, or any other such nonsense that's often thrown around at Apple fans, but because I've had nothing but great experiences with the company.

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by Brad1963

The real whining and complaining should happen after the announcements are made when we get "Where's....?" and "Nothing for me again this month, Criterion is saving me a lot of money this year" or "I've never heard of these movies".

For some reason these are the complaints that wind me up the most. It's everything I hate about the internet and modern culture summed up in a single attitude.

[CriterionBlues]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

But isn't that a good thing? The curatorial experience is a valuable one. It's no different to trusting the perspective of the programmer at my local arthouse cinema, or a writer whose opinion I hold in high regard.

This.

I'm one of those people who collects everything the label puts out, and I know I'm not the only one. I've seen the majority of the films in the collection and know that they are my vibe. For me at least, Criterion are the most accurate curators for my film tastes. It is rare that I dislike one of their movies, yet I usually watch film with a critical eye.

They put together such great releases and supplements, that watching a Criterion is like getting an education into a particular film and I enjoy engaging with all of them. There are even many instances where I'll give a film another chance when Criterion releases it and my mind will be changed. Furthermore, I rewatch many that I've already seen and will for years to come.

And I love seeing my discs on the shelf. Maybe it's an OCD thing, and maybe part decorative.

[Sifox211]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

The curatorial experience is a valuable one. It's no different to trusting the perspective of the programmer at my local arthouse cinema, or a writer whose opinion I hold in high regard.

Originally Posted by CriterionBlues

I'm one of those people who collects everything the label puts out, and I know I'm not the only one...

I agree. I don't collect everything and have sold titles in the past that I haven't got on with, but I know that even with films I haven't appreciated, the supplements can often be fascinating and sometimes can make me appreciate the film's qualities after the fact.

There's also only so much time, and I know I ignore a lot of other labels (especially in the US) because I just don't have the time to keep up with everything - and my past experience with Criterion and MoC (my main feeds of interesting films) tells me that I can buy with confidence, even (or especially) blind - with some research

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by Sifox211

There's also only so much time, and I know I ignore a lot of other labels (especially in the US) because I just don't have the time to keep up with everything - and my past experience with Criterion and MoC (my main feeds of interesting films) tells me that I can buy with confidence, even (or especially) blind - with some research

I buy everything MoC put out, even if it's a film I've never heard of by a filmmaker I'm not familiar with (tho tbh it's very rare that this is ever really the situation). I can't afford to do that with Criterion, but I'm always keen to seek out the films they release that I've never heard of (Ride The Pink Horse being a great recent example). I like blind-buying, I mean, what's the worst possible outcome? You see a film you don't like very much?

I'm also keen to support MoC because I genuinely believe them to be doing valuable work in a largely thankless market. I'm happy to send £20-£24 a month their way in order to ensure that they keep on doing what they are doing for as long as they can do it, even in the unlikely event that I don't like a particular title (this is in itself rare, I can count on the number of fingers on one hand the number of times I've outright disliked a film they've put out).

[ravenus]

I have a dear friend that collects every Criterion release. Right from the DVD era he religiously upgrades any non-CC movie he has to a Criterion version (regardless of what the improvement in A/V is, and he doesn't watch any supplements), but he will not upgrade an existing Criterion DVD in his collection to the blu-ray version (from CC or any other label) even when there is a massive difference in the presentation, because "that's unnecessary spending". I rib him a bit sometimes in this regard, but y'know what, it's his time and his money, so who am I to tell him how he should be spending those? I'm sure I have my own set of eccentricities which it would annoy me to have continuously pointed out by other people

[Ctzalman]

saw this on reddit this morning. of course, no way to confirm the veracity, but still an exciting proposition.

edit: props to OP, redditor revchu

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by ravenus

I'm sure I have my own set of eccentricities which it would annoy me to have continuously pointed out by other people

None of us here have any eccentricities. It's the rest of the people in the world who are weird.


Someone mentioned Stray Dog, and I'm on board with that one, since it's my second favorite Kurosawa film behind Seven Samurai. An announcement for this film would also fit my film noir requirement.

[filmmusic]

They're probably a bit late on finalizing the artwork for Il Sorpasso. Or something.

http://www.criterionforum.org/forum/...13750&start=75

I don't understand the above post.
Isn't Il Sorpasso already released? (I have it)
Or are they talking about a Bluray only release?

[The Narrator]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

http://www.criterionforum.org/forum/...13750&start=75

I don't understand the above post.
Isn't Il Sorpasso already released? (I have it)
Or are they talking about a Bluray only release?

Il Sorpasso is a recurring joke on CriterionForum after one commenter thought that the newsletter hint for Midnight Cowboy was actually for Il Sorpasso because, to him, it was a drawing of an "ill, sore possum".

(Also, as the guy linked to on Reddit for the info, I can say that I got my info from another poster on CriterionForum who was at the festival, so it's valid.)

[Polaroid]

Happy late Criterion Announcement day

I woke up so moody at Criterion lol

[Spooked]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

None of us here have any eccentricities. It's the rest of the people in the world who are weird.

Ha! True enough.

My favorite Criterion purchases so far have been Seconds and Godzilla. Quite the combo, right? I enjoyed Seconds so much - I thank you again for sharing your thoughts on it awhile back, it's what ultimately made me take the plunge and blind buy it. Any other Criterions in your Top 5 you'd recommend without hesitation?

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by The Narrator

Il Sorpasso is a recurring joke on CriterionForum after one commenter thought that the newsletter hint for Midnight Cowboy was actually for Il Sorpasso because, to him, it was a drawing of an "ill, sore possum".

(Also, as the guy linked to on Reddit for the info, I can say that I got my info from another poster on CriterionForum who was at the festival, so it's valid.)

It was a drawing of an ill sore possum

[ShellOilJunior]