The Criterion Collection

[Vlad Draculi]

God damn B&N and their sales!!!!

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I bought my first Arrow Blu-ray, Spider Baby, last week, and I am hugely impressed with the presentation. That company is pretty much neck-in-neck with Criterion and Masters of Cinema if this particular release is any indication.

It is an indication, and they have had a lot of spectacular releases on the UK side. For my region-free self, they have surpassed CC and MOC in terms of presentation and valuable supplemental content they put on their releases.

[Martin_31]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I paid $118 to have my Breathless poster done and that one was 11 by 17 w/o the frame. I posted a few weeks ago, but since we are talking about it, here it is again.

For a large poster like the Apu poster, it will cost probably around $250... maybe more. For whatever reason, poster framing is expensive here in the U.S.

On a somewhat related note, you can get auto body work done in India for like $20 or so.. same work in the States costs around $700. Eyeglasses, too. Frames and lenses can be had for like $20. Here they will cost you a few hundred.

How you do find these places to get your posters framed? I don't collect posters, but I've been thinking of buying two off of Criterion and a couple off of eBay. I'm just worried that I might buy knockoffs instead of an original poster. I've never used eBay to buy stuff because I'm too worried about the product being a fake. Do you know any legitimate websites that sell film posters?

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by octagon

Yeah, Arrow is absolutely part of this particular conversation.

I also really like their approach to limited editions. You can pay a higher price for a fully tricked out collector's edition but once those are gone you can still buy a disc/booklet only release.

Yeah this is a great move for Arrow - I wanted the Camera Obscura Borowczyk set but its got so expensive, but good thing is I managed to get every film £7 each because they do the standard release. But I do want the book...

Wish Criterion would do the same, I'd love more digipaks with big booklets and stuff, even extra posters thrown in, they could easily do it if they had say 500-1000 limited like Arrow do. Plus people can still wait and get the cheaper standard release.

Originally Posted by WonderWeasel

Damnit Polaroid, I'm trying to save money for the sale, but you're making it hard not to get that print! I guess it wouldn't hurt to see what shipping is...

They have a £40 edition :P But seriously this poster sound incredible (The £60 edition one).

I am fighting so hard not to order it XD

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by ravenus

It is an indication, and they have had a lot of spectacular releases on the UK side. For my region-free self, they have surpassed CC and MOC in terms of presentation and valuable supplemental content they put on their releases.

While I've got plenty of their releases I've never really warmed to Arrow in the same way I have Criterion and MoC. It's largely due to the films, as they only rarely release the kind of thing I'm interested in. They seem to have got pretty expensive too, compared to MoC.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

While I've got plenty of their releases I've never really warmed to Arrow in the same way I have Criterion and MoC. It's largely due to the films, as they only rarely release the kind of thing I'm interested in. They seem to have got pretty expensive too, compared to MoC.

Yeah everyone's different. Arrow do mostly genre movies while Criterion do mostly dramas. I like both, but when it comes to stuff I want to own and watch over and over again it's mostly Arrow style genre pictures.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Yeah everyone's different. Arrow do mostly genre movies while Criterion do mostly dramas. I like both, but when it comes to stuff I want to own and watch over and over again it's mostly Arrow style genre pictures.

When I picture Arrow I see tacky 80's horrors :P (which I'm a sucker for!) and then they have that smaller collection of more serious (not sure thats right word) films.

[Member-275053]

The French Lieutenant's Woman

Has anyone seen it? It is an August release, but I was curious if anyone had seen it previously. I mostly enjoy Streep's performances, especially from her earlier films, like Sophie's Choice, Silkwood, and Kramer vs Kramer.

[Jr7936]

a lot of the time b level horror movies can be a lot more fun then the serious dramas, when you just want to watch a movie and not have to think about every little detail

Originally Posted by Polaroid

When I picture Arrow I see tacky 80's horrors :P (which I'm a sucker for!) and then they have that smaller collection of more serious (not sure thats right word) films.

[Page14]

It seems that quite a few people in this Criterion thread watch TCM from time to time, which is why I'm posting this here.

TCM made the following announcement on Facebook yesterday:

*****
We're streaming! We're happy to announce that we've partnered with Sling to offer classic films on the go, without cable set-up.
Read more at http://blog.sling.com/announcements/...llywood-extra/, and start your seven day trial with Sling at https://www.sling.com/signup/channels?var=b.

*****

For me, TCM has been an excellent source for watching films that are released by Criterion. I haven't looked into the details yet, but at first glance, this looks to be a lot less expensive than cable, if you're only looking for a few "specialized" channels. I've been waiting for news like this for a long time.

As an aside, I'm not sure if these kinds of companies jack the price up once you get through some kind of promotional period or not (like my cable company does). If they do, then I might not be interested.

I don't mean to go too far Off Topic ... just wanted to mainly pass along the news.

EDIT: Here's the link to the Facebook announcement: https://www.facebook.com/tcmtv/photo...type=1&theater

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Jr7936

a lot of the time b level horror movies can be a lot more fun then the serious dramas, when you just want to watch a movie and not have to think about every little detail

My collection of "drive-in" 1970s and 1980s horror flicks is gradually eclipsing my highbrow foreign films from Criterion. Classic-era film noir still reigns supreme with my Blu-ray shelves, but it's probably just a matter of time until that genre is dethroned.

Of course, Criterion is still safe, since Dressed to Kill, Scanners, and Videodrome all rock my face.

[Member-275053]

Originally Posted by Jr7936

a lot of the time b level horror movies can be a lot more fun then the serious dramas, when you just want to watch a movie and not have to think about every little detail

Well, yes, of course. If mindless entertainment is all you seek, then B movie horror is your subgenre.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by Jr7936

a lot of the time b level horror movies can be a lot more fun then the serious dramas, when you just want to watch a movie and not have to think about every little detail

Yeah that why I love them, I have so many films you need to analyse or watch multiple times (I love it but can be tiring times) so it great to stick on one of these films and enjoy it for what it is, last night I had double viewing of Society and The People Under the Stairs, was fun

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

My collection of "drive-in" 1970s and 1980s horror flicks is gradually eclipsing my highbrow foreign films from Criterion. Classic-era film noir still reigns supreme with my Blu-ray shelves, but it's probably just a matter of time until that genre is dethroned.

Of course, Criterion is still safe, since Dressed to Kill, Scanners, and Videodrome all rock my face.

Arrow are releasing Videodrome in a very nice LE packaging, I wonder how it will compare to Criterion's, not really checked the technicals!

http://www.arrowfilms.co.uk/videodrome-limited-edition/

A quick look it does include:

Transfer (1966) & From the Drain (1967), Cronenberg’s previously unavailable short films newly restored by the Toronto International Film Festival [7 & 12 mins] & Camera (2000) Cronenberg’s short film starring Videodrome’s Les Carlson

Stereo (1969) & Crimes of the Future (1970)

I know Stereo is on Scanners and Criterion's Videodrome has Camera, but don't think Criterion have the others mentioned.


Everything it includes:

[Show spoiler]

VIDEODROME – BLU-RAY DISC 1 AND DVD DISC 2:
Restored high-definition digital transfer of the unrated version, approved by director David Cronenberg and cinematographer Mark Irwin
Audio commentary by Tim Lucas, the on-set correspondent for Cinefantastique Magazine and author of Videodrome: Studies in the Horror Film
David Cronenberg and the Cinema of the Extreme – A documentary programme featuring interviews with Cronenberg, George A. Romero and Alex Cox on Cronenberg’s cinema, censorship and the horror genre
Forging the New Flesh – A documentary programme by filmmaker Michael Lennick on Videodrome’s video and prosthetic make up effects
Videoblivion: A brand new interview with cinematographer Mark Irwin
A brand new interview with producer Pierre David
AKA Jack Martin – Dennis Etchison, author of novelizations of Videodrome, Halloween, Halloween II and III and The Fog, discusses Videodrome and his observations of Cronenberg’s script
The complete uncensored Samurai Dreams footage with additional Videodrome broadcasts with optional commentary by Michael Lennick
Helmet Test and Betamax
Camera (2000) Cronenberg’s short film starring Videodrome’s Les Carlson
Fear on Film: A round table discussion from 1982 with Cronenberg, John Carpenter, John Landis and Mick Garris
Promotional featurette with behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with Cronenberg, James Woods, Deborah Harry and Rick Baker
Original theatrical trailers

DAVID CRONENBERG’S EARLY WORKS: BLU-RAY DISC 3 AND DVD DISC 4 [LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE]:
High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentation of four Cronenberg films
Transfer (1966) & From the Drain (1967), Cronenberg’s previously unavailable short films newly restored by the Toronto International Film Festival [7 & 12 mins]
Stereo (1969) & Crimes of the Future (1970): Cronenberg’s early amateur feature films, shot in and around his university campus, prefigure his later work’s concerns with strange institutions (much like Videodrome’s Spectacular Optical) as well as male/female separation (Dead Ringers) and ESP (Scanners). Newly restored from original lab elements [65 & 70 mins]
Transfer the Future – Author and critic Kim Newman discusses Cronenberg’s early works

[Member-275053]

Originally Posted by Page14

It seems that quite a few people in this Criterion thread watch TCM from time to time, which is why I'm posting this here.

TCM made the following announcement on Facebook yesterday:

*****
We're streaming! We're happy to announce that we've partnered with Sling to offer classic films on the go, without cable set-up.
Read more at http://blog.sling.com/announcements/...llywood-extra/, and start your seven day trial with Sling at https://www.sling.com/signup/channels?var=b.

*****

For me, TCM has been an excellent source for watching films that are released by Criterion. I haven't looked into the details yet, but at first glance, this looks to be a lot less expensive than cable, if you're only looking for a few "specialized" channels. I've been waiting for news like this for a long time.

As an aside, I'm not sure if these kinds of companies jack the price up once you get through some kind of promotional period or not (like my cable company does). If they do, then I might not be interested.

I don't mean to go too far Off Topic ... just wanted to mainly pass along the news.

EDIT: Here's the link to the Facebook announcement: https://www.facebook.com/tcmtv/photo...type=1&theater

The TCM streaming service seems interesting. It appears several film studios/networks are resorting to this form of media technology. But, I still believe Hulu Plus to be the definitive source for viewing films from the Criterion Collection.

[Namuhana]

Originally Posted by JWFORD

The French Lieutenant's Woman

Has anyone seen it? It is an August release, but I was curious if anyone had seen it previously. I mostly enjoy Streep's performances, especially from her earlier films, like Sophie's Choice, Silkwood, and Kramer vs Kramer.

I watched it a few weeks ago and I liked it. Streep and Irons are really quite good, but I personally don't have any need to own it.

[Member-275053]

Originally Posted by Namuhana

I watched it a few weeks ago and I liked it. Streep and Irons are really quite good, but I personally don't have any need to own it.

Okay, thank you! I appreciate the input. If you don't mind my asking, where did you watch it? Or, should I say, how?

[Page14]

Originally Posted by JWFORD

The TCM streaming service seems interesting. It appears several film studios/networks are resorting to this form of media technology. But, I still believe Hulu Plus to be the definitive source for viewing films from the Criterion Collection.

Thanks. That's good to know. I've never subscribed to any streaming service before ... very ignorant on the subject. I need to look into it more thoroughly.

[Member-275053]

Originally Posted by Page14

Thanks. That's good to know. I've never subscribed to any streaming service before ... very ignorant on the subject. I need to look into it more thoroughly.

Oh, yes, you should definitely check them out! They proclaim to have more than 900 Criterion films available on their subscription streaming video service, HuluPlus, which is $7.99/month. But, they also have some available on their free streaming video service, Hulu. I can't attest to them having more than 900 titles but they certainly do have a lot. Here's a link: http://www.hulu.com/movies/criterion .

[Namuhana]

Originally Posted by JWFORD

Okay, thank you! I appreciate the input. If you don't mind my asking, where did you watch it? Or, should I say, how?

I borrowed a DVD copy from my local library.

For a movie that weaves together the creation of a film with the film, I prefer Truffaut's Day for Night, though I understand they aren't exactly the same.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by jayembee

There's actually quite a bit to like in Aussie cinema.

Please elaborate. What makes Aussie cinema stand out? What makes it unique? What are the motifs and themes and idiosyncrasies that define Australian cinema?

If anyone else can answer this in addition to jayembee, please go ahead!