The Criterion Collection

[The Great Owl]

I read Truman Capote's book, In Cold Blood, and then saw the movie adaptation shortly before the Capote film came out, because I was hearing cool thing about Capote, and I wanted to prep myself with the background information at hand.

I owned In Cold Blood on DVD and enjoyed revisiting it a time or two before I unloaded most of my DVD collection a few years ago when I started collecting Blu-rays.

I've been meaning to upgrade In Cold Blood to Blu-ray for the past couple of years, because it's a solid film that is only a few degrees removed from the classic-era film noir genre, and because it's a cool-looking black-and-white film with a cool score. I'm sure that, in high definition, the film will look miles better than it did on my old DVD. Every time I saw the Blu-ray in a store, I would pick it up for a few minutes, but then end up going with something that was a bigger priority.

It's fortuitous that I procrastinated on buying that initial Blu-ray release, because I'm sure that Criterion will give us something awesome.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Brundle

Peeping Tom (The Criterion Collection) (1962)

Seller is asking $275 new. Is this movie any good?

You really can't go by that. On ebay, copies sell for as low as $20, and upwards of $60 depending on condition

[Grethiwha]

Ikiru, at long last! Looks like I have a new favourite Criterion blu-ray.

After Mulholland Dr and Kwaidan last month (also both 10/10 titles for me)... I'm pretty happy with Criterion right now.

By the way, if anyone is interested in recommendations for Criterion's Japanese titles, (in honour of Ikiru ) I'll share this list I've been maintaining for the last couple years or so: https://www.criterion.com/lists/1462...-japan-blu-ray

[Brundle]

Thanks for the replies. First off, there's no way I'd pay that much for a movie and probably wouldn't pay $50 either, did watch the trailer though and read more about it. The director caught some serious hell, something about his other films were really good or well liked and it just made people mad. I liked the trailer, it reminds me of the 1965 film The Collector. It's on Amazon IV, so I'll probably check it out.

[the sordid sentinel]

Thrilled about Ikiru finally getting the upgrade. Can not wait to own that one.

[CriterionBlues]

I can see similarities with The Collector and Peeping Tom, but the latter is far more brutal and way ahead of its time. It pretty much ended Michael Powell's career, but it influenced a lot of thrillers and eventually horror films.

It is a good film and worth watching, but not nearly for that price.

[Namuhana]

Originally Posted by Brundle

Thanks for the replies. First off, there's no way I'd pay that much for a movie and probably wouldn't pay $50 either, did watch the trailer though and read more about it. The director caught some serious hell, something about his other films were really good or well liked and it just made people mad. I liked the trailer, it reminds me of the 1965 film The Collector. It's on Amazon IV, so I'll probably check it out.

Peeping Tom is a really great film. But the subject matter is so unlike the films Powell did with the Archers (Powell along with Emeric Pressburger), though, and I think that turned the critics off. I think it's great and would love to see Criterion release a Blu-ray of it. I would recommend watching it first, though, which is seems is what you'll be doing.

[Blu Titan]

The last part of the year is going to be incredible...Criterion (obviously) but also: Arrow, BFI, Eureka, Kino, WB, and others .

[Brundle]

Are there any CC titles y'all would pay $100+ for, are any of them really that rare or are some titles more inflated by word of mouth?

[jw007]

The prophecies came true and my mind was blown!

What a month!

Ikiru! Hasn't it been years since a Kurosawa film has been upgraded to Criterion blu-ray? This finally ends the dry spell of not seeing new Kurosawa releases on blu. So that is an essential film to own and I'll be purchasing this.

Don't Look Back. Now this is a great little documentary. I'm more of a fan of Pennebaker than Dylan, but I'll be buying this one as well. And wow, those supplements are outstanding (especially the new Patti Smith interview!).

Code Unknown. Michael Haneke has officially entered the Criterion Collection and its about time! I haven't seen this film but I love his work and I'll be most likely blind-buying this one with confidence!

The Apu Trilogy. A lot of people have been waiting for this one for a while. I'll probably need to watch some of this first so most likely I won't be buying this one unless it resonates with me.

In Cold Blood. Film noir fans rejoice (I'm referring to you, Owl, and you CriterionBlues). Again I will have to watch first but this one intrigues me.

Eclipse Series 44: Julien Duvivier in the Thirties. Doesn't really interest me. Sorry guys.

A pretty complete month I'd have to say though overall! Mind is still blown!

[ccfixx]

Between Howards End and now Dont Look Back, just about everyone on here drives me batty that they can't get the titles correct without apostrophes.

[popcorntreect]

Originally Posted by Brundle

Are there any CC titles y'all would pay $100+ for, are any of them really that rare or are some titles more inflated by word of mouth?

I sold a sealed copy of Tokyo Olympiad for $175. And more recently sold a sealed copy of Peeping Tom for $60.

There are people out there that are willing to pay that much. I'm not one of them though.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by jw007

Ikiru! Hasn't it been years since a Kurosawa film has been upgraded to Criterion blu-ray?

One and a half (March 2014, The Hidden Fortress).

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by darkness2918

That's good to know since In Cold Blood is the one I'm most interested in from these announcements.

It's my personal choice for the Best Film of 1967, a year in which such notable films as The Graduate, Bonnie & Clyde, In the Heat of the Night, Wait Until Dark and Cool Hand Luke reaped most of the critical attention and the majority of the awards.

In Cold Blood is tough, gritty, tense, stark, brutal and upsetting ... but nonetheless beautifully directed, acted and photographed. At times, it almost has a documentary feel. The National Board of Review gave writer-director Richard Brooks their Best Director award, and named the film to their list of the year's Top Ten English Language Films. It was added to National Film Registry in 2008, and I'm very pleased that it's now being given the Criterion treatment, mastered from a new 4K restoration. I'll be at Barnes and Noble on the street date to pick up my copy.

[darkness2918]

Originally Posted by jmclick

It's my personal choice for the Best Film of 1967, a year in which such notable films as The Graduate, Bonnie & Clyde, In the Heat of the Night, Wait Until Dark and Cool Hand Luke reaped most of the critical attention and the majority of the awards.

In Cold Blood is tough, gritty, tense, stark, brutal and upsetting ... but nonetheless beautifully directed, acted and photographed. At times, it almost has a documentary feel. The National Board of Review gave writer-director Richard Brooks their Best Director award, and named the film to their list of the year's Top Ten English Language Films. It was added to National Film Registry in 2008, and I'm very pleased that it's now being given the Criterion treatment, mastered from a new 4K restoration. I'll be at Barnes and Noble on the street date to pick up my copy.

You've literally sold me on the film. Now I'm feeling really good about blind buying it in November.

[tisdivine]

Originally Posted by jmclick

It's my personal choice for the Best Film of 1967, a year in which such notable films as The Graduate, Bonnie & Clyde, In the Heat of the Night, Wait Until Dark and Cool Hand Luke reaped most of the critical attention and the majority of the awards.

A criterion blu of Wait Until Dark would be the release of the year in my opinion.

[darkness2918]

Originally Posted by Brundle

Are there any CC titles y'all would pay $100+ for, are any of them really that rare or are some titles more inflated by word of mouth?

Well I know some people pay $100 or more for the CC release of The Third Man. I may have no choice either in the future it seems if I want the CC BD. I also paid $100 for the CC BD of Le Cercle Rouge.

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by Namuhana

So if I really enjoyed Capote, will I enjoy In Cold Blood?

I understand they're different representations of the same story, a story I find pretty interesting.

Honestly, the two films are not at all comparable. In Cold Blood was written by Truman Capote, and it tells the (mostly) true story of an infamous quadruple homicide that took place in Holcomb, Kansas, back in 1959. The main characters are the murderers and their victims. The book rocked the publishing world when it first appeared in the mid-sixties, and the film is an adaptation of the book.

Capote is a partial biography of author Truman Capote, which told the story of him going through the process of writing his best-selling novel, and his personal enmeshment with the killers. It's a "behind-the-scenes" look at how a writer can get personally involved in his subject matter. I am not one of those who particularly admired Capote as a film, nor Phillip Seymour Hoffman's impersonation of Capote. I think the 2005 film would be an interesting feature-length supplemental feature to the 1967 film.

[soarinsteven]

Yes, definitely in for Ikiru. One of my Criterion DVD's I've been most eager to see upgraded.

May blind buy The Apu trilogy. I absolutely LOVED The Big City, but The Music Room and Charulata didn't do much for me.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I read Truman Capote's book, In Cold Blood, and then saw the movie adaptation shortly before the Capote film came out, because I was hearing cool thing about Capote, and I wanted to prep myself with the background information at hand.

I owned In Cold Blood on DVD and enjoyed revisiting it a time or two before I unloaded most of my DVD collection a few years ago when I started collecting Blu-rays.

I've been meaning to upgrade In Cold Blood to Blu-ray for the past couple of years, because it's a solid film that is only a few degrees removed from the classic-era film noir genre, and because it's a cool-looking black-and-white film with a cool score. I'm sure that, in high definition, the film will look miles better than it did on my old DVD. Every time I saw the Blu-ray in a store, I would pick it up for a few minutes, but then end up going with something that was a bigger priority.

It's fortuitous that I procrastinated on buying that initial Blu-ray release, because I'm sure that Criterion will give us something awesome.

It does have some noir vets in it like Charles McGraw, Jeff Corey, and Paul Stewart.