The Criterion Collection

[diskspinner]

Originally Posted by CriterionBlues

That's what I love about Criterion is that I'm always discovering films I never knew were so great. I'd seen many Wilders before Ace in the Hole and never expected such a brilliantly cynical portrait of the media -- which is as true today as it was then.

One of my recent NON-blind buys. Another recent great movie which looks at media with squinted eye is Gone Girl. Not so direct as Ace in the Hole (or Network)...but it is pretty prominent with its apparent trashy thriller plot...I hope Fincher's best movies comes to criterion someday...(unlikely, I know)

[Roninblues]

Originally Posted by llj

You wouldn't want to face me in a real knife fight, friend. I've unfortunately been through a couple in my time. It's no laughing matter.

Never bring a knife to a gunfight.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by jmclick

You may be right. But their own website says they are MODs:

Warner Archive Blu-rays

Warner Archive used to have its own separate site. About six months ago, it was subsumed by Warner Home Video's WBShop. Once that took place, all sorts of weird things happened. Like referring to just about all WAC releases as MOD even when they're not.

Even all of WAC's DVDs aren't MOD. For some titles they do an initial run of pressed DVDs. Once those are sold off, any further copies are MOD. When WAC had they're own site, they actually had a search drop-down that would let you see all of the pressed-DVD titles. Again, that went away when WBShop took over.

[tisdivine]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Warner Archive used to have its own separate site. About six months ago, it was subsumed by Warner Home Video's WBShop. Once that took place, all sorts of weird things happened. Like referring to just about all WAC releases as MOD even when they're not.

I know I should know this but what's an MOD? I have a few WA titles and never noticed a difference. Actually just received The Hunger yesterday.

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by tisdivine

I know I should know this but what's an MOD? I have a few WA titles and never noticed a difference. Actually just received The Hunger yesterday.

manufactured-on-demand

[joie]

Originally Posted by jmclick

You may be right. But their own website says they are MODs:

Warner Archive Blu-rays

Out of the Past is a pressed blu-ray.

[tisdivine]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

manufactured-on-demand

So it's basically the same thing...just that WA doesnt press them until you order?

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by tisdivine

So it's basically the same thing...just that WA doesnt press them until you order?

I don't know how the technology is now, but it used to be an inferior product for sure. Less shelf life. Basically like burning a DVD on your home computer.

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Warner Archive used to have its own separate site. About six months ago, it was subsumed by Warner Home Video's WBShop. Once that took place, all sorts of weird things happened. Like referring to just about all WAC releases as MOD even when they're not.

Even all of WAC's DVDs aren't MOD. For some titles they do an initial run of pressed DVDs. Once those are sold off, any further copies are MOD. When WAC had they're own site, they actually had a search drop-down that would let you see all of the pressed-DVD titles. Again, that went away when WBShop took over.

Oh, good grief! So basically, they're pressed blu-rays being offered at fairly high prices through a dedicated website that is describing them improperly?

And the DVD's being offered on the same site may be MOD or may be pressed, but there's really no way of knowing when you order?

All-righty then!

Have I mentioned lately how much I love the quality, value and simplicity of The Criterion Collection?

[jw007]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

Happy Birthday! , you need to give us a hint? how do we know which films from your collection you haven't seen?

Or post a short list of the one's you want to see more

Sorry for being vague... I was just talking to myself as usual.

Originally Posted by jayembee

He has the Collector Gene. People with the CG will obsessively collect whatever it is that interests them or strikes their fancy. Some people collect books, some collect DVDs, some collect Coke bottles, some collect stamps, some collect Hummel figures. The mantle over the fireplace at my mother's house is covered with figurines of snails. The mother of a friend of mine did the same thing with owls.

Yes, that's probably it.

Originally Posted by jayembee

I think a lot of it has to do with learned behavior. People who are used to watching films on home video at home with friends don't think twice about talking to each other, or other such things, and they bring this same behavior to theaters.

Virtually all of my wife's and my "out-to-the-theatre" movie-watching is at a local cattleplex. But we generally go to a late morning bargain matinee, in which very few other people are in attendence. I literally can't recall the last time I encountered boorish behavior at the movies.

And by the by, when we go to the movies, we indulge in root beer and popcorn, and sometimes Skittles or Twizzlers or some such "fruity" snack. And neither of us are ADHD.

Like you said, its probably genetic, not environmental....some people are affected, some aren't...but I agree, best to avoid weekend crowds and prime time showtimes and go for matinees.

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

yeah, that angle is a bunch of bulls**t. it isn't an argument I wish to have on this thread, so jw007, I kindly ask that you stop harping on this topic. one casual mention is fine, but we seem to get beat over the head regarding ADHD from you.

Well, its true... and hey its my birthday so I can say whatever I please, its a free country! Don't like it? Tough. Har har.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

If you want to avoid the French writing you can just buy the UK edition. They're the same discs and it's actually a bit cheaper (and even moreso if you ignore the deluxe 4-disc set in favour of the regular 1-disc release).

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

D'oh. I didn't realize that the UK StudioCanal Blu-ray of The Third Man was region free as well. I seem to have remembered reading about the UK disc being region B and the French disc being region free. I would have bought the UK digibook had I known.

No big difference with the disc itself, though, and I'm really happy with my purchase.

There are 2 extras on the UK disc that many region A players can't play (the Shadowing the Third Man doc and 1 other one). Not sure if the French disc is the same, but almost everything is region free on the UK disc, just not all of it.

[Scottie]

I watched Dont Look Back this evening. Although I am not familiar with the work of Bob Dylan aside from a few songs, I found the documentary to be solid overall. I particularly enjoyed the music and the portrayal of Dylan as a man not seeking fame or glory but pouring his heart and soul into his music.

The thing that did bother me about the documentary, though, was that it felt incredibly disjointed at times. It was hard for me to understand the context of the film outside of Dylan being in London for part of his tour.

While I do not see myself purchasing the Blu-ray release, I will definitely listen to some of his albums in order to better familiarize myself with his catalogue and style.

[Nielsb90]

Originally Posted by darkness2918

So very true. I look forward to discovering many more great films as I go.

I'm in the same position as you. I bought my first Criterion less than three years ago and and now have +40. The only ones that were not blind buys are Paths of Glory, The Devil's Backbone, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Royal Tenenbaums, Rosemary's Baby and The Thin Red Line. That leaves me with 37 blind buys ranging from solid to all time favorites. Those are some pretty good odds!

[Vinyl]

Originally Posted by darkness2918

Just finished watching Ace in the Hole for the first time, such a great film. The best part for me about starting my CC kind of late is discovering great films like this for the first time.

Congrats on finding such a great director. I would have to say that a lot of us found such films in the collection late in the game, but are now staunch proponents of them. I had no idea Wilder directed films I had heard of or watched before but never knew of him.

For me my lens of international films is through Criterion, besides a few exceptions such as German Expressionism, Brerathless, etc.

[ijustblumyself]

Originally Posted by Fabs

Speaking of Taiwanese cinema, I've been getting into it a bit more and it's fantastic. Watched Rebels of the Neon God last night and loved it. I also put Dust in the Wind on my watchlist as well. So far nothing from that country has disappointed.

Taiwanese cinema might honestly be my favourite (a lot of it remains SO underseen as well). Make sure to check out The Terrorizers - watched it last night and it was pretty much perfect.

[darkness2918]

Originally Posted by Nielsb90

I'm in the same position as you. I bought my first Criterion less than three years ago and and now have +40. The only ones that were not blind buys are Paths of Glory, The Devil's Backbone, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Royal Tenenbaums, Rosemary's Baby and The Thin Red Line. That leaves me with 37 blind buys ranging from solid to all time favorites. Those are some pretty good odds!

I got my first CC in a trade on here this past June. July was my 1st CC sale at B&N & now I have 38 CC titles. Not bad considering I literally just started lol. Every singe one was a blind buy, only about 3 I didn't like enough to keep so as you said, those are good odds as well Right now I have a wishlist of about 75 more CC titles.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I don't think such a person exists who would actually quote these to be his/her favorites.

I like Ray's 'hipster' definition more - someone who will champion a lesser known, inferior film with the intentions of separating themselves from mass culture.

Oh, there is, believe me. Have you ever discussed a director with someone and the conversation went like this:

Person A: What do you think of Vertigo?

Person B: It's an excellent film but hardly Hitchcock's best. I'd say it's probably in his top 20 of film's I've seen (and I've seen them all!) . He's done much better other films, believe me.

Person A: How about Psycho?

Person B: Again, good film but he's done better. I find myself watching Stage Fright more often.

[octagon]

Replace Stage Fright with Rope and that post is a lot less amusing

[easydreamer]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

There are 2 extras on the UK disc that many region A players can't play (the Shadowing the Third Man doc and 1 other one). Not sure if the French disc is the same, but almost everything is region free on the UK disc, just not all of it.

2 featurettes on the UK disc are in PAL, so the regular region A player cannot play them. One of these, "Shadowing the Third Man" is actually included in the Criterion disc, in NTSC and no PAL Speedup.

[Yami]

This guy would have been 110 today



Certainly up there with Ozu, Mizoguchi and Kurosawa in the discussion of greatest Japanese directors. Few films are as perfect as Floating Clouds, Yearning, When a Woman Ascends the Stairs, Repast, Lightning and Every-Night Dreams.