The Criterion Collection

[popcorntreect]

I ordered Two Days, One Night and Moonrise Kingdom. I was surprised to learn these films along with Sullivan's Travels are the only 2015 releases I own. For me, it has been a so-so year.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by octagon

How does the Eyes Without a Face transfer compare to either the DVD or the version TCM broadcasts?

I'm assuming it's significantly better but is it in that 'night and day, like seeing it for the first time all over again' category?

The Blu-ray transfer is one of Criterion's better black-and-white transfers. I used to own the DVD, and the improvement over that DVD edition is notable. I won't go so far as to say that it's a "night and day" difference, because the DVD looked quite good, but there is quite an improvement.

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

Flash sale days are always fun. I'm $250 lighter, but 12 blus, 4 dvds, 2 eclipse sets, and 3 tote bags on the way.

The only bad part is all the updating (criterion.com collection, criterion.com wish list, blu-ray.com collection). All done now. Time to rearrange the shelves to make room for the incoming...

Happy flash sale day everyone.

The rearranging is the worst! But so worth it.

[Page14]

Wow, I stay offline for one day and get back on tonight to find a flash sale going on.

I'm in for:

Dressed to Kill
Odd Man Out
Sullivan's Travels

...

[Oniros]

The website is getting hammered. I'll come back in a bit. :|

[WonderWeasel]

I had to go light this sale. I'm in for The River and The Gold Rush.

[jmclick]

All That Jazz and Badlands are now sold out. I wonder how many copies of those titles were ordered today?

[jw007]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

I, too, am a huge science fiction fan (the first film I ever saw in the theaters was Star Wars on opening day in May of 1977), though I am a relative neophyte when it comes to some of the more philosophical films within the genre. I have not yet seen Solaris, so maybe I should put that towards the top of my to purchase list.

You could easily include

[Show spoiler]2010 and Interstellar in this ever-expanding subgenre, as well. In 2010, the crew of the Leonov has to quickly plan their return trajectory months ahead of schedule, as the imminent "something wonderful" turns out to be pretty magnificent for the people on Earth, yet not so hot to those orbiting in close proximity to Jupiter.

In Interstellar, though the impetus for their exploration of the distant galaxy beyond the wormhole is the eventual starvation and suffocation of millions (survival on the grandest of scales), we witness firsthand as Cooper's survival instinct kicks in on Mann's planet. It's one of a few examples of the crew of the Endurance trying to survive in space when confronted with impending doom. They try to save the Endurance from entering into the planet's atmosphere and burning up, as it has no heat shield. They also try to escape the massive gravitational pull of Gargantua, and Cooper and Tars sacrifice themselves so Case may live. True, the theme is not as overt as in something like Apollo 13, where they are facing overwhelming odds throughout the majority of the film, but I think these two films would merit consideration, at least.

Thanks for the response. I agree in some ways that 2010 and Interstellar could possibly fit into the "sci vi" (science-survival) genre too, even though they take on more metaphysical motifs and elements. Since 2001 goes way beyond science and into the supernatural, Hyams' sequel of 2010 is more of a scientific approach to Clarke's novel... but its more of science fiction in my opinion because of the lingering motifs from 2001. Interstellar goes into that whole aspect of

[Show spoiler]the afterlife/ghosts and such

and I think this is what makes it less sci vi and more sci fi. For those survival sequences though, I'm definitely agreeing that those are more science-based possibilities.

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Funny...

I bought the Blu-ray of Dark City this past weekend, since the Movie Stop down the street from me has a "50% Off all used movies" sale going on, and I was able to buy it for $4 as a result.

I loved Dark City when I saw it at the theater back in 1998. When The Matrix came out the following year, all of my friends were raving about how original it was. I thought that, while The Matrix was a great movie on its own terms, it was simply a more explosive version of Dark City.

I have not, however, seen Dark City since that theater viewing in 1998, though, and I'm looking forward to revisiting it at long last. This time, I'm sure that I'll be more focused on its neo-noir aspects.

Dark City is an amazing film and I'd be thrilled if Criterion brought that into the collection. I think the film has enough depth that film scholars would easily love to talk about this in separate supplements that could be added to the release. I would love to know what you thought of the movie after not having seen it in nearly 17 years.

[jw007]

I just wanted to re-post this in the thread since it has to do with Criterion.

Another forum member here named Ausjdm played me in the championship in our Fantasy Baseball League. Ausjdm did great, and I narrowly defeated him 6-5 in the final to win the championship. He offered to give me a used Criterion of Ace in the Hole as a prize! Check out the league thank you message that I sent out to all 6 teams in the league below.

Hi managers of the Aristocracy of Primates:

I am happy to say that your own commish, me, has won the league, narrowly defeating Justin's Trenton Thunder 6-5 in the championship. My team had a powerhouse day of hitting on the final day, Sunday, that shocked both of us... I was so shocked, I still couldn't believe it the following day. Only now, on this late Tuesday/early Wednesday morning have I finally accepted victory. I want to thank second place Justin for a great year of Fantasy Baseball. Coming in third was robo-team Jason, who also happens to be my first cousin. Though he gave up before the season even began, having Jake Arrieta on his team sure helped out. I want to thank my second cousin Lance as well for having the shittiest (literally, no pun intended) team in Fantasy Baseball, finishing dead last, as the Ithaca Shit Stains. Also props to my buddy Howard (from 80s night) who signed up and tried a bit of effort to win. Finally, thanks to Justin's friend David L., for keeping his team active and competitive all-season long.

It was a fun season, and for winning the league, I have accepted Justin's gift of a used Criterion blu-ray film of "Ace in the Hole", directed by legendary director Billy Wilder. It's only fitting that "Ace" is in the title, as that describes me pretty much... and plus its the only film out of the litter that I've yet to watch that Justin offered me. So I'll take what I can get! For those in the league who are philistines (aka people who don't care much for culture, film, music, etc.), I'd highly recommend you check out the Criterion Collection and start learning a bit about the greatness of cinema!

Other than that, there is nothing left to say. I want to say thanks for participating (those who did, actually) and look forward to another season (next year it might become a money league). I want to end this message with "YOU ALL CAN SUCK IT!" and I hope and pray that my Pittsburgh Pirates go on to win the World Series! Let's go Buccos!

- J.W.
Commissioner and First place Champion

[hoytereden]

Just Dressed to Kill for me. I figured the other titles I want can wait until next month's B&N sale. Didn't want to take a chance on getting a "first printing" copy of DtK from B&N though.

[pedromvu]

Seems like it has been a slow day for a sale compared to previous ones, based on sold out titles and comments here.

I guess Amazon sale did their job, although my impression has always been that most third party sales are also planned or at least allowed by Criterion.

Well I did my part and got $219.58 (after the $10 FB credit and $50 loyalty certificate) for 14 blu-rays.

Only 279 points until next reward.

[tisdivine]

Of course the title I really wanted The Sweet Smell of Success was already sold out when I ordered. Yet somehow ended up with $150 worth ($50 loyality credit + $10 FB credit)

The Big City
Paths to Glory
Last Days of Disco
Grey's
3 Women
Three Outlaw Samurai
A Night to Remember
Charulata
The Blob
The Innocents
Naked Lunch

[JoeBuck]

Managed to squeeze in two more with The Uninvited and Sullivans Travels.
Gotta save a LITTLE bit of money so I can get my copy of Kwaidan tomorrow (If Im off work in time that is)

[Rhettroactive]

After sleeping on which titles to pick up, I ended up grabbing...

Night and the City
Anatomy of a Murder
Robinson Crusoe on Mars
Broadcast News

I had the following in and out of my cart several times...

Y Tu Mama También
World on a Wire
Foreign Correspondent
Thin Red Line
Tati Box Set

I'm really happy with my selections and purchase. Plus I was able to apply my $10 reward bounty as well, bringing my total (with shipping) in under $80.

On a side note, I finally decided to watch Jeanne Dielman for the first time last night, unaware of Chantal Ackerman's untimely death. You can imagine that feeling in the pit of my stomach when I found out moments after the film ended that she was no longer with us. How strange that I waited this long to see such an immense, fantastic work of art, only to watch it within hours of the creator's passing.

[theater dreamer]

Originally Posted by tisdivine

Of course the title I really wanted The Sweet Smell of Success was already sold out when I ordered. Yet somehow ended up with $150 worth ($50 loyality credit + $10 FB credit)

Yup, I just now saw the flash sale started yesterday, so I was too late to pick Sweet Smell of Success up. I'm trying to not go too overboard, but it's sooo darned hard!

[EricTheDerek]

I've been waiting for the sale and now that it's here, my mind went totally blank when trying to decide what to get.

-Breathless
-Solaris
-Robinson Crusoe on Mars
-The Vanishing
-8 1/2

No "regrets" exactly, but seeing posts from others is reminding me of what I've been wanting to get. I'll throw some more money at the B&N sale when that happens.

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

Seems like it has been a slow day for a sale compared to previous ones, based on sold out titles and comments here.

My twitter feed is usually dominated by Criterion sales talk whenever they hit, but yesterday things were a little more somber over there, with Chantal Akerman's death dominating my timeline.

[theater dreamer]

I picked up The Night of the Hunter, Breathless and Diabolique. Almost bought Rosemary's Baby and Solaris, too, but decided to be good. It looks like I need another knee surgery, and bills come first.

[Polaroid]

And I'm just sitting here not buying anything in sale cause I live in England.

Thanks for rubbing it in my face lol

[seannyd]

Closing in on completing my Wes Anderson collection picking up Moonrise Kingdom and Rushmore. (I'll never forget seeing Moonrise Kingdom because in a small theater - it was about 1/2 full and I was the only one laughing hysterically and my wife couldn't understand why.)

I also picked up 12 Angry Men and On the Waterfront.

I just wish I had more money. I probably shouldn't have even of spent this much but that $10 credit really forced my hand. And then I couldn't NOT get the free shipping.