The Criterion Collection

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by oildude

Your registration on the US site transfers to the UK site. I shop Amazon UK frequently and my account details are the same at both. Amazon makes things super convenient. I order a lot of music from the UK site that is cheaper from there than here in the US, even with shipping.

Also, like the US site, prices fluctuate. So does the exchange rate, but not as much as prices. I got my single disc version of the new transfer of The Third Man for about $23 in November last year. You don't pay VAT when importing, so that gets deducted from the price at checkout; however, the shipping costs essentially add that back.

This also applies to other Amazon sites. And the layout of the sites are all the same, so if you frequent Amazon US and know your way around, you can manage to navigate around, say, Amazon FR even if you don't speak French.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Arch Stanton

Amazes me how many people seem to care more about that stuff than the actual content of the discs.

Yes, it's odd if someone cares more about the packaging than the content, but in most cases, it's more that the content is essentially the same and the packaging different. I tend to like DigiBooks, and to a somewhat lesser extent, SteelBooks. I don't like them enough to buy films I'm not interested in just because they're in that type of packaging. But given a choice between buying a film in standard packaging at one place, and in DigiBook or SteelBook packaging at another place, I'll go for the latter.

Take Interstellar for example. I could buy the regular edition at any local store, but I chose to buy the UK DigiBook edition, because (in addition to being region-free) it was a DigiBook, and the cover art was much more striking.

I already have the Criterion Blu of The Third Man. I got it back when it was released, Criterion going Blu being one of the things that prompted me to upgrade from DVD to Blu-ray. I'm still planning to get one of the new 4K restoration editions, and when I do, it'll be the French DigiBook rather than a UK non-DigiBook. Even if I can't read French, I like that type of packaging.

[Scottie]

Chabrol's La Cérémonie is listed on Hulu as a Criterion release. Has it always been like this?

[Knaldskalle]

Originally Posted by jayembee

This also applies to other Amazon sites. And the layout of the sites are all the same, so if you frequent Amazon US and know your way around, you can manage to navigate around, say, Amazon FR even if you don't speak French.

I think I have stuff in my "cart/basket/Warenkorb/panier/etc..." on most Amazon sites, (except the Japanese one, because $$$ and 私は日本を読み取ることができません). It's the same account everywhere and the sites can calculate shipping costs, subtract VAT and so on with ease.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Chabrol's La Cérémonie is listed on Hulu as a Criterion release. Has it always been like this?

What's up with your storefront Scottie?

...how long is this thing going to be under construction?

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

Popped in Night and the City for this Sunday afternoon and I'm really glad I did. It delivered what I was seeking, and in some ways surprised me. The lead is the antithesis with the noir archetype. He's cowardly, skirts by on blatant lies, and rarely has the upper-hand from his own doing. Widmark embodies him perfectly, always looking far too out of his element with his poor posture in suits that seem a size too large for him. You're just waiting for the repercussions from his own misguided doing to come crashing down on him.

[Show spoiler]And boy does it. That final scene is as cold as anything I've seen in noir.

If only he had accepted the possibility of what could have been with a former lover, instead of being driven by the greed that has come to mark him.

What made me initially want to watch this today, aside from my fondness for all things noir, was Gene Tierney. I was disappointed to see she didn't have that much of a substantial role, seeing how her presence inherently enhances whatever noir she happens to be in, but I'll take what I can get.

Next on the list: Ride the Pink Horse. That is, if I don't end up fulfilling my Tierney desire by viewing Laura.

Did you watch the alternate British version of Night and the City? It's longer, and Gene Tierney appears in some additional scenes and alternate takes that really make her character (and her performance) shine. The downside is that the alternate score by composer Benjamin Frankel doesn't hold a candle to the musical brilliance that Franz Waxman brought to the American cut.

[theater dreamer]

I just finished watching The Kid for the first time, and immediately fell in love with it, not surprisingly. There is this genuine joy to Chaplin, even in scenes where the slapstick is somewhat subdued, or nonexistent. When there are moments of melancholy, like the mother coming back looking for her baby, it's...beautiful. I was struck by how much I was smiling, and laughing, during the film. And Jackie Coogan was the perfect comedic foil for Chaplin. I love watching his little legs churning as he's running down the street, and around the corner out of view after breaking a window. It's such a great comedic counterpoint to The Tramp's trademark waddle.

The last scene was completely unexpected. "Sin coming to town", I believe was the title card, with the devils, more mischievous than frightening, popping in and out of camera, Chaplin flying around with his little angel wings flapping in the breeze, flowers everywhere, children and adults frolicking together in the streets. Wonderful! The Kid is richly deserving of its place in the pantheon of great silent films, and this is one I'll be coming back to again and again.

This is a real gem of a release, guys, and though I can't comment as to how much the print quality may have been improved by the restoration, as this is my first time seeing the film, I can say that the picture itself is magnificent. And while I was cautiously optimistic upon reading that Chaplin redid the score in 1972, it perfectly suits the action, and the underlying character of the movie.

I'll spend much of tomorrow exploring the veritable treasure trove of extras included with the film, but this is one Criterion release that merits inclusion in every movie collection. It's funny, poignant, and at times, even elegant.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

What's up with your storefront Scottie?

...how long is this thing going to be under construction?

I'm far too busy and lazy to bag, log, and list everything.

[Wooden Lens]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I'm far too busy and lazy to bag, log, and list everything.

I'm feeling that same fatigue... just wanna drop everything down and get it outta here.

[easydreamer]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

I just finished watching The Kid for the first time, and immediately fell in love with it, not surprisingly. There is this genuine joy to Chaplin, even in scenes where the slapstick is somewhat subdued, or nonexistent. When there are moments of melancholy, like the mother coming back looking for her baby, it's...beautiful. I was struck by how much I was smiling, and laughing, during the film. And Jackie Coogan was the perfect comedic foil for Chaplin. I love watching his little legs churning as he's running down the street, and around the corner out of view after breaking a window. It's such a great comedic counterpoint to The Tramp's trademark waddle.

The last scene was completely unexpected. "Sin coming to town", I believe was the title card, with the devils, more mischievous than frightening, popping in and out of camera, Chaplin flying around with his little angel wings flapping in the breeze, flowers everywhere, children and adults frolicking together in the streets. Wonderful! The Kid is richly deserving of its place in the pantheon of great silent films, and this is one I'll be coming back to again and again.

This is a real gem of a release, guys, and though I can't comment as to how much the print quality may have been improved by the restoration, as this is my first time seeing the film, I can say that the picture itself is magnificent. And while I was cautiously optimistic upon reading that Chaplin redid the score in 1972, it perfectly suits the action, and the underlying character of the movie.

I'll spend much of tomorrow exploring the veritable treasure trove of extras included with the film, but this is one Criterion release that merits inclusion in every movie collection. It's funny, poignant, and at times, even elegant.

This is definitely one of my favorite Chaplin's!

The music from 1972 is beautiful, and fits really well in the film. It elevates the emotion in the climax (which I think is the end of the 2nd act).

I immediately went to Apple Music, and listened to the score. Already listened to it twice in 2 days during my commute.

[Cook]

When is the next Barnes and Noble Criterion sale?

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Cook

When is the next Barnes and Noble Criterion sale?

The B&N 50% off Criterion sales are twice a year, in July and November.

At other times during the year, there may be other sales (Buy 2, Get 1 free or 20% off, or whatever) during the year that include, but aren't restricted to, Criterions.

[theater dreamer]

Originally Posted by Cook

When is the next Barnes and Noble Criterion sale?

Criterion is having their biannual flash sale very soon. Within the next two weeks. It's a 24 hour, 50% off of MSRP sale with free shipping on orders over $50.

[ShellOilJunior]

Thief is free for Prime subscribers.

[Nuck Horris]

I watched this last night:



I had no idea what it was, it was a blind buy from a gohastings sale. I thought it was a black and white french film noir. Sort of the opposite of that though. I was only familiar with John Cassavetes in that I've heard of his name (thought he was French for some reason) and that he came up with the idea for this one with Scorsese...

This contains some of the best cinematography I've ever seen, too bad the duo worked on so few films. Their style sort of reminds me of Zbigniew Rybczynski's work in Angst. The only problem I had was with the terrible audio quality but I want more if this is the type of film he made on a regular basis. If I had known this was included in a blu-ray box set I probably wouldn't have bought it on DVD...

[ShellOilJunior]

Future release?

https://www.criterion.com/current/po...-robert-eggers

[Saucerful]

Originally Posted by zakzak

What are the chances Criterion would do David Fincher's Sony movies:
Panic Room (the one with young Kristen Stewart), Social Network & Girl with Dragon Tattoo? Panic & Tattoo may be too mainstream but Social Network is a good candidate. Also, I really hope Criterion would re-release Seven. I used to own the Laserdisc version, and the transfer on that one is amazing, and the special features are just mind boggling.

Well, Panic Room was rumoured to be with Twilight Time. I don't know where that all ended up or if it's been confirmed.

As for the other ones, I really don't understand why you'd want them. Since we're all posting here, I assume we're mostly Criterion fans. I'd consider myself a pretty big fan. That said, consider the current Social Network release from Sony. It's two discs and you get a great transfer, two commentaries: one from Fincher, one from Sorkin and friends (which are both excellent, by the way, if you haven't listened to them yet), a making of documentary, various featurettes and special features including a great one with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross about the score.

Dragon Tattoo is a similar sort of situation, although it only has one commentary. And forget trying to top the special features on Se7en (four commentaries plus a boatload of other stuff).

So I ask what else would you like to see them add? I mean, other than a nice big C and spine number...

IMO, Criterion would be better off directing their efforts toward films that really do need an upgrade, let alone the ones that haven't been released on Blu-ray at all.

[Polaroid]

Panic Room is so watchable but so so so bad lol

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Chabrol's La Cérémonie is listed on Hulu as a Criterion release. Has it always been like this?

I had a trial membership some time ago and I think I can recall seeing it there, but don't quote me on that.

Somewhat related..

Night Train To Munich is streaming on Netflix with an HD quality transfer. Many times in the past, I've spotted titles w/ HD transfers and they were released soon after.

I have never seen the film and put it on the other night. I was dead tired, so I fell asleep 15 minutes in, but that film seems suspenseful and very engaging from the get go.

[bwdowiak]

I'm sure many saw this, but there are a half dozen or so films that are streaming for free on Hulu. La Cérémonie is one of them. I've seen a few of these and all are good.

https://www.criterion.com/current/po...pening-on-hulu