The Criterion Collection

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by Eve6insideandout

So do they not offer artwork with empty case for any Criterion movies? Or what I have been reading it sounds like you have to e-mail them and it is still the $5? I saw they took them off the website.

The folks at Criterion are absolutely wonderful. Simply go to the Criterion website at http://www.criterion.com and click on the "Help" link, and then go to "Contact us".

I've had to replace several pieces of packaging (artwork, booklets, etc.), and when I email them, they always tell me if it's available and how much it's going to cost. Usually it's $5.00 for a Scanavo case with the artwork included ... but they ship it via Priority Mail in a sturdy custom cardboard box, so I can't believe they actually make any profit off this service; they may not even cover their own costs!

Once, I bought a new Criterion blu-ray that arrived in a damaged case with torn artwork, and I sent them a PayPal payment for replacement packaging without contacting them in advance. Not only did they send the replacement packaging out right away, they emailed me to ask me why I had ordered it ... and when I told them the circumstances, they refunded my $5.00. Now that's deluxe customer service! No other company of any kind has ever been that good to me, and that's why I swear by Criterion.

It's only a guess, but it wouldn't surprise me to learn they stopped offering replacement packaging on their website to keep from having to give out Loyalty Award Points when people ordered it. That would only be a sound business decision, since (as I stated earlier) they can't possibly be making any profit on it.

Hope that helps ...

[Count Orlok]

Just finished seeing The Kid for the first time. That was fantastic! I don't have very many Chaplin films, but I'd definitely love to have more. I've got City Lights, The Kid, and The Great Dictator. I think Modern Times will be the next one I pick up. Criterion has done a bang-up job with these. They look brand new!

[pro-bassoonist]

Paris Belongs to Us Blu-ray REVIEW





Pro-B

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by SkyAntoine

Took in a few first-time Criterion watches over the weekend.


Black Narcissus - Cinematography was amazing. I guess the underlying tones were so underlying I just didn't connect well with the movie. I was really expecting this to be a big hit with me. I read that Powell considered this his most erotic film. I kept wanting to compare to Lily in the Fields which I thought was a much better movie. 7/10

I urge you to give it another watch. I believe my first viewing, many years ago, resulted in a reaction similar to yours. Now, every time I see it I find something else to marvel at. Yea, there's a lot going on with the various back stories and interactions but that's why it's a rewarding rewatch. I still believe that

[Show spoiler]Sister Ruth's descent into madness is genuinely frightening and that scene when she opens that door to attack Sister Clodagh is one of the great horror moments in cinema.

Other than both having nuns in them, I can't think of two more different films than this and Lilies of the Field.

[theater dreamer]

Good God, man. Change your priorities!! Seriously, work...sleep...what kind of nonsense is this?

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Sorry I miss posts and don't go back and re read every post to make sure I havn't missed anything.

So sorry. I shall now leave a gap on my calendar each day to re read these forums to make sure no one gets upset when I ask a question already asked.

I also apologise for being in a different time zone and having work and sleep which also makes me miss posts.

[theater dreamer]

I'll second this. In the last week, I got a replacement booklet for The Leopard, sent in a really sturdy cardboard mailer with a big orange "do not bend" sticker on it, and the complete Jules and Jim digipak replacement. The packaging was wrapped in bubble wrap, and placed in a sturdy box. I really appreciate their attention to detail, and their great service.

Originally Posted by jmclick

The folks at Criterion are absolutely wonderful. Simply go to the Criterion website at http://www.criterion.com and click on the "Help" link, and then go to "Contact us".

I've had to replace several pieces of packaging (artwork, booklets, etc.), and when I email them, they always tell me if it's available and how much it's going to cost. Usually it's $5.00 for a Scanavo case with the artwork included ... but they ship it via Priority Mail in a sturdy custom cardboard box, so I can't believe they actually make any profit off this service; they may not even cover their own costs!

Once, I bought a new Criterion blu-ray that arrived in a damaged case with torn artwork, and I sent them a PayPal payment for replacement packaging without contacting them in advance. Not only did they send the replacement packaging out right away, they emailed me to ask me why I had ordered it ... and when I told them the circumstances, they refunded my $5.00. Now that's deluxe customer service! No other company of any kind has ever been that good to me, and that's why I swear by Criterion.

It's only a guess, but it wouldn't surprise me to learn they stopped offering replacement packaging on their website to keep from having to give out Loyalty Award Points when people ordered it. That would only be a sound business decision, since (as I stated earlier) they can't possibly be making any profit on it.

Hope that helps ...

[ravenus]

Sorry if this has already come up, but has there been any official word about Criterion or any other English friendly label putting out a new version of Ozu's Good Morning? The existing BFI release is based on an older master while Shochiku has put out a 4K restored BD last year or so (but expensive and no Eng-friendly extras AFAIK).

[Fury Road]

Originally Posted by jmclick

The folks at Criterion are absolutely wonderful. Simply go to the Criterion website at http://www.criterion.com and click on the "Help" link, and then go to "Contact us".

I've had to replace several pieces of packaging (artwork, booklets, etc.), and when I email them, they always tell me if it's available and how much it's going to cost. Usually it's $5.00 for a Scanavo case with the artwork included ... but they ship it via Priority Mail in a sturdy custom cardboard box, so I can't believe they actually make any profit off this service; they may not even cover their own costs!

Once, I bought a new Criterion blu-ray that arrived in a damaged case with torn artwork, and I sent them a PayPal payment for replacement packaging without contacting them in advance. Not only did they send the replacement packaging out right away, they emailed me to ask me why I had ordered it ... and when I told them the circumstances, they refunded my $5.00. Now that's deluxe customer service! No other company of any kind has ever been that good to me, and that's why I swear by Criterion.

It's only a guess, but it wouldn't surprise me to learn they stopped offering replacement packaging on their website to keep from having to give out Loyalty Award Points when people ordered it. That would only be a sound business decision, since (as I stated earlier) they can't possibly be making any profit on it.

Hope that helps ...

you got a "blueprint" of that email?! I just contacted them for the first time ever a couple of weeks ago and asked for a simple slip cover replacement for moonrise kingdom. they never bothered to reply...

[Vinyl]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Sorry if this has already come up, but has there been any official word about Criterion or any other English friendly label putting out a new version of Ozu's Good Morning? The existing BFI release is based on an older master while Shochiku has put out a 4K restored BD last year or so (but expensive and no Eng-friendly extras AFAIK).

4K restored blu would be amazing. That is such a funny film. One of Ozu's best.

[Vinyl]

Okay, been thinking of the list of criterion's DVDs that I have been waiting on an upgrade before buying. Here is a short list of mine, some I have been waiting on for what seems like a good 10 years!

Eisenstein: the Sound Years
Good Morning
Elevator to the Gallows
Heaven Can Wait
Unfaithfully Yours
Rebel samurai: Sixties Swordplay classics
The Virgin Spring
Shoot the Piano Player

[SkyAntoine]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

I urge you to give it another watch. I believe my first viewing, many years ago, resulted in a reaction similar to yours. Now, every time I see it I find something else to marvel at. Yea, there's a lot going on with the various back stories and interactions but that's why it's a rewarding rewatch. I still believe that

[Show spoiler]Sister Ruth's descent into madness is genuinely frightening and that scene when she opens that door to attack Sister Clodagh is one of the great horror moments in cinema.

Other than both having nuns in them, I can't think of two more different films than this and Lilies of the Field.

I think you're right. I watched this Saturday morning on our smaller TV while watching the kids. I don't think I was able to track the characters as well as if I had been uninterrupted. Next time I also want to watch this on the big screen in the basement. I suspect I'll have a much better reaction the 2nd time around.

Who knows...maybe every Criterion is a 10/10 and my kids are just ruining my experience. Too bad I love them or that may be grounds for giving them away.

[scottpcusa]

Watched Frances Ha last night and really liked it. I liked her better in this than in Whit Stillman's Damsels in Distress. I thought it was a better film than Damsels in Distress.

[diskspinner]

I finished watching 2 of the longest running criterions I have over the weekend + Monday.

Fanny & Alexander TV version at 322 mins - I confirm that it is quite accessible in Bergman's standard, specially the middle part is very enjoyable... 4.5/5

Tati set at 660 mins - When I bought the set in December, Playtime was the only one I watched before, so I watched all the others over the last 2 months and finally watched Playtime yesterday to finish the set. I liked the set a lot...
Even the least known title 'Parade' was quite enjoyable. It is hardly a movie, more like a show...I really like the jugglers and I laughed till I cried during the mule riding scene. Seriously, I am not a viewer who laugh at anything...that was crazy... Even though Jour de Fête is the one that surpassed my expectation by most margin...
Thanks to everybody who encouraged me to get the set in December...

Now I have start watching Cassavetes (only watched Shadows from it) & BBS set.

[diskspinner]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

Good God, man. Change your priorities!! Seriously, work...sleep...what kind of nonsense is this?

I won't dismiss "work", this is where many of us get some time to go through this thread...

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by Fury Road

you got a "blueprint" of that email?! I just contacted them for the first time ever a couple of weeks ago and asked for a simple slip cover replacement for moonrise kingdom. they never bothered to reply...

You are better off sending them the money via PayPal and in message box for PayPal put the items you need - faster response

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Vinyl

Eisenstein: the Sound Years

I've been wanting to upgrade this since the beginning. It was one of the first Criterion blind-buys I made -- saw clips of Ivan the Terrible on some documentary and was immediately smitten by Eisenstein's filming style. I loved the movies when I finally saw them. Part of my reluctance in switching to Blu-Ray was in the fear that movies like these would never make the transition .

Around the time I got the Eisenstein set, I also took a chance on the Kurosawa box set with Seven Samurai, Hidden Fortress, Yojimbo, Sanjuro. Ah, those were the days -- everything I explored felt like I was discovering a classic for the first time, and it was so fresh and exciting. Haven't really had that same sensation since, but I think that's why I've stuck with Criterion for so long.

EDIT:
I'm starting to wonder if Ivan the Terrible and Alexander Nevsky could get picked up by some other distributor, here or abroad, like Kino, Masters of Cinema, or Eureka or something. I'd gladly import it if I had to.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Sorry if this has already come up, but has there been any official word about Criterion or any other English friendly label putting out a new version of Ozu's Good Morning? The existing BFI release is based on an older master while Shochiku has put out a 4K restored BD last year or so (but expensive and no Eng-friendly extras AFAIK).

I believe even the Criterion DVD of Good Morning lacks special features, so no reason not to go for the Shochiku release. It's currently about $44 shipped from Amazon.comJP, but like most overseas Amazon sites the shipping is much better for ordering multiple items at a time. It can also be had for $42 shipped at yesasia (I'm not sure what your acceptable price range is).

You could also just splurge for this which is a great set for any Ozu's fan.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by diskspinner

I finished watching 2 of the longest running criterions I have over the weekend + Monday.

Fanny & Alexander TV version at 322 mins - I confirm that it is quite accessible in Bergman's standard, specially the middle part is very enjoyable... 4.5/5

Tati set at 660 mins - When I bought the set in December, Playtime was the only one I watched before, so I watched all the others over the lat 2 months and finally watched Playtime yesterday to finish the set. I liked the set a lot...
Even the least known title 'Parade' was quite enjoyable. It is hardly a movie, more like a show...I really like the jugglers and I laughed till I cried during the mule riding scene. Seriously, I am not a viewer who laugh at anything...that was crazy... Even though Jour de Fête is the one that surpassed my expectation by most margin...
Thanks to everybody who encouraged me to get the set in December...

Now I have start watching Cassavetes (only watched Shadows from it) & BBS set.

M. Hulot's Holiday is such a relaxing and enjoyable film. Makes me think of a lazy summer day.

[italy12]

Criterion has been awesome with customer service whenever I've written to them.

Once, I asked if they would spill the beans on their new releases (it was a Friday close to my bday one year, and announcements wouldn't be until Monday for whatever reason) as a birthday gift, and I totally meant it as a joke. I mean, I had written the email with praise for their stellar work and that I enjoyed a few of their most recent releases, etc.

They said they couldn't announce them early, but "happy birthday and here's a GC for $10!"

Pretty sweet.

Just got an email last night from orders@criterion.com and was informed of their Inside Llewyn Davis ordering issue (too many were ordered and some were backordered but it didn't show upon placing the order). For the inconvenience, they put a $10 credit in my account (I'm sure others got the same email).

As far as packaging replacements go, they rule. Their packaging methods are meticulous and I have never received any replacements that weren't pristine because of the attention and care they put into making sure the contents are well protected.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by jmclick

The folks at Criterion are absolutely wonderful.

Originally Posted by Fury Road

you got a "blueprint" of that email?! I just contacted them for the first time ever a couple of weeks ago and asked for a simple slip cover replacement for moonrise kingdom. they never bothered to reply...

What day did you write? Mondays is crabby Mulvaney day