The Criterion Collection

[starman15317]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Watching Floating Weeds with the Ebert commentary feels like watching the movie with a friend, so it's probably my favorite. I've enjoyed all his commentary tracks (Casablanca, Dark City, etc..)

Yeah, Ebert's commentaries are great. His track for Beyond the Valley of the Dolls is very interesting, since he wrote the film.

[jw007]

Thanks to everyone (and those who have yet to post) about your thoughts on commentary tracks.

The way I see it, if I really REALLY like the movie I just watched, I'll be compelled to view it again with the commentary on.

However, in my early days of Criterion-viewing, I used to be a completist. Just on general principle, I watched the film a 2nd time with commentary on. However, this started to become weary for me, and I was too eager to watch a new film or something different the following night. It started to feel like I was back in college again in my film classes having to write 10 page essays on movies I had to analyze.

This "burning out" of sorts is what made me stop watching films with the commentary track activated.

Still, every now and then, I'll put on some of the commentary, esp. in certain parts of the movie. I did this most recently with Burroughs: The Movie, because I wanted to hear a rare Jim Jarmusch commentary track (he never does his own commentary on films he made).

[Reddington]

Never watched a film with the commentary track on, and doing so has no appeal. I do enjoy a good "Making Of" documentary, though. Not the "Bonus Feature" type that run for a few minutes, but the real thing. Probably the best I've ever seen is the 90-minute documentary on Disney's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Now there's a film crying out for a BD release.

[mrjohnnyb]

I will watch a commentary track, but only after I have seen a film at least twice.

One of my favorite commentaries is on a non-Criterion disc. It's the commentary track for John Carpenter's The Thing produced by Universal. The first time I listened to that commentary, I had already watched the movie at least ten times. It is, by the way, an outstanding commentary.

[SkyAntoine]

I have such a huge queue of films to see that I rarely do the commentaries. It's hard to find time to watch a 2 hr film 2x. Usually I only do commentaries if it is a film I have already seen. I do try to see most of the supplements.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by mrjohnnyb

I will watch a commentary track, but only after I have seen a film at least twice.

One of my favorite commentaries is on a non-Criterion disc. It's the commentary track for John Carpenter's The Thing produced by Universal. The first time I listened to that commentary, I had already watched the movie at least ten times. It is, by the way, an outstanding commentary.

1982's The Thing is probably my favorite horror film ever. I have the blu-ray here too. Might give it a spin with the commentary track on (though maybe I've already heard it! John Carpenter is great with commentaries).

[the sordid sentinel]

Originally Posted by mrjohnnyb

I will watch a commentary track, but only after I have seen a film at least twice.

One of my favorite commentaries is on a non-Criterion disc. It's the commentary track for John Carpenter's The Thing produced by Universal. The first time I listened to that commentary, I had already watched the movie at least ten times. It is, by the way, an outstanding commentary.

All of Carpenter's commentaries are excellent, and the ones with Russell are the standouts. Really good listens.

[pedromvu]

Since MoC announced today they will release The Flight of the Phoenix (1965) and it being a Fox title that was already restored (not sure when), I guess it is pretty sure that will end up being a Criterion release here since there was two different clues involving a Phoenix (the newsletter and the new years drawing).

[theater dreamer]

Originally Posted by RickDee

Anything that is cardboard will not last and will look like crap with shelf wear.

Maybe it's not the Digipacks themselves, but how you take care of them that's the problem.

[oildude]

Originally Posted by diskspinner

I guess it is the tornadoes & storms he worries about. We are having a lot of those these days...

In that case, a digipack is less likely to become a deadly missile capable of taking out furniture, walls, and people. Suddenly I now have a new appreciation for them.

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I never listened to a commentary track and I don't have any desire to do so.

I've always liked to interpret messages within films on my own. Plus, the idea of having someone talking over the entire film isn't my cup of tea.

I don't honestly see how a commentry track is any different to any other special feature in that regard. In fact, a lot of them take scenes from the movie and talk over them in exactly that way.

[Martin_31]

Originally Posted by jw007

1982's The Thing is probably my favorite horror film ever. I have the blu-ray here too. Might give it a spin with the commentary track on (though maybe I've already heard it! John Carpenter is great with commentaries).

Oh man The Thing is one, if not, my favorite horror movie. Really, really good. My cousin, who's an 8th grader, came over and wanted to watch a horror movie. He'd seen Halloween, Friday the 13th, and Nightmare on Elm Street series. The usual movies that air on AMC on Halloween. I could tell he was scared and grossed out from the special effects. I know people shouldn't have favorite family members, but he is one of my favorite cousins. Open to watching any movie. Other horror movies that I enjoy are The Exorcist and Cronenberg's The Fly.

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

I don't honestly see how a commentry track is any different to any other special feature in that regard. In fact, a lot of them take scenes from the movie and talk over them in exactly that way.

It is not but it is very time consuming, also there is much more variation on the quality of the information given compared to a selected scene commentary, for example there could be spaces where nothing is being said, I try to see all the supplements and leave the commentaries pending until I watch the blu-ray again, which hasn't happened yet, there is still too much of my collection unwatched to start watching the others a second time.

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

It is not but it is very time consuming, also there is much more variation on the quality of the information given compared to a selected scene commentary, for example there could be spaces where nothing is being said, I try to see all the supplements and leave the commentaries pending until I watch the blu-ray again, which hasn't happened yet, there is still too much of my collection unwatched to start watching the others a second time.

That's why I don't watch many commentaries these days too, I am only responding to Scottie's specific comment, as I know he really enjoys watching supplements too.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

That's why I don't watch many commentaries these days too, I am only responding to Scottie's specific comment, as I know he really enjoys watching supplements too.

I don't really get his comment to be honest. If he watches supplements, discusses movies online, read reviews, etc..then they all have as much impact on the views and interpretations of a film as a commentary track can have. Which is to say, none of them can really prevent a person from still forming their own interpretations. I feel like there's a misunderstanding of what's on a commentary track, which is why I encourage him (and others) to listen to one. I can understand if he doesn't want to hear another voice over the movie though.

[Nuck Horris]

I want to see some Clint Eastwood films on Criterion...

Play Misty For Me, Tightrope, Bird, the WWII duology, and Unforgiven to start. The world would be a better place.

[RickDee]

Originally Posted by Nuck Horris

I want to see some Clint Eastwood films on Criterion...

Play Misty For Me, Tightrope, Bird, the WWII duology, and Unforgiven to start. The world would be a better place.

All fine films but too many more important films and upgrades out there that deserve to be Criterion than those

[Nuck Horris]

Originally Posted by RickDee

All fine films but too many more important films and upgrades out there that deserve to be Criterion than those

You mean you just want your favorites upgraded instead of mine...

I don't think any film is important in and of itself. People imbue films with importance but beyond that they are nothing but celluloid, digital files, plastic on the shelf, and ways for people to make money off of other people.

Importance really comes down to demand and profit so I think Eastwood films would be pretty important projects if Criterion could ever get the rights to them.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Nuck Horris

You mean you just want your favorites upgraded instead of mine...

I don't think any film is important in and of itself. People imbue films with importance but beyond that they are nothing but celluloid, digital files, plastic on the shelf, and ways for people to make money off of other people.

Importance really comes down to demand and profit so I think Eastwood films would be pretty important projects if Criterion could ever get the rights to them.

Nearly everything you listed already had a BD release. The last thing Criterion needs to do is add more re-releases to their library. Films previously not available on BD in the US, and upgrades of their DVD's should be their priority.

[RickDee]

Originally Posted by Nuck Horris

You mean you just want your favorites upgraded instead of mine...

I don't think any film is important in and of itself. People imbue films with importance but beyond that they are nothing but celluloid, digital files, plastic on the shelf, and ways for people to make money off of other people.

Importance really comes down to demand and profit so I think Eastwood films would be pretty important projects if Criterion could ever get the rights to them.

No what I want is all the Criterion's that are on DVD that they still have license for released on blu before anything new is added. Films like the ones in my Signature and so many others.