The Criterion Collection

[Vinyl]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I watched the first hour of my Blu-ray of Star Wars - The Force Awakens last night before the sleep monster got me.

I've watched a lot of great Blu-ray transfers over the past few years, but this one is a particularly amazing-looking Blu-ray transfer.

Damn, all this talk of new Star Wars movie keeps getting a nag in my mind to get it for my wife, the star wars nut. Yay for $15 in target gift cards. 😊

[The Great Owl]

I just ordered the Criterion Blu-ray of A Brighter Summer Day from Barnes & Noble for $21.94 by using the coupon code, BNSPRING20.

I was planning to wait for the next sale on this one, but $21.94 is pretty good.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I just ordered the Criterion Blu-ray of A Brighter Summer Day from Barnes & Noble for $21.94 by using the coupon code, BNSPRING20.

I was planning to wait for the next sale on this one, but $21.94 is pretty good.

I'm usually a "wait til a sale" kinda Criterion purchaser, but ABSD warrants an ASAP purchase.

[SkyAntoine]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

This company seems to be the "Criterion of books":

http://www.foliosociety.com/

I've been collecting Easton Press books for years. I almost have all titles in the 100 Greatest Books Ever Written series. Pricey, but they look incredible on the shelf.

I bought a few Folio Society books years ago, but prefer the leather bound of Easton Press.

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by SkyAntoine

I've been collecting Easton Press books for years. I almost have all titles in the 100 Greatest Books Ever Written series. Pricey, but they look incredible on the shelf.

I bought a few Folio Society books years ago, but prefer the leather bound of Easton Press.

I completed the Easton set a few years ago. I agree that it's pricey, especially considering that almost every title in the set is available as a free pdf somewhere, but they do look great on the shelf. They also look, feel and smell great when you hold them. My wife often complains about my vast collections of other books, cds, dvds, and now blu rays, but she never complains about that set.

Anyway, as a consequence of that purchase, I am now on the mailing list for every limited edition, boutique book line that comes along, including The Folio Society. Nice looking books, but even if I had the money, I'm not going to push my luck.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

I'm usually a "wait til a sale" kinda Criterion purchaser, but ABSD warrants an ASAP purchase.

I still haven't seen it and I hate myself for that. Maybe I'll watch it tonight.

[oildude]

Oh man. The 2016 losses to the music world continue. This one is big.

RIP Merle Haggard, the Okie from Muskogee, who passed away today on his 79th birthday.

Haggard was born in California during the worst of the Great Depression to Dust Bowl migrants from Oklahoma. He was one of the pioneers of the famous Bakersfield Sound style of country and western music in the early 1960s before later becoming an icon, along with greats like Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings, of the Outlaw country movement beginning in the 1970s.

And for those unaware, Haggard is part of the Criterion Collection. He can be heard in the musical score for the documentary For All Mankind. In my mind, that could also be the title of his epitaph. His songs cut across generations and were about all of us.

I have been listening to Haggard my whole life. This is indeed a very sad day.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I still haven't seen it and I hate myself for that. Maybe I'll watch it tonight.

Don't beat yourself up buddy. You'll get to it. I watched it over 3 nights covering the film and all the non commentary supplements. Life is not always structured appropriately for the needs of film fans!

I'm hoping to get to the commentary sooner rather than later.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by oildude

Oh man. The 2016 seemingly continuous losses to the music world continue. This one is big.

RIP Merle Haggard, the Okie from Muskogee, who passed away today on his 79th birthday.

Haggard was born in California during the worst of the Great Depression to Dust Bowl migrants from Oklahoma. He was one of the pioneers of the famous Bakersfield Sound style of country and western music in the late 1950s before later becoming an icon, along with greats like Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings, in the 1970s of the Outlaw country movement.

And for those unaware, Haggard is part of the Criterion Collection. He can be heard in the musical score for the documentary For All Mankind. In my mind, that could also be the title of his epitaph. His songs cut across generations and were about all of us.

I have been listening to Haggard my whole life. This is indeed a very sad day.

I heard about Merle Haggard's death just a couple of minutes ago here in my office. 2016 has been a tough year so far.

Haggard's music can also be heard in Convoy, Bronco Billy, and the 1981 film, The Legend of the Lone Ranger, which is a guilty pleasure of mine.

[SkyAntoine]

Keeping with my politically themed movies I watched Che - Part I last night. The variety of Soderbergh's films are fascinating to me. He's definitely not afraid to try anything.

The scope of Che's story is so ambitious that I was impressed Soderbergh didn't turn this into a Hollywood biopic fluff film. It was very matter of fact and left the judgement of Che to the viewer. Whether you align with his socioeconomic views or not the man certainly made an impact.

I'm anxious to start Part II tonight. For the first part, I wasn't blown away, but did enjoy Del Toro's portrayal. 7/10

Following Che, I plan on seeing Battle of Algiers. I have put it off for far too long. I also want to catch the other two Costa-Gavras films: The Confession and State of Siege.

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

I recently watched the film for a second time, via the UK Blu-ray. I don't think it's particularly inaccessible: it might be intimidating starting out but you soon relax in to the rhythm of the thing. Following my first viewing of the film some time ago I'd pushed it to one side as lesser Rivette, in terms of the quality but after this most recent viewing I'm actually tempted to declare it his greatest achievement. I would actually recommend it to a newbie now, though it might be worth taking a look at something like Celine And Julie Go Boating first.

Thanks. I'll definitely give it a go.

[Vinyl]

Originally Posted by oildude

Oh man. The 2016 losses to the music world continue. This one is big.

RIP Merle Haggard, the Okie from Muskogee, who passed away today on his 79th birthday.

Haggard was born in California during the worst of the Great Depression to Dust Bowl migrants from Oklahoma. He was one of the pioneers of the famous Bakersfield Sound style of country and western music in the late 1950s before later becoming an icon, along with greats like Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings, of the Outlaw country movement beginning in the 1970s.

And for those unaware, Haggard is part of the Criterion Collection. He can be heard in the musical score for the documentary For All Mankind. In my mind, that could also be the title of his epitaph. His songs cut across generations and were about all of us.

I have been listening to Haggard my whole life. This is indeed a very sad day.

I heard too on the way home. He was one of original country rebels, and I respect him for that. Ironically enough, people from Muskogee, Oklahoma hate that song Okie from Muskogee.

[Scottie]

Anyone going to the Kennedy presentation tonight?

[mja345]

I watched "Downhill Racer" last night and enjoyed it immensely. I saw it a long time ago, but didn't really appreciate it as much on the first viewing. I really enjoyed the no frills, no cliches approach to the material that Michael Ritchie uses. Redford and Hackman are both fantastic as two single-minded, hyper-competitive SOBs. The film looks absolutely beautiful on BD. I think its tough to do great sports films because of the tendency to devolve into cliches and sentimentality, but "Downhill Racer" avoids all of that.

[jshaide]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Anyone going to the Kennedy presentation tonight?

Oh I forgot about it!

Been to Metrograph a few times, though. It's a really nice new venue.

[movieben1138]

I grabbed the DVD of THE FUGITIVE KIND yesterday, so that one should be announced for a blu-ray upgrade soon. You're welcome to whomever has been waiting for it.

[Namuhana]

Originally Posted by movieben1138

I grabbed the DVD of THE FUGITIVE KIND yesterday, so that one should be announced for a blu-ray upgrade soon. You're welcome to whomever has been waiting for it.

I thank you for your service!

[demonknight]

With every passing month, I want a Criterion of James Merindino's superb SLC Punk more and more. Anyone else? I feel like it's a real under the radar gem and deserves some more acclaim/respect.

[Fabs]

Originally Posted by Vinyl

Damn, all this talk of new Star Wars movie keeps getting a nag in my mind to get it for my wife, the star wars nut. Yay for $15 in target gift cards. 😊

Just tell her to rewatch A New Hope. They're the same thing. but one has better characters.

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by Fabs

Just tell her to rewatch A New Hope. They're the same thing. but one has better characters.

Yeah, but A New Hope is good too.