The Criterion Collection

[WonderWeasel]

I just got home from a screening (and my first viewing) of Godard's Weekend, his offbeat, grotesque indictment of bourgeoisie society and capitalism. I have never walked out of a theater so frustrated with what I had just seen, only to find myself still thinking about and analyzing the film 3 hours later, completely unable to shake the thought of it. It's fractured, vulgar, philosophical... and absolutely captivating.

I may have found a Godard film I actually enjoy.

And as far as the pig goes,

[Show spoiler]I thought Eisenstein's slaughterhouse footage in Strike was much worse.

[Fabs]

Just a thought, but Amazon doesn't seem quite worth it anymore. Criterions don't seem to drop below $27.99 anymore, and with them adding tax on everything and shipping being near $5 everytime you end up paying almost full price for Criterions.

I'll probably be cancelling my pre-orders and probably order off Criterion.com. At least you get points for your purchases there.

[tallrichard]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Woohoo, July's coming. Next month, I'll definitely be buying:

[Show spoiler]



May consider this one--didn't think much of it on the first viewing, but I think I might appreciate it on a repeat viewing:

Was also thinking about one of these. Haven't seen any of them, but they caught my eye and I wouldn't mind throwing in a good blind-buy or two to my order. I was wondering if anybody has any thoughts, opinions, or recommendations for:

Of these films, my favorite would be Breaker Morant.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Fabs

Just a thought, but Amazon doesn't seem quite worth it anymore. Criterions don't seem to drop below $27.99 anymore, and with them adding tax on everything and shipping being near $5 everytime you end up paying almost full price for Criterions.

I usually order my Criterion titles from the Barnes & Noble site, because the prices are generally low for the first week of a release, I can usually combine the sale price with a coupon, and, as a member, I get free shipping. I should order straight from Criterion more than I do, but I've been in the habit of ordering from them only during flash sales.

I've also recently taken to ordering from Deep Discount DVD or Diabolik DVD instead of Amazon, since the shipping prices are low, and since these companies are more reliable about getting packages to me undamaged.

These days, I only order from Amazon when I'm making a bulk order that qualifies for free shipping. I tend to order a bunch of Kino Lorber titles at once on the site when they go on sale for $16 apiece or so.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by Fabs

Just a thought, but Amazon doesn't seem quite worth it anymore. Criterions don't seem to drop below $27.99 anymore, and with them adding tax on everything and shipping being near $5 everytime you end up paying almost full price for Criterions.

I'll probably be cancelling my pre-orders and probably order off Criterion.com. At least you get points for your purchases there.

To get the $50 gift credit from Criterion you'd have to buy 16 blu-rays: $511.84 (This doesn't count shipping costs)

On Amazon you can buy about 18 blu-rays at $27.99: $503.82 (Not counting tax and shipping).

So in the end you're buying 2 more blu-rays to get a $50 gc that can nearly buy the 2 more blu-rays you'd already be getting going with Amazon.

[easydreamer]

Originally Posted by jw007

Like yourself, I personally cannot stand The Night Porter. It's one of my least favorite titles in the Criterion Collection.

Down by Law on the other hand is one of my favorite comedies in the collection.

I don't have The Night Porter yet, but watched it on TV the last week or so and loved it. Charlotte Rampling was so good in it! I had thought it was a Nazi exploitation film of sort, but it wasn't at all. I'll be getting it when the price comes down.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

To get the $50 gift credit from Criterion you'd have to buy 16 blu-rays: $511.84 (This doesn't count shipping costs)

On Amazon you can buy about 18 blu-rays at $27.99: $503.82 (Not counting tax and shipping).

So in the end you're buying 2 more blu-rays to get a $50 gc that can nearly buy the 2 more blu-rays you'd already be getting going with Amazon.

Not counting tax and shipping is the key phrase here. Also not taking into consideration the fact that most who hit up Criterion directly only do so during sale time, so the more real #s are 25 standard blus will get you 2 1/2 more vs the 18 your get if you spend 500 at Amazon.

[bwdowiak]

Anyone else care to join in on the praise for Here Comes Mr. Jordan? It seems like it was not much more than a blip on the radar when it was announced. Now that it has been released and people have seen it, we're hearing good things. I like when that happens around here. One thing that is definitely fun about following this thread.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

Not counting tax and shipping is the key phrase here. Also not taking into consideration the fact that most who hit up Criterion directly only do so during sale time, so the more real #s are 25 standard blus will get you 2 1/2 more vs the 18 your get if you spend 500 at Amazon.

There's also the fact many Criterions on Amazon will drop to about $23-$24. It'd be fair to say that it's a wash.

[mrjohnnyb]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I've also recently taken to ordering from Deep Discount DVD or Diabolik DVD instead of Amazon, since the shipping prices are low, and since these companies are more reliable about getting packages to me undamaged.

I find myself buying over 75% of my purchases through deepdiscount.com, mainly for the outstanding final prices when they have site-wide sales. Also, I never get charged a sales tax and their free shipping kicks in at $25.

I had never heard of Diabolik DVD until your post, so I decided to check it out. The prices their seem very high. Is there a reason that I am missing why you choose to use this company?

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by hariseldon

I can't see it -- 29 at Criterion for $530 vs 23 at Amazon (even at $23 and no tax - closer to 21 with my moderate sales tax so a full 25% items for the same $$)

The prices I ran were the standard $31.99 at Criterion.com v. the usual $27.99 on Amazon.

[bruce holecheck]

Originally Posted by hariseldon

Amazon is just a nonentity for me for Criterions for over 4-5 years

I'm right there with you -- I generally buy my Criterions in bulk quarterly: the biannual B&N sales, and the biannual Criterion flash sales. I may pick up a few odds and ends here and there at other sales through deepdiscount, etc. if the price is right, but I generally try not to pay more than $18 a pop.

[zorbonaut]

Originally Posted by bruce holecheck

I'm right there with you -- I generally buy my Criterions in bulk quarterly: the biannual B&N sales, and the biannual Criterion flash sales. I may pick up a few odds and ends here and there at other sales through deepdiscount, etc. if the price is right, but I generally try not to pay more than $18 a pop.

Same here- My most recent Criterions from the BN 40+30% sale came in at 16.79 a piece. I also purchase from the trading thread. Used prices anywhere from $10-16 and new $14-18 range.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by mrjohnnyb

I had never heard of Diabolik DVD until your post, so I decided to check it out. The prices their seem very high. Is there a reason that I am missing why you choose to use this company?

Diabolik DVD often has good prices on Arrow Blu-rays and such. They also have amazing customer service, so I like to order obscure limited edition/foreign stuff from them. When my limited edition German digibook of Tourist Trap arrived damaged, they replaced the package promptly.

[Arch Stanton]

For those who were talking about this last month: Fail Safe is finally coming out in Australia seemingly.

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by hariseldon

I can't see it -- 29 at Criterion for $530 vs 23 at Amazon (even at $23 and no tax - closer to 21 with my moderate sales tax so a full 25% items for the same $$)

Yep, that's the way to do it if you order online (and are patient ), otherwise the only better option is the occasional Barnes and noble with coupon like last week, and some sparse other sales where you can get them for less.

There is always the plus of supporting Criterion directly if you care for that.

[belcherman]

I bought my first Criterion (On the Waterfront) from Amazon and over the years I've bought about 10 from Amazon, but none in the last year. The vast majority have come from B&N (mostly during sales) and Criterion (exclusively during sales). I have Prime and I don't pay for Amazon shipping, but their prices are still always higher than the sale prices at B&N and Criterion. I don't have to do the math. I know I'm getting a better deal at B&N and Criterion.

Having said that, I will still buy from Amazon if it's a title I'm dying for, such as McCabe & Mrs. Miller. Release day delivery is a nice perk.

[eddyw78]

Originally Posted by jw007

Like yourself, I personally cannot stand The Night Porter. It's one of my least favorite titles in the Criterion Collection.

Down by Law on the other hand is one of my favorite comedies in the collection.

The Night Porter. The only Criterion BD I blind bought and then subsequently sold on.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

There's also the fact many Criterions on Amazon will drop to about $23-$24. It'd be fair to say that it's a wash.

if that's a wash, I certainly don't want you as my accountant.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

if that's a wash, I certainly don't want you as my accountant.

$31.99+ earning $50 GC vs $27.99 per blu-ray is close to a wash. I was being generous. Amazon is a bit cheaper.