The Criterion Collection

[bwdowiak]

I bought a ‘like new’ copy of Fox Lorber’s DVD release of Truffaut’s Stolen Kisses for less than $6 in an eBay auction and watched it last night. I guess I am officially out to do something w/ Truffaut’s films like shadepain4 is doing w/ his Ozu films, so for the money I thought this was a good add to my collection.

I was mildly disappointed with the film, however, though I suspect that subsequent watches could put me more in the mood of the film. There is quite a bit more comedy than in any other Truffaut film I’ve seen up to this point and I had a hard time connecting with some of it. Some of what happens is seemingly unexplainable, too.

[Show spoiler]Why does he run out of the house when he calls the shoe store owner’s wife ‘sir?’ How and why does the guy at the detective agency die while on the phone?

The story w/ him and Christine wasn’t really fleshed out nor was it easy to relate to whatever gravity it is said to hold. Look forward to seeing it again some time, but for now it ranks in the bottom half of the Truffaut I’ve seen.

[zoodermin]

I saw Ikiru last night (finally!) and wow, what an incredible film. As someone who is currently working in an organization riddled with bureocracy, it was eye-opening and it seriously made me reconsider my life goals. It's also amazing how relevant it still is even 64 years after its original release. Takeshi Shimura gives a wonderful, understated performance and the film's message stays with you long after the film it's done. Kurosawa has done it again!

"It's our human duty to enjoy life"

Now, it's time for Tokyo Story.

[LetsGetATaco]

Got the $10 off $50 coupon and tried to use it on 3 $19.99 titles and it got rejected! Is B&N just turning off all coupons for Criterion titles?

[Joshitaka]

Of course, many of the criterion titles I'm interested to see are not featured on Hulu. What are some of the safest blind buys for criterion?

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by LetsGetATaco

Got the $10 off $50 coupon and tried to use it on 3 $19.99 titles and it got rejected! Is B&N just turning off all coupons for Criterion titles?

Yes, they're intentionally excluding Criterion titles despite not mentioning that in their exclusions. Pretty lame, but not surprising considering the company.

[LetsGetATaco]

Guess I will try it in store later today. There is nothing anywhere about it not being applicable to movies so they shouldn't be rejecting it.

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Yes, they're intentionally excluding Criterion titles despite not mentioning that in their exclusions. Pretty lame, but not surprising considering the company.

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by LetsGetATaco

Guess I will try it in store later today. There is nothing anywhere about it not being applicable to movies so they shouldn't be rejecting it.

I used it in store this morning and it worked fine. Hopefully that continues to be true, as I was hoping to pick up a few more titles this weekend.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Joshitaka

Of course, many of the criterion titles I'm interested to see are not featured on Hulu. What are some of the safest blind buys for criterion?

Most of them? None of them? It completely depends on your tastes.

Here is my subjective list (in no particular order):

The Wages of Fear
Safety Last!
Seven Samurai
Tokyo Story
Blow-Out
The Kid
The Night of the Hunter
12 Angry Men
Gojira / Godzila
M
Rififi
City Lights

[Joshitaka]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Most of them? None of them? It completely depends on your tastes.

Here is my subjective list (in no particular order):

The Wages of Fear
Safety Last!
Seven Samurai
Tokyo Story
Blow-Out
The Kid
The Night of the Hunter
12 Angry Men
Gojira / Godzila
M
Rififi
City Lights

Thanks! I realize it was a very broad question. I tend to like a sorts of films. I just wanted to see what titles people would suggest.

ps- I myself am a Toshiro Mifune fan. But who isn't?

[Leonidas King]

Can someone who owns Traffic (2000) can you please confirm if is meant to have this low quality print on the cover? I dunno why but I recently got it and it looks like the cover was printed using an inkjet printer. Maybe it's just me or its meant to look that way.

p.s It didn't even come with the circular blue "Special Edition" sticker on the shrinkwrap. Is something off here?

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Joshitaka

Thanks! I realize it was a very broad question. I tend to like a sorts of films. I just wanted to see what titles people would suggest.

ps- I myself am a Toshiro Mifune fan. But who isn't?

I was going to load the list up with more Mifune titles like The Hidden Fortress (my personal fav.) and Yojimbo / Sanjuro, but I wanted to vary it a little

I think the safest films for me personally are: Chaplin, Kurosawa, Ozu, Hitchcock, and stuff with Harold Lloyd. I've also enjoyed the few Tati films I've watched. I've seen these via Hulu, so I reccomend checking them out to see if you like them.

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by blkhrt

I used it in store this morning and it worked fine. Hopefully that continues to be true, as I was hoping to pick up a few more titles this weekend.

In store always works best for me for the coupons. The people at my BN always go above and beyond to make coupons work. Only disadvantage is being limited to what's in stock.

[Nielsb90]

Originally Posted by zoodermin

I saw Ikiru last night (finally!) and wow, what an incredible film. As someone who is currently working in an organization riddled with bureocracy, it was eye-opening and it seriously made me reconsider my life goals. It's also amazing how relevant it still is even 64 years after its original release. Takeshi Shimura gives a wonderful, understated performance and the film's message stays with you long after the film it's done. Kurosawa has done it again!

"It's our human duty to enjoy life"

Now, it's time for Tokyo Story.

I watched it for the first time last night as well - incredible film!

[buffetfroid]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

Am I the only one who found Kings of the Road to be considerably the better one of the Wim Wenders road trilogy?

I would go:

Kings of the Road 8/10
Alice in the Cities 7/10
Wrong Move 6/10

Overall of the 8 Wenders movies I have seen I would say Paris, Texas is still the best, followed closely by Wings of Desire and Kings of the Road

Leonard Maltin agrees. I haven't seen it yet, but saw the other two years ago.

[joie]

Originally Posted by Joshitaka

Thanks! I realize it was a very broad question. I tend to like a sorts of films. I just wanted to see what titles people would suggest.

ps- I myself am a Toshiro Mifune fan. But who isn't?

I'm not. What makes "High and Low" memorable is that he isn't scratching himself so often.

[HitchcockLang]

Originally Posted by Leonidas_King

Can someone who owns Traffic (2000) can you please confirm if is meant to have this low quality print on the cover? I dunno why but I recently got it and it looks like the cover was printed using an inkjet printer. Maybe it's just me or its meant to look that way.

p.s It didn't even come with the circular blue "Special Edition" sticker on the shrinkwrap. Is something off here?

I just pulled out my Criterion copy of Traffic and you're right, it does have a vaguely inkjet look to it. I think you're good.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by joie

I'm not. What makes "High and Low" memorable is that he isn't scratching himself so often.

yeah - also don't forget - in High and Low, he cuts the lawn and has a life passion for selling women's shoes. that can't be beat.

I like him, though. hard not to like.

[Leonidas King]

Originally Posted by HitchcockLang

I just pulled out my Criterion copy of Traffic and you're right, it does have a vaguely inkjet look to it. I think you're good.

Ok so I wasn't imagining things. That's how you spot bootleg copies. Thanks so much for verifying for me. The quality is a little off compared to other Criterion titles. That really alerted me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jw007]

Originally Posted by LetsGetATaco

Got the $10 off $50 coupon and tried to use it on 3 $19.99 titles and it got rejected! Is B&N just turning off all coupons for Criterion titles?

Yes, def. works in stores... For a second I freaked out and thought it only applies to a single purchase of an item that is $50 or more, but now I realize I can purchase multiple items that exceed $50 or more. So I think 3 Criterions in store shall do the trick.

[JJJ225]

Originally Posted by jw007

Yes, def. works in stores... For a second I freaked out and thought it only applies to a single purchase of an item that is $50 or more, but now I realize I can purchase multiple items that exceed $50 or more. So I think 3 Criterions in store shall do the trick.

It doesn't necessarily work in stores. Some stores will accept coupons during sales, others will reject.