The Criterion Collection

[Abdrewes]

I'll bite!

1. Magnolia
2. Mulholland Dr.
3. The Thin Red Line
4. Red Desert
5. Miami Vice
6. Say Anything
7. 2001: A Space Odyssey
8. Leaving Las Vegas
9. Solaris
10. Blade Runner

Next few CCs are:
The Last Temptation of Christ
Blow Out
The New World
Days of Heaven
L'Avventura
Lola Montes

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

5. Miami Vice

Miami Vice is so underrated as a movie.

Are you planning to purchase the Miami Vice: The Complete Series box set that just came out on Blu-ray? This is my second favorite television show of all time, only behind the original The Twilight Zone series, and it's a great way to appreciate the early Michael Mann approach to filmmaking.

My Miami Vice: The Complete Series showed up in the mail this week, but I'm enjoying horror movies this month. I plan to revisit the Miami Vice seasons during the colder months, so that I can dream about being down in Miami with warm weather and women.

Michael Mann's feature film, Miami Vice, is basically a retread of the "Smuggler's Blues" episode from the first season of the show, but it's incredibly well-done, and it's a beautiful film in so many ways.

[johnmccabe]

My top 10 movies of all time - Criterion in bold

1. 8 1/2
2. 2001 - A Space odyssey (on laserdisc)
3. Vertigo
4. Nashville
5. Seven Samurai
6. Mulholland Drive
7. Bicycle Thieves
8. The Third Man
9. The Godfather
10. Dr. Strangelove.....

[Ray Jackson]

My top ten has been a lot more fluid the last couple of years, as I've started reassessing my devotion to old favorites that I hardly ever watch anymore.

But here's where it stands today:

1. Apocalypse Now
2. Blade Runner
3. Heat
4. The Thin Red Line
5. 2001: A Space Odyssey
6. Ikiru
7. Sunset Boulevard
8. Pather Panchali
9. Taxi Driver
10. The Shining

11. Goodfellas
12. High and Low
13. Picnic at Hanging Rock
14. Badlands
15. Chinatown
16. Harakiri
17. The Exorcist
18. Children of Men
19. Alien
20a. There Will Be Blood
20b. The World of Apu


As I agonized over every spot on the list, I realized how meaningless it really was. The order could easily be changed and there at least ten other films that could easily break into the top 20 on any given day.

Did I subconsciously pressure myself to include more Criterions because of the nature of the question?

...there's just no way to know.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

My top ten has been a lot more fluid the last couple of years, as I've started reassessing my devotion to old favorites that I hardly ever watch anymore.

But here's where it stands today:

1. Apocalypse Now
2. Blade Runner
3. Heat
4. The Thin Red Line
5. 2001: A Space Odyssey
6. Ikiru
7. Sunset Boulevard
8. Pather Panchali
9. Taxi Driver
10. The Shining

11. Goodfellas
12. High and Low
13. Picnic at Hanging Rock
14. Badlands
15. Chinatown
16. Harakiri
17. The Exorcist
18. Children of Men
19. Alien
20a. There Will Be Blood
20b. The World of Apu


As I agonized over every spot on the list, I realized how meaningless it really was. The order could easily be changed and there at least ten other films that could easily break into the top 20 on any given day.

Wow, Ray, I think your Top 5 is nearly identical with mine. Amazing.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Miami Vice is so underrated as a movie.

Are you planning to purchase the Miami Vice: The Complete Series box set that just came out on Blu-ray? This is my second favorite television show of all time, only behind the original The Twilight Zone series, and it's a great way to appreciate the early Michael Mann approach to filmmaking.

My Miami Vice: The Complete Series showed up in the mail this week, but I'm enjoying horror movies this month. I plan to revisit the Miami Vice seasons during the colder months, so that I can dream about being down in Miami with warm weather and women.

Michael Mann's feature film, Miami Vice, is basically a retread of the "Smuggler's Blues" episode from the first season of the show, but it's incredibly well-done, and it's a beautiful film in so many ways.

I'm on the fence about purchasing the show as I rarely watch TV and I rarely watch a show more than once. That said, I did buy Luck solely due to Mann (and Milch's) involvement, so I may just buy this series too once it hits a good price.

[I KEEL YOU]

Mines:

1. Drugstore Cowboy (1989)
2. The Shining (1980)
3. Taxi Driver (1976) - was released on LaserDisc a long time ago
4. 3 Women (1977)
5. A Clockwork Orange (1971)
6. Psycho (1960)
7. Harakiri (1962)
8. Danton (1983)* - so far only on DVD
9. McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971)
10. Heat (1995)

11. Reservoir Dogs (1992)
12. Something Wild (1986)
13. Casino (1995)
14. Unforgiven (1992)
15. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
16. Alien (1979)
17. Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
18. Barton Fink (1991)
19. The Thing (1982)
20. Hoop Dreams (1994)

[Lastyear]

Hard to pick only ten. Not in order.

1. The Godfather Trilogy
2. Goodfellas
3. Psycho
4. Chinatown
5. The 400 Blows
6. 8 1/2
7. The Big Lebowski
8. Jackie Brown
9. The God, The Bad and the Ugly
10. Blade Runner

Runners up:

11. The Wild Bunch
12. The Maltese Falcon
13. Sunset Boulevard
14. The 7 Samurai
15. Alien
16. Blood Simple
17. Mulholland Drive
16. Safety Last
17. The New World
18. McCabe & Mrs. Miller
19. The General
20. The Seventh Seal
21. The Player
22. Citizen Kane
23. Lawrence of Arabia
24. The French Connection
25. Persona

9 have been done by Criterion

[ckt]

I hope Criterion will sell plastic cases for Digipack owners with the rerelease of Breathless

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by ckt

I hope Criterion will sell plastic cases for Digipack owners with the rerelease of Breathless

Yah just pay them $5 per piece (case, booklet and artwork) - can do with any release :P

[ckt]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Yah just pay them $5 per piece (case, booklet and artwork) - can do with any release :P

Can please you elaborate on the "with any release part"? Because I would love to have a plastic case for Slacker, and Don't Look Back too. I didn't think that was possible? I bought one for the 400 Blows when it was listed on their site over a year ago.

[Popcorn_Bliss]

If I include my next #11-20, I realize I might be able to squeeze in a few more Criterions...

11. Manhattan 1979
12. The Blob 1958
13. The Gold Rush 1925
14. On Her Majesty's Secret Service 1969
15. Gimme Shelter 1970
16. Inherit The Wind 1960
17. The Last Picture Show 1971
18. L'avventura 1960
19. Singin In The Rain 1954
20. Juliet Of The Spirits 1965

Interestingly, there are more Criterions within my #11-20 than in my top ten. Although, as many have expressed, trying to precisely rank great films can be a futile endeavor...

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by ckt

I hope Criterion will sell plastic cases for Digipack owners with the rerelease of Breathless

The re-re-release coming in another month or so will more than likely be a smaller DigiPack (similar to the original release).

[ckt]

Is there any reason why they choose digipack with certain releases?

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by ckt

Can please you elaborate on the "with any release part"? Because I would love to have a plastic case for Slacker, and Don't Look Back too. I didn't think that was possible? I bought one for the 400 Blows when it was listed on their site over a year ago.

Sorry meant any release that has a plastic case option, which now includes a lot of digipaks as they re released so many in cases ^^

[Reddington]

Impressed that many here can name their Top 10, and some even their Top 20. I'd have to think long and hard before I could come up with a complete list, let alone rank them. Having said that, Criterion would definitely be represented by Great Expectations, The Third Man, and The Long Good Friday in my Top 10.

[I KEEL YOU]

My real list:

1. Troll 2 (1990)
2. R.O.T.O.R. (1987)
3. Manos: The Hands of Fate (1966)
4. The Room (2003)
5. Birdemic: Shock and Terror (2008)
6. Miami Connection (1987)
7. A Safe Place (1971)
8. Zaat (1971)
9. The Wicker Man (2006)
10a. Deadly Prey (1987)
10b. Samurai Cop (1991)

Only one Criterion on the list, but still better than nothing.

[I KEEL YOU]

Originally Posted by ckt

Is there any reason why they choose digipack with certain releases?

Yes, if the physical extras (booklet, etc.) is too thick to fit into an ordinary case, they go with a digipack.

[mja345]

Variation on the top 10 or 20 list just for shits and giggles. Name your 10 favorite directors and your favorite film by each one. Mine would be...

1. Altman-"McCabe and Mrs. Miller"
2. Kubrick- "2001"
3. Scorsese-"Taxi Driver"
4. Allen- "Crimes and Misdemeanors"
5. Hitchcock-"Vertigo"
6. Fellini- "8 1/2"
7. Kurosawa- "High and Low"
8. Lumet- "Network"
9. Peckinpah- "Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia"
10. Carpenter- "The Thing"

[Arch Stanton]

Just because I love doing lists...

1. Mulholland Drive
2. Once Upon a Time in the West
3. Nashville
4. Sunset Boulevard
5. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
6. The Shining
7. Rear Window
8. Persona
9. Wild Strawberries
10. The Double Life of Veronique
11. Singin' in the Rain
12. Vertigo
13. It's a Wonderful Life
14. Some Like It Hot
15. Eraserhead
16. Lolita
17. What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
18. Inland Empire
19. Taxi Driver
20. Badlands