The Criterion Collection

[deepbreathsanddeath]

I've still got my Amazon pre-order for Lone Wolf and Cub but want to ask a serious question... Is the series more satisfying and less repetitive than Zatoichi? I haven't even finished that box set due to samurai fatigue and it's honestly just the same plot over and over again with minor differences in ideas.

I have no doubt it'll be a great set but what's everyone's opinion because I'm seriously considering just cancelling my pre-order and half want to be talked out of it and half want to justify that being a good idea... Haha.

Will I make a mistake if I cancel? Is it different and great enough to justify keeping?
To be clear, it's not all samurai flicks I'm tired of. Just the Zatoichi ones and any that are really similar.

The film's got a 4/5 from Pro-B and Zatoichi got 5/5. That kind of concerns me on top of how I'm feeling anyway.

[dwk]

Any film series is going to have its repetitive nature, but Lone Wolf and Cub is only six films, so it is, by virtue of the number of installments, less repetitive than Zatoichi. Also, the LW&C films are much more graphic, exploitation/grindhouse films than the Zatoichi films.

[Hoke Moseley]

The B&N sale thread is a warzone, lol.

Probably heading to the store tomorrow, kind of scared to even try any coupons. Might have to introduce the cashier to my good friend George Washington (wink wink) to get him/her to accept the coupon.

[AwkwardBoner]

Ordered the majority of my haul during the flash sale. Probably hit B&N when Punch Drunk Love releases.

[Rui]

Originally Posted by deepbreathsanddeath

will i make a mistake if i cancel?

yes

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by deepbreathsanddeath

I've still got my Amazon pre-order for Lone Wolf and Cub but want to ask a serious question... Is the series more satisfying and less repetitive than Zatoichi? I haven't even finished that box set due to samurai fatigue and it's honestly just the same plot over and over again with minor differences in ideas.

I have no doubt it'll be a great set but what's everyone's opinion because I'm seriously considering just cancelling my pre-order and half want to be talked out of it and half want to justify that being a good idea... Haha.

Will I make a mistake if I cancel? Is it different and great enough to justify keeping?
To be clear, it's not all samurai flicks I'm tired of. Just the Zatoichi ones and any that are really similar.

The film's got a 4/5 from Pro-B and Zatoichi got 5/5. That kind of concerns me on top of how I'm feeling anyway.

DON'T YOU FREAKING DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will hunt you down and burn you alive.

...with no remorse.

[Doctor Jack]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

OK, made my first B&N sale order. Got ...

The Player

Short Cuts

Punch Drunk Love



I might have a bit of an Altman thing.

Throw in Night Train to Munich and you have my first order!

[greekak229]

Only interested in snagging the November releases for the sale. Lone Wolf and Cub for it especially.

[Majin Blu]

I finally ordered the Zatoichi collection!
I cannot wait to watch 'em all.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by reelgeek

I finally ordered the Zatoichi collection!
I cannot wait to watch 'em all.

You're in for a real treat. All of the movies are awesome in their own unique ways, even if they sort of run together if you watch them consecutively.

[noirjunkie]

Is there any specific reason why the two recent Orson Welles releases haven't been reviewed yet? I would have thought Chimes at Midnight in particular would have been a high priority.

[Page14]

I've been trying to cut back on my purchases since I'm so far behind in watching what I already have. So I only picked up 2 "catch up" titles today to kick off the Barnes & Noble sale (using my two 20% off snail mail coupons). ... In A Lonely Place and The In-Laws. No guarantees if I'll be buying more during this sale, but looking back at past "polls", the odds are for it. (Yeah, I've been watching too much election coverage).

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by Doctor Jack

Throw in Night Train to Munich and you have my first order!

Yeah, I should have grabbed that too. Argh.

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by Reddington

Whoa! Never heard of that. And in theory should be impossible as each physical coupon has a serial number which one would think would cancel it out of the system after the first use. But then again, we are talking about the crazy and completely inconsistent world of B&N here. Anyway, happy for you!

I went nuts in July, when I picked up 30 titles. Just On the Waterfront, Blood Simple, and A Taste of Honey for me today. Will also pick up One-Eyed Jacks and Dreams when they are released later in the month - thankfully, before the sale ends.

Edit:

Over in the dedicated B&N sale thread people are reporting that the 20% member sale coupons are not scanning, and Criterion titles were added today to the official list of coupon exclusions. Some getting manual overrides, but others getting refused. I was saving my two 20% coupons for the titles released later this month, and will still give it a go. But looks like the July coupon debacle has B&N spooked and they are battening down the hatches.

I think this is increasingly one of those YMMV type things. I've never had a problem using coupons with Criterions at my local B&N, even during the last sale when Criterions where supposedly excluded. I'm waiting for my snail-mail coupons to arrive, but if I can't use them during the sale than that will probably be the end of my B&N membership. At that point, the Criterion flash sales become a better deal for me. No tax, free shipping (with $50 orders) and $50 rewards after $500.

I'm not catastrophizing just yet, at least until I get shot down trying to use my coupons. Just considering my plan B.

[AaronJ]

So, I'll have 56 Criterions I think after this new order. I need a LOT more.

[dwk]

I don't think this has been mentioned. Chungking Express is on FilmStruck and it opens with both the Janus Films and Criterion logos. I suspect that they have WKW's run of films from Chunking Express to In the Mood for Love (which, per Janus Films site, they also now control.) Hopefully, they are doing new 4K transfers of all those films for a box set

[maytropolees]

Picked up Short Cuts, Nashville, and Fantastic Planet today, and was able to use two 15% off coupons. I wanted to get the Wim Wenders Road Trilogy, but they only had it on dvd. I might go to another location tomorrow.

I also just bought a used copy of Army of Shadows at the store where I work. The insert and booklet aren't in the greatest shape, but I got such a great deal on it that it's hard to complain. Also won a new copy of Leon Morin, Priest on ebay for about $30, should be here in a few days.

[hYPE]

Reserved Mulholland Drive & Boyhood at my local B&N picking them up tomorrow! Always love this sale, more Criterions to come for me this month!

[ThisKid]

Bought online-
-Blood Simple
-Short Cuts
-Beyond the Valley of the Dolls
-Trilogia de Guillermo del Toro, and
-Zatôichi, the Blind Swordsman.

Can anyone give their opinions on the Zatôichi films? Are they carefully made films, or your standard Japanese Sword and Sandel film?

[Ray Jackson]

Well I just watched the first hour of Dekalog and I have to say, as much as I enjoyed it, I kind of wish that Kieslowski would've gone in a different direction from the light-hearted comedic fare that he was such a master at.

I mean I enjoy a good laugh as much as the next guy, but at a certain point it's like, enough with the feel-good stuff already...how about trying something a little darker. Something that can actually force a man to confront the existential abyss of his own soul.

I mean my goodness, what a laugh riot that first hour was.

If you'll excuse me, I'm going to pour myself a glass of Polish vodka and slip into a nice warm bath.

...I need time to ruminate on this joyous ode to levity and the eternal gaiety of the human condition.

[Show spoiler]