The Criterion Collection

[Scottie]

[brentsg]

So why does B&N ship out obvious re-shrinks of movies? Two of the Criterion sale disks I've received are such, and probably more to come. One even shows tracking from a book store that isn't B&N.

[Snicket]

Originally Posted by brentsg

So why does B&N ship out obvious re-shrinks of movies? Two of the Criterion sale disks I've received are such, and probably more to come. One even shows tracking from a book store that isn't B&N.

I walked into a Barnes and Nobel yesterday to get Stalker. They had two copies, both with blue stickers but one was shrinkwrapped differently. I think it just depends on where the discs are coming from, it does not always mean a disc was re shrinked in the warehouse.

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

Barry Lyndon is my #4 favorite movie of all-time. I'm going to get this release, mostly because of the supplements which I usually never care about on any other releases.

Can someone elaborate on the following, though? The current disc has it in 1:78 to 1 (which I think translates to 16:9 if the math in my head is right) and that means it takes up the full screen. I'm not saying there's not any reason to be excited about BL in the correct aspect ratio, but why, though?

1:66 to 1 will show ever so slightly less on the left and right, correct? I want things to be "proper" and "correct" as much as the next Steve Buscemi on this thread, but I don't know why this is a reason to be over-excited.

Anyone?

The current release is 1:85.1. The film was shot at 1:66.1.

My interest (and excitement) in watching any film in its intended ratio comes almost completely from being a "purist" who wants to see the director's original vision. However, I am also completely aware that many films were shot to be exhibited in different aspect ratios. If you haven't seen it, this short video on the Criterion site is quite interesting:

https://www.criterion.com/current/po...-aspect-ratios

I am a huge fan of widescreen formats like CinemaScope and the even wider Ultra Panavision 70, but there is something about the 1:66.1 ratio that seems "natural" - especially in character-driven films.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

Barry Lyndon is my #4 favorite movie of all-time. I'm going to get this release, mostly because of the supplements which I usually never care about on any other releases.

Can someone elaborate on the following, though? The current disc has it in 1:78 to 1 (which I think translates to 16:9 if the math in my head is right) and that means it takes up the full screen. I'm not saying there's not any reason to be excited about BL in the correct aspect ratio, but why, though?

1:66 to 1 will show ever so slightly less on the left and right, correct? I want things to be "proper" and "correct" as much as the next Steve Buscemi on this thread, but I don't know why this is a reason to be over-excited.

Anyone?

No. It will show more on the top and bottom, as it was originally composed and framed, but the left and right should remain the same. The DVD was correct.

https://www.caps-a-holic.com/c.php?g...=40182&i=1&l=0

It's not about "showing more or less," it's about the original composition of the frame. More isn't always better. But in this case, you do get more, as was intended.

Originally Posted by Reddington

The current release is 1:85.1. The film was shot at 1:66.1.

No, it's not. The current release is 1.78. The back of the package says 1.85 but it's incorrect.

[thatguamguy]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

No. It will show more on the top and bottom, as it was originally composed and framed, but the left and right should remain the same. The DVD was correct.

https://www.caps-a-holic.com/c.php?g...=40182&i=1&l=0

Those caps show that the Blu-ray has more on the left/right than the DVD. (Well, not #9, that one has waaaaaay more on one side and a little less on the other. 10 doesn't have two great reference points, but the side that does is pretty obviously different too.)

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

No, it's not. The current release is 1.78. The back of the package says 1.85 but it's incorrect.

Okay. Thanks. I went by the back of my copy of the BD. Been quite a while since I've watched it.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by thatguamguy

Those caps show that the Blu-ray has more on the left/right than the DVD. (Well, not #9, that one has waaaaaay more on one side and a little less on the other. 10 doesn't have two great reference points, but the side that does is pretty obviously different too.)

Oh brother, you're going to nitpick over a millimeter? That's not really "showing more," there's nothing substantial about an extra centimeter and you'd never rnotice if 1 extra rifle isn't right on the edge of the frame. 9 is the only real difference, I don't think either one is correct.

But I'm also not saying the DVD was 100% accurate either, I was using them as a reference. All I said was you shouldn't really lose anything on the sides while gaining the intended image on the top and bottom. And that's what will happen.

[theater dreamer]

Our society is so messed up, now. Is it any wonder that I've found a real love for classic and foreign films? I realize it's a form of escapism, but I like it.

Loners, and, to a lesser extent, collectors, are perceived as being social deviants. It's not just a myth perpetuated in film. But, what's wrong with spending time and money on something if you enjoy it? There are so many different hobbies one can have. I also own a fairly substantial collection of late 19th Century/early 20th Century baseball cards. I love the game's history, and I could talk about collecting tobacco and candy cards all day, and never get tired of it. I get the same rush from watching a great film like Citizen Kane that I get from pulling out my 1909 T-206 Walter Johnson portrait. And, yes, sometimes I just like to shut the door, and be alone. I have many different moods. Don't we all, though? We're too quick to label people in our society. Everything has to fit into some nice, neat little category, and should one deviate slightly from what is perceived as normal, all of a sudden they're an outsider. Why? I'm equally happy at a concert with 30,000 people, or watching a movie in the dark. I can spend time with my lady, and the world goes away. Or, I can be with a bunch of friends, and be completely spontaneous. Why is one behavior healthier than another?

Anything done to excess is bad, but I don't think owning 1,000 films, and watching 4-5 of them in a few days is indicative of some form of pathology. Some might say I'm "addicted". I choose to look at it as being "passionate". And, if one day I can write books about film, and augment my income, or do it full time as a new career....do all those hours watching movies suddenly become acceptable?

There are many different kinds of people. So long as they don't tell me what to do, or try to hurt somebody I care about, let them live their lives how they want. To each their own, in my humble opinion.

Originally Posted by MassiveMovieBuff

Very good post! Yeah Buscemi is a loner in the film and there isn't anything wrong with that. That's what I have issues with in that scene. It makes it sound like collecting is a bad or unhealthy thing. I love the film but never liked the dialogue in that particular scene. I'm a loner myself to a degree but I have friends that I hang out with and have been in quite a few relationships. I don't know many people at all though that are as passionate about, love, watch or collect films the way I do except people on these forums.

I just don't like when loners are always perceived in a negative way in films for the most part. That's one of the reasons I think the casting of Ryan Gosling in Drive was perfect. He's not some creepy looking serial killer and they don't portray being a loner in a bad light in that film (which may or may not be arguable)

[SammyJankis]

Ah, that feeling when you move to a new city that has a huge film scene and is screening a 35mm double bill that happens to include one of your favorite Criterions.

[Show spoiler]

[thatguamguy]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

That's not really "showing more,"

You said it should remain the same, I was just pointing out that your evidence pretty obviously showed otherwise. I do agree that it's only a sliver. But the information at the top and bottom is also just a sliver, and contains no "important" information either.

In theory, I definitely think it's better to go with the correct aspect ratio, but in this case, it's a pretty pedantic difference, one that even Kubrick said was within the acceptable range. I'm a lot more excited that they'll be updating the HD-DVD era transfer.

[MassiveMovieBuff]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

Our society is so messed up, now. Is it any wonder that I've found a real love for classic and foreign films? I realize it's a form of escapism, but I like it.

Loners, and, to a lesser extent, collectors, are perceived as being social deviants. It's not just a myth perpetuated in film. But, what's wrong with spending time and money on something if you enjoy it? There are so many different hobbies one can have. I also own a fairly substantial collection of late 19th Century/early 20th Century baseball cards. I love the game's history, and I could talk about collecting tobacco and candy cards all day, and never get tired of it. I get the same rush from watching a great film like Citizen Kane that I get from pulling out my 1909 T-206 Walter Johnson portrait. And, yes, sometimes I just like to shut the door, and be alone. I have many different moods. Don't we all, though? We're too quick to label people in our society. Everything has to fit into some nice, neat little category, and should one deviate slightly from what is perceived as normal, all of a sudden they're an outsider. Why? I'm equally happy at a concert with 30,000 people, or watching a movie in the dark. I can spend time with my lady, and the world goes away. Or, I can be with a bunch of friends, and be completely spontaneous. Why is one behavior healthier than another?

Anything done to excess is bad, but I don't think owning 1,000 films, and watching 4-5 of them in a few days is indicative of some form of pathology. Some might say I'm "addicted". I choose to look at it as being "passionate". And, if one day I can write books about film, and augment my income, or do it full time as a new career....do all those hours watching movies suddenly become acceptable?

There are many different kinds of people. So long as they don't tell me what to do, or try to hurt somebody I care about, let them live their lives how they want. To each their own, in my humble opinion.

100% agreed and I couldn't have said it better myself.

[Arawn]

How long does the sale last?

[cgpublic]

...if you leave now:

[Al_The_Strange]

Woohoo, all of my B&N orders arrived from this sale cycle. I kept it modest this time.



If my copy of Stalker looks a little big, it's because I decided to use an empty Scanovo case to put my older DVD copy in there as well, turning it into a combo pack. I hope to find time on the weekend to watch the Blu-Ray in full.

[captainron_howdy]

Originally Posted by Thebunk

Ok, apologies in advance but this is another "I need recommendations that are blind buys" during the sale. Right now here is my shortlist (again, these will be blind buys):

Before Trilogy
Carnival of Souls
Yi Yi
Close Up
Don't Look Now
Also open to other recs.


Now for a frame of reference, I would say I lean more towards modern films and have a hard time getting into films if they are really dated (especially from an acting perspective). I would say the top Criterions I own are:

Three Color Trilogy
Dazed and Confused
Fear and Loathing
Mulholland Drive
The Dekalog
The Double Life of Veronique
2 Days 1 Night
La Promesse
High and Low
Seven Samurai

I am not much of a Bergman fan, or the other Samurai style Kurasowa films (have see a few and cannot get past the theatrical acting). Also of the list above, I have most of the other Directors offerings (ie Dardennes, Kieslowski, etc).

Carnival of Souls is a must IMO, it's a classic.
Don't look now is great also, if you like the "giallo" this is sort of a British one.

As for some modern films I highly recommend :
Phoenix
Ghost World
Cloud of Sils Maria
Punch-Drunk Love
The Game
Short Cuts

And just for fun:
Blow-Up (one of my top 3 of all-time)
A Man Escaped (or really any Bresson)
Straw Dogs (probably the best film ever about discovering masculinity after being pushed beyond your limit)
Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion (Elio Petri is a director whose films I recommend to everyone) All his films are brilliant.

Best of luck!

[jbieste]

Originally Posted by Thebunk

Ok, apologies in advance but this is another "I need recommendations that are blind buys" during the sale. Right now here is my shortlist (again, these will be blind buys):

Before Trilogy
Carnival of Souls
Yi Yi
Close Up
Don't Look Now
Also open to other recs.


Now for a frame of reference, I would say I lean more towards modern films and have a hard time getting into films if they are really dated (especially from an acting perspective). I would say the top Criterions I own are:

Three Color Trilogy
Dazed and Confused
Fear and Loathing
Mulholland Drive
The Dekalog
The Double Life of Veronique
2 Days 1 Night
La Promesse
High and Low
Seven Samurai

I am not much of a Bergman fan, or the other Samurai style Kurasowa films (have see a few and cannot get past the theatrical acting). Also of the list above, I have most of the other Directors offerings (ie Dardennes, Kieslowski, etc).

You might find Carnival of Souls dated.
Palm Beach Story might not be a fit.
I really liked It Happened One Night.
Liked I Married a Witch
All That Heaven Allows - was amazed how much I didn't get, how much went right over my head. This has layers.


I found The Before Trilogy has good re-watch value. People I've recommended it to I advise to give several months between the films. Especially the first time you watch them, esp the first two. It helps if you're not positive about previous details. I found it also helped to view in mixed company. There's a definite male vs. female perspective that's great to discuss afterwards. It reminds me of a recent book where the author left the sex of the leading character undefined and how that made a huge difference in how male/female perspective of the character.

Newer films;
I was very impressed with McCabe and Mrs. Miller, a definite mood the story, characters, music, atmosphere combined to project.
Thief
Blow Out
The Graduate
Tootsie
Day For Night - I did like the gimmick about a movie about making a movie - that might not transfer

Documentaries - I go into these w/ very low expectations
Buena Vista Social Club - I seriously didn't want this. I seriously like it!
Gates of Heaven\Vernon Florida - Vernon Florida I seemed to fall into. Gates of Heaven I wasn't impressed but it grew on me. If you have strong connection with a pet you'll get it right away.
Thin Blue Line
A Poem is a Naked Person
The Complete Monterey

Hope some of these help

[jw007]

Originally Posted by iScottie

It's amazing how many responsibilities theater projectionists and technicians had all of those decades ago, dealing with running the reels in sync and on top of that, having to manually focus and even run a pre-screening LP of pre-recorded music as part of the "cinematic experience". Now everything is neatly automated and all prepared ahead of time in digital format that can be loaded into a computer with no manual work done. Even the theater lights dim on their own.

There's something to be said about the meticulous work projectionists used to do before everything became more automated. Quality control seemed to be far more important back then than it is today... where less care is pervasive and more ubiquitous.

[joy-division]

Originally Posted by jbieste

Documentaries - I go into these w/ very low expectations
Buena Vista Social Club - I seriously didn't want this. I seriously like it!
Gates of Heaven\Vernon Florida - Vernon Florida I seemed to fall into. Gates of Heaven I wasn't impressed but it grew on me. If you have strong connection with a pet you'll get it right away.
Thin Blue Line
A Poem is a Naked Person
The Complete Monterey

Hope some of these help

Shame on you!!

I just uploaded my unboxing vid on it. Always been one of my fave docs

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by StarDestroyer52

Same here. I collect for the sole fact I love films and am a film/TV buff. I don't buy this argument that collecting is a substitute for loneliness or a lack of a social life. Since I have a very functional social life. Every once in a while I just love to watch movies whenever I want without worrying if they're on TV or just for the love of it.

I've been a fairly heavy collector of all sorts of things over the last, oh, about 45 years. Lately, I've slacked off big-time for a variety of reasons. The funny thing is that I had much more of an active social life when I was collecting heavily in the past than I do now when I'm not collecting nearly as much.