The Criterion Collection

[The Great Owl]

They'll take my Criterion Blu-rays of Army of Shadows and Le Cercle Rouge when they pry them from my cold, dead fingers.

If I had to rank my favorite Criterion titles again, then both of those would fall squarely into my top five.

When I bought my first Blu-ray player back in 2012, the first thing that I did was drive down the street to a Barnes & Noble to purchase these two titles in the format.

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by Knaldskalle

My guess is that for most people the DVD hit the point where it became "good enough", for others it's BD and for others still it'll be UHD BD and then there are those for whom it'll never be "good enough".

I sometimes wonder whether many of those clamouring for UHD BD releases are old enough to remember the vagaries of VHS. Although we could finally see some of our favourite films whenever we wanted, many times it was a disappointing pan and scan release. And this of course is before we even get to the issue of the PQ.

When DVD came along it was literally a godsend. And to my 48 year-old eyes, BD is for the most part stunning - and where it ends for me. When I walk around Best Buy, all the big, bright, and shiny 4K televisions playing their test loops look just too vivid to be realistic.

[The Great Owl]

RIP Haruo Nakajima

This name often comes to mind when I think about how tough people were in past decades. In the days before computer-generated effects, Haruo Nakajima wore the 220-pound Godzilla suit, from which he breathed through an oxygen tube that was often removed during the filming of the scenes, and often braved 130-degree temperatures. The filming of rainy scenes were especially difficult, because they weighed down the suit even more. Nakajima also faced mortal danger during the filming of scenes where miniature buildings or vehicles exploded next to him while he was in the cumbersome outfit. Nakajima wore the monster suit for the first 12 Godzilla movies, starting with the original 1954 film and continuing with such classics as King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962), Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964), and Ghidorah: the Three-Headed Monster (1964).

Nakajima's hard work has brought joy to millions of people, including me. Here's to great memories of watching his Godzilla in action on TBS SuperStation during my childhood.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Knaldskalle

I think Criterion is hesitant to release new versions of their old releases for several reasons. Once they start doing it they'll almost have to do it for any release that gets an overhaul and I think that's a can of worms they'd rather leave unopened.

I have a feeling that Criterion will start to eventually adopt UHD blu-ray only for their "best selling" releases. The question is, what are their best selling releases? On the Criterion site, they don't list "Best Sellers" unlike on Amazon.com. Will Criterion start marketing "best sellers" for UHD blu-ray discs?

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by jw007

I have a feeling that Criterion will start to eventually adopt UHD blu-ray only for their "best selling" releases. The question is, what are their best selling releases? On the Criterion site, they don't list "Best Sellers" unlike on Amazon.com. Will Criterion start marketing "best sellers" for UHD blu-ray discs?

They do have "Collections". Royal Tenenbaums may have the most collectors at 10,710. Seven Samurai is at 10,497.

[diskspinner]

For the B&N Sale, I am trying to decide between

Martin Scorsese's World Cinema Project 1
Martin Scorsese's World Cinema Project 1
War Trilogy

Any recommendations?

[SammyJankis]

I don't know about the first set, but volume 2 is very much worth getting. I snagged it for the Yang, but everything else I've watched thus far (Revenge and Joe's film) have made the set more than worthwhile for me.

But the War trilogy is an absolute must.

[Ray Jackson]

If I see Raphael, I will give him your message.

[The Laser Show]

Alright looking for recommendations based on my pick ups so far during this sale and my collection overall. Getting paid on Wednesday and going back in to pick up a handful more before the sale ends.

Pick ups so far this sale:
8 1/2 (loved it)
Blow Out
Brazil (really liked this one)
Eraserhead
Following
House (not going to lie hard to get through, friend didn't like it)
The Killing
Punch Drunk Love
Repo Man (blind buy and a very pleasant surprise)
Videodrome (my 2nd Cron, liked The Fly as well)

Additional owned before this sale:
Blood Simple
Bottle Rocket
The Darjeeling Limited
Dr. Strangelove
The Game
Life Aquatic
Moonrise Kingdom
The Royal Tenenbaums
Rushmore (I think it's my favorite, just edging out The Big Lebowski)

I also own Fear and Loathing and Inside Llewyn Davis but not on Criterion. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Currently looking at Straw Dogs, Badlands, Scanners, On The Waterfront, Thief, and The Player.

[javy]

Originally Posted by The Laser Show

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Currently looking at Straw Dogs, Badlands, Scanners, On The Waterfront, Thief, and The Player.

Get Badlands, On The Waterfront, and Thief. Just get 'em, you've already considered them anyways.

[The Laser Show]

Originally Posted by javy

Get Badlands, On The Waterfront, and Thief. Just get 'em, you've already considered them anyways.

haha thanks. I think I just have too much time on my hands now where I'm overthinking what to get. I definitely want to get Badlands because I want to try out Malick.

[theater dreamer]

I have an as-of-yet unopened copy of Army of Shadows on blu. So, you're saying I should watch it?

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

They'll take my Criterion Blu-rays of Army of Shadows and Le Cercle Rouge when they pry them from my cold, dead fingers.

If I had to rank my favorite Criterion titles again, then both of those would fall squarely into my top five.

When I bought my first Blu-ray player back in 2012, the first thing that I did was drive down the street to a Barnes & Noble to purchase these two titles in the format.

[theater dreamer]

Absolutely my thinking. UHD might improve PQ, but for my soon-to-be 46 year old eyes, 1080P is plenty beautiful. I have invested a small fortune in my blu library over the past few years, and I'm not about to start over again. The jump from DVD quality to blu-ray is good enough for me, and blu-ray players upconvert well enough for those titles I still have on DVD that will never see a high def release.

I remember having Star Wars on VHS for the first time. No, not a copy I bought, but a copy I made of the film being broadcast on network tv. Then, it came out on HBO. The first broadcast was recorded via our rabbit-ear antenna. Watching the playback, you could actually see where the little dial on the antenna was being turned to improve the picture. I was happy as a clam with that. When I watch it on blu-ray now, either the studio release, or Harmy's, I'm stunned at how far we've come. Maybe memories of those old VHS tapes, and their quality, make me appreciate blu-ray more. I just don't get all the hand wringing over bit rate, etc.

High def as it is now makes me as happy as I need to be until they put me in the ground, and all my movies in the landfill.

Originally Posted by Reddington

I sometimes wonder whether many of those clamouring for UHD BD releases are old enough to remember the vagaries of VHS. Although we could finally see some of our favourite films whenever we wanted, many times it was a disappointing pan and scan release. And this of course is before we even get to the issue of the PQ.

When DVD came along it was literally a godsend. And to my 48 year-old eyes, BD is for the most part stunning - and where it ends for me. When I walk around Best Buy, all the big, bright, and shiny 4K televisions playing their test loops look just too vivid to be realistic.

[theater dreamer]

My recommendation, also. Jimmy Caan was sooo good in Thief. You can't really go wrong with any of the Malick Criterions, so going back to the film that started it all is a good way to go. And On The Waterfront is an absolute must. No film collection is complete without it, imo. It was the first Criterion I ever bought, and as an added bonus, the packaging is absolutely beautiful.

Originally Posted by javy

Get Badlands, On The Waterfront, and Thief. Just get 'em, you've already considered them anyways.

[javy]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

My recommendation, also. Jimmy Caan was sooo good in Thief. You can't really go wrong with any of the Malick Criterions, so going back to the film that started it all is a good way to go. And On The Waterfront is an absolute must. No film collection is complete without it, imo. It was the first Criterion I ever bought, and as an added bonus, the packaging is absolutely beautiful.

My first Criterion was the beautiful and spiritually uplifting Rosemary's Baby. Like On The Waterfront, no collection is complete without it, imo.

Originally Posted by The Laser Show

haha thanks. I think I just have too much time on my hands now where I'm overthinking what to get. I definitely want to get Badlands because I want to try out Malick.

Badlands is a great start. It's a good way to ease into Malick. He's a love him or hate him director. I love him.

[KillDaWabbit]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

My recommendation, also. Jimmy Caan was sooo good in Thief. You can't really go wrong with any of the Malick Criterions, so going back to the film that started it all is a good way to go. And On The Waterfront is an absolute must. No film collection is complete without it, imo. It was the first Criterion I ever bought, and as an added bonus, the packaging is absolutely beautiful.

In addition to James Caan being badass, and Michael Mann's trademark grittiness, the music in Thief is AWESOME.

Definitely recommend. Also, you need Seven Samurai. On the Waterfront, Seven Samurai, and Thief. Do it.

[mande2013]

I'm not questioning the virtues of a 4K restoration over a 2K one. I saw the new 4K restoration of Belle de Jour in the cinema last night, and it looked gorgeous, and perhaps that's just it, the jump from 2K to 4K is significant when viewing classic films on a cinema screen, but it's rather negligible on a 40-inch plasma one would have at home. To be fair, I'm sure plenty of people are currently more than satisfied with the current Criterion editions of films like Belle de Jour, M, and The 400 Blows, even if superior sources have subsequently surfaced, although in the case of The 400 Blows I'm not sure they have. I have yet to hear of 'Blows' getting the 4K treatment.

[Talal86]

Thief is a must have, I love that movie

[Ray Jackson]

I watched Being There last night for the first time.

It's really good...I liked it quite a lot.

But if I have one very mild criticism, it's that Peter Sellers' performance, as fantastic as it is, is just a little one-note. Over the course of a 2+ hour movie it starts to lose its potency towards the latter half.

...at least it did for me.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

But if I have one very mild criticism, it's that Peter Sellers' performance, as fantastic as it is, is just a little one-note.

I think that was the point.