The Criterion Collection

[pnaschy]

Originally Posted by Hoke Moseley

Man, that closet is hopping lately!

Who's that with The Collector?

[Martin_31]

Can someone tell me for the Apu Trilogy if the booklet goes into one of the cases? I've had them out for awhile that I forgot in what order it goes. Thanks.

[Feiereisel]

Originally Posted by Martin_31

Can someone tell me for the Apu Trilogy if the booklet goes into one of the cases? I've had them out for awhile that I forgot in what order it goes. Thanks.

The booklet fits into the Pather Panchali case, which is slightly wider than the other two.

[Buscemi]

Originally Posted by Hoke Moseley

Man, that closet is hopping lately!

If Jim Jarmusch and Werner Herzog were in the same room together, the universe would explode. The coolness could not be contained.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Buscemi

If Jim Jarmusch and Werner Herzog were in the same room together, the universe would explode. The coolness could not be contained.

No! If you add Terrence Malick too, THEN the universe would really explode! (might start seeing dinosaurs again too)

[kristoffer]

Silence just showed up in 4K on itunes.

I wonder if a UHD HDR version is incoming from CC.

One can dream!

[Namuhana]

Originally Posted by pnaschy

Who's that with The Collector?

Director Luca Guadagnino.

[mrjohnnyb]

I admit it. I will wait around for the best bargains I can get. I have always been a "get the most bang for your buck" kind of guy. So naturally, I have become very soured by the marketing changes that have been adopted by Barnes and Noble, particularly during their most recent Criterion Collection sales. Years ago, stacking coupons was an art form, and my collection, along with my cinematic aesthetic, grew. Now, it seems like a dream that I had years ago.

However, since I still need my Criterion fix, I have decided to no longer patronize Barnes and Noble, but to purchase my Criterions from the Criterion company itself. The best water is directly from the source. I have also decided to hold off from purchasing Criterions during the upcoming flash sale, even though I am fifty bucks away from a gift certificate. I will wait and save my budgeted money until right after Christmas. I am banking on another "double your point" gift card purchase for this year, which means that when I plop $350 for Criterion gift cards in December, I will actually have $450 to spend in 2018.

What this all means is that I will not be making any Criterion Collection purchases until the Criterion February/March 2018 Flash Sale.


Now, I need to convince myself that I can do this.

[Abdrewes]

Mrjohnnyb, try cozying up with a target employee. Target price matches B&N (and the criterion sale) and allows for a 10% team member discount and another 5% for red card.

It takes a few back and forth messages with customer service, but it's the way to go if you can.

[Popcorn_Bliss]

My 10 Favorite Criterions

I thought I'd share the ten best Criterions I own to date (just for the fun of it).

Since I am always discovering and adding new ones, I will try and continually update the list if a new one enters the top or a current one falls.

The list is really a "whole package" assessment. Every film on my list is naturally an all-time favorite, but I'm also taking bonus features, booklets, cover art into account. Overall, these are the Criterions I have enjoyed the most and, as a result, tend to re-watch the most...

1. La Dolce Vita 1960



Probably my all-time favorite film to begin with. The fountain shot cover is beautiful, the transfer beautiful, and the extras a treat to own, particularly the lengthy 1965 interview with Fellini himself, and the in-depth feature focusing on the symbolism of Paola's gaze at the end of the film (among other characters). Probably my all-time favorite closing scene in the history of film. The only surprising downside to this "film of films" is no included commentary! Yet I have the one available via the 2006 DVD, so all is good.

2. Gimme Shelter 1970



I never get tired of this "timepiece caught on tape". A perfect storm that was captured and then edited together with the Stones watching what we will be watching. It never ceases to engage you, precisely because it isn't fiction. Yet it amazes the viewer in how conveniently it leads up to incidentally capturing a dark day in the history of rock and roll lore. The commentary is wonderful and the features modest but all very enjoyable.

3. Late Spring 1949



"Early Summer" (which I have on a Criterion DVD) may actually be my favorite Ozu, but I love this film as well. Any Ozu on Criterion is always a pure delight.

4. 8 1/2 1963



As may already be apparent just four entries in, Federico Fellini is my favorite director. This legendary artwork is a treasure on blu. Claudia Cardinale's angelic introduction in this film, dressed in white, glass in hand, still leaves me breathless. "La Dolce Vita" remains my top favorite, but both releases are like two lasting diamonds set together on a gold ring. Both are timeless to me.

5. L'avventura 1960



Antonioni's crown jewel and a film I have always loved to linger over. The commentary is stellar and this whole package is simply a must-have, if you ask me.

6. In The Mood For Love 2000



Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous...And loaded with great features. One of my favorite Criterion covers as well.

7. The Young Girls Of Rochefort 1967



I love the pastoral delights of Jacques Demy's films. This 1967 offering is a welcome new addition to the Criterion lineup and I have already enjoyed the movie several times.

8. Mulholland Dr 2001



Another one of my favorite Criterion covers and the film is, well...sensual and bizzare. A riddle trapped in surreal sequences and snapshots.

9. The Lady Vanishes 1938



You gotta have a Hitchcock film! And this favorite is as good as any that are currently available by the Master.

10. The Seventh Seal 1957



Much like "The Master", how can I not have a Bergman somewhere. I don't even know if this is my top favorite of his, but it might be. At the very least, the extras are a treasure and so this is the one I'll give the nod to, for today...

Thanks for reading! If you even made it this far...

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by jw007

No! If you add Terrence Malick too, THEN the universe would really explode! (might start seeing dinosaurs again too)

Close enough.

[The Sovereign]

Originally Posted by Popcorn_Bliss

My 10 Favorite Criterions

I thought I'd share the ten best Criterions I own to date (just for the fun of it).

1. La Dolce Vita 1960

That's a great list and a reminder to me that it's time to watch La Dolce Vita again.

[ShellOilJunior]

Anne Wiazemsky (Au Hasard Balthazar, Teorema, La chinoise) 1947-2017

[Show spoiler]

[Popcorn_Bliss]

Originally Posted by The Sovereign

That's a great list and a reminder to me that it's time to watch La Dolce Vita again.

Thanks for reading through it!

Yes, the film has so much going on. Even if it initially passes by like it doesn't. It's also one of those unique films where the 3 hour length is actually very necessary, as you need the lengthy wandering and meandering to drive home Marcello's journey and gradual disillusion. And like most great films, you almost need to see it a handful of times before you even realize that you are liking it more and more each time.

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by Popcorn_Bliss

My 10 Favorite Criterions

I thought I'd share the ten best Criterions I own to date (just for the fun of it).

Since I am always discovering and adding new ones, I will try and continually update the list if a new one enters the top or a current one falls.

The list is really a "whole package" assessment. Every film on my list is naturally an all-time favorite, but I'm also taking bonus features, booklets, cover art into account. Overall, these are the Criterions I have enjoyed the most and, as a result, tend to re-watch the most...

[Show spoiler]1. La Dolce Vita 1960



Probably my all-time favorite film to begin with. The fountain shot cover is beautiful, the transfer beautiful, and the extras a treat to own, particularly the lengthy 1965 interview with Fellini himself, and the in-depth feature focusing on the symbolism of Paola's gaze at the end of the film (among other characters). Probably my all-time favorite closing scene in the history of film. The only surprising downside to this "film of films" is no included commentary! Yet I have the one available via the 2006 DVD, so all is good.

2. Gimme Shelter 1970



I never get tired of this "timepiece caught on tape". A perfect storm that was captured and then edited together with the Stones watching what we will be watching. It never ceases to engage you, precisely because it isn't fiction. Yet it amazes the viewer in how conveniently it leads up to incidentally capturing a dark day in the history of rock and roll lore. The commentary is wonderful and the features modest but all very enjoyable.

3. Late Spring 1949



"Early Summer" (which I have on a Criterion DVD) may actually be my favorite Ozu, but I love this film as well. Any Ozu on Criterion is always a pure delight.

[Show spoiler]
4. 8 1/2 1963



As may already be apparent just four entries in, Federico Fellini is my favorite director. This legendary artwork is a treasure on blu. Claudia Cardinale's angelic introduction in this film, dressed in white, glass in hand, still leaves me breathless. "La Dolce Vita" remains my top favorite, but both releases are like two lasting diamonds set together on a gold ring. Both are timeless to me.

5. L'avventura 1960



Antonioni's crown jewel and a film I have always loved to linger over. The commentary is stellar and this whole package is simply a must-have, if you ask me.

6. In The Mood For Love 2000



Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous...And loaded with great features. One of my favorite Criterion covers as well.

7. The Young Girls Of Rochefort 1967



I love the pastoral delights of Jacques Demy's films. This 1967 offering is a welcome new addition to the Criterion lineup and I have already enjoyed the movie several times.

8. Mulholland Dr 2001



Another one of my favorite Criterion covers and the film is, well...sensual and bizzare. A riddle trapped in surreal sequences and snapshots.

9. The Lady Vanishes 1938



You gotta have a Hitchcock film! And this favorite is as good as any that are currently available by the Master.

10. The Seventh Seal 1957



Much like "The Master", how can I not have a Bergman somewhere. I don't even know if this is my top favorite of his, but it might be. At the very least, the extras are a treasure and so this is the one I'll give the nod to, for today...

Thanks for reading! If you even made it this far...

Thanks for sharing. Your list reminds me that, I'm embarrassed to admit, I don't think I've ever seen a single Ozu film. There's really no excuse for that, since I subscribe to Filmstruck.

I also plan to pick up Gimme Shelter during the next sale. It will be the first time I've seen it since it came out. I remember seeing it at my local theater on a Tuesday night (Mondays and Tuesdays were reduced admission days) and there were only two other people in the theater. Powerful film and I still can't figure out why it wasn't more popular.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by belcherman

Thanks for sharing. Your list reminds me that, I'm embarrassed to admit, I don't think I've ever seen a single Ozu film. There's really no excuse for that, since I subscribe to Filmstruck.

..I hope you do remedy that soon. The double-feature DVD set of The Story of Floating Weeds / Floating Weeds was my introduction, and Floating Weeds is now my 2nd fav. film ever, so I think those are as good a place to start as any. I don't think you can go wrong with any though.

[MifuneFan]

If some of the rumors hold true, along with the stuff we do know is coming, 2018 is already shaping up to be another banner year for Criterion

Silence of the Lambs (4K-restored)
Night of the Living Dead (4K-restored)
Bringing Up Baby
Arsenic and Old Lace
Mean Streets
Klute
A Face in the Crowd
The Magnificent Ambersons
John Hughes Films
The Magnificent Seven (4K-restored, possibly with Arrow)
Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid
Hedwig & The Angry Inch
Wong Kar-wai Films
Notorious
Spellbound

[Thebunk]

Wish they would speed up the rate of what they release regarding more Haneke and Dardennes films. Cache, The White Ribbon, Le Fils and L'Enfant all need to be in the collection.

[Majin Blu]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

If some of the rumors hold true, along with the stuff we do know is coming, 2018 is already shaping up to be another banner year for Criterion

Silence of the Lambs (4K-restored)
Night of the Living Dead (4K-restored)
Bringing Up Baby
Arsenic and Old Lace
Mean Streets
Klute
A Face in the Crowd
The Magnificent Ambersons
John Hughes Films
The Magnificent Seven (4K-restored, possibly with Arrow)
Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid
Hedwig & The Angry Inch
Wong Kar-wai Films
Notorious
Spellbound

The ones in bold will be Day 1 purchases from me.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by The Sovereign

That's a great list and a reminder to me that it's time to watch La Dolce Vita again.

I just bought a La Dolce Vita coffee mug for my new job. It arrived in the mail with the handle broken off.