The Criterion Collection

[Mike0284]

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[CinemaBlu]

Originally Posted by jshaide

The Bergman emphasis makes it pretty obvious to me that they want to move some Bergman stock.

Yeah, I figured the reason the sale was earlier than expected had something to do with this month's new title announcements.

I'm guessing in the next few days they're going to announce a new Bergman set or something and wanted to get rid of their current stock before they do.

[thinredline]

I haven't seen Night of the living dead, but it doesn't seem like a safe blind buy for me personally. (i'm not an avid horror fan)

[mrjohnnyb]

Last night, I was able to watch my "Day One" purchase of Night of the Living Dead. The picture quality was so beautiful that I nearly cried.

Bravo Criterion!

[BluCollector13]

Originally Posted by Hazel Motes

Prediction/hope for this month:

Voyage of Time. All cuts.
The Tree of Life- Theatrical and Director's Cut.

Tree of Life has already been confirmed, but I feel like Voyage of Time is inevitable.

God, I would die if Criterion got the rights to "Voyage of Time". The wait for a Blu has been driving me nuts; also driving me nuts is waiting for the "Life's Journey" edit to see a North American release.

[benbess]

Man, this GOLD promo sale really got me....Picked up The Manchurian Candidate, Mad World, Videodrome, Naked Lunch, Autumn Sonata, Kiss Me Deadly, Foreign Correspondent, and Picnic at Hanging Rock. Yikes. But remastered pq plus special features on these movies should bring some good viewing and thinking over the next several months. I've seen all of them, and so none are blind buys, but some I haven't seen since the theatrical releases many years ago....

[thinredline]

Originally Posted by BluCollector13

God, I would die if Criterion got the rights to "Voyage of Time". The wait for a Blu has been driving me nuts;

Have you seen it and you liked it?

[Forneverland]

I'm not sure how true this is, but someone on the Criterion Reddit posted at a recent John Water's event he basically confirmed Criterion is now working on 'Polyester' and 'Female Trouble'. Again, not sure how true it may be- but if that is, I CANNOT WAIT!

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by CinemaBlu

Yeah, I figured the reason the sale was earlier than expected had something to do with this month's new title announcements.

I'm guessing in the next few days they're going to announce a new Bergman set or something and wanted to get rid of their current stock before they do.

Funny, I came very close to ordering that 4-movie Bergman set on DVD. The price eventually drove me away (The Virgin Spring is the only one I really wanted anyway--might as well wait for the Blu-Ray, especially if it's coming soon).

[BluCollector13]

Originally Posted by thinredline

Have you seen it and you liked it?

I saw it in IMAX 70 a few times when it played in Los Angeles. It might be considered "slight", but it's one of my favorite Malick experiences in a theater. It's basically an extended version of "The Tree of Life"'s birth of the universe sequence, but it approaches the evolution side with a more rapturous and admirable feeling rather than the melancholy found in "TToL".

[hanshotfirst1138]

L.A. and New York get all the good screenings .

[The Sovereign]

Originally Posted by mrjohnnyb

Last night, I was able to watch my "Day One" purchase of Night of the Living Dead. The picture quality was so beautiful that I nearly cried.

Bravo Criterion!

I won't get a chance until Saturday, but it arrived yesterday and I can barely wait!

[The Great Owl]

I decided to shake the dust off of this old favorite last night, in the spirit of the games...



David Chappellet, an American downhill skier played by Robert Redford, joins the U.S. Ski Team as a replacement for an injured competitor, and quickly establishes a reputation as an unapologetically arrogant and relentlessly ambitious loner who has no intention of being a team player. The coach, played brilliantly by Gene Hackman, disapproves of Chappellet's vain demeanor and his shaky relationship with his teammates, but nonetheless champions his new skier's single-minded focus on individual glory while placating financial sponsors and securing endorsements. As he edges closer to the Winter Olympics, Chappellet enjoys an emotionally detached fling with a ski manufacturer assistant, played by Camilla Sparv, while further alienating his team and the more experienced European racers.

The 1969 film, Downhill Racer, is a different sort of sports movie, in that it eschews the usual narrative about a likable underdog who ascends to victory, and, instead, challenges us to follow an antihero whose undeniable skill at skiing is his only redeeming trait. Unlike the antihero sports movies of the classic film noir era, however, this one does not even provide us with any semblance of a poetic justice angle as a moral anchor. This dark character study simply observes as Redford's self-absorbed Chappellet makes his way closer and closer to the ultimate triumph with an absence of camaraderie with his those around him and an absence of any niceties whatsoever. Through it all, however, Chappellet commands an uneasy sympathy from the audience, because we sense that his need to ascend to the top ranks of the sport reflects a need to escape loneliness.

Director Michael Ritchie, who also helmed Fletch (1985) and Wildcats (1986), brings a fast-paced and efficient documentary style approach to Downhill Racer, by way of quick cuts and intense images that convey the thrill of dangerous speeds and the ever-present possibility of severe injury. The end result plays out like straightforward television Olympic footage, instead of making concessions to dramatic character arcs, as a way of reminding us that a talented drive to succeed does not always equate to admirable role model behavior and as a way of challenging our instinctive approval of winning at any cost. The good thing and the bad thing about striving for individual victory is that it requires an element of selfishness.

This not the most pleasant sports film out there, but it is one of the more unflinchingly realistic ones.

This Criterion Blu-ray pulls from an old master, but the transfer is nonetheless impressive. I understand that there were rumors that this film would never see the light of day on Blu-ray because of source issues, but I'm glad that it did.

[Boris_Karloff]

Originally Posted by Forneverland

I'm not sure how true this is, but someone on the Criterion Reddit posted at a recent John Water's event he basically confirmed Criterion is now working on 'Polyester' and 'Female Trouble'. Again, not sure how true it may be- but if that is, I CANNOT WAIT!

100% True

I saw John Waters do a one man show last night and he confirmed Criterion Female Trouble in 2018 and Polyester in 2019.
He said "I was at Criterion the other day and it's amazing what they can do with the clean up and the colors, they're releasing Female Trouble next." He said Female Trouble was his favorite out of all of his films.

Later on he talked about Polyester and said "Criterion will be releasing it in 2019, hopefully they'll include Odorama scratch n sniff cards."

It was a hilarious and wonderful show that I highly recommend if you get the chance.

During the book signing he told me they found the actress who played the young version of Taffy and they're trying to get an interview with her for the Female Trouble release this year.

[Purplenoon]

Originally Posted by Martin_31

What are people's thoughts on Dekalog?

Spectacular:MUCH better than I expected. Grab it! You won’t regret it.

[melo4mvp]

Long time lurker here. I watched the Apu trilogy finally last night and I must say the movies were amazing. Seeing the work that went into the repair of these films is astounding. One of the reasons I buy Criterion almost exclusively. The 3 films easily slide into my top 10. I liked them so much I just had to share.

[Forneverland]

Originally Posted by Boris_Karloff

100% True

I saw John Waters do a one man show last night and he confirmed Criterion Female Trouble in 2018 and Polyester in 2019.
He said "I was at Criterion the other day and it's amazing what they can do with the clean up and the colors, they're releasing Female Trouble next." He said Female Trouble was his favorite out of all of his films.

Later on he talked about Polyester and said "Criterion will be releasing it in 2019, hopefully they'll include Odorama scratch n sniff cards."

It was a hilarious and wonderful show that I highly recommend if you get the chance.

During the book signing he told me they found the actress who played the young version of Taffy and they're trying to get an interview with her for the Female Trouble release this year.

I cannot wait, while I wish they would have done 'Pink Flamingos' too, I will be buying these day one!

[THE TUNNEL]

I still hope Criterion releases Warner's "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" instead of Warner Archives. After all, there's nothing like the Criterion "experience", right y'all ??

Oh, I almost forgot, we should be seeing some new announcements hopefully as early as tomorrow (Thursday the 15th)...Can't wait !!

[Hoke Moseley]

Originally Posted by THE TUNNEL

I still hope Criterion releases Warner's "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" instead of Warner Archives. After all, there's nothing like the Criterion "experience", right y'all ??

Oh, I almost forgot, we should be seeing some new announcements hopefully as early as tomorrow (Thursday the 15th)...Can't wait !!

I am stunned to hear you say this after your hundreds of posts in the WAC thread begging them to release The Heart is a Lonely Hunter.

[MifuneFan]

lol