The Criterion Collection

[Polaroid]

I can not believe B&N shipped the Bergman set to the UK free of charge in 2 days! and there is no damage and no customs/tax on it.

Really shocked by this as I was expecting customs charges and a few dents lol

Still amazed 2 day delivery when its normally 20-22 for USA => UK.



£120 for this set is a real steal, can't believe how cheap I got it lol

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by jw007

On a more serious note, I plan on taking a break from Netflix and wasting my time watching some awful movies and tv shows that company provides and get my shit together again and realize the Criterion Collection is where its at. I blame Netflix completely for my laziness and lack of motivation in watching blu-rays in my collection.

Criterion + blu-ray = perfection. Nothing else comes close.

Make sure you watch the Netflix exclusive new Coen bros film Ballad of Buster Scruggs before you quit. It's a grand movie.

And if you're not region-locking yourself a lot of stuff other than Criterion in the blu-ray space comes close to perfection. Sometimes closer than Criterion themselves do

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Doctor Jack

Seeing pics of the Bergman set makes me wish so much that I liked Bergman. I’ve tried and I’ve tried but, for me personally, I find his movies so incredibly boring. That set looks incredible, which is why I wish I liked him. Hopefully Criterion does more sets like that.

Haha, when Arrow put out their Jacques Rivette Collection I was in the same boat. I really liked the packaging but when I checked out some of the trailers for his movies, it didn't seem like the stuff that would enthrall me. Same for their HG Lewis box, I have seen a few of the movies and naah, they're not my cup of tea at all.

[RockyIII]

Originally Posted by jw007

I finally had enough of Netflix, so for the first time in maybe years I dusted off some sealed Criterion blu-rays I had been meaning to get around to watching and popped in Blood Simple tonight. It's such a brilliant film noir that a lot of my film friends surprisingly have never seen. I saw it a couple of times back when I was studying for my B.A. in Film Studies at the university, but this is just pure genius. Sorry I'm not getting into depth here.

On a more serious note, I plan on taking a break from Netflix and wasting my time watching some awful movies and tv shows that company provides and get my shit together again and realize the Criterion Collection is where its at. I blame Netflix completely for my laziness and lack of motivation in watching blu-rays in my collection. Their service had totally gotten me addicted (because there are just so many damn movies and shows they license/distribute - many of which are poorly written), and this is the primary reason why I stopped posting on a regular basis in this thread.

However, I am making a comeback now and boys... I'm coming home.

Criterion + blu-ray = perfection. Nothing else comes close.

Netflix offers great content, no reason to down such a great and useful streaming service

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

I can not believe B&N shipped the Bergman set to the UK free of charge in 2 days! and there is no damage and no customs/tax on it.

Really shocked by this as I was expecting customs charges and a few dents lol

Still amazed 2 day delivery when its normally 20-22 for USA => UK.



£120 for this set is a real steal, can't believe how cheap I got it lol

Remarkable on all fronts: shipping, condition, and customs.

My brother had to cough up twenty quid in charges when I sent my nephew a $100 Lego set.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by Reddington

Remarkable on all fronts: shipping, condition, and customs.

My brother had to cough up twenty quid in charges when I sent my nephew a $100 Lego set.

Yeah I am really surprised how smoothly it all went, was expecting either damaged item or extra charges lol unless they will do customs charges in. post at a later date?

But still amazed they managed to ship it from USA to UK in 2 days lol

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Yeah I am really surprised how smoothly it all went, was expecting either damaged item or extra charges lol unless they will do customs charges in. post at a later date?

But still amazed they managed to ship it from USA to UK in 2 days lol

They held the Lego hostage until the charges were paid, so I think you're golden.

[sawdustandtinsel]

So I blind bought Sundays and Cybele and gave it a watch last night and wow, great film. The film is a mix of Harold and Maude and Forbidden Games with two great central performances from Patricia Gozzi and Hardy Kruger which earned its Oscar, check it out when you get the chance.

[The Sovereign]

Originally Posted by mja345

I walked over to B&N today after a few drinks and some tokes (I have the week off work). I purchased pretty much every Criterion disc I was on the fence on, 13 in total. I am not a responsible man, but f**k it we've only got one life to live.

I'm on a similar track - took the week off and picked up my thirteenth title for this sale yesterday: Some Like It Hot

It's absolutely gorgeous for anyone considering it. This site's review is right on the money with regard to picture & audio quality - virtually perfect across the board. I never saw the MGM version, but it appeared good, so I can't comment on the value of a double-dip. I feel quite confident that this will be the last version of the film I'll ever need to buy.

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

[Show spoiler]

Should’ve posted Svedka Vodka!

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by RockyIII

Netflix offers great content, no reason to down such a great and useful streaming service

No, but I get the OP's point. Netflix (and Amazon Prime) make it too easy for me to queue up third-rate movies rather than lift my lazy ass off the couch and load a good movie from my unwatched pile into my blu ray player.

[RockyIII]

Originally Posted by belcherman

No, but I get the OP's point. Netflix (and Amazon Prime) make it too easy for me to queue up third-rate movies rather than lift my lazy ass off the couch and load a good movie from my unwatched pile into my blu ray player.

It's all about organizational skills. I have my week scheduled for Netflix days, BD days, and even Amazon Prime evenings. Usually the weekend is BD days and weekdays split between Netflix and Prime 50/50

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by jw007

I finally had enough of Netflix, so for the first time in maybe years I dusted off some sealed Criterion blu-rays I had been meaning to get around to watching and popped in Blood Simple tonight. It's such a brilliant film noir that a lot of my film friends surprisingly have never seen. I saw it a couple of times back when I was studying for my B.A. in Film Studies at the university, but this is just pure genius. Sorry I'm not getting into depth here.

On a more serious note, I plan on taking a break from Netflix and wasting my time watching some awful movies and tv shows that company provides and get my shit together again and realize the Criterion Collection is where its at. I blame Netflix completely for my laziness and lack of motivation in watching blu-rays in my collection. Their service had totally gotten me addicted (because there are just so many damn movies and shows they license/distribute - many of which are poorly written), and this is the primary reason why I stopped posting on a regular basis in this thread.

However, I am making a comeback now and boys... I'm coming home.

Criterion + blu-ray = perfection. Nothing else comes close.

Yo. That's a bit ironic coming from you. You did sport an Orson Welles avatar for a good amount of time there.

Like it or not, you can't go cold turkey on Netflix. Quality overall may be shite, but a good chunk of their original stuff is mandatory viewing. In the last month alone they've given us: a highly acclaimed Tamara Jenkins movie, an Orson Welles movie, it's accompanying doc, a Coen Bros. movie., etc. The key is alternating your streaming services and being judicious about what's in your queue (i.e. don't follow my gluttonous example).

Originally Posted by RockyIII

It's all about organizational skills. I have my week scheduled for Netflix days, BD days, and even Amazon Prime evenings. Usually the weekend is BD days and weekdays split between Netflix and Prime 50/50

Me too. I just need to find a way to work "Study Days" in that block. It's so hard when there's just so much content out there.

------

More Criterion related, is anyone else planning on building a shelf exclusively for that Bergman set? I have a ton of metal shelving I bought from a closing Blockbuster, and the end units would easily accommodate that behemoth, but I'd rather have it next to the main wooden Criterion shelf on the other side of the room and that would mean building a shelf on the adjacent wall.

I was just thinking something simple like a 15-18 inch shelf resting on a couple of shelf brackets.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

[Show spoiler]

Svedka in this case.

Originally Posted by fdm

I think Amazon deliveries must get their own truck in my neighborhood, as they always seem to show up late in the day, after dark now, whereas I recall other orders from other places seemed to show up earlier. But it could just be a seasonal thing.

Anyway, I've been picking up things at UPS to avoid the drama/trauma of waiting all day and also of wondering if the wife will get home before UPS shows up. Kind of a pain, but less painful in the end. (Also less opportunities for UPS to mess my stuff up, not that it's a panacea for that though.)

That's what is weird -- I have always received stuff fairly early and definitely on time. I don't know if this was an Amazon problem or just an issue of Criterion getting way too many orders to fill in time. Whatever. I'm not angry or anything, just a little bummed out.

Now they say it's Nov. 21-22 (obviously not going to be 22nd), and they will tell me when it is Out For Delivery. I'm not expecting it today, tbh.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by Gacivory

Should’ve posted Svedka Vodka!

HAHA! Replied to Ray before I saw your post. Svedka is exactly what is sitting in my freezer at present.

[mja345]

Originally Posted by The Sovereign

I'm on a similar track - took the week off and picked up my thirteenth title for this sale yesterday: Some Like It Hot

It's absolutely gorgeous for anyone considering it. This site's review is right on the money with regard to picture & audio quality - virtually perfect across the board. I never saw the MGM version, but it appeared good, so I can't comment on the value of a double-dip. I feel quite confident that this will be the last version of the film I'll ever need to buy.

I'll pick that up next week with "The Magnificent Ambersons" and "True Stories". I have the old BD of "Some Like it Hot", which I'll give to my parents next time I visit them.

[Martin_31]

Last night I watched half of A Woman Under the Influence, and I finished it today in the morning. This was my first film from John Cassavettes, even though I bought the set last year, so slowly bringing down the un-watched collection down. But I wasn’t “paying attention” to the direction but to the main actress. Gena Rowlands’ performance is phenomenal. Truly painful. I felt the pressure she endured from her husband and life at home. I’m honestly still in amazement at her performance, which is something I rarely feel. I need someone else to talk about it because I want to,but I just can’t bring myself to articulate it at this moment. I need a day to just think about it. It’s that type of performance.

[mja345]

Originally Posted by Martin_31

Last night I watched half of A Woman Under the Influence, and I finished it today in the morning. This was my first film from John Cassavettes, even though I bought the set last year, so slowly bringing down the un-watched collection down. But I wasn’t “paying attention” to the direction but to the main actress. Gena Rowlands’ performance is phenomenal. Truly painful. I felt the pressure she endured from her husband and life at home. I’m honestly still in amazement at her performance, which is something I rarely feel. I need someone else to talk about it because I want to,but I just can’t bring myself to articulate it at this moment. I need a day to just think about it. It’s that type of performance.

Gena Rowlands is my favorite actress of all-time. She's #1 in my book. There's really no one like her.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by Martin_31

Last night I watched half of A Woman Under the Influence, and I finished it today in the morning. This was my first film from John Cassavettes, even though I bought the set last year, so slowly bringing down the un-watched collection down. But I wasn’t “paying attention” to the direction but to the main actress. Gena Rowlands’ performance is phenomenal. Truly painful. I felt the pressure she endured from her husband and life at home. I’m honestly still in amazement at her performance, which is something I rarely feel. I need someone else to talk about it because I want to,but I just can’t bring myself to articulate it at this moment. I need a day to just think about it. It’s that type of performance.

I love this film and its so so so heart breaking... this scene alone:

A Woman Under The Influence (1974) - Film Clip - YouTube

I cant think off hand but what other film in collection have a performance like hers, like a destructive character (could argue Charlotte Gainsbourg in Antichrist but that's a bit more extreme compared to this oh and Emily Watson).

[StarDestroyer52]

TCM will be airing Pandora’s Box at midnight EST, December 3. Also in other Criterion news, I just finished the Zatoichi set last night and hope to dive into the Bergman set tonight or if not tomorrow for sure.