The Criterion Collection

[joy-division]

Originally Posted by drownsoda

This is my final roll call on this fall's Barnes & Noble sale—I spent a pretty penny, but I filled in a lot of gaps and upgraded multiple titles I already had on DVD, which I'm happy about. I always hold off on doing that because it's more of a thrill to get something "new," but I'm glad I finally upgraded on some of these, and the B&N sale is the perfect time to do that. Ride with the Devil was the only title I didn't already own on DVD.

[Show spoiler]

I was a massive Jewel fan right from the get go - have so many magazines & clippings just because they feature a segment on her it's not funny -so I bought that on dvd when I lived in the USA. Really want to get the Criterion, was actually surprised it was released on the label][/QUOTE]

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by BamaDullard

Naming the best picture of a certain year in that year is silly to begin with. It takes years to figure out if a film is actually great or not. Some of the best movies ever weren’t even nominated: Vertigo (most of Hitchcock’s best films for that matter), Badlands, 2001 : A Space Odyssey, The Night of the Hunter, Rio Bravo, etc. And some of these didn’t receive any Oscar noms. Ridiculous, but not surprising.

The real problem with complaining about Oscars is that as often as not, whether a given film deserves to win Best Picture depends on what its competition is. By any stretch of the imagination, To Kill a Mockingbird should've been a Best Picture winner (and Robert Mulligan Best Director), but it had the bad luck of being up against Lawrence of Arabia. And, of course, the reverse is true when it came to Best Screenplay and Best Actor. Life is funny that way.

The other point that people seem to miss is that the Oscars aren't carved on stone tablets and delivered from on high. They're decided by popular vote among members of AMPAS, each of whom has opinions on the matter just as any of us do. Doesn't make the outcome right or wrong. Just like a political election, the "best man" doesn't always win, and people will endlessly argue about the results, but that doesn't invalidate the process.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by jayembee

I also don't like broadway/musical crap, either. Well, theoretically, anyway. I've seen a lot of broadway/musical films (and stage productions) and have yet to see one that I would consider crap.

Actually, that isn't quite true. I'd forgotten (or at least did my best to forget) seeing Cats on stage. Can't win 'em all.

[Cremildo]

Some people seem personally bothered by the idea of awards simply because they might not agree with the outcome. I'll never understand the extreme distaste some have for the Oscars. Naysayers criticize them for being more about popularity and self-promotion as if that's some sort of stunning revelation - please, this is the industry patting itself on the back. Of course it's about popularity and self-promotion, and so what?

Whether you like them or not, they have become a staple of the film world, they have a long history, they have rewarded plenty of films generally considered masterpieces, and they're useful for promoting movies that people might otherwise not be interested in. Just thinking of how many winning movies and actors would've been unfairly forgotten if not for the award is enough to make me appreciate it.

Claiming that they're "meaningless" is just pouty posturing.

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by Zen_Amako

With regards to Criterion blind buys, some have turned out to be great, but quite a few were watched once and then sold.

Here are some of the best ones:

-Marketa Lazarova (a fantastic film that I don't think gets enough attention))

I cannot agree more with this statement. This film always seems to be overlooked and ignored, but it is one of my favorites in the collection by far. I'd also argue when it comes to films that attempt to portray a medieval time period & atmosphere this one hits it out of the park.

Another blind buy I absolutely adore is The Music Room. The film maintains a haunting melancholy throughout as the main character comes to terms with the changing of the times. Filled with some amazing music. Its another title I like to revisit over and over and really unlike the other films made by Satyajit Ray IMO.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Cremildo

Some people seem personally bothered by the idea of awards simply because they might not agree with the outcome. I'll never understand the extreme distaste some have for the Oscars. Naysayers criticize them for being more about popularity and self-promotion as if that's some sort of stunning revelation - please, this is the industry patting itself on the back. Of course it's about popularity and self-promotion, and so what?

Whether you like them or not, they have become a staple of the film world, they have a long history, they have rewarded plenty of films generally considered masterpieces, and they're useful for promoting movies that people might otherwise not be interested in. Just thinking of how many winning movies and actors would've been unfairly forgotten if not for the award is enough to make me appreciate it.

Claiming that they're "meaningless" is just pouty posturing.

I agree with your stance too.

It's a shame that here in the USA though, people refuse to watch the Oscars because of political polarization. I have no issues if politics is part and parcel of the annual Academy Awards, as its a platform for Hollywood actors/producers/crew to express their political views on a number of topics (whether its human rights, climate change, or gun control).

In many ways, the Oscars are more meaningful than most awards shows that I see on TV every year, because we here in this forum ALL love cinema. The movies we love and watch have a message behind them, and I personally love getting to see my favorite director or actor/actress go up on stage and talk about cinema (and even politics for that matter).

Whether a person is liberal or conservative, a leftist or alt-right, movies bring us together, and we should all be tolerant and openminded about the people who helped make these movies possible. Those are my 2 cents.

[drownsoda]

Originally Posted by joy-division

I was a massive Jewel fan right from the get go - have so many magazines & clippings just because they feature a segment on her it's not funny -so I bought that on dvd when I lived in the USA. Really want to get the Criterion, was actually surprised it was released on the label]

I am/was a big Jewel fan too. Hers was the first concert I went to—I was nine and went with my parents. I still love her first two albums, and had held off seeing Ride with the Devil for years because I am not a huge western fan, but I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. It's a beautiful, raw movie—well acted, too. Jewel was actually very good in it. The Blu-ray is really great, and I was somewhat surprised Criterion released it, though I do think it deserves to be there.

[Luke Dodge748]

Does By Dawn's Early Light deserve the Criterion treatment? I love this movie and I feel like it's so underrated...

[thebalconyfool]

Jumping on board late with this. Probably my favorite blind buys:

Local Hero (I'm so glad I picked this up at the last flash sale- I found it magical)
The Baker's Wife
Double Life of Veronique
Black Narcissus
Le samourai
Sweet Smell of Success

I could go on as I have quite a few. I really haven't had any bad blind buy experiences and I blind buy a lot. Even blind buys that don't grab me initially I often feel differently about after a second viewing down the road. Therefore I generally hang on to anything I buy for awhile before giving up on it.

[Phillip c. Niethe]

I really wish they would rerelease Blade Runner. I still recall the Laser Disc. And think it would be fun if they did the WorkPrint instead if they feel the Final Cut wouldn't be lucrative enough... For that matter Criterion needs to do Gattica, Dark City (Sci-fi), and 2049 as well. That's my top 4, my 5th request would be special editions of Harry Potter because you just know how cool a Criterion collection of Harry Potter would look like!

[joy-division]

Originally Posted by drownsoda

I am/was a big Jewel fan too. Hers was the first concert I went to—I was nine and went with my parents. I still love her first two albums, and had held off seeing Ride with the Devil for years because I am not a huge western fan, but I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. It's a beautiful, raw movie—well acted, too. Jewel was actually very good in it. The Blu-ray is really great, and I was somewhat surprised Criterion released it, though I do think it deserves to be there.

Hers was the second concert(spirit) I went to - after Metallica, somewhat different lol. Now that I'm in the UK shame she totally has shut us off

I always thought she looked better with dark hair like she had in the WWSMS video

[Arawn]

Originally Posted by joy-division

I always fhought sheep looked better with dark hair

[joy-division]

Originally Posted by Arawn

[Show spoiler]

That's what you get for typing in your bet at 2am just before getting out of bed when you SHOULD be getting IN bed & are tying on your tablet while still lying down & the text is sideways

[Egbert Souse]

Originally Posted by Phillip c. Niethe

I really wish they would rerelease Blade Runner. I still recall the Laser Disc. And think it would be fun if they did the WorkPrint instead if they feel the Final Cut wouldn't be lucrative enough... For that matter Criterion needs to do Gattica, Dark City (Sci-fi), and 2049 as well. That's my top 4, my 5th request would be special editions of Harry Potter because you just know how cool a Criterion collection of Harry Potter would look like!

My UK 4K edition has all five cuts (with 4K for Final Cut), all the extras from the 2007 5-disc release, plus a photo gallery exclusive to the 2012 and 2016 4K editions. The US edition omits the extra four cuts and only has the supplements in SD DVD for some reason. But I can't imagine Criterion doing anything more elaborate than that 4K 4-disc release.

[Phillip c. Niethe]

Originally Posted by Egbert Souse

My UK 4K edition has all five cuts (with 4K for Final Cut), all the extras from the 2007 5-disc release, plus a photo gallery exclusive to the 2012 and 2016 4K editions. The US edition omits the extra four cuts and only has the supplements in SD DVD for some reason. But I can't imagine Criterion doing anything more elaborate than that 4K 4-disc release.

yeah, I also own all 5 cuts. I believe that the extras were different on the Criterion edition and it would be cool to have a copy with the Criterion slip and booklet. Thanks though

[Reddington]

SC is restoring in 4K and re-releasing The Elephant Man next year. Posting here as it is an often wished-for Criterion title.

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=26033

[DukeTogo84]

So yesterday, Spike Lee said Bamboozled was coming on Blu-ray in February again. Obviously that's not happening, so I wonder what's up.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by Reddington

SC is restoring in 4K and re-releasing The Elephant Man next year. Posting here as it is an often wished-for Criterion title.

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=26033

So would that be a Lionsgate release in the US?

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

So yesterday, Spike Lee said Bamboozled was coming on Blu-ray in February again. Obviously that's not happening, so I wonder what's up.

Maybe he thinks the official announcement is the release? A miscommunication of sorts.

[DVD Josh]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Actually, that isn't quite true. I'd forgotten (or at least did my best to forget) seeing Cats on stage. Can't win 'em all.

Cats is the worst thing to ever grace Broadway. No doubt. It's singing and dancing garbage that will truly never be wiped from your, ahem, Memories.