The Criterion Collection

[retablo]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

I strongly disagree. Cover art is a huge influence in whether or not I immediately find a Criterion appealing or not. The more impressive covers not only make the collecting even more enjoyable, but if I had a choice...I'd read about them first, then read about the less impressive cover's film.. A lot of us think that way. It's why we've got a poll going on the best and worst covers, why people on these boards are so obsessed with slipcovers and packaging... they matter when it comes to collecting/collections

Which is fine, but its no reason to NOT see a film, or add it to your collection. Let me ask (not to be condescending), but does a poster at the theater really influence you as to whether or not to see a film? I would think the trailer would influence a viewer more... or the story... or the actors or director. In the future, when everything is a digital download, we won't have to worry about silly cover art anymore anyway.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by retablo

Which is fine, but its no reason to NOT see a film, or add it to your collection. Let me ask (not to be condescending), but does a poster at the theater really influence you as to whether or not to see a film? I would think the trailer would influence a viewer more... or the story... or the actors or director. In the future, when everything is a digital download, we won't have to worry about silly cover art anymore anyway.

I agree with you completely. That's what my opinion is too...I just feel the cover art adds a great deal of initial interest. Again, I'm not the one who said I was put off by Mystery Train's cover...that was another poster. I was just adding to the discussion and saying I do care about the covers. I do plan on buying and watching Mystery Train myself!

[RojD]

Originally Posted by TylerDurden

What an amazing film Bleu was! So glad that I own this set. Now onto watch the other two White & Red.

Totally with you there! Real heart, great execution and pretty images. It's my fav of the set. And it looks so fine in this edition.

[easyblu]

Just finished the Three Colors trilogy for the first time. Quite the experience. Does anyone have any recommendations about what extras to watch? I feel a bit confused about the connections between the movies.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by oildude

OK, rkish. I caved. I am going to B&N today to add the Shimzu Eclipse set to my collection. I figure this is about as cheap as I will ever be able to get it, and I am definitely enjoying my baby steps into Japanese cinema through these Eclipse sets. I think discovering classic and new Japanese cinema through the Criterion Collection has been the highlight of my viewing since I began paying attention to the collection several years ago. Thanks to you and drbikeshorts for offering recommendations.

I still want the Late Ozu set, but will wait to see these on BFI blu-rays. I will also wait on the Teshigahara set to see if the films make it to blu, since they are in the mainline. Although with the disappointingly slow pace of Criterion's catalog upgrades, my willingness to wait could change. I am excited for December and the Suzuki relases.

That leaves the First Films of Akira Kurosawa Eclipse set as the only Japanese-based set I am not considering. I watched parts of these on hulu plus and, while I think they are watchable, and likely enjoyable, I just don't see myself re-watching these enough to warrant a purchase. I am open to reasons why my view of this set may be too narrow, since I am basing it off of samplings from each film; that isn't always a good gauge.

I just wish Criterion would start showing the same love for Australian New Wave (and Soviet/Russian movies) as they do for Japanese and French films.

Good luck with the Shimizu set - let us know what you think.
I'm also sitting on the fence with the late Ozu films; I'm sure Criterion will get around to them soon, so I haven't gone for the BFIs yet.
I'm waiting to see if some of those post-war Kurosawa's get upgraded.

[ccfixx]

DVDBeaver has its reviews up for The Lady Vanishes and Branded To Kill now.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

It's actually a still from Red, near the beginning, just in case anyone thinks it's a created image. I remember loving the image in the film, and was surprised and delighted to see Kellerhouse pull that frame from all of the possible frames in the entire trilogy to use as the box set cover. Blending of the three colors, light, motion, travel, fireworks, energy, brilliant.

I'm surprised at the negativity towards it. I was also delighted to see that image being used, it's a fantastic shot during the credits of Red, one of my favorite moments of the film, overall

[dag]

I've been out of the country for a while, and there have been quite a few recent Criterion releases I need to catch up with. So today I spent the afternoon and evening watching the Three Colors Trilogy. All three were very interesting and intimate movies, and an absolute pleasure to watch, think about, and savour.

[drbikeshorts]

I don't get a lot of the anger or disappointment about some of the packaging, particularly Three Colours or Carlos.
In fact, I love the Carlos cover and think it really captures the character and film. I'm a fan of covers that use stills from the films - see Paths of Glory for a great cover.
Although I agree that we should be watching and enjoying films based on the film itself, I do believe the cover is an important factor in making a decision.
We all have far too many films to watch and re-watch and it's often difficult to decide. I'm often lining up DVDs and blu-rays in front of the TV and then trying to narrow it down to a single film. Many a coffee has gone cold through my indecisiveness
Like the cover a book, we know we should not use it to judge the film, yet we can't help using it when deciding to buy it or watch it or whatever.
A good cover can inspire us to take a chance on a blind-buy or it can remind us of why we love it and should watch it again.
It's also worth noting that there have been some great covers that have still not persuaded me to blind-buy a film, because I also use the trailers, synopsis, and reviews and opinions, before I blind-buy. Black Moon and Insignificance being the obvious examples for me.
Also, Sweet Smell of Success was my favourite

[retablo]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

It's actually a still from Red, near the beginning, just in case anyone thinks it's a created image. I remember loving the image in the film, and was surprised and delighted to see Kellerhouse pull that frame from all of the possible frames in the entire trilogy to use as the box set cover. Blending of the three colors, light, motion, travel, fireworks, energy, brilliant.

Plus it has all 3 colors in the wires... its a logical cover, although I wish the individual cases would've used the original poster art; they were beautiful in their simplicity without Criterion's tinkering.

[joenostalgia23]

I can't believe people are complaining about CRITERION cover-art. You won't watch films because the artwork that Criterion hired skilled graphic designers to create just wasn't good enough.
If you consider Mystery Train's artwork to be so bad that you won't even watch the damn film... how do you manage to watch non-Criterion films?

[Darkcritic]

Looking through the Collection while narrowing my future buy-list I came upon what probably is the most undiscussed title in the Collection (In BD, I mean), El Norte! Does anyone has a particular opinion about this film ? Looks different and intriguing to me, I may get it the next sale.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by Darkcritic

Looking through the Collection while narrowing my future buy-list I came upon what probably is the most undiscussed title in the Collection (In BD, I mean), El Norte! Does anyone has a particular opinion about this film ?

I'm interested in viewer's thoughts too..I read the review just a few days ago and it interested me.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by joenostalgia23

I can't believe people are complaining about CRITERION cover-art. You won't watch films because the artwork that Criterion hired skilled graphic designers to create just wasn't good enough.
If you consider Mystery Train's artwork to be so bad that you won't even watch the damn film... how do you manage to watch non-Criterion films?

Man I wish we still had those "rep" points here. +1

[octagon]

Originally Posted by joenostalgia23

I can't believe people are complaining about CRITERION cover-art. You won't watch films because the artwork that Criterion hired skilled graphic designers to create just wasn't good enough.
If you consider Mystery Train's artwork to be so bad that you won't even watch the damn film... how do you manage to watch non-Criterion films?

That's not what they're saying. They're simply saying the cover art can be a factor in deciding which film to watch at a given time.

And that's not really all that hard to understand.

If great cover art can make one more interested and more enthusiastic and more eager to see what's inside is the notion that a flat or mundane cover can be a tie-breaker the other way really that incomprehensible???

I bought Naked based on some strong recommendations from people in this thread (welcome back again, Joe) but it sat on my shelf for months before I finally popped it in. I picked it up several times, thought 'ehhhh, another time' before deciding on something else and the cover played a part in that.

[Monty70]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

I watched "Cul-De-Sac" just now. Anyone here really like it? I was disappointed by it. From the start, I was very interested. I knew it was a character-driven film more than anything....but, the more I watched, the less I cared about the characters. After the first 50 or so minutes, there wasn't much that kept me interested....(which surprised me, because I absolutely love "Repulsion" and would regard it as one of the greatest psychological horror films ever...)

Yes, I really like Cul-de-Sac. This is certainly not a film filled with likable characters, but I would say that they are interesting and well developed. Many of Polanski's favorite areas of cinematic exploration are repeated from Repulsion, (namely isolation and latent insanity) though in the form of a morbidly dark comedy instead of horror.

Here is a link to a well written essay on the film.
http://www.sensesofcinema.com/2005/cteq/cul_de_sac/

I would suggest watching the film again, this one may grow on you.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Roninblues

No love for The Fearless Vampire Killers? I first saw this in a film class at college.

Heh, talk about a poster boy for 'ehh, another time'...I've DVRed that a couple different times and have had the DVD for years and still have never gotten around to watching that

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by octagon

That's not what they're saying. They're simply saying the cover art can be a factor in deciding which film to watch at a given time.

And that's not really all that hard to understand.

If great cover art can make one more interested and more enthusiastic and more eager to see what's inside is the notion that a flat or mundane cover can be a tie-breaker the other way really that incomprehensible???

I bought Naked based on some strong recommendations from people in this thread (welcome back again, Joe) but it sat on my shelf for months before I finally popped it in. I picked it up several times, thought 'ehhhh, another time' before deciding on something else and the cover played a part in that.

Thank you so much, Octagon. I'm beginning to regret giving my opinion and defending a fellow forum member in the first place, because apparently you are the only person who understood what we meant.

[TJS_Blu]

Originally Posted by DionJP

no more Wes Anderson hate speech. We get it, you're cool for not liking him.

And here I was thinking hacky sack world cup hooligans were the cool ones. Oh well.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by Monty70

Yes, I really like Cul-de-Sac. This is certainly not a film filled with likable characters, but I would say that they are interesting and well developed. Many of Polanski's favorite areas of cinematic exploration are repeated from Repulsion, (namely isolation and latent insanity) though in the form of a morbidly dark comedy instead of horror.

Here is a link to a well written essay on the film.
http://www.sensesofcinema.com/2005/cteq/cul_de_sac/

I would suggest watching the film again, this one may grow on you.

Thank you for the response. Reading more about a film always helps I will most likely revisit the film in a few months and see if my opinion changes... I suppose I prefer isolation-horror to isolation-dark comedy.