The Criterion Collection

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by SkyAntoine

I was in the mood for a western last night and watched Stagecoach for the first time. Hard to imagine that was before anyone knew how big of a star John Wayne would become. His presence on the screen is always something to behold.

I enjoyed the film more from a historic perspective than the actual movie. John Ford's first western with sound...Wayne's first major role...preview of Monument Valley for future Ford films. There are a ton of supplements I want to dig into when I get the chance.

I guess you could say it was his first successful major role. The Big Trail, almost a decade earlier, was a big budget, widescreen, epic that was supposed to launch him as a major star but it's box office failure sent him into B westerns, serials, and minor role purgatory until Ford's film.

[kuro_sawa]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

The StudioCanal 4K restoration isn't just fine, it's better.



Probably coming eventually since the BFI set is out in the UK. Nice set, too.

The Dreyer restorations are wonderful too, that set shouldn't be missed. Odd how this site never reviewed it. It's possible Criterion take their sweet time getting those out in the states since they are presumably doing each film separately.

Agree on Third Man as well, the new disc eclipse the Criterion. Anyone paying more than $20-30 for the film on blu at this point is out of their mind in my opinion!

On a dif note, was in a used record store this weekend that sells DVDs/BDs and saw Dressed to Kill. I'm guessing that they didn't get the chance to recall them all unless it was the "new" version, either way was interesting to see it "out there".

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by repulsed

Just finished Harakiri and I'm just speechless. There isn't a complaint to be found. I welcome it to my top titles in the collection

Originally Posted by diskspinner

I watched it too last Saturday...It's masterful like everyone in this thread say...

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by 14728

I know this question has probably been posted tons of times before, but what film would you like to see Criterion re-release on blu-ray? I'd personally like to see Spinal Tap get a criterion release, mainly because I love the film so much.

• The Killer (would hope for better picture quality than the current BD from Dragon Dynasty)
• Silence of the Lambs (could also use better PQ)

For Criterion DVDs that I'd like to see BD upgrades for, my wishlist would be:

• Bicycle Thieves
• Le Samourai
• The Sergei Eisenstein Sound Years Box Set (Alexander Nevsky / Ivan the Terrible)
• Thief of Baghdad (1940)
• Vampyr

[octagon]

Originally Posted by kuro_sawa

The Dreyer restorations are wonderful too, that set shouldn't be missed. Odd how this site never reviewed it.

I'm totally guessing here but I wouldn't be surprised if many of non-US site reviews are done by staff who buy those releases themselves. There might be some access to overseas review copies but my guess is that's the exception rather than the rule.

[Polaroid]

I'd love Criterion to upgrade some of their horror titles!

[hoytereden]

I think my #1 upgrade wish would be Juliet of the Spirits.

[octagon]

My upgrade wishlist is very fickle. I guess right now I'd say...

The Lady Eve
The Elements of Crime
Bob le flambeuer
Knife in the Water
House of Games

(fickle's not really the right word but you know what I mean)

[WonderWeasel]

Originally Posted by 14728

I know this question has probably been posted tons of times before, but what film would you like to see Criterion re-release on blu-ray? I'd personally like to see Spinal Tap get a criterion release, mainly because I love the film so much.

Pygmalion
Bicycle Thieves
The Testament of Dr. Mabuse
Port of Shadows
The Grand Illusion

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by CriterionBlues

By the way, we just recorded our "Geekfest" episode and it was epic. Probably over 2 hours of just Criterion news and rumors. I'm worn out. I did do some major shouting out to Blu-Ray.com and the thread here, partly because I appreciated iScottie's work, but also because I just love this place.

Now I'm going to sleep for 20 hours and start editing. Will try to get the episode up tomorrow night.

Will definitely check it out. Not yet gotten into podcasts, so this looks like the ideal place to start.

Interested to hear about all the rumoured releases. Do you cover Othello and Chimes at Midnight? Wellesnet lists them both as "Coming soon from Criterion" but I've no idea if this is more wishful thinking than substantive.

[popcorntreect]

Limiting my Criterion upgrade wishlist to 10:

Nights of Cabiria
Three Films by Hiroshi Teshigahara
Pandora's Box
Au Hasard Balthazar
Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles
The Bicycle Thieves
Bob Le Flambeur
The Virgin Spring
Taste of Cherry
Cría cuervos . . .

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by kuro_sawa

The Dreyer restorations are wonderful too, that set shouldn't be missed. Odd how this site never reviewed it. It's possible Criterion take their sweet time getting those out in the states since they are presumably doing each film separately.

Agree on Third Man as well, the new disc eclipse the Criterion. Anyone paying more than $20-30 for the film on blu at this point is out of their mind in my opinion!

Since Criterion always does their own dirt/contrast work on HD masters, it'll take a bit for them to get "their" versions ready. But there's so many Criterion titles with HD masters available in other countries... they could seriously upgrade about 30 titles now (presuming all those masters are actually good).

I'm holding off on stuff like Au Hasard Balthazar, Cria Cuervos, Thief of Bagdad, Pickup on South Street... I don't need them back in my collection ASAP but it's good to know they are available elsewhere if Criterion drags their feet on upgrades.

I'd personally rather have titles upgraded right now than bringing in new stuff like The Rose or Dressed to Kill, or Wes Anderson stuff that's already available with good PQ elsewhere. But that's just me. We need the DVD quality stuff gone where applicable. Then again, I don't really care about extras or cover art or any of that. The movie is what's important, then everything else.

[Brad1963]

My upgrade wishlist:

Le Samouraï
The Lady Eve
Elevator to the Gallows
Knife in the Water
Summertime
Shoot the Piano Player

OOP titles:
The Fallen Idol
The Unbearable Lightness of Being
Maurice
Bob le flambeur

[Ray Jackson]

-Le Samourai
-Samurai Rebellion
-Red Beard

These three cinematic treasures must be upgraded.

...they MUST!!!!

[Bates_Motel]

Upgrade wishlist:
(all have HD masters elsewhere)
Closely Watched Trains
Fireman's Ball
Scenes From A Marriage
Thief of Bagdad
Pickup on South Street
Au Husard Balthazar
Antoine Doniel collection
Carl Dreyer Set
Rossellini's War Trilogy
Bad Timing
This Sporting Life
The Naked City
Wooden Crosses
Les Miserables
Berlin Alexanderplatz

and
Short Cuts
Bergman's Faith trilogy
Knife in the Water
Vampyr

[darkness2918]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

-Le Samourai
-Samurai Rebellion
-Red Beard

These three cinematic treasures must be upgraded.

...they MUST!!!!

I 100% agree.

[The Great Owl]

My most desired Criterion upgrades from DVD...

Le Samouraï
Le Doulos
Le Deuxieme Souffle
Bob Le Flambeur
Touchez Pas Au Grisbi
Le Trou
Brute Force
Thieves' Highway
The Naked City
Pickup at South Street
Classe Tous Risques
Stray Dog
Drunken Angel
Blast of Silence
Elevator to the Gallows
Pepe Le Moko
The Naked Prey
The Bad Sleep Well
Vampyr
Les Enfants Terribles
Equinox
Pandora's Box

[dressedtokill]

My upgrade wishlist:

White Dog
Magnificent Obsession
Written on the Wind
The Lady Eve
Shortcuts
Pickup on South Street
Dead Ringers
Bicycles Thieves
Blast of silence
Summertime
Brief Encounter
Brute force
Casque D'Or
Cria Cuervos
The Furies
The Fugitive Kind
Mamma Roma
Missing
The Naked City
Tanner '88
Secret Honor
Onibaba
Unfaithfully Yours
The Ruling Class
Sisters
La Strada
Stray Dog
Thieve's Highway

[Archedamian]

I pray every month for a Pandora's Box upgrade.

[Scottie]

I am not a fan of period dramas, but there is something about these Ivory-Merchant films that sucks me in and keeps me entertained.

I was not 100% won over by either Howards End or A Room with a View on my initial viewings, but I do find myself reflecting a lot upon them, specifically in terms of their themes on class and romance.