The Criterion Collection

[Knaldskalle]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

So happy to find so many I wanted, and many more blind buys to explore. And yet, buying this many while I'm still homeless makes me feel so naughty.

I really hope the Brakhage set wasn't a blind buy! Highly revered avant-garde film-maker, his work is not for the casual viewer. This is definitely a case of "try before you buy". I'm not saying he's bad (he's not), I'm saying if you don't already know who he is there's a good chance he's not for you,

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Knaldskalle

I really hope the Brakhage set wasn't a blind buy! Highly revered avant-garde film-maker, his work is not for the casual viewer. This is definitely a case of "try before you buy". I'm not saying he's bad (he's not), I'm saying if you don't already know who he is there's a good chance he's not for you,

Uh oh. It is!

I figured that 50+ experimental shorts would be up my alley. I might have to pop some in tonight to see what's up.

EDIT:
Just looked at Desistfilm, and I found it interesting. I can see how some would call it weird or annoying, but stylistically it's quite punchy and hip.

I think I like this avant-garde thing better in short bursts like this than in whole films, but I should see more.

[Markgway]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Came out to about $300 worth of films. So happy to find so many I wanted, and many more blind buys to explore. And yet, buying this many while I'm still homeless makes me feel so naughty.

At least you have enough to make a plastic pillow.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by Markgway

At least you have enough to make a plastic pillow.

And I can glue all the paper sleeves and essay pages together into a blanket. Good thing The Lodger has a poster.

[Al_The_Strange]

Flipping through some more of Stan Brakhage's stuff.

Wedlock House: An Intercourse is alright. A little uneventful imo, but the light/shadow effects are nice.

Skipped ahead to disc three for variety's sake. Visions in Meditation #1 is certainly not to my taste. It reminds me of the god-awful video footage I took when I bought my first camcorder--I was so hyped to capture anything and everything I wound up moving too fast and jittery. The guy kinda does the same thing on purpose and cuts it so fast with flashes and vignettes and such. I do see how it appears as dream-like or something like a memory, but I found it agitating.

I had to press on with Visions in Meditation #2 because, holy crap, it's Mesa Verde. I was there just last year. And I took quite a bit of video footage, as smoothly as I could (now that I know better). It was a place I enjoyed seeing and visiting, so it was fairly interesting to see it filtered through Brakhage's style. But it's still nuts, but most of these views are familiar to me.

[*DrStrangelove*]

Originally Posted by growler

Anyone here used this?

I sent in Kagemusha which freezes & is on the list of defective discs.
The Criterion Collection
Attn: Jon Mulvaney
215 Park Avenue South
5th floor
New York, NY 10003

Tracking shows they received it 3 weeks ago.
I emailed Jon a couple days ago to check status but, no reply.

For those who did exchange a disc, how long did it take & did you receive any communication?

Here is the list:
The confirmed potentially affected Blu-ray titles are:

SUMMER HOURS
WALKABOUT
PARIS, TEXAS
M
THE SEVENTH SEAL
PIERROT LE FOU
HOWARDS END
MONSOON WEDDING
MONTEREY POP
RIDE WITH THE DEVIL
KAGEMUSHA

“The best way to tell if your disc from the list is defective is by looking on the under side of the disc (the shiny side) and if you see the letters 'BVDL' your disc will be fine. If you don't see those letters you should send in your disc.”

Wow never heard of this until now. I checked my blurays from the list and the only one that didnt have BVDL was my copy of Pierrot le Fou. How accurate is this? And will they still replace an Out of print disc?

[KillDaWabbit]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

I've moved across country to another state, selling one house and closing on another. This year's Criterion sales have been the last thing on my mind. Although every time I visit this site, Barry Lyndon, Twin Peaks, and other awesome stuff keeps beckoning me like sirens.

I googled the local B&N sale and decided to swing by and see what looks good. Was hoping to find Persona, since it ranked on the latest and greatest Blu-Ray.com community poll. It wasn't there. But I was floored by the store's selection. I wound up combing through and picking up one title after another. Next thing you know...



Came out to about $300 worth of films. So happy to find so many I wanted, and many more blind buys to explore. And yet, buying this many while I'm still homeless makes me feel so naughty.






...I'll be back next week for Le Samourai.

Allow me to be the first to thank you for being the sacrificial lamb and buying Joan of Arc on DVD. The rest of us who hope to see a blu ray upgrade will now be ready for it to be announced this month!

Unrelated question...do any of you know of a version of Le Circle Rouge that meets the following criteria:
1. doesn’t cost >$100
2. Can be played with a region A blu ray player (ps4)
3. Is blu-ray

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by KillDaWabbit

Allow me to be the first to thank you for being the sacrificial lamb and buying Joan of Arc on DVD. The rest of us who hope to see a blu ray upgrade will now be ready for it to be announced this month!

That would be awesome. I hope my efforts will make it happen.

I have the UK Eureka Blu-Ray, but I wanted a Region-A friendly copy, especially since I can't travel with it. Some day soon, I might have to play that DVD in the hotel player. The Eureka edition not only has an awesome package, but also has awesome quality. Criterion should be able to match it.

[Knaldskalle]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Uh oh. It is!

I figured that 50+ experimental shorts would be up my alley. I might have to pop some in tonight to see what's up.

EDIT:
Just looked at Desistfilm, and I found it interesting. I can see how some would call it weird or annoying, but stylistically it's quite punchy and hip.

I think I like this avant-garde thing better in short bursts like this than in whole films, but I should see more.

I really like some of his stuff (other films not so much, it varies). I'd never recommend Brakhage as a blind buy, he's far too divisive for that, but if you liked Desistfilm, there's a good chance you'll like Brakhage. I'm personally very fond of Mothlight and 23rd Psalm Branch.

[AaronJ]

OK, I think my order of Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me and Night and Fog will arrive tomorrow -- or today, depending on how you look at it.

So, the only remaining piece will be Le Samourai.

So, we're almost done. Because there are things I want to get, but I just can't do it. It's like Ray said of me, I have no willpower. It's true. I could click on the B&N tab and end up spending another $200. Ugh.

Oh, well, good month.

[Jaymole]

Originally Posted by mja345

Speaking of early 70s Elliott Gould films, "Little Murders" badly needs a release.

I agree, I love that film.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

I have the UK Eureka Blu-Ray, but I wanted a Region-A friendly copy, especially since I can't travel with it. Some day soon, I might have to play that DVD in the hotel player.

Haha, I never thought of Joan of Arc as a film I'd feel like carrying around with the idea of watching in a hotel room. I'd probably just watch Netflix or whatever it is they have for cable.

[FaceInTheLeaves]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

I've moved across country to another state, selling one house and closing on another. This year's Criterion sales have been the last thing on my mind. Although every time I visit this site, Barry Lyndon, Twin Peaks, and other awesome stuff keeps beckoning me like sirens.

I googled the local B&N sale and decided to swing by and see what looks good. Was hoping to find Persona, since it ranked on the latest and greatest Blu-Ray.com community poll. It wasn't there. But I was floored by the store's selection. I wound up combing through and picking up one title after another. Next thing you know...

Came out to about $300 worth of films. So happy to find so many I wanted, and many more blind buys to explore. And yet, buying this many while I'm still homeless makes me feel so naughty.




...I'll be back next week for Le Samourai.

Don't feel bad - own you homelessness by pushing your Criterion haul around in a shopping trolley for dramatic effect! Fire Walk With Me is officially my favourite blu-ray ever. I love Criterion for taking so much care over a film that's never had the recognition it deserves. The new Sheryl Lee interview is brilliant. I bought four copies (two from Barnes and Noble and two from Amazon) to increase my chances of getting one in pristine condition and am bedding down in a shop doorway as I write.

I also bought Barry Lyndon, Tie Me Up Tie Me Down, Personal Shopper and The Art Life from Barnes and Noble.



One thing that's confusing about The Art Life (formerly Lynch Three) is that it was crowdfunded, and people who contributed were supposed to be sent a free copy of the finished documentary. I haven't heard from Nyugen and co since 2012. I grudgingly bought Criterion's The Art Life blu-ray because David Lynch is one of my all time heroes (and I got a signed print out of it) but blackANDwhite (or whatever alias they're operating under nowadays) not having the courtesy to keep in touch with people who helped crowdfund the documentary has left a bad taste in my mouth.

[SammyJankis]

For those wanting some more Bergman. Film Forum and Janus just announced this:

[Abdrewes]

All this Brakhage talk has me thinking of Lawrence Jordan (a ton of his work is available on Fandor). Like both he and Frampton, Jordan has that hand-made quality to his films, albeit much more surreal in a concrete way that fans of Bunuel, for example, would enjoy. A multi disc box-set of his work would be bad freakin' ass. It's been way too long since the last experimental short film set was released by CC.

Also, how is Maya Deren not on bluray yet?

[cropduster]

Originally Posted by senseabove

I'd assume Bill Morrison is for an extra on a silent film, since his latest already got a well-reviewed release by Kino... Seems unlikely they're doing a collection of his own work, though I'd definitely check out a Decasia and other works blu.

There is a Decasia region free release put out by Icarus Films:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Decasia-Blu-ray/60462/

And a Bill Morrison Selected Films 1996-2014 region B release put out by BFI:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Bill-...lu-ray/124443/

[cropduster]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Also, how is Maya Deren not on bluray yet?

Maya Deren's Meshes of the Afternoon and Meditation On Violence is available on Flicker Alley's Masterworks of American Avant-Garde Experimental Film 1920-1970 blu-ray release.

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Masterworks-of-American-Avant-Garde-Experimental-Film-1920-1970-Blu-ray/132260/

[malakaheso]

Originally Posted by mja345

"Color of Night" would be perfect for Criterion.

Speaking of early 70s Elliott Gould films, "Little Murders" badly needs a release.

Color of Night is a guilty pleasure.

Isn't the PQ on the current Stunt Man disc lacking?

[mja345]

Originally Posted by malakaheso

Color of Night is a guilty pleasure.

Isn't the PQ on the current Stunt Man disc lacking?

Yeah, "Color of Night" is one of the most insane, preposterous films ever made. The PQ on the "Stunt Man" disc is fairly middling. I'm sure Criterion could upgrade the PQ, but I'm honestly fine with the current disc given it's a film I like quite a bit, but don't love.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by cropduster

There is a Decasia region free release put out by Icarus Films:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Decasia-Blu-ray/60462/

And a Bill Morrison Selected Films 1996-2014 region B release put out by BFI:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Bill-...lu-ray/124443/

Decasia is so creepy and eery! Love it!!!