The Criterion Collection

[theater dreamer]

Originally Posted by mrjohnnyb

The website known as They Shoot Pictures Don't They has just posted their new list (2020) of the 1,000 greatest films of all time. Bill Georgaris, who created the site, has been posting this annually for the past 15 years. Personally, I think that it is the best list, as it takes into account not only great American films, but the films of World Cinema, documentaries, cult films, and experimental films. Many of the films available through the Criterion Collection are on the list!


http://www.theyshootpictures.com/gf1000.htm

I literally just woke up, so apologies if I sound a bit unorganized in my thoughts.

I first found this list about two years ago, and bookmarked it. I refer to it pretty often, and enthusiastically recommend it. The sheer size is a bit overwhelming, yet eminently impressive because of its diversity. That it’s updated annually blows me away. What a massive undertaking that is.

I would have a real difficult time prioritizing even the top hundred films of all-time, first because there is much I have yet to be exposed to, and second because there are so many films I have seen that I would heavily consider, but might not have the exposure many other candidates might have. And this is a thousand. How do you balance those out, especially when documentaries are concerned. The sheer number of documentary films would overwhelm me. In the past few days, I’ve watched One Survivor Remembers, an Academy Award-winning 40 minute doc about the recollections of Gerda Weissman Klein’s forced death march at the end of World War II, The Sound of My Voice, about the career of Linda Ronstadt, and now I’m engrossed in Aviva Kempner’s fantastic The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg. How does one compare works of this nature?

I will start looking at it tomorrow with great anticipation.

[Drake2222]

Originally Posted by ilenewoodsfan99

Does anyone think that another Cecil B. DeMille film could be added in the collection at some point. If I'm correct, The King of Kings is the only one, and it's in a bulky DVD case.

I see the Crusades just came out in France. And plays in Region A

[nitin]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

I literally just woke up, so apologies if I sound a bit unorganized in my thoughts.

I first found this list about two years ago, and bookmarked it. I refer to it pretty often, and enthusiastically recommend it. The sheer size is a bit overwhelming, yet eminently impressive because of its diversity. That it’s updated annually blows me away. What a massive undertaking that is.

I would have a real difficult time prioritizing even the top hundred films of all-time, first because there is much I have yet to be exposed to, and second because there are so many films I have seen that I would heavily consider, but might not have the exposure many other candidates might have. And this is a thousand. How do you balance those out, especially when documentaries are concerned. The sheer number of documentary films would overwhelm me. In the past few days, I’ve watched One Survivor Remembers, an Academy Award-winning 40 minute doc about the recollections of Gerda Weissman Klein’s forced death march at the end of World War II, The Sound of My Voice, about the career of Linda Ronstadt, and now I’m engrossed in Aviva Kempner’s fantastic The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg. How does one compare works of this nature?

I will start looking at it tomorrow with great anticipation.

Btw I forgot to mention in my post above but in terms of recent foreign films you should definitely see, grab Once Upon a Time in Anatolia and The Wild Pear Tree by Nuri Bilge Ceylan. The Cinema Guild releases are excellent.

[Jr7936]

and if you get the ones in the box set from england they are hard locked to region B

Originally Posted by nitin

Btw I forgot to mention in my post above but in terms of recent foreign films you should definitely see, grab Once Upon a Time in Anatolia and The Wild Pear Tree by Niro Bilge Ceylan. The Cinema Guild releases are excellent.

[kvnbhovis]

Originally Posted by Drake2222

I see the Crusades just came out in France

That movie was very popular in the Middle East as it treated Muslims in a respectful way. De Mille was welcomed there when he shot the exteriors for the Ten Commandments('56).

[CreasyBear]

Originally Posted by Gacivory

Maybe.

Criterion still has the rights to it, I'm assuming, because the DVD is still in print. Perhaps it's because there's no 2K or 4K elements? This one is really a glaring omission in their catalog on Blu-ray.

[Gbpxl]

The only store Ive seen sell Criterion brand new is Barnes and Noble @ $40-$50 a movie
Does anyone actually pay this price or does everyone just wait for the 50% off sale?

[CreasyBear]

Originally Posted by Gbpxl

The only store Ive seen sell Criterion brand new is Barnes and Noble @ $40-$50 a movie
Does anyone actually pay this price or does everyone just wait for the 50% off sale?

Everyone waits for the 50% sale or similar sales at other retailers, in the 30-50% off area.

[Gbpxl]

Originally Posted by CreasyBear

Everyone waits for the 50% sale or similar sales at other retailers, in the 30-50% off area.

How the hell do they stay in business if they can only get people to buy their films at 30-50% less than whats advertised

[stonesfan129]

Yup I wait for the sales because then most titles come down to $20-30 in price which is a lot more reasonable. I think their book sales is what keeps them in business, not their movie or music sales. The vinyl I have seen sold at B&N is ridiculously overpriced too. I saw a copy of Pink Floyd - The Wall for $52. I can't imagine people are paying these prices.

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by Gbpxl

How the hell do they stay in business if they can only get people to buy their films at 30-50% less than whats advertised

It's factored into the pricing model. Don't forget that Criterion always lists titles at a discount on its own site (20-25% usually) - plus has its own 50% flash sales, which are hugely popular. Amazon discounts heavily, with standard one-disc titles often priced at $22-25 against a SRP of $39.95.

I have seen people buy full-price at B&N, but it must amount to a very small percentage of its annual Criterion business. The B&N 50% sales are actively promoted by Criterion, and legend has it that B&N stopped accepting additional discount coupons during these events at Criterion's request.

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by stonesfan129

Yup I wait for the sales because then most titles come down to $20-30 in price which is a lot more reasonable. I think their book sales is what keeps them in business, not their movie or music sales. The vinyl I have seen sold at B&N is ridiculously overpriced too. I saw a copy of Pink Floyd - The Wall for $52. I can't imagine people are paying these prices.

As many have lamented here, the B&N media departments in most stores have been mothballed. They are no longer staffed, and the amount of physical media has dwindled - being replaced with book displays, and other products.

[MifuneFan]

Just a heads-up, target is having another B2G1 sale, and Criterion movies are included. You can get standard priced titles for about $15.32 each before taxes, which far and away beats B&N's 50% off sale. You save even more as a redcard cardholder.

Just search Target for the titles you're looking for. If you have any trouble, try searching by its UPC code.

[FragnitoM]

Originally Posted by Reddington

As many have lamented here, the B&N media departments in most stores have been mothballed. They are no longer staffed, and the amount of physical media has dwindled - being replaced with book displays, and other products.

It’s a shame... I have a number of stores around me. A few have completely eliminated a designated area and turned it into a games/toys area and consolidated movies/cds/vinyl into a very small section... the ones that haven’t yet have no staff, and it’s messy with crap misplaced everywhere and half the area used for overstock books.

[KubrickKurasawa]

Originally Posted by Gbpxl

How the hell do they stay in business if they can only get people to buy their films at 30-50% less than whats advertised

Because I and others can't wait forever.

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Just a heads-up, target is having another B2G1 sale, and Criterion movies are included. You can get standard priced titles for about $15.32 each before taxes, which far and away beats B&N's 50% off sale. You save even more as a redcard cardholder.

Just search Target for the titles you're looking for. If you have any trouble, try searching by its UPC code.

Thanks. Not used Target for Criterion before. How do you rate the service? Cases/discs pristine, and well-packed?

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Reddington

Thanks. Not used Target for Criterion before. How do you rate the service? Cases/discs pristine, and well-packed?

I don't order a lot of movies from them. Last time they had a B2G1 sale I did order a couple Criterion's and they came perfectly fine. I can't remember it they were in a box, or a bubble mailer.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by Gbpxl

The only store Ive seen sell Criterion brand new is Barnes and Noble @ $40-$50 a movie
Does anyone actually pay this price or does everyone just wait for the 50% off sale?

It depends on how badly I must have it.

If this Tuesday they came out with, say, a Criterion edition of The Neon Demon absolutely loaded with extras? Yes, I would definitely pay $40 for it. The day after tomorrow!

But it's one of my favorite movies, at least of those are in English and are relatively contemporary.

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by Reddington

Thanks. Not used Target for Criterion before. How do you rate the service? Cases/discs pristine, and well-packed?

Target mails individual discs in plastic-y bubble mailers. I haven’t had any issues with the cases being damaged but I’ve not ordered digipaks from them. The great thing about the Target B2G1 sales (other than the price) is that it works for pre-orders, too. They usually deliver pre-orders within a day or two, before or after, release date. Also, with pre-orders, they charge you as each item is shipped.

[Namuhana]

Originally Posted by Gbpxl

How the hell do they stay in business if they can only get people to buy their films at 30-50% less than whats advertised

I mean, it's a bookstore...


Granted, they sell other media, toys, games, eReaders, magazines, and (in most locations) Starbucks and food, but they still mostly sell books. I don't think their biannual Criterion sales are solely responsible for sustaining the company throughout the year.