The Criterion Collection

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by blg

I have both of these and they are at the top of my "to watch" list. Sorry I can't engage you in a converstation at the moment.

I can say that I recently watched Harakiri and was blown away by how good it was and it's indictment of the Samurai system. The presentation was also pristine.

I have to admit I get somewhat of a kick out of those who complain about Criterion's pricing. I've watched probably close to 80 Criterion Blu's and have yet to come across one that had a "bad" transfer. I'll gladly pay $27.99 as I believe you get what you pay for. ymmv

Harakiri's fantastic, thanks for reminding me that I need to watch it again, right after I get through with World on a Wire.

Tatsuya Nakadai is amazing in it, and the film has Tetsuro Tamba in it, who's also in Three Outlaw Samurai.

I probably won't be receiving Three Outlaw Samurai until the end of April, but Letter Never Sent should hopefully arrive around Easter, so I hope someone will comment on it before then, and will be willing to discuss the film with me once I watch it.

[EricBC]

[QUOTE=BohemianGraham;5969216]Three Outlaw SamuraiQUOTE]

some junky theatre played this a while back and some friends and I stumbled in, I wish I was more sober and more awake, but I had never seen it and really enjoyed it. I would like to see if I can track down the TV show it's an offshoot of. It got me interested in Hideo Gosha and searching out more then just Kurosawa's movies when it comes to classic Japanese movies. A local rental place in Chamblee GA had a bunch of oddball transfers, I loved that store, I was typically the only white guy there ever, and the owner sort of hated anyone that wasn't Japanese, harassing anyone that wasn't in rather comical ways. I took the abuse and smiled since it was a unique experience and they had what no one else did. I liked the subtle contrast between the characters. I need to watch it again, but I remember the lighting being impressive also. I'm not the only one to say, but the likeness to the Crazy 88s fight in Kill Bill.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by blg

I can say that I recently watched Harakiri and was blown away by how good it was and it's indictment of the Samurai system. The presentation was also pristine.

Yeah, it's very good. Every time I thought it was going to veer into cheap melodrama it turned out they were just fattening a sacred cow before cheerfully (and skillfully) sending it to the slaughterhouse.

[*DrStrangelove*]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

I can assure you that I'm quite far away from being a kid; I'll be 27 in August.

My parents and I have a trade-off system for certain things, and I'm pretty sure my family isn't the only one who does this. If I get something for them, that they ask for, they pay me back, and vice versa, if it's not a gift, a minor thing, or a special occasion. My mother said she would pay me for assisting her, due to the nature of the work she required from me.

A 20 dollar Criterion is quite cheap in comparison to some of the stuff we've owed each other, as in the past I've had to paid my father about 1000 bucks for car parts, and his labour on my infamous car.

Has anyone actually had a chance to watch Letter Never Sent and/or Three Outlaw Samurai yet?

I've seen the Three outlaw Samurai bluray and saw Letter Never Sent on Hulu. Both are great films but my favorite is Never Letter Never Sent. The cinematography is pretty great. If you liked The Cranes are Flying you'll love this film. Three Outlaw Samurai has pretty good pq and and is a good samurai film. It's not as great as Kurosawa's Samurai film but definatley a lot of fun. This reminds me I really need to get Letter Never Sent. I'll pick it up with DD coupon

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by LearnYourVoice

Do you have the original dvd or the reissue?

The original DVD was the first Criterion I purchased. It wasn't a great transfer to say the least but it's SEVEN SAMURAI

[ShellOilJunior]

Looks like a Joe Dalek sighting on HTF...

[EricBC]

Originally Posted by LearnYourVoice

Do you have the original dvd or the reissue?

original

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by joie

I can't discuss the films you've ordered, because I haven't seen them.

I don't go on about sockpuppets. I have never called anyone a sockpuppet. I asked whether there were sockpuppets on this forum and whether they might be among the prolific posters. You got very defensive -- the only one to do so -- and have tried to insinuate that I am a sockpuppet, at lease twice. I am not. You do protest too much.

As for discussion, did you check your copy of Army of Shadows and see the problem with the presentation that I pointed-out to you after you assumed that I didn't like the transfer because I didn't like the film?

Then why didn't you say that in the first place, rather than insinuate that I'm not interesting in having a Criterion discussion, when I was clearly trying to have one?

I have never been defensive about anything you post, just honestly puzzled, because half the time you sound like a spam-bot, or that you're running your posts through several language translators and then back into English. It's also interesting how you are posting more now that Joe Dalek has disappeared, and seem to have this strange fixation on me. Also, since you are the one who brought up sockpuppets at an odd time, combined with the odd phrasings of your posts, one cannot help but assume you are one. You seem to go out of your way to pick apart my posts, when others say the same things.

I haven't checked my copy of Army of Shadows yet, because it is presently not anywhere near me, as I have lent it out to a friend. When I made my comment, I was not insinuating you didn't like the film based on its transfer, I was simply pointing out that you do not like the film, and have never had very many positive things to say about it. I also never said the film was perfect, as it only received a 4/5, because there are issues with it.

Originally Posted by *DrStrangelove*

I've seen the Three outlaw Samurai bluray and saw Letter Never Sent on Hulu. Both are great films but my favorite is Never Letter Never Sent. The cinematography is pretty great. If you liked The Cranes are Flying you'll love this film. Three Outlaw Samurai has pretty good pq and and is a good samurai film. It's not as great as Kurosawa's Samurai film but definatley a lot of fun. This reminds me I really need to get Letter Never Sent. I'll pick it up with DD coupon

It's about 14 bucks with the DD coupon, it came to 20 once Canadian shipping was applied. I'm glad I decided to order that one at the last minute, as it's going to arrive sooner than Three Outlaw Samurai, and I'm actually looking more forward to it due to my interest in Soviet/Russian history/culture. The few Russian language films I've watched so far have appealed to me, so I'm hoping this one does as well.

[rkish]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

I can assure you that I'm quite far away from being a kid; I'll be 27 in August.

My parents and I have a trade-off system for certain things, and I'm pretty sure my family isn't the only one who does this. If I get something for them, that they ask for, they pay me back, and vice versa, if it's not a gift, a minor thing, or a special occasion. My mother said she would pay me for assisting her, due to the nature of the work she required from me.

A 20 dollar Criterion is quite cheap in comparison to some of the stuff we've owed each other, as in the past I've had to paid my father about 1000 bucks for car parts, and his labour on my infamous car.

Has anyone actually had a chance to watch Letter Never Sent and/or Three Outlaw Samurai yet?

I watched Letter Never Sent last weekend. It was a great deal at $19.99. If you get it cheaper than that, then it's worth every cent. A great story and some wonderful cinematography.

You won't be disappointed!

EDIT: Now YOU have to convince me to buy Three Outlaw Samurai from Deep Discount.

[jrsl76]

Darn...I wish Vanya was part of the Amazon 45/50% off Criterions. Looks like I have everything that's on sale.

[Monty70]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Has anyone actually had a chance to watch Letter Never Sent and/or Three Outlaw Samurai yet?

Yes, Three Outlaw Samurai was a lot of fun. The film made some valid points on topics such as class and tradition. (I was just expecting a chop em' up) Beautiful photography and interesting sets also made this well worth the time.

Letter Never Sent was my most anticipated blu-ray of March. The film is filled with one staggeringly audacious sequence after another, each filmed with fluid and graceful camera movements.

[Show spoiler](I love the tracking shots during the forrest fire aftermath in particular)

The filmmaker also makes use of several wonderful composite shots that foreshadow events to come in the story. A cinematic visual feast.

[rkish]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Nope, World on a Wire. I'm pretty sure it's not a 4K transfer, and it was shot on 16MM. I'm going to start it over from the beginning.

I actually ordered and just received the book "Simulacron-3"...this is the book that World on a Wire was based. Looking forward to hopefully starting it this weekend.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by jrsl76

Darn...I wish Vanya was part of the Amazon 45/50% off Criterions. Looks like I have everything that's on sale.

Try deepdiscount and the coupon code, you might be able to get it for a comparable Amazon sale price that way.

Originally Posted by rkish

I watched Letter Never Sent last weekend. It was a great deal at $19.99. If you get it cheaper than that, then it's worth every cent. A great story and some wonderful cinematography.

You won't be disappointed!

EDIT: Now YOU have to convince me to buy Three Outlaw Samurai from Deep Discount.

No problem! You're going to end up with it before I receive my copy from B&N though. I just wish deepdiscount would ship Letter Never Sent already. B&N already shipped out Three Outlaw Samurai, and I just made the order this morning.

Cancelling my cable has been a good thing, as I'm already buying some more films to watch. I'm still waiting for Amazon.co.uk to send me my copy of The Innocents as well. I finally bit the bullet and did another UK order of it, the Studio Canal edition of The Graduate, and Burke and Hare (I actually liked it, Andy Serkis is just plain awesome), which shipped out this past Sunday. The Innocents should be shipping soon, at least according to the site. Watch as Criterion announce their own version for July, as that seems to be the case for some of the people who import/buy DVD copies of certain films in this thread.

I'm also eagerly anticipating The Organizer, which Amazon.ca is still going to ship out to me in April, despite the Harold and Maude delay.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by Monty70

Letter Never Sent was my most anticipated blu-ray of March. The film is filled with one staggeringly audacious sequence after another, each filmed with fluid and graceful camera movements.

[Show spoiler](I love the tracking shots during the forrest fire aftermath in particular)

The filmmaker also makes use of several wonderful composite shots that foreshadow events to come in the story. A cinematic visual feast.

You (Everyone) should check out Kalatozov's I Am Cuba, which I might add is only $30.99 right now in an "Ultimate Edition" Cigar box.

[ElliesDad]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

I can only recommend to either get new glasses or change your eye doctor

But do not worry maybe others will come in a offer you a better debate

Or, probably not....

Oops, came in three pages ago...

[Brad1963]

I cracked open the Lean/Coward set to take a peek. Looks spectacular with superb transfers and supplements. I cannot wait to watch the films this weekend.

[octagon]

I've taken a slight step back on the Lean/Coward set after watching Design for Living the other night.

I really liked Design for Living. It was fun and clever, a great transfer and the supplements look pretty good (I got about twenty minutes into the 1960- something televised play and it was pretty interesting) but I didnt love it and I don't know that I'm going to be going back to it all that often.

I kind of had the same 'not exactly buyer's remorse but kinda sorta' reaction to Kino's Nothing Sacred and I'm starting to think the Lean/Coward set might fall more into that category than not.

[colinrgeorge]

Inquiring minds should definitely seek out Letter Never Sent. The cinematography is outstanding... I've already watched the blu twice.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by EricBC

Thank you for the nice answers instead of just saying I have bad vision...

I had gotten quite a few DVDs that were nearly unwatchable and found old VHS copies of what I wanted with better quality, I hadn't even bothered touching anything blu-ray from them.

I think you should be specific about the titles and the problems if you don't want other regulars to jump on you.
Honestly, I thought you were being a troll with your first comment.
I know some early Criterion DVDs had a bad reputation (Branded to Kill and Tokyo Drifter were a bit notorious), but some are also very good. I have Le Samouraï and Touchez pas au grisbi and some others and they're all pretty good. I'm not sure I even need to upgrade them.
Most of the Criterion blu-rays have been outstanding.

[beatnikslacker]

Got this from GoHastings.com for $19.99 ($23.74 after tax & shipping)

[Show spoiler]

needless to say, Im pretty damn happy right now