The Criterion Collection

[oildude]

Originally Posted by octagon

Favorite blind buys...hmmm...

Paths of Glory
Kes
People on Sunday
Revanche
Chungking Express

I've had very, very good luck blind buying Criterions but the **** in 'holy **** that was good' got a little extra pop with these.

I forgot about Revanche, another great blind buy that could easily make my top ten list. Too many good blind buys from Criterion makes it hard to pick the best. I agree with the poster above who said it is easier to pick the ones that don't make the cut, or fall just a bit short for whatever reason.

I agree with your list, all are excellent films, although for me only People on Sunday and Revanche were blind buys. People on Sunday is one of my top films, period.

[ikari777]

I won't even make a list as I own almost all the available blu-rays and have only been disappointed a time or two. Most are blind buys and most I thoroughly enjoy and am glad to own! One thing we can all be grateful for is Criterion's dedication and the solid presentations they release each of high quality and packaged beautifully too!

[easyblu]

Originally Posted by rkish

This film got me into the world of Kieslowski...and it ended with watching the complete Dekalogue series. I hope this sees a release on blu by anyone in the near future.

Dekalogue on blu-ray would be great! I checked the series out after blind buying the Double Life of Veronique and Three Colors, and loved it for the most part. The first episode was definitely my favorite.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by ikari777

I won't even make a list as I own almost all the available blu-rays and have only been disappointed a time or two. Most are blind buys and most I thoroughly enjoy and am glad to own! One thing we can all be grateful for is Criterion's dedication and the solid presentations they release each of high quality and packaged beautifully too!

Same here, most of mine are blond buys and I have just about all the collection: 125 Total ish, 85 Blind bought. They are the Pride of my collection. I couldn't even make a complete list; most recently I was floored by:
Revanche
Branded to Kill
Harakiri
World on a Wire
Naked
Music Room
Insignificance
If
3Women
.............

[Darkcritic]

Many great blind-buys for me so I think it is easier to name the single "mistake" . But to start on a positive note, here are some of the best (And then the not so good one)...

- Diabolique by Clouzot
- Army of Shadows by Melville
- 12 Angry Men (Yeap, never saw it before ) by Lumet
- Japanese Summer: Double Suicide by Oshima
- Love Affair, or the Case of the Missing Switchboard Operator by Makavejev
- Man is not a Bird by Makavejev
- Red Desert by Antonioni

The only blind-buy that had me seriously disappointed was Hunger by Steve McQueen . The film, in my opinion, is way more flawed than successful with some lights and moments of sheer brilliance but an almost deal-breaker editing. I don't know, the fact that the film felt so dividided at the middle,

[Show spoiler]when Bobby and the priest had their half-hour discussion

. It completely took me out of the film and I seriously hated that because prior to that moment everything else was really well done.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by HuggyBear73

Does anyone know if Criterion still holds the rights to Carl Theodor Dreyer's VAMPYR? I'd like to sell off my Criterion dvd if I know Criterion still has the rights.

Even if they have the rights now, there's no guarantee that they're going to be doing a blu-ray release any time soon. Also I am doubting if they will include the book that came with the DVD, containing Sheridan Le Fanu's story Carmilla and the script of the film.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Darkcritic

Many great blind-buys for me so I think it is easier to name the single "mistake" . But to start on a positive note, here are some of the best (And then the not so good one)...

- Diabolique by Clouzot
- Army of Shadows by Melville
- 12 Angry Men (Yeap, never saw it before ) by Lumet
- Japanese Summer: Double Suicide by Oshima
- Love Affair, or the Case of the Missing Switchboard Operator by Makavejev
- Man is not a Bird by Makavejev
- Red Desert by Antonioni

The only blind-buy that had me seriously disappointed was Hunger by Steve McQueen . The film, in my opinion, is way more flawed than successful with some lights and moments of sheer brilliance but an almost deal-breaker editing. I don't know, the fact that the film felt so dividided at the middle,

[Show spoiler]when Bobby and the priest had their half-hour discussion

. It completely took me out of the film and I seriously hated that because prior to that moment everything else was really well done.

Hunger Was electrifying and the Long Scene was totally ingenious. Nothing else could have expressed his iron will better in those twenty minutes. Yeah my brother was squirming during the scene, but its one of those Russian Ark things: at the very least you're impressed

[Brad1107]

Because i'm unemployed and looking for work, my criterion collection is quite small.
It consists of:

Amarcord
400 Blows
Beauty and the Beast
Seventh Seal
Salo
Wages of Fear
La Jetee/ Sans Soleil
Pierrot Le Fou
Bottle Rocket
House

The only non-blind buy out of those is Bottle Rocket. I also used to own the criterion Salo on DVD, but never watched it and decided to sell it when the blu-ray was released.

Out of those titles i've only yet watched: 400 Blows, Beauty and the Beast, Pierrot Le Fou, Bottle Rocket and House.

Really enjoyed them all so far but wouldn't say any of them blew my mind yet. Really need to give 400 Blows another watch.

House I was really loving but I think it's just too long for the type of film it is. By the last half an hour I'm a bit over the whole stylized insanity.

There's quiet a few titles on my want list and the second I am back in employment, i'll be spending a fair bit on them.

Have also been keeping up to date with all the Twilight Time releases so far. All blind buys as i'm working on my classic/older film knowledge.

[Wally Q]

Originally Posted by gill08

I would love to see Criterion do some John Ford films.

Originally Posted by SpiderBaby

http://www.criterion.com/films/980-stagecoach
http://www.criterion.com/films/766-young-mr-lincoln

I'm really hoping Young Mr. Lincoln gets an upgrade to Blu-ray coming this fall to capitalize on the arrival of Spielberg's film.

[Darkcritic]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Hunger Was electrifying and the Long Scene was totally ingenious. Nothing else could have expressed his iron will better in those twenty minutes. Yeah my brother was squirming during the scene, but its one of those Russian Ark things: at the very least you're impressed

My problem wasn't with the scene itself and re-reading my previous post I think that might come misunderstood . The scene was a great example of well-crafted filmmaking but my real problem is with everything that followed. The elements (scenes) are great by themselves but together they interrupt the flow of the film. The first half of the film center around two IRA prisioners while the second one is just Sands' hunger prostest. Why everything before it was left out? I would not have a problem if McQueen shifted from one to the other with something to bridge but all of a sudden there is that scene and nothing before really weights after.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by Darkcritic

My problem wasn't with the scene itself and re-reading my previous post I think that might come misunderstood . The scene was a great example of well-crafted filmmaking but my real problem is with everything that followed. The elements (scenes) are great by themselves but together they interrupt the flow of the film. The first half of the film center around two IRA prisioners while the second one is just Sands' hunger prostest. Why everything before it was left out? I would not have a problem if McQueen shifted from one to the other with something to bridge but all of a sudden there is that scene and nothing before really weights after.

That was the transition form the first half to the last... it's no different than Full Metal Jacket or other films that are sort of divided in the middle... except that in Hunger, the events of the first half led to the events in the second. I liked that McQueen trimmed all the fat and skipped ahead.

[billzfan]

I was curious. I really wanted to own I, Vitteloni but I noticed it's only available on Criterion DVD. Does it still look decent? Does anyone here still buy DVD's?

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by billzfan

I was curious. I really wanted to own I, Vitteloni but I noticed it's only available on Criterion DVD. Does it still look decent? Does anyone here still buy DVD's?

The only DVDs I still buy are the new Eclipse sets, because I don't think they'll be getting upgrades anytime time soon.
I've been holding off on a lot of their mainline films, because sooner or later they'll get an upgrade.
I think a few of us on this forum operate on a sort-of Murphy's Law approach: if we were to buy a DVD, it will soon be announced that it is going to get upgraded

[billzfan]

Originally Posted by drbikeshorts

The only DVDs I still buy are the new Eclipse sets, because I don't think they'll be getting upgrades anytime time soon.
I've been holding off on a lot of their mainline films, because sooner or later they'll get an upgrade.
I think a few of us on this forum operate on a sort-of Murphy's Law approach: if we were to buy a DVD, it will soon be announced that it is going to get upgraded

I hear you. That's always my worry too

[Darkcritic]

Originally Posted by retablo

That was the transition form the first half to the last... it's no different than Full Metal Jacket or other films that are sort of divided in the middle... except that in Hunger, the events of the first half led to the events in the second. I liked that McQueen trimmed all the fat and skipped ahead.

I don't know, maybe it is just me . Hunger is the only Criterion release I have not been entirely happy with.

Originally Posted by billzfan

I was curious. I really wanted to own I, Vitteloni but I noticed it's only available on Criterion DVD. Does it still look decent? Does anyone here still buy DVD's?

Totally ! Most of the great stuff is still only available in DVD and there are many Criterion titles that are only DVD. Waiting for an upgrade most of the time is a matter of months and even years.

[billzfan]

Just ordered Wings of Desire for 17 and Night To Remember for 20. This Criterion collecting is getting really addictive, lol.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by billzfan

I was curious. I really wanted to own I, Vitteloni but I noticed it's only available on Criterion DVD. Does it still look decent? Does anyone here still buy DVD's?

A lot of those titles will most likely never make it to blu-ray. Criterion only upgrades 1-2 titles a month, and continually lose the rights to some titles while gaining the rights to new ones. With around 600 DVD titles in the collection, you can bet that at least half to 2/3 of those won't be coming to blu anytime soon, so it's safe to buy the DVD. And yes, they look fine.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by Darkcritic

I don't know, maybe it is just me . Hunger is the only Criterion release I have not been entirely happy with.

I havent been happy with several of them:
Pale Flower
House
Branded To Kill
In the Realm of the Senses (so basically a lot of the incoherent new wave Japanese garbage)
Topsy Turvy (although I disliked Mike Leigh's other films going into it)
Robinson Crusoe On Mars

[lemonski]

Originally Posted by retablo

I havent been happy with several of them:

Robinson Crusoe On Mars

LOL I got suckered into blind buying that on DVD, it's terrible. I couldn't believe Criterion wasted their time transferring it to Blu-Ray

So far only two blind buys on BD for me

People On Sunday (which I absolutely loved)
M

M I was awfully disappointed with, IMO it fell well short for all the accolades people give it. For two movies made at essentially the same time, for me People On Sunday feels fresh and modern, while M feels old and creaky

[rkish]

Originally Posted by oildude

Thanks, rkish. After looking over my unwatched Criterions sitting on the shelf, I realize I have more blind buys waiting to view than I originally thought. Among them are The Double Life of Veronique, White Material, Kuroneko, The Moment of Truth, Island of Lost Souls, Design for Living, Carlos, World on a Wire, and about seven others. I got hooked on the Eclipse Series and have neglected many of the Criterion blu-rays I've bought since last November.

I did watch Godzilla last weekend. All I had ever seen was the alternate US cut. The original Japanese cut was, therefore, a blind buy and I really liked it. Much more emotionally connected than I ever imagined, and very moving.

When the July B&N sale comes (hopefully), I will be blind buying Late Spring, my first Ozu on blu-ray. I bought the Silent Ozu Eclipse set (thanks for the recommendation ), but have not watched it yet. I have a pretty good backlog of films to work my way through due to too much buying and not enough time to watch them as soon as I would like. I have recently been catching up on my Kino and Twilight Time releases, among others, and I have also started the Mizoguchi Eclipse set Fallen Women, so I will get to the silent Ozu's eventually.

I rented all of the films from the Fallen Women Eclipse set and they are more my cup of tea, than his period work. I'm torn between eventually buying the Artificial Eye boxset or I at least will get Ugetsu from MoC. Decisions, decisions...