The Criterion Collection

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by Whirlygig

Maybe they were exchanges by other online shoppers.

They sell those exchanges?? I would hope not, as they're often broken/bent cases.

[AgentOrange]

Originally Posted by Whirlygig

Every copy of Hunter I have ever seen has a crease down the length of the digipack's spine (at least; some are crushed even more), including my copy.

Does a mint condition Hunter exist anywhere on the planet? Has anyone ever seen one with their own eyes?

I had that same issue with Seven Samurai. I never wanted to buy the copies in store because they were *always* slightly creased along the spine. I figured if i ordered one online it might be even worse, so finally I just said "whatever" and bought it despite the slight crease. Low and behold the next time I check the store I noticed they replaced their stock with a pristine, mint condition one.

As far as Night of the Hunter, I ordered that one online and it was mint condition.

Honestly it's not that big of a deal, because even though I don't really "abuse" my blu-rays, I feel like in 5 or 10 years those soft cases will show slight signs of wear anyway. So a slight imperfection or flaw is fairly irrelevant.

[Simple Lines]

Originally Posted by Whirlygig

Every copy of Hunter I have ever seen has a crease down the length of the digipack's spine (at least; some are crushed even more), including my copy.

Does a mint condition Hunter exist anywhere on the planet? Has anyone ever seen one with their own eyes?

Originally Posted by AgentOrange

I ordered that one online and it was mint condition.

I ordered mine from Amazon.com awhile back, and it's in perfect condition.

To be honest, the only issue I've ever had with Criterion releases was when the Ikiru booklet came in the place of The Killers booklet a few years ago. I emailed Mulvaney, and he explained what caused the issue and told me he'd be glad to send me the booklet for The Killers for free. I told him I'd be willing to send the Ikiru booklet back, but he told me not to worry about it.

[Whirlygig]

You guys are lucky, I am so jealous. It wouldn't be such a huge deal, and I didn't care enough to exchange it -- until I watched it and it instantly became one of my favorite films/Criterions. I ordered it online from B&N, guess Amazon is where it's at. Actually I have learned to avoid certain things from B&N online, they like to ship single item orders between vacuum-sealed pieces of sticky cardboard...they ruined two attempts to mail me the Mahler 1-7 set, too.

As far as shelf wear...I handle the collection like weapons-grade plutonium...once in awhile I lose balance and drop something while trying to remove/insert discs as delicately as possible...everything turns slow motion and I scream like a schoolgirl as it falls to the floor.

Originally Posted by AgentOrange

As far as Night of the Hunter, I ordered that one online and it was mint condition.

Honestly it's not that big of a deal, because even though I don't really "abuse" my blu-rays, I feel like in 5 or 10 years those soft cases will show slight signs of wear anyway. So a slight imperfection or flaw is fairly irrelevant.

Originally Posted by Simple Lines

I ordered mine from Amazon.com awhile back, and it's in perfect condition.

[tenia]

I ordered my Night of the Hunter copy through B&N, and it arrived quite damaged. Since I'm in France, you can't even imagine how difficult it is to discuss with B&N about an exchange...

[TJS_Blu]

Arkadian posted the news from the Digital Bits earlier, but there are a few more titles you can scratch off your Criterion wishlist since they're coming from Warners...The Big Parade, The Best Years of Our Lives, and The Jazz Singer.

[trombone dixie]

Originally Posted by tenia

I ordered my Night of the Hunter copy through B&N, and it arrived quite damaged. Since I'm in France, you can't even imagine how difficult it is to discuss with B&N about an exchange...

I would write John Mulvaney through criterion.com

[*DrStrangelove*]

Pretty psyched for the BN sale. Haven't baught a Criterion in a while. Need to catch up on current releases. So far on my list I have:

Rosemarys Baby
Week End
Rashomon
Quadrophenia
Umberto D
In the Mood for Love
Rosetta
Lonesome

And maybe Children of Paradise. Is it really that bad?

[DarkRyder]

Which director's filmography would you all say are worth exploring? I mean, which directors have an output where all their work (or, at least, available work) is worth exploring?

[Ill_Be_Back]

Watched The Game yesterday and I never realized how much effort goes into their releases. The extras, the pq and aq, the menu and even the cover art! I hope to buy more criterion's in the future, what a great first buy!

[dr.mabuse]

Originally Posted by DarkRyder

Which director's filmography would you all say are worth exploring? I mean, which directors have an output where all their work (or, at least, available work) is worth exploring?

In the Criterion Collection:

Kubrick
Hitchcock
Melville
Welles
Dreier
Anderson
Bergman
Kurosawa
Kieslowski
Lang
Malick
Ozu
Polanski
Powell / Pressburger
Chaplin
Clouzot
Cocteau
De Sica
Renoir
Scorsese
Tarkovsky
Jarmusch
Vigo
Wilder


Not in the Criterion Collection:

Coppola
Coen Bros.
Tarantino
Lynch
P. T. Anderson


Of course it's all a matter of taste, but those are the ones that immediately came to my mind.

[Yami]

Orson Welles' oeuvre is essential viewing.

[exolstice]

Originally Posted by Ill_Be_Back

Watched The Game yesterday and I never realized how much effort goes into their releases. The extras, the pq and aq, the menu and even the cover art! I hope to buy more criterion's in the future, what a great first buy!

This. This is exactly why I like it when Criterion releases more "mainstream" films. It introduces people to the Collection and hopefully to some more "obscure" films.

[billzfan]

Originally Posted by dr.mabuse

In the Criterion Collection:

Kubrick
Hitchcock
Melville
Welles
Dreier
Anderson
Bergman
Kurosawa
Kieslowski
Lang
Malick
Ozu
Polanski
Powell / Pressburger
Chaplin
Clouzot
Cocteau
De Sica
Renoir
Scorsese
Tarkovsky
Jarmusch
Vigo
Wilder


Not in the Criterion Collection:

Coppola
Coen Bros.
Tarantino
Lynch
P. T. Anderson


Of course it's all a matter of taste, but those are the ones that immediately came to my mind.

Perfect list!

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by *DrStrangelove*

Pretty psyched for the BN sale. Haven't baught a Criterion in a while. Need to catch up on current releases. So far on my list I have:

Rosemarys Baby
Week End
Rashomon
Quadrophenia
Umberto D
In the Mood for Love
Rosetta
Lonesome

And maybe Children of Paradise. Is it really that bad?

I'll let you know sometime this week. I haven't watched it yet though I've had it for about a week. I've been doing other stuff such as fighting with the company that owns my apartment complex, and watching those long-haired weirdos I love so much as a stress reliever.

My mother is interested in watching Les Visiteurs du Soir, based on the cover. I even told her it was in B&W with subs, and she said she'll still try to watch it. Normally she dislikes subs as she finds it hard to read and watch at the same time.

[jcs913]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

I'll let you know sometime this week. I haven't watched it yet though I've had it for about a week. I've been doing other stuff such as fighting with the company that owns my apartment complex, and watching those long-haired weirdos I love so much as a stress reliever.

My mother is interested in watching Les Visiteurs du Soir, based on the cover. I even told her it was in B&W with subs, and she said she'll still try to watch it. Normally she dislikes subs as she finds it hard to read and watch at the same time.

BG, I finished my copy last night and was disappointed. It is very different than the older CC dvd. I understand their wish to give the film more of a 'dream-like" feel to it, but it just doesn't look like a film. I almost get that modern 'video' feel at times. There are many instances where the corners of the frame look smeared and detail is very bad. A big example I remember is when the Count brings Garance a large flower arrangement. You can barely make out the flower petals, they almost look like they are smeared together. On the DVD, as I did a geeky comparison , you can see the petals and they have some detail. There is virtually no noise in the middle of the picture, throughout the 3 hours. It has a very 'clean.' look to it and is heavily filtered. Frankly, the film is one of my favorites and will probably never see another blu upgrade for a while, so we will have to live with it for now.

On the other hand, kudos to Pro-B for finally putting up a review of Lonesome. Frankly, I think it is one of the better releases this year. I finally got to 'Broadway' on the disc and it is a very good film with fantastic sets and choreography. I am always amazed at how extravagant the sets were back then. Now you just boot up the computer and you can go anywhere, but back then, everything had to be built by hand, just amazing...

[EddieLarkin]

For any international buyers interested, Masters of Cinema's Jan/Feb slate:

Jan 28th: Fear and Desire, The Blue Angel (both English and German versions)

Feb 25th: Onibaba upgrade, Fellini's City of Women, Sacha Guitry's La Poison

[joie]

Looking at Beaver's screencaps of "Children of Paradise," it looks "muddy" rather than "silvery." Low contrast B&W ... compared with the Criterion DVD.

Anyway, since it's considered one of world cinema's greats, no one should miss it because of a poor transfer. Your library may have the DVD, so that's one way it might be seen.

Does anyone know whether Criterion's DVD is now derived from the Pathe restoration?

[jcs913]

Originally Posted by joie

Looking at Beaver's screencaps of "Children of Paradise," it looks "muddy" rather than "silvery." Low contrast B&W ... compared with the Criterion DVD.

Anyway, since it's considered one of world cinema's greats, no one should miss it because of a poor transfer. Your library may have the DVD, so that's one way it might be seen.

Does anyone know whether Criterion's DVD is now derived from the Pathe restoration?

According to Criterion's website, the general description implies that both versions are from the Pathe restoration. I do agree, if you have never seen the film, it's a must even with a suspect transfer. Netflix and Blockbuster online still rent the original 2002 version if anyone wants to compare.

[blkhrt]

Just FYI, in regards to Children of Paradise, apparently the problem is that during the restoration all of the grain was removed and then added back digitally. At least, that is the point that this article makes, which was posted by Criterion Cast: http://enthusiasm.org/post/32730426093