The Criterion Collection

[jw007]

Last night I watched Black Moon that I just purchased a few days ago. Amazing what a second viewing can do with this film.

If there is one film out there that should NEVER be a blind-buy purchase, it would have to be Black Moon, because it is so bizarre.

When I blind-bought this last year, I didn't even open it up. Instead I first borrowed it from the library and then immediately returned the sealed blu-ray to B&N. At the time, I thought the movie was ridiculous and so "out there".

Then not too long ago I started getting into Louis Malle's films. I remembered Black Moon and realized it deserves a second chance. Louis Malle is now my favorite French director of all time (no, its not Godard or Truffaut). So I re-bought this film again at B&N and I thoroughly enjoyed watching it again last night. The film is brilliant in many ways I can't describe, because it is not just about a post-apocalyptic future but also delves into telepathy and Paganistic spirituality that you don't see in "sci fi" films. Animals, birds, flowers and nature are just as important as humans in this film (if not more!) and are treated as such. What a rarity! There is also a dream-like quality to this movie and much of the film is almost like a realistic dream which makes this even more amazing (as dreamy as David Lynch films are, he could never make a movie like Louis Malle made).

Does anyone else see Black Moon as a brilliant film?

[jw007]

Originally Posted by xanman

I ****ING HATE THAT B&N ALWAYS PUTS THE SECURITY/PRICE STICKER ON TOP OF THE CRITERION STICKER AAHHHHHH

No kidding! I nearly bought Hunger finally the other day but then realized the B&N price tag nearly completely over the blue sticker. I was betting that was a blue Steve McQueen "signature" sticker and realized I should just buy this at another Barnes & Noble store since I'm collecting these right now.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by Hintermann

Particularly waiting for People on Sunday. I have a special interest in what life was like in Weimar Germany in the 20s and 30s following the financial crisis of 1923 and before you-know-who took over.

Speaking of you know who-If Sony's not going to do anything with Downfall I would love for Criterion to get it. I have the UK region-free release but there are so many possibilities for extras for this film beginning with 2 cuts that are out there and, of course, loads of documentary materials of the actual events.

[xanman]

Originally Posted by jw007

No kidding! I nearly bought Hunger finally the other day but then realized the B&N price tag nearly completely over the blue sticker. I was betting that was a blue Steve McQueen "signature" sticker and realized I should just buy this at another Barnes & Noble store since I'm collecting these right now.

I am super anal and keep all the stickers inside after opening them so this is a huge fail for me. At least online they come in without price stickers but it sucks to wait when I have a B&N right near my apartment. I don't understand their reasoning behind this.

I was all excited for the new dual format sticker today but every copy of Frances Ha had a price sticker over the dual format sticker and they didn't even have City Lights on the shelves yet. Smh.

[xanman]

Originally Posted by jw007

Does anyone else see Black Moon as a brilliant film?

I wrote up a quick blog post about it a few years ago

http://popcultureswag.tumblr.com/pos...-the-criterion

I wish I had the time to write up more of these, it's pretty fun.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by xanman

I am super anal and keep all the stickers inside after opening them so this is a huge fail for me.

That's either an unfortunate choice of words or waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much information

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by xanman

I ****ING HATE THAT B&N ALWAYS PUTS THE SECURITY/PRICE STICKER ON TOP OF THE CRITERION STICKER AAHHHHHH

My daughter picked up Last Year at Marienbad for me and it had one of those on the shrink wrap which normally wouldn't be a problem but I leave the shrink wrap on the Digipaks to keep the cases from getting scuffed and there's absolutely no possible way to get it off and, even worse, it overlaps the bottom so the case sits up a little on the shelf. We are an OCD bunch aren't we?

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

On the subject of Buster Keaton...

Keaton appears briefly in Sunset Boulevard, so we have now successfully crossed the streams of the two ongoing discussions. Keaton's episode of The Twilight Zone, "Once Upon a Time", has always been a favorite of mine from that show.

Earlier today, I price-checked the Ultimate Buster Keaton Collection on Amazon UK and ImportCDs, so Buster Keaton stuff is now appearing in the ads to the right margin of my Facebook news feed. Zero privacy has its perks sometimes.

I'm hoping Keaton has a bigger part in the extended edition of Its A Mad, Mad, Mad World.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by xanman

I am super anal and keep all the stickers inside after opening them so this is a huge fail for me. At least online they come in without price stickers but it sucks to wait when I have a B&N right near my apartment. I don't understand their reasoning behind this.

I was all excited for the new dual format sticker today but every copy of Frances Ha had a price sticker over the dual format sticker and they didn't even have City Lights on the shelves yet. Smh.

I sure hope that doesn't happen to me today when I try looking for a Noah Baumbach silver sticker on a Frances Ha blu-ray edition! Then again, maybe the silver dual format sticker doesn't have signatures like the blue stickers had?! I also cut around the stickers with a scissor and store them inside the case too!

Originally Posted by xanman

I wrote up a quick blog post about it a few years ago

http://popcultureswag.tumblr.com/pos...-the-criterion

I wish I had the time to write up more of these, it's pretty fun.

Awesome, will check it out.

Originally Posted by hoytereden

My daughter picked up Last Year at Marienbad for me and it had one of those on the shrink wrap which normally wouldn't be a problem but I leave the shrink wrap on the Digipaks to keep the cases from getting scuffed and there's absolutely no possible way to get it off and, even worse, it overlaps the bottom so the case sits up a little on the shelf. We are an OCD bunch aren't we?

Yes, being OCD is a prerequisite for Criterion collectors.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by jw007

I have seen Performance. I remember seeing it in one of my film classes maybe 12 or 13 years ago when I was still in college. I remember Mick Jagger was in that film. I need to see that one again! Wish it was on blu-ray!

Oh, what was your avatar? Wasn't it a picture of Sandra Bullock from Gravity? What does this have to do with Nicolas Roeg?



I love Walkabout... still my favorite Roeg film by far. I hope Don't Look Now gets a blu-ray release someday soon. If not, I'll just borrow it on DVD from the library.

My current avatar is from Tony Scott's Domino. You were talking about frenetic "ADD" editing...so, you know, it's only like the most frenetic movie ever made. If Stan Brakhage made an action film, it would probably look like Domino.

[bwdowiak]

I just have a few Criterions, but what I did with my copy of Heaven's Gate was meticulously used a hair dryer to remove it from the cellophane wrapper and then applied it onto the case itself. I'm sure many of you know, but a hair dryer is one way to remove a sticker without it leaving behind any umm.. you know.. stuff that stickers tend to leave behind. It doesn't actually kill the stickiness of the blue sticker, so you can slap it right on the case if you feel so inclined.

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I just have a few Criterions, but what I did with my copy of Heaven's Gate was meticulously used a hair dryer to remove it from the cellophane wrapper and then applied it onto the case itself. I'm sure many of you know, but a hair dryer is one way to remove a sticker without it leaving behind any umm.. you know.. stuff that stickers tend to leave behind. It doesn't actually kill the stickiness of the blue sticker, so you can slap it right on the case if you feel so inclined.

I believe the word you're looking for is glue.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by smoss469

I believe the word you're looking for is glue.

ha ha.. yeah, that's probably it.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by smoss469

I believe the word you're looking for is glue.

Glue is a trigger word. It is best to refrain from using it

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by jw007

I have seen Performance. I remember seeing it in one of my film classes maybe 12 or 13 years ago when I was still in college. I remember Mick Jagger was in that film. I need to see that one again! Wish it was on blu-ray!

Oh, what was your avatar? Wasn't it a picture of Sandra Bullock from Gravity? What does this have to do with Nicolas Roeg?



I love Walkabout... still my favorite Roeg film by far. I hope Don't Look Now gets a blu-ray release someday soon. If not, I'll just borrow it on DVD from the library.

One of my first purchases on Criterion Blu was Walkabout. I had previously bought their Laserdisc and DVD editions so it's obviously a favorite. Even watched it on TCM the other night. I always feel like a bit of a perv watching young Jenny in that film but then realize she's only 2 years younger than me so......clear conscience! Jenny aside, it's a beautiful film and, of course, with her it's a gorgeous film! I think it and "'Crocodile" Dundee were the films for me that showed off the beauty of Australia.

[Wizard-of-Wars]

Who bought "City Lights" today?

Is the booklet of good size?

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by Wizard-of-Wars

Who bought "City Lights" today?

Is the booklet of good size?

Yep 39 pages.

[alien2010]

Does anyone know when Criterion is going to announce its February titles?

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by xanman

I ****ING HATE THAT B&N ALWAYS PUTS THE SECURITY/PRICE STICKER ON TOP OF THE CRITERION STICKER AAHHHHHH

Kind of a side note to this issue is the first Dual Format releases were today. I picked up my copies at Barnes & Noble today and was talking to the sales guy and I mentioned these were their first combo releases and he didn't even realize it. He stated that makes sense why we got so many in the "blu style" cases. I mentioned it didn't help that their price sticker was on top of the Criterion Dual Format sticker. Which is partly Criterion's fault.

I think they are aware by now Barnes always places their price stickers usually on the bottom Left corner. which is the exact spots for the Dual Format stickers for City Lights and Frances Ha. Criterion usually places their sticker in the best place possible to show off the cover art. Since Criterion partners with Barnes so much for these 50% off sales etc. I would hope Criterion could maybe for future releases have their stickers placed on the top left or right side of the case maybe?

With Dual Format releases some may not be aware when looking for a DVD copy of one of these titles they need to be aware they may be grouped with blu section.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by alien2010

Does anyone know when Criterion is going to announce its February titles?

The 15th, as always (if it lands on a weekend, then it's on the following Monday.)

So this Friday.