The Criterion Collection

[The Great Owl]

If Barnes and Noble throws a BOGO sale on Criterions, then I'll go for these pairings...

Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion and Nashville
Pale Flower and Late Spring

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

If the upcoming BN BOGO is true what's stopping someone from buying two boxed sets - eg (2) World Cinema sets?

The "lowest" priced item would still be the boxed set. Only thing stopping it is a limit.

If allowed I may just go in half with a buddy and get a World Cinema box for half price.

I thought I heard that it was a B2G1 sale, but I could be wrong.

[The Great Owl]

Last year, Barnes and Noble had a "40% off all Blu-rays" sale at some point in December, and I gathered up a few Criterions that way. Not sure if it's happening again this year, though.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Last year, Barnes and Noble had a "40% off all Blu-rays" sale at some point in December, and I gathered up a few Criterions that way. Not sure if it's happening again this year, though.

All of their sales tend to repeat each year.

[Ausjdm]

Wow someone posted that world cinema rankings afew pages ago. How good is Passion of Joan of Arc? Been reading incredible reviews online. Don't flame me for this but ive never been big on silent films. Would I still like it?

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Last year, Barnes and Noble had a "40% off all Blu-rays" sale at some point in December, and I gathered up a few Criterions that way. Not sure if it's happening again this year, though.

40% off would be enough for me to pull the trigger on the World Cinema box, so I'm all for that.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I've seen a total of 30 films from the Top 50.

regarding the Sight and Sound Top 50... I've only seen 20. I have Pather Panchali out from the library right now, so it'll be 21 by the end of the week.

[whbinder]

I have to admit, these Barnes and Noble Sales are getting to be more heartache than they're worth. Last year, I was sent all DVDs despite my order being for Blu-rays. I got a return label and returned them for the blu-rays only to have my replacements also be DVDs and then had to get a third shipment.

This year, my City Lights had (has) and estimated shipping date of 11/12. When that date had passed significantly, I checked to see what was up and I was told they would ship it with Zatoichi to save on shipping. OK, well, the webpage should probably reflect that, but fine. Then the box set arrived by itself with no City Lights. The webpage (last Wednesday) still had it listed with an estimated ship date of 11/12. I called and they had no answer and confirmed they had it in stock and promised to send it to me overnight because of the mixup.

Today it is still listed as "Estimated ship date: 11/12" I am on hold with them and was just told to "rest assured" that they're doing their best to get it to me in a timely manner, and I frankly find those words offensive at this point.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Ausjdm

Wow someone posted that world cinema rankings afew pages ago. How good is Passion of Joan of Arc? Been reading incredible reviews online. Don't flame me for this but ive never been big on silent films. Would I still like it?

It's a great film, but probably not recommended as a blind buy for someone that's not big on silent films. A LOT of the film is a study of characters through their facial expressions. Even the amount of inter-titles is quite less compared to other silent films and doesn't give you a blow-by-blow account of all the dialog between the characters.

[Ausjdm]

Originally Posted by ravenus

It's a great film, but probably not recommended as a blind buy for someone that's not big on silent films. A LOT of the film is a study of characters through their facial expressions. Even the amount of inter-titles is quite less compared to other silent films and doesn't give you a blow-by-blow account of all the dialog between the characters.

Cool solid info thanks sir! Ill play it save and try to rent it first!

[K1NG J0RDAN]

Originally Posted by Meek12345

Congratulations and welcome to the addiction that I wish I could quit. I look forward to hearing more of your thoughts on the titles you purchased when you have the time to watch them.

I finally had enough time to catch up with some Criterion titles on my DVR. I watched L'Eclisse(Antonioni) and Touki Bouki (one of the films that will be released in the Martin Scorsese World Cinema Project set). I also watched two other non-Criterion films, Days of Being Wild(Wong Kar-Wai) and Repentance(Abuladze) that are worthy of the Criterion treatment.

I enjoyed L'Eclisse much more than L'avventura, and hope that I will be able to watch La Notte soon. I have seen 3 films by Antonioni now, but don't feel the desire to rewatch any of them. Although, I would recommend them to other people intereseted in European cinema.

Touki Bouki was very surreal and unusual in a good way. I'm still breaking down the meaning of the film in my mind. I can understand why/how the film influenced Claire Denis (Beau Travail).

Originally Posted by lordmorpheus72

Now that's the way to start!! All in full force... welcome to the addiction! But in all seriousness, those are some great choices and Criterion releases are just amazing.

Have fun watching all your new purchases.

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Welcome aboard!

Paris, Texas is one of my Top Ten Criterion titles. I just revisited that movie the other night, and was marveling at the cinematography.

Seven Samurai needs no further recommendation. Despite the film's length, there's not a single wasted second. This was my introduction to the Criterion collection years ago, by way of the old scrappy DVD edition. Comparing that initial DVD transfer to this new Blu-ray is like comparing night and day.

The Three Colors Trilogy is stunning, and these films are visual treats in so many ways. Three Colors: Red is my favorite of the bunch, but they are all five-star flicks.

Thanks, guys! I've been enjoying everything. I watched Hunger last night and was in awe over it. Steve McQueen is quickly becoming one of my favorite directors.

I can't get over how great these packages are. The booklets and extras with each film are a real treat. There are still so many on my list that I want to pick up. It'll be a never ending list I'm sure.

I'm going to Film School soon, so I'm very glad that I've gotten into Criterion!

[TJS_Blu]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

If the upcoming BN BOGO is true what's stopping someone from buying two boxed sets - eg (2) World Cinema sets?

I don't ever remember a B1G1 from B&N...that's essentially the 50% off, right? My money's on the 40 off, though a B2G1 is possible.

[suprrman51]

First forum post ever.

I picked up Solaris to finish off my BN sale purchases. Watched it last night. It sucked me in from the beginning and got better and better as the film went on. Just wanted to know how you all felt about the film and if any of you had any interesting insight on the ending and the film overall.

Definitely looking forward to posting in here more often!

[jw007]

Originally Posted by K1NG J0RDAN

Thanks, guys! I've been enjoying everything. I watched Hunger last night and was in awe over it. Steve McQueen is quickly becoming one of my favorite directors.

I can't get over how great these packages are. The booklets and extras with each film are a real treat. There are still so many on my list that I want to pick up. It'll be a never ending list I'm sure.

I'm going to Film School soon, so I'm very glad that I've gotten into Criterion!

Looking back, I realize now that I didn't need to go to film school since the Criterion Collection IS film school!

[jw007]

Originally Posted by suprrman51

First forum post ever.

I picked up Solaris to finish off my BN sale purchases. Watched it last night. It sucked me in from the beginning and got better and better as the film went on. Just wanted to know how you all felt about the film and if any of you had any interesting insight on the ending and the film overall.

Definitely looking forward to posting in here more often!

Welcome to the forum!

Solaris is an amazing Tarkovsky film... I haven't seen it in a while but its a beautiful film. It's haunting and mysterious and even paranormal. If its horror, its the best kind to me, since there was no blood or gore in the end. It's a ghost story set in space in many ways too.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by jw007

Looking back, I realize now that I didn't need to go to film school since the Criterion Collection IS film school!

Although you might want to partner it with "The Story of Film" on disk or Instant Netflix--
If you can put up with the narrator's whispery Welsh accent, and his overbearingly snotty attitudes toward mainstream-studio narrative (you could literally drinking-game the number of times he says "While Hollywood was busy making Terminators and Hobbits..."), the syllabus consists almost 90% entirely of films available in the Criterion Collection.
Even those you've never heard of, like the Lubitsch or Czech New Wave, but briefly introduced in excerpt and thematic historical context. Remember, you just don't watch the films in film school, you have to do essays on them.

(And given the sheer number of Criterion spines that show up in the series, a month or two of HuluPlus might save on student expenses as well.)

[SilentDawn]

Originally Posted by K1NG J0RDAN

Didn't have a single Criterion film until this weekend.

Now I have all of this...

[Show spoiler]

and LOVING them. Can't believe I've been missing out on all of these.

That is quite possibly the greatest beginning haul I have seen, amazing choices!

I would love to hear your thoughts on Paris, Texas, considering I just watched it a couple weeks ago and it blew my mind!

So happy new people are trying out the Criterion Collection, I didn't know nearly as much about film before I started buying them about a year ago.

[SilentDawn]

Originally Posted by EricJ

Although you might want to partner it with "The Story of Film" on disk or Instant Netflix--
If you can put up with the narrator's whispery Welsh accent, and his overbearingly snotty attitudes toward mainstream-studio narrative (you could literally drinking-game the number of times he says "While Hollywood was busy making Terminators and Hobbits..."), the syllabus consists almost 90% entirely of films available in the Criterion Collection.
Even those you've never heard of, like the Lubitsch or Czech New Wave, but briefly introduced in excerpt and thematic historical context. Remember, you just don't watch the films in film school, you have to do essays on them.

(And given the sheer number of Criterion spines that show up in the series, a month or two of HuluPlus might save on student expenses as well.)

I would also recommend the documentary Scorsese did about american film as well as another he also narrated about Italian cinema. Scorsese knows his stuff!

[jw007]

Originally Posted by EricJ

Although you might want to partner it with "The Story of Film" on disk or Instant Netflix--
If you can put up with the narrator's whispery Welsh accent, and his overbearingly snotty attitudes toward mainstream-studio narrative (you could literally drinking-game the number of times he says "While Hollywood was busy making Terminators and Hobbits..."), the syllabus consists almost 90% entirely of films available in the Criterion Collection.
Even those you've never heard of, like the Lubitsch or Czech New Wave, but briefly introduced in excerpt and thematic historical context. Remember, you just don't watch the films in film school, you have to do essays on them.

(And given the sheer number of Criterion spines that show up in the series, a month or two of HuluPlus might save on student expenses as well.)

True. Writing essays on films is kind of worth it...it is the icing on the cinematic cake. You watch the film, analyze it, and then re-analyze it on paper and deconstruct the film and have an expert (the teacher) assess your analysis and opinion, before you get a graded conclusion from it. It the full gamut for the film scholar and student.

On the other hand, that is just for being a "student" of film. But being a film-"maker" is a whole different story. You just pick up a camera and shoot some footage and spend years in the field and editing stuff and you know how movies are made then. That is how some of cinema's greatest filmmakers were created.

[Dumbhuman]

Originally Posted by EricJ

Although you might want to partner it with "The Story of Film" on disk or Instant Netflix--
If you can put up with the narrator's whispery Welsh accent, and his overbearingly snotty attitudes toward mainstream-studio narrative (you could literally drinking-game the number of times he says "While Hollywood was busy making Terminators and Hobbits..."), the syllabus consists almost 90% entirely of films available in the Criterion Collection.
Even those you've never heard of, like the Lubitsch or Czech New Wave, but briefly introduced in excerpt and thematic historical context.

It's a Northern Irish accent rather than a Welsh one actually. Mark Cousins, the narrator and film-maker, is from Belfast. Regardless, it certainly seems to bother a lot of people between the monotony and the constant lilting at the end of sentences to make almost everything he says sound like a question. Personally it didn't really register to me as annoying until episode 4 for some reason, but then I couldn't not hear it anymore and it took a couple of episodes for me to tune it out again.

Still a fantastic resource for anyone not already well acquainted with the history of film and there will probably be at least a couple of recommendations within for anyone with less than an encyclopedic knowledge of cinema. Yes, he can be a bit overbearing with his own cinematic recreations and his constant digs at the "Hollywood bauble", but it's absolutely worth watching for anyone seriously interested in film. It's quite an odyssey. As it came towards the end, I actually cheered at the inclusion of Roy Andersson who I was sure would be overlooked (as some other personal favorites are), but I also sat cursing at how much screen time is taken up by an interview with Baz Luhrmann (especially frustrating considering he to me epitomizes the "bauble" that Cousins often disparages).