The Criterion Collection

[Clare2904]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

This is one of my all time favourites, are you considering ordering the UK Blu, or a DVD?

I would like the Criterion version but that is DVD only. If I was to buy it would probably only be around April time, maybe then will have announced an upgrade? In all honesty too, whilst I love a Blu and will buy it over a DVD when available, I am just happy to be watching films that a few years ago I would not have even known about.

Which distributor has the Blu version?

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by Clare2904

Time to tidy up the "to buy" list. These are films I definitely will buy:

*The Gold Rush

I picked this up a few weeks ago from the Amazon lightning deals. It was a blind buy and I really enjoyed it. I started with the original version and hope to get around to the edited/narrated version shortly. His 2 CC Talkies are on my Wish List and I'll probably snag those shortly.

Originally Posted by Clare2904

Foreign Correspondent – February 2014

I can't wait for this one. I need to add The Lady Vanishes to my collection soon. I have it on a non-CC DVD but it needs an upgrade.

Originally Posted by Clare2904

Films that I like the look of, from the write-up / previous comments seen here etc, but I'm not 100% certain. In no particular order:

Night Train to Munich
Eyes Without A Face
Tokyo Drifter
Branded to Kill
Blow Out

Night Train to Munich was excellent, as was Eyes Without a Face. There is a scene in there that just blows my mind that it was made that far back and looks great even today. Branded to Kill and Tokyo Drifter kind of go hand in hand but I vastly preferred Branded to Kill.. Blow Out was a great thriller as well, I'd probably snag it eventually too.

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by Clare2904

I would like the Criterion version but that is DVD only. If I was to buy it would probably only be around April time, maybe then will have announced an upgrade? In all honesty too, whilst I love a Blu and will buy it over a DVD when available, I am just happy to be watching films that a few years ago I would not have even known about.

Which distributor has the Blu version?

Arrow are releasing the UK one. I am pretty sure it's just a matter of time for Criterion to release it.

Hope they don't make us wait too long, but I will order the UK one, which releases in March, if they don't. I have it on DVD already.

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by smoss469

I picked this up a few weeks ago from the Amazon lightning deals. It was a blind buy and I really enjoyed it. I started with the original version and hope to get around to the edited/narrated version shortly. His 2 CC Talkies are on my Wish List and I'll probably snag those shortly.

I think I am in the minority, but I tend to prefer the silent version. While the 1942 version has a much better pace, and I like some of the plot changes (which I won't mention since you haven't seen it), the narration doesn't work for me. Of course, I love both versions of the film, so I am not going to complain about either too much

[Clare2904]

Originally Posted by smoss469

I picked this up a few weeks ago from the Amazon lightning deals. It was a blind buy and I really enjoyed it. I started with the original version and hope to get around to the edited/narrated version shortly. His 2 CC Talkies are on my Wish List and I'll probably snag those shortly.



I can't wait for this one. I need to add The Lady Vanishes to my collection soon. I have it on a non-CC DVD but it needs an upgrade.




Night Train to Munich was excellent, as was Eyes Without a Face. There is a scene in there that just blows my mind that it was made that far back and looks great even today. Branded to Kill and Tokyo Drifter kind of go hand in hand but I vastly preferred Branded to Kill.. Blow Out was a great thriller as well, I'd probably snag it eventually too.

I have only seen 2 Chaplin - The Great Dictator & The Kid, the latter I thought was great.

The Lady Vanishes is GREAT

Of the 5 "maybe" that you highlighted, only Tokyo Drifter will probably be dropped.

Thanks for the help

[Infernal King]

Originally Posted by joie

The "restoration" of Rashomon was disappointing, so I'll be careful about buying Throne of Blood. I've bought several Kurosawas and sold them all except Yojimbo and Seven Samurai, and I only keep Seven Samurai around in case a visitor wants to see it.

I was too bored by Rashomon to really notice the restoration. What about it didn't you like?

And I've almost pulled the trigger on Seven Samurai several times because it's a pretty good movie and "important" enough that a Blu-ray collection might seem lacking without it. BUT, it's really long and not a knockout (unlike say, The Godfather: Part II) that I want to watch again and again. Ultimately, the replay value of a film is what determines whether or not I want to own it.

[Edward J Grug III]

Night Train to Munich is one I really hope is upgraded to Blu, even though I don't think it will be. I wonder if it will get a release outside of the US?

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by Clare2904

I have only seen 2 Chaplin - The Great Dictator & The Kid, the latter I thought was great.

The Lady Vanishes is GREAT

Of the 5 "maybe" that you highlighted, only Tokyo Drifter will probably be dropped.

Thanks for the help

The Kid is my favorite Chaplin. I really hope it will be the next Criterion release.

[Mooch360]

Originally Posted by Clare2904

I have obviously missed something along the way, I can buy Criterion's in Canada??

They often have a (limited) selection at larger Best Buys and Future Shops (and amazon.ca of course). I get all of mine of amazon.com because it usually ends up being cheaper.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

My biggest complaint is the next three months Criterion have so many great releases and I have to keep buying them!

I'm basically purchasing about 60% of each month's releases (if there are 5 releases per month on average that would mean I'm buying 3 of the 5 releases whenever big sales come around)... or if there are 6 releases per month on average, then I'd be buying 4 of the 6 (so that would be about 66%). That is a high ratio and I have to say, its hard to resist purchasing new Criterion releases as they come out (or at least loading up on past releases I wanted during sales time)

[Dumbhuman]

Originally Posted by joie

The Great Beauty interests me. Is it felliniesque? Is it the successor to La Dolce Vita?

In the first act I didn't think so very much, but by the third act it definitely started to feel more Felliniesque thematically if not exactly stylistically. There's one scene in particular that I would think was at the very least an unconscious homage. It would certainly make for an obvious double feature with La Dolce Vita.

[joie]

Originally Posted by Infernal King

I was too bored by Rashomon to really notice the restoration. What about it didn't you like?

And I've almost pulled the trigger on Seven Samurai several times because it's a pretty good movie and "important" enough that a Blu-ray collection might seem lacking without it. BUT, it's really long and not a knockout (unlike say, The Godfather: Part II) that I want to watch again and again. Ultimately, the replay value of a film is what determines whether or not I want to own it.

The video was disappointing. I could see from the screenshots that it could be disappointing, but hoped it might look better. As far as the movie goes, the western music (some variation on Ravel's "Bolero") was out of place, and the moralizing tacked on to the end was too much.

[brandon_260]

What an announcement. I've been waiting for George Washington to be announced ever since I discovered the film last year but never thought it would actually happen. Such a pleasant surprise. Persona, one of my all time favorite films, has me just as excited. The Freshman will also be another definite purchase, the last Lloyd film is one of Criterion's best release for 2013. Two of the other three I will likely check for at my library and I'll be looking to watch The Great Beauty later this month before thinking about picking it up.

[Mooch360]

Originally Posted by Clare2904

Night Train to Munich
Eyes Without A Face
The Big City
The Uninvited
The Testament of Dr Mabuse
Tokyo Drifter
Branded to Kill
Blow Out
Vagabond
My Man Godfrey
The Cranes Are Flying
Sullivan’s Travels
49th Parallel
The Forgiveness of Blood
I Married A Witch
Hopscotch

Any suggestions are greatly received

I approve of everything on your "definite" list, but out of these, I have only seen The Big City. I really enjoyed it, though. (I also have Eyes Without A Face.)

[Clare2904]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

Night Train to Munich is one I really hope is upgraded to Blu, even though I don't think it will be. I wonder if it will get a release outside of the US?

Originally Posted by blkhrt

The Kid is my favorite Chaplin. I really hope it will be the next Criterion release.

I am going through my "maybe" list on the official site and have just remembered that the films are also available via iTunes (I am in Canada so no Hulu). This could be my way to watch some of the films I am not 100% certain to buy. Yes I will have to pay to rent but I would sooner spend $5 than $15-$30 and not like the film. Download on the laptop and hook up to the 60in Plasma HD

[Infernal King]

Originally Posted by joie

The video was disappointing. I could see from the screenshots that it could be disappointing, but hoped it might look better. As far as the movie goes, the western music (some variation on Ravel's "Bolero") was out of place, and the moralizing tacked on to the end was too much.

It's strange then that Pro-B scored the video 4.5 out of 5 in his review of the Rashomon Blu-ray. I guess you and he just have different standards on what comprises "good" video quality. Hmm.

[Clare2904]

Originally Posted by Mooch360

I approve of everything on your "definite" list, but out of these, I have only seen The Big City. I really enjoyed it, though. (I also have Eyes Without A Face.)

Thanks

I should say that I have seen The Skin I Live In and thought it was

[Infernal King]

Originally Posted by Clare2904

I should say that I have seen The Skin I Live In and thought it was

lol that movie was REALLY ****ed up but definitely worth watching.

To quote Bond from Goldfinger: Shocking. Positively shocking.

[zoodermin]

Just got home to find a wonderful March Line-Up! I'm in for Persona, The Hidden Fortress and The Great Beauty and very intrigued for George Washington and The Freshman. Another great month by Criterion!

[Clare2904]

Originally Posted by Mooch360

They often have a (limited) selection at larger Best Buys and Future Shops (and amazon.ca of course). I get all of mine of amazon.com because it usually ends up being cheaper.

Sorry, only just seen your reply. I have only used online because I did not know buying in store was even a possibility. I will be sure to check my local stores when I am ready to add to my collection