The Criterion Collection

[hoytereden]

For many, many years just about everything I watched was in B&W regardless if it was in color or not due to growing up in a era when color TVs were either too expensive or too lousy or both. The only way I saw color films were in the theaters and without that experience many films I saw on TV that I assumed were B&W I found out years later were actually in color! Example: I always thought The High and the Mighty was B&W due to the fact I saw it that way on TV and then for a long time it was off-air due to legal issues and when it popped up on TCM a few years back it was a experience!

[Clare2904]

I remember watching The Artist when it came out in the UK a few years back. Never mind B&W, people walked out because it was SILENT !!

I just at people like that.

[dtyner92]

One of the many great quotes from Roger Ebert:

"Many moviegoers and video viewers say they do not "like" black and white films. In my opinion, they are cutting themselves off from much of the mystery and beauty of the movies.
Black and white is an artistic choice, a medium that has strengths and traditions, especially in its use of light and shadow. Moviegoers of course have the right to dislike b&w, but it is not something they should be proud of. It reveals them, frankly, as cinematically illiterate.
I have been described as a snob on this issue. But snobs exclude; they do not include. To exclude b&w from your choices is an admission that you have a closed mind, a limited imagination, or are lacking in taste."

[The Great Owl]

Truth be told, I prefer black-and-white films to color films in terms of visual appeal alone.

I also grew up watching a lot of movies, old and new, on a black-and-white television in my bedroom. I still have trouble thinking of Don Siegel's Escape from Alcatraz or John Carpenter's Assault on Precinct 13 as color films.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Truth be told, I prefer black-and-white films to color films in terms of visual appeal alone.

I also grew up watching a lot of movies, old and new, on a black-and-white television in my bedroom. I still have trouble thinking of Don Siegel's Escape from Alcatraz or John Carpenter's Assault on Precinct 13 as color films.

And I was fine with a B&W set probably until my early-to-mid teens when more and more color TVs were on dept. store showrooms and tv programming was constantly taunting me-"the following program is brought to you in living color" or "Tonight! The Fugitive! In Color!" or even good ole Walt Disney with that intro song "The world is a carousel of color."

[JJJ225]

Originally Posted by Clare2904

Awful artwork for Y, has put me off buying it now

I mean, really?

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by JJJ225

I mean, really?

She's just waiting till the next time it gets released on blu ray with 'better' art.

When you don't like the covers on your movies, it ruins your movie watching experience, right?

[jw007]

All I can say is, never judge a book by its cover (same goes for blu-rays!)

[octagon]

Come on, who hasn't judged books by their covers?

I've browsed a lot of thrift stores and close-out tables in my day and I can't recall ever standing there and sampling a chapter or two before deciding whether or not to buy something.

[dtyner92]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Truth be told, I prefer black-and-white films to color films in terms of visual appeal alone.

I also grew up watching a lot of movies, old and new, on a black-and-white television in my bedroom. I still have trouble thinking of Don Siegel's Escape from Alcatraz or John Carpenter's Assault on Precinct 13 as color films.

Speaking of black and white, I recently watched Out of the Past based on your recommendation, and loved it! It truly encompasses everything that is distinctive in a noir-film. I saw Rififi a couple months back and loved that as well. Any other noir-film recommendations you can give out, that are in the CC?

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by dtyner92

Speaking of black and white, I recently watched Out of the Past based on your recommendation, and loved it! It truly encompasses everything that is distinctive in a noir-film. I saw Rififi a couple months back and loved that as well. Any other noir-film recommendations you can give out, that are in the CC?

Out of the Past is wonderful! Glad to hear you liked it!

Maybe with the new Kino Classics line, we'll finally see a Blu-ray release of some sorts, even though I doubt they have the rights to it.

I can't speak for Owl, but I personally would recommend the 2008 neo-noir, Revanche. It's one of the only films in memory to leave me speechless.

[dtyner92]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Out of the Past is wonderful! Glad to hear you liked it!

Maybe with the new Kino Classics line, we'll finally see a Blu-ray release of some sorts, even though I doubt they have the rights to it.

I can't speak for Owl, but I personally would recommend the 2008 neo-noir, Revanche. It's one of the only films in memory to leave me speechless.

I would love to see that. The dvd was fairly good, but there is definitely room for improvement. I've heard of Revanche but had no idea what it was about. Just looked up the synopsis, and it sounded very interesting! I may just end up blind buying this. Thanks for the recommendation iScottie!

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by dtyner92

I would love to see that. The dvd was fairly good, but there is definitely room for improvement. I've heard of Revanche but had no idea what it was about. Just looked up the synopsis, and it sounded very interesting! I may just end up blind buying this. Thanks for the recommendation iScottie!

You're welcome. It's nothing like you'll ever see.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by octagon

Come on, who hasn't judged books by their covers?

I've browsed a lot of thrift stores and close-out tables in my day and I can't recall ever standing there and sampling a chapter or two before deciding whether or not to buy something.

Hard not to judge something, its true. Best thing to do though is always give something a chance and keep an open mind. And also rent/try before you buy!

[Blu-Velvet]

Originally Posted by dtyner92

One of the many great quotes from Roger Ebert:

"Many moviegoers and video viewers say they do not "like" black and white films. In my opinion, they are cutting themselves off from much of the mystery and beauty of the movies.
Black and white is an artistic choice, a medium that has strengths and traditions, especially in its use of light and shadow. Moviegoers of course have the right to dislike b&w, but it is not something they should be proud of. It reveals them, frankly, as cinematically illiterate.
I have been described as a snob on this issue. But snobs exclude; they do not include. To exclude b&w from your choices is an admission that you have a closed mind, a limited imagination, or are lacking in taste."

This quote should be required reading for all high school and college classes that deal with film in any way. Grade school students, interestingly enough, tend to be more open to black and white as just another option. Not quite so peer-pressure narrow-minded at that age yet, I suppose.

[pedromvu]

Wow that artwork for Y Tu Mama Tambien really sucks, I will still buy it but hopefully they change it, it just seems like such a mediocre job at an artistic and technical level, it says it is made by "Nessim Higson" anybody know if he has done any other artwork for CC?

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by JJJ225

I mean, really?

Come on, with Criterion your not just getting a film with special features, you are also getting special artwork, the entire package.

Some people collect criterions for the film, some for the artworks, some for both - don't need to judge.

Artwork is a huge part of Criterion, seeing as they get some great artists and designers involved to create the best package - and its is disappointing when the artwork is the best it can be.

I will still buy but be a tad disappointed cause I love pulling my Criterions off the shelf and admiring the beautiful packaging and artwork - and then delving into the film.

Also designers put so much hard work into these new designs, they need the praise and recognition.

I know its wrong, but I have bought A LOT of Criterions because of their beautiful artwork - not knowing anything about the film, (but then loving the film and wondering why I have not seen sooner!).

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by dtyner92

Speaking of black and white, I recently watched Out of the Past based on your recommendation, and loved it! It truly encompasses everything that is distinctive in a noir-film. I saw Rififi a couple months back and loved that as well. Any other noir-film recommendations you can give out, that are in the CC?

Oh yeah, there are a ton of them...

The Night of the Hunter
Ace in the Hole
Kiss Me Deadly
The Killing
Ministry of Fear
The Third Man (It's best to find a Criterion copy, but the StudioCanal disc is not half bad either.)
Riot in Cell Block 11
Pale Flower

The Killers (DVD only)
Pickup on South Street (DVD only)
Brute Force (DVD only)
Night and the City (DVD only)
Thieves Highway (DVD only)
The Naked City (DVD only)
Bob Le Flambeur (DVD only)
Elevator to the Gallows (DVD only)
Drunken Angel (DVD only)
Stray Dog (DVD only)

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I posted my review of Godzilla (2014) a few pages back, but here it is again on the dedicated movie thread from the Movies forum. My Godzilla review

Thanks for this review seeing it in a couple hours and quite excited, loved his first film.

I like idea of how he portrays Godzilla - would it compare to Cloverfield (which I'm in love with haha)? seeing they made Cloverfield to be american version of Godzilla (or inspiration at least).

[Judex]

On the Film Noir front. Criterion really need to get their hands on Nightmare Alley.