The Criterion Collection

[tfunk]

Originally Posted by plattopus

There you go. That's what I was trying to say, but you said it far more eloquently.

Nothing beats the experience of blindly stumbling upon a treasure of a film/TV show/band.

I completely agree with this. I was just commenting on how absurd it became to me to collect EVERYTHING. I'm not opposed to blind buying at all, as I demonstrated with probably 90% of what I bought during this sale.

[blkhrt]

Here is my thoughts on the whole blind-buying Criterion blus debate. I often try to avoid blind buying things, especially these days, but I often think that is sort of silly, although it can be expensive at times. The reason I sometimes think it is silly is this. Very often I will buy a new book that comes out because I want to read it, or because I like the author, etc. I never think twice about buying books blind, and there are bookshelves full of them all over my house (of course, it probably helps that I got my PhD in English). Some books I am willing to pay the hardcover price for, some I am not. Buying a Criterion movie is like buying a hardcover book for me. Same with movies that I am willing to buy when they first come out.

Also, movies are worth what you think they are worth. I hardly go to movies in the theaters (largely because the timing rarely works), so I am willing to pay for movies. If I watch it more than once, all the better.

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by rkish

If ya got the spare cash...they are still listed on Amazon and I'm sure on EBay. Not outrageously priced like the MK2 boxsets have become.

Thanks for the tip. I might have to keep an eye on that.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by blkhrt

Here is my thoughts on the whole blind-buying Criterion blus debate. I often try to avoid blind buying things, especially these days, but I often think that is sort of silly, although it can be expensive at times. The reason I sometimes think it is silly is this. Very often I will buy a new book that comes out because I want to read it, or because I like the author, etc. I never think twice about buying books blind, and there are bookshelves full of them all over my house (of course, it probably helps that I got my PhD in English). Some books I am willing to pay the hardcover price for, some I am not. Buying a Criterion movie is like buying a hardcover book for me. Same with movies that I am willing to buy when they first come out.

Also, movies are worth what you think they are worth. I hardly go to movies in the theaters (largely because the timing rarely works), so I am willing to pay for movies. If I watch it more than once, all the better.

That's an excellent analogy. Sometimes seemingly minor intangibles (how a book feels in your hands) are just worth a price premium.

[aggienader08]

Originally Posted by plattopus

I don't agree with you. It's funny how there's a bit of negativity towards people blind buying Criterion discs, but no one ever gets looked down upon for going to a music store and picking up a handful of untried CDs. I have a ton of CDs in my collection that I bought blind and didn't end up liking, but even if there were only one that I genuinely enjoyed, then it's worth all the time and money. As it happens, most of my favourite bands today stem from a single CD I bought blind about 10 years ago. And, yes, there are some CDs I've bought that I know I don't like, which I got just to complete an artist's collection or because they're important titles to have. I see no problem with that.

There are some other circumstances as well:

For some films, the only available home media release (or the only worthwhile release) is the Criterion version, so it's not like you can go to the supermarket and pick up a single-disc DVD for $4.95 in a bargain bin. And even if you could, for a lot of Criterion films you wouldn't want to experience them that way. If I'm going to watch The Night of the Hunter blind, I want it to be good quality.

There's also the supplements. I'm not the biggest fan of Paths of Glory, but hearing interviews with Stanley Kubrick and Kirk Douglas interest me as a movie viewer, so that particular package is worth the money.

I live in Australia, and Criterions aren't even available here to buy or rent, so the only other alternative is to download them. And I, personally, like to buy DVDs and Blu-rays to support the industry because that's the way I choose to spend my pay check. How this can possibly be a bad thing I'll never know.

I actually bought 75 Blu-rays and DVDs in total during this B&N sale because the combination of the 50% off deal and the high Australian dollar made them essentially a third of the normal price. I'm more than happy to spend $18 on a brilliantly presented copy of The Red Shoes if I'll never be able to get it at that price again. If I don't end up liking it and get nothing out of the special features then that's too bad, but watching a film is an experience even if I don't like it. And it's only $1.50 more than seeing a movie at the cinema.

You make some very excellent points. I salute you for supporting the physical media. There's a bigger issue in all of this however that's irking me. I'm sure this has happened to quite a few people here, I've been on the receiving end of this a few times, but imagine for a moment:

You have your friend over to eat some pizza, play a little Call of Duty, and then after a while he says, "Dude let's watch one of your movies!.. Whoa you have a lot of Criterion movies! Have you watched all of these?!"

You reply, "No, I've only made it around to watching half of them!"

Friend: "Well let's watch Antichrist! That sounds like a sweet movie!"
You: "Nah man I watched that one already...I didn't like it very much..." - crickets in the room.
Friend: "Well why on earth did you buy it then?"
You: "Because dude, it's apart of the Criterion Collection!...I own them all. Just look at the spine numbers! Psshht!"

Does this situation not seem a little ridiculous? Like I said, the value of a film, no matter what it's physical state (i.e. CC, Sapphire Series, Studio Canal, etc.) is only measured by your own enjoyment and shouldn't be determined by who manufactured and distributed it. Yes! Criterion offers extremely high value releases, but it's not valuable just because you purchased it to sit between two different spine numbers, it's valuable because you like the film and it has a great transfer and great supplements.

[plattopus]

Originally Posted by aggienader08

You make some very excellent points. I salute you for supporting the physical media. There's a bigger issue in all of this however that's irking me. I'm sure this has happened to quite a few people here, I've been on the receiving end of this a few times, but imagine for a moment:

You have your friend over to eat some pizza, play a little Call of Duty, and then after a while he says, "Dude let's watch one of your movies!.. Whoa you have a lot of Criterion movies! Have you watched all of these?!"

You reply, "No, I've only made it around to watching half of them!"

Friend: "Well let's watch Antichrist! That sounds like a sweet movie!"
You: "Nah man I watched that one already...I didn't like it very much..." - crickets in the room.
Friend: "Well why on earth did you buy it then?"
You: "Because dude, it's apart of the Criterion Collection!...I own them all. Just look at the spine numbers! Psshht!"

Does this situation not seem a little ridiculous?

I would simply explain that I bought it blind and found that I didn't enjoy it. It's really not that strange.

EDIT: And most of the people I'd have around at my house to watch movies would already know my CD/DVD/BD collecting habits so it would be no surprise at all.

[aggienader08]

Originally Posted by plattopus

I would simply explain that I bought it blind and found that I didn't enjoy it. It's really not that strange.

EDIT: And most of the people I'd have around at my house to watch movies would already know my CD/DVD/BD collecting habits so it would be no surprise at all.

Lol! Ok I see that. Although your habits shouldn't prevent you from agreeing whether your enjoyment is the determining factor behind it's value instead of the packaging and spine #, that is unless you do disagree.

[blkhrt]

To sort of get things back to Criterion, does anyone know the details of the arrangement between Criterion and MGM? I keep thinking of MGM titles that would seem appropriate for the collection, and are particular favorites of mine. For example, I would love to see Tod Browning's Freaks get the treatment it deserves.

EDIT: Although it was originally released by MGM, it looks like the DVD is Warner.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by blkhrt

To sort of get things back to Criterion, does anyone know the details of the arrangement between Criterion and MGM? I keep thinking of MGM titles that would seem appropriate for the collection, and are particular favorites of mine. For example, I would love to see Tod Browning's Freaks get the treatment it deserves.

I would love to see Criterion dig into the MGM library...The Killing, The Apartment, 12 Angy Men, Judgment at Nuremburg...

[plattopus]

Originally Posted by aggienader08

Lol! Ok I see that. Although your habits shouldn't prevent you from agreeing whether your enjoyment is the determining factor behind it's value instead of the packaging and spine #, that is unless you do disagree.

Oh no, absolutely. Personal enjoyment is really the only factor in determining value. But how do you know that until you've seen the film? I have a couple of DVDs in my collection that I didn't like, but I don't regret buying them because they enabled me to decide that I didn't like them. (If that makes any sense at all.)

And as with the Paths of Glory example, I already know I don't love the film as much as Kubrick's other work, but it's worth it to me for the special features. So you could say a Blu-ray is worthwhile even if the film itself is not up to scratch.

But I agree with you in that I don't buy Criterion releases because they have that little round C in the top corner; I buy them because they are films I want to see, or want to own.

[aggienader08]

Originally Posted by plattopus

Oh no, absolutely. Personal enjoyment is really the only factor in determining value. But how do you know that until you've seen the film?

And as with the Paths of Glory example, I already know I don't love the film as much as Kubrick's other work, but it's worth it to me for the special features. So you could say a Blu-ray is worthwhile even if the film itself is not up to scratch.

But I agree with you in that I don't buy Criterion releases because they have that little round C in the top corner; I buy them because they are films I want to own.

[JediFonger]

i blindbuy these simply because of PQ/AQ. i've yet to watch 1/2 or most of the Criterion BDs i have (which is most of what's released so far). but eventually i'll work my way there >P

[plattopus]

Originally Posted by aggienader08

Just out of curiousity, have you seen every one of the 400 Blu-rays in your collection?

[aggienader08]

Originally Posted by plattopus

Just out of curiousity, have you seen every one of the 400 Blu-rays in your collection?

Are you asking if I've seen every film or every blu-ray? There are some that I haven't viewed all the way through yet, but I've seen the movie, owned it on DVD in most cases, and own it because I enjoy it.

I haven't seen the fourth or fifth Planet of the Apes, nor the fourth Dirty Harry. That's about all I can think of off the top of my head.

[P@t_Mtl]

I never enjoyed blind buy for anything and I do the same for Criterion. I buy those I really want and rent as much of the others I can find.

[reallyagi]

Why would anybody care for the reasons people buy their Criterions, or anything else?
My neighbor spends $20 a day on cigarettes.

[kobeson]

Originally Posted by JediFonger

i blindbuy these simply because of PQ/AQ. i've yet to watch 1/2 or most of the Criterion BDs i have (which is most of what's released so far). but eventually i'll work my way there >P

So hang on, you buy titles that have great picture quality, regardless of film, and they just sit on your shelf??

[BlackRiderX]

90% of my Criterion purchases have been blind buys since 1999. Yea I'll admit it, started buying because of my OCD and the spines. Never had interest in these types of movies when I was younger, and since I started collecting the dvds I've watched a great deal of amazing movies thanks to Criterion. Couldn't thank them enough for that.

It is worth it to me to keep movies after watching them because many of the films I hated when I first watched them at 18, I now love at 29. And yea, I have tons of titles on the shelf that have not been watched yet but I always have something new to watch when I'm in the mood for a certain genre. Just last week I was thinking that I should try and watch a different Criterion movie every night next summer.

[SpiderBaby]

My CARDBOARD BBS set came PERFECT in the mail. Love the cardboard releases. This set looks awesome.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by reallyagi

Why would anybody care for the reasons people buy their Criterions, or anything else?
My neighbor spends $20 a day on cigarettes.

Did he whistle that to you in confidence through the hole in his throat??????


I feel like I've explained my purchasing habits about 5 times already in this thread, and don't feel the need to do it again..... so, for the record (no explaining being done) I buy all of the CC Blu-rays, some of the DVDs that I don't already have, and watch them all.....