The Criterion Collection

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by BarnDoor

The cover for Carlos is incredibly uninspired.

I actually love the Carlos cover. I think it captures the style and tone of the film. It's from one of the posters.
I own the UK release and I'm debating whether to get the Criterion and sell my copy to a friend.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by Pyoko

Nothing definite for me this month. I'm interested in Carlos, but with the $50 MSRP (as expected) the UK release is so much cheaper I doubt I'll bother with the Criterion unless it's a significant improvement over the Optimum. Might look into The Phantom Carriage though.

Won't Criterion just use the same master for their edition of Carlos?
The Optimum looks and sounds great

[oildude]

Well, I have to say I am fairly underwhelmed by September. For those looking forward to these films, congratulations. As for me, I am in for Phantom Carriage for sure and maybe Carlos and My Life as a Dog.

What I don't understand is Criterion's reasons for chosing which catalog titles get upgraded to blu before others. So many awesome ones waiting to be upgraded - Le Samourai, the Soviet Union films (Cranes are Flying, the Ascent, etc), Hitchcock, Spy Who Came in from the Cold, the Burmese Harp, Picnic at Hanging Rock, Rushmore, and so on........ At the current rate of two or three upgrades a month, it will be years before most or all of these make it to blu-ray. Not being an Altman fan, I just can't see how some films such as 3 Women get chosen to be upgraded before the dozens on my wish list.

I have not seen My Life as a Dog, so that will be a new experience. It is great to have an emabarrassment of riches when it comes to catalog titles to upgrade, but the dribbling pace of their release is killing me.

Hey, at least we got Battle of Algiers

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Josh5890

Ok, I have a family video coupon that expires today. Nominate a film for me to buy and I will pick it up. (No horror please)

What criterions I own (not alot)

[Show spoiler]America Lost & Found
Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mystery Train
Paths of Golry
Seven Samuri
Seventh Seal

+1 M
The Sweet Smell of Success
+1 Night of the Hunter

In that order but they're all very good.

Other personal faves (but more in the ymmv category)...

Revanche
Kes
Bigger Than Life

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

Does anyone know which score is being used on the version currently on Hulu Plus? I'm not terribly fond of it. Does every silent film score require abundant use of triangle? Was triangle the 1920s equivalent to cowbell? Couldn't they commission The Knife to do a score?

Cool, somebody finally got a Hulu Plus account (I've been meaning to but all that clicking and typing and more clicking...)

How does it compare to NetFlix HD streaming?

[PowellPressburger]

I think I'm the most excited over the 3 Women Upgrade. I have had this one on my wish list, I figured it would be released later than sooner.

I think 3 Women is my fav Robert Altman film from that period. I also love Images and Nashville a great deal.

Shelly Duvall won Best Actress at Cannes for the film, and this could be her best film IMO. The Altman commentary is worthwhile for fans also.

A couple posters from the films theatrical release.

[Show spoiler]3WomenPoster1.jpg

[Show spoiler]
3WomenPoster2.jpg

[trombone dixie]

3 Women was my no.1 WANT for upgrade. So I'm more than happy with September.

[rock, stone]

Today I watched The Times of Harvey Milk, which I absolutely loved. So that is going on the wishlist. Reading the review on here I was a little disappointed by the lukewarm recommendation of the film, but whatever.

As a result I also finally watched Milk, which I've meant to watch since it came out but never got around to. I have to say that I didn't find the dramatization nearly as affecting or interesting. It was fine, and everyone was very good, but it was a little too earnest and had too much of a whiff of oscar bate to be something I revisit.

I would really strongly recommend the Criterion disc to anyone who is a lover of documentaries or doesn't know this story.

[metamorphic]

Has anyone noticed that there will soon be two silent films released back-to-back? August sees the influential People on Sunday, whereas September, of course, will bear witness to the legendary Phantom Carriage.

Originally Posted by drbikeshorts

Won't Criterion just use the same master for their edition of Carlos?
The Optimum looks and sounds great

Criterion mention in their announcement that theirs is a "new digital transfer, supervised and approved by directors of photography Denis Lenoir and Yorick Le Saux", so it could very well mean this is a completely new transfer we're looking at. Carlos is a beautiful film in many ways and features some stunning scenes, so I think there's probably a reason why Criterion took their time with the release.

Also, the Criterion website notes that there will be "[much] more" special features, so I wager we might see a few more extras and supplements come release day. I'd love to see a few documentaries included (perhaps parts from Barbet Schroeder's L'Avocat de la Terreur, based on Jacques Vergues, who of course features in the miniseries, or The Carlos Years) and additional behind-the-scenes footage.

[Wildcat47]

Originally Posted by Kreacher

All, I'm looking to sell the majority of my Criterion titles to free up some cash - what is the consensus around here: eBay or the Trading Forum?

Of course I'd like to sell as an entire lot, but I don't think that is in the cards - and is leading me to ask here. List individually in the trade forum or eBay?

Pm me what you've got and your asking prices if you're interested in selling any on here. I'm looking to fill holes in my collection.

[CoenP]

I'm gonna go Swedish and get me The Phantom Carriage and My Life as a Dog. The latter has a special place in my heart.

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by metamorphic

Also, the Criterion website notes that there will be "[much] more" special features, so I wager we might see a few more extras and supplements come release day. I'd love to see a few documentaries included (perhaps parts from Barbet Schroeder's L'Avocat de la Terreur, based on Jacques Vergues, who of course features in the miniseries, or The Carlos Years) and additional behind-the-scenes footage.

I certainly hope so. I'm hoping for some contextualizing video extras on Carlos the Jackal more than anything. In any event, as it stands right now, I have little reason to buy the Criterion release to accompany my UK edition, as the listed extras are largely present in that set, and there is the omission of the theatrical version to deal with as well.

[Pyoko]

Originally Posted by metamorphic

Criterion mention in their announcement that theirs is a "new digital transfer, supervised and approved by directors of photography Denis Lenoir and Yorick Le Saux", so it could very well mean this is a completely new transfer we're looking at. Carlos is a beautiful film in many ways and features some stunning scenes, so I think there's probably a reason why Criterion took their time with the release.

Like most modern movies Carlos had a digital intermediate created, so they're not going to do a new transfer. That bit refers to the only transfer that exists (the DI), and is just there because they have to write something.

I don't expect it will look very different to the UK edition.

[Icemouth]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

I just love Amazon Canada. They tell me that Diabolique won't ship until Mid-July, when Naked and The Phil Ochs doc I ordered are released. They shipped it today via UPS. It's ironic because Canada Post started a lockout today. Meanwhile, My copy of Senso just left Amazon US via DHL, which means it's going to not show up any time soon. I don't get their shipping methods, it's hit or miss.

I'm not sure what the problem is, shouldn't you be happy it shipped UPS? UPS comes UPS, not through Canada Post, so you'll be unaffected by the strike, the same with the DHL order.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by Icemouth

I'm not sure what the problem is, shouldn't you be happy it shipped UPS? UPS comes UPS, not through Canada Post, so you'll be unaffected by the strike, the same with the DHL order.

Yes with the UPS, no with the DHL, as DHL turns their items over to Canada Post once they cross the border:

"On Tuesday, June 14, 2011 Canada Post announced they have suspended operations across the country. As a result of the work stoppage, DHL Global Mail will cease the pick-up of mail and parcels destined to Canada, effective immediately. Any Canadian bound mail already picked up by DHL Global Mail will be held at DHL Global Mail terminals. Security measures are in place at all terminals to ensure the safety of all items. Once the strike concludes, all mail and parcels destined to Canada will be given priority. Canada Post has advised that plans are in place within their network to secure all mail that is left in the system during the lockout, and to resume normal operations once the current situation is resolved. Naturally, delays of mail processing and delivery will be experienced nationally. DHL Global Mail will continue to monitor events surrounding the dispute between the Canadian Union of Postal Workers and Canada Post, and will provided updates as they develop."

My order from Amazon US claimed it shipped out a few hours before the lockout, so it's currently MIA. Also, my complaint is the fact that Amazon US seems to arbitrarily decide shipping methods depending on when you order from them. Some of my orders come via DHL/Canada Post, some come UPS. It's like playing a game of chance with them. Also, I'm mad at myself, I should have known better than to try to order something.


Also, when someone says they are going to ship something in a month's time, wouldn't you expect it to be shipped in a month's time? I'm not upset by the fact that they expidited the film, and are shipping it a month early, I just found it amusing that they chose to do so through another delivery service on the same day Canada Post began a lockout. Hence the ironic comment.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by CoenP

I'm gonna go Swedish and get me The Phantom Carriage and My Life as a Dog. The lather has a special place in my heart.

Nice. I've always thought Criterion should package body wash with their releases.

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by octagon

Cool, somebody finally got a Hulu Plus account (I've been meaning to but all that clicking and typing and more clicking...)

How does it compare to NetFlix HD streaming?

Like Joe Dalek, I, too, still prefer Netflix over Hulu Plus... at least, when streaming through my PS3. I did the Hulu Plus one-week free trial and then I also had a month free trial. The issues I experienced and the overall content choices didn't balance out for me to even spend $7.99/month.

I went 'round & 'round with the Hulu Plus customer service explaining to them all of the freezing issues I was having over my wi-fi connection. If I were to watch something from beginning to end without pausing, fast-forwarding, or rewinding then everything seemed to go smoothly. Anytime I tried to do any of those previously mentioned things, though, the video would never play correctly again. It's constant skipping every few seconds. Surprisingly, I couldn't even watch one of their movie trailers all the way through without freezing. I know on, at least, one occasion I had to completely shut down my older PS3 from the main switch on the back.

Other than the Criterions, Hulu Plus does have access to plenty of great, and not so great, television programming... but, it's just not for me at the moment.

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by metamorphic

Has anyone noticed that there will soon be two silent films released back-to-back? August sees the influential People on Sunday, whereas September, of course, will bear witness to the legendary Phantom Carriage.

People On Sunday is being released this month, June 28th. So, not exactly back-to-back, I'd say. Please re-adjust your life accordingly.

[CoenP]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Nice. I've always thought Criterion should package body wash with their releases.

You sly dog you got me editing my post...

Making fun of a non native English speaker must be so much fun!

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by CoenP

You sly dog you got me editing my post...

Making fun of a non native English speaker must be so much fun!

Your English is good. I just assumed it was a small typo.