The Criterion Collection

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

for a price of 15,50$ each i would buy every Bluray in the Criterion collection ..

I somehow got Lord of the Flies for $8 yesterday, and I said the same thing to my wife buying them all if they were that price. I am still not entirely sure what happened. I went into the store to pick it up, asked if I could use a coupon, the cashier said she would try it, and then she told me the total was $8 plus tax. I said I was surprised because it was cheaper than I expected, but all she said was something about how she wished she got the coupons...I decided to not complain

[The Great Owl]

I had an awesome time revisiting these two Kurosawa classics last night...



I previously owned the 1999 Criterion DVD editions of Yojimbo and Sanjuro, so the experience of watching the newer remasters on this Criterion Blu-ray box set was, to say the least, a joyous revelation. Both of these movies look stellar in high definition, and the upgrade is necessary for all who want to experience these highly influential films where Akira Kurosawa made the most of the widescreen format by filling virtually every still frame with elements crucial to the stories. The detail is quite incredible, down to the wind-blown leaves that scatter about the ground as characters walk the main street area in Yojimbo.

The 1961 film, Yojimbo, which was inspired by Kurosawa's enjoyment of American film noir, was, in turn, a cinematic milestone whose influence cannot be overstated. Prospective viewers should not be fooled by this film's highbrow reputation, though, because Yojimbo is a roaring "guy film" adventure through and through, and, like me, you'll probably find yourself laughing and cheering for Toshiro Mifune's ronin character just as you might cheer for Bruce Willis's John McClane in the Die Hard movies. Yojimbo wastes no time moving forward to an explosive start, and the intensity of the film never lets up until the closing credits. Sergio Leone would remake Yojimbo a few years later with his film, A Fistful of Dollars, starring Clint Eastwood in the lead role. I personally love both interpretations equally, and find myself revisiting both of them at least once or twice a year.

The 1962 follow-up, Sanjuro, where Toshiro Mifune returns as a ronin character who, as in the first film, names himself "Sanjuro" while adopting an arbitrary surname depending on what plant he happens to be looking at, is an underrated masterwork of a film sequel. As Stephen Prince points out in the commentary track, most sequels these days differ from the first films only by a Roman numeral or minor title difference. Sanjuro, by contrast, places Mifune's ronin antihero type in a situation that differs vastly from the first film. This follow-up, where Mifune's character begrudgingly assists a group of younger warriors as they learn to distinguish true villains from allies, is more lighthearted in nature, but carries an undercurrent of seriousness with its examination of the practicality of violence. Like Yojimbo before it, though, Sanjuro is a blast every step of the way, and the final confrontation is a stunner.

This Criterion Blu-ray box set of Akira Kurosawa's Yojimbo and Sanjuro has my highest recommendation. These are two classic films of the highest order, and you'll cheer your way through both of them while appreciating the majesty of stories brought to the widescreen format with the utmost effectiveness by a master storyteller.

[dmarvin]

Originally Posted by blkhrt

Did you get more than one coupon? How?

My brother gave me his because he is out of town seeing Pearl Jam at Wrigley Field. Plus I got my own and a 15% off one to my non-member address.

[paulgeneacepeter]

anyone else getting a coupon code invalid when trying to use their 15% off code?

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by paulgeneacepeter

anyone else getting a coupon code invalid when trying to use their 15% off code?

Often these percent off coupons can't be used online during the Criterion sales, because of the fine print that says you can't combine it with other offers. Your best bet is to try in store.

[Joe Dalek]

Originally Posted by Figster

Hi,

Any suggestions if I were just to pick 1 among these 3 titles? I already have 9 titles chosen but due to budget constraints, I am forced to pick just 1 from these to make it 10:

The devil's backbone
M
Last metro

TIA!

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

Only caveat with M is that there is a region-free German edition from Optimum that is struck from a restored print made subsequent to Criterion's. The difference isn't night and day but it is noticeable, and the packaging is absolutely gorgeous. Drawback is many of the extras do not have English subs and it's a bit more expensive, but the Optimum is currently the definitive edition of this film on Blu-ray.

The Devil's Backbone isn't out yet, so unless they've extended the sale I don't think it will qualify.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

Only caveat with M is that there is a region-free German edition from Optimum that is struck from a restored print made subsequent to Criterion's. The difference isn't night and day but it is noticeable, and the packaging is absolutely gorgeous. Drawback is many of the extras do not have English subs and it's a bit more expensive, but the Optimum is currently the definitive edition of this film on Blu-ray.

I'm going to watch my Criterion Blu-ray of M tonight, and am looking forward to finding out how much better it was than my old DVD edition. It's going to be another fun night!

[pedromc69]

Are they gonna release Ikiru.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by pedromc69

Are they gonna release Ikiru.

I desperatey hope so. It's my favorite Kurosawa.

[shortmartin]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Even now, in 2013, it is easy to understand how the 1947 Charlie Chaplin film, Monsieur Verdoux, was the target of considerable negativity and contempt at the time of its release. For the masses of toughened Americans, those whom Tom Brokaw would later describe as the "Greatest Generation", who had weathered the Great Depression and were starting to make a life for themselves and their families after their horrific sacrifices during the second World War, the story of a murderous and opportunistic sociopath who is arrested for the murders of multiple middle-aged women only to imply in court that his wrongdoings pale in comparison to the violence endorsed by wars and economy must have struck many a nerve beneath the skin. Since I was a 1980s kid through and through, my first thought after watching Monsieur Verdoux was to remember a song, "Shoplifters of the World Unite", by The Smiths, where Morrissey, in all his bratty glory, sings, "My only weakness is a listed crime, but last night the plans of a future war was all I saw on Channel Four."

back to your Verdoux review, this part suddenly reminded me of that ponderous Bertolt Brecht quote: "What is the robbing of a bank compared to the founding of a bank?"

I imagine Verdoux would thus also make a nice double-feature with Criterion's release of Threepenny Opera (alas, on dvd only)

okay, I'm off to see Pacific Rim, so excited.

[Scottie]

Criterion's new blog post is on 8 1/2 posters from around the world.

http://www.criterion.com/current/pos...rld-with-8-1-2

[COLD_COBRA_]

Okay...

Wild Stawberries
Heaven's Gate
Weekend (Godard)
Red Shoes
or
Hunger

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by COLD_COBRA_

Okay...

Wild Stawberries
Heaven's Gate
Weekend (Godard)
Red Shoes
or
Hunger

They are all great choices. But if I had to go with one, it would be Heavens Gate.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by COLD_COBRA_

Okay...

Wild Stawberries
Heaven's Gate
Weekend (Godard)
Red Shoes
or
Hunger

The Red Shoes and (if you're familiar with Bergman) Wild Strawberries are probably your safest choices. Some of the others (Heaven's Gate and Weekend) are kind of risky blind buys. That is, if you're only limiting your selection to one title.

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I can think of one (not Savages).

Which one's that? Probably Cloud Atlas.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by brandon_260

Which one's that? Probably Cloud Atlas.

Yup. Not to derail the thread.

I agree with 90% of your top 20, share a bunch of them too, so I was disappointed to see the Wachowski film in your 'Worst of'

[Abdrewes]

Did everybody see the news? The Conformist is coming to BluRay!!! One of the best announcements of the year!

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-C...Blu-ray/78718/

[deepbreathsanddeath]

Okay, my order from this sale is:

-The Wages of Fear
-Repo Man
-Island of Lost Souls
-Marketa Lazarova
-Safety Last!
-The Devil's Backbone
-Letter Never Sent

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Yup. Not to derail the thread.

I agree with 90% of your top 20, share a bunch of them too, so I was disappointed to see the Wachowski film in your 'Worst of'

I expected as much. It's a divisive film and I lean strongly towards one side.

[Yami]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Did everybody see the news? The Conformist is coming to BluRay!!! One of the best announcements of the year!

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-C...Blu-ray/78718/

Of course, RaroVideo USA is the US offshoot of the primarily Italian distributor Raro Video who released the film in Italy. The Italian disc is truly horrible and DNRd to death so approach this one with caution until reviews filter through.