The Criterion Collection

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by fdm

[rant]I finally threw in the towel the other day with ordering from Criterion when my Brakhage box set arrived all dented(/smooshed) up at least partly by the way they shipped it (not in a box, but in a cardboard wrapper a la amazon, not quite as flimsy, but flimsy enough) and partly because it was mixed in with 3 other blu-rays, which also got dented up to various degrees due to shifting around during shipping. The store copies of Brakhage I ran across later that day while investigating my other options also had various dings and dents too, so passed on them as well.[/rant]

So groan from me, I just don't look forward to dealing with getting undamaged copies of yet more digipaks. It's a major pain in the ass. And they are inferior for that particular reason; at least with plastic there's some degree of protection against damage. I have plenty of the DVD ones, been there done that.

It's okay, man. The slipcover of my "By Brahkage" set arrived dented, as well. But, all I had to do was send Jon Mulvaney @ Criterion an e-mail with a picture I took and he had a new slipcover in the mail for me by the next day. It was quick and painless. It was shipped flat and arrived in perfect condition.

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[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

It's okay, man. The slipcover of my "By Brahkage" set arrived dented, as well. But, all I had to do was send Jon Mulvaney @ Criterion an e-mail with a picture I took and he had a new slipcover in the mail for me by the next day. It was quick and painless. It was shipped flat and arrived in perfect condition.

CC

Ya, Criterion actually is pretty good about responding to problems with cases. When I ordered my full set of replacement cases three were damaged. I e-mailed them about it and within a day they responded within one day that they sent replacement cases for the replacement cases priority.

If you had an issue with the By Brakhage set I imagine they will send you a replacement for free.

[BasicGreatGuy]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

It's okay, man. The slipcover of my "By Brahkage" set arrived dented, as well. But, all I had to do was send Jon Mulvaney @ Criterion an e-mail with a picture I took and he had a new slipcover in the mail for me by the next day. It was quick and painless. It was shipped flat and arrived in perfect condition.

CC

That is excellent customer service.

[SpiderBaby]

I wonder if they could replace the Oshima Eclipse cover? I never heard about replacing Eclipse covers. Mine has a dent on the top corner. No big deal, but hey if I can get a replacement, that would be awesome.


And thanks for the region free dvd player stuff. Yeah I would just need a cheap dvd one, since I just want to get MOC dvds with it, and I know some Warhol stuff in other regions I want to get too.

[AmonTwin]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Good afternoon Seretur,

Indeed, it is a stellar release. The supplemental features, in particular, are very good.

And you are correct, Carlo di Palma is probably the only person that would know what the correct color-scheme for Red Desert is. Unfortunately, he is no longer with us, which leaves plenty of room for speculation.

I am not an authority on the subject, but my preference is for the BFI release. Criterion have a history of color-correcting many films (for example, their Melville releases), and in this case I feel that the green tint is the more accurate one.

In any event, I hope that you enjoy this release.

Pro-B

Thanks for the review Pro-B. I have been looking forward to this release for quite some time, but it looks like I will hold on to my BFI. I am sure that I will cave in and double-dip on the Criterion anyway as their supplements seem superior.

[ChadFL]

Yeesh. I watched Dead Ringers tonight for the first time. I really like most of his work. Namely Videodrome and The Fly. But Dead Ringers was a big disappointment IMO. One of the worst films I've watched recently.

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

I wonder if they could replace the Oshima Eclipse cover? I never heard about replacing Eclipse covers. Mine has a dent on the top corner. No big deal, but hey if I can get a replacement, that would be awesome.

I've had a single disc from an Eclipse set replaced, but I've yet to encounter any problems with the packaging that wasn't some fault of my own. My disc of "The Steel Helmet" in the Sam Fuller set would hiccup and skip in a few places. It did this on my blu-ray players and stand-alone DVD players, but it would play fine on the two smaller TVs I have with built-in DVD players. I sent in the "faulty" disc and Mulvaney sent me a new one that played without a hitch.

The packaging stuff is usually the easiest to get from them, but you never know when you're gonna be hit with a fee. It's all circumstantial, I suppose. I had to pay $5 each just for two DVD insert covers not too long ago. I didn't get any cases or booklets... just two covers. Of course, I mentioned the stuff was second-hand, as well, because I had gotten the discs off eBay so that might've had something to do with it. Who knows?

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[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by AmonTwin

Thanks for the review Pro-B. I have been looking forward to this release for quite some time, but it looks like I will hold on to my BFI. I am sure that I will cave in and double-dip on the Criterion anyway as their supplements seem superior.

You are welcome G.

Pro-B

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Yeesh. I watched Dead Ringers tonight for the first time. I really like most of his work. Namely Videodrome and The Fly. But Dead Ringers was a big disappointment IMO. One of the worst films I've watched recently.

That's too bad. I used to own the original Criterion DVD of "Dead Ringers" back in the day, but I sold a big part of my collection years ago. I was a rabid (no pun intended) David Cronenberg fan back in the days of VHS. I remember when Anchor Bay released their excellent "Shivers" VHS. I was in heaven! I had 'em all on VHS and for some reason I never upgraded them to DVD. Hell, did "M. Butterfly" even ever come out on DVD?

edit: Just checked... I guess "M. Butterfly" did get a DVD release by Warner Brothers at some point.

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[jimonee78]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

update:



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Pro-B

Awesome, I love it. For all the digipak haters, Criterion has been doing this for years so it shouldn't come as a huge surprise. I expect the re-releases that had digipaks for their DVD release will also be packaged in mini digipaks for the blu-ray version (Breathless, hopefully Bicycle Thieves, Two Lane Blacktop etc). It will be interesting to see if they release a new Criterion addition in a paper digipak and not just the re-releases.

I mix up my Criterion DVDs and blu-rays in spine order so the type of packaging doesn't bother me.

[jimonee78]

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

I wonder if they could replace the Oshima Eclipse cover? I never heard about replacing Eclipse covers. Mine has a dent on the top corner. No big deal, but hey if I can get a replacement, that would be awesome.

I'm assuming that you are referring to the cardboard slipcover. I'm sure it's possible to replace since it is something they can ship flat. In March I emailed Jon Mulvaney and he sent me five paper slipcovers and a booklet for Bottle Rocket to replace ones that were damaged. Couple weeks ago they sent me a crisp slipcover for Antoine Doinel along with a batch of plastic replacement cases that I had ordered. Oddly they didn't charge me for any of the slipcovers or booklet. Then again I've spent loads of cash at the Criterion store this year.

[csdot]

heads up for Criterion fans, theres a few titles at hollywoodvideo.com or moviegallery.com and i just tried the 25% off coupon code "25PV" (which as far as i know is only supposed to work with used items) and it worked.
just got Vivre Sa Vie for 21.67 which isnt bad for a pretty recent Criterion release. also saw Paris, Texas, Walkabout, Revanche, M, Ride With the Devil, Days of Heaven and a few others.

[capnnarcolepsy]

Seeing as how ccfixx was just speaking of Croenenberg, I watched "Naked Lunch" this evening. I'm sure most would give it a pass since, as the movie itself urges, to "exterminate all rational thought", but i thought it was wonderful. Not sure how I had missed the film for so long having read and been a fan of the book. My gf picked it up for me for our anniversary. Even if she won't watch it, at least she knows what I like.

also, to boardie csdot, are those prices for strictly used movies, or are they new? (nevermind. just read where you say the coupon is only supposed to work on used. kudos for the deal heads-up!)

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

I wonder if they could replace the Oshima Eclipse cover? I never heard about replacing Eclipse covers. Mine has a dent on the top corner. No big deal, but hey if I can get a replacement, that would be awesome.

Mine is damage as well, nothing major however. Most of the eclipse I bought had damages of some sort on the corners which is always unfortunate. That is why I always prefer the plastic box over the digibooks and other cardboard packaging they might offer.

On a side note, what happen to the reputation tag? Already been removed

[rkish]

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

And thanks for the region free dvd player stuff. Yeah I would just need a cheap dvd one, since I just want to get MOC dvds with it, and I know some Warhol stuff in other regions I want to get too.

I can't seem to justify purchasing ANY DVD titles...unless there is little to no chance of them EVER making it to BD. I've got to say though, that "Night Train to Munich" is going to make this VERY difficult!

I finally broke my cherry and made a purchase from EUREKA! THANKS to ccfixx and JediFonger for the inspiration. I decided to purchase "Sunrise" (you approve CG? ) and may add "City Girls" and others in the future. I really want "Fantastic Planet"...anyone have any 411 on a release date?

Since it looks to be a bit of a wait for any Chaplin...I want to slowly collect specific "silent" titles (already have Battleship Potemkin and The General) and decided that Sunrise was a good place to start in the imports!

$24 or so and free shipping made this pretty easy as well (my wife has a PayPal acct.). I live in Dutchess County, NY. For those that have ordered from EUREKA!...how long has shipping typically taken for you?

Thanks!

[charnier]

I finally broke my cherry and made a purchase from EUREKA! THANKS to ccfixx and JediFonger for the inspiration. I decided to purchase "Sunrise" (you approve CG? ) and may add "City Girls" and others in the future. I really want "Fantastic Planet"...anyone have any 411 on a release date?

Well done - I hope you enjoy these releases; they really are superb.

Fantastic Planet is coming on blu in July along with Vengeance is Mine, while the Burmese Harp and The World are being released in August. All of the titles mentioned are Region B-locked except The World, which is region free. Region locking is not a choice by MoC - it's usually a demand by the licensor.

I can't seem to justify purchasing ANY DVD titles...unless there is little to no chance of them EVER making it to BD. I've got to say though, that "Night Train to Munich" is going to make this VERY difficult!

Just wait till you get to look at MoC's dvd catalogue - it will be impossible, by which time difficult will be a walk in the park for you.

For those that have ordered from EUREKA!...how long has shipping typically taken for you?

I don't live in the States, but I have read delivery times to the US can be quite impressive.

[rkish]

Originally Posted by charnier

Well done - I hope you enjoy these releases; they really are superb.

Fantastic Planet is coming on blu in July along with Vengeance is Mine, while the Burmese Harp and The World are being released in August. All of the titles mentioned are Region B-locked except The World, which is region free. Region locking is not a choice by MoC - it's usually a demand by the licensor.



Just wait till you get to look at MoC's dvd catalogue - it will be impossible, by which time difficult will be a walk in the park for you.



I don't live in the States, but I have read delivery times to the US can be quite impressive.

THANKS charnier!

Sunrise seemed like a good place to start, considering it's prominence and importance in cinema/silent cinema. From what I've read, made more sense to get this first and then follow up with City Girl at some point.

I saw Fantastic Planet when it was released in the theaters (might give you an idea of my age ). I have it on DVD and would LOVE to have it on blu...sorry to hear that it will be Region B. Hopefully it'll either be released at some point as Region Free and/or maybe by Criterion (I know they haven't released any animation blus as of yet...but you never know).

I'm not quite as esoteric as the rest of you with what I call the "more sophisticated side of cinema", but I like to be educated and find titles that are of interest both educationally as well as entertaining.

Glad to hear good things about shipping from EUREKA! Maybe I'll see Sunrise in the next week or so.

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by rkish

For those that have ordered from EUREKA!...how long has shipping typically taken for you?

Thanks!

Well, the problem is that you never know what's gonna happen after things get put into the postal system. My rexent order from Eureka shipped out last Friday (28th) and I received them yesterday. So, that was awesome! However, the previous order I placed a couple months ago got lost in the mail system and Eureka had to send me replacement discs. Great service from them, my the way.

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[retablo]

Originally Posted by rkish

I can't seem to justify purchasing ANY DVD titles...unless there is little to no chance of them EVER making it to BD. I've got to say though, that "Night Train to Munich" is going to make this VERY difficult!

I finally broke my cherry and made a purchase from EUREKA! THANKS to ccfixx and JediFonger for the inspiration. I decided to purchase "Sunrise" (you approve CG? ) and may add "City Girls" and others in the future. I really want "Fantastic Planet"...anyone have any 411 on a release date?

Since it looks to be a bit of a wait for any Chaplin...I want to slowly collect specific "silent" titles (already have Battleship Potemkin and The General) and decided that Sunrise was a good place to start in the imports!

$24 or so and free shipping made this pretty easy as well (my wife has a PayPal acct.). I live in Dutchess County, NY. For those that have ordered from EUREKA!...how long has shipping typically taken for you?

Thanks!

Sunrise is simply one of the best blus I own. It looks astounding. City Girl is a must have as well. It's fun seeing these pop up on blu because - as cliche as it sounds - it's really like seeing them again for the first time. The depth and level of clarity hasn't been seen in ages.

[jimonee78]

Originally Posted by retablo

Sunrise is simply one of the best blus I own. It looks astounding. City Girl is a must have as well. It's fun seeing these pop up on blu because - as cliche as it sounds - it's really like seeing them again for the first time. The depth and level of clarity hasn't been seen in ages.

100% agree. Une femme mariee and Tokyo Sonata are also great but the Murnau blu-rays are two of the top releases of the year. Those on the fence about importing MoCs should know that the MoC blu-rays are at least on par with Criterion. Excellent PQ/AQ, loads of extras, informative booklets and truly awesome cover art.

Seeing that 4 of their next 5 releases are Region B, I am starting to consider purchasing a region-free player. I need to have Vengeance Is Mine on blu-ray. While I think there is a chance Criterion might release this in the next year or two, they've got so much on plate I have a feeling it isn't high on their priority list.