The Criterion Collection

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by duketogo84

Interesting. Yeah, many years ago I had e-mailed Jon about Criterion getting the rights about Kagemusha and he was very interested in my thoughts and was very helpful. Then a few years later Criterion actually released the film. However, with my questions about Hideo Gosha I've gotten mostly copy and paste generic responses. Not sure what exactly happened.

Why do you think I should delete the post and go off the grid? Haha, not sure if that was was a serious statement or not.

I'm not kidding and if survival is an instinct which you possess, you'll take my advice.

You're going to contact this man immediately.

I'm going to PM you a phone number...you're going to call and ask for a dust filter for a Hoover Max Extract.

He's going to call you back.

Be prepared to leave at a moment's notice.

And you can never come back.

...you've tapped into forces that you can't possibly understand.

[Ray Jackson]

So I watched two Criterion blind buys last night.

The first was Ali: Fear Eats the Soul...which I loved.

Fassbinder is a genius...nothing more needs to be said.

The second was Ace In The Hole, which sadly I was somewhat disappointed by.

It's a good movie for sure...it's Billy Wilder for god's sake.

But I found it to be a notch or two below Wilder films like Double Indemnity and Sunset Boulevard--two of my all-time favorite films period.

The dialogue isn't as memorable imo and the photography/look of the film isn't as distinctive as those two classics.

Maybe my expectations were too high.

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

So I watched two Criterion blind buys last night.

The first was Ali: Fear Eats the Soul...which I loved.

Fassbinder is a genius...nothing more needs to be said.

The second was Ace In The Hole, which sadly I was somewhat disappointed by.

It's a good movie for sure...it's Billy Wilder for god's sake.

But I found it to be a notch or two below Wilder films like Double Indemnity and Sunset Boulevard--two of my all-time favorite films period.

The dialogue isn't as memorable imo and the photography/look of the film isn't as distinctive as those two classics.

Maybe my expectations were too high.

Until I read the end of your post, I was about to say that your expectations were indeed probably too high after what I read yesterday. I have yet to see it, so I can't give my opinion, but it's probably one you will enjoy more down the road when your own hype dies down.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

I don't think it's been a vintage year, but it has been great. Carol is excellent, and far from Oscar bait. The trailer portrays a very different movie to the film itself, which plays at a pace not often seen in the mainstream American cinema. It's a beautiful and profoundly moving piece of work, so much so that I had to stand to one side and pull myself together following my screening last week!

Other films I have enjoyed in 2015.

Timbuktu
P'tit Quinquin
Girlhood
Mistress America
Clouds Of Sils Maria
Inherent Vice
Blackhat
Queen Of Earth
The Immigrant

You sold me lol, Im off to see Carol tonight

[The Great Owl]

My total haul from the November Barnes & Noble Criterion sale...

The Apu Trilogy
In Cold Blood
Ikiru
3 Women
Mulholland Drive
My Own Private Idaho
A Special Day

I treaded lightly this time around, since I've got way too many still-unwatched Criterion titles in my collection, but I made good use of coupons and such. So far, I've watched The Apu Trilogy, Mulholland Drive, and My Own Private Idaho. I cannot say enough good things about those releases.

During the past couple of days, though, I've strayed from my unwatched stack by revisiting all six of the Star Wars movies as a way of "studying" for the upcoming movie. I grew up watching these movies, and I cannot deny the awesomeness.

I always daydream about Criterion releasing the original theatrical versions of the original Star Wars trilogy, but that will never happen. As is, George Lucas's Special Edition footage and post-additions only account for a few minutes out of the original three movies, so I just take them in stride.

[Ray Jackson]

I've been hearing so many great things about The Apu Trilogy that I'm really tempted to get it before the sale ends.

With the BF coupon I could have it for $35, which is very tempting.

Unfortunately with the money I spent on repairs for my car and the eight Criterions I've bought so far, I'm almost flat broke until my paycheck direct deposit comes through tomorrow--when the 30% coupons will be over.

Would be hard to pay $50 for it when I could have had it for $35.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I've been hearing so many great things about The Apu Trilogy that I'm really tempted to get it before the sale ends.

With the BF coupon I could have it for $35, which is very tempting.

Unfortunately with the money I spent on repairs for my car and the eight Criterions I've bought so far, I'm almost flat broke until my paycheck direct deposit comes through tomorrow--when the 30% coupons will be over.

Would be hard to pay $50 for it when I could have had it for $35.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

I can't bro.

I've literally got $30 in my bank account until tomorrow.

...it's freaking tragic.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I can't bro.

I've literally got $30 in my bank account until tomorrow.

...it's freaking tragic.

And you call yourself a Criterion Collector.



Sell something, like a child, or an arm or your soul.

-

I think we need a Criterion Charity, and all the donated funds will help fellow collectors make purchases when they are having a hard time....

[AaronJ]

YAY!

My copy of Sullivan's Travels (and Pitch Perfect 2) were delivered today -- weird. Never had Amazon deliver on a Sunday before. Guess I know what I'll be doing tonight.

[jmclick]

Now that the dust has settled, here's my final haul for this November's B&N sale:

Andre Gregory & Wallace Shawn: 3 Films
The Apu Trilogy
Breaker Morant
The Brood
Day for Night
The Fisher King
The Honeymoon Killers
In Cold Blood
John Cassavetes: 5 Films
Mister Johnson
Mulholland Drive
A Room With a View
A Special Day
Two Days, One Night
Zatoichi, the Blind Swordsman

I do wish that Downhill Racer had been released before the sale ended, but that's okay ... it will give me something to look forward to either during the February Criterion sale or the July Barnes & Noble sale.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by jmclick

Now that the dust has settled, here's my final haul for this November's B&N sale:

Andre Gregory & Wallace Shawn: 3 Films
The Apu Trilogy
Breaker Morant
The Brood
Day for Night
The Fisher King
The Honeymoon Killers
In Cold Blood
John Cassavetes: 5 Films
Mister Johnson
Mulholland Drive
A Room With a View
A Special Day
Two Days, One Night
Zatoichi, the Blind Swordsman

I do wish that Downhill Racer had been released before the sale ended, but that's okay ... it will give me something to look forward to either during the February Criterion sale or the July Barnes & Noble sale.

No Ikiru?

...that's a mistake bro.

[YouGotMeFeelingBlu]

I wish my store still sold Criterions

[Ray Jackson]

Does anyone remember what the Three Colors trilogy was going for when it first came out on blu?

I was wondering why the Apu Trilogy is going for $100 regular price at Barnes and Noble, while Three Colors is only $80.

...was Three Colors $100 on release day?

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Does anyone remember what the Three Colors trilogy was going for when it first came out on blu?

I was wondering why the Apu Trilogy is going for $100 regular price at Barnes and Noble, while Three Colors is only $80.

...was Three Colors $100 on release day?

Answer to question 1: $80
Answer to question 2: Nope.

[Bandit Tajomaru]

I've picked up the following at Barnes and Nobels. Will be getting Speedy next month.

Island of Lost Souls
Kwaidan
My Darling Clementine
Summer with Monika
Safety Last!
The Gold Rush
The Freshman
Ikiru
Secret Sunshine
The Sword of Doom
Eclipse Series 26: Silent Naruse

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

Answer to question 1: $80
Answer to question 2: Nope.

So why are they charging more for Apu?

...the sets seem almost identical in terms of content and packaging.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

So I watched two Criterion blind buys last night.

The first was Ali: Fear Eats the Soul...which I loved.

Fassbinder is a genius...nothing more needs to be said.

The second was Ace In The Hole, which sadly I was somewhat disappointed by.

It's a good movie for sure...it's Billy Wilder for god's sake.

But I found it to be a notch or two below Wilder films like Double Indemnity and Sunset Boulevard--two of my all-time favorite films period.

The dialogue isn't as memorable imo and the photography/look of the film isn't as distinctive as those two classics.

Maybe my expectations were too high.

I watched both as blind-buys and thoroughly enjoyed Fassinder's film...as for Wilder's movie, I already knew what to expect from his type of directing and I wasn't let down one bit, despite the terrible downer of an ending. Actually, I didn't blind-buy Ace in the Hole but won it in a contest with Ausjdm. Have you seen Fassbinder's The Merchant of Four Seasons?

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by jw007

I watched both as blind-buys and thoroughly enjoyed Fassinder's film...as for Wilder's movie, I already knew what to expect from his type of directing and I wasn't let down one bit, despite the terrible downer of an ending. Actually, I didn't blind-buy Ace in the Hole but won it in a contest with Ausjdm. Have you seen Fassbinder's The Merchant of Four Seasons?

The ending of Ace In the Hole didn't bother me at all.

Many of his best films have downer endings.

But I didn't think the dialogue was nearly as good as it was in Double Indemnity and Sunset Boulevard...or even Witness For The Prosecution.

I didn't think it looked that great either.

And I wasn't as impressed by the cast.

Douglass gives a pretty good performance, but didn't knock me over like Gloria Swanson or Barbara Stanwyck.

...and the performances by the supporting cast weren't as memorable as in some his other films imo.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by hariseldon

Nobody here knows the rights costs, how much work had to be put into the 2 items (Apu with the destroyed original elements), Criterion was still pretty new to BD then vs much more established in the BD now, the economy is better in 2015 than it was in 2011, and of course because they think they can.

That's interesting.