The Criterion Collection

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

2 Years already? Common Criterion.

You are right, but I already ordered it, so now it will be announced soon for sure
,

I bit the bullet and bought the Doinel Criterion box recently. I bid $25 for a ' Like new' copy, shipped and got lucky. I don't know about the AE box for the Doinel films but the 8 film Truffaut collection is light on supplements... the transfers in the Doinel set are supposed to be kinda average, too.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

Had to get Rosemary's Baby and Don't Look Now in the sale, despite this being a packed release month already putting me over my allowance agreement with the wife. Now I'll probably get divorced, thanks Criterion!!!

I'm single right now, but I'm considering divorcing myself, because I've overspent on Blu-rays during the past few months. Well, actually, I've overspent on Blu-rays since 2012, but I've outdone myself in recent months.

Most of the current Criterion releases will thankfully wait until the November sale.

[jbieste]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I'm single right now, but I'm considering divorcing myself, because I've overspent on Blu-rays during the past few months. Well, actually, I've overspent on Blu-rays since 2012, but I've outdone myself in recent months.

Most of the current Criterion releases will thankfully wait until the November sale.

I hope you can work things out. Divorce can be messy, what if you had to give up your running friends?

I think you should talk to Ray before things get worse.
I'd guess Ray could give you some perspective and hopefully the incentive to work things out.

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I already own all of these Criterion horror titles, and I heartily recommend them to any of you who don't already own them. I've spoken my piece at length about Cat People in this thread already, but it's really quite a gem, and it's one of this year's highlights from the Collection.

The Criterion release of Carnival of Souls gets a lot of flak for not including the director's cut, but, in my opinion, the original theatrical cut is the better version. This is a superb Blu-ray across the board.

The Blu-ray upgrade of Kwaidan is essential, since it includes the full-length film at long last, and because the colors are truly a sight to behold.


Marginally related, but, for the past couple of years, Blu-ray.com has presented my collection statistics as "Strongly overrepresented: Film noir, Western".
Just recently, though, I saw that my collection statistics now say, "Strongly overrepresented: Film noir, Horror, Western."

I guess that I'm officially a horror hound now. I've always known that, though.

Its a shame one of the best titles isn't on that list The Innocents. Also I would have expected Kuroneko to be on sale as well. I wish Criterion would get around to releasing Onibaba. A much better movie then Kuroneko or Kwaiden in my book.

[xxnomad]

man i was gonna pounce on the 20 dollar beyond valley of dolls today with the 20% coupon but it's back to regular price on barnes and noble...bah.

[Scottie]

I couldn't pass up on Cat People for $20.99. I remember really liking it when I watched it several months ago.

[Martin_31]

Very tempting; I'll wait for the flash sale. That way I get points. I'm so close.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I'm 30 mins into Weekend (1967)...

Note to self: Never drive in France.

It's taken me 2 days, but I finally finished watching Weekend. I can sum up my experience by saying it was like watching a Jackson Pollock painting dry. And WTF was the last 20 mins?? As ridiculous at that was, at least it was change of pace from the repetitive car wreckage, heavy-handed philosophical drivel, and on the nose social commentary in the other 80 mins. Honestly, Godard tries way too hard to be different for the sake of being different, and it comes off as disingenuous. Easily one of the worst films I've ever seen, and I'd suggest no one blind buy it (rent first).

0.5/5

[zoodermin]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

It's taken me 2 days, but I finally finished watching Weekend. I can sum up my experience by saying it was like watching a Jackson Pollock painting dry. And WTF was the last 20 mins?? As ridiculous at that was, at least it was change of pace from the repetitive car wreckage, heavy-handed philosophical drivel, and on the nose social commentary in the other 80 mins. Honestly, Godard tries way too hard to be different for the sake of being different, and it comes off as disingenuous. Easily one of the worst films I've ever seen, and I'd suggest no one blind buy it (rent first).

0.5/5

I agree. I did the mistake of buying it without seeing it first and it's the only film I regret having in my collection.

[Scottie]

Anyone else find it fascinating that Zbigniew Zamachowski and Jerzy Stuhr play brothers in both Three Colors: White and Dekalog?

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Anyone else find it fascinating that Zbigniew Zamachowski and Jerzy Stuhr play brothers in both Three Colors: White and Dekalog?

funny you say that because my wife said at least two or three times during White, "these two guys really do look like brothers!"

[BobbyMcGee]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

It's taken me 2 days, but I finally finished watching Weekend. I can sum up my experience by saying it was like watching a Jackson Pollock painting dry. And WTF was the last 20 mins?? As ridiculous at that was, at least it was change of pace from the repetitive car wreckage, heavy-handed philosophical drivel, and on the nose social commentary in the other 80 mins. Honestly, Godard tries way too hard to be different for the sake of being different, and it comes off as disingenuous. Easily one of the worst films I've ever seen, and I'd suggest no one blind buy it (rent first).

0.5/5

I think this essay may help with context (but obviously liking / not liking, best or worst, is purely subjective): https://www.criterion.com/current/po...e-last-weekend

[Reddington]

Just catching up on recent posts and can only echo the positive sentiments about going region-free - both in terms of adding titles not available here to ones collection, and value (especially post-Brexit).

I've bought a few "Criterion" upgrades at great prices; Rossellini: The War Trilogy, Tales of Hoffmann, Billy Liar, The Fallen Idol, and Hobson's Choice. I've found that prices on amazon.co.uk fluctuate more frequently than on the US site and a little patience is often rewarded. For example, I was able to get the Rossellini set for 20GBP, which is almost half of what it can go for.

I've also been able to pick up some great blind-buys for less than 10GBP (or about $13) shipped, like Hitchcock's Lifeboat, Visconti's Rocco and his Brothers, and the MoC release of Anthony Mann's Man of the West.

[theater dreamer]

That's where I am right now. My collection has become Jaws. "We're going to need a bigger boat." It's completely overwhelmed my storage space for them. I'm mulling over doing either a custom shelving system, or going with the "Billy" option. I figure by this time next year I'll be well over 1,000, and that's going to continue to grow as more of the classic films I want are getting released on blu.

Originally Posted by tenia

Wait until you also need to get new shelves !
"I promise darling, it'll be the last one !"

[ThisKid]

With my collection, I've hit the wall with my Limited Edition shelf in my wardrobe. I can't fit any more titles on it. And I'm getting more Criterions (which go on that shelf), so I might need to reshuffle my collection. What did I do to receive such horror?

[theater dreamer]

I'll be putting in my order for a region-free player at the end of the month. I cannot wait! So excited!!! I've been building up a nice collection of films that aren't available domestically on blu, or aren't available as the director intended: The Lost Weekend, La môme, Ran, Darling, Lifeboat, The Passion of Joan of Arc, Downfall, City Girl, and Malena, thus far.

Really, any serious film lover should be region free. Metaphorically, it's like taking the training wheels off a bicycle, in that it removes any and all restrictions on what you can watch. Doing so allows you to go anywhere, and see anything you want. I love Monica Bellucci. I've always wanted to see Malena, but refused to watch it with nearly twenty minutes removed. Importing the film from Korea allows me to see it as Giuseppe Tornatore and Lajos Koltai intended.

It's also great because it gives collectors alternatives. I have just started to explore David Lynch's filmography (I'm saying that about a lot of directors and actors now). But Wild at Heart on blu-ray in the states is pretty expensive because it was one of Twilight Time's short prints of 3,000 units. It would cost me $50 or more to get it. So, I bought the UK Universal Studios release with a larger order I was already paying shipping for. Cost me $10. I can take that extra $40, and buy a few more Criterions.

Originally Posted by Reddington

Just catching up on recent posts and can only echo the positive sentiments about going region-free - both in terms of adding titles not available here to ones collection, and value (especially post-Brexit).

I've bought a few "Criterion" upgrades at great prices; Rossellini: The War Trilogy, Tales of Hoffmann, Billy Liar, The Fallen Idol, and Hobson's Choice. I've found that prices on amazon.co.uk fluctuate more frequently than on the US site and a little patience is often rewarded. For example, I was able to get the Rossellini set for 20GBP, which is almost half of what it can go for.

I've also been able to pick up some great blind-buys for less than 10GBP (or about $13) shipped, like Hitchcock's Lifeboat, Visconti's Rocco and his Brothers, and the MoC release of Anthony Mann's Man of the West.

[theater dreamer]

You must admit, though, ThisKid...as far as horrors go, this is one of the better ones to have to deal with.

I think to myself, "man, I am really desperately needing more space." Then I think, "holy cow, that means I've got a lot of great movies that I can watch whenever I want."

Originally Posted by ThisKid

With my collection, I've hit the wall with my Limited Edition shelf in my wardrobe. I can't fit any more titles on it. And I'm getting more Criterions (which go on that shelf), so I might need to reshuffle my collection. What did I do to receive such horror?

[theater dreamer]

Oh, and The Lion in Winter is about to get a release from StudioCanal. I could wait forever for it to be released in the states. Now, I won't have to. The same can be said for The Pianist, or Paper Moon, or a number of other movies I absolutely must have, but wouldn't be able to, were it not for going region free.

I refuse to be beholden to the whims of a society's absurd censorship guidelines, or the business decisions made by a singular distribution company, any longer.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

I refuse to be beholden to the whims of a society's absurd censorship guidelines, or the business decisions made by a singular distribution company, any longer.

Twisted Sister -- We're Not Gonna Take it [Extended Version] OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO - YouTube

[Ray Jackson]

I think Weekend is a fascinating allegory of the decay of French bourgeois society.

There's so much crazy, satirical, symbolical, meta stuff going on throughout.

Some of which makes perfect sense to me and some of which is a giant WTF?

But like many Godard films, it's rife with pretentious elements and the typical Godardian different for the sake of being different moments that border on being cringeworthy. That has always been one of Godard's greatest strengths and greatest weaknesses as a director imo.

One of the most unique and challenging films ever made.

...I appreciate that.