The Criterion Collection

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by koberulz

Well nobody's suggested Dictator yet, so I'm not sure that's quite true.

I think he submitted a Top 10 Directors list, Criterion were expecting a Top 10 Films list, and they just figured "screw it, we'll make it work"...

Not quite as well-executed as Pringles' "they shipped us potatoes instead of rubber" though.

Nope since some of his tenth position "ties" are from different directors, and he doesn't break down the list by directors but by the individual films. He just couldn't do a simple task. Something about the guy's write-ups annoys me too.

[thatguamguy]

Originally Posted by koberulz

Well nobody's suggested Dictator yet, so I'm not sure that's quite true.

FWIW, "The Great Dictator" was the first Chaplin I ever saw and is a fine introduction to his work. It's a terrific film, it's just that the other three are all-time greats, and it's not quite that. I'd say "City Lights" is the best of them, and "Modern Times" is the funniest, but whatever Chaplin you get you will enjoy and you will eventually want all the Chaplins so in that case, you can't go wrong in the order on the 4 you asked about.

[Feiereisel]

Any thoughts either way on Sid and Nancy? I like Alex Cox well enough and dig Repo Man, but...I guess I need a little convincing.

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by Feiereisel

Any thoughts either way on Sid and Nancy? I like Alex Cox well enough and dig Repo Man, but...I guess I need a little convincing.

I saw Sid and Nanc years ago and enjoyed it, but I'm not sure what kind of re-watch value it has. It's pretty intense. If you're expecting a light-hearted goof like Repo Man, it's not that.

[Feiereisel]

Originally Posted by belcherman

I saw Sid and Nanc years ago and enjoyed it, but I'm not sure what kind of re-watch value it has. It's pretty intense. If you're expecting a light-hearted goof like Repo Man, it's not that.

I wasn't, which is why I asked. Thanks for the feedback!

[koberulz]

Originally Posted by thatguamguy

FWIW, "The Great Dictator" was the first Chaplin I ever saw and is a fine introduction to his work. It's a terrific film, it's just that the other three are all-time greats, and it's not quite that. I'd say "City Lights" is the best of them, and "Modern Times" is the funniest, but whatever Chaplin you get you will enjoy and you will eventually want all the Chaplins so in that case, you can't go wrong in the order on the 4 you asked about.

Yeah, I'll end up getting all four eventually. I just don't want to get all four of them at once, and end up not getting much of anything else.

In my cart at the moment:
City Lights
The Killers
Carlos
Seven Samurai
Diabolique
Kiss Me Deadly
Barry Lyndon
Ministry of Fear
M
Hoop Dreams
Safety Last!
Mulholland Drive

Having a lengthy internal debate about whether I need to cull that down.

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by Feiereisel

I wasn't, which is why I asked. Thanks for the feedback!

Fair enough. If you enjoy movies about a couple of not very smart people making not very smart choices, all to a great soundtrack, then this is for you. Seriously, I thought it was very good, but I can't imagine sitting through it again.

[Feiereisel]

Originally Posted by koberulz

Yeah, I'll end up getting all four eventually. I just don't want to get all four of them at once, and end up not getting much of anything else.

In my cart at the moment:
City Lights
The Killers
Carlos
Seven Samurai
Diabolique
Kiss Me Deadly
Barry Lyndon*
Ministry of Fear
M
Hoop Dreams
Safety Last!
Mulholland Drive

Having a lengthy internal debate about whether I need to cull that down.

This may help you prioritize--

Essential: City Lights, Seven Samurai, M, Hoop Dreams**

Highly Recommended: The Killers, Mulholland Drive

Recommended: Carlos, Diabolique, Kiss Me Deadly, Safety Last!

Not Essential: Ministry of Fear

*I haven't watched my copy of Barry Lyndon yet, but reviews and other forum posts suggest it belongs in the Highly Recommended or Essential grouping.

**Hoop Dreams is arguably right on the Essential/Highly Recommended border, but the included supplements make it one of the most comprehensive and "complete" of all Criterion editions, so I gave it the bump.

[koberulz]

I already own Barry Lyndon, actually, and thoroughly enjoyed it, but all the bonuses make a double-dip just impossible to pass up. Logically I should wait, but I was just about to get it out and rewatch it recently.

Hoop Dreams was my #1 priority going in. Basketball is my life, and I have an old barebones DVD that got damaged to unplayability before I ever had the opportunity to watch it.

EDIT: And if I do cull one it's unlikely to be Ministry of Fear, that's a cheapie.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by Feiereisel

Any thoughts either way on Sid and Nancy? I like Alex Cox well enough and dig Repo Man, but...I guess I need a little convincing.

It's a good film, but I wasn't blown away by it like Repo Man, which is one of the most unique movies I've seen.

Most of it plays like a pretty standard rock and roll biopic.

...with a few surrealistic shots mixed in that are really beautiful.

It's a no-brainer if you're a fan of the Sex Pistols or 70s punk music.

[BluProofie]

Got:

The Piano Teacher
Rebecca
Personal Shopper
Vampyr

[zoodermin]

Ok, I think I've decided the films I'm buying at the B&N sale:

Rebecca
The Lodger
The Philadelphia Story
My Darling Clementine
Barry Lyndon
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg

I hope I have enough money to buy all of them.

[SteelyTom]

Day one purchases at the B&N store in Boston this morning: Rebecca and Tokyo Story.

More to come during this month-long sale-- hopefully, Wings of Desire, Manchurian Candidate and Being There.

[GoodAsBlu]

Anyone think, or know, if some of the December and January titles will be included before the end of the month?

I want to pick up Election and The Breakfast Club.

[javy]

Is 8 1/2 and L'eclisse out of print? They're not available through Barnes and Noble.

[thatguamguy]

When B&N is out-of-stock, the search returns "Marketplace Sellers" instead.

[javy]

Originally Posted by thatguamguy

When B&N is out-of-stock, the search returns "Marketplace Sellers" instead.

Those two movies seem to be out of stock everywhere though, everywhere except the CC site.

[scottpcusa]

Originally Posted by repulsed

Has anyone ever asked or heard anything that Criterion could make their flash sale longer than just 24 hours?
That's pretty much the reason I don't take part in their sales. It'd be nice if they could at least do a week.

Well...for one thing...they wouldn’t be able to call it a “flash” sale anymore. And who at Criterion has time to come up with a new name?

EDIT: Ha! It appears Bates_Motel beat me to that joke.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by scottpcusa

Well...for one thing...they wouldn’t be able to call it a “flash” sale anymore. And who at Criterion has time to come up with a new name?

Very true. It took Jon Mulvaney's twin brother Ron Mulvaney six years to come up with "Flash". No need to put that man through more hell.

[thatguamguy]

Originally Posted by javy

Those two movies seem to be out of stock everywhere though, everywhere except the CC site.

Well, Criterion is usually pretty good about announcing things before they go out of print, but I admit you've got me a bit nervous.