The Criterion Collection

[zedd_117]

Originally Posted by yoxodo

has anyone seen White Dog which Criterion recently released on DVD? it is an excellent film and a powerful study of race relations. it was made in the early 80's and never formally released until now because of the contraversial content but it still packs a hell of a punch today. plus Kristy Macnichol was in it and she was a little cutie...

It's been one that I have been looking to pick up. However after dropping $125 on blus yesterday (thanks a lot amazon, you and your freakin' sales ) it may have to wait a little longer.
Plus, I'm still torn on buying standard def Criterions, or just waiting for the Blu-rays. I realize the wait will probably be years. Which means odds are good that I'll pick it up on DVD.

[yoxodo]

Originally Posted by zedd_117

It's been one that I have been looking to pick up. However after dropping $125 on blus yesterday (thanks a lot amazon, you and your freakin' sales ) it may have to wait a little longer.
Plus, I'm still torn on buying standard def Criterions, or just waiting for the Blu-rays. I realize the wait will probably be years. Which means odds are good that I'll pick it up on DVD.

yeah, i was hoping for White Dog on blu but considering it never even had a VHS release i'm happy with my DVD. it is a great movie and well worth the purchase.

[Beta Man]

I can barely afford to keep up with the Blu-ray criterion purchases (even at this very modest pace) so I don't think I'll continue to buy Criterion DVDs..... besides....there are too many I still want on DVD as it is

[Sussudio]

beta - do you have days of heaven? what an incredible looking dvd that is, the blu will look ridiculous.

[Beta Man]

No..... but it's on the list..... one of Richard Gere's best roles, so I hear.... I haven't even seen it

[samuelj]

I'd love to see Days of Heaven on Blu.

[Eastcoaster]

I'm gonna wait till deepdiscount.com does their 20%-off sale in June and then go nuts on Blu-Ray orders. The sale usually happens around June 1-10th... worth waiting for if you're going to place a large order.

Kirby

P.S. Just read the full Criterion article in Home Theatre Mag -- really good article, and worth picking up the magazine just for that article, if you're not already a subscriber.

[zedd_117]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

I can barely afford to keep up with the Blu-ray criterion purchases (even at this very modest pace) so I don't think I'll continue to buy Criterion DVDs..... besides....there are too many I still want on DVD as it is

Beta Man, don't give up the Criterion dream! Buy 'em used. I see your from Lake Erie, I'm from south of Pittsburgh. Do they have CD Warehouses up your way? They get in Criterion DVDs on occasion and sell them for $15 to $20. While I haven't seen any Blu-ray Criterions float through there yet, it's only a matter of time!
If there aren't any CD Warehouses in Erie, the closest I know of would be in Monroeville, on the William Penn Highway (Route 22, I believe). Probably about 1 1/2 hours each way for you. Plus ,you can tour historic Monroeville, the setting for numerous zombie films, and, most recently, Zack and Miri Make a Porno.
Just depressed the hell out outta me to see someone giving up criterions.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by zedd_117

Beta Man, don't give up the Criterion dream! Buy 'em used. I see your from Lake Erie, I'm from south of Pittsburgh. Do they have CD Warehouses up your way? They get in Criterion DVDs on occasion and sell them for $15 to $20. While I haven't seen any Blu-ray Criterions float through there yet, it's only a matter of time!
If there aren't any CD Warehouses in Erie, the closest I know of would be in Monroeville, on the William Penn Highway (Route 22, I believe). Probably about 1 1/2 hours each way for you. Plus ,you can tour historic Monroeville, the setting for numerous zombie films, and, most recently, Zack and Miri Make a Porno.
Just depressed the hell out outta me to see someone giving up criterions.

I'm in Cleveland (west suburb within walking distance of Cleveland actually)

I go to a place called "Buyback$" and it's pretty good... lots of blu-rays, but they're hit or miss, and I am finished double-dipping, so I don't want to keep purchasing DVDs...... I tossed around the idea of selling mine, but I could never do such a thing!!!!!!

[zedd_117]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

I'm in Cleveland (west suburb within walking distance of Cleveland actually)

I go to a place called "Buyback$" and it's pretty good... lots of blu-rays, but they're hit or miss, and I am finished double-dipping, so I don't want to keep purchasing DVDs...... I tossed around the idea of selling mine, but I could never do such a thing!!!!!!

Oh, I see now. I thought you were not buying anymore criterion titles period, but it seems your just giving up on the DVD side. Probably a smart idea.
Me, I'm not that intelligent. I look at the Laserdiscs that Criterion released in comparison to it's DVD collection, and to me there are quite a few titles that have yet to be re-released on DVD. I'd hate to think the same will happen between DVD and Blu-ray.
Glad to hear our not giving up!

[bgb]

I'm a Criterion/Janus film junkie from way back. I can't justify re-buying the same titles I already own. Most regular Criterion/Janus DVD's show great as is. I would watch the new Criterion blu-ray releases if someone close to me had some of them. I have a couple dozen non-Criterion blu's that I got for cheap, like the Blade Runner collection. They're nice I suppose, but nothing earthshaking. I'll take content over technology anytime, and if I were wealthy I might just go for both. BTW Criterion fans: if you haven't seen "Knife in the Water" with the included short films Roman made while a film student - do!

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by bgb

I have a couple dozen blu's that I got for cheap, like the Blade Runner collection. They're nice I suppose, but nothing earthshaking.

really? Bladerunner is is STUNNING.

Either way.... I think the Film itself is first and foremost.... but once I made the leap to the 106" screen, the increase in resolution is worth the extra cost (plus the audio is fantastic..... The Third Man's audio track keeps me on the edge of my seat)

[bgb]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

really? Bladerunner is is STUNNING.

Either way.... I think the Film itself is first and foremost.... but once I made the leap to the 106" screen, the increase in resolution is worth the extra cost (plus the audio is fantastic..... The Third Man's audio track keeps me on the edge of my seat)

Don't get me wrong Beta Man, I love Bladerunner. Rutger Hauer's closing dialogue caps a fine Ridley Scott movie. I'm just saying I go for the content over the format. It looked nice in BR. I liked RH in Agent of Orange as well. If you can have the best format and the best content - why not if you've got the bucks. I really don't on fixed income these days. I'm watching my expenditures more than in the past.

[Beta Man]

was looking up a prenatal yoga video for the wife, and found DVDempire has all of the released Criterions for $25, and the pre-orders for $28.50 or so...

EDIT:

Search results.....

http://www.dvdempire.com/Exec/v5_sea...arch_refined=0

[kndy]

Figured I'd post on this thread, since I'm a big Criterion fan. My first Criterion purchase on LD was "Supercop" but the first one I watched that led me to start purchasing Criterion releases was "Hard Boiled". In fact, part of me still feels like purchasing Criterion LD's because they are cheap...

On DVD, my first Criterion purchase was the first release of "Seven Samurai" (or maybe it was "Armageddon").

And for Blu-ray, my first purchase was "Chung King Express" but I also have "The Third Man", "Bottle Rocket", "El Norte" and "The Last Metro".

As for purchases, there are really three sources that I look at movies I will probably purchase without having to refer to rottentomatoes.com, a film book ala Leonard Maltin's books no matter what and that is the American Film Institute (AFI), British Film Institute (BFI) recommendations and Criterion releases.

I haven't been disappointed yet with Criterion releases. And if anything, unlike AFI or BFI picks with films I am familiar with, Criterion releases are typically films that I never watched or heard of. So, I'm always excited to see why they chose that film and learning why.

In a way, I have always looked at Criterion releases for a certain group of cinema fans. Those who are passionate about film may they be popular films, classics, International films to Indie films that were rejected by a major film festival(s) or test screeners/viewers but overtime became cult hits.

But I dig Criterion releases and thanks to the OP for creating the thread!

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by kndy

I haven't been disappointed yet with Criterion releases. And if anything, unlike AFI or BFI picks with films I am familiar with, Criterion releases are typically films that I never watched or heard of. !

I got "hooked" on Criterion for the simple fact that I ended up not only watching, but repeatedly showing many of these "unknown gems" to family and friends......... Someone mentioned that they didn't like "Fat Girl" earlier in this thread..... well, I always thought of it as a great character study..... sure it's "odd" at times.... but that's what makes it great..... many mainstream films are "odd" but have gained wide success.... I just think many of the art-house films didn't benefit from the wide range of publication....

either way.... I have a long time until family/friends will "catch up" with Blu-ray, so I will continue to build my collection, and loan them out when the time comes ..... (movies like "Fat Girl" aren't necessarily the ones you invite friends over to watch in your home...... )

The 7 Samurai, Hidden Fortress, Ran etc... all looked "acceptable" but I can't wait to see the condition of the masters on these...... plus breathing new life into the audio tracks is going to be a real treat I'm sure!


I am constantly finding new movies I have never heard of popping up on Criterion's release-list..... I rarely say "wow that movie had no point"

[bgb]

Twenty-seven years ago I acquired a beautiful samurai sword from an ex-girlfriends father who brought it back from his service in WWII. I loved Japanese film even then, and that hasn't changed. Mizoguchi, Kobayashi, Kurosawa, Ozu, etc. Wonderful films to be enjoyed again and again. Most film viewers these days have discovered the "Samurai thing" for the first time from Taranteno's mash-ups. Just as with America's discovery of good cuisine from around the globe, I believe the easy access to foreign films (through services like Netflix) have allowed Americans to expand their film viewing horizons. Now if I only could convince more young people to watch Bergman. All in good time I suppose

[zedd_117]

Originally Posted by bgb

Twenty-seven years ago I acquired a beautiful samurai sword from an ex-girlfriends father who brought it back from his service in WWII. I loved Japanese film even then, and that hasn't changed. Mizoguchi, Kobayashi, Kurosawa, Ozu, etc. Wonderful films to be enjoyed again and again. Most film viewers these days have discovered the "Samurai thing" for the first time from Taranteno's mash-ups. Just as with America's discovery of good cuisine from around the globe, I believe the easy access to foreign films (through services like Netflix) have allowed Americans to expand their film viewing horizons. Now if I only could convince more young people to watch Bergman. All in good time I suppose

I agree whole-heartedly with you. I think the biggest problem we face today is the invasion of Multi-plexes. Seriously think about it, you want to see what's the latest and greatest that Hollywood has to offer they are great. If you want to see some classic cinema on a big screen, you'll never see that at a Carmike, Lowes, or AMD.
Where I live there is nothing around as far as movie theaters go. I have to drive at least 25 to 30 miles to find one. There's an abandoned theatre a few towns over that I think would be perfect for showing cinema classics. However it's been shut-down for years and even before that it was demolished on the inside by the local youths...
I don't know though...with the right amount of money and if you could somehow keep the vandals out, it would make a nice old-fashioned theatre. Maybe even make it like a dinner theatre, put a kitchen in the basment and have tables and chairs instead of regular movie theatre seating.
If Criterion's out there listening, I'd be more than happy to give them directions to the place!

[Beta Man]

We have a lot of theaters nearby, but I don't go to any of them..... haven't been to a theater in probably 7 years or so.... either way, we do have a "Cinema-grille" that I always think about taking the wife too.... but since I'm usually the one urging her to watch movies at home, when it's time to go out, "Movies" are the last thing she wants to do

[SquidPuppet]

OK all you Criterion afficianados, any word on Metropolis? We heard a few months ago that some lost footage was found and that a deal was struck with the owners of said footage...so? Whats the skinny? Rumors? Dates?