― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Sunday, 12 January 2003 22:46 (twenty-one years ago) link
High and Low, one of my favorite s, looks *fantastic*.
― gabbneb, Sunday, 12 January 2003 23:02 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Ally (mlescaut), Sunday, 12 January 2003 23:04 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Sean (Sean), Sunday, 12 January 2003 23:09 (twenty-one years ago) link
― ryan, Monday, 13 January 2003 01:18 (twenty-one years ago) link
I keep thinking about picking up the CC version of 'The Rock' because I wonder WTF every time I see it and my curiosity just keeps growing and growing.
Also: Tokyo Drifter. Fucking GREBT or whatever the kids are saying these days. I wish CC would go back and do all of Wong Kar Wai's flicks. And some anime, too.
― Tom Millar (Millar), Monday, 13 January 2003 01:34 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Leee (Leee), Monday, 13 January 2003 01:50 (twenty-one years ago) link
I'd also recommend the new Trouble in Paradise Criterion DVD as it is not only a wonderful film, but an additional Lubitsch film (a silent one) is tacked on. Likewise Under the Roofs of Paris: a great film, and the DVD also includes René Clair's Paris qui dort. Really it depends what your tastes are. My favorite Criterion is the Dreyer box set, but I understand many people would find his later films too slow, or what have you.
If you see the three Jacques Tati Criterions, snatch them up. They are not only wonderfully films and nice DVDs (all with additional short Tati films), but they are now '"rare," having recently gone out of print.
Also, be on the lookout for a 2-DVD set of films by Stan Brakhage, coming out in February I believe.
― Amateurist (amateurist), Monday, 13 January 2003 03:11 (twenty-one years ago) link
― jm (jtm), Monday, 13 January 2003 05:06 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Nicole (Nicole), Monday, 13 January 2003 05:08 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Nick A. (Nick A.), Monday, 13 January 2003 17:01 (twenty-one years ago) link
Also love Sullivan's Travels, Hidden Fortress, Le Trou, Le Million and Vagabond. I AM PSYCHED to see that they're releasing Band Of Outsiders
― Chris Barrus (xibalba), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 00:01 (twenty-one years ago) link
― gygax!, Tuesday, 14 January 2003 00:18 (twenty-one years ago) link
1) Kurosawa's "Ikiru"2) Bunuels's "Exterminating Angel"3) Powell & Pressburger's "Tales of Hoffman"
and (not that it will ever happen, but...) Peckinpah's "Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia".
― Joe (Joe), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 00:44 (twenty-one years ago) link
hmm. why not? I wouldn't be surprised at all if this were Criterion'd.
― gabbneb, Tuesday, 14 January 2003 08:20 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Amateurist (amateurist), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 16:23 (twenty-one years ago) link
Pretty much my thought. To my sheer delight, I've been able to find a number of Critierion releases used...at a local outlet of the Wherehouse, no less! (Picked up Black Orpheus there recently.) This is especially important in that the one problem with the company are their ridiculously high prices new -- have they ever offered an explanation as to why? I've seen just as fine discs (mastering, bonus stuff, etc.) from small companies at much cheaper prices.
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 16:27 (twenty-one years ago) link
Because the expense of licensing the films, obtaining the best available prints, doing digital restoration, etc. is very high. Not to mention hiring someone to do new subtitles as they often do, plus all the bonus materials that come with many of their releases. I think their DVDs look and sound on average much nicer than those from such companies as Fantoma, etc. I think Fantoma tends to license more obscure films, and the costs are lower as a result. Anyway, Criterions aren't really much more expensive than, say, Kino's DVDs, which tend to be mastered poorly by comparison.
― Amateurist (amateurist), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 16:43 (twenty-one years ago) link
― maura (maura), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 19:18 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 14 January 2003 19:46 (twenty-one years ago) link
Believe it or not, Ikiru and Tales of Hoffmann are each set to be released sometime in the next 18 months.
― Girolamo Savonarola, Monday, 14 July 2003 17:32 (twenty years ago) link
― Jay Vee (Manon_70), Monday, 14 July 2003 20:38 (twenty years ago) link
― s1utsky (slutsky), Monday, 14 July 2003 20:40 (twenty years ago) link
― amateurist (amateurist), Monday, 14 July 2003 20:41 (twenty years ago) link
― s1utsky (slutsky), Monday, 14 July 2003 20:43 (twenty years ago) link
― Millar (Millar), Monday, 14 July 2003 20:44 (twenty years ago) link
― Girolamo Savonarola, Monday, 14 July 2003 20:49 (twenty years ago) link
(*crossing fingers* Now, you know I'm hoping my luck holds and I get the job I'm up for, just so I can say I've a budget to break!)
― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Monday, 14 July 2003 20:53 (twenty years ago) link
Oh, beyond sweet.
Recheck that catalog again, Nichole -- Sid and Nancy has been OOP for a while. There are a number of DVDs no longer available (the John Woo selections, the original Spinal Tap release)...
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 14 July 2003 21:45 (twenty years ago) link
― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Monday, 14 July 2003 22:24 (twenty years ago) link
my faves arecontemptband of outsidershiroshima, mon amourdiscreet charm of the Bourgeoisiegeorge washingtonratcatcher
i am sure there are more i cant think of
― todd swiss (eliti), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 02:12 (twenty years ago) link
― ryan (ryan), Tuesday, 15 July 2003 02:27 (twenty years ago) link
According to the CC discussion board, they might re-release The Seven Samurai as a 2-disc (from better sources), which is both great news and sucky news 'cause I HAVE THE OLD ONE-DISC, DAMMIT.
I really love the Brakhage collection, more than I thought I would (though I might never watch The Act of Seeing... ever again, except to gross people out, which actually I did a few days ago). If you take stills from Dog Star Man, then you have a year's worth of 4AD album covers (and that year would be 1984). According to Brakhage, Eye Myth was made over the course of one year. One year! For a 9 second film! The transfer looks great, but maybe some of the source materials could've been in better shape. I mean, Mothlight had all sorts of crud on the film that they didn't sweep off, like grass, insect parts, etc.! (heh. *grin*)
― Ernest P. (ernestp), Friday, 2 January 2004 07:56 (twenty years ago) link
― dean gulberry (deangulberry), Friday, 2 January 2004 08:20 (twenty years ago) link
Aside from a few commentaries and making-ofs - especially if it's an in-depth thing, like the Three Colors trilogy - I don't care about extras. I'd much rather have a $24.95 one-disc version of Brazil w/ the Criterion transfer and a commentary or two than the $50+ three-disc box set.
― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Friday, 2 January 2004 08:42 (twenty years ago) link
― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Friday, 2 January 2004 08:50 (twenty years ago) link
the criterion release i saw most recently (and loved more than anything i've seen lately): band of outsiders
― J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Friday, 2 January 2004 09:03 (twenty years ago) link
I've had ridiculous luck with a number of Criterion releases turning up used in my neck of the woods -- most recently, Andrei Rublev and The Third Man.
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 2 January 2004 14:43 (twenty years ago) link
― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 2 January 2004 16:58 (twenty years ago) link
As for prices/extras: keep in mind that Criterion has to license the rights to these films and then does their best to work with the top of the line prints, people, and equipment to make the best transfers possible. This costs a lot of money for discs that generally don't exactly fly off of a standard retailer's shelves. That is why the discs are expensive, not the extras. The extras are added both because the hard-core cineastes appreciate them and because they help justify the price a bit more. But most of those extras cost very little extra to produce or obtain. It's the transfers themselves that are the largest expense. Take Playtime, for example. It's going to be re-released in a few months, but the delay is because they have finally gained access to a 65mm telecine machine - something that is extremely rare and not at all cheap. The transfer will be that much better for it, but if you think that the CC is raking in the dough, I can assure you that they are not.
That all being said, don't trust the prices on the official site. I highly recommend buying through Deep Discount DVD, who generally have the best prices on most titles and offer free US shipping.
Oh, and just as a matter of point, Straw Dogs also just went out of print last week.
― Girolamo Savonarola, Saturday, 3 January 2004 00:35 (twenty years ago) link
― amateur!!st, Wednesday, 1 September 2004 19:26 (nineteen years ago) link
My girlfriend gave me Criterion's Band of Outsiders for our 4-year anniversary. Great gift.
― webcrack (music=crack), Wednesday, 1 September 2004 20:27 (nineteen years ago) link
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 1 September 2004 20:43 (nineteen years ago) link
― amateur!!st, Wednesday, 1 September 2004 20:46 (nineteen years ago) link
― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 1 September 2004 21:01 (nineteen years ago) link
― Gear! (Gear!), Wednesday, 1 September 2004 21:03 (nineteen years ago) link
Steven Seagal: auteur.
― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Wednesday, 1 September 2004 21:03 (nineteen years ago) link
― amateur!!st, Wednesday, 1 September 2004 21:04 (nineteen years ago) link
― big chaki (chaki), Wednesday, 1 September 2004 21:33 (nineteen years ago) link
I definitely get this last point; at the same time, I question the stability of streaming. I'd rather have a nice little bank of things to hand.
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 28 February 2024 16:33 (two months ago) link
xps For vintage films shot in 35mm (as well as any smaller formats like 16mm), UHD is pretty close to the limit of what's feasible. For a lot of reasons both technical and economic, I can't imagine it getting superseded by a different physical product. More likely, any more advances in home viewing are going to be in streaming or in new technology that are more applicable to new films rather than older films (not unless there's a revisionist fad similar to 3D). But even then, having a physical library doesn't become obsolete because there's still the big question of availability, and the studios have made it painfully clear that they have no interest in making a comprehensive library available to consumers. If it wasn't for boutiques like Criterion or Milestone, it's hard seeing anyone making the effort to restore and distribute such films as Nothing But a Man or the three Ousmane Sembène that are scheduled for release.
― birdistheword, Wednesday, 28 February 2024 16:39 (two months ago) link
This was posted elsewhere, but this is one reason why UHD is likely the last "disc" format for home viewing - he was talking about why scratches become more and more problematic when you go from CD to DVD to Blu-ray and now UHD (the reason why the last two formats have such thick scratch-resistant coats):
"This is exactly why pressed QL 128GB media would never have gotten off the ground, even if they could get the yields up the discs would be so error-prone in real world usage that it's just not worth it. So if we are to get another disc format after this then it won't be an extension of the BD spec like UHD was, it'll have to be a brand new piece of tech. And I can't see anyone bothering to design a new robust high capacity format for what will be a niche of a niche of a niche, but that's just me."
― birdistheword, Wednesday, 28 February 2024 16:45 (two months ago) link
I always quixotically assume that there will arrive some day where I'm able to just sit down any given day and watch 2, maybe 3 movies ... and then do it again the next day. That's not my life, hasn't been my life since I was in my early 20s, and probably won't be my life again for quite some time. But I continue to hope.
― Rich E. (Eric H.), Wednesday, 28 February 2024 16:46 (two months ago) link
I know what you mean - a reason why the Criterion discs hold up better for rewatching is the bonus material, and often times, those are things I can play as I'm doing other things like housework. I don't like watching a movie while, say, mopping the floors or cooking a meal, but if I'm running the audio commentary or a making of doc, that's totally fine, I don't need to watch the screen every second or hear the audio in silence.
― birdistheword, Wednesday, 28 February 2024 16:50 (two months ago) link
― Rich E. (Eric H.), Wednesday, February 28, 2024 11:46 AM (thirty minutes ago)
lol the imaginary me who somehow enjoys all my physical media has such a cool life
― rob, Wednesday, 28 February 2024 17:18 (two months ago) link
I can think of worse movies to be traumatized by your babysitter with than Carnival of Soulshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANxxsFUojco
― Philip Nunez, Wednesday, 28 February 2024 18:08 (two months ago) link
xp128GB USB flash drives are now about $10-15 each (just googled it), so that could replace disks.
― nickn, Wednesday, 28 February 2024 18:47 (two months ago) link
I can lose a whole evening just trying to decide what to watch.
― Chris L, Wednesday, 28 February 2024 19:46 (two months ago) link
The number of Golden Girls episodes I use to stall while mulling whether I should tackle Tarr's Damnation, Damon Packard's Fatal Pulse or three unseen Fassbinders is considerable
― Rich E. (Eric H.), Wednesday, 28 February 2024 19:52 (two months ago) link
re: flash drives, I actually listen to hi-res music that way. Put the FLAC's on a flash drive, organized in a folder, plug it into my Oppo, select that folder, and it just plays. I still prefer a disc though which is more user friendly.
― birdistheword, Wednesday, 28 February 2024 20:03 (two months ago) link
Terrible timing for this big NYT feature to run after the flash sale but hey (gift link). Michael Bay will not surprise you. Neither will Wes Anderson.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/29/magazine/criterion-collection.html?unlocked_article_code=1.ZE0.Rm7i.80CdVj5IE1Sl
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 29 February 2024 15:54 (two months ago) link
meanwhile, who scored the complete Kate & Allie DVD box? you're looking at him!
― scott seward, Thursday, 29 February 2024 16:12 (two months ago) link
Anderson, who asked that verbal tics like “uh” and “um” not be excised from his quotes ...
― TO BE A JAZZ SINGER YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SCAT (Jazzbo), Thursday, 29 February 2024 17:13 (two months ago) link
Really puts his whole deal into sharp focus there
― Rich E. (Eric H.), Thursday, 29 February 2024 17:24 (two months ago) link
Not Wes, his brother!
― Nhex, Thursday, 29 February 2024 18:36 (two months ago) link
“I learned it from you, bro!”
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 29 February 2024 18:47 (two months ago) link
modified all region 4K player
― assert (matttkkkk), Friday, 1 March 2024 00:06 (two months ago) link
and not to brag but a certain someone DID also recently score a SEALED DVD box of the complete run of The Facts of Life. that someone? it was me! that someone was me!
― scott seward, Friday, 1 March 2024 01:03 (two months ago) link
xpost -- good thing too! (I hadn't had a 4K player before this, so it was a good investment all around.)
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 1 March 2024 01:24 (two months ago) link
The all-region part, of course, is still pretty handy for the old Blu-rays if you've started collecting those from multiple regions
― Rich E. (Eric H.), Friday, 1 March 2024 01:41 (two months ago) link
Especially if you live in a region B backwater like me. One of our chain stores was doing a clearance on budget bluray players which were all-region DVD and menu-switchable for BD regions, I bought 3 so if one fails I have a backup. About 30% of my collection is region A and my Sony 4K player is hard locked to region B BD, region 4 DVD (which I believe is illegal in Aus, but whatever).
― assert (matttkkkk), Friday, 1 March 2024 01:55 (two months ago) link
Yeah my player automatically plays any region DVD and Blu-rays, just have to select a button on the remote. A saviour.
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 1 March 2024 04:02 (two months ago) link
(Should be a comma after 'DVD' there. You get the drift.)
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 1 March 2024 04:04 (two months ago) link
on brand Wes Anderson from that NYTimes article
Anderson, who asked that verbal tics like “uh” and “um” not be excised from his quotes, told me that he had always admired how Criterion covers tended to be “more adventurous than, uh, what a movie studio would be inclined to go with.”
― Western® with Bacon Flavor, Friday, 1 March 2024 04:19 (two months ago) link
I'd argue Region B is actually a better region than A to be in these days! But yeah I own a multi region player.
― Daniel_Rf, Friday, 1 March 2024 10:46 (two months ago) link
There are even region B Criterion discs, I own a couple
― assert (matttkkkk), Friday, 1 March 2024 11:31 (two months ago) link
In 'not at all of interest to ivy and others' news, some of the forthcoming releases in June:
https://www.criterion.com/films/33670-bound
https://www.criterion.com/films/27974-querelle
https://www.criterion.com/films/33289-victims-of-sin
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 15 March 2024 16:35 (one month ago) link
yessss Bound
― I painted my teeth (sleeve), Friday, 15 March 2024 16:37 (one month ago) link
Another good batch for July:
https://www.criterion.com/shop/browse?popular=coming-soon
Preordered Perfect Days, Le Samourai, Farewell My Concubine and Black God, White Devil.
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 15 April 2024 17:31 (three weeks ago) link
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSD7Kpr7XxqaxyAFSU1wvyiMczNIA7oZGQJUKnZdksDPg&s
"Whatta 'bout me, Ned?"
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 15 April 2024 17:36 (three weeks ago) link
I have no thoughts on the matter.
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 15 April 2024 17:43 (three weeks ago) link
That's a helluva set for a movie I have almost no interest in owning
― Rich E. (Eric H.), Monday, 15 April 2024 17:48 (three weeks ago) link
XP Haha, I already forgot they were also doing Risky Business too...thought it was funny you were slighting just one title.
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 15 April 2024 17:49 (three weeks ago) link
https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/438230209_7400901270037141_1008300569344314893_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5f2048&_nc_ohc=tDQpJPz8oUcQ7kNvgHxykhl&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&oh=00_AfD_BWMLDkJ0T-PUWPqIj8d50RwjsT4vY9cJ-_p7XmUR8g&oe=66375592
https://bit.ly/3JH5BYg
― Ippei's on a bummer now (WmC), Wednesday, 1 May 2024 01:13 (five days ago) link
what's a charter subscriber? like the channel?
― a (waterface), Wednesday, 1 May 2024 13:37 (five days ago) link
People who signed up when it first launched.
― Chris L, Wednesday, 1 May 2024 13:42 (five days ago) link
i'm not sure but in 2018 I got an email about being a charter subscriber and have been one since. I think it was from people who had filmstruck subscriptions and then became initial members of the Criterion channel?
― dan selzer, Wednesday, 1 May 2024 13:43 (five days ago) link
Kerry Condon being brill in the Criterion Closet...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kII05HTS6c
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 1 May 2024 14:07 (five days ago) link
Would almost rather they held contests tho for people to do raids of the Criterion closet like notables do on their YT channel.― Norse Jung (Eric H.), Monday, September 28, 2015 4:40 PM (eight years ago) bookmarkflaglink"Stand in the same spot as Michael Cera!"― Love, Wilco (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, September 28, 2015 5:02 PM (eight years ago) bookmarkflaglink
― Norse Jung (Eric H.), Monday, September 28, 2015 4:40 PM (eight years ago) bookmarkflaglink
"Stand in the same spot as Michael Cera!"
― Love, Wilco (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, September 28, 2015 5:02 PM (eight years ago) bookmarkflaglink
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 1 May 2024 14:31 (five days ago) link
Charter members are ones who got a membership in the first month. I got a membership card for being subbed for the first 3 months.
― adam t. (abanana), Wednesday, 1 May 2024 14:47 (five days ago) link
All right, I joined in out of the gate, I can enter. And I will!
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 1 May 2024 14:57 (five days ago) link
<You Will Stand In The Same Spot As Michael Cera!>
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 1 May 2024 15:00 (five days ago) link
Have I mentioned lately that I've been in the closet and got Night of the Hunter blu-ray?
― dan selzer, Wednesday, 1 May 2024 15:57 (five days ago) link
Thievery. You broke in under cover of night. (Well maybe not.)
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 1 May 2024 16:05 (five days ago) link
I entered too but honestly I would pay good money to hack it so Ned wins
― Rich E. (Eric H.), Wednesday, 1 May 2024 16:10 (five days ago) link