The Criterion Collection

[odessasteps 11,437]

I guess we never revived this thread.

 

TODAY'S GREAT NEWS

 

www.criterion.com/films/28565-fantastic-mr-fox

 

SPINE 700~!

[Control 798]

Since you've posted this, Barnes & Noble's 50% off Criterion sale is still going on. You can get that massive ZATOICHI set for $113. I've been meaning to pick up ROSEMARY'S BABY and THE DEVIL'S BACKBONE for a while now.

[jaedmc 6,357]

I hit up my nearest B&N Wednesday and got Blus of The Rules of the Game, La Notte, and Sweet Smell of Success. Also Seijun Suzuki's Story of a Prostitute on DVD.

Right now I'm on a countdown till Throne of Blood hits bluray. One of favorite movies?

[Phantom Lord 1,483]

In January there's a stacked Blu Ray/DVD of It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World from Criterion coming out. That one I can't wait to get.

[The Damn Yeti 155]

Took a family photo after some more members arrived from the B&N sale.

 

[Burgundy LaRue 4,439]

OOOOOOHHHHH, pretty!

 

Maybe if I ever buy shelves for my collection, I'll post a pic.

[odessasteps 11,437]

I used to be such a completist when i worked at borders.

But now, without a discount and the rate of releases, ...

[Burgundy LaRue 4,439]

Even for quality films, it's hard to justify paying $40 per disc.  It's easier to wait for B&N's specials and Criterion's own flash sales.  It's why I enjoy the Eclipse collections so much--good films for reasonable prices.

[The Damn Yeti 155]

I haven't purchased outside of a B&N or flash sale for a few years.  My in-laws also go pretty nuts clearing out my Amazon wishlist (which is pretty much all Criterion stuff) for Christmas.  Not purchasing any other blu-rays or dvds for a few years helps too.  Everything else is either on Netflix or HBO at this point.  There's just too much availability to everything anymore.  I'd love to go back to high school and tell myself that one day I'd be bitching about having access to more media than I could consume.

[Burgundy LaRue 4,439]

Flash sale at the Criterion website.  50% off with MADFOX.

[jaedmc 6,357]

I don't even know what to do.

 

I have money I've been saving for such an event. Now that it's here I got no idea wha'ts most important. Ugggggggh

[The Damn Yeti 155]

I was going to pass, but buckled and got Fantastic Mr. Fox, Throne of Blood, and Foreign Correspondent 

[Burgundy LaRue 4,439]

I should stop buying movies for a long while, as I tend not to watch them and I don't remotely organize them.  It's wasted money, buying just for the sake of it isn't my intent.

 

I went with Throne of Blood, Blue is the Warmest Color, Rififi, and the Eclipse Early Fassbinder set.

[jaedmc 6,357]

Throne of Blood sold out. Fuck everything.

[Burgundy LaRue 4,439]

*Yeti and BLR break out sad trombone music for Admin Jae*

 

Waa-waa-WAAAAA!  Can't win them all! Unlike us!

[jaedmc 6,357]

Man. I almost went with the Zatoichi set. Next sale - that's happening. Instead I went with some variety:

 

Seventh Seal

Great Dictator

Lubitsch Musicals Eclipse Set

Oshima 60's Eclipse Set

Beauty and the Beast

[J.H. 1,642]

I finally got The Seven Samurai blu-ray that has been taunting me since it got released. With Shipping the total was $30. Not bad for my first Criterion Collection purchase!

 

James

[jaedmc 6,357]

Goooooood call on Seven Samurai. I have the DVD set and it's fantastic.

[The Damn Yeti 155]

Man. I almost went with the Zatoichi set. Next sale - that's happening. Instead I went with some variety:

 

Seventh Seal

Great Dictator

Lubitsch Musicals Eclipse Set

Oshima 60's Eclipse Set

Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast is outrageously good. The practical effects are beautiful and spooky, and the alternate orchestra audio is a great second watch.

[jaedmc 6,357]

I just watched it for the first time a week or so ago. It was the older DVD copy. It blew my fucking mind. Gorgeous, hypnotic, frightening. It's about as perfect as it gets.

[Swiftian 1,294]

Salo

Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion

The Double Life Of Veronique

Island of Lost Souls

Naked Lunch

Close-Up

 

I probably shouldn't have bought any. I've still barely gotten through the last bunch I bought in the BN sale. It's just too good a deal to pass up though.

[Burgundy LaRue 4,439]

Lubitsch Musicals Eclipse Set

 

I've thought about getting that set, but I know little about musicals in general and even less about Lubitsch musicals, so I always pass on them.

[jaedmc 6,357]

For one, I don't like Musicals. 

I've seen two of the movies on the set, The Smiling Lieutenant and Monte Carlo. They're full of wit, well written sexual innuendo, and that old school charm and class. The songs are rarely huge numbers and last a short while. If one were to gauge, I'd say they're more like The Wizard of Oz or Willy Wonka and the Chocolate factory in this respect, where the songs are cute, but the other stuff in the film is more important. They're genuinely romantic films, and have some great jokes and dramatic arcs. The Smiling Lieutenant actually has a very twisty ending that feels like a gag on the audience, but works at the same time, while commenting on female empowerment. And as far as I can tell women have great roles in films. Monte Carlo, which I just watched recently, has an opening wedding sequence that is fucking hilarious. Also it was the first time that I could see an obvious influence on Wes Anderson.

 

He's just the bees knees, and so far I haven't been disappointed. His silent film, The Doll, which is on Netflix Instant is also really good and funny.

[The Damn Yeti 155]

Lubitsch's Design for Living & To Be or Not To Be are some of my favorite films in the collection.  Riotously funny, and the sexuality is handled as well as any films from the Code era.  I've not seen his musicals, but those sound very intriguing.

[jaedmc 6,357]

Did anyone else see in the Flash Sale email that 20 customers will get an evelope with a ticket inside? The tickets might be for general Criterion Swag, but the grand prize is: "a virtual shopping spree via webcam to the Criterion product closet in our New York City office!"

 

I hope at least one of us gets a cool ticket.

 

Also Scorsese is the newest Top 10 Lister: http://www.criterion.com/explore/214-martin-scorsese-s-top-10