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FitFortDanga
Nov 19, 2004

Nice try, asshole

The old thread didn't come up in a search, so let's start a new one.

The new newsletter says "MORE OLIVIER... NOW IN EXOTIC FLANNELS!" I don't know if the "flannels" refers to the Olivier or if it's something else.

And this might interest vertov: Guy Maddin lists his 10 favorite Criterion DVDs:

1. Forbidden Games (René Clément)
2. Day of Wrath (Carl Theodor Dreyer)
3. Umberto D. (Vittorio De Sica)
4. Grey Gardens (Maysles brothers)
5. Pandora’s Box (G. W. Pabst)
6. I vitelloni (Federico Fellini)
7. Ivan the Terrible, Parts I & II (Sergei Eisenstein)
8. Black Narcissus (Michael Powell)
9. Written on the Wind (Douglas Sirk)
10. Häxan (Benjamin Christensen)

Kind of a blah selection, if you ask me. Some good movies there, but none that I would count among my favorites.

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TheSwami
Sep 25, 2004
<img src="https://fi.somethingawful.com/customtitles/title-theswami-14.jpg"><br><i>hello old friend</i>
Hey, Ivan the Terrible. I've always wanted to see that. Has anyone else seen it? Is it worth shelling out for the Criterion?

Mr Wind Up Bird
Jan 23, 2004

i'm a goddamn coward
but then again so are you
I really liked Black Narcissus but Häxan was mega boring.

Og Oggilby
Feb 12, 2005
It's pretty obvious that the new Oliver is 49th Parallel.

FitFortDanga
Nov 19, 2004

Nice try, asshole

TheSwami posted:

Hey, Ivan the Terrible. I've always wanted to see that. Has anyone else seen it? Is it worth shelling out for the Criterion?

It's Eisenstein, so there's a lot of stunning images. But plotwise it's on the slow and boring side.

Criminal Minded
Jan 4, 2005

Spring break forever
I just got the new Seven Samurai yesterday, and Netflix sent me Tokyo Drifter, so I'll watch one or the other tonight, probably the former.

Forneus
Jul 12, 2006
I ordered the new edition of Seven Samurai a couple days ago from DVD Pacific, I can't loving wait.

And to not turn this into a zero post I've got a quick question. This is my first Criterion DVD, what's the packaging usually like on them? I'm wagering it's not your run-of-the-mill keep case with the occasional booklet thrown in. :)

LordEvilElmo
Feb 8, 2004

The box... Says no

Forneus posted:

what's the packaging usually like on them?

I have the 3 Disc version of Seven Samurai - it is a cardboard sleeve(Kind of rustic/recycled in style), very well designed and looks beautiful on your shelves. If packaging is your thing, you're in for a treat! The set itself is magnificent - the restoration is great and it is the full length version.

Harmonica
May 18, 2004

il cinema è la vita e viceversa
Someone explain to me the obsession with Criterions, and the high prices. I've watched a whole bunch of them and the larger part are average-to-good transfers, quite a few are muddy and horrible, and only a few (The Rock, Naked Lunch) are amazing.

Seems a bit too hit or miss for a brand that's meant to resound with quality.

Cacator
Aug 6, 2005

You're quite good at turning me on.

Harmonica posted:

Someone explain to me the obsession with Criterions, and the high prices. I've watched a whole bunch of them and the larger part are average-to-good transfers, quite a few are muddy and horrible, and only a few (The Rock, Naked Lunch) are amazing.

Seems a bit too hit or miss for a brand that's meant to resound with quality.

Well obviously the transfers for The Rock or Naked Lunch would be better, they are more recent films. Take a look at the DVD Beaver comparison for the new Seven Samurai, and don't tell me that you don't think the new transfer isn't anything short of incredible. The transfers on the older Criterions may be inferior (Branded to Kill is almost impossible to watch) but those were back in the late 90's. And if there is a lovely Criterion DVD, they will rerelease it, and it will be harder, better, faster, stronger.
Of all these Criterions that you watched, did you just watch the film itself and nothing else? The vast majority of them are absolutely packed with extras. Brazil, for example, has an alternate version of the film besides making-of featurettes. Two of my Criterions (The Vanishing and Sword of Doom) have no extras besides trailers, but I don't mind because the films are great on their own, and without Criterion I highly doubt that I'd have been able to see them.

As for the high prices, I would say it's due to the fact that Criterion isn't some major corporation, and so much more effort goes into making a Criterion DVD presentable compared to a normal one.
Wikipedia sez:

quote:

Criterion releases are aimed at the higher end of the market, customers who are willing to pay a higher price in return for a quality product. The price range as of 2006 is about US$30 for a one-disc set and US$40 for a two-disc set. Whether this pricing structure is due to increased costs necessary to ensure the best possible film elements and extras and to compensate for a smaller market for the titles it releases, or whether it is a means to capitalize on the cachet of its reputation has been debated. With an emphasis on quality over quantity, only a comparatively few films have been selected to be 'saved' by them.
The price may be influenced by the packaging. Criterion rejects flimsy cases and single-spine double disc boxes. Each disc is given its own chamber on multiple-disc editions (sometimes even their own separate snap case, like Brazil). Oftentimes, decorative sleeves and thick booklets accompany the movies.
Besides, you can buy them much cheaper online at stores like deep discount dvd, especially when there's a sale. I buy them in bulk :) And when you've got a bunch of them sitting on your shelf, they totally beat the poo poo out of the other DVDs by looks alone.

Cacator fucked around with this message at 07:33 on Oct 16, 2006

Og Oggilby
Feb 12, 2005

Harmonica posted:

Someone explain to me the obsession with Criterions, and the high prices. I've watched a whole bunch of them and the larger part are average-to-good transfers, quite a few are muddy and horrible, and only a few (The Rock, Naked Lunch) are amazing.

Seems a bit too hit or miss for a brand that's meant to resound with quality.

Give some examples? I know a lot of early releases aren't great, but every release I've seen from them since 2000 looks fantastic.

redrobotcore
Nov 30, 2003

Cacator posted:

Two of my Criterions (The Vanishing and Sword of Doom) have no extras besides trailers, but I don't mind because the films are great on their own, and without Criterion I highly doubt that I'd have been able to see them.

This extends beyond just what Criterion has to offer. By proving that a target audience like theirs is a viable one, Criterion not only created a market for (arguably) important lesser-known films on DVD, but also encourages competition from other publishers. Having practically invented the notion of extra features on LaserDisc over a decade a go, Criterion has influenced the evolution of the home video experience tremendously.

As the saying goes, competition is good for everyone. I can't help but think that without the influence of Criterion's vision of the home video experince, other publishers like Universal, Warner Brothers or Fox might not feel so inclined give as much attention to classic films as we are lucky to see now with terrific discs like the recent Double Indemnity release.

edit: :fappery:

redrobotcore fucked around with this message at 00:26 on Oct 15, 2006

Mister Kingdom
Dec 14, 2005

And the tears that fall
On the city wall
Will fade away
With the rays of morning light
I only have four Criterions: Brazil, Robocop, Silence of the Lambs, and Monty Python's Life of Brian, but I don't think they're worth much more than what I paid for them.

The outer box for the 3-disc Brazil set is a bit flimsy, but the content is fantastic.

Macrame_God
Sep 1, 2005

The stairs lead down in both directions.

Mister Kingdom posted:

I only have four Criterions: Brazil, Robocop, Silence of the Lambs, and Monty Python's Life of Brian, but I don't think they're worth much more than what I paid for them.

Unless you bought "Robocop" after it went out of print, I'd say you could get a pretty penny for it. Still, I wouldn't sell it.

The only two Criterions I have are "Seven Samurai" and "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas". Both excellent. I'd love to get my hands on "Haxan" though, especially with Halloween coming up.

Og Oggilby
Feb 12, 2005

redrobotcore posted:

This extends beyond just what Criterion has to offer. By proving that a target audience like theirs is a viable one, Criterion not only created a market for (arguably) important lesser-known films on DVD, but also encourages competition from other publishers. Having practically invented the notion of extra features on LaserDisc over a decade a go, Criterion has influenced the evolution of the home video experience tremendously.

As the saying goes, competition is good for everyone. I can't help but think that without the influence of Criterion's vision of the home video experince, other publishers like Universal, Warner Brothers or Fox might not feel so inclined give as much attention to classic films as we are lucky to see now with terrific discs like the recent Double Indemnity release.

edit: :fappery:

Along with Criterion, MGM/UA (which split into MGM and Turner... the latter going to WB), Fox, and Disney really kept up with the technology. In fact, MGM/UA collaborated often with Criterion.

zeroordie
Aug 27, 2004

For those of you looking to save a quick buck...

During the month of October, if you check out using GoogleCheckout, you get $10 off any $30 purchase.

So, place a second tier Criterion in your Cart at Dvdempire.com, click google checkout, follow the steps and viola, two-disc Criterions are $20.03.

This deal works on buy.com as well, where you'll be able to grab Seven Samurai at right around $23.

There doesnt seem to be any limit on how many orders you can place either.

Dr. Klahn
Nov 24, 2003

hi

TheSwami posted:

Hey, Ivan the Terrible. I've always wanted to see that. Has anyone else seen it? Is it worth shelling out for the Criterion?
It's definitely worth watching and is almost certainly the best film of his later period. I don't know the details about what DVD's are available, though, sorry.

Mister Kingdom
Dec 14, 2005

And the tears that fall
On the city wall
Will fade away
With the rays of morning light

Macrame_God posted:

Unless you bought "Robocop" after it went out of print, I'd say you could get a pretty penny for it. Still, I wouldn't sell it.

The only two Criterions I have are "Seven Samurai" and "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas". Both excellent. I'd love to get my hands on "Haxan" though, especially with Halloween coming up.

I bought Robocop when it first came out. Lucky me. :v:

vertov
Jun 14, 2003

hello

Dr. Klahn posted:

It's definitely worth watching and is almost certainly the best film of his later period. I don't know the details about what DVD's are available, though, sorry.

I really like Ivan as well (particularly part one), although given the cost of the box-set I would recommend renting the Image version through netflix first if you can. The video and sound quality aren't as good as the Criterion, and it uses the "Americanized" credit titles, but you still get the full film. I'm less enthusiastic about Nevsky, which is also included in the set.

bacon!
Dec 10, 2003

The fierce urgency of now
My best Criterion experience is with Do The Right Thing. The single disc, normal version is pretty terrible. This is one of my favorite films, and the Criterion edition has an entire second disc with essays and interviews and other special features. When you like a film enough to really analyze it, the expansive Criterions are invaluable. For other films, its often the only way to even watch it in our region. Le Samourai, for example.

Dem Bones
Feb 25, 2005
Listen, I didn't face ten long tours against the goddamn 'bots to come back home and lift baby weights.

zeroordie posted:

This deal works on buy.com as well, where you'll be able to grab Seven Samurai at right around $23.
I just tried this, and the Google Checkout button is greyed out with the message

quote:

We're sorry, one or more of the items in your basket do not allow the use of this service.
:smith:

zeroordie
Aug 27, 2004

Deathwind posted:

I just tried this, and the Google Checkout button is greyed out with the message
:smith:

I didn't realize then, but it's out of stock, once it gets back in stock it should work fine. The sale only works with currently in-stock items.

mikeraskol
May 3, 2006

Oh yeah. I was killing you.
I have the old, single disc Criterion of Seven Samurai. Is it worth the money to get the new Seven Samurai?

Og Oggilby
Feb 12, 2005

mikeraskol posted:

I have the old, single disc Criterion of Seven Samurai. Is it worth the money to get the new Seven Samurai?

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDCompare7/sevensamurai.htm

mikeraskol
May 3, 2006

Oh yeah. I was killing you.

Yeah, definitely going to have to pay the money for that. Thank god for the 10 dollar off google checkout thing.

FitFortDanga
Nov 19, 2004

Nice try, asshole

#364: Monsters and Madmen



Launching us from a grave past to a space-age future, these two thrilling double features, from producers Richard and Alex Gordon, spin classic tales of hair-raising homicidal mania and intrepid, death-defying exploration.

The Haunted Strangler

Corridors of Blood

The Atomic Submarine

First Man Into Space



Special Features

FOUR-DISC SPECIAL EDITION SET FEATURES:

• The Haunted Strangler and Corridors of Blood
• New, restored high-definition digital transfers
• Audio commentaries by Richard Gordon, with additional comments from Alex Gordon on The Haunted Strangler
• New video interviews with directo Robert Day and costars Francis Matthews and Yvonne Romain (Corridors of Blood) and screenwriter Jan Read, and costars Jean Kent and Vera Day (Strangler)
• Deleted scenes
• Original theatrical trailers and radio spots
• Stills galleries featuring production and publicity photographs
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• PLUS: A booklet featuring Fangoria’s 1984 interview with producer John Croydon about Karloff, and a new essay by Maitland McDonagh

• The Atomic Submarine and First Man into Space
• New, restored high-definition digital transfers
• Audio commentaries by producer Alex Gordon and writer Tom Weaver (The Atomic Submarine) and producer Richard Gordon and Weaver (First Man into Space)
• New video interviews with actor Brett Halsey (Submarine) and director Robert Day and costar Marla Landi (Space)
• Original theatrical trailers and radio spots
• Stills galleries featuring production and publicity photographs
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• PLUS: A booklet featuring new essays by Bruce Eder and Michael Lennick

Dr. Gojo Shioji
Apr 22, 2004

Macrame_God posted:

Unless you bought "Robocop" after it went out of print, I'd say you could get a pretty penny for it. Still, I wouldn't sell it.

I really don't see how the Criterion Robocop is worth all that much anymore. For a while it was the only way to see the full uncut version so the $40+ price on eBay was worth paying. But ever since the Robocop trilogy box was released with the uncut original it's pretty much been worthless to pay the extra cash for the Criterion.

The only differences I am aware of are that the Criterion has storyboards and is Verhoven's preferred 1.66:1 instead of the theatrical 1.85:1. For me, it's not worth paying the eBay prices for the one movie when I can get the same thing plus two other movies (granted this is not much of a seller, except for comedy purposes) for a fair amount less. Image quality is also about the same if not better on the trilogy DVD, for anyone who was going to mention it.

vertov
Jun 14, 2003

hello
The Monsters and Madmen cover art is AWESOME! I'm not very enthusiastic about the other releases for January though.

Macrame_God
Sep 1, 2005

The stairs lead down in both directions.

Dr. Gojo Shioji posted:

I really don't see how the Criterion Robocop is worth all that much anymore. For a while it was the only way to see the full uncut version so the $40+ price on eBay was worth paying. But ever since the Robocop trilogy box was released with the uncut original it's pretty much been worthless to pay the extra cash for the Criterion.

The only differences I am aware of are that the Criterion has storyboards and is Verhoven's preferred 1.66:1 instead of the theatrical 1.85:1. For me, it's not worth paying the eBay prices for the one movie when I can get the same thing plus two other movies (granted this is not much of a seller, except for comedy purposes) for a fair amount less. Image quality is also about the same if not better on the trilogy DVD, for anyone who was going to mention it.

It's not the content that matters really, it's the fact that it's the Criterion Collection edition and that it's out of print. That's all it needs to be a hot item.

FitFortDanga
Nov 19, 2004

Nice try, asshole

Lotta January releases to talk about, let's get started. First, the cover art for the aforementioned Monsters and Madmen (#364):



And the finalized specs:

FOUR-DISC SPECIAL EDITION SET FEATURES:

DISC ONE: The Haunted Strangler, Corridors of Blood
* New, restored high-definition digital transfers
* Audio commentaries by Richard Gordon and Weaver on both films, with additional comments from Alex Gordon on The Haunted Strangler
* New video interviews with Day and costars Francis Matthews and Yvonne Romain (Corridors of Blood) and Day, screenwriter Jan Read, and costars Jean Kent and Vera Day (Strangler) Deleted scenes
* Original theatrical trailers and radio spots
* Stills galleries featuring production and publicity photographs
* Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
* PLUS: A booklet featuring Fangoria’s 1984 interview with producer John Croydon about Karloff, and a new essay by Maitland McDonagh

DISC TWO: The Atomic Submarine, First Man into Space
* New, restored high-definition digital transfers
* Audio commentaries by producer Alex Gordon and writer Tom Weaver (The Atomic Submarine) and producer Richard Gordon and Weaver (First Man into Space)
* New video interviews with actor Brett Halsey (Submarine) and director Robert Day and costar Marla Landi (Space)
* Original theatrical trailers and radio spots
* Stills galleries featuring production and publicity photographs
* Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
* PLUS: A booklet featuring new essays by Bruce Eder and Michael Lennick

Disc One is spine #365, Disc Two is spine #366

FitFortDanga
Nov 19, 2004

Nice try, asshole

#362: Border Radio

* New, restored high-definition digital transfer supervised and approved by director of photography Dean Lent and codirector Kurt Voss
* Two audio commentaries: one with codirectors Allison Anders and Voss, and one with actors Luanna Anders, Dave Alvin, Chris D., John Doe, and Chris Shearer
* The Making of "Border Radio", a 2002 documentary featuring interviews with Anders, Lent, Voss, Doe, and Chris D.
* Nine deleted scenes
* Music video of the Flesh Eaters’ “The Wedding Dice”
* Stills gallery featuring rare behind-the-scenes photos
* Theatrical trailer and radio spot
* Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
* PLUS: New essays by music journalist and critic Chris Morris

The cast is interesting and it's nice to see another female director get represented, but nothing else about this release intrigues. An ultra-low iMDB score is usually a bad sign.

FitFortDanga
Nov 19, 2004

Nice try, asshole

#52: Yojimbo



Available individually or as part of the Yojimbo/Sanjuro collector's set!

* All-new, restored high-definition digital transfer
* Optional Dolby Digital 3.0 soundtrack, preserving the original Perspecta simulated-stereo effects
* Audio commentary by film historian and Kurosawa scholar Stephen Prince
* A 45-minute documentary on the making of Yojimbo, created as part of the Toho Masterworks series Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create
* Theatrical trailer and teaser
* Stills gallery of behind-the-scenes photos
* New and improved English subtitle translation

New transfer, nice extras, Kurosawa... sold.

FitFortDanga
Nov 19, 2004

Nice try, asshole

#53: Sanjuro



Available individually or as part of the Yojimbo/Sanjuro collector's set!

* All-new, restored high-definition digital transfer
* Optional Dolby Digital 3.0 soundtrack, preserving the original Perspecta simulated-stereo effects
* Audio commentary by film historian and Kurosawa scholar Stephen Prince
* A 35-minute documentary on the making of Sanjuro, created as part of the Toho Masterworks series Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create
* Theatrical trailer and teaser
* Stills gallery of behind-the-scenes photos
* New and improved English subtitle translation
* PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by critic Michael Sragow and notes and statements from Kurosawa and his cast and crew

Again, sold. I guess I'll get the double-feature collector's set.

FitFortDanga
Nov 19, 2004

Nice try, asshole

#363: Mouchette



* New, restored high-definition digital transfer
* Audio commentary by renowned film scholar, critic, and festival programmer Tony Rayns
* Au hasard Bresson, a half-hour documentary about the director, including behind-the-scenes footage of Robert Bresson directing Mouchette
* “Traveling,” a segment from the cine-magazine TV series Cinéma, featuring on-set interviews with Bresson and actors Nadine Nortier and Jean-Claude Guilbert
* Original theatrical trailer, cut by Jean-Luc Godard
* New and improved English subtitle translation
* Plus: A new essay by writer Robert Polito

Criterion's got my number in January. Very depressing film, even for Bresson, but an excellent one.

FitFortDanga
Nov 19, 2004

Nice try, asshole

Small art for the Yojimbo/Sanjuro box:

Criminal Minded
Jan 4, 2005

Spring break forever
Some nice looking releases coming up. I'm still waiting on an announcement for Army of Shadows.

Mike_V
Jul 31, 2004

3/18/2023: Day of the Dorks
Jesus, those Yojimbo and Sanjuro boxes are gorgeous.

mikeraskol
May 3, 2006

Oh yeah. I was killing you.

Mike_V posted:

Jesus, those Yojimbo and Sanjuro boxes are gorgeous.

Yep, Criterion might as well just take the money right out of my wallet. Especially since it's Kurosawa, and I just can't say no to him :glomp:

lamin
Aug 22, 2003

All posts are equal but some posts are more equal than others
I've seen half of the Monsters and Madmen, so I may go ahead and pick that up. The new Yojimbo and Sanjuro look great too. I haven't yet picked up the new Seven Samurai, so does anyone know if Hidden Fortress is going to be getting a new edition? If so, I may just wait and see if they release all four movies in a box set like they did before.

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MP*DeafRei
Jul 22, 2001

Doctor of Nachology
I just want to say thanks for keeping these threads up to date and informative. Thanks to these threads I've been able to sell off my old Criterions before the new reissues come out, usually cutting the price of the upgrade by a third or sometimes half.

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