davidlynchfan

But the Image BD (which was decent and bargain priced) was released way back in 2011. I don't think anyone could've seen the CC coming out then.
Just admit you guys are bigger Criterion fans than the movie itself.

js2shops

Like me, are you getting just a tad disappointed with Criterion lately? The films are usually good (but believe me, there are plenty of clunkers in their catalog), but I've started to become frustrated with the extras, particularly big-name commentaries- or lack thereof. Bits of old foreign interviews or documentaries aren't that big a "get" when you can find stuff on YouTube. And neither is 4K, at least for me.

I think they somewhat get a pass on their reputation- and that studios can now reap profits licensing them old catalog titles which Criterion can charge a premium for.

And oh man, does the new BN website suck.

davidlynchfan

Yeah, I share some of your thoughts no doubt but they're still the big double C and still more awesome than most and hey, I'm as guilty as anyone else for checking out their stuff purely based on the label.

inri222

I'm a big fan but in the past couple of years the percentage of films released by them that have gotten me excited has decreased drastically.

Living Deadpan

How many Criterions in the last few years have had newly recorded commentaries (as opposed to ones ported over from older DVDs & laserdiscs)? Aside from HG WELLS' THINGS TO COME - one of the most interesting commentaries I've listened to in recent years (w/ film historian David Kalat) - I can't think of many off the top of my head.

I'm not expecting Cronenberg to record a new commentary for THE BROOD, whenever that gets released.

inri222

That's going to suck. I really don't indulge in extras anymore but I will make the exception for Cronenberg's commentaries.

sb5

Cronenberg is funny because he's actually expressed that he hates doing commentaries and having to return to his movies once he's competed them, yet his commentaries are consistently fantastic.

Jon2

That's a big D'oh! on my part. Thanks... I really should have thought of that.

Finally got that coupon… which I'll probably use tomorrow to upgrade my Beauty and the Beast or Robinson Crusoe on Mars dvd to BD.

js2shops

That's what I mean, the releases they're touting special features on are a lot of...old stuff. Or remastered. Even something like The Devil's Backbone, which I own in a lovely edition from Sony. Other than a remaster and new Mike Mignola cover art, why should I spend 2-4x what that disc cost me just to have a CC on the spine? (Though I had not owned Cronos, so I bought that.)

I even repurchased, on BRD, a movie I loathe- Taxi Driver- specifically because it had the old Scorsese and Schrader CC commentaries. That's the stuff that has real significance to me, at least film geek wise. I think that's the first instance I know of where a studio release went back and grabbed stuff from an old CC laserdisc release. Makes me wonder who owns the copyright on the commentary!

I've gained some new respect for the on-demand divisions at WB and the like- they're putting out stuff that used to be in CC's purview, and even putting decent extras here and there. I would not have expected that 5 years ago.

I agree with Inri- still a CC fan, but the percentage of what I get excited about has dropped drastically.

And I wish the CC version of Scanners had some sort of commentary. If not Cronenberg, give me Michael Ironsides! I just took it out from the library.

Why So Blu?

Well, the remaster would be the main reason you would buy it for. A further journey into GDT's Bleak House comes in a close second. That CC version of DB would bury the Sony on tech-specs alone.

sleepyhead55

I kinda get what you're saying. They've been kinda lazy lately. I picked up The Fisher King because I didn't have the Image version and wanted to watch some of the extras but if I had the Image one and the video quality was the same I might not have bought it.

Stuff like porting over the extras from the old dvd and not adding anything new at all to The Friends of Eddie Coyle bothers me since they are charging a premium to their products. They are nowhere near as bad as Twilight Time but I'm going to be pickier when buying Criterions in the future.

Oh yeah--I picked up: The Killers, State of Siege, and The Fisher King on Friday.

Future Man

My haul so far:

Five Easy Pieces
Don't Look Now
Rififi (upgrade from dvd)
The Hidden Fortress " "
Odd Man Out " "

Plan to get:
The Black Stallion
Hiroshima Mon Amour
The Killers " "

zacata88

Wait! I got a 15% off coupon in my email. Can this be used in addition to the 50% off or are they not accepting these for the sale?

clckworang

I just made my first major haul. I went to two stores. I used five 15% off one item coupons, two $5 off purchase of $50 or more and one $8 off one Blu-ray priced $40 or more. That's on top of my membership discount.

It Happened One Night
Sullivan's Travels
Sword of Doom
Gates of Heaven/Vernon, Florida
Limelight
Palm Beach Story
The Killers
State of Siege
Andre Gregory & Wallace Shawn boxset

Some friends went with me as I spent. Luckily, I was able to get them interested in many of the films. Nice to have choices for movie nights.

dsa_shea

Yes, you can use 15% off or more coupons in conjunction with the sale. However, there are a few stores out and about that try to coupon block so be prepared. I have never had a problem.

Lipid

I would agree regarding the quality of movies put out by Criterion over the past few months. These sales are roughly 6 months apart. I bought a ton of stuff at the last one, but buying online (store too far away now) I only managed to get 5, and even that was difficult. I had to go through their blu-ray catalog a bunch of times and double check releases. I would love if they want back to focusing on putting out the full catalogs of bigger name directors. It would be great to get more Bunuel, Dassin, Godard, Fellini, etc etc on bluray rather than some of the stuff they've released over the past few months.

rainkins

I hear what you all are saying about recent Criterion releases being less exciting. I only ended up getting two titles for myself this time around -- The Killers and The Seventh Seal (I'm dying to see how the "improved" subtitles differ from those on the DVD) -- and it was much easier to narrow down than in previous sales. But I do think it's pretty awesome that The Killers includes three different adaptations -- I was going to buy it anyway for the TCM summer noir course I'm taking, so the additional feature and short film are a very cool bonus.

davidlynchfan

What would you guys say are some of the clunkers in the Criterion library? (whether it's be the content, transfer, extras, anything y'all want).

For me, I'd say: Shallow Grave as a movie takes the cake.

laidbacklarkin

'Days of Heaven' - if ever there was a more pretentious flick....but this could take this thread into a subjective turn :-)

dsa_shea

I looked at a Day in the Country and saw that it was only 43 minutes long. I just can't see myself paying a movie price for what is essentially the length of a tv episode.

asianxcore

Stopped by my local store this evening, my third trip since the sale started. They re-stocked on a good handful of titles.

Was able to use the $5 off $50 and the $8 off $40 to pick up:

Seven Samurai
The Hidden Fortress
Throne of Blood
Sanjuro
Yojimbo

Over the weekend, my girlfriend and I stopped by a B&N store while we were out of town as well. She picked up The Great Dictator & Watership Down on BD.

Probably will make one more trip on my birthday, which falls 2 days before the end of this sale!

sleepyhead55

I feel the same way about Wings of Desire.

Days of Heaven was actually pretty good upon a 2nd viewing.

Kedrix

I did finally get Fisher King on Saturday and was able to use the 15% off coupon despite the cashier getting a little snippy with me about it. "Just try it"...."Oh look it works." *sigh*.

In similar news, I scored a copy of Macbeth from Half Price Books for $11.99 on the same day since they were holding a 40% off coupon (on one item). So, two Criterions on the cheap, yeahie me!

Supermallet

All I got was Don't Look Now and La Dolce Vita. I considered Breaking The Waves as well, but I don't think I'd watch it enough to justify the purchase.

JoeySeven

I own shallow Grave,but still need to watch.

These two stand out as the worse I have seen from A Criterion release.

Armageddon
White Dog


Bought 6 online .Nearest B@N is about 1 hour away.

The killers(3 adaptations?)I never seen the Andrei Tarkovsky short version(19 minutes)
The Bridge
The River
Vengeance Is Mine
Gates of Heaven / Vernon, Florida
A Man Escaped

Really want the Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman set.I have A few Zatoichi DVD boxsets,and like what I have watch so far.