Are we slaves to Criterion?

Started by dufresne, June 02, 2003, 02:48:05 AM

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dufresne

June 02, 2003, 02:48:05 AM
pretty self-explanatory thread.

do you feel like you're cheating yourselves when you look at a film with a sharper eye because it's a Criterion Collection selection?  

Do you feel that, to an extent,  Criterion acts as a middleman because it already chooses films that they feel are important for us to see?
There are shadows in life, baby.

Sal

#1
June 02, 2003, 04:28:36 AM
Well when you've got fluke titles in there like Armageddon, it's really hard to say...   :-D

Duck Sauce

#2
June 02, 2003, 09:40:43 AM
If I had to go between two DVDs that were the same but one was Criterion, id go for it. It seems so classy, like having the ultradeluxe of everything... Ive cut back on DVD buying though, but Criterions are nice, and most importantly everybody thinks they are nice which generates some serious cash.... I know there are some on here who buy tons of new criterions, but I just thank them for putting out old movies so I can rent them on netflix.

And about Armageddon, we've been over this, they have to make money.

godardian

#3
June 02, 2003, 09:42:51 AM
Quote from: SalWell when you've got fluke titles in there like Armageddon, it's really hard to say...   :-D

With the exception of the rare crap title, I'd say 100% yes. Over the past few months, I've made it a point to mostly purchase Criterions; my collection's almost complete. "Film school in a box," I call it, what with the director's commentaries and interviews and behind-the-scenes stuff, not to mention the obscure titles... they're great.
""Money doesn't come into it. It never has. I do what I do because it's all that I am." - Morrissey

"Lacan stressed more and more in his work the power and organizing principle of the symbolic, understood as the networks, social, cultural, and linguistic, into which a child is born. These precede the birth of a child, which is why Lacan can say that language is there from before the actual moment of birth. It is there in the social structures which are at play in the family and, of course, in the ideals, goals, and histories of the parents. This world of language can hardly be grasped by the newborn and yet it will act on the whole of the child's existence."

Stay informed on protecting your freedom of speech and civil rights.

SoNowThen

#4
June 02, 2003, 09:45:33 AM
It's a company that's successful (at least I hope so) because of the quality they put into their product, and the high standards that they hold themselves to. Truly capitalism at its best. They make money, we get the movies we wanna see, everybody wins. That's why I've never had a problem paying $40+ for these dvds.

Criterion Collection, you are my hero.
Those who say that the totalitarian state of the Soviet Union was not "real" Marxism also cannot admit that one simple feature of Marxism makes totalitarianism necessary:  the rejection of civil society. Since civil society is the sphere of private activity, its abolition and replacement by political society means that nothing private remains. That is already the essence of totalitarianism; and the moralistic practice of the trendy Left, which regards everything as political and sometimes reveals its hostility to free speech, does nothing to contradict this implication.

When those who hated capital and consumption (and Jews) in the 20th century murdered some hundred million people, and the poster children for the struggle against international capitalism and America are now fanatical Islamic terrorists, this puts recent enthusiasts in an awkward position. Most of them are too dense and shameless to appreciate it, and far too many are taken in by the moralistic and paternalistic rhetoric of the Left.

godardian

#5
June 02, 2003, 09:59:48 AM
Quote from: SoNowThen

Criterion Collection, you are my hero.

Yes. Think of how long we'd have to wait to see some of these things on DVD, let alone all the restoration and cleaning up and extras, if it weren't for them.
""Money doesn't come into it. It never has. I do what I do because it's all that I am." - Morrissey

"Lacan stressed more and more in his work the power and organizing principle of the symbolic, understood as the networks, social, cultural, and linguistic, into which a child is born. These precede the birth of a child, which is why Lacan can say that language is there from before the actual moment of birth. It is there in the social structures which are at play in the family and, of course, in the ideals, goals, and histories of the parents. This world of language can hardly be grasped by the newborn and yet it will act on the whole of the child's existence."

Stay informed on protecting your freedom of speech and civil rights.

SHAFTR

#6
June 02, 2003, 05:16:44 PM
I only own 4 Criterion films (Chasing Amy, Do the Right Thing, Traffic, The Royal Tenenbaums and I want to get The Grand Illusion).

I recently signed up for Netflix and I've been noticing that much of what I'm renting is Criterion (8 1/2, Band of Outsiders, Cries and Whispers).

I love Criterion but I feel the hurt when I end up spending the money I spend for them.
"Talking shit about a pretty sunset
Blanketing opinions that i'll probably regret soon"

Derek237

#7
June 02, 2003, 05:33:56 PM
I'm not. I only have one Criterion DVD and the fact that it was criterian wasn't even my reason for buying it. I just liked the movie (Royal Tenenbaums).

modage

#8
June 02, 2003, 05:39:09 PM
only have 12. but i wish they would put out more stuff i really want.

charade - OOP
silence of the lambs - OOP *(signed by Jonathan Demme)
rushmore - *(signed by Jason Schwartzman)
royal tenenbaums
traffic
chasing amy
gimmie shelter
fear and loathing in las vegas
8 1/2
beastie boys anthology
spartacus
robocop - OOP

its weird how some of their early releases were pretty crappy with the extras like Seven Samurai.  they wised up a bit as time went on i guess.
Christopher Nolan's directive was clear to everyone in the cast and crew: Use CGI only as a last resort.

Ravi

#9
June 02, 2003, 06:26:07 PM
The 3 Criterions I own are films I liked before Criterion released the DVDs.  I rent every Criterion I see at the library and I keep a list of all the Criterions I've watched.  So far I'm up to 22.

Seven Samurai not only didn't have many extras, but it also has a poor transfer.  If they had spread it over 4 layers it would have looked better.  DVDbeaver.com has a comparison between the Criterion and Toho versions.  Toho isn't known for providing pristine prints to foreign companies, so this may account for some of the processing on the Criterion edition.

Waiting for anamorphic fuller aspect ratio versions of Yojimbo and Sanjuro...

Gold Trumpet

#10
June 02, 2003, 06:31:18 PM
I do think I am partial slave to Criterion, but in my opinion, they have made many lackuster decisions on what films to release and what not to so I never really see them as holding up the bar to its highest because I've disliked a lot of Criterion films.

~rougerum

Ravi

#11
June 02, 2003, 06:45:35 PM
Quote from: The Gold TrumpetI do think I am partial slave to Criterion, but in my opinion, they have made many lackuster decisions on what films to release and what not to so I never really see them as holding up the bar to its highest because I've disliked a lot of Criterion films.

~rougerum

Any examples?  The Rock and Armageddon don't count.

chainsmoking insomniac

#12
June 02, 2003, 06:52:30 PM
Quote from: SalWell when you've got fluke titles in there like Armageddon, it's really hard to say...   :-D

Well said man.
"Ernest Hemingway once wrote: 'The world's a fine place, and worth fighting for.'  I agree with the second part."
    --Morgan Freeman, Se7en

"Have you ever fucking seen that...? Ever seen a mistake in nature?  Have you ever seen an animal make a mistake?"
 --Paul Schneider, All the Real Girls

chainsmoking insomniac

#13
June 02, 2003, 06:55:00 PM
I don't let others decide for me what a good movie is; so no, I'm not a slave.
"Ernest Hemingway once wrote: 'The world's a fine place, and worth fighting for.'  I agree with the second part."
    --Morgan Freeman, Se7en

"Have you ever fucking seen that...? Ever seen a mistake in nature?  Have you ever seen an animal make a mistake?"
 --Paul Schneider, All the Real Girls

Cecil

#14
June 02, 2003, 07:28:29 PM
Quote from: punchdrunk23I don't let others decide for me what a good movie is

well theyre not forcing you to buy them. and its about releasing "important" films, not necesaarily "good" ones.
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