Choose my Criterion!

Ladies & Sirs…

I plan on ordering a few Criterions later this summer. I’ve settled on the following, so far: Fanny & Alexander, Cassevetes: Five Films, Ivan’s Childhood, Fishing With John but there is room for at least 1 more, and I can’t decide what else to get. So, I’m leaving it up to you guys.

So, what should I get?

To avoid this obvious issue, here is a list of all Criterions I already own…
The Battle of Algiers (Criterion Collection)
Bicycle Thieves (Criterion Collection)
Bottle Rocket (Blu-ray) – Criterion Collection [Blu-ray]
Brand Upon the Brain! – Criterion Collection
Brazil – The Criterion Collection – (Single Disc Editon)
Burden of Dreams – Criterion Collection
Chasing Amy (REGION 1) (NTSC)
Chungking Express [Blu-ray]
Dead Ringers: The Criterion Collection
The Double Life of Veronique – Criterion Collection
Essential Art House, Vol. 1
Europa – Criterion Collection
Francois Truffaut’s Adventures of Antoine Doinel (The 400 Blows / Antoine & Collette / Stolen Kisses / Bed & Board / Love on the Run) – Criterion Collection
George Washington – Criterion Collection
Hoop Dreams – Criterion Collection
House of Games – Criterion Collection
The Lady Vanishes – Criterion Collection
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou – Criterion Collection (2-Disc Special Edition)
Mala Noche – Criterion Collection
Mon Oncle Antoine – Criterion Collection
My Own Private Idaho – Criterion Collection
Night and Fog – Criterion Collection
Pickpocket – Criterion Collection
Picnic at Hanging Rock – Criterion Collection
Robocop (Criterion Collection)
The Royal Tenenbaums (The Criterion Collection)
Rushmore – Criterion Collection
Sanjuro – Remastered Edition (Criterion Collection Spine #53)
Seven Samurai – 3 Disc Remastered Edition (Criterion Collection Spine # 2)
Short Cuts – Criterion Collection
Silence of the Lambs (Criterion Collection)
Slacker – Criterion Collection
Spartacus – Criterion Collection
The Third Man – Criterion Collection (2-Disc Edition)
Tokyo Story – Criterion Collection
Traffic – Criterion Collection
Vampyr – Criterion Collection
White Dog – Criterion Collection
Yojimbo – Remastered Edition (Criterion Collection Spine #52)

The Rules of the Game

or any Renoir for that matter. they are ESSENTIAL.

As far as the best all around package, Knife in the Water is one of the few Criterion releases worth giving to your granddad on Hannakah.

And I would sell all your Criterions you have listed for a copy of Army of Shadows.

I say either The Leopard or The Seventh Seal.

“if….”

Add a Fellini.. How about 8 1/2, it’s under your “favorites” as well.
http://www.criterion.com/films/150

seven samurai def.

Andrei Rublev, The Passion of The Joan of Arc, Le samouraï, Army of Shadows, the list only continues…

8 1/2 is a great set — the extras are fascinating. I don’t have it, but The Leopard is a brilliant film, if you feel like dropping tons o’ coin, go for it.

I agree with Uncle Skeleton that you should get some Renoir. Could go with Criterion #1 (Grand Illusion) but I’ll make an unconventional pick and recommend Boudu Saved From Drowning which is really one of the coolest lower-tier titles in the whole series (nice interactive map of Paris.) The film itself puts Renoir and subsequent French cinema in helpful context.

I also recommend Pandora’s Box – a really nice set and you may be surprised at how much enjoyment you can get from an old silent movie. And Louise Brooks is just a joy to watch!

Spirit of the Beehive. most beautiful film I own

Oh God I didn’t notice the lack of 8 1/2. Yes I definitely add that to my suggestions.

IKIRU! And I agree with 8 1/2 as well. And seeing as you like Truffaut, I would recommend Shoot the Piano Player.

The 39 Steps. Not only is it a sturdy thriller, the lead character comes from Canada!

maybe you can choose The Burmese Harp.

Get more Bergman, The Virgin Spring is a great starter movie. Also if you already own Chungking Express why not get In the Mood for Love?

Put Andrei Rublev at the top of your list. One of these days I’ll own all the criterions.

Sandwiches, The reason I advise against buying Andrei Rublev is because sometime soon a new version will come out.

I am waiting for new editions of 8 1/2 & Andrei Rublev

I notice that Army of Shadows and Sansho the Baliff were released at the same time with a similar cover design. Are they connected in some way?

Adam, Have there been rumors of an 8 1/2 Blu Ray???

No rumours, sorry. It’s a must release on Blu Ray though, and the copy of it I have will suffice until such a time comes.

Well I would say the three most popular or at least most well known non American directors are Kurosawa, Bergman, and Fellini. The first two have Criterion Blu Rays in existence or coming soon so it only makes sense.

I would definitely recommend the Spanish masterpiece “Cria Cuervos…” or of course the perfect “The Rules of the Game”.

Salo

I would bet my whole collection of DVDs that Criterion will release 8 1/2 on BD by the end of the year or by next spring. So many of you guys have such hard ons for that film that I’m sure it’s at the top of Criterion’s list of priorities. I have to believe that the SD version is one of their biggest sellers in their whole collection and would imagine the BD would also be a huge seller.

Fredo, Are you telling me you don’t have a hard on for 8 1/2?

Actually, I’ve tried watching that movie three or four times and have never been able to get more than 20 minutes in. A lot of people I went to school with loved that movie (in fact, the majority of the production film students at my school were more Fellini fans than Bergman fans – don’t ask me why). I have only actually seen La Dolce Vita and I Vitelloni. I thoroughly enjoyed I Vitelloni.

So no, I could honestly care less about 8 1/2 getting a release on BD. But maybe someday I will! There is always hope that I will see the light!

Absolute essential: by Brakhage: An Anthology

Go Japanese! I noticed that you have a few Kurosawa films and also Ozu’s Tokyo Story. What about Mizoguchi’s Sansho the Bailiff or Ugetsu?

Dead Ringers and Seven Samurai. The Seven Samurai 3 disc is one of my favorite dvds I own.