Because Michael Bay is a visionary director, who’s style has (for better or for worse) influenced the entire Hollywood system. Whatever one thinks of his work, I find it hard not to respect his place as a legit artist. He has a consistent, singular vision. And honestly I can think of much worse movies in the collection; “Chasing Amy”, or “Black Orpheus” anyone? At least Bay’s Images’ POP, Kevin Smith’s films just look like 3rd rate Jarmusch poses at best, or bad 90’s television at worst.
Great topic.
Are there really completists? I hear about this from time to time, but I think you’d have to be very rich and franky rather eccentric to want to own every Criterion. I certainly don’t think all their films are equally good, I’m happy to pick and choose which ones I want (and there’s a lot of them I do have and want).
The only person I’ve ever heard say they own the whole set is the actor James Franco. In an interview once he mentioned that he bought all of them and is working through them one by one. Which sounds like a huge task.
I’m not sure if I admire him or resent him in a huge way… a) for having the money and b) for having the time.
I intend to be a completist, eventually. I’m on a mission to watch them all in chronological order of release and so far I own every Criterion title that came out through 1953, and quite a few released after that. I’m not rich but it’s the main thing I spend my disposable income on and I look for bargains, make the discs I need my gift requests, etc. And I am fine owning Armageddon! I like the variety and eclecticism of Criterion as much as its aptitude at picking out genuine masterworks of cinema.
It totally fucks with feng shui, dawg. I sent Criterion a nasty letter about it via the Postal Service, so they know I mean business. Ben Gibbard’s gonna hand deliver that shit!
@ Shotzi- ha, awesome.. Anything in snail mail these days is serious business.
“Are there really completists?”
There must be. Otherwise why would the discs be numbered on the spine? Seems a little OCD-ish, though.
It’s interesting to hear that there are… There are just so many great films that I want to own from other companies — Kino, Fox Lorber, Fantomas, the late lamented New Yorker Video. I have to spread my disposable income around and get only those films I really, really love or want.
Armageddon is a nearly unwatchable film. But Ben Affleck’s commentary on the Criterion disc is hilarious.
haha, Shotzi you rule
Technically no one has to own Armageddon, if for some reason you feel that you do there are counselers and medication available. However, despite Criterion’s inclusion of Armageddon (written off by some as “eclecticism”), I really don’t see the reason behind it. I mean if Michael Bay is such a visionary director that has paved the way for films that followed (as aforementioned) then why don’t we include The Rock (which preceded Armageedon and I’d say has been more influential on Hollywood films than Armageddon – but neither in a good way) and Transformers?
If Criterion’s criterion is based purely on influence and not on craft then I’m confused and saddened. I agree Chasing Amy is also a terrible inclusion, but that doesn’t excuse Armageddon in any logical way. Black Orpheus however, IS a worthwhile film (though not one of my personal favourites, still respected and obviously full with talent). To consider Armageddon better than Black Orpheus (the two of which are not even slightly comparable anyway) is just ridiculous.
However, on a more agreeable note, Armageddon is not a terrible film and there are much worse films out there (as well much worse directors), but in comparison to the marjority of the titles in Criterion, its a bizarre choice.
I think The Rock has a Criterion too.
Heh, god you’re right.
Bitch and moan, bitch and moan, blah, blah, blah. Moving on…
Shit’s getting old.
“Are there really completists?”
Yes, I am but it just happened that I started to collect them in 1998-1999 when there weren’t a lot of good movies available in the DVD standard.
Clerks(only the first one)is better than all fuckin’ Bay movies as a whole!!!!Kevin Smith however is as shitty as Bay is,slightly average..
and whoever thinks Black Orpheus is worse than Arma-fuckin-geddon doesn’t know a thing abt cinema..an insult to classical film-making..even if these 2 aren’t comparable,art-house always rules over pathetic blockbusters…
send me hate messages now :P
Yes. I’m also ashamed of owning The Rock and Benjamin Button.
I’m about 2/3 done collecting them all (the recent Borders’ “50% off DVDs” and Barnes & Noble’s “Buy-2-Get-1-Free” sales have really helped in that regard), but it won’t bug me too much when I eventually purchase “Armageddon.” Owning “The Night Porter,” on the otherhand, does. How that film made it into the Collection is beyond me. “The Last Wave” is another curious entry. A well-crafted/acted film, for sure, but the plotline is just so ridiculous.
The Last Wave is a beautiful, poetic film. Like a Borges short story. Dont put in the same category as Armageddon please.
I’m poor, so I’m the lucky prole that is liberated from these sorts of ADD concerns. Of course, there’s nothing particularly shameful about Armageddon – there are zillions of worse movies (I can think of several that should be Criterion releases, and if they were likewise liberated from the oppressive shackles of finance, I’d bet that some of them world be – they released Prince Of Tides on LD ferchristssakes), and Michael Bay’s commentary digressions about the need to “sexy NASA up, because they’re scientists, and scientists aren’t very … sexy” are worth the price of a rental at least. I tend to like 1 Movies That Are Art, And Know It, and 2 Movies That Are Trash, And Know It. Armageddon is certainly the latter of those. My only objection is Movies That Are Trash, And Think They’re Art, and there’s certainly at least a few of those in Crit’s collection as well.
Note to Michael Bay: For such a rich man, you’re apparently doing a piss-poor job of sleeping with the right scientists.
There are dozens of non-essentials in the Criterion Collections.
Completists bug me.
…and furthermore, how’s progress going on your complete Criterion laserdisc collections?
“It totally fucks with feng shui, dawg. I sent Criterion a nasty letter about it via the Postal Service, so they know I mean business. Ben Gibbard’s gonna hand deliver that shit!”
no doubt they will respond with lies about an idealistic future where they own up to their mistakes, swearing they will never wrong you again with such a dismal release. Too bad they had to come down from such great heights.
“The Last Wave is a beautiful, poetic film. Like a Borges short story. Dont put in the same category as Armageddon please.”
I think you’re confusing it with “Picnic At Hanging Rock.” “The Last Wave” starts off great, but ends up being a mess. A much better Peter Weir film, “The Mosquito Coast,” should really be in the Collection in its place.
I found Armageddon for $8 @ Flat Black and Circular (a record store in East Lansing, MI) and had to buy it. My cheapest Criterion so far.
SHOTZ! You are some funny shit. Now I feel like writing a letter telling ’em they are totally off the mark by not getting on Tarr.
Fake shemp, your fowl mouth reminded me that girls who spit are pretty.
wait, what? black orpheus worse than armageddon?
McBean
I’ll never really understand why they put it out on Criterion.