Criterion and Kino DVDs that you currently own (Rankings Optional)

I’m organizing mine by year. And the ranking is for the overall Criterion package, not necessarily just a ranking for the film. I own 26 of them. I don’t have any Kinos yet, but I might have to plunk down the dough to get those Avant Garde, D.W. Griffith, Buster Keaton and other sets….sometime….

Haxan: Witchcraft Through The Ages (1922) : 9/10 (For some reason the tinting doesn’t sit well with me. Nice commentary and behind-the-scenes looks, though, to go with two versions of the film.)

The King of Kings (1927) (I have not viewed either version yet)

Pandora’s Box (1929) : 10/10 (Probably my favorite Criterion set. Very nice documentaries, luminous picture quality on the feature, a great, essay-rich booklet. Just plain awesome)

M Two-disc set (1931) : 9.5/10 (Fantastic set, even though I haven’t gotten through all the supplements yet.)

The Threepenny Opera (1931) : 9/10 (German and French versions, great supplements makes this a keeper!)

The Rules of The Game (1939): 10/10 (Excellent, excellent video and essay supplements provide a ton of context for why this is absolutely one of the best films ever.)

Spellbound (1945) : 9.5/10 (Definitely one of my favorite Hitchcock movies. A great buy.)

Notorious (1946) : 9/10 (Great set, with plenty of supplements, including two commentary tracks, and a fantastic movie to boot)

The Earrings of Madame De… (1953) : 10/10 (Let’s just say I’m happy I bought this. An absolutely brilliant gem of a movie, with a decent booklet to go with it. Have not listened to the commentary track yet.)

Ugetsu (1953) : 9.5/10 (Absolutely breath-taking filmmaking. A fantastic box set with both the stories it was based on. Could’ve used an extra essay or two, though, but you do get a documentary on director Kenji Mizoguchi.)

Sansho The Bailiff (1954) : 9/10 (Not as feature heavy as “Ugetsu,” but a strong set all the same. The full story the film is based on makes for nice point-counterpoint comparisons to the old Japanese fable and how the film is different in its storytelling.)

Seven Samurai (1954) : 10/10 (Two commentaries, nice essay booklet and some other decent supplements. Oh yeah, and the three-hour epic itself. ’Nuff said.)

The Complete Mr. Arkadin (1955) : 9.5/10 (Three versions of this fantastic espionage story, even if the lead actor is pretty wooden. Nice supplements too, and a solid essay book about the travails Welles went through in crafting this particular picture. Has the novelization too, which I have not read through)

The Seventh Seal 1998 DVD release (1957) : 8/10 (I would like to upgrade to the newest release, although this one is definitely satisfactory for the time being.)

Spartacus (1960): (Haven’t seen the feature on this Criterion set yet, but it does include a nice featurette on the Hollywood Ten, blacklisted writers, some of whom Kirk Douglas was able to help along.)

When A Woman Ascends The Stairs (1960) : 9/10 (A classy set with a nice essay booklet and some decent supplements. Worth checking out, most definitely if you like a drama featuring a strong, principled female lead.)

8 1/2 (1963) : 9/10 (Seen it twice, still don’t know what the hell exactly to think of it. I just know that I like the movie, and appreciate the supplements that go with it.)

Andrei Rublev (1966) : 6/10 (Do not care for this particular disc at all. Will give the film itself a second chance later, though….I think…)

The Battle of Algiers (1966) : 10/10 (Perfect box set even without a commentary track for the main feature. Absolutely fantastic supplemental documentaries that’ll take at least three days to view. Great essay booklet too.)

Hearts & Minds (1974) : 8.5/10 (Not subtle at all, but it goes straight to your heart and your mind when it comes to Vietnam. Nice essays and commentary track as well.)

That Obscure Object of Desire (1977) : 9/10 (Doesn’t even need no stinkin’ supplements to be an awesome disc to own. Luis Bunuel’s outlook on life in this picture is admirable, in that it is disdainful and open-endedly optimistic at the same time.)

Fanny and Alexander Box set (5 discs) (1982): 8.5/10 (I have not watched the 5+ hour television version yet. Nice feature-length “making of” feature, though.)

White Dog (1982): 9/10 (Great essays, powerful and memorable movie)

Ran (1985) : 8/10 (Great supplements, including a Chris Marker documentary on the making of the movie! Definitely have to be in a mood to really enjoy the movie itself, though.)

The Double Life of Veronique (1991) : 9.5/10 (Fantastic movie and fantastic supplements, including a few short films by Kieslowski)

La Haine (1995) : 8.5/10 (A nice set with some decent supplements. A fine film from the ’90s.)

The only Kino release I own is Nosferatu. I intend at some point to add Battleship Potemkin and maybe Man with a Movie Camera and The White Hell of Pitz Palu. I know they have some classic silent films too, but I’m not sure which ones I’d get.

As for Criterion releases, I have:

3 Women
The 400 Blows
8 1/2
All That Heaven Allows
The Battle of Algiers
Breathless
Chasing Amy
Cries and Whispers
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Dazed and Confused
The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoise
Grey Gardens/The Beales of Grey Gardens
Juliet of the Spirits
Last Year at Marienbad
L’avventura
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
Nights of Caberia
Ran
Repulsion
The Rock
The Royal Tenenbaums
The Ruling Class
Rushmore
The Seventh Seal/Bergman Island
The Third Man (2-disc)
Traffic
Videodrome
Wings of Desire

Was it worth not waiting to get “Last Year At Marienbad” and “Wings of Desire”?

My collection is fairly small as of yet…

Chasing Amy
Dazed and Confused
Slacker
Man Bites Dog
Bottle Rocket
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
The Royal Tenenbaums
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

There a little expensive for me to be springing my money on a lot. (But Barnes & Noble occasionally has 50% off sales on Criterion products).
But there definitely worth the price in the end.

I’ve been saving up to get Traffic, Schizopolis, George Washington, Europa, The Element of Crime, Insomnia, and 8 1/2.

Is La Haine good?
I can’t seem to find much about it and I don’t have an internet rental service so I can’t get my hands on it.

Oh shit, I forgot I also have the boxset of Brazil.

WAR1OCK, with the movies on your favorites, it’s a sure bet that you’d probably like “La Haine” a whole lot.

Its story is about one 24-hour period in the lives of three teens, a white, an Arab and a black guy, and the foibles (and trouble) they find themselves getting into after they find a stolen revolver. Its whole backdrop is, it was made not long after French police killed a 14-year-old Arab kid, who they picked up when they were breaking up riots in the poor suburbs of Paris. It’s a movie that wears its sympathies right out there on its sleeve.

Chungking Express (BD), By Brakhage and The Royal Tenenbaums.

I used to have more but now I don’t.

Just won an auction on Ebay for Peeping Tom.

Woot.

Just won an auction on Ebay for Peeping Tom.

Woot.

DVDs:

White Dog
The Hit
Homicide

BDs:

The Seventh Seal
The Wages Of Fear
For All Mankind
The Third Man
Playtime
Complete Monterey Pop
Kagemushai
Pierrot Le Fou
In The Realm Of The Senses
Repulsion
Monsoon Wedding
Chunking Express
The Last Emperor

All movies I had never seen before. I have not watched all of them yet, but so far my favorites are Monsoon Wedding, The Seventh Seal, The Wages Of Fear and The Hit. Watching In The Realm Of The Senses was a very worthwhile experience as well.

Just traded away Spartacus and The Seventh Seal online.

Just traded away Spartacus and The Seventh Seal online.

Just traded away Spartacus and The Seventh Seal online.

Crap, three posts….

Got By Brakhage: An Anthology about two weeks ago. Not gonna say from where, though…..

Criterions I own:

2010, I’ll probably start on Kino…

Well. I was wondering how Criterion stayed in business. Seems they have a special account just for you.

I should post my Criterion collected, I suppose…. hmmmm… That

—DiB

I love the addition of those Woody Allen DVDs sneakily added there at the end.

In order of wherever the hell I find them in my room:

Down by Law
Solaris
Man Bites Dog
8 1/2
400 Blows
Andrei Rublev
L’Avventura
Bad Timing
Beauty and the Beast
Billy Liar
Black Narcissus
The Blob
Burden of Dreams
By Brakhage
Cercle Rouge
Children of Paradise
The Devil and Daniel Webster
The Double Life of Veronique
L’Eclisse
Forbidden Games
George Washington
Harakiri
Haxan
Hidden Fortress
Ikiru
Kagemusha
Kind Hearts and Coronets
Knife in the Water
La Jetee/Sans Soleil
Last Temptation of Christ
Last Year at Marienbad
Life and death of Colonel Blimp
Life Aquatic of Steve Zissou
Maitresse
Man who Fell to Earth
Mona Lisa
Mouchette
Naked Lunch
Night and Fog
Passion of Joan of Arc
Pickup on South Street
Ran
Rashoman
Red Beard
Red Shoes
Robinson Crusoe on Mars
Royal Tenenbaums
Rushmore
Samurai Rebellion
Sanjuro
Sansho the Bailiff
Scenes from a Marriage
Seven Samurai
Seventh Seal
Silence of the Lambs
Slacker
Small Back Room
Spartacus
Spirit of the Beehive
Stray Dog
Testament of Dr. Mabuse
Third Man
Throne of Blood
Tokyo Story
Touchez Pas au Grisbi
Two Lane Blacktop
Ugetsu
Vengeance is Mine
Videodrome
Walkabout
White Dog
Yojimbo
Youth of the Beast
3 Films by Louis Malle
Magic Flute
Divorce Italian Style
Sid and Nancy
Aki Kaurismaki’s Proletariat Trilogy
Human Condition

Avant-Garde
Brothers Quay
Faust
Man with a Movie Camera
The Art of Buster Keaton
Avant Garde II

There’s probably some more Kino but those were the ones that stuck out.

—PolarisDiB
Il Grido

Sold all but 2 of my Criterions on ebay…then found more at yard sales for cheap and sold those too for mad cash. Love it. More cash to go things at the theater, on prints.

Post all the Criterion laserdiscs you have in your collection….

Criterion films I own:
3 films by Louis Malle box set
John Cassavetes 5 films box set
4 by Agnes Varda box set
The Adventures of Antoine Doinel box set
Jules and Jim
A Woman is a Woman
Contempt
Band of Outsiders
Alphaville
Masculin Feminin
Made in U.S.A.
2 or 3 thing I know about Her
Fanny and Alexander box set
Cries and Whispers
Che
Mystery Train
Summer Hours
Pierrot Le Fou
The Last Emperor
The Last Metro
Last Year at Marienbad
Repulsion
Vivre sa Vie
Gommorah
El Norte
Chungking Express
The Wages of Fear
8 1/2
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Bottle Rocket
The Leopard
Revanche
The Man who Fell to Earth
Night and Fog
My Dinner with Andre
The Last Temptation of Christ
Vengeance is Mine
The Spy who came in from the Cold
La Strada
Nights of Cabiria
Amarcord
Elevator to the Gallows
The Lovers
I Fidanzati
IL Posto
Stray Dog
Rashomon
Ikiru
Throne of Blood
The Bad Sleep Well
High and Low
Red Beard
Dodeskaden
Ran
The Sporting Life
If…
The Naked City
Classe Tous Risque
Riffi
Bob Le flambeur
Le Deuxieme Souffle
Le Samourai
Army of Shadows
Le Cercle Rouge
The Furies
Stranger Than Paradise
Down By Law
Night on Earth
House of Games
Homicide
Brand upon the Brain
Do the Right Thing
Traffic
The Battle of Algiers
Z
Missing
The Ice Storm
Videodrome
Ace in the Hole
Pickpocket
Au hasard Balthazar
Mouchette
In the Mood for Love
Mishima: A life in Four Chapters
Bicycle Thieves
The Double Life of Veronique
Postwar Kurosawa(Eclipse)
Rusmore
Chasing Amy
The Royal Tenenbaums
The Life Aquatic
Viridiana
The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
The Exterminating Angel
That Obscure Object of Desire
Magnificent Obsession
George Washington
L’Avventura
L’eclisse
La Ronde
Aki Kaurismaki’s Proletariat Trilogy(Eclipse)
The Friends of Eddie Coyle
The Hit
La Haine
Before the Rain
Solaris
Europa
Brazil
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Dazed and Confused
Short Cuts
The Rules of the Game
La Bete Humaine
Jeanne Dielman, 23, Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles

Kino movies I own:

Ballast
Fallen Angels
Happy Together

I also forgot Red Desert, Kagemusha, and Wings of Desire.

I organize all my DVDs alphabetically in one sole group, so the Criterion disks are spread out. I own:

400 Blows
Breathless
For All Mankind
Good Morning
Ikiru
Le Samourai
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
Mon Oncle Antoine
The Royal Tenenbaums
Seven Samurai
The Seventh Seal
Stagecoach
Twenty Four Eyes

I only began collecting Criterion around Christmas, beginning with Man Bites Dog and Repulsion, yet since then I’ve definitely flushed it out more.

Seven Samurai
The Silence of the Lambs
Salo, or the 120 Days of Sodom
M
Diabolique
Brazil
Yojimbo
Sanjuro
Carnival of Souls
Chasing Amy
Kwaidan
Spartacus
Haxan
Man Bites Dog
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Schizopolis
Naked Lunch
Onibaba
Videodrome
Eyes Without a Face
Equinox
If…
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Last Year at Marienbad
Repulsion

I’m planning on expanding it as the year goes on, but I’m currently focused on obtaining out-of-print titles. The only Kino film I have is Stalker, but I’m not a fan of Kino releases.

400 Blows
Spinal Tap
The Unbearable Lightness Of Being
The 39 Steps
Life Of Brian
Cries And Whispers
Withnail & I

still on the look out for more XD

No Kino to speak of. Ranked by spine:
#1: Grand Illusion (1937, Renoir)
#2: Seven Samurai (1954, Kurosawa, re-issue)
#5: The 400 Blows (1959, Truffaut, re-issue)
#13: The Silence of the Lambs (1991, Demme)
#24: High and Low (1963, Kurosawa, first-issue)
#30: M (1931, Lang, re-issue)
#36: Wages of Fear (1953, Clouzout, first-issue)
#51: Brazil (1985, Gilliam, three-disc)
#64: The Third Man (1949, Reed, re-issue)
#97: Do the Right Thing (1989, Lee)
#138: Rashomon (1950, Kurosawa)
#140: 8 1/2 (1964, Fellini)
#141: Children of Paradise (1945, Carne)
#157: The Royal Tenenbaums (2001, Anderson)
#175: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998, Gilliam)
#216: Rules of the Game (1939, Renoir)
#221: Ikiru (1952, Kurosawa)
#249: Battle of Algiers (1968, Pontecorvo)
#262-265: Fanny and Alexander (1982, Bergman)
#316: Ran (1985, Kurosawa)
#336: Dazed and Confused (336, Linklater)
#374: Bicycle Thieves (1949, De Sica)
#476: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008, Fincher)