How to complete the Criterion Collection

Any ideas and/or schemes?

to do what?

Create a time machine, go back the times certain out-of-print Criterions are in print and still retail price.

Or rob a bank and go on an eBay spree.

Or if you’re lazy like me, get a bunch of empty DVD cases and slap some printed-out covers of the Criterions you’re missing on them. Then you can show your friends the ol’ complete Criterion shelf and brag.

Be rich.

Well, win the lottery and go to Amoeba in Hollywood.
A question I live with everyday.

Go find the Criterion building and hold them up until they make editions of out of print movies for you (as well as giving you all the rest of them). It is the only way to get them all. Too bad my prowess at holding people up sucks, and so I’ll never get them all…

Savvy

Amazon’s “Used & Like New.” ‘Like New’ copies are available at significant discounts and are indistinguishable from new ones, in almost every case. I’ve been taking advantage. Most titles available for $35 generally can be found for $20. Also w/Justin… lots of cases and burned covers… cheap but those cases do take up space on a shelf. Pure, shameful vanity.

You all seem to be taking this thread at face value, and not seeing the sinister implications behind it.

Divinem has shown himself to be a man who feels deeply betrayed that Criterion decided to license their name to Benjamin Button as opposed to the (supposedly) better 17 Again and Hannah Montana: The Movie.

When he wants us to help him scheme about how to “complete the Criterion Collection”, he’s clearly asking us to help him figure out a way to destroy their main offices and kill everyone in sight. Thus ending… or “completing”… the Criterion Collection forever.

The dream of everyone here I am sure.

I agree with Miasma.

Also, be on the lookout for “Going Out Of Business” sales at places that sell DVDs. In 2007 I was able to hit up the final sale at Tower Records in New Orleans and get quite a few criterion for $20 and even $15.

Virgin Megastore is going out of business this summer I believe so it will be a good place to hit up, though I guess we’ll have to wait and see what kind of sale they have considering how expensive everything there is normally.

Ha! Brandon, that was funny

It’s possible, just give yourself some time and be patient. I’ve got about 300 titles or so and I’ve only been building my collection over the past few years. I use eBay, amazon.com, Barnes & Noble coupons and sales (they do a “buy 2, get 3rd free” DVD deal every January and you can also get great discounts on newly released titles – for example I just got the new Painleve set for $23, incl. shipping, using member discount, coupon and my B&N Mastercard which gives another 5% off) and occasionally dropping in a few used media stores in my area. If you’re not rich, then you have to be disciplined and limit unnecessary expenditures on other entertainment options, and even sell off other stuff that you no longer have any time or interest to watch to fund the collection. Don’t just dream it, do it!

Since I double posted, I’ll use this space to plug my Criterion blog. I’m watching the entire series in chronological order! Currently working on 49th Parallel

http://criterionreflections.blogspot.com

isn’t that the same premise as The Criterion Contraption?

i think you would at least need a lazerdisc player and like a few pretty bad movies. don’t get me wrong most of it is good

Amoeba Music in Hollywood is heaven!

Agreed. I’m wearing my ’moeba shirt right now!

rob a bank. Go postal.

Only buy the films you actually want?

@Rich Uncle Skeleton… I just saw your reply to my post of 8 months ago. My blog is different than Criterion Contraption in that I’m not watching them in spine # order but in order of the year film was originally released. I think this is a better approach (for me, anyway) because I see cinematic trends and careers develop over the course of time rather than jumping all over the place according to the whims of chance by which Criterion released its DVDs. I have a lot of respect for Matt Dessem’s work but I work at a lot faster pace than he does (I reviewed 100 films in 2009 and have added four more this month already.) I’m up to 1952 (started at 1922 last year) but that pace will slow down considerably since so many art house classics were produced in the 1950s. I may not even be done with that decade by this date in 2011!

Another tip to those who want to complete the collection: make it clear to your friends and relatives that you just want Criterion DVDs for gifts at your birthday and whatever end-of-the-year holiday(s) you celebrate.

Javier: You are a master of montage, my friend.

Vocalities: Yup.

Dave: It never really hurts to at least see all of the movies in the Criterion collection, even if you don’t like some of them/think they’re awful.

—PolarisDiB

@Polaris – I agree with what you say about exposure to all of the Criterion films – besides the 104 I’ve reviewed, I’ve probably seen another hundred or so and have found plenty to enjoy about all of them. Did I say anything that implies otherwise? If I found enough of them awful or unlikeable I wouldn’t persist in my effort to acquire the whole library of ’em.

People should really take this thread more seriously. This would be the coolest thing on earth. And if we work together, maybe it will become… A REALITY!

“A REALITY!”

You’ll see boys, you’ll see boys…

My tip…and I’m not even near completing. 50% off B&N sale. Amazon, Deep Discount sales and eBay. I have over 200 but I know there are others on Auteurs over who own over 300-400.

NOTE: Not included is my “Gimme Shelter” Blu-ray and my Dusan Eclipse.

I will say that for me, I know right now I’m going to complete it because I don’t want to buy older versions of “Silence of the Lamb”, “Robocop” nor am I interested in purchasing “Salo” or “The Vanishing”. Nor am I interested in paying $99 for “Tokyo Olympiad” (I do have it on LD), other OOP titles or the older Hitchock collection. [although, if one would like to donate their copy to be part of my collection, I will greatly take them]

I know there are people who are completest with the Blu-ray releases but now…my thoughts have changed now there are way too many titles I want not just from Criterion but also Kino and MoC/Eureka and even classics from other film companies.

“Did I say anything that implies otherwise? If I found enough of them awful or unlikeable I wouldn’t persist in my effort to acquire the whole library of ’em.”

Oh no, I am actually saying that as cheerleading/support of your project. I think it’s madness to set yourself to task like that (in a good way).

—PolarisDiB

@Polaris – Yeah there’s definitely a touch of madness driving me in this quest but it keeps me out of trouble and focused on constructive use of free time. I’m learning a lot and having a unique film watching experience that will occupy the next few years of my life.

@Kndy – that’s a cool idea, I’ll post a pic of my collection here in awhile. I have +/- 120 left to acquire (including announced & yet to be released) and then I’ll have all the Criterions (not counting Eclipse or EAH or the Janus kids films or the Kurosawa box)

Hi Dave, love to see a photo of your collection!!

Btw, I forgot to put the “not”: I will say that for me, I know right now I’m NOT going to complete it because I don’t want to buy older versions of “Silence of the Lamb”, “Robocop” nor am I interested in purchasing “Salo” or “The Vanishing”.

There is so much I want from the collection but it’s quite hard when you know that there are Blu-ray releases now for certain films such as “Do the Right Thing”, “Robocop”, “Chasing Amy”, etc. So, those earlier titles I know I’ve had opportunities to buy them cheap (with the exception of “Hard Boiled”, “The Killer”, “Sid & Nancy”, “Tokyo Olympiad” and several others) but I would rather own the Blu-ray versions.

But I would love to see those who have a near or have a complete collection..

I think there is something to be said about how limiting the Criterion collection can be as well as revealing, but for the most part I think that’s something that can also be informed by your project.

—PolarisDiB

who cares about completing it? I doubt any one person likes every single film the company has put out, so why bother?