Brazil/Criterion Collection?

Phil

Phil

Veteran
Wow, I'm watching a film called Brazil, Terry Gillium...I know he was the one who made The Adventures of Baron Munchowsen? Which was amazing...but what's the Criterion Collection, all I know is TC asked for it for Christmas! ;D

Just for the record Robert Deniro plays a weird role in this!
 
Re: Brazil/Criterion Collection?

Criterion puts out special edition DVDs (they started with laserdiscs) of movies that are considered "important" or "classic" or at least of some artistic worth.  (Kind of befuddled by their deal with the Disney devil to put out versions of "The Rock" and "Armageddon.")  There will be a very clean transfer of the movie, and a good mix for the soundtrack, plus rare and valuable extras.  For a long time, they were the gold standard of special edition DVDs.  It used to be that if you wanted a movie badly enough to own it, and there's a Criterion version of it, you want that Criterion version.

Which is still largely true, but they've lost a lot of ground.  Studios are putting out special edition DVDs which rival or exceed the Criterion version, and the studio versions usually cost less.  But you can't beat their library, and if you had all of them, you'd have a collection of films to rival any wine or art collection anywhere.

The Criterion version of Brazil, while characteristically excellent, in my opinion, is overkill -- and overpriced.  However, it's better than the non-Criterion edition of the film (but not worth the extra $40+).  I'm still waiting to see if there's another version coming along.
 
Re: Brazil/Criterion Collection?

Thanks for the answer. I really want to watch the commentary on it, my friend let me borrow it and said I'd probably like the extras a lot.
 
Re: Brazil/Criterion Collection?

Criterion is best known for releasing films that no one else has or will release on DVD.
 
Re: Brazil/Criterion Collection?

I wouldn't say the criterion of Brazil is overpriced by any stretch. It has a full-length informative documentary about the battle of Brazil (if anyone is interested in further reading, there is a book of the same title). There are also TWO versions of the film, the original unedited directors version that never played in the states, and the studio edit of the film that executives wanted to put out instead of Gilliam's. The difference between the two is worth the price of admission for me.

It was a film that established the potential power of film critics and exemplified the indie/studio struggle (if comically at times), so it’s really a historic work in a lot of ways.
 
Re: Brazil/Criterion Collection?

I own The Seven Samurai Criterion and I'm not impressed. Then again, I think it was one of the first DVDs they released. The audio is weak and the transfer is crappy. Lots of lines, dust, strobing, etc.
 
Re: Brazil/Criterion Collection?

It's overpriced compared to what it was, I think. It went up about $20 just as I was about to buy it, and that turned me off from it.
 
Re: Brazil/Criterion Collection?

The Criterion Collection is overrated in my view. I look at their selection and think, 'man, they take what they can get.'

Furthermore, their collection is highly eurocentric. They have a few Japanese films, but they have totally ignored the Latin American films. There's not one Latin American film in the Criterion collection
 
Re: Brazil/Criterion Collection?

Its an awesome disc, especially when u factor in the cooool packaging, but even compared to the latest Alien discs, it doesnt stand out.

all the alien discs had 2 versons of the film, at least one commentary track, a 3 hour documentary (probably the best i can think of btw) deleted scense and photo galleries. And u can go pick up anyof them for 19.99
 
Re: Brazil/Criterion Collection?

The criterion edition of Terry Gilliam's, "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" is the best DVD I have bought. Brilliant film, transfer, very interesting extras and some great commentaries. Ever since I purchased it, I've held Criterion in high regard. ;D
 
Re: Brazil/Criterion Collection?

[quote author=Matt Martin link=board=movies;num=1106328956;start=0#10 date=01/28/05 at 16:48:46]The criterion edition of Terry Gilliam's, "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" is the best DVD I have bought. Brilliant film, transfer, very interesting extras and some great commentaries. Ever since I purchased it, I've held Criterion in high regard. ;D[/quote]


agreed. my avatar I made after reading your post :)
 
Re: Brazil/Criterion Collection?

A film as mainstream and modern as Fear and Loathing shouldn't require Critterion's hand to achieve a decent transfer.  It's not like they had to go salvage a nitrate print or work from a battered release print to get their version.

Maybe Critterion should focus their efforts on Greed or something really challenging.  Maybe it'll take Kodak's hand to get that one done.

Special features are becoming the norm, and I'm not certain that the collection will continue in its original incarnation - the studios are much more diligent in the way they handle their archiving and vaults now.  I recall the days when anyone could go into Fox's vaults - no security and barely climate controlled - and pick up 1000' spools of plate material from shows like Star Wars and just run the raw celluloid through your fingers...

Luckily, those days are long since gone!

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Re: Brazil/Criterion Collection?

I read somewhere that criterion uses some software called MTI Correct 4.0. (http://www.mtifilm.com/prodct_correct.shtml)

Anyone know if this program could possibly fix the noise problem with the dvx without softening the image quality? I'd pay to have a post-house do that for sure.
 
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