from: Criterion Collection
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 0037429204726
Format: NTSC
Label: Criterion Collection
Manufacturer: Criterion Collection
Number Of Items: 282
Publisher: Criterion Collection
Release Date: November 02, 2004
Sales Rank: 167586
Studio: Criterion Collection
Theatrical Release Date: April 16, 1956
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Editorial Review:
Amazon.com:
For this unprecedented collection of Criterion Collection DVDs, it's easier to talk about what's not in the massive collection: namely, a few future releases and several films that have had the rights returned to the original studio. But that's only 20 titles out of the 261-title library (as of fall 2004). Criterion set the standard in Laser Discs in the first digital age. Although other studios create some great DVDs, no one has matched Criterion for consistently producing fabulous-looking, extras-laden films on DVD, especially if your thing is classic or international films. The care in print and sound quality is a marvel. Something like the 1932 comedy Trouble in Paradise shouldn't look like it was made yesterday. The reconstruction of the original 1928 print of The Passion of Joan the Arc is legendary. Subtitles are always new and reexamined for translation; original aspect ratios and sound design are carefully presented.
Being about 'a continuing series of important classic and contemporary films,' Criterion has developed relationships with many top directors, including Steven Soderberg (Traffic), Terry Gilliam (Brazil), David Cronenberg (Dead Ringers), and Robert Altman (Short Cuts). The extras are not fodder from the publicity train, and often outside sources round out the retrospection of the film. What other company would conceive of presenting Truffaut's Antoine Doinel series this way? The label is so strong, film mavens often buy the next Criterion disc without knowing anything about it (ever heard of Onibaba, The Ballad of a Solider, or the Orphic Trilogy?). Either they know they are getting a history in film, or they don't want a gap in the numeric order of releases (plus Criterion discs hold their value better than most DVDs). Either way, this collection is the ultimate way to quickly start your cinema library, be it for your organization, office, or suddenly bigger home collection. As you ponder over the striking cover art or read a printed essay, know this: all classic films--and many contemporary ones--dream of being a Criterion disc. There is no better digital fate. --Doug Thomas
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Watch the music Video
Watch the Avenged Sevenfold Music Video and you've seen the entire movie. What was that? I watched from beginning to end thinking sooner or later that I would get it. I didn't. It was just strange...not oddball...strange.
Rating: - Depp is good but so is Murray
Depp did do a fantastic job of Pertraying Dr. Gonzo but he's really just imitating the portrayal that Bill Murray did in "where the buffalo roam", nontheless this is an excellent movie.
Rating: - Depp In the Perfect Role
I doubt if anyone else could have pulled-off playing Hunter S. THompson as well as Johnny Depp. The actor who portrayed Ichabod Crane and Captain Jack Sparrow to perfection was the best choice - perhaps the ONLY choice - to play the founder of Gonzo Journalism.
Watching the film, you can tell that Duke realizes that his friend, Dr. Gonzo, is dangerous when he is high on drugs and, yet, you have to wonder why he continues his association with him. If I had a friend like that, I would have ended my friendship with him years ago.
To really enjoy this film, you have to try to remember that the two lead characters are high or drunk during the majority of the film. Both only see the world and people around them through an intoxicated haze. Duke tries to keep himself as safe as possible when Gonzo goes off the deep end several times, including the bathroom, elevator and diner scenes. I fully expected Gonzo to actually stab somebody with that knife he carried-around.
Duke and his friend pay for their trips to Vegas with bad checks, trash the rooms they are staying in and fly by the seats of their pants the whole time.
While I enjoyed the film very much, I would certainly not want people like Dr. Gonzo and Raoul Duke in my life.
Rating:  - Everything you need to know for collecting Criterion DVDs
Obviously many people feel very heated that this is not the complete Criterion set, however that is part of what makes the set so valuable. As Criterion dvds go out of print, they go way up in value (some almost up to $1000 each!!). An investment in Criterion is indeed a financial one as well as a cultural one. More of these DVDs will go out of print in the future as well.
If you really are wanting to obtain the whole collection (I am in my second year of obtaining this goal), there are a few things you should know. First, beward of bootlegs. You can consult the Criterion website to learn more about them: [...]. That is also a good place to buy Criterion DVDs as they are usually 30% or so below retail.
Following is a list of all Criterion DVDs that have gone out of print as well as about what you should expect to pay for them:
1. Spine #2--Seven Samurai (1954)
This has since been reprinted (got to www.criteriondvd.com to read up on the differences between first printings and second printings of dvds), so you can obtain the second printing for around $20. The first printing, however, is said by Criterion to be the hardest to find, but it is possible. I bought it from a seller on this website for $100 and there are still a few others listed. The first printing of this edition has the barcode on the bottom right rather of the dvd (it's on the top right on the reprint).
2. Spine #5--The 400 Blows (1959)
This has also since ... Read More
Rating: - Buy this, skip a year of film school
As a film major, learning about movies and gaining an appeciation for them is something that I pay a hefty fee for each year. While nothing can replace my education, I have gained as much knowledge and love for cinema through watching Criterion DVDs as I have at school. Hell, I've aced many a paper by examining the supplements on these discs. I would undoubtedly buy this set if I could afford it.
Quite simply, this is *the* reference collection of cinema -- both world and American -- that everyone should own if they can afford it and adore the medium of film. Comedy from 'Trouble in Paradise' to 'Rushmore', Bergman from beginning to end. Does it contain every important film ever created? Of course not, but it has so many masterpieces, presented in gorgeous transfers with lavish care, that one's film experience isn't complete until watching some films in the collection.
So it doesn't contain the out-of-print DVDs: get over it. These titles are, yes indeed, out-of-print and therefore not readily available. Criterion is not a film studio, they don't "own" any films -- they "rent" out licenses from studios and sometimes, the rent expires. Several OOP titles can still be purchased separately through Amazon (such as Straw Dogs & The Bank Dick).
Without Criterion, I would never have been exposed to some of my now favorite films, such as: The Red Shoes/Black Narcissus, Charade, Cocteau's Beauty & the Beast, and the Passion of Joan of Arc [the greatest ... Read More
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