ROTTEN TOMATOES: When Is A DVD Worth $400? A Look At Criterion Collectibles Comments

When Is A DVD Worth $400? A Look At Criterion Collectibles

by Jen Yamato | April 27, 2007

Summary

When is a DVD worth $400? To DVD enthusiasts, it's when said disc is a rare Criterion white-ring issue of Pier Pasolini's 1975 film "Salo," which can go for upwards of a few Benjamin Franklins in today's collectors' market. Back to Article

(1-16 of 16 posts) | Reply

Jofo1185 writes:
on Apr 27 2007 03:12 PM

[b]CC[/b]
I have many Criterion collection dvds, and I must say they are the best of the best when it comes to dvds.

(Reply to this)

blank blank writes:
on Apr 27 2007 04:15 PM

royal tennenbaums rules

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gratefuldawg writes:
on Apr 27 2007 07:47 PM

Two things wrong with Criterion. First, is thier licensing deal with the studios which allows the films available in limited quanities. And secondly is the price which is absurdly high for a DVD for the average working stiff. You really half to pick and choose carefully. Which is unfortunate considering thier superb production values.

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dracula68 writes:
on Apr 27 2007 08:23 PM

Criterion's reissue of "Carnival Of Souls" is one of the best packages. Criterion's overall pricing of 30-40 bucks -- let's put it this way. For what they give you, it's a cinephile's dream at relatively inexpensive prices. That's 30-40 for multi-disc sets with hours of extra features if you're into that sort of thing.

Would love to see Criterion reissues of "The Red Balloon" and "Breakfast Club".

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TheAnswerMVP2001 writes:
on Apr 27 2007 09:54 PM

A DVD is never worth $400, maybe to the fanatics but not to the regular viewing public. Extra features are nice but I have to say, I hardly ever watch the bonus features on any DVD. Also many Criterion DVD's are available for rent on Netflix I know Carnival Of Souls is.

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eastern2western writes:
on Apr 27 2007 10:03 PM

could I put those dvds on my block buster on line list?

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mssk8erboy writes:
on Apr 27 2007 10:53 PM

Blank Blank is right on... I have the Royal Tenenbaums Criterion DVD along with Rushmore and Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, they are amazing.

-MIKE

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filmfascist writes:
on Apr 28 2007 12:39 AM

Criterion Collection is my boyfriend.

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luckystar writes:
on Apr 28 2007 07:39 AM

Considering that Criterion charged $70 - $90 for Laserdiscs I bought such as "Breaking the Waves" and "The Silence of the Lambs", the $30 - $40 for their DVDs is discount pricing. $400, though.....Too rich for my blood.

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FireflyFan4evr writes:
on Apr 28 2007 10:02 AM

I've never really been into any of the films that Criterion has released, mainly because: I haven't seen them before, they are way too expensive to blindly purchase (they go for between $40-$110 in Canada, and HMV is the only place that carries them in regular stock), and most of the films I haven't even heard of.

I'd like to see Fellini's 8 1/2, along with the new release of La Haine and whenever they get around to releasing Breathless.

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WeaponAndy writes:
on Apr 28 2007 03:08 PM

I don't care how good the damn thing is. $400 is just too much for a frakkin' DVD.

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jubarmh writes:
on Apr 29 2007 08:23 AM

Okay, I have one major problem with the above article. The criterion release of Salo is total crap. Two major studios have put out (non region 1) DVDs which are far superior in quality to the Criterion disc (and they sell for about $15). And as far as special features go, there are none on the Criterion DVD ("non-Criterion (read: barebones)"...please...the writer of this article should do their research first). So why then would people spend $400 for this? Because arthouse idiots worship Criterion, even though a large number of their releases are rather bare bones and subpar.

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taran72 writes:
on Apr 29 2007 10:34 AM

Brazil Criterion rocks.

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homeimp writes:
on Apr 29 2007 11:58 AM

In reply to this comment (#863083)
I have noticed the barebones approach on some Criterion DVD's as well. For example David Lean's Great Expectations & Oliver Twist, also Pygmalion. Kind of disappointing, especially as the price remains high.

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Flim Springfield writes:
on Apr 29 2007 03:58 PM

I want a Criterion "Star Wars". Just "Star Wars", none of the other ones, and keep George Lucas far away when working on it.

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zgberg writes:
on Apr 29 2007 11:31 PM

[b]This is npt pne fpr feint hearted[/b]
Funny thing about Passolini'
s Salo is he was killed a shortwhile later making homosexual advances on an unsuspecting, and offended, hitch hiker.

This movie one of those where you question how important it really is - on the surface its about torture, sex gratiuitous violence.

On the other hand, it is commentaty on the breakdown of a facist state like Mussilini's (incendentally, the town of Salo was his last retreat before the fall of facist italy.

BTW, Marian Keane was one of my professors before she didnt get tenure at CU Bouilder - she runs the collection now (rot in hell Marian!) Keep ripping off peeps on a movie that most peoplet think is the most vile film ever made

Also Prof Kean, Gong li sold out!!!

(Reply to this)

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