Top 5 Criterion DVD's

I don't have many unfortunately, but here are my favourites:

1. Harakiri
2. Ikiru
3. Kagemusha
4. Jules and Jim
5. The Wages of Fear

These are based on the film/extras combination, I only own the original releases of Yojimbo, Sanjuro, and Seven Samurai, otherwise they'd be on the list for sure. Others I enjoy are The Rules of the Game, The Virgin Spring and The Battle of Algiers, all of which are awesome packages.

EDIT: Acually, now that I think about it, I do have quite a few Criterions...

On the whole, I've relied on Criterion for some excellent noir releases, so you'll have to forgive this list being a little heavy on that.

The Complete Mr. Arkadin
Rules of the Game
The Third Man (There's a new 2-disc remastered version coming out that will certainly trump this)
Rififi
Sullivan's Travels

None of you have the 3-disc edition of Brazil? For shame. The documentary Battle of Brazil alone is enough to give it top marks.

I don't really have a Top 5 as I haven't seen nearly enough to be an authoritative judge on the issue, but I'd like to say that the Beastie Boys Video Anthology is still one of the best DVDs I have in my collection.

My favorites, if only because as a whole it feels like a lesson in cinematic knowledge from the moment you venture into discovering each disc's many treats.

SEVEN SAMURAI (re-release)
COMPLETE MR. ARKADIN
PLAYTIME (re-release)
KNIFE IN THE WATER (Polanski's shorts are the icing on a very psychologically-probed cake. Even with the awkward moniker on my end, it's still a cake I'd eat.)
COMPLETE ADVENTURES OF ANTOINE DOINEL

Pick just 5 from the 75 I own? Hmmm...

In other news, I hate you. Mad crazy jealousy, yo. I don't own a single Criterion.

Hard Boiled - My first CC Dvd, have watched it more than any other.
Burden of Dreams - One of my favorite documetaries.
Brazil - comments unnecessary
Night and the City - not that many extras or anything, bet a great, little film.
Seven Samurai - re-release, obviously.

1) The Rules of the Game
2) Trouble in Paradise
3) Six Moral Tales
4) Red Beard
5) Straw Dogs

You should have asked Belethedheliel for one at Xmas.


Love ya, Bele.

Shocked NOTORIOUS hasn't been mentioned. Such a beautifully and masterfully conceptualized flick.

Bele pulled more than her weight on the X-Mas Exchange. Star Wars Trilogy, Footloose, and a dildo-esque dog toy.

Ha! I only own 5. That negates the usual list-making torture session:

...but now, what order?

1) Rashomon
2) Grand Illusion
3) Seventh Seal
4) Hiroshima Mon Amour
5) Alphaville

...if I had the new Seven Samurai, that would undoubtably be #1 though.

In no order:
Seven Samurai Reissue
8 1/2
Spellbound
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Rebecca

Also just ordered more Fellini movies from DeepDiscount.com, they have a very good sale opn Criterions right now.

Ah! I just can't chose five.

Seven Samurai, The Lady Vanishes, The Seventh Seal, Silence of the Lambs, The Naked Kiss, M, The Most Dangerous Game, Brazil 3 Disc, Yojimbo,Sanjuro, The 39 Steps, Charade, Life of Brian, The Third Man, Rushmore, The Last Temptation of Christ, Chasing Amy, The Bank Dick, The Lady Eve, Spartacus, The Rock, My Man Godfrey, Rififi, The Hidden Fortress, Sullivan's Travels, Withnail & I, Rebecca, Spellbound, Notorious,Rashomon, Wild Strawberries, 8 1/2, Bob le Flambeur, The Royal Tenenbaums, Man Bites Dog, Pepe le Moko, Bande a part,Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, The Killers, Throne of blood, The Rules of the Game, Le cercle rouge, La strada, Naked Lunch, Pickup on South Street, Testament of Dr Mabuse, Stray Dog, Slacker, Shadows, Faces, A Woman Under the Influence, Killing of a Chinese Bookie, Opening Night, Short Cuts, Casque d'or, Touchez pas au grisbi, Night and the City, F for Fake, Heaven Can Wait, The Life Aquatic, The Man Who Fell To Earth, Le samourai, Kill!, Samurai Spy, Sword of the Beast, Samurai Rebellion, Shoot the Piano Player, Ran, The Bad Sleep Well, The Complete Mr Arkadin, Elevator to the Gallows, Dazed and Confused, Kicking and Screaming, Bicycle Thieves, Green for Danger

And i can't wait to get Naked City this month

You have too many. Give some to me.

Got a hot sister or anything?

Hmm

1 Seven Samurai (remastered)
2 Fanny and Alexander(both movies and docs, took me a year to realize the secert inside the box)
3 Ran
4 Man Who Fell To Earth
5 La Strada

I slowed up on purchasing more until blu ray wins ouy, and Criterion starts releasing in high def, the thought of a remastered Red Shoes and Black Narcissus in high def makes me shake with joy.

1-5:Rififi

I'll give you them both for Ran. Hell, I'll even chuck the cat in. It's not mine.

Brazil
Rashomon
Rebecca
Wages of Fear
M

I love the "Armegeddon" Criterion for the commentery alone:

Ben Affleck makes fun of Billy Bob for about five minutes:

"Gonna show you boys some "down home" NASA science, umm hummm".

Plus there's two or three scenes added back into the movie.

1 - Rushmore - This is one of the few DVDs that actually feel very personal, and all of the extras and menus perfectly reflect the movies feel
2 - Amarcord (re-release) - From the beautiful cover, and the marvelous booklet, Fellini's classic gets the transfer it really deserved. Watching the new DVD actually enhances my love for this movie.
3 - The Wages of Fear - The documentary on Clouzot was a fantastic inclusion, and it really adds to the characters motivations in the movie, and their complete lack in hope. Another DVD with a fantastic transfer.
4 - M - A great set of extras that simply explains the importance of this masterpiece. I recall there being some really fun interviews with Lang as well.
5 - Jules et Jim - Again, the extras do a great job of explaining the beauty of this movie. The booklet contains some well written essays from critics and Truffault, and you can really understand the love people get out of this movie.

There are certainly some Criterions that feature better movies than the ones listed above, but my list is comprised of DVDs that really further enhance the enjoyment of the movie. I'd love to have more documentaries on DVDs from Jean Renoir (specifically Grande illusion, and La Bête humaine) or about Melville, but the Criterions in my collection are still amongst my best movies and DVDs that I own.

Quickly, best covers go to Amarcord, Onibaba and The Testament of Dr. Mabuse (the last two which I bought based on the cover alone).

Kagemusha is my favourite cover:

M
Brazil
3rd Man
7 Samurai
BRD Trilogy