Masahiro Shinoda creates a gangster romance that has no equal in the Japanese cinema. Haunting and beautiful, in this movie a gambling addict falls in love with Saeko, who is played by Mariko Kaga. The two eventually go down a path of mutual destruction culminating in unforgeatable finale. The only drawback to the package that Criterion Colelction has put together with this is the price considering the higher tier pricing with little extras. I would suggest getting it while on sale
This is widely considered as the first psychothriller and police procedural ever produced. Set at the end of Germany's Weimar era, it stars the brilliant Peter Lorre. This is one of Criterion's best releases in terms of extras and comes highly recommended
Ingmar Bergman's classic is still one of the pillars of 1950s cinema and one of the darkest movies you will ever see. Antonius Block (played by Max von Sydow) returns to his native Sweden during the Plague to realize that he is about to die when Death visits him. Antonius invites Death to a chess game hoping to outwit him. A commentary on religion and morality, it is one of the darkest movies I've seen, and lovers will also enjoy The Virgin Spring, another of Bergman's classics. The 2nd disc is loaded with extras, including the excellent documentary, Bergman's Island. Highly recommended.
A village is attacked by bandits and 7 samurai band together to rid the village of the threat. This is the plot of Kurosawa's arguebly most famous movie. Criterion collection have done an amazing job restoring the movie and it is a pleasure watching it on blu. Just make sute you watch it in 2 sittings, as the movie is more than 3 hours long
This is probably Godards best movie, staring Jean Seberg and Jean Paul Belmondo. Filmed in Paris in the 60s, it is a prime example of the French New Wave film movement. The picture quality of this blu-ray is amazing and the 2nd disc is loaded with extras
My Best Buy number: 2124655869
What's great about it: New Wave feel, picture quality
Gillo Pontecorvo has created this semi documentary movie that still stands out as a milestone in film making. The movie is played by locals and is filmed on site in Algiers. It portrays correctly the attrocities commited by both the French and the Algerians in Algeria's struggle for independence. The extras which are hours in length are excellent and worth the buy by themselves
this is the typical movie you would watch when you just want to see something that is fun and you don't want to spend any energy trying to figure out the plot. it ranks with the likes of big trouble in chinatown
The restoration of this classic is simply fantastic. The folks at Sony have created something that looks as if though it was filmed yesterday. You should watch it once for the transfer and once for the plot. The image is increadibly clean and there is a level of sharpness that I have not yet seen in another film of this age. The audio quality is impecable as well.
My Best Buy number: 2124655869
What's great about it: transfer, sound, everything