Why buy Criterion Collection

Posted by Brian C. Gibson (brian@filmschoolrejects.com) on June 14, 2006

While searching through DVD titles at your favorite place of business have you ever noticed a title that has the words “The Criterion Collection” near the top of the jacket? Once you noticed the fact that these editions generally retail for $10 more than the average, did you immediately put the copy back or did something possibly spark your curiosity? When some of my favorite Wes Anderson films were being released as a part of The Criterion Collection and I found my beloved Rushmore to be retailing for $39.95, I had to know why.

When visiting the Criterion Collection’s website, I found that they have hundreds of titles (currently 350 DVD releases). For the answer to my question about the price tag of Criterion’s releases, I looked no further than to their mission statement:

The Criterion Collection, a continuing series of important classic and contemporary films, is dedicated to gathering the greatest films from around the world and publishing them in editions that offer the highest technical quality and award-winning, original supplements. Criterion began with a mission to pull the treasures of world cinema out of the film vaults and put them in the hands of collectors. All of the films published under the Criterion banner represent cinema at its finest. In our seventeen years, we’ve seen a lot of things change, but one thing has remained constant: our commitment to publishing the defining moments of cinema in the world’s best digital editions.

In short if you want the definitive DVD copy of Seven Samurai, directed by the legendary Akira Kurosawa, you can find it as spine # 2 and retailing for $39.99. Not only do the films have the best possible picture and sound quality, but Criterion searches the world for the very best supplements to compliment the film.

While a commentary track may not seem like a big deal any more, consider the fact that Criterion’s library has had to travel from almost two dozen countries to find film makers and actors that live thousands of miles away and ask for their involvement. Be sure to know that when Criterion purchases the rights to a film, it will go through a process that will satisfy your every need for the film’s legacy. In a time where we have “Special Deluxe Ultimate Platinum Limited Editions” coming out one after another, buying DVDs can get pretty expensive after you buy a movie several times. So save yourself the trouble from purchasing the “Flashback Edition” of Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused, and go out and get the new Criterion Collection #336 that came out a week ago (mine is currently shipping).

Not only will you have the greatest version of some of your favorite films, The Criterion Collection will be sure to encourage you to broaden your cinematic horizons. I have seen some films that I probably never would have heard of, if it weren’t for Criterion. Check out my Vault review for Ascenseur pour l’©chafaud / Elevator to the Gallows coming up next.

Read more articles by Brian C. Gibson