criterionforum.org

flyonthewall2983 wrote:Is anyone here going to buy this? If so, please speak up.

So we can run you the fuck out of town...

But seriously, the packaging looks like new disc pressings for the included titles, which defeats the purpose I assumed of having such a weak grab bag of mediocrity (getting rid of excess disc stock).

I can't help but wonder if Major Tom is behind this.

Oh, and everyone should click that packaging link and read the comments at the bottom. While most have the general common sense to realize what a crappy set this is, the overall tone is still... illuminating...

davebert wrote:Oh, and everyone should click that packaging link and read the comments at the bottom. While most have the general common sense to realize what a crappy set this is, the overall tone is still... illuminating...

When I first saw this link earlier in the day, I almost quoted the guy who had 30 of the titles but still wanted the set, I don't think I want to click and see how much worse it's gotten over the course of the day.

I feel like there should be some sort of contest on the board, or a Jackson-type lottery where one of us is forced to buy this set.

This is the Tales from Topographic Oceans of DVD box sets.

Yes!

For anyone who doesn't want this beast (which I assume to be most everybody), MGM seems to be liquidating a lot of its individual UA releases (though not any of those released under Fox). And not just the barebones releases, either (though those seem to be cheaper than ever before too). I've seen the following kicking around:

Platoon 2-Disc (Sony release)-$8
A Bridge too Far 2-Disc-$8
Some Like it Hot 2-Disc-$8
The Great Escape 2-Disc-$8
Ronin 2-Disc-$8
Moonstruck 2-Disc-$8
Hoosiers 2-Disc-$8
Get Shorty 2-Disc-$8
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 2-Disc-$8
The Usual Suspects SE-$8

Babette's Feast-$5
The Misfits-$5
Fellini Satyricon-$5
Fellini's Roma-$5
The Pope of Greenwich Village-$5
The Unforgiven-$5
Paths of Glory-$5
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes-$5

I'm sure there are more out there, so stay sharp; these are just the ones I've seen.

Where online could I find those prices?

dx23 wrote:Where online could I find those prices?

Online I've never seen them so cheap; I'd say in-store is the only way, unfortunately (as is the case with many liquidations). And even then I'm not sure: they were good enough to seem potentially fluky to me, so I'd wait for someone else to corroborate. Sorry if I unduly got any hopes up; just though I'd mention it so as for people to keep an eye open in-store.

Cronenfly wrote:Online I've never seen them so cheap; I'd say in-store is the only way, unfortunately (as is the case with many liquidations). And even then I'm not sure: they were good enough to seem potentially fluky to me, so I'd wait for someone else to corroborate. Sorry if I unduly got any hopes up; just though I'd mention it so as for people to keep an eye open in-store.

Thanks! I will keep my eyes open since I'm very interested in the Hoosiers 2-disc and the Great Escape 2 disc.

I had absolutely no interest in this set, and find the whole thing offensive, but - I received it as a present. (I will be selling it soon, PM me if you're interested). It is literally the most asinine set I've ever seen. The pictures don't do its idiocy justice.

Nevertheless, I opened it, because curiousity got the better of me. First of all, the box weights...I swear to god...24 pounds! The box is made out of metal (?!) and to get out the DVDs, you have to set the whole box upright on a table, then you pull a handle on the side, and actually wheel it out - there's actually a wheel. You wheel it out and then lift a giant book off the rack. When I pulled it out, literally 30 DVDs fell either to the floor, or onto the metal in the box. Just a fucking disaster. The DVDs slide in sideways into paper sleeves in the booklet, and I guarantee that everyone who buys this set (or gets it as a present) will have at least a dozen DVDs spill out on them - at least. And many more will be scratched - talk about impractical DVD packaging, this is the worst I've ever seen. If any of the discs play through, I'd be amazed.

But the worst part about the whole thing is that as elaborate as the package is, with its wheels and metal and bulk, there's nothing to it once you open it. There's nothing, no essays or anything. The design is aesthetically horrific. There's 2 DVDs on each page, and next to the DVD, the title of the film in a "classy" gold font, then a blue picture from each film with a quote from Leonard Maltin or some other crappy critic over each picture (Four starts! A true classic!) The only colors used in the whole set are blue, gold and white, except that each film has a maybe 3 inch x 2 inch full color reproduction of some original poster for that film. That is the best thing this set offers.

It gets even worse: try putting the book back on the rack to wheel it back into the case. You have to place this unwieldy, 15 pound book (the metal box is 9 pounds) which keeps flopping around, upright onto the rack, stand it up and wheel it back in. It has to be upright in order for you to do this, and since there's no way to keep the book closed, it takes a lot of maneuvering. It's actually pretty hilarious. I'm glad I didn't drop my own money on this, but I swear to god--swear to god--I will never buy a product from UA again.

This is probably my favorite thread.

United Artists get a retrospective at Film Forum.

As wretched and crazy as this set sounds, I feel duty-bound to advise that in what seems like a death rattle, Amazon.ca is currently burning off the rest of their stock for $16.49 apiece.

This multi-pound monstrosity must be taking up precious warehouse space for the next plastic-encased deluxe edition of "Twilight: Harvest Moon," or whatever.

prokosch wrote:As wretched and crazy as this set sounds, I feel duty-bound to advise that in what seems like a death rattle, Amazon.ca is currently burning off the rest of their stock for $16.49 apiece.

This multi-pound monstrosity must be taking up precious warehouse space for the next plastic-encased deluxe edition of "Twilight: Harvest Moon," or whatever.

As absurd as this set seems, even after you add the obscene shipping charge to the US, you still get everything for about $0.25 a disc. SOLD.

What do you mean, 'obscene costs'? I have 2 sets delivered to the UK with expedited shipping and i was charged only 10£.

I guess the supreme satisfaction can only be derived by Canadians in this instance, if they were to, for example, order two of these and throw in some bauble to push it over the $39 limit for free shipping, accordingly receiving nearly 50 lbs. of United Artists glory in the mail for zero dollars in shipping.

Then you could give one to the local library, and keep the other in the trunk of your car to assist during tire changes.

I wonder if the code is mixed up with Hotel Paradiso since there is one review for that movie?

All gone now, only a few at $723 left.

Antoine Doinel wrote:United Artists get a retrospective at Film Forum.

They should have picked the titles for the box...
Except, no WHITE ZOMBIE!

I checked my order status and it says "will ship in 1-2 weeks". Is this order likely to get cancelled or does Amazon usually fill inventory in these situations?

Great deal! I'll keep my fingers crossed.

This is ridiculous. Gotta be some mistake.

I ordered this damn monster for a lousy EUR 21,69, including shipping! I'll sell it with a healthy profit and take an extra holiday.

It is a mistake, fingers crossed they honour it!

montgomery wrote:I had absolutely no interest in this set, and find the whole thing offensive, but - I received it as a present. (I will be selling it soon, PM me if you're interested). It is literally the most asinine set I've ever seen. The pictures don't do its idiocy justice.

Nevertheless, I opened it, because curiousity got the better of me. First of all, the box weights...I swear to god...24 pounds! The box is made out of metal (?!) and to get out the DVDs, you have to set the whole box upright on a table, then you pull a handle on the side, and actually wheel it out - there's actually a wheel. You wheel it out and then lift a giant book off the rack. When I pulled it out, literally 30 DVDs fell either to the floor, or onto the metal in the box. Just a fucking disaster. The DVDs slide in sideways into paper sleeves in the booklet, and I guarantee that everyone who buys this set (or gets it as a present) will have at least a dozen DVDs spill out on them - at least. And many more will be scratched - talk about impractical DVD packaging, this is the worst I've ever seen. If any of the discs play through, I'd be amazed.

But the worst part about the whole thing is that as elaborate as the package is, with its wheels and metal and bulk, there's nothing to it once you open it. There's nothing, no essays or anything. The design is aesthetically horrific. There's 2 DVDs on each page, and next to the DVD, the title of the film in a "classy" gold font, then a blue picture from each film with a quote from Leonard Maltin or some other crappy critic over each picture (Four starts! A true classic!) The only colors used in the whole set are blue, gold and white, except that each film has a maybe 3 inch x 2 inch full color reproduction of some original poster for that film. That is the best thing this set offers.

It gets even worse: try putting the book back on the rack to wheel it back into the case. You have to place this unwieldy, 15 pound book (the metal box is 9 pounds) which keeps flopping around, upright onto the rack, stand it up and wheel it back in. It has to be upright in order for you to do this, and since there's no way to keep the book closed, it takes a lot of maneuvering. It's actually pretty hilarious. I'm glad I didn't drop my own money on this, but I swear to god--swear to god--I will never buy a product from UA again.

Oh man, I'm so looking forward to this set. Sounds great!

Damn, if that thing ships, some of you got a hell of a deal.

I wouldn't be surprised if you get it either. I've seen some ridiculous prices on these elaborate boxes around here in the past. Canadians seem to either not like box sets, order too many, or not know how to price them. I remember HMV selling off those E.T. boxes for $4.99, years after they went out of print. I also remember getting one of the Universal Monster classics sets with the head busts for twenty something.

Maybe its just payback for how much Criterions are around here. I've seen them at least twice the suggested retail price.