The Criterion Collection

Time Bandits

Terry Gilliam

Erik Morton: “Go with the UK blu-ray from Optimum - the progressive transfer ain't that great, but it beats the interlaced transfer on the current US release.”

The Silence of the Lambs

Jonathan Demme

Erik Morton: “Sad that it's OOP, but while the current MGM blu-ray ain't spectacular, it's none too shabby (not to mention cheap).”

Last Year at Marienbad

Alain Resnais

Léon Morin, Priest

Jean-Pierre Melville

Robinson Crusoe on Mars

Byron Haskin

Erik Morton: “Goofy title, surprisingly smart story (all things considered). Paul Mantee is great. And those visuals of the Martian landscape are to die for!”

Le cercle rouge

Jean-Pierre Melville

Army of Shadows

Jean-Pierre Melville

Black Moon

Louis Malle

Erik Morton: “Nowhere near as interesting as I'd hoped; my favorite aspect was the evocative landscape. Must take a trip to that part of France someday . . .”

Zazie dans le métro

Louis Malle

Erik Morton: “Goes on a bit longer than I would have preferred, but even that's a mere matter of "too much of a good thing." This is SUCH a wonderful movie!”

Les visiteurs du soir

Marcel Carné

Withnail and I

Bruce Robinson

Erik Morton: “If you can, get the now-OOP Anchor Bay UK blu-ray from 2009 with extras. Skip the US release and the StudioCanal UK re-release (both barebones).”

Grand Illusion

Jean Renoir

Erik Morton: “While it is indeed heartbreaking for Spine Numero Uno to have left the collection, the Region B 'StudioCanal Collection' blu-ray really is stellar.”

The Man Who Fell to Earth

Nicolas Roeg

America Lost and Found: The BBS Story

Erik Morton: “An invaluable treasure trove of New American Cinema. Every single film in this collection just gets better and better with each new viewing.”

The Gold Rush

Charles Chaplin

Erik Morton: “Cinema has rarely been so sublime . . . You can keep the '42 rerelease with Chaplin's overbearing narration, I'll stick with the '25 silent version!”

Summer with Monika

Ingmar Bergman

Erik Morton: “Took several directions I was not expecting it to take, and it's all the richer for it. Features one of the all-time great breakthrough performances.”

Summer Interlude

Ingmar Bergman

Erik Morton: “Having been to Sweden numerous times, the film's wistful romanticization of the country's summer landscape hits particularly close to home.”

Harold and Maude

Hal Ashby

Erik Morton: “Some aspects feel antiquated, but the film's universal message of love (loving others, loving oneself, loving life) has lost none of its appeal.”

Godzilla

Ishiro Honda

Erik Morton: “As a lifelong Godzilla-phile, I was positively stoked for this release. I'm STILL thrilled about it. Blows Classic Media's blu-ray out of the water!”

The Complete Jean Vigo

Erik Morton: “L'Atalante is one of those films that can't help but sum up just about everything great about the cinema. A reminder of what film is capable of.”

Modern Times

Charlie Chaplin

Erik Morton: “The Little Tramp's swan song doesn't quite reach the heights of his previous films, but it's still a fitting farewell.”

The Darjeeling Limited

Wes Anderson

Crumb

Terry Zwigoff

Stagecoach

John Ford

Erik Morton: “My go-to choice when I want to recommend a film to all those poor fools out there who claim that "old movies are boring." This is riveting stuff!”

Chungking Express

Wong Kar-wai

Erik Morton: “I'm not as enamored with Wong Kar-wai's techniques as most seem to be, but his insights into romantic longing and loneliness are always spot-on.”

Pierrot le fou

Jean-Luc Godard

Breathless

Jean-Luc Godard

Erik Morton: “One of those films where at least some understanding of its historical context is practically mandatory for enjoying the movie to its full potential.”

If....

Lindsay Anderson

Erik Morton: “Something for the rebel in all of us . . . It's a fantastic movie. And one of the most aptly titled films ever!”

The Battle of Algiers

Gillo Pontecorvo

Erik Morton: “One of the most freakishly well-constructed films ever made; regardless of your personal politics, this movie sucks you in and never lets you go.”

Smiles of a Summer Night

Ingmar Bergman

Erik Morton: “I'm not as crazy about it as the rest of the world seems to be, but it's nice to see Bergman tackling more lighthearted fair.”

The Rules of the Game

Jean Renoir

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Terry Gilliam

Erik Morton: “Despite what many say, Thompson's social commentary is still intact (though it admittedly takes a backseat to Gilliam's visual flair). SO quotable!!”

Children of Paradise

Marcel Carné

Playtime

Jacques Tati

Erik Morton: “Not my favorite of Tati's pictures (Hulot is MIA for far too long, during which time the film tends to drag), but it's still a treat and a gem.”

The Last Temptation of Christ

Martin Scorsese

Erik Morton: “I'm Agnostic, but this is one of the most endlessly fascinating films I've ever seen. I could easily watch it several nights in a row.”

Orpheus

Jean Cocteau

Erik Morton: “An anti-mythic myth. My first viewing was underwhelming, but this is one I look forward to revisiting many times to come.”

Rushmore

Wes Anderson

Erik Morton: “Anderson hits his stride. It still feels fresh; this is the filmmaker before his signature style began to grow stale. A very funny and moving film.”

The Third Man

Carol Reed

Erik Morton: “Film noir usually ain't my cup of tea, but this one's a keeper. Boy did Carol Reed know how to make a movie. "The cuckoo clock!" Priceless.”

The 39 Steps

Alfred Hitchcock

Erik Morton: “Early Hitchcock, i.e. before his films acquired the psychological complexity they'd later be known for . . . in other words, it's just plain fun!”

Yojimbo/Sanjuro Box Set

Akira Kurosawa

The Seventh Seal

Ingmar Bergman

Erik Morton: “A classic among classics (to call it iconic would be like calling Everest a molehill) that holds up as an engaging and engrossing film.”

Beauty and the Beast

Jean Cocteau

Erik Morton: “Aesthetically intoxicating, yes, but Jean Marias' magnificent performance as the titular beast is the real star of the show. A powerhouse.”

The Lady Vanishes

Alfred Hitchcock

Erik Morton: “Early Hitchcock, i.e. before his films acquired the psychological complexity they'd later be known for . . . in other words, it's just plain fun!”

Seven Samurai

Akira Kurosawa

Erik Morton: “If someone were to put a loaded gun to my head demanding that I name the greatest motion picture ever made . . . I'd probably go with 'Seven Samurai'.”