Brand Upon The Brain! - The Criterion Collection (DVD)

Have you ever disliked a Criterion release, Chris (other than Armaggedon - that's too easy)? Just wondering, because I don't recall every seeing even a luke-warm review from you, and Criterion releases for me are hit-and-miss. Many come of as pretentious and indulgent.

Sorry about the typos, but for some reason it won't let me edit my comment to correct them.

chris hated "the ice storm".

Criterion releases very good movies, so it's hardly a random sample. There aren't a lot I have given negative reviews too which is amusing because when I started this job, expecting to review a more random sample, I expected to lose the job within a few months after I panned about 90&#37 of the movies I reviewed.

Relatively recently (out of the last 50 releases), I have given negative reviews to Dazed and Confused, House of Games, Under the Volcano, Sawdust and Tinsel, and The Ice Storm. And 6/10 (lukewarm) to Vengeance is Mine, Patriotism, and Sweet Movie. Lots of 7's in there, but that's more than lukewarm.

I guess I missed those ones. Thanks. I only ask because I've added a lot to my wishlist based on the glowing recommendations you give, but I've hesitated to put down the extra cash based on one reviewer. I know there are reviewers who are a bit elitist, and worship the ground Criterion walks on. Good to know you aren't one of them.

Well, I'm definitely an elitist, but I don't greenlight everything Criterion makes. I think that at least 80&#37 of what they release is pretty darn good, and some of it flat-out great but I wish they'd be more adventurous in exploring the outer edges of the film canon and it would be nice if they discovered the continent of Africa or non-Japan Asia.

I'm happy to hear that you get some use from my reviews: that makes the work more satisfying. However, I'm a firm believer that everyone is an expert on what they like or dislike and I try my best not to predict for people or a general audience (of readers) what they will or won't like. My one recommendation which I feel completely confident in is that you shouldn't just go by the number ratings. I hope our reviews here can provide some sense of the film (and something more than a plot summary) and give you some feel about whether or not it might be your kind of movie. I can't imagine there's anyone in the world who is going to like or value everything that I do in film. We all have our preoccupations. I like more formally challenging material: others just want a good story.

And if Criterion sends me a review copy of the re-release of "Salo" this month, you'll be seeing another negative review.

No, I would never add anything to my collection based on a number. I read the review, looking for aspects of the story and the telling of the story that I believe would appeal to me (Vampyr would be a recent example).