What Have You Just Ordered or Received?

[gasteropod]

My second viewing of Antichrist has made me such a fan that I've decided to double-dip on the Criterion whilst it's in the sale at B&N

[bradavon]

I didn't know about a Barnes & Nobile sale. Do you have a relevant link at hand? Is this it? -

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s?fmt=BLU ... &view=grid
Criterions: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/criteri ... &store=DVD

How much cheaper does this make them? It doesn't seem by much.

[gasteropod]

They're 50% off: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/Criteri ... KQ-_-3:313

[bradavon]

Thanks. Traffic (pre-order though) and Chungking Express interest me (out of stock).

The Double Life of Veronique, Gomorrah, Che, The Thin Red Line and Black Narcissus I'm also interested in.

Double Life of Veronique already has an excellent UK BD though (much cheaper), the same for Gomorrah and Che (I have the BDs). The Thin Red Line and Black Narcissus reportedly utilise the same transfer as their cheaper UK BDs (more extras on the Criterions though).

Given the stark price difference, the Criterion needs to be a lot better.

p.s - Did you go for the Criterion Anti-Christ because the UK one is 1080i? Otherwise they look similar.

[gasteropod]

Nope, Antichrist was shot at 25fps so the UK BD is correct, I just want the nicer package of the Criterion. I'll compare their motion when I receive it, as the UK one on my setup has slightly weird motion, perhaps it'll look more natural in 24fps. But that's not why I'm double-dipping, the UK one is fine.

[gasteropod]

Ordered:

[Markgway]

I considered going for the Dazed & Confused Criterion... but the postage for ONE disc at B&N is a hefty $8.49. That kinda ruins the sale for me as it would bump the total up to about £20. Remember customs now has a £15 max limit in case anyone had forgotten.

[gasteropod]

Yeah and it's the slowest post in the world, it takes exactly a whole month to arrive every fucking time! But it still works out the cheapest for Criterion Blu-rays if you live outside of America.

[grim_tales]

I considered going for the Dazed & Confused Criterion... but the postage for ONE disc at B&N is a hefty $8.49. That kinda ruins the sale for me as it would bump the total up to about £20. Remember customs now has a £15 max limit in case anyone had forgotten.

Does the disc come to £15 without postage though? Postage wouldnt be included in the limit.
I forgot about customs so will almost certainly be nabbed for my order

[bradavon]

Nope, Antichrist was shot at 25fps so the UK BD is correct

Why did I think DVD Beaver would have a clue what they're on about. They're discounting the UK BD for being interlaced. Despite being 25fps, why couldn't it be progressive though?

So you're saying the Criterion is wrong? That's unusual of Criterion. Fair enough on the packaging. I had the USA Terminator 2 BD and sold it to get the UK one (same disc, better packaging).

but the postage for ONE disc at B&N is a hefty $8.49. That kinda ruins the sale for me as it would bump the total up to about £20.

£17.74 delivered for a $19.99 disc. That is reasonable for a Criterion but it's still expensive, especially when many Criterions have excellent UK discs. I'll likely pick up Traffic Criterion at some point (due Jan 2012). The Universal USA HD-DVD was an upscale (virtually no extras) and I bet their Blu-ray is too. It's owned by EIV over here, enough said. The Criterion DVD is excellent.

Come on someone/Criterion release "In the mood for love". That one I would pay Criterion prices for, it's my fave WKW film.

Remember customs now has a £15 max limit in case anyone had forgotten.

I had forgotten thanks but like Grim says it won't include postage. £15 is ridiculously, basically discounting Criterions and any box sets. A $19.99 Criterion blu-ray would get through, IF B&N don't do what Amazon do and mark the value of the disc on the packaging "before" the sale. I remember being caught out by that a while ago.

They don't do that right gasteropod?

[gasteropod]

Why did I think DVD Beaver would have a clue what they're on about. They're discounting the UK BD for being interlaced. Despite being 25fps, why couldn't it be progressive though?

So you're saying the Criterion is wrong? That's unusual of Criterion.

Well they had to make it 24 Hz for America because their systems aren't really compatible with 25 Hz. The transfer was approved by Lars Von Trier and by all accounts has no problems, I'm intrigued about comparing it with my UK one when it arrives though to see if the sound pitch is lower due to being slowed down. Also, Antichrist will have been shown at 24 fps at non-digital theatrical screenings anyway - European cinemas can do 25 fps but American ones generally can't to my knowledge.

As for being progressive, I believe 25p isn't meant to be a supported frame rate on Blu-ray, however I did read a while ago something that Masters of Cinema wrote about they found a way to get around that by flagging it as interlaced, and it then plays as progressive. Something like that anyway, weird as it sounds. They didn't end up releasing a disc in 25 Hz though due to requests from American customers because they'd have problems playing it.

[gasteropod]

IF B&N don't do what Amazon do and mark the value of the disc on the packaging "before" the sale. I remember being caught out by that a while ago.

They don't do that right gasteropod?

I couldn't say for sure as I haven't checked, but I haven't had any customs charges so far. That sounds dead stupid anyway, as if Amazon does that! That's just plain wrong as it's not what you paid, so they are in fact giving customs false information.

Also, don't forget to Google voucher codes for B&N, there are usually a few going to knock another few dollars off.

[grim_tales]

I got the Shrek the Whole Story BD set for $37.49 (now $49.99) so could get nabbed but we'll see.

[gasteropod]

I got the Shrek the Whole Story BD set for $37.49 (now $49.99) so could get nabbed but we'll see.

And what a piece of shit to get nabbed on

[grim_tales]

I like Shrek

[gasteropod]

You've got Amélie to watch!

[grim_tales]

Recieved:

Being John Malkovich BD - putting it away for Xmas
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind BD

[saltysam]

i believe B&N mark packages as books so should be customs safe.

[bradavon]

That sounds dead stupid anyway, as if Amazon does that! That's just plain wrong as it's not what you paid, so they are in fact giving customs false information.

There was a big Amazon.com sale a few years back, loads of people kept their packages under the £18 limit and then got a customs charge. It was a right mess. They claimed they had to put the original value, as that's what "it's worth". Like you say, that's bollocks. Amazon ended up refunding people the customs charge.

It was on here too, don't you remember? Thanks for the info on 24Hz vs. 25Hz.

Also, don't forget to Google voucher codes for B&N, there are usually a few going to knock another few dollars off.

Good point. Thanks. Traffic's the only Criterion BD I'd pay Criterion prices for. I'll have to remember to look when it comes out.

You've got Amélie to watch!

Bradavon likes this.

i believe B&N mark packages as books so should be customs safe.

How would that make a difference?

[HungFist]

What's up with Grim and Gas buying more dvds than I do?





Btw, it seems Amazon.com sends pre-order and in-stock items separately (even if you choose "ship together"). That has been the case for me the last two times at least. So, there's a chance to avoid the customs yet save on shipping... at your own risk, of course.

You've got Amélie to watch!

Bradavon likes this.

Tried rewatching my dvd a while back, and realized it's a bad movie with good music. For sale now.

[bradavon]

Bad meaning the same as sick right? Then agreed .

[saltysam]

i believe B&N mark packages as books so should be customs safe.

How would that make a difference?

i was under the impression books were exempt,i've ordered books for my brother well over customs limit and never been hit.

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/in ... 157AAHGtPp

[gasteropod]

I want to order Rushmore BD but it's £17, I am infuriated about this new customs limit!!!!

[bradavon]

That links also says "gifts" under £40 are exempt, if only retailers would mark goods as gifts . It doesn't mention books but I've managed to find out "books that you read are zero rated. Cheque books, books of cloakroom tickets, notebooks etc are all classified as stationery and hence standard rated."

Again if only all retailers marked parcels as books. That's worth knowing with B&N.

Are you going to risk it Gas?

[gasteropod]

Sometimes if you ask a seller to mark it as a gift, they will do, I may give it a go with this.