I can understand the pricing point of other Criterions but why is Spartacus singled out as the most expensive 2-disc set?

Because.

Now pony up the scrap, it's worth every cent...

Because it's worth it!

Mine cost me 7.99 at a Funcoland, used, but in perfect condition.

Because it costs $25 for the name Criterion to be stamped on it and $25 for everything else.

The extra bling goes towards that spine number.. that's about it.

Was lucky enought to get it through Overstock.com last year for $9.99 during one of their sales.

because D.Pham00 bought them all! [look at the bottom row where R2D2 is...all the way at the end]

Damn you! I knew someone would bring this up! I thought i was buying a little too much last year and decided at the last minute not to buy it.

If there is one thing I have learned from all of these deals is never listen to your Signifcant Other when it comes down to crunch time!

From the Criterion website:

It's more expensive because Criterion spent the time and money to do it right (compare Columbia Tristar's 2-disc version of David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia. Fans who bought this for $39.95 will now have to double-dip & buy the upcoming Superbit at $26.95 to get the improved transfer of the color-corrected print--supervised by the same Robert Harris who consulted on this Criterion project-- they should have received from the beginning). It's more expensive because it's loaded with extras (as befits a Kubrick epic). BTW, the online price is around $35 at DDD and DVD Planet.

If the extras and the picture quality don't matter to you, the inferior Universal version can be had for under 15 bucks.

Although the rule is not always true, in this case, you get what you pay for.

The commentary track - with Kirk Douglas (obviously post-stroke but still sounding kick-ass good) as well as Howard Fast and the conditions he wrote the novel in (imprisoned for not naming names to HUAC) and what he thought of the film (he panned it - but you gotta give Criterion credit for having the guts to let him speak) is worth the extra lucre.

This is really one of the forgotten epics of Hollywood, overshadowed by its big brother Ben-Hur (amusing story from Kirk Douglas about that, as well), and while Kubrick didn't consider it one of his "real" films, since he was hired after the original director walked/was fired, there are still enough Kubrick touches that make it one of his best.

See if your local library has a copy to rent (if they've got DVD), and be prepared to pay a late fee going through all the extras. Bum one from a friend, call around to video rental stores that aren't Blockbuster or Hollywood. Try a university library (whether or not you're a college student) and see if they will let you watch it there or at home - some universities do have rentals for non-students, but sometimes they ask for a hefty fee or deposit.

In short: This. Disc. Is. Worth. It.

Interesting. I think I may check this out.

You can get it for $25 at dvdplanet.

I don't think that's expensive at all for what you get.

DVD Planet has it listed at $32.47 (35% off, like all their Criterions), plus they would charge an additional $3 S&H, totalling about $35.

Still a bargain, I would argue.

oops, sorry - it was $25 when I bought it at dvdplanet on the day it came out.

Speaking of that "improved" transfer of the color corrected print on the upcoming Superbit of Lawrence of Arabia, I was wondering, is the single disc version an "improved" transfer over the original 2-disc set? If not, then I guess I'll be getting the Superbit to get the best picture. However, it would be nice to get the single disc version because the 200 minute+ film is on 1 disc.

Overstock $9.99 kicked ass... I got a few, even though I had one already!

Negative... If you don't yet own LOA, grab the Superbit... Pick up the LE from Columbia House (see the clubs forum), while it's still available, with a phone enrollment if you want the extras...

Same here, and mine is still sealed, haven't found time to really watch it