Are you all in?

So you think you're one of those independent-minded, Hollywood-hating, mainstream-shunning film buffs, do you?

Well now you're going to get your chance to officially put up or shut up . . .

The fantastic work of the fine folks at Janus Films and those Criterion DVDs we all know and enjoy cannot be lauded enough. They have undertaken the restoration, preservation and distribution of films that would otherwise pass into cinematic oblivion. My hat's off to them.

This is why I was really interested when I learned that they are producing a massive boxset with book detailing the 50-year history of Janus, complete with the following DVD titles:

ALEXANDER NEVSKY / ASHES AND DIAMONDS
L'AVVENTURA / BALLAD OF A SOLDIER / BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
BLACK ORPHEUS / BRIEF ENCOUNTER / THE FALLEN IDOL
FIRES ON THE PLAIN / FISTS IN THE POCKET / FLOATING WEEDS
FORBIDDEN GAMES / THE 400 BLOWS / GRAND ILLUSION
HÄXAN / IKIRU / IVAN THE TERRIBLE (Part II)
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST / LE JOUR SE LÈVE
JULES AND JIM / KIND HEARTS AND CORONETS
KNIFE IN THE WATER / THE LADY VANISHES
LOVES OF A BLONDE / THE LIFE AND DEATH OF COLONEL BLIMP
M. HULOT'S HOLIDAY / MISS JULIE / PANDORA'S BOX
PÉPÉ LE MOKO / IL POSTO / PYGMALION
RASHOMON RICHARD III / THE RULES OF THE GAME
SEVEN SAMURAI / THE SEVENTH SEAL
THE SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE / LA STRADA / SUMMERTIME
THE THIRD MAN / THE 39 STEPS / UGETSU
UMBERTO D. / THE VIRGIN SPRING / VIRIDIANA
THE WAGES OF FEAR / THE WHITE SHEIK
WILD STRAWBERRIES
THREE DOCUMENTARIES: THE GREAT CHASE, THE LOVE GODDESSES AND PAUL ROBESON: TRIBUTE TO AN ARTIST

Where my excitement was somewhat staunched was the link for the pre-order.

Price (before Oct. 24): $650
Suggested retail price: $850

Yikes. I'm sure I would really enjoy the hours of entertainment this set has to offer, but there is no way I can bring myself to pay that much. Even if I could afford it I'm not sure I would do it . .

So if you happen to get this, would you consider loaning it out to a fellow film aficionado?