Sorry, this item is not available in
Image not available for
Color:
Image not available

To view this video download Flash Player

 

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
Sell Us Your Item
For up to a $7.19 Gift Card
Trade in
More Buying Choices
Amazon.com Add to Cart
$21.34  & FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details
Have one to sell? Sell yours here

Cronos (The Criterion Collection) (1993)

Federico Luppi , Ron Perlman , Guillermo del Toro  |  R |  DVD
3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (67 customer reviews)

List Price: $29.95
Price: $21.07 & FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save: $8.88 (30%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In Stock.
Sold by newbury_comics and Fulfilled by Amazon. Gift-wrap available.
Want it Tuesday, May 28? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details
Watch Instantly with Rent Buy
Cronos   $2.99 $14.99

Other Formats & Versions

Amazon Price New from Used from
Blu-ray The Criterion Collection $25.93  
DVD 1-Disc Version $21.07  
"Star Trek Into Darkness" Available for Pre-order on Blu-ray and DVD
From director J.J. Abrams comes the next installment in the Star Trek saga, Star Trek Into Darkness. See it at Cinemark theaters now and pre-order on Blu-ray, 3D Blu-ray, DVD, and the Exclusive Starfleet Phaser Gift Set. Shop Star Trek Into Darkness and more in the Star Trek Store. Learn more

Frequently Bought Together

Cronos (The Criterion Collection) + The Devil's Backbone (Special Edition) + Pan's Labyrinth
Price for all three: $32.97

Buy the selected items together

What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?


Product Details

  • Actors: Federico Luppi, Ron Perlman, Claudio Brook
  • Directors: Guillermo del Toro
  • Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, NTSC, Widescreen
  • Language: English
  • Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rated: R (Restricted)
  • Studio: Criterion Collection
  • DVD Release Date: December 7, 2010
  • Run Time: 92 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (67 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B0043VUHV4
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #30,023 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
  • Learn more about "Cronos (The Criterion Collection)" on IMDb

Special Features

  • New, restored high-definition digital transfer
  • Audio commentary with Guillermo del Toro
  • Audio commentary with the producers
  • Geometria, an unreleased 1987 short horror film by del Toro
  • Welcome to Bleak House, a video tour by del Toro of his office
  • New video interviews with del Toro, Navarro, and actor Ron Perlman
  • Video interview with actor Federico Luppi
  • Stills gallery
  • Trailer
  • New and improved English subtitle translation
  • PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by film critic Maitland McDonagh

  • Editorial Reviews

    Amazon.com

    Guillermo del Toro's facility with baroque visuals, gothic horror, and black comedy comes to the fore in his first feature (his affection for creepy-crawlies also anticipates the underrated Mimic). A 16th-century prologue reveals the origins of the scarab-shaped Cronos device, which allowed a Spanish alchemist to expand his lifetime by several centuries. In the present day, Mexican antiquities dealer Jesús Gris (Federico Luppi, who reunited with del Toro for The Devil's Backbone) dotes on his unflappable granddaughter, Aurora (Tamara Shanath). When the device ends up in Gris's shop, he tangles with the petulant Angel (Hellboy's Ron Perlman), whose critically ill uncle, Dieter (Claudio Brook, Exterminating Angel), longs to purchase the relic, but Gris isn't selling. After the mechanism stings the merchant, he feels more youthful, and becomes addicted to the sensation. His newfound taste for blood, however, only increases after he morphs into a nocturnal creature, much like Mimic's man-sized cockroach. With Cronos, del Toro created a unique vampire-zombie hybrid, since Gris's resistance to age blooms just as his flesh starts to wither. In an excellent commentary track, he describes the movie as a reinvention of the vampire myth in alchemical terms. Other extras include commentary from the producers, a gory student short, a tour of the director's amazing offices, interviews with cast and crew (including Luppi and Perlman), a stills gallery (including family photographs), and an essay by film critic Maitland McDonagh, who praises del Toro as a filmmaker with an eye "attuned to the beauty in the darkness." --Kathleen C. Fennessy

    Product Description

    Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth) made an auspicious, audacious feature debut with CRONOS, a highly unorthodox tale about the seductiveness of the idea of immortality. Kindly antiques dealer Jesús Gris (Federico Luppi) happens upon an ancient golden device in the shape of a scarab, and soon finds himself possessor and victim of its sinister, addictive powers, as well as the target of a mysterious, crude American named Angel (a delightfully deranged Ron Perlman [Hellboy]). Featuring marvelous special makeup effects and the unforgettably haunting imagery for which del Toro has become world-renowned, CRONOS is a visually rich and emotionally captivating dark fantasy.

    Customer Reviews

    Most Helpful Customer Reviews
    42 of 47 people found the following review helpful
    4.0 out of 5 stars "My name is Jesus Gris. My name is Jesus Gris." March 30, 2005
    Format:DVD
    For some reason I developed an early low opinion of Mexican horror films and have since avoided them. Fortunately I didn't realize Cronos was Mexican ans so got to see this truly unusual film directed by Guilliermo del Toro. While it will never win a place on the heights there's a surprising amount of inventiveness and imaginative film work in something that probably has one-tenth the budget of the average Hollywood failure.

    Imagine, if you will that a European alchemist fled Europe to Mexico in the 16th Century. Gaining appointment as the Governor's clockmaker he set about making a machine that would prolong his life. He succeeds and lives until a building collapses on him in modern times. His estate is broken up and sold and the real story begins when an antique dealer, Jesus Gris (Federico Luppi), acquires a statue of an angel. In it he finds a golden scarab-like machine. One with horrific powers that Jesus inadvertently activates.

    Seeking the scarab for his own purposes is Dieter de la Guardia (Claudio Brook) and his last remaining relative Angel (Ron Perlman). They will stop at nothing, but a repeatedly foiled by the scarab's power over Jesus. Another key player is Aurora Gris (Tamara Shanath) who has no lines but seems to preside over the life and death drama that plays out before her.

    There are a few grim and violent moments, but, for the most part, Cronos gains its momentum from its atmospherics. Imagine a screenplay written by Poe and directed by Fellini with echoes of Don't Look Now and you will have a sense of the film's feeling. Colors are dark, sets are detailed, and the minimal special effects are telling. Especially the insides and operation of the clockwork scarab.

    The film is as much about the value of life as it is a horror or suspense story. Clumsy at some times and subtle at others, the message gets through with an ending which leaves just enough in question to haunt the viewer. The approach is novel, a very different twist on the vampire genre, and I found myself liking it more the longer I watched it. Definitely worth viewing.
    Was this review helpful to you?
    41 of 46 people found the following review helpful
    Format:DVD
    Guillermo Del Toro's modern Grimm's Fairy Tale "Cronos" focuses as much on character as it does horror. In many respects, it's a throw back to the horror comic books or movies he watched as a kid updated. Antiques dealer Jesus Gris (Federico Luppi) gets more than he bargains for when he covers a ornate gold "beetle" at the base of a decorative angel. He and his devoted granddaughter and wife discover the promise of immortality but also the horrible price one must pay when given a "gift" such as this.

    Rich industrialist Dieter de la Guardia (Claudio Brook) has his brutish nephew Angel (Ron Perlman)searching for the device himself. Only Dieter knows about the history of the device, what it can do and the consquences of using it. When Jesus resists Dieter's offer for the device, it also puts his family in peril.

    A rich, allegorical horror film that recalls the classic films of the 30's and 40's with its focus on character and the consquences of their actions at the expense of endless blood and gore, "Cronos" is a thoughtful, sad movie that demonstrated the considerable talents of Del Toro ("The Devil's Backbone", "Blade II", "Hellboy"). It's got its moments of gross out gore but Del Toro focuses his story on the delicate relationship between Jesus, his wife and granddaughter.

    The film is presented with the original Spanish voiceover presented in English. After that, the film is a mix of Spanish and English as Dieter and Angel speak both sparingly throughout the film while Jesus and his family speak nothing but English. It would probably help to have on the subtitles if you don't speak English during the film as it switches back and forth pretty consistently.

    The presentation and look of the DVD is very good capturing the nice textures and colors of the original film although it can't hold a candle to the high definition transfer of "The Devil's Backbone" that recently came out on DVD. Extras include an interview with Del Toro with clips from his very first short films made when he was a teenager up to and including his first 16mm production. There's also an interview with behind-the-scenes footage of Federico Luppi (a thoughtful and talented actor)from the production. There's also an Easter Egg included as well. Look for the Lion's Gate logo and click on it for a nice little surprise. We get a photo gallery and commentaries from both Del Toro and the film's producer. Del Toro's commentary is in English while the producer's commentary is in Spanish.

    A haunting, atmospheric debut from Del Toro that deserves to be seen. It's not exactly a horror film (and why Del Toro is referred to as a horror film director is beyond me), it's more of a fantasy/suspense story with horror themes.
    Comment | 
    Was this review helpful to you?
    20 of 22 people found the following review helpful
    5.0 out of 5 stars A New Bite On An Old Mythology December 19, 2004
    Format:DVD
    A new vision of the vampire myth involving an insect trapped in a device that grants immortality (with a price of course), an innocent grandfather, his all but silent granddaughter, a human monster and his victimized nephew.

    An elderly antiques shop owner, Jesus Gris, and his granddaughter, Aurora, discover an unusually device in a four hundred year old Archangel statue. Gris inadvertently triggers the device which begins a change in him that not only slowly makes him more youthful in look and energy but infects him with an addict's consuming fixation for blood. Unfortunately for Gris, he is not the only one with knowledge of the device's existence and power, and he becomes the target of the dying businessman De La Guardia's desire for immortality at any cost and his violent nephew Angel.

    Loved this film! Loved it! I've always had a thing for vampires and I really enjoyed this new view of the vampire mythology. This isn't just a new story of vampirism though, it is also a tale of family. The love, devotion, and acceptance of family is beautifully shown through the grandfather Jesus and granddaughter Aurora, as is the dark side of family, with it's violence, abuse and victimization, as shown through the obsessed De La Guardia and his nephew Angel.

    Ron Perlman is absolutely superb as Angel. He takes what could have been the average brute/thug character and gives him humor, depth, and the ability to evoke sympathy and, almost, forgiveness, from the audience. If you want to introduce a friend to Ron Perlman's work, consider doing so with this performance.

    Frederico Luppi and the late Claudio Brooks are also entrancing in their performances as Jesus Gris and De La Guardia, respectively.

    Favorite line (narration describing the death of the cronos device creator): "His skin was the color of marble in moonlight."

    The DVD extras and commentary are wonderfully enjoyable in and of themselves (how they shot the interior of the cronos device and what happened to it later...eeeewwww, that the thirteen cronos devices used in the film were stolen on the last day of the shoot, that Ron Perlman did accidentally connect, fist to face, at one point with Frederico Luppi, etc). Guillermo Del Toro's commentaries are as spellbinding as his films.
    Comment | 
    Was this review helpful to you?
    Most Recent Customer Reviews
    4.0 out of 5 stars fun movie
    Fun story with tragic theme but good running comic relief. Del Toro's first full length picture is not a masterpiece like Pan's Labyrinth. It is.a very good film, however.
    Published 9 days ago by Bruce C. Antrim
    3.0 out of 5 stars worth sitting thru once.
    Love this guy`s other movies and it was funny as hell to see the guy from sons of anarchy acting so badly lol. Read more
    Published 22 days ago by Draken
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful find!
    I saw this when I did a search of Guillermo del Torro's name. So glad I did. Very creative movie and even if you did not know of his involvement, you would think "wow, that... Read more
    Published 24 days ago by Microgrl
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another terrific film from Guillermo de Toro of PAN'S LABYRINTH fame
    American actor Ron Perlman steals this fantasy film from Federico Luppi in an imaginary tale about the seductiveness of the idea of immortality and the power of a golden scarab to... Read more
    Published 26 days ago by Ronald Schwartz
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very good!
    The blu-ray, both technical quality of the disc and package, doesn't disappoint the expectations. + + + + + +
    Published 2 months ago by Andrea Baleani
    4.0 out of 5 stars DEL TORO IS AN EVIL GENIUS.
    I'VE NEVER HEARD OF CRONOS UNTIL CRITERION RELEEASED IT. AFTER WATCHING, I TRULY UNDERSTOOD HOW DEL TORO COULD MAKE "HELLBOY" AND "PAN' LABYRINTH". Read more
    Published 3 months ago by HAN XIAO
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best vampire movies I have seen
    Beautifully shot, well acted, well casted, amazing script. An amazingly inventive take on the vampire myth. The quality of the blu ray is amazing. Lots of special features.
    Published 4 months ago by smitty jones
    1.0 out of 5 stars NOT in English
    Despite the languages information that Amazon lists on this item, it is not in English. The only audio is Spanish. Read more
    Published 4 months ago by R. Beach
    5.0 out of 5 stars Worth the price for the extras
    A truly imaginative film with a great story. The other reviewers have covered the film I loved the extras. Read more
    Published 5 months ago by White Raven
    4.0 out of 5 stars Just Because You Find A Strange Mechanical Device Doesn't Mean You...
    Being a huge Guillermo del Toro fan ("Pan's Labyrinth" was easily my favorite film of the year in which it was released), I'm almost ashamed to admit that I've never seen his first... Read more
    Published 6 months ago by K. Harris
    Search Customer Reviews
    Only search this product's reviews

    Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought


    Forums

    There are no discussions about this product yet.
    Be the first to discuss this product with the community.
    Start a new discussion
    Topic:
    First post:
    Prompts for sign-in
     



    Look for Similar Items by Category

    newbury_comics Privacy Statement newbury_comics Shipping Information newbury_comics Returns & Exchanges