I believe that Le Samouri is coming.

https://twitter.com/ghuwevans/status/220201261075668993
https://twitter.com/Criterion/status/220217636074692612

Personally, I never thought the film was as bad as so many people have proclaimed it to be. Yes, it still needs work in terms of its script and editing but it's not a disaster.

Just as many films receive praise that is undeservedly high, some receive criticism that is undeservedly harsh and Heaven's Gate falls into the second category.

(cough) Ishtar (cough)

Very very very well said. Thanks for getting that off my chest as well.

For the most part that's probably more true than not but I'm not entirely sure I have a problem with it.

When it comes to allocating preservation and restoration resources one could make the argument that 'important' films warrant a higher priority and greater care. (Though 'film is film' isn't a bad rule of thumb when it comes to basic preservation.)

But when it comes to BD releases? Studios aren't charitable organizations and BDs aren't public goods so if 2,000 people want The Magnificent Ambersons and 20,000 want Weekend at Bernies Part 2...I dunno, I can't really fault a business for insulting (I know that wasn't your word but it is a fairly common undercurrent in these conversations) the important film and releasing the unimportant one.

And before anybody says anything, obviously I'm just plucking numbers out of the air to illustrate a point. For all I know a BD release of The Magnificant Ambersons would at least break even or even be profitable.

But if that's not the case I can't really fault WB for putting it at the bottom of the list.

Now, their reluctance (read: refusal) to license, on the other hand...

Recently ordered 39 steps and I'm wondering is the picture quality as bad as the review says it is?

I'm a big fan so ultimately not that bothered plus I had the dreadful ITV version and it has to be a marked improvement from that awful, awful copy.

Restoring the print for the Venice screening must have been expensive (the only prints previously avalaible for the extended cut were quite damaged). I don't think I would make sense (nor be profitable) to restore a movie for just one screening and not releasing it on Blu-ray/DVD after that, so I think they will release it on Blu-ray whatever the audience reaction could be.
Anyway, Criterion is not the kind of company which releases a movie based on audience reaction: they release independant and art house films, not blockbusters.

Anyway, I'm glad Criterion finally releases Heaven's Gate on Blu-ray (I can't imagine any other company getting this on Blu with that level of quality, considering that the previous DVDs from MGM were of poor quality). I hope the picture quality will be great and the discs loaded with special features.

Heaven's Gate is a great film (as good as The Deer Hunter) that deserves serious re-appreciation. I saw the extended cut on theater during a re-release some years ago in Paris, and I can tell that the film is seriously underrated in the States (here in France the film is much more apreciated than it is in America). I hope the Criterion Blu-ray will do justice to it, at last.

I'm wondering how many people will want to see that due to its place on the list, see it's 7.5 hours long and think "wtf?".

Satantango is a title that needs a Criterion release. Right now it's with the home video hell we call Facets.

Don't tease me!

7.5 hours? WTF?

I watched Satantango in its entirety one Saturday morning and afternoon, and believe me, it was time very well spent indeed. Viewers unfamiliar with the work of Bela Tarr might be bored to tears by his droll characterizations and long, slow takes in which seemingly nothing of consequence happens, but the cumulative effect is astonishing. I personally like Werckmeister Harmonies a bit better than Satantango, but as pure cinematic creativity and achievement, the latter is, IMHO, among cinema's greatest achievements.

If you have seen The Lady Vanishes blu that's about how it looks. Its better then the Criterion DVD release and will definitely be better then that ITV disaster. The image looks good, clean and stable. Just don't expect to see a huge jump in detail. Obviously the print used for this film has the usual softness expected from a film of this age. The best thing IMO about Bluray is it makes the movie more film like and maintains a nice layer of grain and some texture. If your a Hitchcock fan its a no brainer.

When the hint with the four sick cows appeared I thought it was going to be Satantango (Because of the opening ;)), but it was the Coward/Lean set at the end :(.

Its funny to imagine what Hitchcock would think if he could know Vertigo was voted the best film of all time. Considering he thought it was a utter failure and never worked with Stewart again.

Doesn't most of his work need a Criterion release? Only The Turin Horse has a Blu-ray release, currently.

It's fair to say that, if Satantango ever gets a BD release, it does need to be spread over two discs. No discussion needed there :p.

Vertigo would barely make my top 5 of Hitchcock, much less best films of all-time. But hey, I guess that's why I'm not the one being asked for input to compile the list.

My favourite Hitchcock seems to be one people hate because it won Best Picture. :p I'm also partial to Family Plot which people seem to dislike too.

I love Family Plot. Very underrrated, very entertaining. Barbara Harris was great.

When is Barbara Harris not great?