I'm paranoid about just about any home video release of any classic film with the stature of Seven Samurai. There have been so many instances of a studio putting out a horrible, lazy transfer, little to no special features, etc. on classic and modern classics that I can really only trust Criterion at this point to do justice to any film. So yeah, fears about a Criterion release are a little silly, given the track record, but fears about any other studio is legit IMO.

If we're getting the usual 4-5 blu-ray releases announced tomorrow, here's my predictions.

The Thin Red Line (confirmed)
Fish Tank
Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
Cronos
Antichrist

The Thin Red Line, & Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence look to be true. Looking like 2 war related (not war based) films, that I don't know what to expect with the others. I just hope the Oshima is in blu-ray.

I've never seen Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, but it seems to be very highly thought of. I would like to see more of the Japanese films in the CC, especially Kurosawa and Kobayashi, come out on blu-ray or even remastered dvd re-releases like the Seven Samurai 3 disc edition a few years ago or *drool* The Human Condition on blu-ray! :ohnoes:

Well Seven Samurai is coming out this year. Kurosawa on blu will not be done after that since he is one of the big names for Criterion to sell to consumers (with Godard, Bergman, Ozu, Renoir, Fellini, etc), so more of his work will be out in 2011 more than likely. I'm not a huge fan but I know where Criterion's money lies and it's with those names. I am actually surprised that only 1 Bergman has made it so far, being that the top 3 directors that it seems Criterion likes to get the films of are Kurosawa, Godard, and Bergman. But with Criterion growing more and more I guess it will take time to go back into the catalogue alot to re-release films at this time, with big titles like the Chaplin films and stuff like Easy Rider and the Last Picture Show rumored. Seven Samurai is being done due to Kurosawa's B-Day and Breathless for the 50th anniversary re-release.

Makes sense. So far for Kurosawa we have Yojimbo, Sanjuro, and Kagemusha. Ran unfortunately went to StudioCanal. We'll be getting Seven Samurai this year, I would imagine it would be around November or December, as a Holiday release, since it's one of the biggest selling titles in the CC, so a Christmas release is logical from a business standpoint. I know that's how I ended up with my 3 disc dvd edition. Hopefully Rashomon is still in the CC, as it's almost an even more important film than any other he's ever done. But would it be safe to assume that any film still being distributed by Criterion, Janus, or Eclipse is still owned by said company? In other words, anything in the AK 100 set, Eclipse Series sets, or Essential Art House sets that were put out by Criterion would logically get a Criterion release in the near-ish future? I would hope so. As you said, Kurosawa, Godard, Fellini, Bergman, Truffaut, and Renoir are the big key directors in the CC, so one would think they would maintain their rights to the films as long as possible.

More Bergman, please. :) I'd love to see the Fanny & Alexander set arrive on blu.

My two wishes for future Criterion releases: Sweet Smell of Success (possibly the most underrated film of all time), and Jean de Florette/Manon of the Spring. I mean, if we are throwing our wish lists out there...

I really wish Criterion would do justice to Island of Lost Souls. I heard the surviving elements are in poor shape, which is why it's never even been on DVD. On the bright side, I remember they vaguely hinted at it maybe being a possibility on their Facebook page. Slim chance, but I can dream. It is probably the most important horror film from that era that hasn't been released on DVD. A fully restored Blu-ray of IOLS and even Edgar G. Ulmer's The Black Cat would be amazing.

BRB I'm gonna go DROOL at the screenshots of The Leopard in the review. :eek:

I definitely keep all my Criterion dvds. I typically keep most dvds that I rebuy on blu ray. The only things I get rid of are tv box sets, because I can actually sell them. I can't really sell solo dvds, because of how cheap they are getting brand new. Isn't worth it to try.

I never understood where the Hausu blu ray doubt has come from? Has there been any hints that it's going to be a dvd only release?

I order my movies : Criterion dvd, Criterion blu, MoC dvd, MoC blu, BFI blu, StudioCanal blu, UK import blus, porn blus, tv series blus, then A-Z blus. Dvds on the shelf next to it in similar fashion.

I've had my StudioCanal blu ray release of Breathless for about 4 months now...

How's the transfer?

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/dvdcompare/breathless.htm

I haven't seen the Criterion's release of it, but StudioCanal seems like they did a great job on it. DvdBeaver lists the blu ray to have the best PQ & AQ out of all the different releases of it.

I never knew that Terence Hill (the Italian western actor) was in The Leopard.:confused: I will definately be picking this up during the July B&N 50% off Criterion sale!:)

I do the same, seems strange that people throw them out to me. I take dvd's on the road all the time, never Blu's. I still buy 4 dvd's for every blu, too many films have no Blu release, or really aren't worth the upgrade.

As for all the "Following" rumors, wouldn't you prefer something that would benefit from the upgrade? 16MM poor film stock student film just doesn't scream out "upgrade me!". Malick on the other hand begs for the upgrade, how about "Badlands"?

I don't think we can believe what you say anymore, SOJ. You also thought that the new release announcement was gonna be tomorrow and we saw how that turned out. ;)

CC

The Thin Red Line will definitely be announced today ;)

Our own site has it out in september, even Amazon UK and Studio Canals own site says it comes out in september. You must have the German release? I assume it will be identical to the main line SC release in the UK:

http://uk.blu-ray.com/movies/Breathless-Blu-ray/8046/

Barring it's the weekend, or a Holiday perhaps, have they ever not made the release announcements on the 15th? And is there an exact time, or is it just whenever they feel like throwing it on their site?

Yes, many times. There is no set date, really. It's just around the middle of the month... and, depending on the number of days in the month, it could fall on the 14th, 15th, or 16th. It's also fallen on the 12th, as well, in the past.

"That's a bingo!"

CC