Which label do you think will have a great 2014?

[mattyl149]

There's still three months to go, but most of the new releases have been announced for this year

So which label do you think will come out on top in 2014? I'm not referring to the main labels like Paramount or Warner Bros, more labels like Third Window, Second Sight, MOC/Eureka, BFI, Arrow, Artificial Eye or 88 Films

The news that there will be a lot of catalogue upgrades from Artificial Eye next year, the trailer from Arrow showing a lot of great titles still to come, and a lot of great and important films being released overall, it's going to be some year next year

[blurayoliver]

If people forgot about the whole Warm Bodies fiasco, I think EOne are brilliant

[Judex]

You should add the poll option to this if you can.

It'll probably be MoC for me, but if Artificial Eye are going to start upgrading there big hitters, I may sway towards them. But then again Arrows Academy should be back in full swing next year...

[theprestige85]

Artificial Eye if they get their shit together and release some Rainer Werner Fassbinder titles.

[mattyl149]

Originally Posted by Judex

You should add the poll option to this if you can.

It'll probably be MoC for me, but if Artificial Eye are going to start upgrading there big hitters, I may sway towards them. But then again Arrows Academy should be back in full swing next year...

How do I add a poll?

[Mr Kite]

Arrow I think will build on the success of 2013.

[Judex]

Originally Posted by mattyl149

How do I add a poll?

where it says "additional options" it has the poll option. Not sure if you'll be able to add it now, if not Pro B may be able to add it in.

[mattyl149]

Originally Posted by Judex

where it says "additional options" it has the poll option. Not sure if you'll be able to add it now, if not Pro B may be able to add it in.

I went to add a new thread and I saw the option. It won't let me add one to an existing thread. I've sent a message to get one added

[legolars]

Arrow has made a stunning turn around in 2013 from releasing mostly obscure horror nasties to well known cult and cinema classics. Their Q4 line up is to die for. If they can keep that up, they're the label to beat.

MoC had a stellar year in 2012, but this year saw mostly HD upgrades from their SD catalogue. They released some fine films, but they haven't added a lot of new films to their catalogue and few that one can truely call cinema classics. I hope next year will be better for Eureka, but lately my interest in MoC has waned.

BFI and AE are unpredictable when it comes to their catalogue. BFI does strive to add value to their releases with informative booklets and features. AE neglect to do this most of the time.

I'd say 2014 will be Arrow's year. MoC will be second.

[Sky_Captain]

I'm gonna say Arrow, as well. They appear to be getting their shit together. Note: I did not say that they had their shit together, but they're getting there. The titles that they have coined out to have restored, look pretty damn good. They've also been getting decent masters for smaller titles, as well as unveiling quite an impressive dossier of upcoming titles.

I hope they continue down this path, while ironing out little foibles like QC errors, (get someone to check the bloody extras too, including the audio levels. The interview with Gilliam on Time Bandits, being an example), because they've got very little to stop themselves from being huge.

Here's to 2014, lads and lasses.

[Akijama]

Arrow, Second Sight and MoC/Eureka are all doing an astounding job.

But, I'll go with Arrow. They are really knocking it out of the park with all these great titles

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Sky_Captain

I'm gonna say Arrow, as well. They appear to be getting their shit together. Note: I did not say that they had their shit together, but they're getting there. The titles that they have coined out to have restored, look pretty damn good. They've also been getting decent masters for smaller titles, as well as unveiling quite an impressive dossier of upcoming titles.

I think with things like Time Bandits, The 'Burbs and Big Trouble In Little China they're really going to add to their fanbase.

[adamhopelies]

Arrow are creeping up on them, but MoC are still out in front for me, and with the recent announcement of the WCF partnership I expect this will continue in to 2014.

This year they've knocked out masterpieces at a monthly pace. The highlight of my year has been their edition of Le Pont du Nord, which is a contender for my favourite disc of all time. Their 4th quarter surpasses any other label for me too, although I'm looking forward to The Night Of The Hunter from Arrow (though I do have the Criterion) and the Alain Robbe-Grillet discs from the BFI.

For me MoC have nailed the whole package. Contextualising material is always spot on. I find the booklets alone provide a couple of hours worth of information, while the ones that come with some of their rivals are little more than pamphlet's that take 5 minutes to get through. Ultimately it comes down to the movies though, and MoC are releasing my kind of films.

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by Sky_Captain

I'm gonna say Arrow, as well. They appear to be getting their shit together. Note: I did not say that they had their shit together, but they're getting there.

The turnaround in the last 6 months or so has been little short of miraculous. I'd actually written them off in a way, after the terrible attitude they showed over the ZFE debacle, but they've really got their act together. I guess the ultimate compliment I can pay them is to say that I now give them the same benefit of the doubt that I do MoC or Criterion, which means that I'll often check out a film that I'd ordinarily maybe not based on their seal of approval (The Car, Deranged, Fall Of The House Of Usher).

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by Judex

It'll probably be MoC for me, but if Artificial Eye are going to start upgrading there big hitters, I may sway towards them.

The Bresson situation has left a really bad taste. Hope they sort that out asap.

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by legolars

MoC had a stellar year in 2012, but this year saw mostly HD upgrades from their SD catalogue.

They've only released four upgrades to date this year, the three Shindo titles and Tabu. That's out of 16 discs.

Originally Posted by legolars

They released some fine films, but they haven't added a lot of new films to their catalogue and few that one can truely call cinema classics. I hope next year will be better for Eureka, but lately my interest in MoC has waned.

Obviously this is all subjective, but some of my favourite filmmakers have been added to the collection since January. Chabrol, Rivette, Fellini, Guitry, Clouzot, Von Sternberg, Kubrick, Kawashima and Griffith all made their bow this year, with Hawks still to come. That's some roster of talent.

Even the one title I had reservations about, Simon Killer, proved to be an excellent choice for inclusion. City Of Women is the one film that I haven't got on with.

[charnier]

Sorry Adam, but don't forget La Notte, Time to love and time to die, Nosferatu, the Mizos, Mabuse and arguably Il Bidone (Bfi originally). And with the crossovers from Gaumont and Criterion - Van Gogh and the Chabrols - I have to agree with Legolars, this year has been pretty disappointing from MoC, in terms of originality.

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by charnier

Sorry Adam, but don't forget La Notte, Time to love and time to die, Nosferatu, the Mizos, Mabuse and arguably Il Bidone (Bfi originally).

Yep, it was a bit of a cheeky cheat not citing films not released yet! They're all great movies tho, and ones I'm glad to see on Blu-ray. (And I wouldn't personally count Il Bidone as an upgrade. Going by that logic 90% of boutique releases would be classed as upgrades)

Originally Posted by charnier

And with the crossovers from Gaumont and Criterion - Van Gogh and the Chabrols - I have to agree with Legolars, this year has been pretty disappointing from MoC, in terms of originality.

I can't get on board with that particular complaint. I import a lot from France, and am a big Criterion fan, but region locking for the masses and translated/subtitled extras and extensive booklets more than make up for the overlap. I also really value the discourse that a regional release brings with it. Most of my friends have never imported a film, but the exposure afforded by a release by a company like MoC (or Arrow, or the BFI, as is also the case) really shines a light on these kind of films for a wider audience.

A case in point is the BFI release of Chronicle Of A Summer, which created quite the buzz within my social circle upon release, in spite of it having been available on Criterion for some time. It works both ways too. Look at the renewed discourse on Shoah that was kick-started by the Criterion release for example.

[Judex]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

The Bresson situation has left a really bad taste. Hope they sort that out asap.

What have they done? I just know the release dates got pushed back to December.

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

Yep, it was a bit of a cheeky cheat not citing films not released yet! They're all great movies tho, and ones I'm glad to see on Blu-ray. (And I wouldn't personally count Il Bidone as an upgrade. Going by that logic 90% of boutique releases would be classed as upgrades)

Don't forget the upgrades MoC have released are releasing, have all been requested by MoC fans over the past year or two. Now they deliver them people complain. If they didn't upgrade anything we'd be hearing the "why don't MoC ever upgrade things, they need more upgrades" complaint.

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

I can't get on board with that particular complaint. I import a lot from France, and am a big Criterion fan, but region locking for the masses and translated/subtitled extras and extensive booklets more than make up for the overlap. I also really value the discourse that a regional release brings with it. Most of my friends have never imported a film, but the exposure afforded by a release by a company like MoC (or Arrow, or the BFI, as is also the case) really shines a light on these kind of films for a wider audience.

A case in point is the BFI release of Chronicle Of A Summer, which created quite the buzz within my social circle upon release, in spite of it having been available on Criterion for some time. It works both ways too. Look at the renewed discourse on Shoah that was kick-started by the Criterion release for example.

This, I hate that argument. I welcome crossover releases for the very reasons you state.

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by Judex

What have they done? I just know the release dates got pushed back to December.

It's the date pushback to which I refer. It's been pushed back for the best part of a year now!