Spike Lee's "25th Hour" (The Criterion Collection?) heading to Blu-ray!

[Akijama]

This day just keeps getting better and better!




Signs pointing to Criterion (Spike Lee stated this in a recent interview):

"In fact it went out to Blu-Ray now, I've got to approve it. That came out of nowhere. I just did that commentary"

Director approved transfer?A new commentary track?

Buena Vista's DVD of 25th Hour already has commentary by Spike Lee?Why would they do the new one?

Anyway,Criterion or not - it's coming!And i'm a pretty damn excited about it.A contemporary classic,and one of the finest Lee's movies.

[MifuneFan]

Nice, I've never got around to seeing this and I've been meaning to for years.

[technique]

Ohh man this is very exciting news for me...one of my all time favorites!

[Falconer]

A Criterion blu-ray of one of the greatest modern masterpieces?

[octagon]

I rented it shortly after its release and thought it was kinda meh.

I knew it had its fans but contemporary classic, all time favorite and modern masterpiece?

Perhaps another look is in order.

[thompsonjohn]

Not Criterion-worthy if you ask me, I can think of much more deserving titles. Then again.. "The Rock", "Armageddon", need I say more?

[mikesncc1701]

Yeah, not too thrilled about the possibility. Ed Norton was great but the writing and technical aspects were mediocre at best. I've never understood why Lee is so widely acclaimed.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by thompsonjohn

Not Criterion-worthy if you ask me, I can think of much more deserving titles. Then again.. "The Rock", "Armageddon", need I say more?

I would rather see more American films with known actors in the Criterion format, then half of the foreign films they have. I mean, I've been going through the master list of Criterion films lately, and some of these foreign films...well, I just can't help but laughing at how stupid some of the plots are.

[Leonidas King]

Originally Posted by thompsonjohn

Not Criterion-worthy if you ask me, I can think of much more deserving titles. Then again.. "The Rock", "Armageddon", need I say more?

Armageddon? Sorry but I had to.

The Rock is good but not worthy of a Criterion, LOL.

[Leonidas King]

Sooooooo many Indie films that could use a Criterion Blu-ray release.

From the top of my head:

-Mean Creek
-The Station Agent
-Vera Drake
-The Devil's Backbone (El Espinazo del Diablo)
-The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
-Cinema Paradiso

I could go on and on.

[nolfoc]

Originally Posted by Leonidas_King

Armageddon? Sorry but I had to.

The Rock is good but not worthy of a Criterion, LOL.

The Rock was good enough to make Criterion on DVD

[Mandalorian]

Did a quick googling of this title, and it immediately shot onto my Wishlist.

[Brandon.]

Originally Posted by nolfoc

The Rock was good enough to make Criterion on DVD

so was armageddon

[bootsy]

Yes!

[PowellPressburger]

of all the Spike Lee films I wish Criterion could release Summer of Sam only because if Mill Creek or whoever ends up releasing it, I know it won't be done correctly. SOS has an intense grain structure at times, and I think it looks amazing. I worked as a projectionist and would watch it in the theatre many times when it was released and while the film isn't the best I would hate to have a poor transfer on it.

[opterasis]

I'm thrilled by this news, I absolutely LOVE this movie.

[csdot]

Originally Posted by octagon

i rented it shortly after its release and thought it was kinda meh.

I knew it had its fans but contemporary classic, all time favorite and modern masterpiece?

Perhaps another look is in order.

+1

[Akijama]

"Not Criterion-worthy"....That's just sheer nonsense!So,what's the Criterion worthy,then?B rated 80's comedy Eating Raoul?The Game (fun flick,and that's all)??Soderbergh's Gray's Anathomy and And Everything Is Going Fine?Lots of overhyped European/Asian movies?I could do this all day.
As far as I'm concerned,this movie is a perfect fit for a Criterion edition.In fact,i wish Criterion would release more Hollywood flicks in the future (Which is kinda ironic,because i'm a European myself).

[chris_sc77]

This is one of my favorite films and it is more than-Criterion worthy. I would say it is more worthy than at least 90% of other titles in the collection.
Having said that it already has a great DVD release . I really would almost rather see a new Special Edition Criterion set of Clockers, Crooklyn, Jungle Fever, Mo' Better Blues, He Got Game, etc. Still i love this movie so much and it is so powerful so Criterion better not cheap out and put together some new documentaries and interviews with the Cast, Blanchard, Lee and Beniof.

[balthazar_bee]

Originally Posted by mikesncc1701

Yeah, not too thrilled about the possibility. Ed Norton was great but the writing and technical aspects were mediocre at best. I've never understood why Lee is so widely acclaimed.

Is he "widely acclaimed"? Whenever he comes up people seem pretty quick to dismiss him. Or they call him a racist.

But, possibly more than any other working director, I think Lee needs to be assessed on a one-film-at-a-time basis. Which is to say, I don't know too many people who love or even like all of his films (myself included), but he's rarely boring.

I just hate to think that there are people out there who might see one Spike Lee movie, hate it, and never give the guy another chance. Do the Right Thing, Summer of Sam and Malcolm X are pretty remarkable movies in my opinion. And When the Levees Broke is a masterpiece.

I remember enjoying The 25th Hour, and I'll happily snap up this on day one. And I'm scratching my head now trying to remember anything about the film's technique or writing that might qualify as "mediocre".