The Criterion Collection

[Wackotaco]

Hot damn that is a phenomenal month

[Brad1963]

No previous Kino MGM UHD upgrade in June.

[Brad1963]

Originally Posted by Shane Rollins

Omg...

Thought Brazil would be a July title.

And The Wiz, Sorcerer, Mishima...none of those were on my radar!

It's gonna be a long, long, looooooooooooong wait until July...these next 109 days are really gonna drag.

That being said, if Brazil is a June title, July is really gonna rock us. Brazil was going to be in my July prediction, so now I really have to think.

The good this is that the Barnes and Noble sale starts soon after these are released.

[speedracer5]

The Wiz is playing at next month's TCM Classic Film Festival. I've never seen it, but I've always wanted to. Maybe I'll get to see it next month. I love Midnight. That is a fantastic movie. I'm happy to see it getting the blu ray that it deserves.

[MovieBuff647]

Originally Posted by moviesaremylife

His movies are great. He was kind of difficult to work with. Maybe that’s why. Anyways, sometimes artists aren’t fully appreciated until they pass.

I don't think this is like BUG with Kino where they put it initially on a halt because of a difficult experience working with him on TO LIVE AND DIE IN LA, though. Criterion claims to be using a Friedkin-approved master, after all.

[Shane Rollins]

Originally Posted by MovieBuff647

Maybe it's just me, but it kinda rubs me the wrong way that Criterion rejected SORCERER a decade ago when Friedkin (supposedly) offered it to them and they only decide to take it on now after he passed away.

Originally Posted by moviesaremylife

His movies are great. He was kind of difficult to work with. Maybe that’s why. Anyways, sometimes artists aren’t fully appreciated until they pass.

Friedkin was also revisionist, and perhaps they didn't want another Exorcist or French Connection situation on their hands.

I wrote to Arrow regarding the Cruising 4K, and they gave me a rather tongue-in-cheek answer implying that they didn't want Friedkin around dicking off while they did the restoration.

That being said, I'll shoot Criterion an email regarding Sorcerer, to see if we can get any info on the restoration.

New 4K digital restoration, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack approved by director William Friedkin
Alternate 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack

The word choice makes me wonder if it truly was a new restoration created after Friedkin's death, and they just ported over the 5.1 track from the Blu-ray, or whether it was a "new" restoration when they did it during Friedkin's lifetime, and they're just releasing it now.

The latter is definitely possible, considering they took years to get Pat Garrett, Freaks, and After Hours out the door, and they're apparently still working on Gillo Pontecorvo's Burn! nine years after KLI confirmed that they had it.

[DavidRoylance]

This is a great month. All announcements I have seen this month have been awesome.

[CelestialAgent]

Originally Posted by DimitriL

Okay, I think we can officially say Criterion is upping their commentary game. Three new, non-repurposed commentaries this month (Glenn Gould, Midnight, and The Wiz). This is a trend that’s been going all year and I’m thrilled about it.

Surprised (and delighted) by Sorcerer and even more surprised by The Wiz. Pretty canny timing on that one.

They’ve produced quite a few recently like Gregg Araki, Jackie Chan, To Die For, Anora.

[Shanghai Express]

Midnight is a very long awaited upgrade for me, one of my most most most wanted. Exactly the kind of catalog title they should be licensing from the major studios

[Shane Rollins]

Originally Posted by MovieBuff647

I don't think this is like BUG with Kino where they put it initially on a halt because of a difficult experience working with him on TO LIVE AND DIE IN LA, though. Criterion claims to be using a Friedkin-approved master, after all.

Is the master approved by Friedkin, or is the soundtrack approved by Friedkin?

New 4K digital restoration, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack approved by director William Friedkin
Alternate 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack

So is it a new restoration, with the Friedkin approved soundtrack from before?

Or is the whole shebang approved by Friedkin?

As I intimated a few pages back, The Exorcist was such a travesty that it literally unseated an almost-fatal kidney infection for the biggest pain in the ass I had that year. I'll be damned if I'm going to go through that same aggravation again on Sorcerer.

The 4K of Cruising made entirely after Friedkin's death was amazing, and considering how much I hated the Blu-ray of Cruising made during his life, I'm forced to admit that Friedkin, his revisionism, and his death are/were the deciding factors in those two releases. I highly doubt that Arrow had a team of monkeys preparing the Blu-ray, and they all got replaced in time for the 4K.

Everything's in July territory - that is if I don't tear the doors off of B&N for Brazil in June - with Sorcerer on the bubble, until I can find out exactly what its story is.

[MovieBuff647]

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

They’ve produced quite a few recently like Gregg Araki, Jackie Chan, To Die For, Anora.

They have a great relationship with Baker and ANORA is his most acclaimed and successful film so of course it was gonna be stacked with extras, especially after it has won the Palme and swept the Oscars (both 100% deservingly).

The fact that they limited EASTERN CONDORS to only one Tony Rayns commentary when Frank Djeng and F.J. DeSanto offered to do one for free tells me these are exceptions to the rule.

[tama]

What a Month

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by speedracer5

The Wiz is playing at next month's TCM Classic Film Festival. I've never seen it, but I've always wanted to. Maybe I'll get to see it next month. I love Midnight. That is a fantastic movie. I'm happy to see it getting the blu ray that it deserves.

If you can, I'd recommend it. I haven't seen it since I was younger to be fair, but I remember it being a really fun musical adaptation, with some really catchy songs. Also loved the set designs too. The glimpses I saw of Universal's restoration looked excellent as well.

[DrasticHandprint]

Midnight, Sorcerer and Brazil for me. I knew it was a good idea to hold off on Brazil the last sale!

[AreaFive]

Oh, I am very excited about this Monk documentary. I'm a big fan of bebop and this looks to be a really interesting watch. I can't say that I've seen it.

[Polaroid]

Omg the wiz!!!!!

[ShellOilJunior]

Looks like a well-rounded month with something for everyone. High and Low in July, it seems.

Perhaps the early announcements can be explained by a warm day in NYC and a half day at the office?

[Gacivory]

Mishima & Sorcerer on 4K!!!!!!!!!!!!


Will also get Brazil, The Wiz and Thelonious Monk: Straight No Chaser!

Haven’t heard of Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould, but looks interesting.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Looks like a well-rounded month with something for everyone. High and Low in July, it seems.

Perhaps the early announcements can be explained by a warm day in NYC and a half day at the office?

Monday is St. Patrick's Day, so the lushes at Criterion don't want to waste a second of that day on announcements.

[KurtLazyhammer]

Upgrade on Mishima is huge for me, just wish Patriotism got some upgrade from DVD.