The Criterion Collection

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by rkish

I know you're joking Shell...but I'll bet the Criterion factor in the US has a lot to do with their having to region B lock them...

Probably. I just get tired of folks that whine and complain because a company doesn't cater to their every need. Also, those who often complain don't know the reasons behind the choices Criterion makes. Neither do I most times but I think they get it "right" more often than not.

[KrugerIndustrial]

Does Criterion own the US rights to Tokyo Sonata(Kurosawa), Profound Desires of the Gods(Imamura),The Insect Woman(Imamura) and Pigs and Battleships(Imamura)?

[rkish]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Probably. I just get tired of folks that whine and complain because a company doesn't cater to their every need. Also, those who often complain don't know the reasons behind the choices Criterion makes. Neither do I most times but I think they get it "right" more often than not.

I hear ya Shell...the nice thing though, is that we have a bevy of options. If a film of choice is not released by a company like Criterion in a timely fashion...then we still have companies like Eureka!/Masters of Cinema, BFI, Park Circus, Arrow, etc. etc.etc. to pick up the ball. All the more reason to invest in a region free blu player these days. Do you think Criterion will ever release films like La planete sauvage or Le Silence de la mer? All of Ozu's films? Probably not...so thank God we've got MoC and BFI to run with the ball.

No need to whine...

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by rkish

No need to whine...

We're better off enjoying wine with our films. I once told someone to check out Last Year at Marienbad so they looked it up online and came back to me with:

"Oh, that's a bottle of wine type film"

Personally, I don't eat or drink watching Marienbad because I don't want any distractions.

[Arkadin]

Originally Posted by retablo

Even lesser Bergman is better than many ofter filmaker's "best" movies. I would easily get them all.

totally agree!
Bergman is just amazing.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Probably. I just get tired of folks that whine and complain because a company doesn't cater to their every need. Also, those who often complain don't know the reasons behind the choices Criterion makes. Neither do I most times but I think they get it "right" more often than not.

You're going to get shit on for those sentiments, and be called a synchophant and/or Criterion schill, as that's essentially what I was saying for the past few days and was accused of that as well.

Originally Posted by rkish

BTW BG...I was lucky enough to visit your neck of the woods as an adolescent and loved it! That is when I first learned about"Maritime"...and for my money, you have some of the best seafood in North America.

Thanks! Atlantic Salmon is so much better than Pacific. We have a lot of other great food besides our seafood here too, and a really rich history.

Alas, we Maritimers have changed a lot though, and not necessarily for the better in the past few years. We were always known for being friendly and kind, but reading any of the comments on the current Transit strike in HRM, and seeing the bullying that's occuring in Fredericton NB, it's really sad.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

We're better off enjoying wine with our films. I once told someone to check out Last Year at Marienbad so they looked it up online and came back to me with:

"Oh, that's a bottle of wine type film"

Personally, I don't eat or drink watching Marienbad because I don't want any distractions.

What about with A Safe Place?

[KrugerIndustrial]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

They've released those last two on DVD.

No idea if they own Blu-ray release rights to any of these, but given their extensive Nikkatsu and Toho inventories I would think they at least have the Imamuras.

Thanks.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

What about with A Safe Place?

I can't drink if I'm asleep.

[exolstice]

Originally Posted by SpiderBaby

Is it sad that I want to watch the new Ghost Rider really bad?

I'm trying to convince myself that I need to see it. It looks so completely insane and over-the-top it just might work.

Also, I agree with those that hate the latest batch of Criterion covers. Awful. I would've preferred the typical photoshop hackjob covers we get from studio releases to those BJM and CP covers.

The complaint comes from a place of love. They've spoiled us with such great covers in the past that these stand out all the more.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

I can't drink if I'm asleep.

You could always start before, and get a buzz going before the film starts.

I'm beginning to think Criterion added A Safe Place, just so they don't have to add any further Jaglom titles.

[rkish]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

Shadows is one of my favorite films, but it and Faces aren't the best candidates for Blu-ray from a source image/audio standpoint. Still I'm tempted to buy them anyway in order to encourage subsequent releases. A Woman Under The Influence was also part of the TIFF retrospective last year so hopefully that is next (and an easy must-buy). I mostly want to see AWUTI, The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, and non-Criterions Husbands and Love Streams come to HD.

That is where SB is more like CG...

[rkish]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

You're going to get shit on for those sentiments, and be called a synchophant and/or Criterion schill, as that's essentially what I was saying for the past few days and was accused of that as well.



Thanks! Atlantic Salmon is so much better than Pacific. We have a lot of other great food besides our seafood here too, and a really rich history.

Alas, we Maritimers have changed a lot though, and not necessarily for the better in the past few years. We were always known for being friendly and kind, but reading any of the comments on the current Transit strike in HRM, and seeing the bullying that's occuring in Fredericton NB, it's really sad.

Sorry to hear about the bullying...that is pathetic and completely unnecessary.

I remember that we camped (my family had a tent trailer) in Cape Breton. I'd like to think that we did...but I'm not sure if we ever made it out to P.E.I. This was back in the early to mid 70s mind you.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

It's not Criterion who hates French people, but, P@t, correct me if I'm wrong, it has a lot to do with Quebec laws. If you go on Amazon.ca, there are a lot of films and such that say will not ship to Quebec, so it's not just Criterion.

There are plenty of places outside of Quebec who speak nothing but French, and there are some places in Quebec that speak nothing but English. It's a flawed reason.

There is indeed a law in the Province Of Quebec that regards movie. The law say that for a movie to be show in theaters on or sold in store, both the English track and French track have to be available at the sametime. This goes back to the days when movies in North America would only be release in English and a French translation was not available since the release in Europe would not happen for months. The main problem in those days (50's to 70s) the larger French population was not as well educated, now a days most speak English but the law is there and actually most still prefer seeing a movie dub in French (which I never understood). In the case of Criterion, the only language track is eiher English or whatever language the movie was release in (with English sub). So normally they could not be sold here but they can. Amazon.ca always have a warning for Criiterion as not available in Quebec but they always ship and most stores will have Criterion in their racks. I suppose Criterion just does not want to bother with it and just go with we won't ship in French Canada. I am willing to bet they would ship it anyway if someone were to place and order. In general the French language law is only really applied for releases in theaters.

[Freeza]

Originally Posted by fdm

Rumors on the internets indicate the November one may not happen this year, so you might want to focus more on that July sale this time around. Just saying.

I'll second this notion by stating that the media department mgr at my local B&N told me during the last sale that the July one was most likely going to be the only one from that point forward each year.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by rkish

Sorry to hear about the bullying...that is pathetic and completely unnecessary.

I remember that we camped (my family had a tent trailer) in Cape Breton. I'd like to think that we did...but I'm not sure if we ever made it out to P.E.I. This was back in the early to mid 70s mind you.

Before I was born. I'm a Bluenoser, although I was born in BC (Dad's ex-military and was posted out West, but for 25/27 years on this planet, I've lived in Nova Scotia), and my family is from here. Cape Breton is quite lovely, and you went before they had the chance to restore Louisbourg. It's quite the attraction now. The Habitation down in Annapolis Valley is also an interesting sight to see.

I'm not from NB, and have never lived there, but that story really bothered me. It was just the attitude of the parents and the administration, that was far more upsetting than the actual bullying, which was beyond ridiculous in of itself. Where I live isn't stellar, as we also have our fair share of bullying in the HRM schools, but at least there's more of an attempt to rectify the situation.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by Freeza

I'll second this notion by stating that the media department mgr at my local B&N told me during the last sale that the July one was most likely going to be the only one from that point forward each year.

There's also the indication that B&N is going to focus on selling DVDs and BS online only, if one reads the retail section of this board. That's going to upset some people.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by rkish

What did you think about TinTin Pat? It's still hard for me to accept his transformation into CG from the 2D Herges drawings and two subsequent 2D animation series that came from those Herges "comic strips". I watched the earlier series as a kid on US television and purchased the later series on VCD (a Canadian produced series) and was impressed by that as well.

On a trip a number of years ago to Montreal, there was a TinTin retrospective at that big flea market area (don't remember where) and it was quite interesting. French Canada really loves Herges and TinTin.

Been a fan of Tintin since I was a kid. My dad bought me all the albums in the 70's, still have them to this day. I actually really like the movie, it was well done. What I was scared about was Spielberg going a little overboard and turn it too much into USA Tintin but he did strike a good balance. I like the CGI actually it was well done and gave a new dimension to the story.

Yep, here in Quebec Tintin is popular but we could not do much for the overall North American box office.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

I know you've been discussing what Criterion said in their email regarding English-speaking Canada, but it seems like I'm the only person who saw this in Pro-B's post:



I don't recall there ever being these distinctions before. I assume Certified Copy is being licensed to someone else for Canada, but the rest?

Interesting. Amazon.com has no issues with me placing a pre-order, like they usually do if something is "verboten" from Canadian sale. B&N do the same thing, so I can't test them yet because they don't have the titles up yet.

The Bergman notice is one that always gets tacked on, because most of the Criterion titles in Canada say not available in Quebec, but P@t has stated this is not true.

Edit: Criterion also isn't blocking me from pre-ordering the title.

[rkish]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Before I was born. I'm a Bluenoser, although I was born in BC (Dad's ex-military and was posted out West, but for 25/27 years on this planet, I've lived in Nova Scotia), and my family is from here. Cape Breton is quite lovely, and you went before they had the chance to restore Louisbourg. It's quite the attraction now. The Habitation down in Annapolis Valley is also an interesting sight to see.

I'm not from NB, and have never lived there, but that story really bothered me. It was just the attitude of the parents and the administration, that was far more upsetting than the actual bullying, which was beyond ridiculous in of itself. Where I live isn't stellar, as we also have our fair share of bullying in the HRM schools, but at least there's more of an attempt to rectify the situation.

My Dad was determined to make it to the Cabot Trail and it brought back the memory of one day trip we made. At the north tip of Cape Breton Island is an area called Meat Cove. My father had read about a very scenic road, named Meat Cove road, that was only suggested for good drivers ( AAA travel guide). Dad was a good driver and thought nothing of it originally. It turned out that at one point, the road turns dirt...goes to one very tight lane that is fairly high up and a sheer drop on each side into the Atlantic. But the piece de resistance, was that it became a dead end and my Dad had to back up for a considerable distance. He'd never admit it...but I'll bet he defecated a brick during that harrowing drive.