The Criterion Collection

[NoirFan]

Originally Posted by FrankBlue

Does anyone know when if Criterion Collection plans to release Missing (1982) and Z (1969) on Blu-ray?

I have a vague memory of Criterion stating that Z would be getting a Blu-ray release eventually, but that was a couple of years ago and I can't find the actual quote.

[*DrStrangelove*]

Originally Posted by drbikeshorts

I saw the Fernando di Leo collection, but was already blind-buying too many other films. I would love to hear your thoughts once you've watched a few.
I've never seen Youth of the Beast, but the DVD has been sitting in my cart for ages. I haven't pulled the trigger on that one, because the second I do it'll be announced as an upgrade

I'll definitely come back here and give my thoughts on the films. That's if I ever get it as it was sold out when I ordered it a couple of days ago and still hasn't came back in stock. I highly recommend Youth of the Beast, its one of my favorite Suzuki films. The colors would look amazing in HD I imagine. I just don't see an upgrade coming soon with all the other stuff Criterion still has to release. I hope I'm wrong though.

[*DrStrangelove*]

Originally Posted by RiFiFi1955

Those films in the Fernando di Leo crime collection are all good flicks. I have seen them all, favorite is probably Caliber 9. I have only seen one Suzuki film and that was Branded to Kill so I can't really compare the two directors but themes seem to be common in their work. If you just picked up the di Leo collection for $12.99 that was definitely a good buy, can't go wrong at that price. If you end up liking the Di Leo crime flicks I would suggest you check out Umberto Lenzi's as well...I actually prefer them to di Leo's(nothing against Di Leo's though because they are great).

Thanks for the recommendation. I'll definitely check that director out after I've watched the others. I'd highly recommend you check out some more Suzuki. Branded to Kill is kind of a hard film to get into. I didn't like it much at first but after a couple of views I began to love it. To bring the subject back to Criterion, are there any Italian crime films released by Criterion.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by TheHighRoller

They should watch In the Realm of the Senses instead. At least it's cheery.

Cheery?

I take it you haven't seen it.

[jcs913]

Wow!! 5 Stars for Following... Must be up there with all the cinematic masterpieces ever made (Citizen Kane, Lawrence of Arabia, Breathless, Rules of the Game, Following.. fits nicely..) Interesting, as Brazil is only 4.5 stars...

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by jcs913

Wow!! 5 Stars for Following... Must be up there with all the cinematic masterpieces ever made (Citizen Kane, Lawrence of Arabia, Breathless, Rules of the Game, Following.. fits nicely..) Interesting, as Brazil is only 4.5 stars...

Them's fighting words!

[ccg1978]

who has the cheapest pre-order for On the Waterfront?

[jcs913]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Them's fighting words!

No, not me BG.. It was just a casual observation...

[ccg1978]

Originally Posted by jcs913

Now that's a 5 star film...

title fail! Post is updated!

[Kevin Holly]

Originally Posted by jcs913

Wow!! 5 Stars for Following... Must be up there with all the cinematic masterpieces ever made (Citizen Kane, Lawrence of Arabia, Breathless, Rules of the Game, Following.. fits nicely..) Interesting, as Brazil is only 4.5 stars...

Well, we all must worship at the Altar of Nolan, AMIRITE??

[tenia]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

No kidding bgart13! If 2k was more than merely adequate for a 35mm film like A Night to Remember, then it certainly would have captured all that the 16mm Following had to offer. Just look at the superb ARRISCAN 2k results for the 16mm World on a Wire...nothing sacrificed there either.

As you suggest, Nolan probably got 4k for Following simply because he is Nolan, whether his original film element warranted it or not. What's next...8k for 8mm?

Yep. 4K for 16mm is highly likely to be extreme overkill.
Well. I mean, it's for the best, but the extra money used for this 4K scan instead of a 2K scan could probably had been of a better use for an other movie.

[TheHighRoller]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Cheery?

I take it you haven't seen it.

It was all a sarcastic conversation. You joined too late to get it.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by TheHighRoller

It was all a sarcastic conversation. You joined too late to get it.

Personally I would have gone with Salo, as the kiddiewinks all enjoy "toilet humour"

[bgart13]

Originally Posted by tenia

Yep. 4K for 16mm is highly likely to be extreme overkill.
Well. I mean, it's for the best, but the extra money used for this 4K scan instead of a 2K scan could probably had been of a better use for an other movie.

Yep, everything both of you said...

[jw007]

Originally Posted by joie

Once upon a time, I thought that Quentin Tarantino did "Chungking Express," because this is the DVD I borrowed from the library. It does say, "Quentin Tarantino's ..." That DVD has his introduction to the movie.

Edit: So I went to the link, above, and see that they say it is an intro to Rolling Thunder's DVD, so that is likely what I saw on the DVD. Haha, Rolling Thunder may have known about it before Criterion did.

Add: Rolling Thunder's wikipedia entry. So the correct way to read the DVD's cover is "Quentin Tarantino's rolling thunder pictures presents ... ." I am now sure that Criterion had nothing to do with the discovery of "Chungking Express."

You know, I'll make a bet that Tarantino will never see the light of Criterion. I think Chungking Express will be the closest Quentin Tarantino ever gets to being part of the Criterion Collection (as a "promoter" (!) of the film!). What is unfortunate is that the supplements on Chungking Express are next to nothing with just a 12 minute featurette and a 2 minute trailer. Criterion really could have gone above and beyond and ported over an old Tarantino interview (like the one I posted from YouTube earlier) or conducted a brand new one with him talking about the film.

Other than that, its still a solid release of a film that is now officially out of print!

EDIT: I just discovered that Pulp Fiction was once released on Criterion Laserdisc back in the 1990's.

[Blu-Velvet]

Originally Posted by tenia

Yep. 4K for 16mm is highly likely to be extreme overkill.
Well. I mean, it's for the best, but the extra money used for this 4K scan instead of a 2K scan could probably had been of a better use for an other movie.

On the other hand, modern 16mm film stocks, especially those with a slower ASA, may well be as sharp or sharper in the details they can capture as standard 35mm film stocks of 60-70 years ago, just as modern slow-speed 35mm film stocks are as good as 70mm was 50-60 years ago. I'd say it's a good sign if more people start to understand how much better-looking film has always been than digital video, and as digital video continues to approach film the newer film emulsions just keep raising the bar (although if film manufacturing fades away, we'll have to accept whatever new digital formats come along). A 2K scan is adequate for today's home HDTV reproduction, but hardly captures all of the available detail that properly made and exposed and processed film can deliver.

That said, the 4K scan from 16mm may well be overkill as far as current home viewing is concerned. Maybe they hope to use it as a master for new 35mm prints or 4K DCPs.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by jcs913

Wow!! 5 Stars for Following... Must be up there with all the cinematic masterpieces ever made (Citizen Kane, Lawrence of Arabia, Breathless, Rules of the Game, Following.. fits nicely..) Interesting, as Brazil is only 4.5 stars...

Considering the budget and resources, yes, I do believe that Following is an all around better film than Brazil. And it definitely accomplishes what it sets out to achieve.

On the other hand, while a very good film, Brazil definitely isn't a flawless film. Its history actually proves it. And if you look at the variety of reviews it has generated since its release, you will see that plenty of people agree that it definitely does not accomplish all of its goals (its message is lost on a pretty big number of people).



Pro-B

[TheHighRoller]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Personally I would have gone with Salo, as the kiddiewinks all enjoy "toilet humour"

Yeah, Salo should have included a DVD copy so that the kids could watch it in the back. I heard it's got a lot of jokes, and that it's very romantic.

[NungaBIZ]

nice.......

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by *DrStrangelove*

Branded to Kill is kind of a hard film to get into. I didn't like it much at first but after a couple of views I began to love it.

Had the exact same experience. Great movie!