The Criterion Collection

[Polaroid]

Would be great if Criterion was able to pick up a lot of these UK titles that don't have blurays :P

Like if they did releases just for UK. Would be ace.

OR

Imagine if Criterion teamed up with Artificial Eye. Those releases would be epic.

Tarkovsky Boxset from AE/Criterion.. Yes please haha. Ah I can dream.

-

Wonder if these UK titles will be announced come 15th (or 16th, 17th, 18th etc)?

[WonderWeasel]

Happy birthday, Walt Henderson (or as I knew him as a child, Al)

[DaveyJoe]

My first thought on Criterion going to the UK is that I'm happy for our UK home video enthusiasts that will have more opportunities to collect the films they love. Arrow came to the US last year and they have become one of my favorite home video distributors, they do a fantastic job.

My second thought is that if Criterion can afford to branch out into a new country, they can afford to give us ****ing booklets with film essays instead of leaflets. U wot Criterion?

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

Arrow UK is releasing The Human Condition on Blu-ray May 30th. Right now, it's about $70 USD pre-order.

I'm dying to see this. Criterion has the DVD streaming on Hulu, so I'll be able to watch the whole thing before it hits the streets. If I love it as much as I think I will, and if Criterion doesn't upgrade this soon, I'll be sending a good chunk of change to Arrow. I might be buying only my region-free player, and this set in May, but somehow, I think I'll muddle through.

And, I'm going to make it my life's mission to expose Americans to the work of Masaki Kobayashi. Because, right now, when we hear the name "Kobayashi", we think of this guy:

The Human Condition is fantastic. If you loved films like Hara Kiri and Samurai Rebellion, you should enjoy it. It's a hard hitting drama that's gritty, thought provoking, and doesn't pull any punches.

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by WonderWeasel

Happy birthday, Walt Henderson (or as I knew him as a child, Al)

guess it's time to watch Paris-texas tomorrow..

[bwdowiak]

This is 1/2 rhetorical and 1/2 me lookin for an answer that I'm not aware of... What 'good' film has Arrow US put out? I recall being happy when I read that they would have a US presence, only to be underwhelmed time and again when their release slates are announced. Is there anything that might be a natural extension of Criterion's output or anything from some CC directors?

[mja345]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

This is 1/2 rhetorical and 1/2 me lookin for an answer that I'm not aware of... What 'good' film has Arrow US put out? I recall being happy when I read that they would have a US presence, only to be underwhelmed time and again when their release slates are announced. Is there anything that might be a natural extension of Criterion's output or anything from some CC directors?

I'd say "La Grande Bouffe" is the best film they've put out. It's directed by Marco Ferreri, who did "Dillinger is Dead", a Criterion release. It's fantastic. They put out "Day of Anger", which is one of the better Spaghetti Westerns outside of the "Man With No Name" trilogy. They've put out some really excellent Yakuza films, similar to the Seijun Suzuki films like "Youth of the Beast" and "Branded to Kill". But, mostly, Arrow US has been a horror/grindhouse label. I'd say "Society" is the best horror film they've put out.

The US version of Arrow is certainly more patterned after horror/cult labels than Criterion. I think Criterion is such an enormous presence among film buffs in the US that other labels tread lightly when getting in on the classic/high-brow game IMO. You see how even filmmakers the caliber of William Friedkin or Mike Leigh or Guillermo Del Toro are kind of in awe in those Criterion closet videos. Criterion is largely beyond reproach stateside, so I'm sure Arrow was more comfortable going for the horror/grindhouse path.

[pedromvu]

Just finished watching Speedy, good film if maybe not in the same league as the other two released for me, the highlights for me have to be definitely the final action scene, but also the much more quiet scene were Lloyd and his girlfriend remodel the back of the truck when they are going back from Coney Island.

I was wondering if anybody else noticed the big amount of jump cuts it contains, I didn't see any mention on the review, and it is more apparent than the frame skips in Code Unknown (which my copy suffers) so I am wondering if these frames are simply lost forever or too damaged to insert there but it is weird that they happen in scenes that look quite good.

[Knaldskalle]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

This is 1/2 rhetorical and 1/2 me lookin for an answer that I'm not aware of... What 'good' film has Arrow US put out? I recall being happy when I read that they would have a US presence, only to be underwhelmed time and again when their release slates are announced. Is there anything that might be a natural extension of Criterion's output or anything from some CC directors?

I suspect there might a be little bit of label confusion here. It's "Arrow Video" that has a US presence. "Arrow Video" is the cult label of Arrow Films.

Arrow Films also has an "Arrow Academy" label (which is reminiscent of Criterion Collection), "Arrowdrome" (now defunct, apparently) on top of issuing movies just under the "Arrow Films" name (mostly contemporary stuff and TV series).

From time to time there will be a slight crossover, but Arrow Video will mostly release cult movies of various kinds (La Grande Bouffe was Arrow Video in the US, but Arrow Academy in the UK).

Now that Criterion Collection has moved into the British market we might see reciprocal action from one or more of the UK labels. I personally think there's room for more than one Criterion-type label in the US, so I kind of hope that'll happen.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

I was wondering if anybody else noticed the big amount of jump cuts it contains, I didn't see any mention on the review, and it is more apparent than the frame skips in Code Unknown (which my copy suffers) so I am wondering if these frames are simply lost forever or too damaged to insert there but it is weird that they happen in scenes that look quite good.

These are two completely different things, Pedro.

Speedy has been beautifully restored.

Pro-B

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

These are two completely different things, Pedro.

Speedy has been beautifully restored.

Pro-B

Yeah I assumed this was not a mastering error, just thought they are prominent enough to warrant a mention even if it's a source problem.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

Yeah I assumed this was not a mastering error, just thought they are prominent enough to warrant a mention even if it's a source problem.

Again, these are different things, Pedro -- one is an "issue" (mastering error), the other is part of the source. They do not look the same.

[diskspinner]

Finally took a deep breath & plunged into Fanny & Alexander...Assumed TV version is what everybody prefers...Am I wrong?

Covered 3 hrs 22 mins till now...will watch remaining 2 hrs tomorrow...

[LuckyDragon]

Originally Posted by diskspinner

Finally took a deep breath & plunged into Fanny

[pedromvu]

Any ideas as to what could be the next Harold Lloyd to be announced? I am not sure if they are already restored or if there is some kind of project, but seems they are releasing the most popular first, my guesses would be either Girl Shy or The Kid Brother.

Oh well between this and the Chaplins the wait for old school comedies is shorter I guess, Imagine if Criterion also had the Keaton films , it seems there are new restorations of those too but not sure if Cohen will be releasing them other than theatrically, since those are all in print via Kino.

[ThisKid]

What would be pretty awesome is if Criterion manages to release some more Australian films, such as Priscilla, The Castle, Romper Stomper, Muriel's Wedding and The Dish. These are some films which are much loved here, but not really that famous overseas, so it would be nice if Criterion does get these films.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by ThisKid

What would be pretty awesome is if Criterion manages to release some more Australian films, such as Priscilla, The Castle, Romper Stomper, Muriel's Wedding and The Dish. These are some films which are much loved here, but not really that famous overseas, so it would be nice if Criterion does get these films.

Muriels wedding is so funny yet so heartbreaking! Great film and performances!

[ThisKid]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Muriels wedding is so funny yet so heartbreaking! Great film and performances!

Thanks! At least people on this site has seen these films! You should also see The Castle, this film has basically implanted itself into our culture.

[mrjohnnyb]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

This is 1/2 rhetorical and 1/2 me lookin for an answer that I'm not aware of... What 'good' film has Arrow US put out? I recall being happy when I read that they would have a US presence, only to be underwhelmed time and again when their release slates are announced. Is there anything that might be a natural extension of Criterion's output or anything from some CC directors?

They did release La Grande Bouffe which I highly recommend.

However, the film's subject matter is not for all tastes.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by ThisKid

What would be pretty awesome is if Criterion manages to release some more Australian films, such as Priscilla, The Castle, Romper Stomper, Muriel's Wedding and The Dish. These are some films which are much loved here, but not really that famous overseas, so it would be nice if Criterion does get these films.

I absolutely love The Dish, The Castle, and Muriel's Wedding; like Romper Stomper, and haven't seen Priscilla. There are plenty of other good Aussie films that aren't high-profile here in the States (i.e., aren't by big names like Weir and Beresford and Luhrmann).

Among my favorites:

Geoff Burton's The Sum of Us (getting a BD from Olive soon)
Simon Wincer's The Lighthorsemen
Scott Hick's Shine (which Criterion released on LD back when)
John Duigan's The Year My Voice Broke and Flirting
Paul Cox's Innocence (really, just about anything by Cox)
Pip Karmel's Me Myself I
Tom Jeffrey's Weekend of Shadows
Ken Hannam's Sunday Too Far Away

[ThisKid]

Originally Posted by jayembee

I absolutely love The Dish, The Castle, and Muriel's Wedding; like Romper Stomper, and haven't seen Priscilla. There are plenty of other good Aussie films that aren't high-profile here in the States (i.e., aren't by big names like Weir and Beresford and Luhrmann).

Among my favorites:

Geoff Burton's The Sum of Us (getting a BD from Olive soon)
Simon Wincer's The Lighthorsemen
Scott Hick's Shine (which Criterion released on LD back when)
John Duigan's The Year My Voice Broke and Flirting
Paul Cox's Innocence (really, just about anything by Cox)
Pip Karmel's Me Myself I
Tom Jeffrey's Weekend of Shadows
Ken Hannam's Sunday Too Far Away

Well, jayembee, Shine DOES have a blu-ray here courtesy of Umbrella Entertainment over here, although I haven't picked it up yet. I also don't know how good the picture quality is, our Blu-ray releases exclusive to Australia are hit-or-miss.