The Criterion Collection

[jshaide]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

At this point I just want to see Criterion go back to releasing Japanese films on a semi normal bases. We really need a Kurosawa boxset versus something like the Varda boxset. Ugh.

A Kurosawa box set would be clutch, but we don't need to take Varda down for that desire.

[NeoNical]

Originally Posted by Al3xanderdelag

Studiocanal

Grr damn them. Keeping all them 4k restorations hiding in the basement from the Americans.

[Gacivory]

Give me a Kurosawa and a Varda set. I don’t need to tear one Director set down to try and pull another up.

[NeoNical]

Originally Posted by jshaide

A Kurosawa box set would be clutch, but we don't need to take Varda down for that desire.

Agreed. Varda is a great director but may not be as great as Kurosawa but Kurosawa had so many of his films released that I don't think its worth restoring his impossible to restore films like his earlier works (Sanshiro Sugata is a great example of keeping on DVD due to horribly aged materials. That it's best to keep it on DVD. Controversial but I think it should be kept like that)
I just need, "Madadayo" and perhaps a smaller box set of Kurosawa noir films (Featuring, "Drunken Angel," "Stray Dog," "The Quiet Duel (One of the rare Kurosawa films never released by Criterion)," "Scandal (If they're willing to do an "ok to mediocre" A/V release)," "The Bad Sleep Well (This may have the same quality level as "High and Low" Contrast for both films are pretty bad due to materials I assume)," and then "High and Low (4K restoration would be nice to change that bad boosted contrast and sharpness)."

As I stated earlier in that controversial rant that I will be attacked from all angles, some of these Kurosawa films aren't worth that 4k restoration or even a 2k restoration. Just a new HD restoration that they did back in 2010 would be fine and I think that will still satisfy fans. But now, Criterion relies mostly on 4K and 2K restorations done by other companies, that's why you don't see any big releases.

For the Kurosawa releases, I probably would guess the video quality might range from (3.5 to 4.5 so I'm not too excited for any of these films getting perfect qualities like Ugetsu) But then again, who knows what they could do? They might pull a, "Proved you wrong, suck on this!" trick.

[Hellspawn28]

There's nothing in August that I want to be honest. I do wish that Criterion would release City of Lost Childern and On the Silver Globe because those two movies fit right up their alley.

[Azores26]

Originally Posted by Al3xanderdelag

Studiocanal

Yeah, but Studiocanal themselves haven't released it on blu-ray neither. Like I said, I don't think "Z" has ever been released on blu-ray anywhere, which I think is quite strange, given that many other Costa-Gavras films are already on blu-ray.

[NeoNical]

Originally Posted by Hellspawn28

There's nothing in August that I want to be honest. I do wish that Criterion would release City of Lost Childern and On the Silver Globe because those two movies fit right up their alley.

I just watched the trailer for, "On the Silver Globe" and I'm already hooked onto it. And since there is a 4K restoration for it and it can be considered an arthouse (from what I've seen), I probably would guess it would be on Criterion Collection since they're gonna use that restoration for good and not waste it off.

[a priori]

Originally Posted by Azores26

Yeah, but Studiocanal themselves haven't released it on blu-ray neither. Like I said, I don't think "Z" has ever been released on blu-ray anywhere, which I think is quite strange, given that many other Costa-Gavras films are already on blu-ray.

In 2016, Arte Éditions released Z on blu-ray as part of Volume 1 of the Complete Costa-Gavras. (No English sub-titles.)

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by NeoNical

It can be debated that this film should be on Criterion Collection because it is a roman porno and while there are films that Criterion released that are borderline pornography, "The Watcher in the Attic" is probably one of the more "questionable" movies (5.9 IMDB, 3.3 Letterboxd) and I think Noboru Tanaka's films should be handed over to Arrow Video since they're pretty comfortable with this type of content (They do cult films so ofc they wouldn't mind duh). Criterion always prefers releasing arthouse or influential works normally so it would be out of nowhere and I'm sure you can't make much out of these films for a Criterion release even as an Eclipse box set and especially independent. But then once again, who knows? I haven't seen any Tanaka films but I'm 100% sure they're mostly roman pornos since the DVDs themselves either include pornographic images in front or literally has the label, "NIKKATSU EROTIC CINEMA" on front. I would be shocked if they do release because I think that the Nikkatsu Pink films aren't that big nowadays but there still is a decent amount of people who wouldn't mind watching them for the entertainment value I guess.

In the end, not going to Criterion most likely but instead to Third Window Films or Arrow Video. It doesn't really fit in the Criterion Collection but then again, so is 60% of the releases for the past 2-3 years.
It also would be a pretty controversial release IMO.
(Can't judge a film if I didn't watch it so that's that )


I guess they should start releasing Japanese films again also. And there's also a decent amount of films that need Blu-ray upgrades like Onibaba, any Suzuki film (Funny thing Gate of Flesh and Story of a Prostitute has a few pink film elements in it), The Pornographers (Haven't seen this one yet), Pigs , Pimps, & Prostitutes, Samurai Box Set (Samurai Rebellion and Sword of the Beast box set. Not the Mifune Trilogy), and of course the Teshigahara release for the other two. I think that in the end, most of these movies are ones that some wouldn't care for like Story of a Prostitute, the Pornographers, and perhaps Pigs, Pimps, & Prostitutes even though that's a very well known trilogy. A restoration for these movies are probably not worth it since they paid a lot to make them but they receive less money than they used money to make it. So because of that, Criterion might be a little scared to pull the trigger on these films. But then again, Criterion is always holding back good movies for no reason like Floating Weeds.

For Kurosawa, I think that we just need an individual Blu-ray release for his unreleased films like, "Madadayo" and I'm set. I'm not really hyped for another Kurosawa box set despite me being a big Japanese film fan. And the other thing is that I feel like if you release certain films individually, they do better than releasing films on a box set. Since the box sets are so expensive, not much are going to buy the box set right away. Probably during a sale or so that there will be a good amount of people who would go for it. And sometimes they do work a little too hard with their box sets. The Bergman boxset is wonderful and all that but it's too damn heavy and it also takes a lot of space.

Once again, any Japanese film release is welcome at this time but I don't think any Tanaka films will be up Criterion's alley nor is Duras or any other small and underground directors that only a small but special group of people will enjoy. If the film can attract 60% or more of the general public (Meaning literally everyone. Film fan or not), Criterion will pull the trigger or perhaps make it an ultimate release.

I could see Mondo Macabro giving Watcher in the Attic another release at some point.

I'm actually surprised Onibaba hasn't made the upgrade yet. Maybe for October. The Samurai boxset would be amazing, but I would really want them to start releasing their Hideo Gosha films. Those are long overdue.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by Gacivory

Give me a Kurosawa and a Varda set. I don’t need to tear one Director set down to try and pull another up.

It's just frustrating that Kurosawa hasn't gotten a Blu-ray upgrade in 3 years, yet we get a Varda set first. (Varda's film just don't compare in my eyes) I think I'm just frustrated period with the lack of Japanese releases from Criterion while they hold the rights to hundreds of them, most which have never even had a DVD release.

[gorobei]

I'll probably nab KB but nothing else.

[Ray Jackson]

Bunch of titles I’ve never heard of.

...starting to become a trend.

[Azores26]

Originally Posted by a priori

In 2016, Arte Éditions released Z on blu-ray as part of Volume 1 of the Complete Costa-Gavras. (No English sub-titles.)

I didn't know that, thanks for the heads up. It's a shame about the English subtitles though, guess I'll have to keep on waiting for a English-language
release...

[Mike0284]

Originally Posted by NeoNical

I don't even know how people are still reviewing this film on Letterboxd.com lol

Torrent sites would be my guess.

[regeyer]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Bunch of titles I’ve never heard of.

...starting to become a trend.

Same here. I don't have a problem with that, in fact I like that. But I won't be buying any until after I've seen them. So that means either watching them on the Criterion Channel, Prime, etc., or borrowing the Criterion release from the public library. Even after I've watched them I likely won't buy them. I only buy titles that I fall in love with and I know that I will want to rewatch again multiple times.

[StarDestroyer52]

Originally Posted by mrmikefern

Toni
The Comfort Of Strangers
Town Bloody Hall
The Lost Honor Of Katherina Blum

I might get Toni later during a sale, but nothing I see the need to pre-order. Happy for those who wanted these titles and the Varda set, but its good for me since I have so many preorders in the upcoming months that its good to be able to take a break for one month. Hoping we can get Pandora's Box before the end of the year as this is probably my most wanted Criterion that hasn't been announced.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by StarDestroyer52

Hoping we can get Pandora's Box before the end of the year as this is probably my most wanted Criterion that hasn't been announced.

Pandora's Box is showing up on Kino's website under the search. I can see them releasing it on blu-ray.

[yoloswegmaster420]

Originally Posted by SpiderBaby

Pandora's Box is showing up on Kino's website under the search. I can see them releasing it on blu-ray.

I thought you were joking but you're right. It's also disappeared from the Janus website, so this gives it some credence.

[StarDestroyer52]

Originally Posted by SpiderBaby

Pandora's Box is showing up on Kino's website under the search. I can see them releasing it on blu-ray.

Hmm. That bodes well. Criterion must have just lost the license then because the TV broadcast I watched on TCM which had to be January or February still had the Criterion and Janus logos.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Hellspawn28

There's nothing in August that I want to be honest. I do wish that Criterion would release City of Lost Childern and On the Silver Globe because those two movies fit right up their alley.

On the Silver Globe is pretty amazing from what little I've seen of it. The trailer alone was super mysterious and unsettling. I want to see this in the Criterion Collection badly!