The Criterion Collection

[Darkcritic]

Originally Posted by Shout92

Does anyone know exactly what the criteria is for a Criterion release? Obviously they have their share of foreign and art house films, but there is also the mainstream (Armageddon), the independent (The Darjeeling Limited), and those in public domain (Charade).

I understand it's a case of rights as well. Which leads me to my second question: there are two blu-ray releases of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (and soon to be for Dazed and Confused), anyone know why studios would even bother to two separate, seemingly competing, releases of the same film?

There is not an established "criteria" for any of their films but the closest you can get to it is something like this: "Since 1984, the Criterion Collection, a continuing series of important classic and contemporary films, has been dedicated to gathering the greatest films from around the world and publishing them in editions that offer the highest technical quality and award-winning, original supplements"

That is what basically any Criterion film will tell you in its back-cover . They don't produce films like Armageddon anymore, that was a period where Criterion needed the resources more than the prestige. Nowadays, they mostly release work from well-known art film directors from around all world. From Bergman and Kurosawa to Kiarostami and Tarkovsky .

[greekak229]

I plan on picking up Harakiri from Eureka instead.

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by Reno McCoy

Does this Criterion forum group ever organize an event in which anyone interested watches the same film over the same evening, so that there's a stimulated conversation about that particular film the next day?

This forum doesn't do that, but I know there are people over on the DVDTalk forums that do this sort of thing for Criterion movies.

[Monty70]

Originally Posted by greekak229

I plan on picking up Harakiri from Eureka instead.

Does that version have something the Criterion does not? Just wondering.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Darkcritic

There is not an established "criteria" for any of their films but the closest you can get to it is something like this: "Since 1984, the Criterion Collection, a continuing series of important classic and contemporary films, has been dedicated to gathering the greatest films from around the world and publishing them in editions that offer the highest technical quality and award-winning, original supplements"

That is what basically any Criterion film will tell you in its back-cover . They don't produce films like Armageddon anymore, that was a period where Criterion needed the resources more than the prestige. Nowadays, they mostly release work from well-known art film directors from around all world. From Bergman and Kurosawa to Kiarostami and Tarkovsky .

It was also a period when studios didn't quite consider the home video market a cash cow.

I'm sure Criterion would still love to round out their Polanski offerings with Rosemary's Baby and Chinatown but mass appeal films are harder and harder to pry loose from their owners.

(which is just fine if it means they have to 'settle' for things like Cul de Sac and The Tenant)

[Strevlac]

Originally Posted by octagon

It was also a period when studios didn't quite consider the home video market a cash cow.

I'm sure Criterion would still love to round out their Polanski offerings with Rosemary's Baby and Chinatown but mass appeal films are harder and harder to pry loose from their owners.
(which is just fine if it means they have to 'settle' for things like Cul de Sac and The Tenant)

That was the case in the boom years of the DVD era but it's actually getting much, much easier to license films from major studios now that dvd sales have pretty much tanked and bluray is "underperforming".

[greekak229]

Originally Posted by Monty70

Does that version have something the Criterion does not? Just wondering.

Besides a better cover and a DVD, I'm not sure. To be honest, I just want to own more from Eureka. Also, it comes out earlier than the Criterion version.

[Reno McCoy]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

This forum doesn't do that, but I know there are people over on the DVDTalk forums that do this sort of thing for Criterion movies.

Ah, good ol' DVDtalk. I don't seem to post there like I once did. Maybe I'll check into it a bit closer to find what I'm looking for. Thanks for the tip!

[octagon]

Originally Posted by Strevlac

That was the case in the boom years of the DVD era but it's actually getting much, much easier to license films from major studios now that dvd sales have pretty much tanked and bluray is "underperforming".

Do you have any particular titles in mind? My impression is more that soft blu-ray sales have resulted in major titles being delayed but offhand I can't think of too many that have been farmed out.

12 Angry Men surprised me but other than that...

I would certainly love for that to be the case, though. If Universal wants to follow up the pseudo-dual release of Dazed and Confused with some Hitchcock titles I would not complain.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by octagon

I would certainly love for that to be the case, though. If Universal wants to follow up the psuedo-dual release of Dazed and Confused with some Hitchcock titles I would not complain.

When it's a current Famous Director (like Linklater) getting his big-studio Criterion, I expect it's an inside job.
If Hitchcock were alive, he'd be slipping Criterion a few private licenses on the side, but I doubt it.

[rkish]

Spidey...I KNOW you'll be interested in this...

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDRe...7/monamour.htm

Tinto Brass's "Monamour"

The review is on the beaver!

The best part is...it's region free!

[greekak229]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

You forgot that it has region B encoding as well. Probably because you're region-free now, unlike us little people.

It's totally worth it, man. Get on that!

[Darkcritic]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

I disagree with that to an extent. Criterion is a business and every title they produce is produced to make money - all of them. Secret Sunshine might not sell big numbers, but they would not license it if they couldn't sell enough copies to break even.

No one held a gun to Criterion's head regarding Armageddon, and they subsequently were offered and took on The Rock. Those films are top-notch films in the 1990s action genre. The fact that the genre is not a typically artsy one doesn't mean there isn't artistic merit in the films, or an opportunity to make something interesting out of it by curating it on disc. Whether it's good or not is subjective to the viewer and is the same debate that can be had for Salo or any other devisive film; Criterion sees the value in at least starting the conversation.

Lastly I think that the notion that a mainstream film like Armageddon will automatically be a cash cow for Criterion in terms of sales is somewhat inaccurate. 10 years ago I don't think a casual action movie fan was likely to spend $40 on the Criterion of Armageddon when a cheaper studio version could be had. That would have made the core audience Criterion collectors, who might not have been hot on owning Armageddon. So it was not a sure thing. If anything, Criterion has become more popular and more saleable, ironically, as they've released less mainstream films, thanks to the reputation they've built. Criterions are relatively cheaper than ever before, they issue more titles than ever before, retailers have Criterion-themed sales. And now people are willing to spend more for a Criterion title when a studio alternative is available because of the foundation Criterion built.

Cheers if you bothered reading all of this!

I think I should have specified a little bit more but I partly agree with you on everything just said. I never said Armageddon was a film without merits nor that it was a bad release but it certainly seemed to be released more for the profit than the merits of the film itself. Sure a copy of Criterion's Armageddon would have been significantly more costly than an average studio one but they certainly needed at least some well-known films to sell the brand to the people. I can bet Andrei Rublev wasn't exactly something common viewers know about but Armageddon WAS. Just like Benjamin Button, it helped make some fast profit to go into a new direction later on. I don't mean to insult any Armageddon-fan or something I am just saying Criterion released that and some other titles as profit boosters .

[AgentOrange]

Originally Posted by djkest

So I like Samurai movies, but the trailer I saw for "7 samurai" was a little offputting- the action looked kind of cheesy and disjointed. Then again, it's just a trailer.

That being said, which one of these kurosawa films would you recommend, knowing that my tastes are decidedly more modern?

Sanjuro
Yojimbo
7 Samurai
Kagemusha

I think I may just get 7 Samurai, but Kagemusha looks pretty interesting as well.

I am also considering Diabolique and Red Shoes, although I can borrow RS if I want from a friend.

Seven Samurai is timeless. I think it's EASILY the best of them and should be the 1st to watch. But it's black and white, 4:3, and probably has the worst print quality as far as image integrity issues go. Kagemusha is really the only one that's "modern" being that it is filmed in the 1980's and was shot both in color and widescreen. I personally would get Seven Samurai first despite it being the LEAST modern, then Kagemusha just because it's color and widescreen, then lastly get Yojimbo/Sanjuro.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by rkish

Spidey...I KNOW you'll be interested in this...

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDRe...7/monamour.htm

Tinto Brass's "Monamour"

The review is on the beaver!

The best part is...it's region free!

Thanks, I haven't actually watched any of his films past the 70's. I hope Cult Epics restore some of the 60's ones that they have (even though I am fine with my dvds, and the transfers isn't anything great).

[Kevtronn]

Hello. Anyone know why Amazon has not put up the October Criterion blu rays for pre order yet? I can not recall Amazon taking this long in the past...

[BluPops]

I know the feeling... have a 4 yr old and a 1 1/2 old running around. Criterion needs to make some Elmo, Mickey Mouse and Tweety DVDs!

Originally Posted by Reno McCoy

Thanks for the replies to my question about "must own" Criterion discs. A hard question to answer, and one that many get tired of hearing, I'm sure, but I appreciate the suggestions. I'll be heading to B&N after work to pick up a little something for myself. And if I can't decide, well, I'll just close my eyes and pick that way.

After that, I'll just need to find time to watch these new films. It's not as easy as it once once...not with a 2-year-old running around.

[bullets]

Almost forgot about the B&N sale. I picked up Beauty and the Beast yesterday. It's a blind buy for me but the sale and reading about it on the Empire 500 list sparked my interest. I'd still like to see a review on this site . Anyone else purchase it?

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by bullets

Almost forgot about the B&N sale. I picked up Beauty and the Beast yesterday. It's a blind buy for me but the sale and reading about it on the Empire 500 list sparked my interest. I'd still like to see a review on this site . Anyone else purchase it?

There is a review on this site:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Beaut.../23142/#Review

And yeah, I purchased it, but haven't watched the blu yet. I can't wait to watch it again.

[bullets]

Originally Posted by blkhrt

There is a review on this site:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Beaut.../23142/#Review

And yeah, I purchased it, but haven't watched the blu yet. I can't wait to watch it again.

I just noticed it right after I posted , lol. I checked it out briefly and thought it looks good . I still need to sit down and watch it today.