The Criterion Collection

[cicada88]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

nearly 20 people (no exaggeration - count them) have liked this same comment posted 3 times.

...and you guys are trying to make a point that these are not popular films?

I didn't 'like' your comment; I answered your question

I just find it somewhat odd that your definition of a cash grab is cult 1970s Japanese language films

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by cicada88

I didn't 'like' your comment; I answered your question

I just find it somewhat odd that your definition of a cash grab is cult 1970s Japanese language films

hmm...

[CriterionBlues]

Criterion releases arthouse films that appeal to their demographic and they also want to make money so they can remain viable in the physical media market.

Sometimes that means they release arthouse or cult samurai films, some of which have more artistic merit than others.

And I seldom complain about a release this side of Jellyfish Eyes.

[Snicket]

Hot take: This whole conversation is boring af.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

nearly 20 people (no exaggeration - count them) have liked this same comment posted 3 times.

...and you guys are trying to make a point that these are not popular films?

Is your point that anything aside from unpopular films is a cash grab?

[milo bloom]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

How many

[Show spoiler]pulpy samurai movies do we need in the collection?

As with the others:

[Show spoiler]as many as I can scrape up the extra dollars to buy them with!!

Originally Posted by JJJ225

Release something they haven't heard of: Yawn! Boring month!

Release something that many people have heard of: Wow. Sell outs.

LOL, perfect! I'm imagining some of these people like the guys that wear a t-shirt of obscure bands until they see other people wearing them, so they don't like that band anymore.


Oh, also put me down for a copy of

[Show spoiler] Punch Drunk Love - Sandler with a spine#? 2016 is finally looking up

[Scottie]

I have a feeling that an upgrade of Mishima will be announced.

[mja345]

Originally Posted by Snicket

Hot take: This whole conversation is boring af.

I wouldn't say it's boring. Have you seen some of the conversations that exist on this board? It's just an argument over whether Criterion should be hardcore arthouse or try to expand a bit. As far as the viability of physical media goes, the former would be the logical option. I don't fault anyone for pursuing the angle that keeps their business model viable.

[llj]

Found a Canadian seller actually selling Touch of Zen (new) for less than $35 (as opposed to the usual $40+ I've been seeing it being priced from most Canadian sellers). Woohoo Canadian versions of "bargains." Just arrived in the mail.

Can't wait to give this disc a spin tonight.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

Is your point that anything aside from unpopular films is a cash grab?

if it must be black and white for you, then yes. but I didn't give any real indication that this was my opinion.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Snicket

Hot take: This whole conversation is boring af.

then bring up Terrence Malick again?

or should we discuss the merits of the digipack?

or how about how long it took for B&N to ship a package to Joe Criterion Lover in Boise, Idaho?

[Gacivory]

Say what you want about the validity of the discussion, but it has distracted people from complaining about the lateness of the Criterion official announcements.

[SammyJankis]

The Decalogue poster is for sale.

[ElliesDad]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I'm not entirely sure you have a point. I mean, Criterion is a business, and businesses tend to want to make as much money as possible. And if there's demand for a certain type of film, then Criterion being a smart business would meet that demand with a proper supply. So your point is basically Economics 101...?

And please stop acting like these occasional titles are some how dominating Criterion's focus. We have what? Zatoichi, Lady Snowblood, and Lone Wolf and Cub over a 3 year span. Wow! Criterion is going crazy with the samurai stuff!!111. Look at it in the grand scale of everything else they're putting out, and you'll see it's a drop in the bucket. They have always put out a great mix of popular, and niche titles. That hasn't changed.

Doesn’t seem to me to be much of an issue insofar as the stratagem of releasing more commercially-viable product to subsidize the ‘good’ niche releases is concerned. But there is an issue in terms of the amount of ‘commericial’ product being released, and especially concerning the caliber and quality of some of that product.

If the quality (as measured by any reasonable interpretation) is questionable, it could result in producing the unfortunate circumstance wherein the integrity of the Criterion ‘Collection’ itself starts to be damaged or diminished, and since the company is founded on the principle that quality is it’s hallmark and raison d’etre, that could be catastrophic. There’s a fine line here, and I’m sure the fine folks at Criterion wrestle with it on a continuing basis.

There’s all kinds of great ‘popular’ product out there that deserves a Criterion release. No need to lower the bar with material that just doesn’t fit the Criterion brand (which, again, is the company’s most successful attribute) to where mediocrity or excess becomes acceptable. A couple of select Wes Anderson films maybe. Adam Sandler? Seriously? If we come across a reference to the Criterion Collection in any form, instead of our thoughts turning to Monica Vitti, or Belmondo, Ingrid Bergman, or Vittorio de Sica, do we really want an image of Adam Sandler to pop into mind instead..

[SammyJankis]

They're up!

[Knaldskalle]

Originally Posted by Arch Stanton

I'm not massive on samurai films either outside of Kurosawa but I really don't see how they constitute money grabbing releases. The Criterion money grabbers are the pointless Wes Anderson ones, not fairly obscure Asian cinema films with a more limited appeal.

I've heard repeatedly throughout the years that the samurai movies are some of Criterion's best sellers. I don't know enough to confirm or deny it, but given that we have several lavish sets it's not hard for me to believe.

[The Great Owl]

I just saw the announcements on the Criterion page.

I'm all in for Lone Wolf and Cub, One-Eyed Jacks, and Akira Kurosawa's Dreams.

I'm also glad that the Lone Wolf and Cub set is available for a reasonable price, and I'm glad that the Shogun Assassin cut will be included.

[StingingVelvet]

I liked Punch Drunk Love but don't feel a real need to see it again. Maybe. The rest don't look like my thing at all. Oh wells.

[SkyAntoine]

No upgrades?

[SammyJankis]

My favorite PTA makes this a good month, though I must admit I was expecting a boxset.