The Criterion Collection

[Mister_Kidd]

Could Criterion even put out Ran? Isn’t it in print from Studio Canal? I don’t know how the legal stuff works in that regard. Be a bummer if they had a box that didn’t include Ran.

[a priori]

Originally Posted by Mister_Kidd

Could Criterion even put out Ran? Isn’t it in print from Studio Canal? I don’t know how the legal stuff works in that regard. Be a bummer if they had a box that didn’t include Ran.

Studio Canal issued a Region B blu-ray using the new 4k restoration.

[bonehica]

Originally Posted by dml1988

So as someone who blind bought Seven Samurai, and absolutely loved it, I want to delve into more Akira Kurosawa. What would you all recommend from him. I already own the Yojimbo/Sanjuro box set, which I haven't watched for some strange reason. I am very interested in Ikiru, Throne of Blood and The Hidden Fortress. His later works seem to be divided among everyone, Dreams in particular

Chalk up another vote for High and Low. It was the very first Kurosawa I ever saw and it blew me away. It's a must see. I love all of his work (at least that of what I have seen), but it was my first and is still my favorite.

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by Mister_Kidd

Could Criterion even put out Ran? Isn’t it in print from Studio Canal? I don’t know how the legal stuff works in that regard. Be a bummer if they had a box that didn’t include Ran.

A bunch of Studio Canal movies have been licensed out. So it’s assumed they have it.

[Arawn]

Originally Posted by Gacivory

I love High and Low! It’s not samurai, but Mifune is a business man and it’s a drama.

It took me a while to get through it, because it drags in the middle quite a bit. It picked up for me when it started following the antagonist's activities.

[Xtempo]

I would love something for the DVDs I have since I've not upgraded some AK though I have tried to get the Bds I don't have on dvds and also there are a few only DVD releases I need to get but overall a boxset would be nice to have everything like AK 100 was. If they did that for Ozu I would pre-order immediately as he is my favorite director in the whole collection and of all time.

[BAMJoe]

Originally Posted by Mister_Kidd

Could Criterion even put out Ran? Isn’t it in print from Studio Canal? I don’t know how the legal stuff works in that regard. Be a bummer if they had a box that didn’t include Ran.

I thought that they were just about to release a Ran Blu several years ago, but then lost the rights.

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by Arawn

It took me a while to get through it, because it drags in the middle quite a bit. It picked up for me when it started following the antagonist's activities.

Never dragged for me.

[Burt Lancaster]

If the Godzilla set or the Akira set aren't announced I might cry.

[The Sovereign]

Originally Posted by Gacivory

Never dragged for me.

No me neither - it's actually my favorite Kurosawa film even though I wouldn't say it's his greatest.

[FragnitoM]

The OOP Fellini discs haven’t been released anywhere else right? I wish these would come back. Is there rumor about these? also some more upgrades and maybe Casanova and Ginger and Fred too would be awesome. Maybe next year for his 100th?

[MJD64]

Eager to discover the October slate this coming Monday (or Tuesday) as it traditionally contains a horror title or two: The much-speculated I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE or THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN (I know it's technically sci-fi, but it has many effectively horrific moments) would make for welcome announcements. If one or both of these come courtesy of Shout/Scream instead at some point, that'd be great too.

Blu upgrades of either ONIBABA or JIGOKU would be sweet as well.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by The Sovereign

No me neither - it's actually my favorite Kurosawa film even though I wouldn't say it's his greatest.

High and Low gets better with every viewing for me. I suppose a lot of Kurosawa movies do. He shows incredible range with High and Low, and it's pretty different from any other movie he's done. I love the shift in tone from the first half to the second too, something that could have gone terribly wrong in another person's hands, but Kurosawa weaved it together seamlessly.

After re-watching it last year, it also left me feeling surprised that no US remake has ever been done for the film. The story is loosely based on an Ed McBain novel (King's Ransom), so it could be "converted" quite easily into a westernized version. .

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by BAMJoe

I thought that they were just about to release a Ran Blu several years ago, but then lost the rights.

It was almost out the door.

[sawdustandtinsel]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

High and Low gets better with every viewing for me. I suppose a lot of Kurosawa movies do. He shows incredible range with High and Low, and it's pretty different from any other movie he's done. I love the shift in tone from the first half to the second too, something that could have gone terribly wrong in another person's hands, but Kurosawa weaved it together seamlessly.

After re-watching it last year, it also left me feeling surprised that no US remake has ever been done for the film. The story is loosely based on an Ed McBain novel (King's Ransom), so it could be "converted" quite easily into a westernized version. .

It has been tried a couple of times, thank god the Rock version seems to not be happening. I must say it warms my heart that so many people love this film, an all-timer for me.

[a priori]

Originally Posted by FragnitoM

The OOP Fellini discs haven’t been released anywhere else right? I wish these would come back. Is there rumor about these? also some more upgrades and maybe Casanova and Ginger and Fred too would be awesome. Maybe next year for his 100th?

A good example of why I invested in a multi-region blu-ray player. Criterion/Region-A hegemony over home movie viewing was no longer acceptable to me.

[FragnitoM]

Originally Posted by a priori

A good example of why I invested in a multi-region blu-ray player. Criterion/Region-A hegemony over home movie viewing was no longer acceptable to me.

I don’t really think it’s their fault, but I do have a region free bluray player—if you can recommend good imports for some of those mentioned titles I would appreciate it—Thanks!

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by sawdustandtinsel

It has been tried a couple of times, thank god the Rock version seems to not be happening. I must say it warms my heart that so many people love this film, an all-timer for me.

Interesting. Sounds like it's been in development-hell for many years now. On the topic of Kurosawa remakes, I actually envisioned one for The Lower Depths, told from the view of Africans, who were newly freed in America, but still not having much of a life, and still sort of under the "control" of their white landlords. Technically, it's really an adaptation of Gorky's play, like the Renoir film before Kurosawa's. I was actually really passionate about this idea 10 or so years ago. I pictured Spike Lee directing it, and I even started writing up a screenplay for it lol. Maybe I'll complete my version of it, if only just to get it out of my system so to speak.

[a priori]

Originally Posted by FragnitoM

I don’t really think it’s their fault, but I do have a region free bluray player—if you can recommend good imports for some of those mentioned titles I would appreciate it—Thanks!

Of course, you're right -- I agree it's not their fault, despite my belligerent tone. I know limited resources and licensing rights have a lot to do with what Criterion can reasonably be expected to release and keep in their catalog.

Pretty much all of my Region B blu-rays are from Amazon UK or eBay.

Here are some recent blu-ray purchases that are not available in Region A, as far as I know (though individual titles in the collections may be).

The Adventures of Antoine Doinel (The 400 Blows, Antoine & Colette, Stolen Kisses, Bed and Board, Love on the Run)
The Francois Truffaut Collection (Shoot the Piano Player, Jules & Jim, The Soft Skin, Anne & Muriel, A Gorgeous Girl Like Me, The Last Metro, The Woman Next Door, Finally Sunday)
Godard, The Essential Collection (Breathless, Une Femme Est Une Femme, Contempt, Alphaville, Pierrot le Fou)
Last Year at Marienbad (new restoration 2018 Studio Canal; Kino Lorber is releasing their edition of the new restoration in Region A)
Young and Innocent (a Hitchcock gem -- no kidding -- from his British period)
Andre Rublev (same master as Criterion, but only theatrical cut, cost = 7 GBP)
Mirror (Tarkovsky, 7 GBP)
Our Little Sister (Kore-eda, a director who is realtively new to me, but at the rate I'm going in exploring his output, he may break into my top 10 directors of all time before too long)
Late Autumn (Ozu, available only in DVD on Criterion)
Equinox Flower (Ozu, available only in DVD on Criterion)
Early Summer (Ozu, only available in DVD on Criterion)

[FragnitoM]

Originally Posted by a priori

Of course, you're right -- I agree it's not their fault, despite my belligerent tone. I know limited resources and licensing rights have a lot to do with what Criterion can reasonably be expected to release and keep in their catalog.

Pretty much all of my Region B blu-rays are from Amazon UK or eBay.

Here are some recent blu-ray purchases that are not available in Region A, as far as I know (though individual titles in the collections may be).

The Adventures of Antoine Doinel (The 400 Blows, Antoine & Colette, Stolen Kisses, Bed and Board, Love on the Run)
The Francois Truffaut Collection (Shoot the Piano Player, Jules & Jim, The Soft Skin, Anne & Muriel, A Gorgeous Girl Like Me, The Last Metro, The Woman Next Door, Finally Sunday)
Godard, The Essential Collection (Breathless, Une Femme Est Une Femme, Contempt, Alphaville, Pierrot le Fou)
Last Year at Marienbad (new restoration 2018 Studio Canal; Kino Lorber is releasing their edition of the new restoration in Region A)
Young and Innocent (a Hitchcock gem -- no kidding -- from his British period)
Andre Rublev (same master as Criterion, but only theatrical cut, cost = 7 GBP)
Mirror (Tarkovsky, 7 GBP)
Our Little Sister (Kore-eda, a director who is realtively new to me, but at the rate I'm going in exploring his output, he may break into my top 10 directors of all time before too long)
Late Autumn (Ozu, available only in DVD on Criterion)
Equinox Flower (Ozu, available only in DVD on Criterion)
Early Summer (Ozu, only available in DVD on Criterion)

Thanks so much great info! Very much appreciated!