The Criterion Collection

[jshaide]

Originally Posted by demonknight

The Spy Who Dumped Me & The 15:17 to Paris made it on this list? Really?

I think Brody may just be a dirty boy.

[demonknight]

Originally Posted by MassiveMovieBuff

Does anyone think Criterion would release Bob Fosse's Star 80? I'd love a Blu ray for that film.

I’d love it.

[senseabove]

Originally Posted by Rzzzz

Wasn't Freaks part of that bunch of titles? I would kill for a Criterion release of that film with all the extras ported over and some new Criterion extras added. I don't want any other label to release the blu ray of this film....

I think there've been a few separate batches of WB DVDs that have gone OoP at the same time. In one of those batch that all went out of print at once, Klute is the last remaining as-of-yet un-Criterioned title. (Though I can't seem to track down the post with that list...)

This is supposedly another batch that went OoP at the same time.

I don't see the Freaks DVD on wbshop.com, so it may be OoP, which is probably what's making things suspect it's coming from Criterion.

[KMR]

Originally Posted by koberulz

Isn't the book basically just all the booklets collected together?

Not really. Some of the essays in the Bergman book are adapted from the earlier original releases. The book is arranged in chapters corresponding to the discs in the set, so some of them deal with "double features". Several of the essays appear to be brand new. Also, there are sidebars with excerpts from Bergman's writings. There are probably more photos than appear in the standalone releases. Plus, there is an introduction. It's a wonderful book that is a fantastic companion to the discs.

[koberulz]

Am I remembering correctly that there's a Zatoichi film that isn't in the box set?

[regeyer]

Originally Posted by koberulz

Am I remembering correctly that there's a Zatoichi film that isn't in the box set?

The 26th and final film, which came out in 1989, is not included in the set. It is available separately on both DVD and Blu-Ray.

[InTheMood]

Arrow just release Bergman's The Serpent's Egg in North America. It's also in Criterion's Bergman box set. How is this possible? Is this the reason for the box set being unavailable everywhere?

[koberulz]

Cheers. I've never had any interest in the set, but it popped up so cheap on Amazon Spain that I had to bite and it looks like it's going to go through.

[InvisibleLoad]

Originally Posted by koberulz

am i remembering correctly that there's a zatoichi film that isn't in the box set?

[koberulz]

Originally Posted by InTheMood

Is this the reason for the box set being unavailable everywhere?

No. They've sold out the initial pressing as demand exceeded expectations.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by InTheMood

Arrow just release Bergman's The Serpent's Egg in North America. It's also in Criterion's Bergman box set. How is this possible? Is this the reason for the box set being unavailable everywhere?

As I understand it , Serpent's Egg rights are also owned by MGM and therefore Arrow was forced to use to the (possibly older) MGM master, while Criterion licensed the film (and the restored master) from the Swedish company SF Studios.

[Akibiyori]

Originally Posted by ravenus

As I understand it , Serpent's Egg rights are also owned by MGM and therefore Arrow was forced to use to the (possibly older) MGM master, while Criterion licensed the film (and the restored master) from the Swedish company SF Studios.

Criterion would still have to go through MGM to license the film since they are also a part of this territory and in fact the MGM logo is on Criterion’s version of the film. They probably simply struck a deal with both MGM and Arrow to include the film in the set while Arrow gets to release the standalone version.

[RockyIII]

Originally Posted by InvisibleLoad

This looks very interesting. Is this considered the best of Zatoichi?

[thebratpackwrangler]

March Predictions

I Wanna Hold Your Hand
Wanda
Detour
Hedwig And The Angry Inch
Let The Sunshine In
The Grand Budapest Hotel

[Egbert Souse]

Originally Posted by ravenus

As I understand it , Serpent's Egg rights are also owned by MGM and therefore Arrow was forced to use to the (possibly older) MGM master, while Criterion licensed the film (and the restored master) from the Swedish company SF Studios.

Criterion licensed it from MGM since it's part of the DEG library. Originally released through Paramount, but since it was a Dino DeLaurentiis production, it ended up with films like Blue Velvet and Manhunter.

Though, they used the Swedish Film Institute's new 2K master off a 35mm duplicate negative while Arrow probably had to use an existing master from MGM.

[jshaide]

Originally Posted by Reddington

What are your thoughts on the film? I read a review article about Matt Dillon that made me want to watch it, but I'm also aware of my limitations when it comes to certain themes - especially cruelty.

I haven't seen the movie yet. It's opening on the 14th and I def. am going to go. I wasn't able to see the one-night director's cut version, though.

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by RockyIII

This looks very interesting. Is this considered the best of Zatoichi?

I wouldn't consider it the best though I didn't find it a bad film. It's very 80's ish compared to the other films. Personally I'd like to see the Zatoichi TV series on Bluray. Excellent show with most of the 100 or so episodes better then that film.

Speaking of Japanese films not on Blu. Why no Hideo Gosha love from Criterion. Would love to see Goyokin, The Wolves, Sword of the Beast, Hitokiri, Hunter in the dark or some of his other films on Bluray.

Also please criterion give us a restored Bluray of Samurai Rebellion.

[RockyIII]

Originally Posted by Banned User

I wouldn't consider it the best though I didn't find it a bad film. It's very 80's ish compared to the other films. Personally I'd like to see the Zatoichi TV series on Bluray. Excellent show with most of the 100 or so episodes better then that film.

Speaking of Japanese films not on Blu. Why no Hideo Gosha love from Criterion. Would love to see Goyokin, The Wolves, Sword of the Beast, Hitokiri, Hunter in the dark or some of his other films on Bluray.

Also please criterion give us a restored Bluray of Samurai Rebellion.

So what would suggest for someone who is foreign to these Japanes films? Where to start from to get acquainted with them?

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by RockyIII

So what would suggest for someone who is foreign to these Japanes films? Where to start from to get acquainted with them?

With Zatoichi films or in general? Zatoichi get the excellent boxset. As far as in general start with Kurosawa films like Yojimbo or Seven Samurai. If you are referring to Hideo Gosha. Goyokin is probably the best film listed there IMO, but it's not on Bluray. The only Hideo film on Bluray is Three Outlaw Samurai.

Others worth considering:
Harakiri (Amazing drama with sublime cinematography.)
Throne of Blood (Dark, haunting drama. Shakespeare adaptation.)
Hidden Fortress (The film that inspired Star Wars )
Sword of Doom (you likely won't like the abrupt ending, but it's an amazing film)
Kuroneko (horror film)
High and Low (Police Procedural drama film)
The Samurai Trilogy (great trilogy of Samurai films)
Gate of Helll ( very under rated and colorful film though it has nothing to do with the literal hell. Simply a drama)
Pale Flower (low key gangster drama)
Ugetsu (Director Mizoguchi is a acquired taste, like Ozu. Both directors are extremely economical in their camera movement and style. This is a excellent ghost film)

There's a lot more, but I think the above films are easily accessible to western viewers. Branded to Kill is great, but crazy insane. Ozu films can be boring for some viewers, but Tokyo Story would be a good starting point with him. Both Mizuguchi and Ozu's films can be rather slow paced to most people accustomed to faster moving film's. So if you have little patience for that I'd stay away.

[King Crimson]

Originally Posted by RockyIII

So what would suggest for someone who is foreign to these Japanes films? Where to start from to get acquainted with them?

Seven Samurai, Sanjuro, Yojimbo, Sword of Doom, Lady Snowblood, Lone Wolf and Cub, Ikiru, Tokyo Story

If you want to do your TV and eyes a favor, Ran, Dreams and Kagemusha.

Overall Criterion has a great selection of JP films, chambara or not

If you think Yakuza is your thing or are interested(you should be) I would check out first Battles without Honor and Humanity by Arrow Video. It's a classic.