The Criterion Collection

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by SeanJoyce

Actually, I would have said that The Third Man or The Night of the Hunter would have been its stiffest competition.

But as to your question, Ace in the Hole had never received any home video release, relegated to shoddy cable broadcasts despite a growing appreciation over the decades as one of Wilder's greatest accomplishments. It's also among the most prescient films ever made and is probably more relevant in our current media-dominated climate than it was in '51.

Criterion salvaged it from ignominy and obscurity and made it more widely-available, helping to validate its stature as an indispensable account of journalism and a towering American classic.

Yes, they did. I remember how the 2007 DVD release was such a big deal.

The film's theatrical title "The Big Carnival" is great, too. Usually any noir with "Big" in the title is great.

[SeanJoyce]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

The film's theatrical title "The Big Carnival" is great, too. Usually any noir with "Big" in the title is great.

The Big Carnival makes sense but I just can't get on board with it knowing it was a desperate, harebrained attempt to boost sales after it bombed (failed as well.)

Ace in the Hole is a bit more on-the-nose and drips with more venom.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Gacivory

I could also see 1941 or Munich.

Originally Posted by King Crimson

I need a 1941 Criterion release with Spielberg's assistance.

1941 and Munich already have excellent releases with extensive supplements.

[postmodel]

Originally Posted by Ruemorgue10

A Criterion edition of DUEL is a no-brainer.

It's historically important for being Spielberg's first feature-length film and artistically significant for elevating the standards of the "made for television" medium by being a well-crafted thriller worthy of recognition.

They could also include AMBLIN' as a bonus feature since it's the short that got him studio work in the first place.

I’m all in with that. Plus couldn’t they release both the TV cut and theatrical cut? Or I guess technically in the correct and altered aspect ratios?

It’s funny how a prolific director like Spielberg is well respected, however, the majority of his output is too popular and mainstream for any studio to consider licensing to the likes of Criterion. That doesn’t mean he isn’t “criterion-worthy” though a technical definition of that may not exist, it just shows how well liked and embraced he is by the general public.

[Kyle15]

An early Spielberg collection would be nice, not gonna lie. Duel, Something Evil, and Savage please. The original 3 TV movies in one place.

[edmoney]

Originally Posted by jlk5844

Surprised with all of the recent Welles discussion nobody mentioned Chimes at Midnight. Anyone have opinions on that?

Yes, it's one of his best films. Some say it's the best film by him, and Welles himself also said so when looking back on his career.

For me, it's my favorite of his independent European films. I just prefer a few of his American Hollywood films a bit more (Ambersons, Touch of Evil, Kane) for various reasons. Many say it's the greatest film adaptation of a Shakespeare play (in this case, it's a combination of five Shakespeare plays). Also, the centerpiece is one of the greatest battle scenes in movies that heavily influenced the one in Braveheart and other later films. It also has probably Welles' best acting performances and the most moving ending out of all his films. Check it out.

[Luke Dodge748]

Is the large Zatoichi boxset out of print? The $200 boxset... All the Barnes and Nobles around me had them for the entire November sale, but then all of a sudden with this new week's sale they were all gone from three stores. I feared the worst, naturally. 90 bucks was a damn good price!

[LexInHD]

I don't think it's out of print and B&N stores don't have significant numbers of the boxset to begin with because it's a niche item and more likely to be ordered online during the Criterion sale. No stores in our area have it in stock and it was just released in the UK a few weeks ago, so I am not sure what's going on with that. I know there are replicator issues, but it's also likely that the stock in the stores was limited to 1-2 per store, with only some stores having them, while the rest of the inventory was allocated online for the Criterion sale.

[StarDestroyer52]

Originally Posted by Luke Dodge748

Is the large Zatoichi boxset out of print? The $200 boxset... All the Barnes and Nobles around me had them for the entire November sale, but then all of a sudden with this new week's sale they were all gone from three stores. I feared the worst, naturally. 90 bucks was a damn good price!

Something is only OOP when its listed as such at Criterion's website.

[hariseldon]

Originally Posted by Luke Dodge748

Is the large Zatoichi boxset out of print? The $200 boxset... All the Barnes and Nobles around me had them for the entire November sale, but then all of a sudden with this new week's sale they were all gone from three stores. I feared the worst, naturally. 90 bucks was a damn good price!

The 9 disc box isn't OOP -- I saw them in both the stores I went to yesterday . The 27 disc LARGE BD/DVD is.

[regeyer]

Originally Posted by hariseldon

The 9 disc box isn't OOP -- I saw them in both the stores I went to yesterday . The 27 disc LARGE BD/DVD is.

This is true. I was fortunate enough to get the 27 disc combo just after they stopped making it. Although, to be honest, I don't think I've ever used the DVDs.

[GenPion]

Originally Posted by postmodel

I’m all in with that. Plus couldn’t they release both the TV cut and theatrical cut? Or I guess technically in the correct and altered aspect ratios?

It’s funny how a prolific director like Spielberg is well respected, however, the majority of his output is too popular and mainstream for any studio to consider licensing to the likes of Criterion. That doesn’t mean he isn’t “criterion-worthy” though a technical definition of that may not exist, it just shows how well liked and embraced he is by the general public.

Perfect idea. I’d buy that release. Both presentation ratios and Amblin alone would make it a must own.

[theater dreamer]

A good number of Criterion films coming up on tv in the next two weeks (listed for central time):

FX Movie Channel:

The Leopard (1963) Burt Lancaster. Sunday 2:15 am

Turner Classic Movies

It Happened One Night (1934) Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert. Sun 3 pm
The Third Man (1949) Joseph Cotton, Orson Welles. Sun 5 pm
The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928) Renee Falconetti. Sun 11:15 pm
Children of Paradise (1945) Jean-Louis Barrault. Mon 1 am
Rififi (1955) Jean Servais. Mon 6:45 am
The Asphalt Jungle (1950) Sterling Hayden, Sam Jaffe, James Whitmore, Marilyn Monroe. Mon 8 am
Fanny and Alexander (1982) Pernilla Allwin, Bertil Guve. Dec 24 1:45 am
Some Like it Hot (1959) Jack Lemon, Tony Curtis, Marilyn Monroe. Dec 25 7 pm

HBO
Being John Malkovich (1999) John Cusack, Catherine Keener, Cameron Diaz, John Malkovich. Dec 19 11:20 pm
The Princess Bride (1987) Cary Elwes, Robin Wright. Dec 22 6 am

Showtime
Tootsie (1982) Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, Teri Garr Sun 6:45 am
Rushmore (1998) Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman. Mon 4 am
Frances Ha (2012) Greta Gerwig, Adam Driver. Tues 10:35 am
Personal Shopper (2016) Kristen Stewart. Tues 9 pm

[Reddington]

The review of Notorious is up:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Notor...209470/#Review

Looks to be quite an improvement over the MGM BD release. I just wish Criterion had used the same cover as the DVD, which is stunning.

[Member-167298]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

A good number of Criterion films coming up on tv in the next two weeks (listed for central time):

Showtime

Personal Shopper (2016) Kristen Stewart. Tues 9 pm

This is a film that I think about all the time. I am still not quite sure if I have it totally figured out, but I found it really fascinating. Recommended!

[koberulz]

Originally Posted by Reddington

The review of Notorious is up:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Notor...209470/#Review

Looks to be quite an improvement over the MGM BD release.

Not sure how you're supposed to tell given that literally none of the screenshots match between the two releases.

[MJD64]

Originally Posted by PrestonXI

This is a film that I think about all the time. I am still not quite sure if I have it totally figured out, but I found it really fascinating. Recommended!

I really fell in love with this one, a tantalizingly mysterious and moody film. The ambiguous nature of it makes it a pleasure to revisit and interpret and Kristen Stewart is wonderful in it; so much going on beneath her dissatisfied and restless exterior...she yearns to make contact with this world and the next.

[repulsed]

Originally Posted by Reddington

The review of Notorious is up:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Notor...209470/#Review

Looks to be quite an improvement over the MGM BD release. I just wish Criterion had used the same cover as the DVD, which is stunning.

Which DVD cover are you referring to? The previous Criterion DVD?

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by koberulz

Not sure how you're supposed to tell given that literally none of the screenshots match between the two releases.

I read Svet's comments, and toggled between the caps of the two releases. You know, put a bit of effort in, then made a general observation...

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by repulsed

Which DVD cover are you referring to? The previous Criterion DVD?

Yes. Fantastic image and design: