The Criterion Collection

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by styrofoamboats

I got a copy of Secret Sunshine from Amazon today and after I opened it I discovered that the "director approved" sticker was actually stuck to the case and not on the cellophane like normal. I guess I got a resealed copy?

If it was a re-sealed copy, why would the sticker be on the case? The original purchaser would've had to remove the sticker from the original shrink-wrap and stick it to the case for it to be resealed over this. If that happened, why did the original purchaser return it to Amazon?

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Bn43

Scope is cramped. Of course movies can look wonderful in scope, but I don't know why you'd frame your movie around it when there are more versatile aspect ratios. Scope probably makes compositions harder. It's why few painters use very wide canvases. Blade Runner, for example, could look just as good in a taller aspect ratio if the director had had to shoot, position and frame everything for it, so I don't buy "It depends."

But it does depend. On the image you want to present.

The Mona Lisa's "aspect ratio" is roughly 1.50:1. The Last Supper's aspect ratio is roughly 1.90:1. Both paintings are masterpieces, but neither one would look right if the former was 1.90:1 and the latter 1.50:1.

Now, you can say that panoramic views better lend themselves to panoramic imagery. It's true. But that doesn't mean that more intimate imagery doesn't need it. For example, take 2010: The Year We Made Contact (yeah, not the masterpiece that its predecessor is, but it's a decent enough film on its own).

There's a scene late in the movie where Roy Scheider and Helen Mirren are talking about the coming "crisis". The American and Russian crews have to separate to their respective ships because of growing political tensions between the two countries happening on Earth, a tension that is being reflected on the ships.

They are sitting at opposite ends of a table while Scheider presents a plan that'll help both ships/crews. If you watch the scope image, one talks, then the other talks, rinse, repeat. All in one essentially static image. In the old pan-&-scan version, you see only one on the screen, then it whips over to the other, then back, then forth, ad infinitum. It's dizzying.

Sure, Hyams could've shot it in a more "versatile" ratio and had them sit closer together to achieve the same composition as the scope version, but with lesser width. But having them seated so far apart accentuates the feeling of a distance between the two characters, the two crews, and the two countries.

So, yes, that wide shot works perfectly even for a scene of just two people talking.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by belcherman

If you have access to the Criterion Channel, they're showing Bad Day at Black Rock with the John Sturges commentary from the Criterion LD release back in the day. In it he discusses widescreen compositions, among other things. He said that the studio originally thought that widescreen was only good for epics with thousands of extras and would be wasted on a film with just seven characters. He goes on to demonstrate why that ain't necessarily so. Highly recommended.

That was a great commentary. It's really a shame that WAC didn't acquire it for their Blu-ray release. Not sure why. Must've been on the WAC end of things, since I would think Criterion would want to maintain a good relationship with Warner by letting them use it. It's not like Criterion commentaries haven't appeared on other non-Criterion discs.

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by jayembee

That was a great commentary. It's really a shame that WAC didn't acquire it for their Blu-ray release. Not sure why. Must've been on the WAC end of things, since I would think Criterion would want to maintain a good relationship with Warner by letting them use it. It's not like Criterion commentaries haven't appeared on other non-Criterion discs.

The WAC release does include a commentary from Film Professor Dana Polan, carried over from the DVD. I have not listened to it, but having both commentaries would have been nice.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

He uses split-screen in many of his films, particularly the thrillers.

Yep, the split-screen and the overhead tracking shot are De Palma trademarks.

[DukeTogo84]

[Show spoiler]

Originally Posted by Reddington

I saved this a while back, which may be of interest given the above discussion.

Also, would love Criterion to upgrade this one. Maybe in the speculated Kurosawa box-set...

https://youtu.be/jGc-K7giqKM

THE BAD SLEEP WELL is long overdue for a Blu-ray. Hopefully 2021 will give us that Kurosawa boxset.

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Yep, the split-screen and the overhead tracking shot are De Palma trademarks.

I always associate De Palma with Split-Diopter shots.

[jshaide]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

[Show spoiler]

THE BAD SLEEP WELL is long overdue for a Blu-ray. Hopefully 2021 will give us that Kurosawa boxset.

All I want to do is take out all my old Kurosawa discs from my Criterion shelves and have them all replaced with a nice box set that has all of the movies I've pulled plus the ones I never purchased. Is this so much to ask for???

[fred25_Ca]

And all I want is for Criterion to release the last 6 or so Kurosawa I want on blu ray, not release a giant box set with movies I already own. I really hate when studios release stuff for 10 years and then decide to punish the fans that have bought everything from them. :/

[joy-division]

Originally Posted by traths

Bringing Up Baby is my most wanted blu-ray and I would love to see Criterion release it.

I'm hoping Criterion gets a blu-ray release of The Bank Dick also since the DVD has been out of print for quite a while now.

Well, there is a Spanish release

[DukeTogo84]

I remember when Criterion started releasing DVD's that it felt like we were getting a Japanese title every month. Now, we haven't had one in over a year. I do wonder how Japanese films sell for Criterion? At one point samurai films were some of their biggest sellers, and I just wonder if that changed?

[DukeTogo84]

Also, just read that Steven Soderbergh is working on a boxset for 7 of his films. Could this be for Criterion?

[joy-division]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

Also, just read that Steven Soderbergh is working on a boxset for 7 of his films. Could this be for Criterion?

I would urge everyone to buy the mini series Traffik that ibviously inspired the film Traffic
Puts the film to shame IMO

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

I remember when Criterion started releasing DVD's that it felt like we were getting a Japanese title every month. Now, we haven't had one in over a year. I do wonder how Japanese films sell for Criterion? At one point samurai films were some of their biggest sellers, and I just wonder if that changed?

I'm sure there'll be a difference in sales between Samurai films and other kinds of Japanese movies. Maybe they've currently run out of Samurai films that are available in quality HD restorations?

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by ravenus

I'm sure there'll be a difference in sales between Samurai films and other kinds of Japanese movies. Maybe they've currently run out of Samurai films that are available in quality HD restorations?

Looking at Amazon's Japanese page, there are quite a few samurai films that Criterion has the rights to in the US that have HD masters and I barely looked earlier today. I saw Bandits Vs Samurai Squadron, Roningai, Hunter in the Dark, etc that are streaming in Amazon Jaan in HD. I'd be shocked if films like Samurai Rebellion didn't have a HD master.

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

Also, just read that Steven Soderbergh is working on a boxset for 7 of his films. Could this be for Criterion?

That was my thought, but in the interview he mentioned limited edition. So I was wonder Arrow. Or he might go the Hal Hartley way and release it himself.

[jshaide]

Originally Posted by Gacivory

That was my thought, but in the interview he mentioned limited edition. So I was wonder Arrow. Or he might go the Hal Hartley way and release it himself.

I was trying to piece together what the other 4 films might be. BUBBLE came to mind.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by jshaide

I was trying to piece together what the other 4 films might be. BUBBLE came to mind.

I wonder if the Limey is possible for a US release? I'm not sure what's the deal with that one, or if Lionsgate has a tight hold on it.

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by jshaide

I was trying to piece together what the other 4 films might be. BUBBLE came to mind.

Kafka
Bubble
Schizopolis
Full Frontal
The Girlfriend Experience

I’m wondering if Solaris and The Limey could possibly be the other ones.

[StLouisRibs]

I believe the other two films are the Spalding Gray movies that Criterion has already released.