The Criterion Collection

[SlickDamian]

Originally Posted by nametag

Curious - I have the below titles in original digipack releases:

Y Tu Mama Tambien
Ace in the Hole
Night of the Hunter

Are the re-releases all in plastic cases, or just thinner digipack ones?

Curious, is there a list of titles that have been switched from Digi to plastic case? I have a bunch of digi, but I much prefer the plastic. They're much more durable and take up less space on the shelf.

[ShellOilJunior]

This is a great quote.

Welles on Mifune from This is Orson Welles by Peter B.

[Show spoiler]

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

This is a great quote.

Welles on Mifune from This is Orson Welles by Peter B.

[Show spoiler]

Interesting quote, but hard to tell without context if he meant it as praise or criticism. Did he mean that Mifune was a powerful, visually emotive actor (which I totally agree with) or did he mean that Mifune was a ham who played it too big for the medium? The latter is a criticism that has often been made of stage performers who don't "tone it down" when they take their talents to the screen. In fact film directors often tell actors to play to the camera and not the back row.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by belcherman

Interesting quote, but hard to tell without context if he meant it as praise or criticism. Did he mean that Mifune was a powerful, visually emotive actor (which I totally agree with) or did he mean that Mifune was a ham who played it too big for the medium? The latter is a criticism that has often been made of stage performers who don't "tone it down" when they take their talents to the screen. In fact film directors often tell actors to play to the camera and not the back row.

I've always read it as compliment. Usually when Welles didn't like someone (e.g Bergman), he seemed obvious about it. At least that's my read of it.

I'd like to think Welles saw and enjoyed Throne of Blood.

[SeanJoyce]

Mifune was a bastion of subtlety next to Welles.

[Abdrewes]

Fantastic release. What a deeply harrowing drama. I posted longer thoughts in the main thread but I'll say this: 4K resto looks great, at least during the parts when I wasn't crying.

[mmarczi]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Fantastic release. What a deeply harrowing drama. I posted longer thoughts in the main thread but I'll say this: 4K resto looks great, at least during the parts when I wasn't crying.

This is the sole reason I was glad the flash sale wasn't earlier, though I was leaning toward ordering it anyway even if it didn't make the sale cut. Really looking forward to this and I know I'll love this one. I've only seen some of Ann Hui's newer films but I enjoyed those too. Probably the announcement I've been most excited about since Secrets & Lies or Flowers of Shanghai.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by mmarczi

This is the sole reason I was glad the flash sale wasn't earlier, though I was leaning toward ordering it anyway even if it didn't make the sale cut. Really looking forward to this and I know I'll love this one. I've only seen some of Ann Hui's newer films but I enjoyed those too. Probably the announcement I've been most excited about since Secrets & Lies or Flowers of Shanghai.

I've only seen A Simple Life by her. Good gentle heartwarming movie. It didn't even register that Ann Hui directed that one too. While I can't quite place them in a bigger auteurist framework, they're both definitely audience friendly works. I could even see a history teacher playing Boat People for class...though I'm sure Debbie Downer intellectual types will no doubt take umbrage with this movie and write it off as nothing but Chinese propaganda or a reductive, one-sided portrait of Vietnam during that time, yada, yada.

[koberulz]

Eureka has just announced Vampyr and thrown my sale plans into total disarray, so I'm all for it not happening while I sort through the pros and cons of each release.

[MifuneFan]

Back home from seeing Samurai Rebellion (1967) (35mm Print) at the Film Forum. Believe it or not, this was actually my first time seeing it. Similar to Kobayashi's Harakiri (1962), Samurai Rebellion is a masterclass in building tension. You feel it from the opening scene, right into the final act. I'll do my best not to go into great details about the complex plot, but will just say it ultimately comes down to a choice between love, and duty.

Mifune plays the vassal Isaburo Sasahara, who has lived his life honorably during a time of peace. He is in an unhappy marriage, but is shown to be a keen samurai who plans to retire, and let his son, and new wife, Ichi, head the family going forward. Lady Ichi is played by Yoko Tsukasa, and it's her vulnerable, and sorrowful performance that dominates the first half of the film. When a sudden turn of events throws their dynamic into array, the family has to make a painful decision that could result in their ruin.

Isaburo steps out from the shadows in the second half. Tired of being a dutiful father in a loveless marriage, something has awakened inside of him after seeing the love shared between his son and his daughter-in-law become threatened. This is where Mifune really shines, transforming from a somewhat reserved vassal into a boastful, if not excited samurai that's ready to die for his beliefs. There's a great scene where Isaburo and his son are preparing their home for battle, and a servant stops by and questions why he's removing the mats, and he just nonchalantly says "The mats? A custom at these times so our feet won't slip in the blood."

Like Harakiri, all of that tension needs a release, and like that movie, it is explosive. Isaburo erupts in the last act, taking down numerous enemies one after the other, and it's all pretty thrilling. The film also stars Tatsuya Nakadai in a limited role, though he still brings so much with his piercing eyes, and presence. He also compliments Mifune's character perfectly. Both are clearly great friends, but because of their talents, are seen outwardly as rivals.

It often takes me a couple watches to really get familiarized with a film, so I still need to process my thoughts after this first viewing, but I can say I was very impressed by it, and hope to see it on Blu-ray one day.

[Cholly]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

[Show spoiler]

[Show spoiler]

Back home from seeing Samurai Rebellion (1967) (35mm Print) at the Film Forum. Believe it or not, this was actually my first time seeing it. Similar to Kobayashi's Harakiri (1962), Samurai Rebellion is a masterclass in building tension. You feel it from the opening scene, right into the final act. I'll do my best not to go into great details about the complex plot, but will just say it ultimately comes down to a choice between love, and duty.

[Show spoiler]

Mifune plays the vassal Isaburo Sasahara, who has lived his life honorably during a time of peace. He is in an unhappy marriage, but is shown to be a keen samurai who plans to retire, and let his son, and new wife, Ichi, head the family going forward. Lady Ichi is played by Yoko Tsukasa, and it's her vulnerable, and sorrowful performance that dominates the first half of the film. When a sudden turn of events throws their dynamic into array, the family has to make a painful decision that could result in their ruin.

[Show spoiler]

Isaburo steps out from the shadows in the second half. Tired of being a dutiful father in a loveless marriage, something has awakened inside of him after seeing the love shared between his son and his daughter-in-law become threatened. This is where Mifune really shines, transforming from a somewhat reserved vassal into a boastful, if not excited samurai that's ready to die for his beliefs. There's a great scene where Isaburo and his son are preparing their home for battle, and a servant stops by and questions why he's removing the mats, and he just nonchalantly says "The mats? A custom at these times so our feet won't slip in the blood."

[Show spoiler]

Like Harakiri, all of that tension needs a release, and like that movie, it is explosive. Isaburo erupts in the last act, taking down numerous enemies one after the other, and it's all pretty thrilling. The film also stars Tatsuya Nakadai in a limited role, though he still brings so much with his piercing eyes, and presence. He also compliments Mifune's character perfectly. Both are clearly great friends, but because of their talents, are seen outwardly as rivals.

It often takes me a couple watches to really get familiarized with a film, so I still need to process my thoughts after this first viewing, but I can say I was very impressed by it, and hope to see it on Blu-ray one day.

That whole box set needs to be released as soon as possible. I rewatched Sword of the Beast on the Criterion channel the other night which was in HD and was surprised how good it looked. Lets get that shit on disc, criterion!

[SeanJoyce]

Originally Posted by Cholly

That whole box set needs to be released as soon as possible. I rewatched Sword of the Beast on the Criterion channel the other night which was in HD and was surprised how good it looked. Lets get that shit on disc, criterion!

Yeah, that box set has been one of my biggest wants from Criterion for years.

[NeilZ]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Back home from seeing Samurai Rebellion (1967) (35mm Print) at the Film Forum. Believe it or not, this was actually my first time seeing it. Similar to Kobayashi's Harakiri (1962), Samurai Rebellion is a masterclass in building tension. You feel it from the opening scene, right into the final act. I'll do my best not to go into great details about the complex plot, but will just say it ultimately comes down to a choice between love, and duty.

Mifune plays the vassal Isaburo Sasahara, who has lived his life honorably during a time of peace. He is in an unhappy marriage, but is shown to be a keen samurai who plans to retire, and let his son, and new wife, Ichi, head the family going forward. Lady Ichi is played by Yoko Tsukasa, and it's her vulnerable, and sorrowful performance that dominates the first half of the film. When a sudden turn of events throws their dynamic into array, the family has to make a painful decision that could result in their ruin.

Isaburo steps out from the shadows in the second half. Tired of being a dutiful father in a loveless marriage, something has awakened inside of him after seeing the love shared between his son and his daughter-in-law become threatened. This is where Mifune really shines, transforming from a somewhat reserved vassal into a boastful, if not excited samurai that's ready to die for his beliefs. There's a great scene where Isaburo and his son are preparing their home for battle, and a servant stops by and questions why he's removing the mats, and he just nonchalantly says "The mats? A custom at these times so our feet won't slip in the blood."

Like Harakiri, all of that tension needs a release, and like that movie, it is explosive. Isaburo erupts in the last act, taking down numerous enemies one after the other, and it's all pretty thrilling. The film also stars Tatsuya Nakadai in a limited role, though he still brings so much with his piercing eyes, and presence. He also compliments Mifune's character perfectly. Both are clearly great friends, but because of their talents, are seen outwardly as rivals.

It often takes me a couple watches to really get familiarized with a film, so I still need to process my thoughts after this first viewing, but I can say I was very impressed by it, and hope to see it on Blu-ray one day.

Yes this film is phenomenal. Used to have it on VHS and a decade ago or so on DVD from Criterion. It's one of Kobayashi's masterpieces and belongs on blu ray. I hope Criterion releases it soon.

Another Japanese film that's been way too long out of sight is Hiroshi Inagaki's Chuushingura (director of the Miyamoto Musashi based "Samurai Trilogy"), which is his adaptation of the 47 Ronin. One of the most beautiful Japanese films of the 60's and yet remains unseen by most fans of Japanese cinema.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by NeilZ

Yes this film is phenomenal. Used to have it on VHS and a decade ago or so on DVD from Criterion. It's one of Kobayashi's masterpieces and belongs on blu ray. I hope Criterion releases it soon.

Another Japanese film that's been way too long out of sight is Hiroshi Inagaki's Chuushingura (director of the Miyamoto Musashi based "Samurai Trilogy"). One of the most beautiful Japanese films of the 60's and yet remains unseen by most fans of Japanese cinema.

Chushingura is my favorite film of all time. It's my most wanted title on Blu-ray (second is Ozu's Floating Weeds). It's just beautifully filmed, and also the best telling of the 47 Ronin story I've come across. It's a long movie at ~3 hrs and 25 mins, but it flows incredibly well, and just gives me a complete sense of life during that time (similar in that sense to watching his Samurai trilogy). Excellent cast, including Mifune, and Takashi Shimura in smaller roles. I reached out to Criterion a year or two ago to consider releasing it. Sadly, besides the Samurai Trilogy, I feel like a lot of Inagaki's films haven't gotten the attention they deserve.

[DukeTogo84]

When the video game Ghost of Tsushima came out, Criterion made a few posts about Samurai films and was hoping that the boxset might be upgraded to Blu-ray soon. We'll it's been nearly a year and half since then, but hopefully soon. Samurai Rebellion is the best of the bunch, but all four are pretty good films.

[NeilZ]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Chushingura is my favorite film of all time. It's my most wanted title on Blu-ray (second is Ozu's Floating Weeds). It's just beautifully filmed, and also the best telling of the 47 Ronin story I've come across. It's a long movie at ~3 hrs and 25 mins, but it flows incredibly well, and just gives me a complete sense of life during that time (similar in that sense to watching his Samurai trilogy). Excellent cast, including Mifune, and Takashi Shimura in smaller roles. I reached out to Criterion a year or two ago to consider releasing it. Sadly, besides the Samurai Trilogy, I feel like a lot of Inagaki's films haven't gotten the attention they deserve.

I couldn’t have said it any better. I agree Inagaki hasn’t been receiving the kind of attention he deserves. Such an incredible filmmaker. His movies are some of the most beautiful color films made.

How did you reach out to Criterion? Via social media or email? I should do the same.

To make things worse the last Chuushingura dvd was really poor. A proper blu ray upgrade would make it one of the most significant upgrades on the format.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by NeilZ

I couldn’t have said it any better. I agree Inagaki hasn’t been receiving the kind of attention he deserves. Such an incredible filmmaker. His movies are some of the most beautiful color films made.

How did you reach out to Criterion? Via social media or email? I should do the same.

To make things worse the last Chuushingura dvd was really poor. A proper blu ray upgrade would make it one of the most significant upgrades on the format.

I sent an email to suggestions@criteron.com

Yeah, that DVD release is pretty bad. I didn't really know how bad it was when I was younger as my TV was smaller then, but as I upgraded my setup, it was pretty glaring.

I decided to look up the email. It was actually back in 2017 I sent it:

[Gacivory]

Well I put in a suggestion for Chushingura (1962), along with some others.

[NeilZ]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I sent an email to suggestions@criteron.com

Yeah, that DVD release is pretty bad. I didn't really know how bad it was when I was younger as my TV was smaller then, but as I upgraded my setup, it was pretty glaring.

I decided to look up the email. It was actually back in 2017 I sent it:

Thanks for sharing! I'm going to send in a suggestion for Chuushingura too.

[yoloswegmaster420]

Someone on Criterionforum was at the Wexner Center for a talk on restoration with Lee Kline, and this is what he had to say about the deal Criterion has with Fox/Disney:

During the Wexner Center discussion last night on film restoration, Criterion's Lee Klein and Russell Smith had an audience member ask them a question about the status of the Fox-owned titles and the library of films previously with Fox and Criterion's relationship with Fox in general and the new Disney-overlords. Klein did not discuss any titles in particular or reveal any future releases, but Klein replied to this question by stating that "yes, the relationship has changed" between Criterion and Fox and Disney. Klein also stated that in past there had been just one person at Fox that Criterion went to for titles they were interested in for releases. Klein stated that that one specific person (who he did not name) was no longer at Fox and that they have not been replaced. Klein did not discuss specifics but did say that the difficulty was in having to go to multiple persons now and that not all were even familiar with the holdings or where some elements were even stored or on the same page about the scope of projects that Criterion was trying to attempt.