The Criterion Collection

[latehong]

At this point, I think we can agree that although Janus Films acquired every Juzo Itami film years ago, Criterion seems to have no interest in releasing The Complete Juzo Itami set. So this probably won't mean anything, but anyway, Juzo Itami's all 10 features, digitally remastered in 4K, will be broadcast on a Japanese movie channel in January 2023 (article in Japanese).

[Stewynewy]

Originally Posted by Poya

I beg to differ. The Scorsese film had complexity and moral ambiguity. The original was a simple B movie.

The remake felt very silly to me, in a way that didn't fit. Mitchum's performance in the original was miles better, and Nick Nolte in the remake is forgettable and bland for me.

[BamaDullard]

Originally Posted by latehong

At this point, I think we can agree that although Janus Films acquired every Juzo Itami film years ago, Criterion seems to have no interest in releasing The Complete Juzo Itami set. So this probably won't mean anything, but anyway, Juzo Itami's all 10 features, digitally remastered in 4K, will be broadcast on a Japanese movie channel in January 2023 (article in Japanese).

It probably depends on how well The Funeral sells. I don’t really like Itami’s films, so I’m kind of indifferent. I’d like to see Criterion be more adventurous in going after some more neglected (and greater) overseas directors like Alexey German, Rocha, Masumura, de Oliveira, and more Ghatak.

[Abdrewes]

15th
16th
17th

Third time's a charm.

[The Sovereign]

Originally Posted by Poya

I beg to differ. The Scorsese film had complexity and moral ambiguity. The original was a simple B movie.

Simple B movie? I remember Scorsese gushing about it in interviews when discussing his remake. The original is a stone cold classic.

[spacekitty]

Originally Posted by Zorba

They can always say dont believe everything you read on the internet.

Im sure they had a good reason. I just cant guess what that would be.

Perhaps just being lazy

[bergman864]

One more day for movies that won't be released for three months is really no big deal. I really don't understand why this conversation repeats itself every month there is a delay.

[dvining]

[Scholer]

Originally Posted by latehong

At this point, I think we can agree that although Janus Films acquired every Juzo Itami film years ago, Criterion seems to have no interest in releasing The Complete Juzo Itami set. So this probably won't mean anything, but anyway, Juzo Itami's all 10 features, digitally remastered in 4K, will be broadcast on a Japanese movie channel in January 2023 (article in Japanese).

I think it has partly to do with Tampopo not selling as well as expected. The film had a rather ingenious marketing campaign by Janus leading up to the release, in a way that would make you think it should have caught the film a lot of new and/or renewed attention. But I don’t think that was the case unfortunately, which would explain why The Funeral is released only recently years later and the Taxing Woman films are still MIA (even though I remember reading that these were quite popular on the channel?).

[Kyle15]

Originally Posted by Poya

I beg to differ. The Scorsese film had complexity and moral ambiguity. The original was a simple B movie.

[Gunsnroses092789]

Originally Posted by Poya

I beg to differ. The Scorsese film had complexity and moral ambiguity. The original was a simple B movie.

You should do stand-up



PS, look up what a B-movie is. It has nothing to do with quality. It has to do with being the second film on a double bill. And we know Universal was not putting a Peck/Mitchum thriller on the bottom of a double bill.

[dkelly26666]

I think they're both great movies. ("Cape Fear")

And, obviously, the Scorsese film has enormous reverence for the original, including several principal cast members from the original, using a version of the original score, etc... Plus, it follows the same basic structure. But, why make it exactly the same? There would be no point. The Scorsese simply does two things: It pays homage to the original while also expanding on it and making it more morally ambiguous and complex. Scorsese literally said in 1991 that he wanted to do something he'd never done before, which is a mainstream, conventional, Hollywood thriller, while, "Still bringing something I usually bring to my pictures to it, too". He also pays homage to many other thrillers, as well. Obviously, "Night of the Hunter" (also a Mitchum classic) is incorporated heavily, too; Plus, there's some Hitchcock type nodding there; and Scorsese even said that the finale with Cady coming back over and over was inspired by "Halloween". And, that cast: De Niro, Nolte, Lange, Joe Don Baker, Mitchum, Peck, Balsam, Fred Dalton Thompson, Illeanna Douglas, and, in a scene-stealing, breakout performance for the ages: Juliette Lewis. The remake is just a boatload of fun. And I've always said it proved that Scorsese could have had a much more commercially successful, mainstream career if he'd wanted to. But, as he's said, "I'd rather make MY films."


But, yes, the original is a stone classic, as well.

I've never understood having to pick. This is one occasion where you don't have to: That rare occasion where the original AND the remake are both superb.

[Kyle15]

"B movie" as criticism is a 1.5/10 self-serving insult tbh teehee!!

[Cremildo]

After some doofus here called Scott's The Last Duel a "B movie", nothing surprises me anymore.

[Gacivory]

B Movie?

Or

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by Poya

I beg to differ. The Scorsese film had complexity and moral ambiguity. The original was a simple B movie.

I like both versions. A lot. But Scorsese's version doesn't half go over the top at times, particularly De Niro. The original has complexity and moral ambiguity too, you just have to read between the lines a bit more due to the production code restrictions of the day. I'm sure Scorsese himself would disagree with your assessment of the original as a "simple B movie".

[dubhousing]

Originally Posted by Poya

I beg to differ. The Scorsese film had complexity and moral ambiguity. The original was a simple B movie.

I like both, but your comment reminded me of notorious scold Michael Medved denouncing Scorsese's remake back in the early 90s, exactly because he introduced a moral complexity that wasn't quite there in the original. I think this was in his awful book Hollywood Vs. America.

[HuggyBear73]

I remember reading an interview where Deniro and Scoresese tried to get Harrison Ford to play the Nolte role.

As much as I love Nolte, I really would have preferred Ford in this case.

Supposedly Ford wanted to play Max Cady and Deniro said.. no way.

Ford went on to do Regarding Henry instead.

[Doc Moonlight]

The story on Cape Fear that I heard was that it supposed to be directed by Spielberg, but he got too busy with Schindler's List. It was then offered to Scorsese, who turned it down. Jennings Lang at Universal said, "Call Marty and tell him he owes me for Last Temptation." And that's how Scorsese became the director.

[dvining]

Originally Posted by Doc Moonlight

The story on Cape Fear that I heard was that it supposed to be directed by Spielberg, but he got too busy with Schindler's List. It was then offered to Scorsese, who turned it down. Jennings Lang at Universal said, "Call Marty and tell him he owes me for Last Temptation." And that's how Scorsese became the director.

And he threw himself into it.

He was forced by contract, and he made the best movie he could.