The Criterion Collection

[PowellPressburger]

some older Criterion Laserdiscs I own. all contain commentary tracks

The Graduate
Taxi Driver
Carrie - a really worthless commentary track.
the Wizard of Oz
Evita
Tootsie

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by retask

I read that M was being release on BD by Criterion? Can anyone confirm this? Any source?

Haven't heard that one....... check Criterion.com for official announcements.

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by retask

I read that M was being release on BD by Criterion? Can anyone confirm this? Any source?

I think there's speculation right now that Criterion will release "M" on blu-ray at some point since it is now known to be coming from Masters Of Cinema in Europe next year. And if Masters Of Cinema's release is region-B locked like their release of "For All Mankind," then I think we could expect a similar region-A release from Criterion. However, if it's a region-free release, then I don't think it'd happen. Either way, we'll be able to obtain it at some point, I'm sure.

Other than that, I can't recall any concrete evidence of a Criterion release being confirmed.

CC

[frogjunk65]

I haven't gone thru all these Criterion posts. If I'm repeating this , sorry. I would love a blu ray release of "Pandora's Box". Most worthy of a double dip.
Found "The Third Man" on blu ray at Border's today. Just when I was giving up hope on finding it. Another worthy double dip.

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by frogjunk65

I would love a blu ray release of "Pandora's Box". Most worthy of a double dip.

Trust me, I'm right there with you on that suggestion of "Pandora's Box" getting a blu-ray release. Anything with the immaculate Louise Brooks in it has my full, undivided attention.

CC

[Elvis]

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

I don't mind devoting a huge release to one director, but stupid for a director that has most of the films in the collection already. It's double-dipping more or less.

No we have to get Seven Samurai on Blu secured if there is a chance of it going out of print. There are several of us (as well as critics) that think this is one the greatest films of all time. I can't stress enough about Seven being released sooner rather than later. You want to wait on the rest then fine but Seven is a major player in the collection just as Seventh Seal, Grand illusion, 400 Blows and a few others are. Losing Ran was bad but Ran is nowhere near his best work...Seven Samurai is. Right now we have only one of his weaker films in Kagemusha on blu.

So why the hate for AK?

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by Elvis

No we have to get Seven Samurai on Blu secured if there is a chance of it going out of print. There are several of us (as well as critics) that think this is one the greatest films of all time. I can't stress enough about Seven being released sooner rather than later. You want to wait on the rest then fine but Seven is a major player in the collection just as Seventh Seal, Grand illusion, 400 Blows and a few others are. Losing Ran was bad but Ran is nowhere near his best work...Seven Samurai is. Right now we have only one of his weaker films in Kagemusha on blu.

So why the hate for AK?

I was talking about the dvd set, not about blu. I would like a Seven Samurai on blu as well.

[Elvis]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

DVDBeaver has published an exhaustive review/comparison of the AK 100: 25 Films By Akira Kurosawa DVD box set.

To be honest, I just want Rashomon on a BD with English subs and new extras. The more I see of this box set, the more it smacks of intense favoritism for Akira Kurosawa, and, given the state of the American economy, it was likely at the cost of a number of other fantastic possible new additions to the Collection.

Obviously, Akira Kurosawa is now hugely over-represented in The Criterion Collection, much more so than ever before.

But not on Blu

[zany6669]

Sorry if this has been asked, I did use the search tool but couldn't turn up this particular query before. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone from outside the USA had successfully had a replacement case for the Third Man sent to them?

I live in Australia and attempted to order one but it has never arrived and when I checked my paypal balance it looks as though Criterion rejected my order. Anyone know how those of us who live abroad can get the plastic cases if Criterion won't send them?

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by zany6669

Sorry if this has been asked, I did use the search tool but couldn't turn up this particular query before. Anyway, I was wondering if anyone from outside the USA had successfully had a replacement case for the Third Man sent to them?

I live in Australia and attempted to order one but it has never arrived and when I checked my paypal balance it looks as though Criterion rejected my order. Anyone know how those of us who live abroad can get the plastic cases if Criterion won't send them?

If you're having difficulty, I would suggest e-mailing Jon Mulvaney over at Criterion and asking him. His e-mail address can be found on Criterion's website under the 'Contact Us' section.

[Kartoon]

Originally Posted by Elvis

No we have to get Seven Samurai on Blu secured if there is a chance of it going out of print. There are several of us (as well as critics) that think this is one the greatest films of all time. I can't stress enough about Seven being released sooner rather than later. You want to wait on the rest then fine but Seven is a major player in the collection just as Seventh Seal, Grand illusion, 400 Blows and a few others are. Losing Ran was bad but Ran is nowhere near his best work...Seven Samurai is. Right now we have only one of his weaker films in Kagemusha on blu.

So why the hate for AK?

The problem is there are "several of us" that consider dozens of the Criterion films as being the "greatest film of all time". And most people don't even think Seven Samurai is HIS best film, it's just the one that got the most exposure for whatever reason.

[Elvis]

Originally Posted by Kartoon

The problem is there are "several of us" that consider dozens of the Criterion films as being the "greatest film of all time". And most people don't even think Seven Samurai is HIS best film, it's just the one that got the most exposure for whatever reason.

Where did you come up with that conclusion? Because I have seen and read quite a different story over the years. And the reason it got the most exposure? Maybe because it was his masterpiece? But I am not here to argue what film of his is better other than to say it needs to be on Blu soon if they are losing rights to his films.

[SpiderBaby]

I am not a Kurosawa fan, so I can't argue for both sides, all I know is I do think Seven Samurai is popular is because it is his most exposed film in the U.S.

When Lucas loves you, people in the U.S. will love you too. I don't see Kurosawa as a "art" director in which he is compared too. I always saw him as a Lucas/Spielberg type of director for the most part, and that is why Seven Samurai is so well liked by Americans.

People who has watched Seven Samurai in the U.S. doesn't even know who Kurosawa is, they only seen that movie. So who is to say what his best is when the people voting for Seven Samurai only seen that? Because it is on an epic scale and story? I think that is why it is so well liked. It's a freakin' samurai movie.

I like some of his films, it's just most average Americans like him because he made some Samurai movies and that is the truth.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by Elvis

Where did you come up with that conclusion? Because I have seen and read quite a different story over the years. And the reason it got the most exposure? Maybe because it was his masterpiece? But I am not here to argue what film of his is better other than to say it needs to be on Blu soon if they are losing rights to his films.

Hm. I rarely hear critics or movie historians listing anything other than Seven Samurai as his greatest film, with Rashomon being second. An amazing director, no doubt and I agree with Elvis--we need to get Samurai on blu asap.

[Elvis]

Agree all Im saying is no matter what director or films we are talking about lets get the ones that they are in danger of losing to blu first; whomever they may be. Well....excluding Michael Bay!

[kndy]

Hehe...it's interesting reading the Akira Kurosawa debate, while I'm reading the Hitchcock debate on Auteurs. But anyway, in terms of the AK100, I thought about it long and hard and I know there are 5 titles that are on the set that have not been released yet and it's a good price but the thing that I love about Criterion titles are the special features.

Now I did buy the Eclipse Series and even the Rialto set during the sale because it was so cheap but I'm so much of a fan of special features that I'm on the fence of whether or not to purchase the set. Been researching and trying to get various site input on the special features to decide either by the rest of the AK on Criterion or just buy the AK100 in the Spring when B&N has their next 50% off sale.

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

If Criterion wanted to put out a Kurosawa box set, they should have done English-friendly Blu-rays of the Japanese box set (and upon searching for that link I see that Japan has since gotten two other box sets from a different label for a total eighteen AK films on Blu-ray in Japan, AND a fourth box set is coming in February 2010 which will contain a further six Kurosawa Blu-ray titles).

I agree and disagree. The Japanese Blu-ray box sets have hardly any special features. Thus, wouldn't be a standard for "The Criterion Collection" (sure, past Criterion titles like "alphaville", "Pygmallion", "Black Orpheus" and "Good Morning" didn't have squat but that was a decade ago).

Kurosawa titles without special features are deserving to be on the Eclipse Series (Post-War Kurosawa) release and even on this AK-100 set. It's a great deal especially since it comes down to $11 a disc but if I was going to purchase a Kurosawa Blu-ray set from Criterion, I'm going to expect the special features, scholar commentary, etc.

As for SS on Blu-ray, I know there has been speculation that SS and Ikiru are on queue for Blu-ray release from Criterion.

Originally Posted by zany6669

I live in Australia and attempted to order one but it has never arrived and when I checked my paypal balance it looks as though Criterion rejected my order. Anyone know how those of us who live abroad can get the plastic cases if Criterion won't send them?

I've read on other forums that for people living outside of the country, people had gone through forum members (on various sites) living in America to pick it up for them. But curious...when all is said in done by going that route, how much would you end up spending for a case and S&H overseas?

Originally Posted by Volume11

And I'll say this at the risk of being publicly shunned and beat into silence but I think the majority of his works are highly overrated. I enjoy some of his films, like Ran, and I absolutely respect his place in the history of cinema but I think he was the most digestible and American friendly director to come out of Japan which likely accounts for why he is so heralded here when in Japan his popularity was uneven at best.

I agree, it's good to have your opinion on this. Actually, people have gone farther in saying that Criterion is too focused on French and Japanese directors. Next to Kurosawa and Ozu, people feel that Criterion is to heavy with Bergman and Godard titles.

Personally, I don't mind as long as the company continues to release other titles from other directors, especially newer directors. And also, for others who want something different, many are now being open to seeing what releases are from Kino, Masters of Cinema and others.

[P@t_Mtl]

Kurosawa made extremely good movies that can be appreciated by a wide range of audiences. That right away will automaticly send him to the lower lever by an elite few. To think Kurosawa is popular in the USA because Lucas like's him is a bit funny. Have we not been hearing for the better part of 15 years how Lucas is the worst filmmaker in the history of cinema? Even his most loyal fans of the 80's have turn against him. I would think his opinion as very little impact on what he think of Kurosawa.

That sad fact is Kurosawa suffer from the "popular is bad" reality of cinema. A director or a movie to be considered a masterpiece need's to be obscured and appreciated by an elite few that know all the details and certainly are more educated then the sorry masses who cannot understand such complexe movies.

I know that this is going to bring me some flak and some grief but the snobism I see in this forum sometimes is just too funny.

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by kndy

I agree and disagree. The Japanese Blu-ray box sets have hardly any special features. Thus, wouldn't be a standard for "The Criterion Collection" (sure, past Criterion titles like "alphaville", "Pygmallion", "Black Orpheus" and "Good Morning" didn't have squat but that was a decade ago).

Kurosawa titles without special features are deserving to be on the Eclipse Series (Post-War Kurosawa) release and even on this AK-100 set. It's a great deal especially since it comes down to $11 a disc but if I was going to purchase a Kurosawa Blu-ray set from Criterion, I'm going to expect the special features, scholar commentary, etc.

I apologize as I should have been a bit clearer. I meant that they should have licensed the HD materials, re-trasnsferred them to their own super-high standards, and then upscaled the DVD extras to 1080i/p and/or created new extras for those not already in the Collection. Since they have always ported ver video extras from DVD to Blu-ray, I skipped over including that before.

I wouldn't buy Criterion Blu-rays without the extras either.

[Gremal]

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

I am not a Kurosawa fan, so I can't argue for both sides, all I know is I do think Seven Samurai is popular is because it is his most exposed film in the U.S. When Lucas loves you, people in the U.S. will love you too.

Actually, Lucas is ridiculed more than loved in US popular culture.

I don't see Kurosawa as a "art" director in which he is compared too. I always saw him as a Lucas/Spielberg type of director for the most part, and that is why Seven Samurai is so well liked by Americans.

First of all, I don't see Lucas or Spielberg doing anything like Kurosawa's Dreams or other abstract performance pieces, which indeed show Kurosawa's strength as an art director. Secondly, Lucas and Spielberg cannot be lumped into the same category, let alone Kurosawa. Scorsese has done more to promote Kurosawa's work in America than those two. Would you lump him in there too?

People who has watched Seven Samurai in the U.S. doesn't even know who Kurosawa is, they only seen that movie. So who is to say what his best is when the people voting for Seven Samurai only seen that? Because it is on an epic scale and story? I think that is why it is so well liked. It's a freakin' samurai movie.

No, it's a story about honor and betrayal, loyalty and treachery. It resembles a gangster or western as much as a samurai movie. Its theme is universal and that is why it's popular. By the way, it seems like you're biased against Kurosawa because he is more popular in America than other foreign directors. Which is to say, it seems like you're biased against America.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by Gremal

No, it's a story about honor and betrayal, loyalty and treachery. It resembles a gangster or western as much as a samurai movie. Its theme is universal and that is why it's popular. By the way, it seems like you're biased against Kurosawa because he is more popular in America than other foreign directors. Which is to say, it seems like you're biased against America.

No I am biased towards the fact that Seven Samurai is his "best film" because the average American (the only people I know, duh) knows Seven Samurai but don't even know who Kurosawa is. So people who say Seven Samurai is his best needs to take in account that most of the people me and you know has only seen Seven Samurai. That is what I was getting at.


With the Lucas thing, it was kind of like saying, the average American (again, they are the only people I know) loves Star Wars. Lucas loves Kurosawa. The only Kurosawa thrown into our faces is, you guessed it, Seven Samurai. That is where I got, if you like Lucas, you probably have seen Seven Samurai.



It seems people on here and everywhere are afraid to say anything is good unless it is popular. People on here likes the director's popular movies. Those are not always the best, but people on here seems to think so. Seven Samurai is the people's choice for Kurosawa on here, Pulp Fiction is QT's best according to people. People who don't branch out from what other people says. People are afraid to make opinions of there own. Oh and by the way, Jackie Brown is QT's best IMO. It's just like when a new movie comes out, there is a bandwagon of people saying it's the best movie ever. It's just what is thrown into people's faces, they act like zombies with.

So people can go on letting others think for you, telling you what the best is and you can run with that. Me, I'll watch and decide.