The Criterion Collection

[Cheerupemokid]

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.

Great way to put it. Definitely agree with you 100%.

When it comes to Kurosawa films, and I haven't seen all of them but I've seen a few, I definitely don't consider myself a big fan of his samurai films in general. Yes Yojimbo is good and Throne Of Blood looks beautiful, but overall these movies don't do a lot for me. I much more prefer films like The Bad Sleep Well and Stray Dog. But Seven Samurai, to me, is on such a different level than just about any of his other films. It is a masterpiece and a thrill to watch. It involved me far more than any other samurai movie ever has, with its strong characters and fantastic performances. It is a unique film and deserves to be celebrated as such.

[fdm]

Originally Posted by retask

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

Not certain, as I don't do that kind of thing, but I recall reading that this might have been hinted at and/or confirmed on their facebook page.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by fdm

Not certain, as I don't do that kind of thing, but I recall reading that this might have been hinted at and/or confirmed on their facebook page.

Yeah, they said something like they should release it but not soon.

[rocks off]

I don't know where you got the idea that Seven Samurai is a regular TBS movie or something. I've never seen it being played on TV, and it's not even one of those classics that everyone and their dog has seen. I've met very few people who've watched it, and the ones who have seen it went out of their way to watch it (rent/buy criterion) because they heard it referenced elsewhere. All of them were aware that Kurosawa directed it and a couple had dug a little deeper into his other work.

[kefrank]

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

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.

So then, isn't it possible that people have watched and decided that Seven Samurai is a great film and AK's best? That's not exactly an unreasonable conclusion just because you don't happen to agree. I think it's dangerous to suggest that anyone who holds up Seven Samurai as a classic only does so because it's a "popular" opinion and I seriously hope that's not what you intended.

[Gremal]

Kefrank, good point. Lots of thoughtful viewers have come to that conclusion.

Yes, Cheerupemokid, I never really watched Seven Samurai as a purely samurai picture. It's about allegiances and that's what makes it so interesting.

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

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.

Seven Samurai is not my favorite Kurosawa. I honestly can't decide which of his films I like best. And Pulp Fiction is not my favorite Tarantino. That would be Reservoir Dogs. But I agree with you that people should think for themselves more. Those who are interested in Kurosawa and Criterion are usually knowledgeable collectors.

[rezpekt]

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

Yeah, they said something like they should release it but not soon.

They said that they'll announce it within next months and that was already a month ago. So I guess February or March release date.

[Elvis]

Ok but are we all in agreement that if Criterion is in danger of losing rights to a certain film..director etc..should they not get those out first?

[frozenhamster]

Originally Posted by Elvis

Ok but are we all in agreement that if Criterion is in danger of losing rights to a certain film..director etc..should they not get those out first?

Clearly (The Third Man) they are in danger of losing the rights to movies even IF they get them out quickly.

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by Elvis

Ok but are we all in agreement that if Criterion is in danger of losing rights to a certain film..director etc..should they not get those out first?

I fully agree.

[frozenhamster]

Why should Criterion spend time and money on films that they will lose the rights to, and thus make an even more limited profit than usual? They would obviously much sooner focus on those films that can eek money out of for many years.

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by frozenhamster

Why should Criterion spend time and money on films that they will lose the rights to, and thus make an even more limited profit than usual? They would obviously much sooner focus on those films that can eek money out of for many years.

I would bet given a larger distribution window for RAN they would released it on Blu-Ray just say they could get their product released. They are in this business for money who wouldn't be, but they are very concerned over the quality of the product.

They did release several films in the past knowing at the time they only had a limited time frame for the titles. Straw Dogs was one title. I think the Hitchcock releases of Rebecca, Notorious, and Spellbound were a few other titles.

[Kartoon]

Originally Posted by frozenhamster

Why should Criterion spend time and money on films that they will lose the rights to, and thus make an even more limited profit than usual? They would obviously much sooner focus on those films that can eek money out of for many years.

This. Even though they're dedicated to what they do it just doesn't make sense to produced something that will cost them a fair bit and provide limited profits vs. something that will provide more in the long run.

Anyways finally got my order:

Ikiru
Samurai Rebellion
The Human Condition
Sanjuro
Eclipse Series 10: Silent Ozu
The Wages of Fear (Blu-Ray)
A Film Trilogy by Ingmar Bergman
Ugetsu
Wings of Desire (Blu-Ray)

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by Elvis

Ok but are we all in agreement that if Criterion is in danger of losing rights to a certain film..director etc..should they not get those out first?

Who said Seven Samurai was in danger of being lost? People are making up stuff now. Who knows what Criterion is in danger of losing but themselves. I think some people just want their fav movies out on blu and that is what everyone wants. Don't go and say Seven Samurai is going to be OOP.

Then I should say Criterion is going to lose the rights to all 5 of John Cassavetes films that they have, they should put them on blu ASAP before they go OOP.

[mcdaking84]

I am looking at Amazons sale and I am slowly trying to build my movie collection. which criterion blu rays do you think I should start with to add to my collection?

I ahvent really been big on classic movies especially black and white movies but I would like to get into them

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by mcdaking84

I am looking at Amazons sale and I am slowly trying to build my movie collection. which criterion blu rays do you think I should start with to add to my collection?

I ahvent really been big on classic movies especially black and white movies but I would like to get into them

The Seventh Seal
The 400 Blows
Wings of Desire

[mcdaking84]

great thanks. does anyone know if there is any place to buy the third man anymore? i knwo it is out of print just checking

http://www.muvicity.com/third-bluray-p-17382.html

cheapest I hacve seen it but I have no idea on the site

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by mcdaking84

great thanks. does anyone know if there is any place to buy the third man anymore? i knwo it is out of print just checking

http://www.muvicity.com/third-bluray-p-17382.html

cheapest I hacve seen it but I have no idea on the site

yes, if you can get that, buy that first!!

just checked amazon: $45, and ebay: $50. either buy one if you can afford it or wait and see if you can get a deal somewhere.

[kefrank]

Originally Posted by Kartoon

This. Even though they're dedicated to what they do it just doesn't make sense to produced something that will cost them a fair bit and provide limited profits vs. something that will provide more in the long run.

While I agree for the most part, I think there is a certain level of branding value that happens when a Criterion title goes out-of-print. While Criterion no longer makes profits on titles that go out-of-print, the idea that titles can go out-of-print at any time (and thus increase in value) probably helps sell other titles that are still in-print.

All that said, I don't think Criterion would ever intentionally produce a title that they believe they will lose the rights to in a just a few months. My guess with the Third Man is that they released it with relative assurance that their rights could be renewed and then someone on the other end suddenly changed their mind.

[captveg]

I don't see the big deal about the Kurosawa box. I'm not gonna buy it because I don't want all the titles (and I plan on buying the inevitable Blu releases of many of these films). Clearly this release was not intended for the lover of bonus material and all things Criterion, nor for those who don't take to Kurosawa. And.... so? Don't by it. The end.

As for Seven Samurai, whether or not it is his best film is debatable. What is not debatable is that it is a great film. It happens to be my favorite of his films, but he has so many great films that choosing a favorite is burdensome in the way that choosing between great varieties of food is burdensome.

And I think people greatly overestimate the exposure of Kurosawa to Americans. We're talking about, what, 10% of Americans who would even care to watch any of his films, and then maybe 10% of those that would seek out more than one of his films, and then maybe 10% of those that would look to argue the finer points of why he's "popular" in the US. This isn't Iron Man we're talking about here.