The Criterion Collection

[octagon]

A) Let me save BG some typing - it's been uttered

B) I love Walter Matthau but if they're going to go the 'whimsical' route I think I'd rather they talked Sony out of The Survivors. This is likely little more than nostalgia talking but I would have no trouble adding that to a shopping list. Which is not to knock Hopscotch...I saw it once decades ago and don't really even remember all that much of it...I'd probably give it another look (B&N coupon gods willing, of course).

[retablo]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I would be thrilled if Criterion released L'Avventura I was just in rapture seeing it . Red Desert (own) & Blowup enthralled me as well & Zabriskie Point to a very lesser degree. Could anyone really recommend me buying Identification of a Woman? Which of his other films does it look and feel like?

Identification if a Woman is good, if not great. It has one really marvelous sequence in the fog. It's not anything like Blow-Up, more like red Desert. But it's not as visually striking as L'Avventura or L'Eclisse... in fact, the cinematography is that flat, early '80s style.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by JHas

Hoping for an upgrade to either Mamet's "Homicide" or "House of Games"

I didn't really care for Homicide the first time through and I haven't even been able to get all the way through it on subsequent attempts. I didn't dislike it, exactly, it just seemed too...I dunno...self-consciously 'Mametian'. Like he was trying a little too hard or something.

House of Games, on the other hand...

I caught that on MGM-HD several weeks ago and it looked better than ever. A full-blown BD treatment would be stunning.

I wouldn't complain if somebody were to dust off The Spanish Prisoner either.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by octagon

When this conversation started however many weeks ago we were pretty much on the same page but I kind of turned a corner with the Eureka/MoC announcements of Ugetsu and Sansho.

I am getting both of them as well

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

I would be thrilled if Criterion released L'Avventura I was just in rapture seeing it . Red Desert (own) & Blowup enthralled me as well & Zabriskie Point to a very lesser degree. Could anyone really recommend me buying Identification of a Woman? Which of his other films does it look and feel like?

Retalbo's view on Identification is pretty much accurate to me... but definitely do not go without seeing L'Eclisse (you didn't mention it, so I don't know if you've seen it)...it's positively essential if you've enjoyed L'Avventura. One of my very favorite films.

[madmojo]

It'd be an odd title for Criterion, but since Paramount probably won't release it, I'd like to see the 1976 version of Bad News Bears released.

[rkish]

Originally Posted by octagon

A) Let me save BG some typing - it's been uttered

B) I love Walter Matthau but if they're going to go the 'whimsical' route I think I'd rather they talked Sony out of The Survivors. This is likely little more than nostalgia talking but I would have no trouble adding that to a shopping list. Which is not to knock Hopscotch...I saw it once decades ago and don't really even remember all that much of it...I'd probably give it another look (B&N coupon gods willing, of course).

If you have NetFlix streaming you can watch it...I just added it to my Instant Queue.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by madmojo

It'd be an odd title for Criterion, but since Paramount probably won't release it, I'd like to see the 1976 version of Bad News Bears released.

I wouldn't be so sure about Paramount. I'm not going to go overboard on the basis of a few announcements and declare them the catalog buyer's best friend or anything but there have been some pretty encouraging signs from them.

The French Sabrina announcement was huge. To me that signalled that pretty much anything of theirs could be in play.

Maybe I'm letting my enthusiasm get the better of me but to paraphrase everybody's favorite smuggler, I've got a good feeling about this.

Oh and as for Bad News Bears (1976)...autobuy. No question.

[Cinemach]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

Retalbo's view on Identification is pretty much accurate to me... but definitely do not go without seeing L'Eclisse (you didn't mention it, so I don't know if you've seen it)...it's positively essential if you've enjoyed L'Avventura. One of my very favorite films.

I think I might prefer L'Eclisse to L'Avventura just a little bit, but they both seriously need to be upgraded pronto.

I concur with the previous thoughts on Identificazione, though it's interesting to look at it as a 'replay' of sorts of 8 1/2, since they both share similar story details.

[*DrStrangelove*]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

It's been ages since I've seen it, too, but I recall liking it. It's just not a title Criterion needed to do, IMHO. We can all have this debate endlessly because it's a subjective opinion, but does anyone really desire a $27.99 edition of Shallow Grave? (Especially ironic considering Trainspotting can regularly be had for under $10.)

It still breaks my heart that Lionsgate bought those StudioCanal titles out from Criterion. They should be putting out stuff like Shallow Grave, the IFC films, etc., while Criterion puts out Blu-rays of Cocteau, Godard, etc. At least Lionsgate are sparing us their poor transfers by not releasing those SC titles at all.

yea I agree. Shallow Grave and Being John Malkovich are good films but not worth 30 bucks. These are titles that would end up being 5-8 had they been released by someone else. Boyle's best film "Trainspotting" would be a better Criterion. I'm aware the rights are in issue and all but it would've been worth the 30$ price tag. I think Criterion are starting to release anything because they know they have a loyal fanbase that will buy anything they release. That's not to say everything they're announcing is bad, they're still releasing great films (The Letter Never Sent, The Last Temp, The Bergmans, etc) I just don't understand why they waste their releases on these films. Especially when we know they have rights to other great films that for some reason theyre just letting collect dust. It's bad enough they only release about 5 blurays a month. Why Shallow Grave over Weekend? Or Chaplin? Or Kurosawa. I don't get it.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by SHMACKDOJO

So it is:

According to this black and white photo, it's a poor transfer without colour in the wrong aspect ratio

[EddieLarkin]

Originally Posted by *DrStrangelove*

I just don't understand why they waste their releases on these films. Especially when we know they have rights to other great films that for some reason theyre just letting collect dust. It's bad enough they only release about 5 blurays a month. Why Shallow Grave over Weekend? Or Chaplin? Or Kurosawa. I don't get it.

Because they stand to make more profit. Unlike the DVD era, BD isn't hugely popular. Titles like Being John Malkovich will not sell well by big studio standards, so they are not going to put them out. By Criterion standards though, they'll sell like wildfire. So given the opportunity to licence films like these from the major studios, a chance they wouldn't have got during the DVD era, Criterion will jump. It's not all bad, more profit for Criterion means more titles for us. I'd get use to it, because if BD becomes even more niche, we'll likely be seeing much more "mainstream" titles in the collection.

[TJS_Blu]

Originally Posted by EddieLarkin

Unlike the DVD era, BD isn't hugely popular.

As far as I can tell, the growth of Blu-Ray has exceeded that of DVD. I don't disagree with your other points, but this premise is incorrect.

[Todd_Gaines]

Originally Posted by *DrStrangelove*

Saw Shallow Grave when I was younger. Didn't think much of it then. Pretty much felt the same way about Being John Malkovich. Im willing to give it another shot. Will probably pick it up during the BN sale.

I liked Shallow Grave when it was first released on VHS in the States. I loved it (I think.) I have not watched the film for a very long time, but I am for sure going to buy this BD day 1.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by TJS_Blu

As far as I can tell, the growth of Blu-Ray has exceeded that of DVD. I don't disagree with your other points, but this premise is incorrect.

DVD household penetration was 90+ percent. That's on the appliance level. BD is certainly gaining steam but it's still nowhere near that.

[TJS_Blu]

Originally Posted by octagon

DVD household penetration was 90+ percent. That's on the appliance level. BD is certainly gaining steam but it's still nowhere near that.

Growth. Not how many households have DVD today vs. how many households have BR today. And, I think the appropriate start point to comp numbers would be BR starting in 2008 when HD-DVD died.

[shadedpain4]

Found Last Temptation of Christ waiting for me when i got home. Not used to things being shipped so early!

[billzfan]

List your 5 must-own Criterion blu-rays because of their video-audio quality and special features

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by retablo

Identification if a Woman is good, if not great. It has one really marvelous sequence in the fog. It's not anything like Blow-Up, more like red Desert. But it's not as visually striking as L'Avventura or L'Eclisse... in fact, the cinematography is that flat, early '80s style.

What I loved about Red Desert was the feeling of being engulfed by the surroundings. A struggle to retain ones humanity. Does Identification of a Woman continue this? Also to what extent are we mystified by the characters actions? One of his chief virtues is not spelling everything out. You get inside of the characters heads but many times you are either one step ahead of them or one step back. Either following them into the unknown or anticipating their transformation.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

What I loved about Red Desert was the feeling of being engulfed by the surroundings. A struggle to retain ones humanity. Does Identification of a Woman continue this? Also to what extent are we mystified by the characters actions? One of his chief virtues is not spelling everything out. You get inside of the characters heads but many times you are either one step ahead of them or one step back. Either following them into the unknown or anticipating their transformation.

Nope, it really doesn't have that. It's pretty meandering and not a clear narrative, but then again, none of his films really are. If you are an Antonioni fan, then I say by all means see it... I don't hold it up there with his 1960s classics, or even The Passenger, though.