The Criterion Collection

[cooterbuket]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Aren't those 720p?

Yeah, iTunes HD looks like it tops out @ 720p. They should be fine for devices but not great for our big screens.

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by BluPix

If Rosemary's Baby is indeed to be released this year by Criterion (which would make me and a lot of people very happy), I imagine it would be announced next month for the October slate of releases.

I think you are correct. I think Kim Hendrickson also noted a blurb about The Blob recently also I would almost bet it will come out Sept/ October timeframe also. Really hoping for a BLU upgrade of VAMPYRE for OCT! Would be a Great month.

[captveg]

Originally Posted by SlickDamian

I wonder what will be announced tomorrow? I know that many are hoping for Wild Strawberries and City Lights, although I think both may be unlikely due to Bergmans and a Chaplin being released recently. I think that Picnic at Hanging Rock, Insomnia, and Bicycle Theives are all possible upgrades. Personally I'd really like to see Do the Right Thing but that already has a solid blu-ray. And Rosemary's Baby could get announced any time now.

Newsletter upgrade clues that have yet to be formally announced:

Grey Gardens (along with, presumably, The Beales of Grey Gardens)
Umberto D.
Wild Strawberries

Children of Paradise was mentioned by the New York Times as being a re-release (presumably DVD & Blu) in September, so unless it got delayed I expect that to be announced.

Rosemary's Baby (DVD & Blu) and the Blu upgrade for The Blob seem more like October candidates than September.

On the Waterfront seems more like a November/December candidate.

The recent newsletter clue for Sunday Bloody Sunday is likely a December/January time frame.

There are a lot of Wim Wenders titles still due, along with the long awaited Y tu mama tambien, Week End (1967), Eating Raoul, etc.

[Darkcritic]

Originally Posted by SlickDamian

I wonder what will be announced tomorrow? I know that many are hoping for Wild Strawberries and City Lights, although I think both may be unlikely due to Bergmans and a Chaplin being released recently. I think that Picnic at Hanging Rock, Insomnia, and Bicycle Theives are all possible upgrades. Personally I'd really like to see Do the Right Thing but that already has a solid blu-ray. And Rosemary's Baby could get announced any time now.

For some reason, the longer I have been following their announcements, the more I have learned to avoid getting excited about the possibilities. These few past months have helped my cause too, as the line-up of titles has been average good at best (In my opinion, obviously ). I always get excited about new titles to the Collection but their latest choices have been puzzling. I am hoping for surprises. I for one feel happy already, there is going to be at least one title I am going to get all excited for and probably get as soon as possible: Les Enfants du Paradis

[BluPix]

Originally Posted by SlickDamian

I wonder what will be announced tomorrow? I know that many are hoping for Wild Strawberries and City Lights, although I think both may be unlikely due to Bergmans and a Chaplin being released recently. I think that Picnic at Hanging Rock, Insomnia, and Bicycle Theives are all possible upgrades. Personally I'd really like to see Do the Right Thing but that already has a solid blu-ray. And Rosemary's Baby could get announced any time now.

I would love to see Bicycle Theives announced. Doing so while simultaneously announcing Umberto D would make a lot of sense. It would also make my day, as I've wanted to upgrade the former and buy the latter on blu for a very long time now.

A few random releases off the top of my head I would love to see on Criterion Blu (and that seem as if they could conceivably happen) include...
—Brazil (of course)
—anything from Akira Kurosawa (especially Ikiru, Rashomon or Stray Dog)
—anything from Bernardo Bertolucci (especially La Luna, The Dreamers, The Sheltering Sky)
—anything from Pier Paolo Pasolini (maybe Criterion will be inspired by the many titles by this director issued across the pond by the Masters of Cinema and BFI)
—Salaam Bombay
—My Beautiful Laundrette
—Diva
—Spartacus
—anything from Satyajit Ray
—anything from Pedro Almodovar (especially All About My Mother, Live Flesh and Bad Education)
—anything from Michael Haneke (especially Cache, The Piano Teacher, Benny's Video, The Seventh Continent or the original version of Funny Games—or both versions—though I'm sure we'll have to wait for Kino to release the older Haneke films)

...But, with so many films to potentially be released for our enjoyment, I'm sure I'll find plenty to like no matter which titles are announced.

[Cinemach]

Originally Posted by broganreynik

I definitely agree with this. This was the first Godard film that I watched, and I was turned off by it. I followed it up with Breathless and just came to terms with maybe I don't like Godard. I had a similar experience with Fellini after watching Nights of Cabiria and La Dolce Vita. I've still yet to enjoy either of these filmmakers' films. Then again, I've only seen two of each, so maybe I need to watch more accessible fare first.

Godard - I'd check out Vivre sa Vie and Une Femme est une Femme. Those are two pictures that are emblematic of the major styles of his canon period ('rougher' b&w versus the more polished, widescreen color pictures), plus they're fairly accessible on the Godard scale

Fellini - if you didn't enjoy La Dolce Vita then Fellini just might not be your bag. It's the ultimate meld of the more 'realistic' (neo-realist) elements from his films before and the surrealist films that came after: if you didn't respond to either of these waves in this film then it's kinda hard to recommend another...but I'll go on a limb and say try La Strada. It stars Giulieta Masina from Cabiria (Fellini's wife, actually), along with Anthony Quinn, and is a pretty restrained offering from his filmography

Originally Posted by SlickDamian

I wonder what will be announced tomorrow? I know that many are hoping for Wild Strawberries and City Lights, although I think both may be unlikely due to Bergmans and a Chaplin being released recently. I think that Picnic at Hanging Rock, Insomnia, and Bicycle Theives are all possible upgrades. Personally I'd really like to see Do the Right Thing but that already has a solid blu-ray. And Rosemary's Baby could get announced any time now.

Les Enfants du Paradis is pretty much presumed a lock. Other guesses:

Umberto D
The Soft Skin
Week End

Heavy on the French with these guesses. Not a problem with me. It's just coincidental that I'd be interested in all of these titles...

Originally Posted by NexusVerbal

Well, I've been waiting for them to announce Le Samourai for months now. *Fingers Crossed*

Man, +X to the seventh power

[Adrock]

Originally Posted by BluPix

—anything from Michael Haneke (especially Cache, The Piano Teacher, Benny's Video, The Seventh Continent or the original version of Funny Games—or both versions—though I'm sure we'll have to wait for Kino to release the older Haneke films)

Just curious, because I am not aware, does Criterion own the rights for those Haneke films in North America?

[depooter]

What happened to Christopher Nolan's following?

[BluPix]

Originally Posted by Adrock

Just curious, because I am not aware, does Criterion own the rights for those Haneke films in North America?

Unfortunately, Criterion doesn't own the films outright and it probably doesn't have a license to them either. Most of the ones I mentioned are distributed by Kino, except Cache (Sony) and the remake of Funny Games (Warner).

Realistically, I would expect the blu-ray upgrade for most of the old Haneke titles to come from Kino. It's just a matter of time. (Sooner rather than later, I hope.) It seems conceivable that Cache could be licensed to Criterion from Sony, as has recently been done with a couple of other Sony-owned titles.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by BluPix

Unfortunately, Criterion doesn't own the films outright and it probably doesn't have a license to them either. Most of the ones I mentioned are distributed by Kino, except Cache (Sony) and the remake of Funny Games (Warner).

Realistically, I would expect the blu-ray upgrade for most of the old Haneke titles to come from Kino. It's just a matter of time. (Sooner rather than later, I hope.) It seems conceivable that Cache could be licensed to Criterion from Sony, as has recently been done with a couple of other Sony-owned titles.

The Artificial Eye release of Hidden/Cache is reasonably priced, region free (the extras are PAL) and very well done.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by depooter

What happened to Christopher Nolan's following?

They're busy stocking up on cheetos and Pepsi in anticipation of their post counts rising right along with the dark knight.

hahahahahahahaha...okay, it wasn't that funny...

[Adrock]

Originally Posted by BluPix

Unfortunately, Criterion doesn't own the films outright and it probably doesn't have a license to them either. Most of the ones I mentioned are distributed by Kino, except Cache (Sony) and the remake of Funny Games (Warner).

Realistically, I would expect the blu-ray upgrade for most of the old Haneke titles to come from Kino. It's just a matter of time. (Sooner rather than later, I hope.) It seems conceivable that Cache could be licensed to Criterion from Sony, as has recently been done with a couple of other Sony-owned titles.

Thanks for the info. I would love to see The Piano Teacher get a BD release. I'd be happy if either Criterion, or Kino released it.

Originally Posted by octagon

The Artificial Eye release of Hidden/Cache is reasonably priced, region free (the extras are PAL) and very well done.

This is very true. I own this release as well and it is well done.

[ShellOilJunior]

Predictions - September 2012

• *Umberto D.
• *Bicycle Thieves
• The Soft Skin
• Y Tu Mama Tambien
• Naked Island

*Upgrades

[cstle]

I wish Criterion would release more classic Japanese movies. I can't believe they haven't released Rashomon yet, which already has a beautiful restoration & transfer done in 4K. The Japanese BD has been out for years.

But not just Kurosawa either -- look at how many Mizoguchi movies the UK has! I wonder if Japanese companies are reluctant to license Blu-ray releases to Criterion because the US and Japan are in the same region? There has to be some reason...

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by octagon

They're busy stocking up on cheetos and Pepsi in anticipation of their post counts rising right along with the dark knight.

hahahahahahahaha...okay, it wasn't that funny...

Wait, the Nolan fans are all Farkers on Fark.com?

Sorry, couldn't resist.

I watched Harold and Maude, and forgot how much I enjoyed the film. Bud Cort is a bit disconcerting, as he looks like a young kid, yet had a really deep voice.

I also watched Late Spring and I can't wait until the B&N sale to grab it. I really enjoyed it, because I can sorta relate to Nori,

[Show spoiler] as I have several elder relatives who feel I should be married and popping out kids, as they had 3 kids by the time they were my age.

[jcs913]

Originally Posted by depooter

What happened to Christopher Nolan's following?

I think Criterion went back and reread their motto. It didn't fit the bill:

The Criterion Collection is dedicated to gathering the greatest films from around the world and publishing them in editions of the highest technical quality, with supplemental features that enhance the appreciation of the art of film.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by cstle

I wish Criterion would release more classic Japanese movies. I can't believe they haven't released Rashomon yet, which already has a beautiful restoration & transfer done in 4K. The Japanese BD has been out for years.

But not just Kurosawa either -- look at how many Mizoguchi movies the UK has! I wonder if Japanese companies are reluctant to license Blu-ray releases to Criterion because the US and Japan are in the same region? There has to be some reason...

Bwa? This post makes no sense, Criterion have several classic Japanese titles out on Blu-ray. Sure, some aren't as well-known ad Rashomon, but the Samurai Trilogy, Kuroneko, Harakiri, and Yojimbo, among many more are nothing to sneer at.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by cstle

I wish Criterion would release more classic Japanese movies. I can't believe they haven't released Rashomon yet, which already has a beautiful restoration & transfer done in 4K. The Japanese BD has been out for years.

But not just Kurosawa either -- look at how many Mizoguchi movies the UK has! I wonder if Japanese companies are reluctant to license Blu-ray releases to Criterion because the US and Japan are in the same region? There has to be some reason...

To my count they've released 21 Japanese blu-rays.

There's gotta be something in there for ya.

[troysayshi]

Have just gone a little criterion crazy with Amazon and some I received seemed to be reseals. On a couple the cases are cracked and on some they was no criterion blu sticker. Apart from that they's nothing wrong with the discs so it would seem churlish to take it any further. I guess if I order new then that's what I would expect. I thought return resells went through Marketplace. Amazon seem to be having slippage.

Of course now I've got a bit of a bug I want to get some more though I'm not into collecting Criterion as I know a lot of people are. To me it's the film rather than the label, just that it happens to be Criterion.

To be honest the recent sale prices goaded me into action because even through the dvd incarnation it was always a case of one day and that day never came. Infact that day came to be superseded by blu-ray.

Did that last paragraph make sense?....

[captveg]

Originally Posted by depooter

What happened to Christopher Nolan's following?

I assume that Nolan simply hasn't dedicated the time to get the project across the finish line.