The Criterion Collection

[CoalClear]

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2009/03/31/210018.php


UN
BE
LIEV
A
BLE




do you think it will ever be released on blu? as for me this is one of the top ten films I want on blu-ray. discuss..

[Beta Man]

it's been discussed..... although not unbelievable.... it's quite disappointing.

[mjbethancourt]

No way, that seriously sucks.

[BLUCanadian]

Also today, we've learned a little more about Criterion's cancellation of Ran on Blu-ray, but just so you know this is NOT official, so it should be considered Rumor Mill-worthy. It seems that the U.S. home video release rights to the film are owned by Wellspring (who have released it on DVD in the past), the parent company of which is Genius Products, now 70% owned by The Weinstein Company. There have been industry rumors over the last year that Weinstein Co. is in some financial difficulty, so it's possible the Brothers want a better deal with Criterion (i.e. more or too much money) from Criterion to licence the title for Blu-ray. Hopefully, a deal of some kind will be struck soon, because (I'll say again) nobody would do better by this title in high-definition than Criterion. We are SO dying to see Kurosawa films in 1080p...

http://www.thedigitalbits.com/#mytwocents

[flyboy66]

Originally Posted by CoalClear

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2009/03/31/210018.php


UN
BE
LIEV
A
BLE




do you think it will ever be released on blu? as for me this is one of the top ten films I want on blu-ray. discuss..

IMHO it was good, but far from his best work. That took place in the 50's and early 60's. I think I would cry harder if it were the Seven Samuari or Rashoman

[CoalClear]

hmmm, well seven samurai is definitely up there as well, however personally I like Ran the best, and thats saying a lot because half of the reason I watch Akira's movies is because of Toshiro Mifune. And he isnt even in Ran, I think I read somewhere that Akira himself said Ran was his best work, but opinions aside, Ran being cancelled on blu is a huge blow to me. SUCH a great movie, and would have looked OUTSTANDING in hi def.

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

Is anybody excited to see Janus/Criterion's newest acquisition (a rare US first-run foreign release),Revanche? From looking at the trailer, it looks very interesting...especially as it will be released by Criterion on DVD/Blu-ray at some point...I'm so intrigued by it that I just bought the Austrian DVD from a seller on eBay. Supposedly it has English subs, but I've had trouble finding shipping out of Austria. Here's hoping it works!

Answering my own post (come on people, surely SOMEONE ELSE is interested in this?!), I found someone willing to ship me the Austrian DVD on eBay.at and I just finished watching it (the DVD has English subs for whatever reason). The film was AMAZING and will make a perfect addition to Criterion's catalog in the coming months. My only complaint was that it lacked the definition I've been spoiled with from Blu-ray...which will make the Criterion release that much sweeter.

For those interested, I reviewed the Austrian DVD for DVDBeaver.

[horseflesh]

The Criterion Twitter feed last Wednesday read:
"Yes, it's true—the RAN DVD is out of print & the Blu-ray has been removed from the schedule due to rights issues. But take heart..."

To which I replied, out of frustration...
"Take heart how??"

And the response I got...
"@Horseflesh99 Another late, great, color Kurosawa BLU-RAY is on its way—it'll be announced soon, so stay tuned!"

Kagemusha??

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by horseflesh

And the response I got...
"@Horseflesh99 Another late, great, color Kurosawa BLU-RAY is on its way—it'll be announced soon, so stay tuned!"

Kagemusha??

Although welcome..... I would love Ran

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by horseflesh

And the response I got...
"@Horseflesh99 Another late, great, color Kurosawa BLU-RAY is on its way—it'll be announced soon, so stay tuned!"

Kagemusha??

Very likely; that's the only other color-Kurosawa Criterion DOES own (besides "Dodes Kaden", which just came out).

"Dreams" is owned by Warner (and may be on its way, as there's a HD print on PS3) and "Rhapsody in August" and "Madadayo" were also owned by another obscure third-party company around the same time as "Ran".)

[Dubstar]

personally I'd love to see Criterion release Kurosawa's Dersu Uzala

[Beta Man]

I watched the interviews with Rip Torn and Candy Clark from "The Man Who Fell To Earth" It wasn't any earth shattering mysteries revealed..... but it was certainly informative.

I can't wait to check out the Nicholas Roeg interview too......

[Beta Man]

I'd also like to ask if others saw the same "Flaws" in "The Man Who Fell To Earth"

There are at times some brown "Spots" towards the bottom center of the picture..... but more noticeable is a light LINE down the center of the screen....

It comes and goes.... but it's a neon yellow/green looking line, VERY THIN.... and I would think it comes from the master, but it was there in one scene... then another.... then it was gone but came back 45 minutes later.....

I may have to get the time or put up a screen shot (if I can capture it with my camera)

Just wanted to know if anyone else noticed it.

[Hendershot737]

So, I watched The Man Who Fell to Earth...and why would Criterion wish to release it? I didn't think it was very good at all...terrible acting and terrible development of characters...am I a minority with this? I'm one open for weird, strange movies, but such movies need to have substance which I thought this movie lacked...The Third Man I understand as a Criterion release...Ran? Sure, of course, even though I have yet to see it (though this has run into some release problems I know)...I'm anticipating other great releases...but why this one? Please tell me I'm not the only one who thought this movie blew!

[Belloche]

Originally Posted by Hendershot737

So, I watched The Man Who Fell to Earth...and why would Criterion wish to release it? I didn't think it was very good at all...terrible acting and terrible development of characters...am I a minority with this? I'm one open for weird, strange movies, but such movies need to have substance which I thought this movie lacked...The Third Man I understand as a Criterion release...Ran? Sure, of course, even though I have yet to see it (though this has run into some release problems I know)...I'm anticipating other great releases...but why this one? Please tell me I'm not the only one who thought this movie blew!

To each his own. I thought Armageddon and the Rock were crappy Criterion choices, but somebody likes them. I haven't seen The Man Who Fell To Earth so I can't comment on it.

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by Hendershot737

So, I watched The Man Who Fell to Earth...and why would Criterion wish to release it? I didn't think it was very good at all...terrible acting and terrible development of characters...am I a minority with this? I'm one open for weird, strange movies, but such movies need to have substance which I thought this movie lacked...The Third Man I understand as a Criterion release...Ran? Sure, of course, even though I have yet to see it (though this has run into some release problems I know)...I'm anticipating other great releases...but why this one? Please tell me I'm not the only one who thought this movie blew!

Most people don't like Nicolas Roeg's work, so it is NOT for everyone. I liked it but I like films that are different then everything else out there. I like the atmosphere, but to think the film had no substance is a misconception. It is open to each viewers interpretation of the film and you take from it what you will but I find it very thought provoking about life, and its mysteries, materialism, and alienism (not to be limited to little green men so to speak but of human beings)

again it isn't for everyone and not too many of my freinds like it at all.

[Beta Man]

During the interview I referenced earlier regarding The Man Who Fell to Earth.... Candy Clark said it was released and nobody understood it, but the Criterion Version with the extra scenes tied it all together.....

I've ONLY seen the Criterion release of this film..... so perhaps you didn't see that one??? Otherwise..... I'll just have to disagree with your insinuating that it had no substance, because it's a story of an outsider trying to fit in, and the character development, from the homosexual, to the lead, the love interest, and the sex addict.......... I thought they were all pretty well revealed....

The "Sex Addict" for instance, is hell bent on "Discovery" in regards to science.... which ultimately creates a reformation of sorts.....

Also time passes... so you see what/how they (people) handle what they don't understand (calling him a fraud.... or tossing him aside etc)

I know Wikipedia has an article listing "Plot" etc.... didn't read it... but it may help you understand it better

[Hendershot737]

I should add that I did like what the movie was going for (the different themes and questions it raised)...but I felt that the follow through could have been better, like the relationship between bowie and the elevator girl just seemed there rather than a three dimensional relationship...as for armaggedon and the rock, good point! I didn't even think of those as criterion selections, haha! I would definitely expect TMWFTE to be a criterion more so than those [even though armageddon is a guilty pleasure of mine]...Are there other criterion movies out there that made any of you think, "really? this? a criterion?"

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Hendershot737

So, I watched The Man Who Fell to Earth...and why would Criterion wish to release it? I didn't think it was very good at all...terrible acting and terrible development of characters...am I a minority with this?

No, twenty minutes in, my jaded post-"Graduate" palette was thinking "....YyyyYEP, this would be a late-60's/early-70's Buck Henry screenplay. "
Think it was at the point where Bowie asks for a drink of water, and his Sexy Corrupting Commercialized-America Girlfriend says "How about some Scotch?"
(That's what we loved about you, Buck--The counterculturalism was just so subtle, it escaped us.)

As for Why Criterion....it's Nicholas Roeg--They "have" to:
A good fan can (or at some point already has) made a list of the six or seven directors Criterion must anal-retentive/compulsively release the excruciatingly detailed ENTIRE IMDb film canon of, after finishing with Bergman, Kurosawa, Francois Truffaut, Jean Cocteau, Michael Powell and Wes Anderson.

[flyboy66]

Originally Posted by EricJ

No, twenty minutes in, my jaded post-"Graduate" palette was thinking "....YyyyYEP, this would be a late-60's/early-70's Buck Henry screenplay. "
Think it was at the point where Bowie asks for a drink of water, and his Sexy Corrupting Commercialized-America Girlfriend says "How about some Scotch?"
(That's what we loved about you, Buck--The counterculturalism was just so subtle, it escaped us.)

As for Why Criterion....it's Nicholas Roeg--They "have" to:
A good fan can (or at some point already has) made a list of the six or seven directors Criterion must anal-retentive/compulsively release the excruciatingly detailed ENTIRE IMDb film canon of, after finishing with Bergman, Kurosawa, Francois Truffaut, Jean Cocteau, Michael Powell and Wes Anderson.

Did you forget Fellini?