The Criterion Collection

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by Simple Lines

Amazon has kept it around $20-25 for awhile at this point.

I think he's wondering why it didn't carry the smaller $29.95 MSRP or whatever it is, that Criterion uses for their more Bare-Bones releases.

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Ruh-roh!: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-0...tribution.html
From the article:
Did Joie write this article?

I wish these different entities would figure out a better way of licensing movies for distribution. Maybe a royalty system once a contract has been signed to distribute a film and the contract expires. So that Criterion and whomever else who signs into a contract can release a film and keep it in print as long as there is a demand. Allow the products to sell based on the quality of the product. If someone wants to purchase the rights and make a better release then let them. Criterion could still sell their inferior version, or vice versa, but demand would dictate how many more would be sold/printed. This would let the market decide the superior version, prevent titles from going OOP, Create better products by way of competition and still provide money for the films owners. Maybe even provide the film owners a larger sum of royalty per unit sold after the original distribution contract expires. This scenario would be more beneficial to the owners of the film I would think. Instead of to the distributors who are allowed to sign into a contract a monopoly for a film's release.

Maybe just wishful thinking. I have no idea what is involved in a typical distribution deal contract. I assume the distributor just pays a lump sum for rights to release a film for a limited time frame and afterwards they have to renegotiate to keep that title in print?

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

Interesting... no wonder we never had any BLU upgrades for any other film. I would assume all the other titles will just go to OOP status? I guess Merchant Ivory will find someone else to distribute their titles, shame because I think they sold better thru Janus and Criterion.

so called Criterion is hilar!

Originally Posted by Beta Man

I think he's wondering why it didn't carry the smaller $29.95 MSRP or whatever it is, that Criterion uses for their more Bare-Bones releases.

Because that 12 minute interview is more than what the barebones get? They only get a trailer, if that.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by Banned User

I wish these different entities would figure out a better way of licensing movies for distribution. Maybe a royalty system once a contract has been signed to distribute a film and the contract expires. So that Criterion and whomever else who signs into a contract can release a film and keep it in print as long as there is a demand. Allow the products to sell based on the quality of the product. If someone wants to purchase the rights and make a better release then let them. Criterion could still sell their inferior version, or vice versa, but demand would dictate how many more would be sold/printed. This would let the market decide the superior version, prevent titles from going OOP, Create better products by way of competition and still provide money for the films owners. Maybe even provide the film owners a larger sum of royalty per unit sold after the original distribution contract expires. This scenario would be more beneficial to the owners of the film I would think. Instead of to the distributors who are allowed to sign into a contract a monopoly for a film's release.

Maybe just wishful thinking. I have no idea what is involved in a typical distribution deal contract. I assume the distributor just pays a lump sum for rights to release a film for a limited time frame and afterwards they have to renegotiate to keep that title in print?

I think because we don't know how distribution rights work and what deals Criterion makes, it causes people to assume Criterion is sitting on films for no reason and just "lose them" to "inferior" companies. Criterion doesn't tell anyone what's going on, so perhaps some of these films are in limbo due to contract disputes. This may or may not hurt Criterion.

[paul000]

Originally Posted by Simple Lines

Amazon has kept it around $20-25 for awhile at this point.

Yeah..I bought it in store some months back because I really wanted to watch it that night, to show a friend. Should be the last time I do that. & the last I give cc the benefit of the doubt, not reading/researching the supplements on the back before picking a film up retail! Usually I have no problems paying close to or full price for a criterion because of the quality/extras and I guess I've grown accustomed to blindly picking up their releases. I like Black Moon as a film and am glad it's in my collection but I should've been smarter w that purchase!

Originally Posted by Beta Man

I think he's wondering why it didn't carry the smaller $29.95 MSRP or whatever it is, that Criterion uses for their more Bare-Bones releases.

Exactly. in my opinion this should've been priced with Letter Never Sent, etc

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Because that 12 minute interview is more than what the barebones get? They only get a trailer, if that.

The 12 minute interview has some minutes(a nice bit) of clips from the film too... Definitely not worth the extra $10 or whatever. Don't know if you're serious? I'm sure there could've been a lot more to put on this disc...


Regarding the actual film/transfer, anyone think the much darker look of the film in the interview clips (albeit non HD) fits the mood better? This is how I remember seeing the film a long time ago. Watching the blu the first thing I thought when Lily got to the house was whoa this looks really bright. I never noticed how much morning or daytime was creeping through the windows in that room. I know that HD detail and natural look is the point of buying the blu but for some reason I like the darkness of the crappy looking version.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by paul000

Yeah..I bought it in store some months back because I really wanted to watch it that night, to show a friend. Should be the last time I do that. & the last I give cc the benefit of the doubt, not reading/researching the supplements on the back before picking a film up retail! Usually I have no problems paying close to or full price for a criterion because of the quality/extras and I guess I've grown accustomed to blindly picking up their releases. I like Black Moon as a film and am glad it's in my collection but I should've been smarter w that purchase!



Exactly. in my opinion this should've been priced with Letter Never Sent, etc



The 12 minute interview has some minutes(a nice bit) of clips from the film too... Definitely not worth the extra $10 or whatever. Don't know if you're serious? I'm sure there could've been a lot more to put on this disc...


Regarding the actual film/transfer, anyone think the much darker look of the film in the interview clips (albeit non HD) fits the mood better? This is how I remember seeing the film a long time ago. Watching the blu the first thing I thought when Lily got to the house was whoa this looks really bright. I never noticed how much morning or daytime was creeping through the windows in that room. I know that HD detail and natural look is the point of buying the blu but for some reason I like the darkness of the crappy looking version.

I was snarking, hence the smilies.

[Cinemach]

Originally Posted by Trace17

Watched Chungking Express yesterday and really enjoyed it. Anyone have some recommendations for similar films (style, setting, time period, etc.) I read Fallen Angels is another great one, so I'll be adding that to my list. Will also likely consider In the Mood for Love too. But I'm open to any other ideas too, even if I don't have time to watch them right now

I mentioned this after watching Chungking recently that I found an affinity with Double Life of Veronique, because both focus on two tangentially related characters; are largely plotless; and feature a major socio-political change

[Show spoiler]the end of Communism in Veronique, the end of British Hong Kong rule in Chungking

in the background.

[BohemianGraham]

It gets more scandalous: http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/08/21/49480.htm

So Howards End was going to last until 2014, now they want to force it OOP because they are angry. Better stock up now kids if you're the type to collect OOP Criterions and/or sell them.

I love how Criterion is apparently exploiting the films. I'm on the fence about this. criterion didn't deal fair, yet Merchant Ivory are being a bit dickish in their retaliation. Kinda justifiable, but st the same time, a bit excessive.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

It gets more scandalous: http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/08/21/49480.htm

So Howards End was going to last until 2014, now they want to force it OOP because they are angry. Better stock up now kids if you're the type to collect OOP Criterions and/or sell them.

No need to stock-up. If a Godard OOP can't fetch high prices then Howards End won't.

Now The Third Man on the other hand will be paying for the Hitchcock box.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

No need to stock-up. If a Godard OOP can't fetch high prices then Howards End won't.

Now The Third Man on the other hand will be paying for the Hitchcock box.

I was being snarky.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

I was being snarky.

"Snarky" appears to be of British Slang. A cursory Google search also turns up "Dane Cook" as a related person.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

"Snarky" appears to be of British Slang. A cursory Google search also turns up "Dane Cook" as a related person.

I have no idea who Dane Cook is, but a lot of people talk about him.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

I have no idea who Dane Cook is, but a lot of people talk about him.

He's a well-known but seldom respected pilferer of comedic material.

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

It gets more scandalous: http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/08/21/49480.htm

So Howards End was going to last until 2014, now they want to force it OOP because they are angry. Better stock up now kids if you're the type to collect OOP Criterions and/or sell them.

I love how Criterion is apparently exploiting the films. I'm on the fence about this. criterion didn't deal fair, yet Merchant Ivory are being a bit dickish in their retaliation. Kinda justifiable, but st the same time, a bit excessive.

Sounds more like Janus hurt their chances of keeping the films and Criterion's division will suffer from it.

[greekak229]

Anyone here check out Takashi Miike's Harakiri remake? It's pretty damn good I must say.

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by greekak229

Anyone here check out Takashi Miike's Harakiri remake? It's pretty damn good I must say.

Been wanting to check it out. It's just moved up from 'Got to see that' to 'Got to see that soon'

Speaking of remakes. It appears we have come full circle. Clint Eastwood became famous overnight for Sergio Leon's Fistful of Dollars based off Yojimbo. In other news Warner Japan is rumored to be making a Samurai version of Unforgiven. Actually a remake I endorse.

[Simple Lines]

A Lonesome Beaver...

[P@t_Mtl]

How is everyone doing with their "sales purchases" from July? I am done with all the Blu-ray movies, now starting the big part of it, the Eclipse sets. Will start with the Alexander Koda set I think, only seen one movie from this set in the past.

[starman15317]

Will that lawsuit affect Hanway Films titles, forcing them to go OOP? Because I still need to buy Paris, Texas and Wings of Desire.

[greekak229]

Originally Posted by Banned User

Been wanting to check it out. It's just moved up from 'Got to see that' to 'Got to see that soon'

Speaking of remakes. It appears we have come full circle. Clint Eastwood became famous overnight for Sergio Leon's Fistful of Dollars based off Yojimbo. In other news Warner Japan is rumored to be making a Samurai version of Unforgiven. Actually a remake I endorse.

Yeah, definitely check out Hara-kiri. Just an incredibly well-made, well-acted film, just like the original. I have no problem with Japanese filmmakers taking our material and remaking them into something great. Beats the hell out of an American director remaking something and turning it into pure crap.