The Criterion Collection

[Darth Marcus]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

He's made so many great films but The Fly, A History of Violence, and Eastern Promises take the cake for me.

The only two films of his I've seen is A History of Violence and Eastern Promises, both of which I consider to be modern classics. I really need to get around to seeing The Fly. And A History of Violence definitely deserves a better blu-ray release.

[jrsl76]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

What actually occurred with the release of Ran? I was never well informed about the situation.

Ran was one of criterion's popular DVD release. Can that, technically, happen with Le Samourai?

I'm not sure precisely what happened with Ran, but it was one of the first Studiocanal titles to go out of print. I suspect what happened is given Criterion's longstanding relationship with Studiocanal, they announced a blu-ray of it thinking that they could get it renewed and unfortunately, that didn't happen. It's such a shame, because a Criterion blu-ray of that would be amazing. I'm just glad I still have the DVD.

[JackTwist]

Question regarding Roberto Rossellini's War Trilogy. Given the condition of the materials in 2010 when the DVD release came out (and since Criterion was releasing blu-rays at this time), is it safe to assume that no blu-ray release will be achieved any time soon?

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Darth Marcus

The only two films of his I've seen is A History of Violence and Eastern Promises, both of which I consider to be modern classics. I really need to get around to seeing The Fly. And A History of Violence definitely deserves a better blu-ray release.

In my opinion, everything Cronenberg is worth watching. Although, I was much more into his classic (70's and 80's) films several years back when I was more into horror. Now I'm really appreciating his more cerebral, politically and anthropologically conscious films.

[The Great Owl]

David Cronenberg's horror movies of the 1970s and 1980s resonate more with me than his recent hard-edged character study films, although I love A History of Violence and Eastern Promises.

The early Cronenberg films, however, were quite horrific, because many of them had a bizarre undercurrent of sex and disease that hit years before the AIDS epidemic was acknowledged by the public in a ubiquitous way. The early Clive Barker books had a similar effect, because the horror touched nerves of the readers in a physical way that made most people uncomfortable.

Videodrome, in addition to predicting the ill effects of technology and communication in an eerie way, also touched on the most terrifying underlying theme that can pervade in a horror film, our fear of disfigurement. It seems to me that people can accept countless horror films about murder, torture, or the supernatural, because these are scares that we see ourselves facing and withstanding in a courageous way. The horror films that really unnerve the masses, though, are the films about being disfigured and turning into something that makes us feel that we are no longer human beings in the accepted sense. I have not seen the recent movie, The Human Centipede, but the premise of the film leads me to believe that it repels so many people (including me) for the same reason that the early Cronenberg films repel people. Torture? We can deal with that. Death? We can deal with that. Being disfigured? No way!

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by jrsl76

I'm not sure precisely what happened with Ran, but it was one of the first Studiocanal titles to go out of print. I suspect what happened is given Criterion's longstanding relationship with Studiocanal, they announced a blu-ray of it thinking that they could get it renewed and unfortunately, that didn't happen. It's such a shame, because a Criterion blu-ray of that would be amazing. I'm just glad I still have the DVD.

I was put down by the same fact. I guess criterion won't do the same mistake. It is a little concerning that criterion has not yet announced Le Samourai.

My optimistic view, is that they are preparing a new/better transfer than the previous DVD transfer. Here's hoping that my optimism is right.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by Cinemach

Here's a list on IMDB: -- though I'm sure it's partial as they actually have one of the largest film libraries in the world...(though this link doesn't name all of these titles).

Thanks for the list. I was disappointed that some of Bunuel's film might not be released by criterion.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by sc1957

My feeling about sky-high prices for OOP titles (or buying extra copies to hoard for later sale) is that these people never heard of Cabbage Patch Kids, Beanie Babies, and a myriad of other fads where the supposed scarcity of an item that was manufactured by the thousands, if not millions, was going to lead the hoarders to a pot of gold. Like rainbows, those dreams always vanish in the end.

I had a cabbage patch kid, It lost an eye due to an exploded glo stick, and I chopped her hair off. It was an original run one too. Whoops.

I just find it funny that people are running for titles they could have had already if they weren't so concerned about packaging.

[PowellPressburger]

In regards to the Criterion OOP Blu/ DVDs.

I have to say if you are near Barnes & Noble locations do yourself the favor of checking store stock/ in store reservations for any titles you find that they still have stock of. Esp. if you are afraid of an online retailer having your order on a Back Order. I could almost see Criterion / Image Entertainment (C.C. distributor) able to get out remaining stock to WHSE's such as Amazon and others.

If you can buy them locally even if it costs more and you know what you are getting especially with Last Year At Marienbad (I see cases in stores etc that look redic crushed) Just saying. Better than getting the canceled order e-mails days / weeks after waiting. Better safe than sorry.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

In regards to the Criterion OOP Blu/ DVDs.

I have to say if you are near Barnes & Noble locations do yourself the favor of checking store stock/ in store reservations for any titles you find that they still have stock of. Esp. if you are afraid of an online retailer having your order on a Back Order. I could almost see Criterion / Image Entertainment (C.C. distributor) able to get out remaining stock to WHSE's such as Amazon and others.

If you can buy them locally even if it costs more and you know what you are getting especially with Last Year At Marienbad (I see cases in stores etc that look redic crushed) Just saying. Better than getting the canceled order e-mails days / weeks after waiting. Better safe than sorry.

I was dorking around Barnes & Noble during my lunch break yesterday, and saw that all of the newly-announced OOP titles are still there, as well as Tati's Playtime.

Miraculously, I did not purchase anything during my visit. I still do not own Playtime, but I am going to wait and see what marvelous things come out of the upcoming restoration.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by jrsl76

I'm not sure precisely what happened with Ran, but it was one of the first Studiocanal titles to go out of print. I suspect what happened is given Criterion's longstanding relationship with Studiocanal, they announced a blu-ray of it thinking that they could get it renewed and unfortunately, that didn't happen. It's such a shame, because a Criterion blu-ray of that would be amazing. I'm just glad I still have the DVD.

If I recall, Crierion was all ready to go and release Ran, they had a new print done and everything (But I might be wrong) But then they lost the rights to the movie to Studio Canal who then release it but it wasn't a very good release. There as been a debate ever since on how Criterion could have had a better release or if what we got with Studio Canal was as good as it wil ever be for that movie. I did not know the Studio Canal was also OOP now

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I was dorking around Barnes & Noble during my lunch break yesterday, and saw that all of the newly-announced OOP titles are still there, as well as Tati's Playtime.

Miraculously, I did not purchase anything during my visit. I still do not own Playtime, but I am going to wait and see what marvelous things come out of the upcoming restoration.

You should pick up Playtime. I don't recall it ever being 100% confirmed that it would in fact be re-released.

You can keep it sealed and then if a new version comes out, you can always sell that copy and get a few bucks back.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by iScottie

You should pick up Playtime. I don't recall it ever being 100% confirmed that it would in fact be re-released.

You can keep it sealed and then if a new version comes out, you can always sell that copy and get a few bucks back.

I have bigger fish to catch from the Blu-ray ocean first, so I'm going to pass up on Playtime for now.

If the upcoming restoration is well-received, then I'm sure that the film will receive a Blu-ray release on these shores in some form or fashion in years to come.

[lilboyblu]

Originally Posted by jrsl76

I'm not sure precisely what happened with Ran, but it was one of the first Studiocanal titles to go out of print.

I think your wording should be:

"I'm not sure precisely what happened with Ran, but it was one of the first Criterion titles that was obtained by Studiocanal to go out of print on Criterion."

This is still in print on Studio Canal.

[The Great Owl]

Regarding Akira Kurosawa's Ran, I found this old Blu-ray.com news story. It's too bad that Criterion were apparently not able to proceed with this.

Akira Kurosawa's Ran Announced for Blu-ray
Posted February 17, 2009 07:43 AM by Josh Dreuth

The Criterion Collection has announced that they will bring Akira Kurosawa's 'Ran' to Blu-ray on May 12th. Previously released as a two-disc DVD set, this Blu-ray disc is expected to include all the special features on a single disc. Technical specs have yet to be confirmed, but you can expect a 1.85:1 1080p AVC video presentation with some sort of lossless/uncompressed audio track.

Expected extras for this release include:
New, restored high-definition digital transfer
Audio commentary by Kurosawa scholar Stephen Prince
An appreciation of the film by director Sidney Lumet
A.K., a 74-minute film by director Chris Marker
A 30-minute documentary on the making of Ran, part of the Toho Masterworks series Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create
A 35-minute video piece reconstructing Ran through Kurosawa's paintings and sketches, created as part of the series Image: Kurosawa's Continuity
New video interview with actor Tatsuya Nakadai
Theatrical trailers
New and improved English subtitle translation
Plus: a 28-page booklet featuring film critic Michael Wilmington and interviews with Kurosawa and composer Toru Takemitsu

I sold my Criterion DVD of Ran a couple of months back when I did my big DVD streamlining, because I figured that it would be available in a great Blu-ray edition at some point. I still have that hope, but it may be a while. Superb movie, though!

[keldons]

Originally Posted by shortmartin

Just curious, how does the Fly hold up for you now? I love Cronenberg's work, especially the earlier stuff, and including Fly, and would love to see a spine number on Brood or Scanners, for example.

I'm pretty sure Scanners was hinted at in the drawing at the beginning of this year

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

He's made so many great films but The Fly, A History of Violence, and Eastern Promises take the cake for me.

Great choices. The Fly and Eastern Promises are my top two Cronenberg films. I think eXistenZ is third.

[Mansinthe]

i would like to get my hands on a Criterion Ran bluray.. but studiocanal has the license to that movie and there release is kinda like a "better dvd"..

my first 2 criterions will arrive this week..

seven samurai & kagemusha

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by Mansinthe

i would like to get my hands on a Criterion Ran bluray.. but studiocanal has the license to that movie and there release is kinda like a "better dvd"..

my first 2 criterions will arrive this week..

seven samurai & kagemusha

Nice, I can predict your next two purchases: Yojimbo and Sanjuro (maybe one if you get the box set like I did).

The amount of detail you see in the Yojimbo blu ray is unbelievable. A recommended upgrade from the DVD.

[mrjohnnyb]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

When I was in high school, my favorite Cronenberg movie was The Fly. I had a VHS dub of that film that I had taped from an HBO showing, and I must have watched it a million times.

I did not quite "get" Videodrome when I first saw it back in the 1980s, but subsequent viewings paid off in spades. After a while, I decided that it was my favorite Cronenberg film by far, and I still feel that way.

One of my favorite albums from the 1980s is Flesh For Lulu - Long Live The New Flesh. The album title is drawn from Videodrome, of course.

Great Owl, we must be about the same age.

My introduction to David Cronenberg was The Dead Zone. At the time, I was a much bigger Stephen King fan (currently, I'm a bigger Cronenberg fan, although I still admire King.) I was rather impressed that he told that story extremely well, and while he basically followed King's plot, the film had a lot of great Cronenburg touches.

[Show spoiler]The image of the youth hockey team sinking to the bottom of the not-so-frozen lake is imbued in my memory. That shot was a total Cronenberg creation as the book had a completely different situation and outcome.

It still rates as my fourth favorite of his films, after Videodrome, Naked Lunch, and The Fly.