The Criterion Collection

[jw007]

Originally Posted by the sordid sentinel

Agree totally. I don't get it. But make no mistake it is here to stay. HDTV production is scaling back a bit due to the cell phone/tablet love. Amazes me how addicted some (most) are to those devices. No doubt in my mind we are going to be the spaceship passengers from Wall E in 20 yrs. or so.

I think a "Wall-E" future is very possible especially due to the obesity/cancer rates in the western world, thanks to GMOs, pesticides and processed foods. People will be so sick and fat, they will be stricken to a personal hover machine that takes them everywhere and lets them play videogames and watch brainless movies anytime they want.

I hope to still be on my 2 legs and watching my movies on a 150 inch screen projected in 32k high definition or something.

Originally Posted by CriterionJunkie

It's actually scary to think that that could be a possibility. A world where we are just slaves to the media in our faces as we sit comfortably on our chairs that take us every where we go.

I blame the companies oversaturating and pushing the technology further for the small sized tablets/phones, and must blame ourselves for eating it all up and just demanding more, more, more!

Let's just hope it won't happen while we're here! I'd like to still enjoy my physical discs of the classics!!

Yes, definitely. It's not just the engineered food or edibles people will be eating but the masses will be controlled by institutionalized technology that makes people addicted. Eventually, people will not be able to think for themselves and everyone will be herded up like sheep. "Sheeple" will be the future people of tomorrow, sicker than ever before.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Nostalghia unseen, I think you made wonderful choices, Brandon. I think you'll find those films very noteworthy.

But back to my point, I just think its crazy that BluRay can blind some people, sure, there's nothing wrong with seeing beloved films over and over, but when it prevents you from seeking out the director's other work, something's wrong. Take Katherine Bigelow's work for example. Hurt Locker, Zero Dark Thirty, Point Break & Near Dark are all superb, but fans of those films should also seek out Strange Days. It's only on DVD, sure, but it's one of her most intriguing films!

Oh yes, ABD. Strange Days is such an amazing film that needs to be on Blu-ray. I was 16 or 17 when that movie came out in the mid-90s and I remember buying it on VHS and enjoying it a lot. And speaking of DVD, I think once a new format becomes popular, a lot of people forget their history and rather than seek out great films, they seek out popular movies released in the last few years and rank picture/audio quality over movie quality. It's extremely frustrating trying to convince a non-film buff to watch really classic films if they're only watching "today's movies". It's not like asking someone to stop writing on a laptop and switch to an old typewriter, ya know...DVDs can obviously play very well on our Blu-ray players. Arghhhhh.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by jw007

I think a "Wall-E" future is very possible especially due to the obesity/cancer rates in the western world, thanks to GMOs, pesticides and processed foods. People will be so sick and fat, they will be stricken to a personal hover machine that takes them everywhere and lets them play videogames and watch brainless movies anytime they want

And besides, Pixar backed down on the whole audience and critic "PC/Fat" whines--
In the final cut of the movie, it's explained in a computer recap that years in low space gravity were the reasons people couldn't walk, and a scientific featurette was added to the DVD to explain that.
(Which is true, btw--Even six months on the International Space Station has left astronauts with some bad bone-loss problems that take heavy therapy to recover, and that's going to be one of the main obstacles for NASA to overcome if we're planning three-month trips to Mars with no artificial gravity.)

So--Sorry to bury that PC bromide once and for all, but hey, it's their movie and they can retcon it if they want to.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by EricJ

And besides, Pixar backed down on the whole audience and critic "PC/Fat" whines--
In the final cut of the movie, it's explained in a computer recap that years in low space gravity were the reasons people couldn't walk, and a scientific featurette was added to the DVD to explain that.
(Which is true, btw--Even six months on the International Space Station has left astronauts with some bad bone-loss problems that take heavy therapy to recover, and that's going to be one of the main obstacles for NASA to overcome if we're planning three-month trips to Mars with no artificial gravity.)

So--Sorry to bury that PC bromide once and for all, but hey, it's their movie and they can retcon it if they want to.

True, but just because future people will be in "low space gravity" without the ability to walk or exercise doesn't mean that slurping on soft drinks all day is a justified excuse. I mean, if such a future of "blob"-like beings do exist, I'd think by then there will be more prevention and medical miracles to prevent such "wasting away" of bodies on a mass scale. I mean, if they could build such a gigantic, amazing space station for all those people, they could have figured out a way to create artificial gravity as well.

BUT... they did! The elites, however, in control, decided the masses ought to be sick and subdued and as dehumanized as possible by providing all the consumerism possible. The funny thing is, everyone eventually found that to be the norm and losing touch with humanity was just a trivial thing. That's pretty evil in my opinion.

I just think its a brilliant film that uses plenty of allegories on the present state of a sick society. The social commentary is spot on.

[zkirkland]

Originally Posted by Roninblues

lol, wow don't I look like a moron. I didn't even notice that until your quote.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by jw007

Oh yes, ABD. Strange Days is such an amazing film that needs to be on Blu-ray.

Totally, I believe even the existing DVD is shoddy in being a non-anamorphic transfer on a barebones disc. Germany has a rather decent looking blu-ray for this film. Actually this would be a nice contemporary SF film for CC to pick up, contrasting with and complimenting SF releases like Seconds, Solaris, Things to Come etc.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Totally, I believe even the existing DVD is shoddy in being a non-anamorphic transfer on a barebones disc. Germany has a rather decent looking blu-ray for this film. Actually this would be a nice contemporary SF film for CC to pick up, contrasting with and complimenting SF releases like Seconds, Solaris, Things to Come etc.

Oh yes, and not only that, it would be the very first science fiction film made in the 1990s to come out on Criterion Blu-ray. If you think about it, there is only one true contemporary sci fi film on Criterion Blu-ray and that is Brazil (at least "contemporary" as in made after the year 1984). And even that film isn't all that futuristic or "sci fi" in my opinion (at least compared to something like Gattaca - which I think also would fit nicely in the Criterion Collection). The 2008 Sony release of that film has very little in the way of supplements (and no audio commentary at all).

Yes... why are there not more contemporary science fiction films in the Criterion Collection? I'm guessing the last 30 years haven't produced too many good science fiction films. It's one of the most challenging genres in my opinion. Some great directors try to create a sci fi film (Brian De Palma - Mission to Mars) and well, they sort of fail at it. Maybe Kubrick just set the bar way too high with 2001?

[spanky87]

The Strange Days dvd is truly a piece of junk. I feel like rewatching that film in December so I'll import the german blu. I still think Near Dark is Bigelow's best film but Strange Days has a lot going for it. A cool sci-fi concept, a badass Angela Bassett performance, a Juliette Lewis concert in the middle of the film, and a great soundtrack. The mystery was a little meh.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by jw007

O I'm guessing the last 30 years haven't produced too many good science fiction films. It's one of the most challenging genres in my opinion.

Star Wars kinda killed the market for adult SF films IMO. Once studios saw what a killing they could make on one-note fairy tale characters in a pseudo SF setting, they did not want to put up big money for more ambitious less merchandise-friendly SF movies any more.
Soderbergh's Solaris is IMO an excellent film, but had a dismal BO fate. There have also been some rather interesting low-budget SF films - Cube, Timecrimes, Pi etc

[dmarvin]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I think that 2014 would be a fine year for Criterion to adopt Terry Zwigoff's Ghost World as a title.

Ghost World needs Blu-ray treatment in some form or fashion, and it would be a great follow-up to Zwigoff's Crumb.

+1 million. You just gave me a new title to put as my Most Wanted on the Criterion website. I've been needing a new one ever since they announced a little movie called Nashville.

[TJS_Blu]

Originally Posted by Dumbhuman

his latest film, Tabloid, which I'd love to own is somehow only available on DVD (so I've been holding out).

In case you don't know, The Unknown Known is out on the festival circuit...I think it debuted at Venice. It's a "Fog-like" interview with Rumsfeld which some PC-folks and some Mac-folks (presumably) said was too easy on the subject.

[RipleyLV426]

Wonder if the 4K mastering release of La Belle et la Bete is just a gimmick

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by RipleyLV426

Wonder if the 4K mastering release of La Belle et la Bete is just a gimmick

[Show spoiler]

My guess is that it will probably be, at best, a marginal picture quality upgrade over the existing Criterion Blu-ray, which I've heard is superb.

I really should upgrade my old DVD of Cocteau's Beauty and the Beast at some point, because the makeup effects in the movie are out of this world. I've got some bigger fish to fry right now, though.

I always like seeing that Marilyn Monroe avatar.

[Abdrewes]

Great to see some Strange Days fans here! That would be a dream CC release right there, and one which would prove to be one I pull off the shelf with regularity. That movie is both oddly prescient and a fantastic thrill ride. I've yet to see my DVD copy (which I bought last winter), so it may be time to do so.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by jw007

Oh yes, and not only that, it would be the very first science fiction film made in the 1990s to come out on Criterion Blu-ray. If you think about it, there is only one true contemporary sci fi film on Criterion Blu-ray and that is Brazil (at least "contemporary" as in made after the year 1984). And even that film isn't all that futuristic or "sci fi" in my opinion (at least compared to something like Gattaca - which I think also would fit nicely in the Criterion Collection). The 2008 Sony release of that film has very little in the way of supplements (and no audio commentary at all).

Yes... why are there not more contemporary science fiction films in the Criterion Collection? I'm guessing the last 30 years haven't produced too many good science fiction films. It's one of the most challenging genres in my opinion. Some great directors try to create a sci fi film (Brian De Palma - Mission to Mars) and well, they sort of fail at it. Maybe Kubrick just set the bar way too high with 2001?

Like many things when it comes to Criterion, it's a matter of licensing. It's not just "contemporary" SF that they're missing, but SF in general, at least in comparison to other genres. Including non-contemporary films, there's less than a dozen films that qualify, and one of those went OOP because Criterion lost their license.

Compare to the laserdisc days, when because they were dealing with license-friendly companies, they had the likes of Blade Runner, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Forbidden Planet, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Robocop (which made it to DVD, but not for long before they lost the license), and Akira. Only four of their SF films on LD made it to Blu-ray: Brazil, The Blob, Robinson Crusoe on Mars (which is something of a special case), and The Man Who Fell to Earth (which has gone OOP).

I think the problem with contemporary SF films is two-fold:

(1) They've largely gone the more action/adventure route than the cerebral. This doesn't mean they can't be good, but it makes them more attractive to the major studios, which brings me to...

(2) They've become the province of the major studios (Warner, Disney, Fox, Paramount, et alia) who are, at best, reluctant to license out their titles. Unfortunately, Strange Days is one of them, having been released by Fox, as was Soderbergh's version of Solaris.

(To be honest, I wasn't that impressed by Strange Days, though I haven't seen it since it was first released. I should revisit it sometime...I think it's available in HD on Netflix.)

The only "contemporary" SF film that I can think of from a major studio that would be up Criterion's ally that they could possibly license, since it's from Universal, would be 12 Monkeys. It's not a film I'm taken with, but I can see it being something that Criterion would probably do a great job with.

Given that Sony is starting to thaw out regarding licensing, we can hope that Criterion will be able to acquire films like Gattaca and Moon (which got a decently extra'd release from Sony) at some point.

Others that would make good Criterion releases, but held by Magnolia, would be Monsters (which has an extras-stacked release from them) and Europa Report.

There are some other indie SF films that would make good Criterion releases, but I'm not sure if they'd be available for licensing (some are with MGM/UA, and lord only knows if they still have them). Certainly there are the spate of "nuclear fear" films from the 80s, among the best being Testament, Threads (which would make a great twofer release with The War Game), and Miracle Mile.

Another one I'd love to see is Michael Radford's Nineteen Eighty-Four, which could make a hell of a package from Criterion. I can see them releasing a set that included versions with and without the desaturated color, and with and without the Eurythmics soundtrack, as well as the 1956 Michael Anderson version (originally released by Sony, I think, so it's not impossible), the 1953 Studio One TV version (which would either be owned by Sony, or in the Public Domain), and the 1954 BBC TV version.

[joie]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

My guess is that it will probably be, at best, a marginal picture quality upgrade over the existing Criterion Blu-ray, which I've heard is superb.

I really should upgrade my old DVD of Cocteau's Beauty and the Beast at some point, because the makeup effects in the movie are out of this world. I've got some bigger fish to fry right now, though.

I always like seeing that Marilyn Monroe avatar.

The picture quality is far from superb, unless you're giving it a pass for being old. But even some old film is in better condition.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by joie

The picture quality is far from superb, unless you're giving it a pass for being old. But even some old film is in better condition.

Most of the reviews that I've read about the Criterion Blu-ray of Beauty and the Beast say nothing but happy things about the picture quality considering the source limitations. I have yet to see the Blu-ray for myself, but even the 2003 Criterion DVD did not look half bad.

[silverlakephil]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Great to see some Strange Days fans here! That would be a dream CC release right there, and one which would prove to be one I pull off the shelf with regularity. That movie is both oddly prescient and a fantastic thrill ride. I've yet to see my DVD copy (which I bought last winter), so it may be time to do so.

Big fan here. Ralph Fiennes & Angela Bassett had great chemistry together I think. I wasn't too impressed with the German release, so a domestic release is way past due.

[goette]

Originally Posted by jayembee

There are some other indie SF films that would make good Criterion releases, but I'm not sure if they'd be available for licensing

"Primer", from Shane Carruth, would be a good bet.

At least they could put some extras to explain the movie.

[The Great Owl]

Now that I'm done with the new Stephen King novel, I can delve into my Blu-rays of Repulsion and Kiss Me Deadly..

Tonight, I'm going to watch the new Halloween Blu-ray, but the two Criterions will keep me busy the rest of the weekend.

I thought about waiting until October to watch Replusion and Halloween, but that's not going to happen. I'll undoubtedly revisit both of them again next month, though.