The Criterion Collection

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Meek12345

Also, what do you all think of the Criterion "suggestion box"? I have emailed quite a few title suggestions, such as Manhunter, to suggestions@criterion.com, but I wonder if it makes any difference. I have only been an avid Criterion collector for about 3 years, so maybe someone that has been around longer can give me their perspective on whether or not Criterion takes our suggestions seriously.

I've had one experience making a suggestion to Criterion, way back in the laserdisc days. They were soliciting suggestions, and I sent in a few. I don't recall what they all were, but one of them, Ugetsu did show up on LD sometime later. Whether it was my suggestion that prompted them to acquire it, or it was already in the works, I don't know.

I've no doubt that Criterion takes suggestions seriously. But I'm sure that a lot of suggestions are for things that they've no interest in doing, or things that they are simply unable to license (like the bulk of Warner's catalog titles, or the StudioCanal-owned titles).

[The Great Owl]

Here's a new article from Ain't It Cool News that makes a case for why Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai is the greatest movie ever made.

Seven Samurai may not be my own favorite movie of all time, but it's right up there, and I agree enthusiastically with everything in the above review. I love how this film introduces us to some truly wonderful human beings.

Cheers to the movie that introduced me to The Criterion Collection.

[deepbreathsanddeath]

I hope criterion releases Jeff Nichols' debut film Shotgun Stories. The DVD went OOP a while back if I remember correctly. He's now a big hit and Criterion have a thing for debut films.

[SilentDawn]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Hmm. I think once you see The Driver, you'll see that it is closer to that film. Because after the credits, Drive is nothing at all like Mann's stuff.

I've seen The Driver, it definitely is similar to Drive; although the mood of Thief feels just like Drive to me.

[Ausjdm]

Originally Posted by SilentDawn

I've seen The Driver, it definitely is similar to Drive; although the mood of Thief feels just like Drive to me.

I gotta buy that blu ray of driver still.

[Joe Dalek]

Originally Posted by jayembee

They never claimed that The 400 Blows (or Breathless, for that matter) was an upgrade. It's not an upgrade, and was never meant to be considered one. That's a label that you are putting on it.

There have been two repackagings announced so far. In one case, there was also an upgrade announced. In the other case, there wasn't. There's not enough data to determine any kind of pattern. The lack of an upgrade this month could be for no other reason than nothing in the upgrade queue was ready for release.

It says "a dual-format upgrade of The 400 Blows" on their homepage, so they actually did say that. My hope is that these repacks won't choke out actual upgrades.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

It says "a dual-format upgrade of The 400 Blows" on their homepage, so they actually did say that.

OK, so maybe it actually is an upgrade.

My hope is that these repacks won't choke out actual upgrades.

Unlikely. It makes no commercial sense for them to just repackage existing titles instead of upgrading other titles they've already got on DVD. And that's because upgrades of DVD titles grow their business; repackaging doesn't.

Repackagings may get DVD consumers to buy something a little more expensive, but that won't work for the Blu-ray consumers, since they won't be paying more than they would have already.

For repackaging to make any kind of commercial sense, they'd have to replace completely new titles, which likely cost Criterion more than upgrading existing DVD titles. And if Criterion relied solely on upgrading old titles, it would be a death knell for them.

I really think you're blowing this completely out of proportion, based on one month's announcements.

On edit: One more thing...Criterion has already explained their reasons (economic) for switching to dual-format packaging. And that they will be repackaging existing separate BD and DVD releases as dual-format as the stocks get low. So the dual-format repackagings are going to happen whether you like it or not. And they'll happen whether or not they get any kind of special mention in the monthly announcements. The February announcements show that they're not precluding any upgrades in months with repackagings.

[dwk]

Originally Posted by thebard

Copyright says 2006, so I guess I'm good to go; it has artwork in the same vein as the blu-ray.

I figure I can pick up the StudioCanal Third Man and have the best of both worlds this way (without selling my car!). And the Play Time DVD can hold me over until another release comes out, hopefully.



Thanks! And thanks to both of you for the info.

Criterion will be re-releasing Playtime in a Tati box set later this year, so you will not have to wait too long.

[Abdrewes]

I just caught up with Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story on Netflix, and it was a very engrossing watch. This comes highly recommended to all fans of The War Room and it's portrayal of smear tactics in political campaigns.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by SilentDawn

I've seen The Driver, it definitely is similar to Drive; although the mood of Thief feels just like Drive to me.

I disagree 100%, but you are definitely free to think this way

[Rich Pure Doom]

Originally Posted by dwk

Criterion will be re-releasing Playtime in a Tati box set later this year, so you will not have to wait too long.

How are you so sure? Is this confirmed?

[frittscs]

Criterion will be re-releasing Playtime in a Tati box set later this year, so you will not have to wait too long.

Originally Posted by Rich Pure Doom

How are you so sure? Is this confirmed?

Ditto. Would be great if this was confirmed.

[thebard]

Originally Posted by dwk

Criterion will be re-releasing Playtime in a Tati box set later this year, so you will not have to wait too long.

Originally Posted by Rich Pure Doom

How are you so sure? Is this confirmed?

Originally Posted by frittscs

Ditto. Would be great if this was confirmed.

Looks like you've caused a stir, dwk! Link please?

[K1NG J0RDAN]

Words cannot explain how crazy Lars Von Trier's Antichrist is. What did I just watch?

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by K1NG J0RDAN

Words cannot explain how crazy Lars Von Trier's Antichrist is. What did I just watch?

I had the same reaction. Well made film, great acting but what they did out in the woods put the original Evil Dead to shame. I know we all have different ways of handling our emotions, such as grief, but some of the actions made no sense to me. I've only seen two Von Trier films-this one and Melancholia which I did enjoy. I'm interested in Breaking the Waves but not enough for a blind buy.

[frittscs]

Originally Posted by K1NG J0RDAN

Words cannot explain how crazy Lars Von Trier's Antichrist is. What did I just watch?

Yeah, it was difficult for me to make it all the way through that one. Von Trier just doesn't click with me, though I did like Melancholia somewhat.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Rich Pure Doom

How are you so sure? Is this confirmed?

It was hinted, for those who knew what a man in a box with a pipe was supposed to mean.
As for whether we get Playtime, however...

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

It says "a dual-format upgrade of The 400 Blows" on their homepage, so they actually did say that. My hope is that these repacks won't choke out actual upgrades.

I don't have a problem with them as long as they're not counted as a monthly upgrade.

[ccfixx]

Courtesy of criterionforum.org...

More packaging photos for It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.

[buzzwoody]

Originally Posted by K1NG J0RDAN

Words cannot explain how crazy Lars Von Trier's Antichrist is. What did I just watch?

I will never go back to it!

I am still haunted, while doing mundane things like sitting in traffic or washing dishes, of the mutilation scenes.