The Criterion Collection

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by L'armée des ombres

After going through the very "light" extras, i'm a little surprised by the fact that there is almost no mention of the stink this movie made in the box office.
This is almost like Cimino himself produced the extras.
There is no critic allowed and the people interviewed are all spreading their love for MC.
What CC should have done was to get "Final Cut : The Making and Unmaking" documentary.
That would have made this package complete.
But then they possibly would not have MC commitment to this release

wasn't that the point, though? - a presentation of the film to be judged on the merit of what was recorded on celluloid and not on all of the backstory? a lot of which was unfair to Cimino and the film itself.

I also don't feel like the bonus materials are "light", as you say. there's quite a bit of cool stuff on that disc.

I'm not old enough to remember hearing about all of the stories that coincided with the release of the film. I've only read about them and most of it I read after seeing the film. I think it is a special film and was a fantastic choice for Criterion.

[L'armée des ombres]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

wasn't that the point, though? - a presentation of the film to be judged on the merit of what was recorded on celluloid and not on all of the backstory? a lot of which was unfair to Cimino and the film itself.

I also don't feel like the bonus materials are "light", as you say. there's quite a bit of cool stuff on that disc.

I'm not old enough to remember hearing about all of the stories that coincided with the release of the film. I've only read about them and most of it I read after seeing the film. I think it is a special film and was a fantastic choice for Criterion.

For a film of this magnitude and what impact it had it's "very" light
1.30 min of MC off camera with his "producer"
2.Kris Kristofferson 10 min
3.David Mansfield 10 min
4.Michael Stevenson 8 min
Teaser trailer an a TV spot
you call this much?

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by PocosuTheCamel

I'm currently watching Thief for the first time. Already love the writing, music, and cinematography. I need more Michael Mann films in my collection.

Yes, I watched it too some months ago for the first time and I was blown away!
Superb film! I really liked the atmposphere. I think I'll have to buy the Bluray.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by L'armée des ombres

For a film of this magnitude and what impact it had it's "very" light
1.30 min of MC off camera with his "producer"
2.Kris Kristofferson 10 min
3.David Mansfield 10 min
4.Michael Stevenson 8 min
Teaser trailer an a TV spot
you call this much?

hmm... ok. I thought there was a commentary, too. you're right. there isn't.

there is, however, a beautiful booklet, too, and a restoration demo which is pretty jaw-dropping

maybe not 4 1/2 stars worth of bonus materials, but 3 1/2 or 4 for me.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

hmm... ok. I thought there was a commentary, too. you're right. there isn't.

there is, however, a beautiful booklet, too, and a restoration demo which is pretty jaw-dropping

maybe not 4 1/2 stars worth of bonus materials, but 3 1/2 or 4 for me.

oh, s**t. I am now an "expert member." better take that w/ a grain of salt, folks.

[blu-bry]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

oh, s**t. I am now an "expert member." better take that w/ a grain of salt, folks.

Congratulations! Now we know who to turn to for advice.

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Hi filmmusic,

Yes, of course. These releases are from my collection.

The Traveling Players and Voyage to Cythera are two films that I like a lot. Both offer a glimpse at a country that no longer exists.

Viewing Days of 36 will likely be a very interesting experience for you because there are plenty of political observations in it. You can see how the country was divided (and still is).

The Weeping Meadow I also saw theatrically and it is a very, very beautiful film. (The sequence with the black flags is extraordinary).

The restorations are excellent. As far as I know the original film elements were used, and Mr. Angelopoulos was also consulted. Pretty much all of the director's films can now be seen on DVD -- many were also released by Artificial Eye in the UK after the Greek releases came out -- so it should not be difficult to track them down.

Criterion should have added at least one of his films to the Collection, possibly Ulysses Gaze with Harvey Keitel, or Eternity and a Day with Bruno Ganz, since he has a tremendous reputation outside of Greece.

In addition to Greece, Eastern Europe has very important and influential directors whose work should be popularized in North America.

Have a wonderful week, filmmusic, and I will see you on the forums

Pro-B

Thank you very much for the detailed information.
I hope for Bluray releases soon.
Maybe from Artificial Eye, since you say it released the DVDs.

[Steric_Hinderance]

Originally Posted by Coen

What are some of your favorite Criterion documentaries? For the purpose of this, they can be available on DVD as well as blu-ray, but they must be the primary film (not a supplement). Here's my top 5:

1. Harlan County USA
2. Grey Gardens
3. Night and Fog
4. Salesman
5. Chronicle of a Summer

Hoop Dreams....although I could certainly think more a case of what documentaries I'd like Criterion to be getting their hands on releasing.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Steric_Hinderance

Hoop Dreams....although I could certainly think more a case of what documentaries I'd like Criterion to be getting their hands on releasing.

+100
one of the best documentary films ever.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by L'armée des ombres

For a film of this magnitude and what impact it had it's "very" light
1.30 min of MC off camera with his "producer"
2.Kris Kristofferson 10 min
3.David Mansfield 10 min
4.Michael Stevenson 8 min
Teaser trailer an a TV spot
you call this much?

Actually, it isn't "light" at all. This release is a special case.

I don't know if you are aware, but for many years Michael Cimino would basically not speak to anyone. There was a lot said about his work, but there was virtually nothing from the man himself. He became a shadow, a lot like Terry Malick, though obviously his reasons for becoming one were very different.

Back in the days, even when there were some opportunities to get Cimino to do some commentaries or interviews, he did them outside of the U.S. His audio commentary on The Deer Hunter -- which, by the way, is one of the greatest ever recorded -- was never licensed for a U.S. release.

That "producer" is, hands-down, the person responsible for the restoration and reconstruction of the film and for actually having some content with Cimino for the U.S. release. This is important to know. Also, it is not a coincidence that Cimino isn't in front of the camera when he speaks.

There is a very special exclusive video interview (51 min.) with Cimino which was filmed by Allerton Films for the beautiful French release, which Carlotta Films produced (see below). And once again, it is not a coincidence that this time Cimino agreed to be filmed for it. In it there is plenty of the information that I think you were hoping to get on the U.S. release.



In any event, quality is always more important than quantity, and as far as the Criteiron release is concerned the supplemental content is of exceptionally high quality.

Pro-B

[L'armée des ombres]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Actually, it isn't "light" at all. This release is a special case.

I don't know if you are aware, but for many years Michael Cimino would basically not speak to anyone. There was a lot said about his work, but there was virtually nothing from the man himself. He became a shadow, a lot like Terry Malick, though obviously his reasons were very different.

Back in the days, even when there were some opportunities to get Cimino to do some commentaries or interviews, he did them outside of the U.S. His audio commentary on The Deer Hunter -- which, by the way, is one of the greatest ever recorded -- was never licensed for a U.S. release.

That "producer" is, hands-down, the person responsible for the restoration and reconstruction of the film and for actually having some content with Cimino for the U.S. release. This is important to know. Also, it is not a coincidence that Cimino isn't in front of the camera when he speaks.

There is a very special exclusive video interview (51 min.) with Cimino which was filmed by Allerton Films for the beautiful French release, which Carlotta Films produced (see below). And once again, it is not a coincidence that this time Cimino agreed to be filmed for it. In it there is plenty of the information that I think you were hoping to get on the U.S. release.



In any event, quality is always more important than quantity, and as far as this release is concerned the supplemental content is of exceptionally high quality.

Pro-B

Simply put, i don't agree with you
Spending 78 euros (over 100$) on this is not an option for me.
Again CC could have done better in the extras department.
I very well aware of the MC situation, the fact i did not see this film on DVD does not make me ignorant about this movie history.
He withdrew, no wonder.
michael-cimino-participa-do-festival-de-cinema-de-roma-28102008-1344609320367_1920x1080.jpg

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by L'armée des ombres

Simply put, i don't agree with you
Spending 78 euros (over 100$) on this is not an option.
Again CC could have done better in the extras department.

I don't think you understood what I was trying to convey to you -- the supplemental content on the Criterion release is as intended. It is simply not true that Criterion could have done better.

Additionally, you do not have to get the Deluxe Box. This is the release we reviewed. Carlotta Films also has a standard release.



This is also a good interview you might want to see:

Kris Kristofferson & Michael Cimino speak post-screening - HEAVEN'S GATE - NYC - YouTube

Pro-B

[L'armée des ombres]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

I don't think you understood what I was trying to convey to you -- the supplemental content on the Criterion release is as intended. It is simply not true that Criterion could have done better.

Additionally, you do not have to get the Deluxe Box. This is the release we reviewed. Carlotta Films also has a standard release.



Pro-B

Let's agree to disagree

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by L'armée des ombres

Let's agree to disagree

I don't know what is it that you wish to disagree with as there isn't any room for speculation why Criterion's release is as is, but you can have the final comment

I hope you enjoyed the presentation.

Pro-B

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

In any event, quality is always more important than quantity, and as far as the Criteiron release is concerned the supplemental content is of exceptionally high quality.

Pro-B

I agree that whatever is there is of high quality. "Light" or not, that may be why my first inclination was to disagree with the other poster.

Can you expound upon what you mean when you say that it is no coincidence that he doesn't appear in front of the camera? I didn't follow that point.

[Polaroid]

Hey guys - is BLOWITOUTHEE (Or w/e his name is) best ebay seller for Criterion to UK?

Need another route as I have had a lot of issues with Amazon and closed my account, I use DVDWORLDUSA but its not cheapest option.

cheeeerss

[brandon_260]

Can anyone tell me the difference between the two Scenes from a Marriage releases? Criterion's website has two in the database, but the only difference I can note is that one has the updated logo on the cover. I bought the DVD used today and got sent the one with the older Criterion typeface/logo on the cover.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Coen

What are some of your favorite Criterion documentaries? For the purpose of this, they can be available on DVD as well as blu-ray, but they must be the primary film (not a supplement).

I'm assuming that that last caveat includes feature-length documentaries that may or may not have their own separate disc in a set, but aren't available separately, like The Making of Fanny and Alexander or A Constant Forge--The Life and Art of John Cassavetes.

Anyway, to be honest, I'm not big on documentaries; I need to be especially interested in the subject in order to watch one. That said, I'd said my favorite Criterion doc on BD/DVD would be Crumb, followed by For All Mankind.

(You can't imagine how much I had to resist the temptation to answer with This Is Spinal Tap.)

If you want to allow Criterion LDs, then my favorite would be A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies, folowed by the two BD/DVD releases above, followed by the LD of Leni Riefenstahl's 2-part Olympia.

If you want to be really generous and allow LD titles from Criterion's sister label, Voyager (side note: For All Mankind was released on LD by Voyager, though on DVD/BD by Criterion) I'd add, in no particular order:

The Love Goddesses
Comic Book Confidential
George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey
François Truffaut: 25 Years, 25 Films
The Day After Trinity

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by brandon_260

Can anyone tell me the difference between the two Scenes from a Marriage releases? Criterion's website has two in the database, but the only difference I can note is that one has the updated logo on the cover. I bought the DVD used today and got sent the one with the older Criterion typeface/logo on the cover.

I know of no contents changes to the title, and criterionforum.org doesn't list any altered reissues since the initial 2004 release. I'm not even sure if the updated cover art at Criterion's website accurately reflects what the cover actually looks like nowadays, since there's no collection number present on the cover art, which there should be.

[baheidstu]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Hey guys - is BLOWITOUTHEE (Or w/e his name is) best ebay seller for Criterion to UK?

Need another route as I have had a lot of issues with Amazon and closed my account, I use DVDWORLDUSA but its not cheapest option.

cheeeerss

Blowitouttahere is a good seller (it's a company btw) - I don't know about to the UK, but I am in Canada and often buy from them. Prices are cheap, product has always arrived decently packaged and in good time. They're not amazing or anything but they're reliable and, like I said, the prices are good and they offer shipping discounts on multiple items purchased.