The Criterion Collection

[vader4]

Finally, the release of the preeminent film Starving Blue Lion, very glad to hear of its release.

[Show spoiler]

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I just finished watching my Criterion Blu-ray of Akira Kurosawa's High and Low. [...]

High and Low is such a gripping police procedural (I prefer "police procedural" to "neo-noir" when describing this film.) [...]

Well, after all, it's based on one of Ed McBain's 87th Precinct novels -- King's Ransom -- which are the quintessential examples of the term "police procedural".

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

I'd even call it a crime piece. I tend to avoid using "neo-noir" as I think it's a blatant piggyback on "film noir" because that genre is held in high esteem.

I think too many people want to associate "noir" with a film when the connection is just not there.

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I do not mind the "neo-noir" description if it pertains to a newer film that really does retain the aesthetic of classic-era film noir, in terms of both the cinematography and bleak fatalism. Some good examples are Masahiro Shinoda's Pale Flower, Roman Polanski's Chinatown, Lawrence Kasdan's Body Heat, Ridley Scott's Blade Runner, William Friedkin's To Live and Die in L.A., Erik Skjoldbjærg's Insomnia, and Ridley Scott's The Counselor. I do think that the term is thrown around too often, though.

Earlier this year I watched Neil Jordan's film The Good Thief (a remake of Melville's Bob le flambeur) on Netflix, and was rather surprised that Netflix's description of it referred to it as "neo-noir". I suspect that some people use the term as a fancier synonym for "crime drama". Both the Melville and Jordan versions are about as noir as either version of The Thomas Crown Affair.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by HD_Aficionado

Hey experts. I'm currently debating with myself whether I should buy The Human Condition on DVD or not. It's quite pricy and every other week I hear about releases I never expected to see on Blu-ray. So, question to you folks: what are the chances this epos gets a release on Blu-ray by criterion (or anybody else for that matter)?

Get it. It's a terrific three-part film, arguably Kobayashi's masterwork.

[StLouisRibs]

Originally Posted by HD_Aficionado

Hey experts. I'm currently debating with myself whether I should buy The Human Condition on DVD or not. It's quite pricy and every other week I hear about releases I never expected to see on Blu-ray. So, question to you folks: what are the chances this epos gets a release on Blu-ray by criterion (or anybody else for that matter)?

I dunno. An HD Master does exist (it sits on Hulu, looking totally gorgeous but sadly inaccesible to overseas people such as yourself) but I don't imagine the master was done in 2 or 4K so can easily be improved upon if they wanted to put more than a minimal effort into it.

Have we ever had a big box-set release that was complete unexpected? IIRC the answer is no. So if it is being upgraded in the near future I feel like we'd know.

[Scarface32]

I wish they would release the other four Beatles movies. They already have A Hard Days Night, now they just need: Help!, Let It Be, Magical Mystery Tour, and Yellow Submarine.

[L.A. Guy]

Originally Posted by octagon

What about The Lion in Winter?

Bingo!

[Elvis]

Originally Posted by Scarface32

I wish they would release the other four Beatles movies. They already have A Hard Days Night, now they just need: Help!, Let It Be, Magical Mystery Tour, and Yellow Submarine.

Will never happen as long as Paul McCartney is alive.

[Scarface32]

Originally Posted by Elvis

Will never happen as long as Paul McCartney is alive.

Out of the five, Help! is my favorite. I'd settle with just a Criterion release of that one.

[silverlakephil]

Originally Posted by Scarface32

I wish they would release the other four Beatles movies. They already have A Hard Days Night, now they just need: Help!, Let It Be, Magical Mystery Tour, and Yellow Submarine.

It's was released two years ago.

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Yello...Blu-ray/40689/

[Scarface32]

Originally Posted by silverlakephil

It's was released two years ago.

I'm pretty sure it's OOP though.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Scarface32

Out of the five, Help! is my favorite. I'd settle with just a Criterion release of that one.

It has a pretty decent release already:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Help-.../72979/#Review

Though Criterion did release it on laserdisc back in the day, around the same time as A Hard Day's Night.

[JHolliday]

Hey guys, new here and not sure if anyone's brought it up before. I love the Criterion release of Tie Me Up..and would LOVE to see an Almodovar est.

[Scarface32]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

24 hours. Just Criterion.com. 50% off MSRP. Free shipping over $50. Limited to stock on hand, once something sells out, no longer part of the sale. Criterion gives you a $50 gift certificate everytime you total $500 of cumulative purchases on their site. Usually very little advance warning of exactly when sales will be.

Does that mean this will be 50% off $124.95, and not 50% off $99.96?




Because I've wanted that for a while, but can't afford it

[ultlife2013]

Srp

[MikeZ.]

Originally Posted by Scarface32

Does that mean this will be 50% off $124.95, and not 50% off $99.96?




Because I've wanted that for a while, but can't afford it

Yes, that's exactly what it means. I had that box, and sold it. Just wanted to hear the exclusive commentary on Easy Rider.

Amazon has it for $69.99 NOW : http://www.amazon.com/America-Lost-F...s=715515064415

Or $66.44 & Free shipping : http://www.ebay.com/itm/America-Lost...item5d425fa6ba

[Scarface32]

Originally Posted by MikeZ.

Yes, that's exactly what it means. I had that box, and sold it. Just wanted to hear the exclusive commentary on Easy Rider.

Amazon has it for $69.99 NOW : http://www.amazon.com/America-Lost-F...s=715515064415

That's actually the only reason I want it, Criterion doesn't sell Easy Rider on it's own. I wish Criterion would just release that one separate, I'd get it in a heartbeat.

[MikeZ.]

Originally Posted by Scarface32

That's actually the only reason I want it, Criterion doesn't sell Easy Rider on it's own. I wish Criterion would just release that one separate, I'd get it in a heartbeat.

Everything is the same as the 2009 release, except for that commentary.

How about as a standalone from the box ? : http://www.ebay.com/itm/Easy-Rider-C...item19f28cfa0b

Another : http://www.ebay.com/itm/EASY-RIDER-B...item1e90cf5b16

[Oblivion138]

The BBS set is fantastic.

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

Decent story but IMO the film seems dated. I also don't see any replay value for it.

I don't see how a documentary about an innocent man sentenced to life in prison can ever become "dated." Unless we achieve perfect justice in the world, which seems very unlikely.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by JHolliday

Hey guys, new here and not sure if anyone's brought it up before. I love the Criterion release of Tie Me Up..and would LOVE to see an Almodovar est.

Welcome

You are the first one that I have noticed mention Almodovar's film (unfortunately there are more posts about Eraserhead, which is overrated in my opinion).

I just recently purchased the blu-ray and plan to watch it this weekend. More Almodovar would be great; he is one of the few directors whose films that I have seen I have enjoyed. Just recently I watched The Skin I Live In; it was fantastic, a sci-fi Hitchcock-like film. There is a scene straight out of one of my favorite paintings The Rokeby Venus by Velazquez.