The Criterion Collection

[soarinsteven]

I watched The Life of Oharu for the first time, and it's another quietly powerful, and devastating depiction of the patriarchal society and the brutal culture of sexism and classism from Kenji Mizoguchi, my fave of the Japanese masters. Kinuyo Tanaka as the titular character is great at expressing both the resignation of her situation as well as fueling her with sneaky rebellion, and the harrowing struggle to hold on to her dignity despite experiencing one humiliating and heartbreaking situation after an other. I NEVER do blind buys, but considering the themes of the movie, and my love for the rest of the films Criterion has put out by Mizoguchi I felt this was as safe as a blind buy could get for me, and I was right. Phew

Oh, and I ordered The Third Man on Amazon. Let's see what happens lol

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by Fabs

That is my dream. Could you imagine an Eclipse set of films like Repast, Yearning, Scattered Clouds, Flowing, or Floating Clouds? I think it would be a contender for the best DVD set ever released.

Sadly, I don't think Criterion has plans to ever release a Naruse film again. For one, I'm pretty sure When a Woman Ascends the Stairs sold poorly and the other thing is that they probably see the market for his films as low. How else do you explain not releasing any of his films in 8 years. At least they could have released Floating Clouds, as it is considered by the Japanese to be one of their three greatest films.

Considering how many Japanese Eclipse sets they have released, and how many Naruse films they have the rights to, I still have hope. It might not sell as well as Late Ozu, or Postwar Kurosawa, but I think it could hold its own sales wise with the rest of the Japanese Eclipse offerings.

[Fabs]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

Considering how many Japanese Eclipse sets they have released, and how many Naruse films they have the rights to, I still have hope. It might not sell as well as Late Ozu, or Postwar Kurosawa, but I think it could hold its own sales wise with the rest of the Japanese Eclipse offerings.

True. I just hope it comes sooner, rather than later. Every release day I wait, and am disappointed. They haven't released a new Japanese or Asian film in a while, sans the Crime Ozu set.

I also really hope they foray into more Chinese film. Maybe Zhang Yimou or Jia Zhang-ke.

[Roninblues]

Originally Posted by oildude

I'm not the bragging type but I must confess my Sword of Doom is over 8-1/2

[Show spoiler]on my shelf.

BILLY LIAR or was than in SECONDS? BAD TIMING! That must be ALL THAT HEAVEN ALLOWS you though it sounds more like the ANTICHRIST and ARMAGEDON. Try THE BAKERY GIRL OF MONCEAU. She often falls for a BALLAD OF A SOLDIER. Hopefully you won't get THE BIG CHILL.

[TJS_Blu]

Originally Posted by Fabs

I also really hope they foray into more Chinese film. Maybe Zhang Yimou or Jia Zhang-ke.

Its like deja vu all over again.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by TJS_Blu

Its like deja vu all over again.

Are jokes about being hungry again an hour later in poor taste these days?

[Infernal King]

Originally Posted by TJS_Blu

Its like deja vu all over again.

Yeah. No way am I going down that path again. At least not in this thread.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Roninblues

BILLY LIAR or was than in SECONDS? BAD TIMING! That must be ALL THAT HEAVEN ALLOWS you though it sounds more like the ANTICHRIST and ARMAGEDON. Try THE BAKERY GIRL OF MONCEAU. She often falls for a BALLAD OF A SOLDIER. Hopefully you won't get THE BIG CHILL.

my umm.. whatever we call this, is called "Carlos the Criterion Thread Complainer"

Carlos awoke one announcement day morning with not only a seemingly insatiable Hunger, but with Great Expectations that Criterion would get their proverbial “heads out of their a##es and “release more David Lynch!”

As news of the new releases broke one by one, Missing from the slate was Carlos’s Magnificent Obsession. Meanwhile, 12 Angry Men pouted about the lack of booklets in new releases.

“Revanche, Criterion! Revanche!” he shouted in a faux German accent. As he lamented the fact that it was all a Grand Illusion, Carlos accepted defeat and proclaimed “I’ll be at Heaven’s Gate before Criterion ever releases such a Sweet Movie.”
“On second thought,” reconsidered Carlos, “Heaven Can Wait.”

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by Fabs

That is my dream. Could you imagine an Eclipse set of films like Repast, Yearning, Scattered Clouds, Flowing, or Floating Clouds? I think it would be a contender for the best DVD set ever released.

Sadly, I don't think Criterion has plans to ever release a Naruse film again. For one, I'm pretty sure When a Woman Ascends the Stairs sold poorly and the other thing is that they probably see the market for his films as low. How else do you explain not releasing any of his films in 8 years. At least they could have released Floating Clouds, as it is considered by the Japanese to be one of their three greatest films.

There was a Naruse Volume I box-set here in the UK, from Masters Of Cinema that includes Repast, Flowing and Sound Of The Mountain, as well as a 184 page booklet.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Naruse-Volume-Mountain-Flowing-Masters/dp/B000I5XN7O

Unfortunately it didn't sell very well on release, so there was never a Naruse Vol. II. The box-set now fetches an impressive asking price (used from £180, new from £399!).

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by octagon

Are jokes about being hungry again an hour later in poor taste these days?

"But you're dead! I saw you killed with Chinese death stars!"

"That's the trouble with your Chinese death stars. Half an hour later, you're alive again."

(The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.)

[Arch Stanton]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

. There aren't too many scores I can recall and hum in my head but this one (Vertigo, The Conversation are two others,) stays with me.

Really? I could think of hundreds.

[Roninblues]

Originally Posted by Fabs

True. I just hope it comes sooner, rather than later. Every release day I wait, and am disappointed. They haven't released a new Japanese or Asian film in a while, sans the Crime Ozu set.

I also really hope they foray into more Chinese film. Maybe Zhang Yimou or Jia Zhang-ke.

They released Eclipse Series 41: Kinoshita and World War II, in the last few months.

[Clare2904]

Originally Posted by Infernal King

The flash sale pandemonium might indeed be slowing down their response time. I'm only asking for input because I've never contacted Criterion before so I don't know how long it usually takes for a response. I'll wait until tomorrow before sending a follow up e-mail.

Did you send it to Claire ? claire@criterion.com

Also, in case you didn't already, attach photos of the damaged items. I always find it best to give them all the information in the first email then you don't have to start going back and forth. She will be able to see the damage and sort out the issue. Let them know if you want a replacement or refund too.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

There was a Naruse Volume I box-set here in the UK, from Masters Of Cinema that includes Repast, Flowing and Sound Of The Mountain, as well as a 184 page booklet.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Naruse-Volume-Mountain-Flowing-Masters/dp/B000I5XN7O

Unfortunately it didn't sell very well on release, so there was never a Naruse Vol. II. The box-set now fetches an impressive asking price (used from £180, new from £399!).

I cheerfully paid much less than the prices you've quoted (though much more than in print prices) for this set a few months back. Now to find an affordable copy of the BFI set...

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Arch Stanton

Really? I could think of hundreds.

How many times do you estimate that you've seen your favorite movies? Vertigo and The Third Man are #1 and #1A films of all time. I've probably seen them maybe 7 and 5 times, respectively. I think a lot of the most "memorable" scores have come from Hollywood. If I were to list some of the films I've never seen (think Hollywood blockbusters starting with Jaws onward,) I might be booed off this forum. The biggest gap in my viewing history.

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

I cheerfully paid much less than the prices you've quoted (though much more than in print prices) for this set a few months back. Now to find an affordable copy of the BFI set...

I paid £15 for it in an MoC sale shortly after it was released. I'm not actually much of a Naruse fan to be honest, and would happily trade or sell my copy, but it's got to the point where it's such a desirable item that I fear to attempt a sale would only invite trouble.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

I paid £15 for it in an MoC sale shortly after it was released. I'm not actually much of a Naruse fan to be honest, and would happily trade or sell my copy, but it's got to the point where it's such a desirable item that I fear to attempt a sale would only invite trouble.

Amazingly, right after my last post I found a new copy of the BFI set online for $65 shipped.

[mrjohnnyb]

Hiroshima, Mon Amour being released by Criterion on blu-ray (4K restoration) later this year!


https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=16317

[Fabs]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

Unfortunately it didn't sell very well on release, so there was never a Naruse Vol. II. The box-set now fetches an impressive asking price (used from £180, new from £399!).

That's why I think there hasn't been any Naruse releases in the UK or US since. They just don't think it will sell. Yet, you'd think that with all the popular and recent films they've released, they should have enough money where they can take a chance and release a set of rare films in a market that needs it.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by Fabs

That's why I think there hasn't been any Naruse releases in the UK or US since. They just don't think it will sell. Yet, you'd think that with all the popular and recent films they've released, they should have enough money where they can take a chance and release a set of rare films in a market that needs it.

I would think most of the expense comes from acquiring the rights, which has already been done based on what's on Hulu. The Eclipse set would just help them recoup those costs.