The Criterion Collection

[TJS_Blu]

Big news for the multi-region player folks... Abel Gance’s ‘NAPOLEON’ to receive nationwide theatrical and home entertainment releases

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by TJS_Blu

Big news for the multi-region player folks... Abel Gance’s ‘NAPOLEON’ to receive nationwide theatrical and home entertainment releases

Fantastic news, I remember Criterion talked about that film on a wexner talk, so I assume there is a big possibility for them releasing it in the future.

That article doesn't mention anything about the superwide format (Polyvision) though, not sure how that translates to home release in blu-ray.

[JJJ225]

I saw Napoleon several years ago and remember not loving it. It was a very crappy VHS copy though. I'd be interested in revisiting.

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by JJJ225

I saw Napoleon several years ago and remember not loving it. It was a very crappy VHS copy though. I'd be interested in revisiting.

I saw it at the Royal Festival in 2013 and consider it to be one of the great cinema experiences of my life. The sheer scale and spectacle of it all was literally overwhelming by the end of the movie; there weren't a dry eye amongst my group. I fear it'll be nigh on impossible to replicate outside of those surroundings tho.

[CriterionBlues]

Originally Posted by SkyAntoine

I've watched very few Criterions that I didn't like or greatly appreciate. Other than some of the the artsy Frampton and Brakhage shorts I've only dipped below 7/10 a few times. (A certain Japanese artist release in 2015 was much, much lower.)
I'd hate to think I'm sinking this much money in completely average films.

Hmm, I think I know what film you're talking about. I'm watching it again right now. I wish I was watching Sharkboy and LavaGirl.

I'm with you. It is a rarity for me to dislike a Criterion release with a passion. I've seen a good portion of the collection and only a handful were lower than 6. Most are in the 7-8 range.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

Fantastic news, I remember Criterion talked about that film on a wexner talk, so I assume there is a big possibility for them releasing it in the future.

That article doesn't mention anything about the superwide format (Polyvision) though, not sure how that translates to home release in blu-ray.

My question as well. 4.00:1 is pretty wide for a 16x9 TV.

[TJS_Blu]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

That article doesn't mention anything about the superwide format (Polyvision) though, not sure how that translates to home release in blu-ray.

Great question. I'm thinking about those redonkulous curved-screen displays and thinking they may have a use after all.

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by TJS_Blu

Great question. I'm thinking about those redonkulous curved-screen displays and thinking they may have a use after all.

There's the Cinerama releases by Flicker Alley, but those are 2.59:1.

From what I just read, it appears only the last reel of the film used the 4.00:1 format, everything else in the usual format 1.33:1

[jw007]

I just got back from the arthouse theater and saw Anomalisa and man, what a trip.

Charlie Kaufman is brilliant and I wish more of his stuff was in the Criterion Collection, but wheww, this movie was pretty subtle to say the least. It borrowed a lot from Being John Malkovich, as well as Adaptation and maybe even a bit of Synecdoche, NY.

I mean, there were some laugh out loud scenes here, and some very bizarre and uncomfortable, but this was definitely a good social commentary on modern society. A few elements in the film felt like they could have come straight out of a Haruki Murakami novel too.

David Thewlis (Naked) is one of my favorite actors, and I thoroughly enjoyed "hearing" him in this film, and the best part was, myself and 3 friends got in for free because the girl working the booth knew my friend Marc and let us in. I'm happy I didn't have to pay to watch it!

[Polaroid]

This is for Ray, not Criterion related but when I saw I was devastated...

http://deadline.com/2016/01/top-gun-...ng-1201691848/



You never know... Criterion could grab it up for its 'What were they thinking' release lol

[pedromvu]

Not sure when this happened but I think not long ago, noticed Criterion added the following in HD to Hulu:

A Short Film About Killing
A Short Film About Love
No End
The Scar
Camera Buff

Not sure if they will end up releasing all or an eclipse, I guess the first two should come packaged with the inevitable release of Dekalog.

With the ones they already released, that pretty much covers his entire filmography excluding TV movies and his first which seems pretty hard to find.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Here are the packaging photos for Gilda.

[Show spoiler]

I can't wait to put that Gilda leaflet poster on my wall of my office.

I figure that, with a reasonably-priced rock hammer from a local gem shop, I'll be able to tunnel through the wall by chipping away at the stone a little bit at a time each day. Since the tunnel will be behind the Gilda poster, my supervisor and the district manager won't notice a thing. I'll simply hide the pebbles in my pockets to empty out in the work parking lot during lunch break.
One day, my supervisor will walk into my office to ask me about an environmental inspection report, and he'll wonder, "Where did he go?" By then, I'll already be across the border into Mexico. Ahhh...Zihuatanejo...right by the Pacific Ocean.

[Ausjdm]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

Catching the end of Mulholland Drive, which is playing on HBO again. And all I can keep thinking to myself is, "God, I love Naomi Watts."

Should anything ever happen to Sabertooth, I'd gladly fly out to comfort her.

Amen to that lol.

Kinda strange I remember I saw Muholland Dr. In the theater remembering that was the first time seeing on the screen Watts and Harring. Watts became a Oscar level actor and Harring I don't think I've ever seen again.. It parallels the movie.

[SkyAntoine]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

This is for Ray, not Criterion related but when I saw I was devastated...

http://deadline.com/2016/01/top-gun-...ng-1201691848/



You never know... Criterion could grab it up for its 'What were they thinking' release lol

I thought the same when I saw this online last night. It reminded me that I still haven't cracked open my copy of Top Gun 3D. I hear you actually feel like the volleyball is coming right at you.

For Criterion related...
I am about 30 minutes from finishing the 3rd Samurai Trilogy film. All the elements were there for this to be exceptional to me, but I think I'm going to be a tad disappointed. I'm still waiting on the final fight scene so hopefully it finishes on a strong note.

Biopic, Mifune, cinematography...all were superb. However, they have come across a little dry to me at times. At the end of the first movie, I thought this was going down the Count of Monte Cristo route of enlightenment through knowledge. More action would have been nice, too. Samurai Trilogy directed by Michael Bay would have been awesome!

[shadedpain4]

I don't know if anyone in these parts had been interested in the first volume of the Martin Scorsese Masterpieces of Polish Cinema blu-ray box set, but it looks like Milestone will be selling some additional copies here. It seems like If you join their mailing list, they will send out info when more copies are available.

It's a bit pricey at $169.95 (although no tax and free shipping), but it doesn't look like there will be many chances to get them (they only sold 90 in North America initially) and it will go nicely next to your WCF box set(s)

[obscurelabel]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

I saw it [Abel Gance's Napoleion] at the Royal Festival in 2013 and consider it to be one of the great cinema experiences of my life. The sheer scale and spectacle of it all was literally overwhelming by the end of the movie; there weren't a dry eye amongst my group. I fear it'll be nigh on impossible to replicate outside of those surroundings tho.

I saw this at the Fabulous Fox Theater in Atlanta in Atlanta in May 1981 (I have my ticket stub somewhere but don't remember the exact date) when it was on a national tour. Carmine Coppola conducted his score with a full orchestra and the Fox's "Mighty Mo" Moller organ (cost $42,000 in 1929 dollars!). It was the greatest movie experience of my life. Not just the Polyvision finale, everything up to that point was great also. But the finale was spectacular, magnificent, grandiose, etc. At the end the entire audience spontaneously jumped to their feet and applauded.

Thank goodness Gance was still alive at this time (in his 90s) and was able to see his film receive worldwide acclaim. Thanks to Kevin Brownlow for his unbelievable six decade effort to restore this staggeringly impressive work of art.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by SkyAntoine

I thought the same when I saw this online last night. It reminded me that I still haven't cracked open my copy of Top Gun 3D. I hear you actually feel like the volleyball is coming right at you.

For Criterion related...
I am about 30 minutes from finishing the 3rd Samurai Trilogy film. All the elements were there for this to be exceptional to me, but I think I'm going to be a tad disappointed. I'm still waiting on the final fight scene so hopefully it finishes on a strong note.

Biopic, Mifune, cinematography...all were superb. However, they have come across a little dry to me at times. At the end of the first movie, I thought this was going down the Count of Monte Cristo route of enlightenment through knowledge. More action would have been nice, too. Samurai Trilogy directed by Michael Bay would have been awesome!

They need a top gun 4D where an actual plane crashes into me and kills me and puts me out my misery of having to live in a world that has top gun in existence.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

This is for Ray, not Criterion related but when I saw I was devastated...

http://deadline.com/2016/01/top-gun-...ng-1201691848/



You never know... Criterion could grab it up for its 'What were they thinking' release lol

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by SkyAntoine

I'm having the most difficult time getting through Solaris. It is such a slow burn that it keeps putting me to sleep each night. I doze off and keep going back trying to rewatch scenes. I could have watched Berlin Alexanderplatz in the amount of time I have invested in this film.

I like the mood Tarkovsky creates with the movie. I'm interested...then I'm asleep.

Anybody else have specific movies that do this to you?

I've been thinking a lot about Berlin Alexanderplatz the last few days.

As a newly formed Fassbinder groupie I'm intrigued by it a great deal.

That being said, it might very well be the most intimidating blind buy in the Criterion catalog.

...a 15 hour German television series on DVD.

Paying $50 for that is about as rationale as Indiana Jones taking the leap of faith at the end of The Last Crusade.

Anyone here have strong thoughts about it?

[llj]

Berlin Alexanderplatz used to cost $120 back in the day dude...

$50 is in the neighbourhood of what I usually pay for an anime series or TV blu ray sets...

Some people find BA challenging to watch and some find it a pleasure. Like most Fassbinder, I personally think it takes a while to get going, but when it does, you're really invested.