The Criterion Collection

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

All of them

Originally Posted by dwk

As many as possible.

very well.

have fun.

but you guys have proven my point about CC being in a money grab phase.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Yes. I've seen it projected in 35 mm.

good film? great film? what's your take?

[Cremildo]

I'm down for

[Show spoiler]One Eyed Jacks

and

[Show spoiler]Dreams

.

[jhiggy23]

I'm curious as to whether anyone thinks we'll get some Bela Tarr in the future? I'm not sure who holds the rights, but for years I've thought some of his films would be shoo-ins, to no avail.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by iScottie

The main question now is: what film will be upgraded?

My guess was Elevator to the Gallows, but it's possible this might be it. Last November there were 4 titles plus a box set, which is the same configuration we have at the moment. One of those four was an upgrade (Ikiru) however, so I guess we'll see.

[joie]

I wonder whether the external accessibility of these people pages is indicative of a security problem with criterion's site. Some people would build those pages on an intranet, then make them externally accessible when ready, when there is an externally accessible page that links to them.

[Cremildo]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

very well.

have fun.

but you guys have proven my point about CC being in a money grab phase.

Some of the greatest films ever made are chanbara. Ever heard of The Seven Samurai, Harakiri, Sanjuro, Yojimbo, Samurai Rebellion etc.? They're only the most well-known ones among many. I don't see how Criterion releasing other titles of the genre is merely a "money-grabbing" move. Especially considering it's a genre that is mostly defunct nowadays.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

very well.

have fun.

but you guys have proven my point about CC being in a money grab phase.

Why is it a money grab? Isn't it possible they just value the genre more than you do?

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

My guess was Elevator to the Gallows, but it's possible this might be it. Last November there were 4 titles plus a box set, which is the same configuration we have at the moment. One of those four was an upgrade (Ikiru) however, so I guess we'll see.

Elevator to the Gallows would be

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

very well.

have fun.

but you guys have proven my point about CC being in a money grab phase.

I'm not entirely sure you have a point. I mean, Criterion is a business, and businesses tend to want to make as much money as possible. And if there's demand for a certain type of film, then Criterion being a smart business would meet that demand with a proper supply. So your point is basically Economics 101...?

And please stop acting like these occasional titles are some how dominating Criterion's focus. We have what? Zatoichi, Lady Snowblood, and Lone Wolf and Cub over a 3 year span. Wow! Criterion is going crazy with the samurai stuff!!111. Look at it in the grand scale of everything else they're putting out, and you'll see it's a drop in the bucket. They have always put out a great mix of popular, and niche titles. That hasn't changed.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Cremildo

Some of the greatest films ever made are chanbara. Ever heard of The Seven Samurai, Harakiri, Sanjuro, Yojimbo, Samurai Rebellion etc.? They're only the most well-known ones. I don't see how Criterion releasing other titles of the genre is merely a "money-grabbing" move.

chan-who?

those films are great. they've already been released, though. I've seen the highlighted ones and I wouldn't call 2 out of 3 of those pulp-y in the slightest. knowing and liking Kobayashi, I doubt I'd call Samurai Rebellion that either.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

good film? great film? what's your take?

Top-shelf western.

[zombivish]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

very well.

have fun.

but you guys have proven my point about CC being in a money grab phase.

Just curious how these films - well regarded, influential, chock full of fun, inventive filmmaking - can just be consigned as a "money grab"
Realistically they're of limited appeal - a (potentially pricy) foreign language box set of material that the wider public isn't really aware of.

Is it because you see the films as frivolous?
It's not like Criterion hasn't put out fun, genre fare in the past.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I'm not entirely sure you have a point. I mean, Criterion is a business, and businesses tend to want to make as much money as possible. And if there's demand for a certain type of film, then Criterion being a smart business would meet that demand with a proper supply. So your point is basically Economics 101...?

And please stop acting like these occasional titles are some how dominating Criterion's focus. We have what? Zatoichi, Lady Snowblood, and Lone Wolf and Cub over a 3 year span. Wow! Criterion is going crazy with the samurai stuff!!111. Look at it in the grand scale of everything else they're putting out, and you'll see it's a drop in the bucket. They have always put out a great mix of popular, and niche titles. That hasn't changed.

it isn't just the samurai stuff. every month this year has had popular titles released.

[Show spoiler]Punch Drunk Love

will be a big seller from this month, too. I understand the need to do that. it just seems that it is more frequent that it has been in the past.

and I don't see it as a drop in the bucket when the last three years have brought no Bunuel, no Tarkovsky, only a lesser Almodovar, etc.

[Cremildo]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

chan-who?

Chanbara. Japanese sword-fighting movies.

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

those films are great. they've already been released, though.

Yes. That doesn't mean Criterion should stop there or even take years to release the next.

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I've seen the highlighted ones and I wouldn't call 2 out of 3 of those pulp-y in the slightest. knowing and liking Kobayashi, I doubt I'd call Samurai Rebellion that either.

I had no idea there was a division between "pulpy" and "non-pulpy" Japanese sword-fighting movies or that one kind is more valuable than the other. To each his own.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by zombivish

Just curious how these films - well regarded, influential, chock full of fun, inventive filmmaking - can just be consigned as a "money grab"
Realistically they're of limited appeal - a (potentially pricy) foreign language box set of material that the wider public isn't really aware of.

Is it because you see the films as frivolous?
It's not like Criterion hasn't put out fun, genre fare in the past.

well regarded? are Lady Snowblood or

[Show spoiler]Lone Wolf & Cub

on the S&S or the TSPDT top 1000? not a sarcastic retort. I honestly don't know. The latter has a tomatometer score of 71%. from what I've read, I don't know that the latter is inventive or influential either. LS influenced Tarantino, right? I'm probably in the minority in that I thought the first Kill Bill was a bore while the second was quite good.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

it isn't just the samurai stuff. every month this year has had popular titles released.

[Show spoiler]Punch Drunk Love

will be a big seller from this month, too. I understand the need to do that. it just seems that it is more frequent that it has been in the past.

and I don't see it as a drop in the bucket when the last three years have brought no Bunuel, no Tarkovsky, only a lesser Almodovar, etc.

You only mentioned "pulpy samurai films", now you're just lumping popular titles into your original argument. Again, that's business. I doubt if you ran the company you'd turn down opportunities to release those popular titles. I'm pretty sure media sales are not as strong as they used to be, which is why we are seeing more popular titles, and perhaps why Criterion has branched out to the UK as a new source of revenue.

If they could get by on just the most niche of titles, then fine, but if it takes them selling a a few thousand copies of Dr Strangelove, for them to release more niche stuff then we should all be embracing them. We know Criterion has Stalker, and I believe Almodovar said a lot (if not all) of his films are getting a Criterion release, so just be patient and I'm sure your particular wishes will be answered soon enough

[tenia]

Originally Posted by iScottie

The main question now is: what film will be upgraded?

Z.
Freaking Z.

[Alex82]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

[Show spoiler]One-eyed Jacks

is the biggest news of the month, imo.

Agreed.

Totally fits the bill for cult movie that needs a proper home video release.

Considering all the turmoil behind the making of the film

[Show spoiler](Peckinpah fired, Kubrick fired, Brando and the studio clashing, leading to Brando's one and only effort as a director), I think it's a very good western.

Brando and Karl Malden had a great chemistry together, Pina Pellicer was adorable in this, I think it has a solid story...

I'm just glad they're rescuing this movie, it really needs a nice Blu-ray after all these years. Cult movies need love too!

[ShellOilJunior]

A lot of those films come from Toho which has been very very good to Criterion over the years.