The Criterion Collection

[DaBargainHunta]

Originally Posted by Bronson13

This Bull Durham hate confuses me.... people are acting like they just put Angels in the Outfield into the collection.

Originally Posted by Brad1963

I don't get it either. The film has been considered a contemporary classic and holds a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. Film snobs I guess.

Because some people love to out-snob each other.

Personally, I think The Sandlot belongs in the Collection.

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by bluesparrow

You guys are right about baseball movies. There's something kind of mythic and ethereal about baseball that lends itself well to movies. Field of Dreams, Moneyball, The Natural, Bull Durham, Eight Men Out.

I would not mind a Criterion release of Damn Yankees one little bit.

[StarDestroyer52]

Originally Posted by bluesparrow

You guys are right about baseball movies. There's something kind of mythic and ethereal about baseball that lends itself well to movies. Field of Dreams, Moneyball, The Natural, Bull Durham, Eight Men Out.

I also add Pride of the Yankees. That is screaming for a Blu release. Hopefully, Field of Dreams will enter the collection.

[DaBargainHunta]

Originally Posted by StarDestroyer52

I also add Pride of the Yankees.

I can't believe there's no Blu-ray of this yet. I can only hope it's because Criterion has the rights and they're sitting on it for some unknown reason.

[mja345]

A great baseball film is the late 80s HBO movie "Long Gone" with William Petersen and Virginia Madsen. It never received a DVD, but it's a real gem. A real shame it may never even get a DVD release, let alone a BD. That and "North Dallas Forty" are two of my favorite sports films of all-time. Paramount needs to get off their asses and either release "North Dallas Forty" and "The Bad News Bears" themselves or license them out. Very frustrating that they aren't out on BD.

Also, "When We Were Kings", as mentioned earlier, would be a great addition to CC.

[The Great Owl]

Most of my favorite sports movies are spoken for already by other labels. Breaking Away, Vision Quest, etc. I'm all good for a Criterion Blu-ray of Bull Durham, though, and I would also welcome Field of Dreams.

The Dietrich & von Sternberg in Hollywood set is the July title that really gets a "squee" out of me, but I'll probably grab most of the others as well. It's an incredible strong month of announcements.

[Abdrewes]

If Criterion had balls it would release a Fast Break/Blue Chips box set just cuz.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by bluesparrow

You guys are right about baseball movies. There's something kind of mythic and ethereal about baseball that lends itself well to movies. Field of Dreams, Moneyball, The Natural, Bull Durham, Eight Men Out.

I'm not a huge baseball fan but it does make a great backdrop for movies.

Bang the Drum Slowly is another great baseball themed film that should be on blu-ray.

[BagheeraMcGee]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

If Criterion had balls it would release a Fast Break/Blue Chips box set just cuz.

This set you propose would not be complete without The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh.

[traths]

While we seem to be on the topic of sports movies, I would like to see The Longest Yard (the 1974 version with Burt Reynolds, not that God awful remake with Adam Sandler) in the Criterion Collection.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

I'm not a huge baseball fan but it does make a great backdrop for movies.

I'm not a sports fan in general, except when it comes to running.

I enjoy going to ball games in person with friends or attending Super Bowl parties and the like, but I've never watched a football, baseball, or basketball game while at home by myself. Not even once.

I do love quite a few sports movies, though. There's something about competition that is conducive to strong cinematic stories.

People can jeer at recent live-action Disney movies all they want, but The Rookie (2002) and McFarland, USA (2015) are both surprisingly good.

Downhill Racer is an amazing Criterion title if you're looking for a sports movie with a different sort of vibe.

I'd love to see Criterion issue a definitive edition of Rocky, although that title is pretty much spoken for.

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

I'm not a huge baseball fan but it does make a great backdrop for movies.

Bang the Drum Slowly is another great baseball themed film that should be on blu-ray.

FYI, Criterion's Golden Age of Television set contains the original televised version of Bang the Drum Slowly starring Paul Newman and Albert Salmi. That set also includes the original version of Requiem for a Heavyweight with Jack Palance.

[biglou114]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

I'm not a huge baseball fan but it does make a great backdrop for movies.

Bang the Drum Slowly is another great baseball themed film that should be on blu-ray.

I love the version with Paul Newman that's on Criterion's Golden Age of Television boxset.

[originalHDphantom]

Originally Posted by Bronson13

This Bull Durham hate confuses me.... people are acting like they just put Angels in the Outfield into the collection.

Don't be hatin' on Angels in the Outfield now! Been waiting many years for a blu-ray release to replace my non-anamorphic DVD. Hoping at least Disney Movie Club releases it in the near future.

[Meek12345]

Just want to say that I’m so happy that A Matter of Life and Death will finally be on blu-ray in July. I’m interested in the other titles as well, but if I could only pick up one Criterion in July it would be AMOLAD.

Since the discussion has changed to sports films, I would like to make a ridiculous suggestion:

Watch Shaolin Soccer! You will have a great time watching it if you don’t take it seriously at all.

Also, ESPN considers Poker a sport apparently, so I guess gambling movies could be included in this discussion. Some people say that Chess is a sport, so maybe movies like Searching for Bobby Fischer are relevant as well.

[Bolo Seagull]

As for sports films that deserve a Criterion edition, my man Warren Oates gets my vote.

[Bronson13]

Originally Posted by originalHDphantom

Don't be hatin' on Angels in the Outfield now! Been waiting many years for a blu-ray release to replace my non-anamorphic DVD. Hoping at least Disney Movie Club releases it in the near future.

No hate. I like the movie too. Also being an Angels fan I have to like it by principle. A lot of big actors getting their start in that movie.

The one BIG gripe I’ve always had with it is how the players were shockingly bad to the point you’re scratching your head how they made it to the MLB. I hate when they do that with kid baseball movies when they’re a bad team. Little Big League is a good example on how to do it. They’re a bad team but they look like Major League players.

[deepbreathsanddeath]

The only baseball film I'm hopeful will get a release is "Everybody Wants Some!!". If they got the oscar winning and universally praised "Boyhood" (not that I share the enthusiasm), I think it's safe to say they'll be working on Linklaters follow up film. One of my favourite movies in recent years and I'm dying for a selection of Criterion supplements.

[peschi]

as sports film goes, Chariots of Fire is still my favorite.

[taymo016]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Why would a Hollywood studio be interested in pushing a film into Criterion or any other boutique label's hands? I can understand "You can't have this" but not "You have to take this if you want that". Maybe someone at Criterion is a fan of Bull Durham and wants to take advantage of a 4K restoration. I sometimes wonder about the choices that Arrow makes but methinks people on this thread try to read too much into Criterion's catalog just because it features spine numbers and they feel obliged to collect them. Just get the ones you want and ignore what you don't, hey this way maybe you can introduce your hot-dog chomping sports fan neighbor Joe to the wonders of <awed tone> "The Collection"

It's MGM. I can see them trying to squeeze some extra money out of a situation.

Originally Posted by Brad1963

Bull Durham was a well received film that has aged well and remains beloved by many. There is room for it in the Criterion collection.

Let me be clear – No hate coming from me. Bull Durham is a very good film that has a place in the collection. In fact, I think any film can make a case for being in the collection. I was just trying to address other people’s misgivings about the new addition.