2014 Bangs and Whimpers

[Wireduck1]

As we reach that point in the year when pre-orders for November and December are being locked into schedule, I’d like to ask what are 2014’s disappointments and highlights, blu-ray wise, for you?

For me there have been some great announcements for classic TV shows on Blu Ray such as, ‘Twin Peaks’, ‘The Sopranos’, and 1960’s shows ‘Batman’ and ‘The Avengers’ (Tea drinking not tights wearing). There’s still some hope holding out for ‘The X-Files’ making the end of 2014 deadline, but it isn’t looking good for this set, yet again.

Some distributors, such as Kino, have really come to the fore this year, and BFI/ Eureka have continued to release some great European silent era classics such as ‘Faust’ and ‘The Cabinet of Caligari’.

Personally I think Warner Brothers hold a special place in my contempt as they continue to release classic catalogue titles like precious blood from a pile of well-protected stones. All in all it has been another bad year for film noir fans with barely a handful of titles released, albeit wonderful ones, such as ‘Out of the past’, ‘Gilda’, ‘Lady from Shanghai,’ and ‘The Killers’ (From Carlotta). Let’s hope the 2015 release schedule includes more Noir and someone remembers there were films staring a guy named Bogart?

One big question perennially remains: When will James Cameron ever get his thumb out of his Avatar and release ‘True Lies’ and ‘The Abyss’ on blu ray? (‘Soon’ someone cries). Also what happened to the promised Blake Edwards ‘Pink Panther’ box set of 2013, 2014??

On the positive (and thanks for releasing) side: ‘Point Blank’, ‘Persona’, ‘Performance’, ‘Get Carter’, ‘Kingpin’, ‘What’s new Pussycat’, The Train’, ‘Dead men don’t wear plaid’, ‘UHF’, ‘Thief’, all the German release Jess Franco’s, ‘The Clint Eastwood’ and ‘Spielberg Collections’: Great for all these and more to finally surface. Are there others that you had held out hope for seeing on blu ray this year?

[Scottie]

The Criterion Collection MURDERED it this year with their releases and we haven't even seen December's line-up yet.

All That Heaven Allows, L'Avventura, Blue Is The Warmest Color, Breaking The Waves, La Dolce Vita, L'Eclisse, The Essential Jacques Demy, The Great Beauty, A Hard Day's Night, The Hidden Fortress, Insomnia, It Happened One Night, Like Someone In Love, Love Streams, My Darling Clementine, Persona, Picnic At Hanging Rock, Red River, Tess, Thief, Tootsie, Y Tu Mamá También, and the list goes on.

Also, let's not forget the regular releases of Double Indemnity, In The Heat Of The Night, The Lady From Shanghai, Out Of The Past, Touch Of Evil, and The Women.

[maely]

Top three so far:

Ace in the Hole -- Criterion
Persona -- Criterion
Out of the Past -- Warner Archives

But there are still some luscious Criterions to be had between now and the end of the year...!
I'm probably most excited about My Darling Clementine.

All things considered, Persona is probably my vote for release of the year. This is simply one of the five or ten greatest films I've ever seen.

[Wireduck1]

Originally Posted by iScottie

The Criterion Collection MURDERED it this year with their releases and we haven't even seen December's line-up yet.

All That Heaven Allows, L'Avventura, Blue Is The Warmest Color, Breaking The Waves, La Dolce Vita, L'Eclisse, The Essential Jacques Demy, The Great Beauty, A Hard Day's Night, The Hidden Fortress, Insomnia, It Happened One Night, Like Someone In Love, Love Streams, My Darling Clementine, Persona, Picnic At Hanging Rock, Red River, Tess, Thief, Tootsie, Y Tu Mamá También, and the list goes on.

Also, let's not forget the regular releases of Double Indemnity, In The Heat Of The Night, The Lady From Shanghai, Out Of The Past, Touch Of Evil, and The Women.

I agree Criterion have always done a fantastic job and 2014 looks like being their best year yet.