The Criterion Collection

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by nitin

I have been wanting/hoping for a Von Sternberg/Dietrich set for ages! If Criterion don't do it, I hope Arrow Academy can.

Right there with you. "3 Silent Classics by Josef von Sternberg" would be very good, but a Dietrich set (sans The Blue Angel as Kino already released it) would be great.

And thanks for bringing up Dietrich. The wonderful Destry Rides Again is still on sale at Amazon.de and it's about time I pick it up.

[Killer Meteor]

The Most Dangerous Game is on Blu-ray, from Flicker Alley.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by malakaheso

Mizo leaves me a bit cold for some reason.

I have an electric blanket on my couch. It really helps.

[Gerby]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

The Pre-code years are my favorite era of films so I also wish they would get more releases on Blu. Lot of good films, especially Warner Brothers titles, that would be perfect for Criterion.

Baby Face or Three On A Match would be amazing to have on blu. Essential pre code movies.

[jshaide]

Originally Posted by Gerby

Baby Face or Three On A Match would be amazing to have on blu. Essential pre code movies.

I'd easily grab those, and also make claims for NIGHT NURSE, SAFE IN HELL, I AM A FUGITIVE FROM A CHAIN GANG, and, of course, FREAKS (the latter I feel will come eventually. . . ).

[StarDestroyer52]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Criterion's way behind on this front for sure. A Lubitsch, Von Sternberg, Mamoulian, Busby Berkeley or Mae West set would do wonders in putting them back in the mix however. Or even just The Most Dangerous Game. It's a shame that film still isn't on bluray.

Agreed. Especially since the Von Sternberg 3 Silent Classics Criterion DVD went out of print. I really love for Marlene Dietrich's early films(Shanghai Express)directed by Sternberg to be released on BluRay. Mae West is long overdue on BluRay.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by mja345

Tarantino's a talented dude, but he's come of age in a time when there haven't been many other singular filmmakers to really foster a sense of competition. So, I think Tarantino has really fallen in love with his own work and hasn't attempted to stretch his boundaries the way many filmmakers of the past have as their careers progress. "The Hateful Eight" was the first film where I palpably detected a sense of Tarantino falling in love with his own dialogue because there was nothing to distract from the Tarantino-ness of the film. It's essentially structured like a play, so the dialogue is much more at the forefront. Most people I know love "The Hateful Eight", so I'm very much in the minority. It just didn't work for me.

He came of age in one of the most prolific times for new filmmakers: Linklater, Soderbergh, Fincher, Aronofsky, Wes Anderson, Rodriguez, Alexander Payne, Sofia Coppola, Kevin Smith, David O'Russell, and their success helped push other established people into the spotlight, like Jarmusch, Sayles, Spike Lee, etc.

He's always been in love with his own dialogue to the degree that it's shown ever since Pulp Fiction. But to say he hasn't had "competition" from "auteurs" during his time is ridiculous.

[mja345]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

He came of age in one of the most prolific times for new filmmakers: Linklater, Soderbergh, Fincher, Aronofsky, Wes Anderson, Rodriguez, Alexander Payne, Sofia Coppola, Kevin Smith, David O'Russell, and their success helped push other established people into the spotlight, like Jarmusch, Sayles, Spike Lee, etc.

He's always been in love with his own dialogue to the degree that it's shown ever since Pulp Fiction. But to say he hasn't had "competition" from "auteurs" during his time is ridiculous.

Yeah, there have been plenty of excellent filmmakers during Tarantino's career. You're right. I would just say that there aren't many who have had the sustained critical and commercial success of Tarantino, which could be said about any era, thus he's really fallen in love with his own work and hasn't evolved that much as a filmmaker because he's seemingly figured, "Shit's working, why change?" In fact, Tarantino has devolved as a filmmaker IMO. I'm not saying there haven't been other excellent filmmakers in the last 25 years, just very few who have had this permanent honeymoon like Tarantino.

[joie]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Watched Ugetsu tonight. I don't understand the hype.

On the old criterion DVD the scene where they're out on the foggy water and meet another boat (ghost ship?) is so cool. I was disappointed that the Eureka! Blu-ray didn't look as good during that scene. It may have been a contrast issue, possibly.

Is it a ghost story? A time travel movie? I'll have to rewatch it and will try Criterion's disc.

[malakaheso]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

He came of age in one of the most prolific times for new filmmakers: Linklater, Soderbergh, Fincher, Aronofsky, Wes Anderson, Rodriguez, Alexander Payne, Sofia Coppola, Kevin Smith, David O'Russell, and their success helped push other established people into the spotlight, like Jarmusch, Sayles, Spike Lee, etc.

He's always been in love with his own dialogue to the degree that it's shown ever since Pulp Fiction. But to say he hasn't had "competition" from "auteurs" during his time is ridiculous.

Very few of those directors have a 'singular' style though, and even fewer did anything new/novel. Spike Lee and Jarmusch were already in the 'spotlight' before those directors you mentioned. Spike Lee peaked in the late 80's and early 90's and was the biggest 'indie', or at least non-mainstream, director in America before Tarantino came along.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Killer Meteor

The Most Dangerous Game is on Blu-ray, from Flicker Alley.

Oh wow! You're right. Thanks for the heads up.

[Lutz]

Originally Posted by StarDestroyer52

Agreed. Especially since the Von Sternberg 3 Silent Classics Criterion DVD went out of print. I really love for Marlene Dietrich's early films(Shanghai Express)directed by Sternberg to be released on BluRay. Mae West is long overdue on BluRay.

There is a new blu ray of BLONDE VENUS available from France.

[StarDestroyer52]

Originally Posted by joie

On the old criterion DVD the scene where they're out on the foggy water and meet another boat (ghost ship?) is so cool. I was disappointed that the Eureka! Blu-ray didn't look as good during that scene. It may have been a contrast issue, possibly.

Is it a ghost story? A time travel movie? I'll have to rewatch it and will try Criterion's disc.

It's kind of a ghost story. About the ethics of war, greed, the connection with the spiritual world, and the neglect of duty to family. I've kind of looked at Ugetsu as a part anti-war movie.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by jshaide

I'd easily grab those, and also make claims for NIGHT NURSE, SAFE IN HELL, I AM A FUGITIVE FROM A CHAIN GANG, and, of course, FREAKS (the latter I feel will come eventually. . . ).

Criterion should upgrade their Trouble In Paradise DVD to go along with the existing Design For Living BD. Two fun films.

On a slightly related note-Has Preston Sturges' The Miracle of Morgan's Creek been mentioned or hinted at as a CC release? I watched the Robert Osborne/Betty Hutton interview yesterday and both talked about how amazed they were that this risqué film managed to get through the Production Code approval process without much trouble.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by StarDestroyer52

It's kind of a ghost story. About the ethics of war, greed, the connection with the spiritual world, and the neglect of duty to family. I've kind of looked at Ugetsu as a part anti-war movie.

Those were my thoughts as well.

Both men were so hellbent on pursuing their own dreams that it cost themselves and their families everything.

[Doctor Jack]

Watched Thief today. Haven't seen it in years and forgot just how incredible the film is. The bluray is beautiful. PQ and AQ were superb.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by tenia

As for half assed restorations or using decade old masters, I dont see how anyone could defend BD releases using them.

Sure, it can be frustrating when favorites are released using anything less than freshly minted pristinely restored 4K masters but those 'half-assed' releases are often reasonable compromises. Even when pristine original materials are available, studios aren't swimming in cash these days and given the realities of the home video market they're understandably reluctant to throw large chunks of what cash they do have at restoring and remastering every title in their catalogs.

So yeah, I would love a white glove release of something like a Kiss Before Dying or The Verdict but in the meantime I'm pretty happy with the current releases.

I love Criterion and Arrow and Warner Archives and Eureka/MoC but there's a place for Kino's Studio Classics and Redemption lines too.

Hell, there's even a place for Mill Creek.

[MassiveMovieBuff]

Originally Posted by Doctor Jack

Watched Thief today. Haven't seen it in years and forgot just how incredible the film is. The bluray is beautiful. PQ and AQ were superb.

Yeah superb transfer. If only the new 4K Heat's disappointing transfer could've been just as great.

[Knaldskalle]

Originally Posted by octagon

there's even a place for Mill Creek: Hell

Fixed that for you.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

On a slightly related note-Has Preston Sturges' The Miracle of Morgan's Creek been mentioned or hinted at as a CC release? I watched the Robert Osborne/Betty Hutton interview yesterday and both talked about how amazed they were that this risqué film managed to get through the Production Code approval process without much trouble.

As far as I know, Criterion doesn't have any licensing arrangement with Paramount, who owns that film. And, unfortunately, Kino's arrangement with Paramount doesn't include titles that Paramount have released themselves on DVD (with they did with Miracle). If it's ever going to get out on Blu-ray, Olive Films seems like the best bet.

Which is too bad. It's a wonderful film. And as a Betty Hutton fan, it sucks that not one of her films has been released on Blu-ray. The best bet for that is if Warner Archive releases Annie Get Your Gun.