The Criterion Collection

[MifuneFan]

The transfer for M&C is pretty dated by today's standards and there's lots of room for improvement. I was hoping it would have gotten a re-release years back with at least a new encode. Not saying any of this is reason enough for a Criterion release though.

[Cholly]

Originally Posted by ravenus

As did every Wes Anderson film.

Didnt Master and Commander have a lot of extras on it though? I recall someone saying it was pretty extensive already (unless it was only the dvd), Wes Andersons stuff are all barebones until the Criterion releases.
And all of his stuff is still worthy of being on C

[Member-222782]

Originally Posted by critterdvd

This! From what I understand Criterion typically licenses their movies well in advance, sometimes even a couple of years before the discs are eventually released. For that reason I feel like we might see a few more FOX titles, but I doubt they will be getting anything "new" from them for some time.

I wonder if Criterion rushed to license a few Fox films before the Disney takeover took effect. Thinking about Von Ryan's Express. I can't imagine Disney making it easy for Criterion now, happily assisting with extras, searching for elements, etc.

I asked on another forum about The Element of Crime and someone said Von Trier is currently remastering a number of his films in Europe. At least I know an upgrade is on the horizon.

[WinterLand]

Originally Posted by jw007

Yes, Jeff Bridges is only in 2 films in the Criterion Collection (The Fisher King and The Last Picture Show), but he needs to be more ubiquitous.

I just got done watching Fearless, and man, that is one intense film about death. I can see how its a "one and done" type of movie for a lot of people, because once you've seen it once, you'll never want/have to see it again (but damn, Rosie Perez is a revelation in that film too).

You forgot "Heaven`s Gate"

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by SeanJoyce

It's generally believed that Criterion acquired those well before the Disney takeover.

So yes, in theory, it's possible if it was a title Criterion adopted a while back, but I wouldn't rely on that.

Why the demand for a Criterion release of Master and Commander anyways? It has a perfectly fine Blu-ray already. Wouldn't them allocating time and resources towards a film that's been marginalized in the home video market be more rewarding?

Is Master and Commander really a good enough film to deserve a Criterion release?

I think it falls squarely into the category of “good, but not great.”

A big budget studio film like that should be pretty dang special to warrant inclusion in the halls of the CC.

...imho.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Is Master and Commander really a good enough film to deserve a Criterion release?

I think it falls squarely into the category of “good, but not great.”

A big budget studio film like that should be pretty dang special to warrant inclusion in the halls of the CC.

...imho.

The film itself is good enough to deserve a Criterion release IMHO, but I'm also of the mind that it would be unnecessary.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

Is Master and Commander really a good enough film to deserve a Criterion release?

I think it falls squarely into the category of “good, but not great.”

A big budget studio film like that should be pretty dang special to warrant inclusion in the halls of the CC.

...imho.

It's a better film, and more worthy of a Criterion release, than several films that have already gotten Criterion releases. But then, any discussion like this comes down to a matter of different people having different opinions.

I'd personally love to see a Criterion edition of Master and Commander, as I do any release of theirs that supplants a previous studio-released edition. But with all of the things that they must have in the pipeline, I'd rather they focused on titles that aren't (or haven't been) on BD already.

[joy-division]

I would rather see The World according to Garp

[SeanJoyce]

I, personally, loathe these "is so-and-so good enough for a Criterion release?" or "does it meet Criterion standards?" questions.

Not only do they reek of elitism, they also ignore Criterion's mission statement of publishing important (not superior) classic and contemporary films.

Y'all need to accept and embrace the fact that films like Equinox, The Breakfast Club and The Princess Bride are "good enough" for Criterion's objective.

[Aclea]

Originally Posted by Cholly

Didnt Master and Commander have a lot of extras on it though? I recall someone saying it was pretty extensive already (unless it was only the dvd)

Only on the DVD. The second disc of extras were all dropped from the Blu.

[SeanJoyce]

Originally Posted by jayembee

I'd personally love to see a Criterion edition of Master and Commander, as I do any release of theirs that supplants a previous studio-released edition.

And why is that? Is there a magic elixir to be found in that Criterion branding?

[joy-division]

Originally Posted by SeanJoyce

I, personally, loathe these "is so-and-so good enough for a Criterion release?" or "does it meet Criterion standards?" questions.

Not only do they reek of elitism, they also ignore Criterion's mission statement of publishing important (not superior) classic and contemporary films.

Y'all need to accept and embrace the fact that films like Equinox, The Breakfast Club and The Princess Bride are "good enough" for Criterion's objective.

The Princess Bride should've come with Once upon a Deadpool as one of its extras

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Cholly

Didnt Master and Commander have a lot of extras on it though? I recall someone saying it was pretty extensive already (unless it was only the dvd), Wes Andersons stuff are all barebones until the Criterion releases.
And all of his stuff is still worthy of being on C

The existing blu-ray has only some deleted scenes and a pop-up trivia track. The bulk of the extensive extras (including a feature length docu and in-depth featurettes on the production and sound design, including some interactive ones) can only be found on a 2-DVD Collector's set which now appears to be going for a hefty price. Not saying it's not worth, since it came with a foldout map and other nice physical tat, but those extras were shot in HD and it would be great to see them as intended. I know people like to say "Weir's Australian movies are much better than...." but you only need to see the extras to know how enthusiastic and personally involved Weir was with the project. It's definitely not a case of him being a studio director for hire.

And non-Criterion Wes Anderson releases are NOT barebones (in fact Fantastic Mr. Fox had a good-sized making of on the Fox disc), but yes, The Criterion releases have more and longer supplements.

[Xtempo]

Tampopo is a mess of otherwise nice film. it is annoying in in its structure with some things seemingly random and not important to the main storyline. what pray tell was the importance of the corporate lunch scene? It is watachable and enjoyable even if there are the previous mention flaws. I'm glad I finally watched my copy since the Criterion sale.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Xtempo

Tampopo is a mess of otherwise nice film. it is annoying in in its structure with some things seemingly random and not important to the main storyline. what pray tell was the importance of the corporate lunch scene? It is watachable and enjoyable even if there are the previous mention flaws. I'm glad I finally watched my copy since the Criterion sale.

Tampopo is basically an ode to the joys of food and taste and expression of the individual through these faculties. The corporate lunch scene shows that the corporate honchos are so bent on conforming and appearing detached that all of them order the same bland kind of fare, even though they are in a speciality restaurant. But the assistant is a true gourmet, who even at the possible risk of appearing impertinent takes his chance at ordering a meal that satisfies his taste buds.

[Xtempo]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Tampopo is basically an ode to the joys of food and taste and expression of the individual through these faculties. The corporate lunch scene shows that the corporate honchos are so bent on conforming and appearing detached that all of them order the same bland kind of fare, even though they are in a speciality restaurant. But the assistant is a true gourmet, who even at the possible risk of appearing impertinent takes his chance at ordering a meal that satisfies his taste buds.

I just wish they stuck to the one storyline. maybe cause I was heavily invested in that and wanted to see more of her becoming a chef and her growth as well as the other characters like the contractor, limo driver, the old man and the truckers.

[ravenus]

^While there is a main story, the film is less about the individual characters. Tampopo is a portmanteau of episodes where a different facet of the culture of food is explored in each.

[Xtempo]

Originally Posted by ravenus

^While there is a main story, the film is less about the individual characters. Tampopo is a portmanteau of episodes where a different facet of the culture of food is explored in each.

Yes. I rather have it one or the other not both. It just seems a jumble as it. It is a very enjoyable movie.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by jayembee

I'd personally love to see a Criterion edition of Master and Commander, as I do any release of theirs that supplants a previous studio-released edition.

Originally Posted by SeanJoyce

And why is that? Is there a magic elixir to be found in that Criterion branding?

Seriously? Sean, you really, really need to find a new bugaboo to obsess about. When people get excited about Kino doing new BDs of the Clint Eastwood films, do you get all hot and bothered about the "magic K branding"?

I welcome Criterion re-dos because more often than not, they are improvements on the previous studio-released editions, not just because they have that "C" on the cover. While in some cases they aren't dramatic improvements, they are still improvements. Rebecca, Notorious, The Great Escape, and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, just to name a handful of examples, are all superior to their MGM/UA predecessors. In most cases it's mostly due to a new, improved scan or remaster over the original's 10-year (or more) old version.

And there are likewise instances where someone else has improved upon Criterion, such as Arrow's edition of Dekalog.

It's funny how you harp about the statement of mine quoted above, but chose to ignore the very next sentence:

But with all of the things that they must have in the pipeline, I'd rather they focused on titles that aren't (or haven't been) on BD already.

I'd be perfectly fine with Criterion not releasing any re-dos, but that doesn't I can't be happy with the results when they do so. But I guess that just doesn't fit in with your favorite snark.

[Gacivory]

Was on time out from here and didn’t see if anyone mentioned that Soderbergh finished a re-edit of Kafka finally. He also re-edited Full Frontal and Schizopolis!

I hope this means Blu’s of these from Criterion! Maybe the only way to get Schizopolis upgraded would be in a box set.