The Criterion Collection

[nathan_393]

Originally Posted by rock, stone

Your points seem to be all over the place, with a couple straw men thrown in for good measure. I don't disagree with "esteemed Asian cinema critic Tony Rayns" (even if that has nothing to do with nothing), and despite how much I adore Seven Samurai, I personally like Hidden Fortress and Rashomon less than most people seem to (which again, is completely irrelevant).

The point is not a lot of people (if any) are posting that all Kurosawas are classics. However, every couple days someone decides to say that there is more to life that Kurosawa and WA, and drops the mike. A few posts worth of "rutabaga, rutabaga" follow, and next week it happens again.

But the conceit that "everyone else just doesn't get it" is a fallacy. The majority don't need convincing. And the minority who may be going through their respective "Kurosawa phase" are unlikely to stop watching movies at Madadayo.

All Kurosawa films are classics.

...

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Pyoko

I don't know why Criterion is cheaping out lately, first squeezing in the 5½ hour version of Fanny & Alexander on one disc, and now 3½ hours of World on a Wire on one disc with documentary-length extras that are probably going to be upscaled and take up way too much space

I don't know about World.... Even with Seven Samurai, the entire film with TWO lossless sound mixes and two commentaries is on one disc and that's an action packed film which requires a consistently large bitrate. The video extras on the World BD probably sum up a total of around an hour, hardly worth putting in another disc, and they'd be done in 1080i, which takes less space and can be presented with a greater degree of video compression than the main feature.

[AgentOrange]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

Well, I wouldn't say that I "collect" them but I do buy them to watch the films. For the value, though (especially during these B&N sales), there's no reason that people shouldn't be looking into picking up a few of the Eclipse sets.



Since the current sale, there has been quite a bit of discussion over the Eclipse sets in this forum. These films don't get any kind of restoration from Criterion like their main line releases... it's just not profitable for Criterion to release these films any other way, I suppose. So, if any of the films ever do see a blu-ray release I highly doubt it will be from Criterion since they'd have to go back and do some restoration work on each film to get it up to blu-ray standards.

Some of these sets you would think would be pretty marketable as blu-rays, or at least certain films within these sets. After watching Korda's Four Feathers and looking at what else Criterion had, I was surprised that Criterion also had that version of Jungle Book... but it's part of the Sabu! Eclipse set. That seems like it would be a highly marketable title if released as a standalone.

It would be nice to see the Eclipse line move over to blu-ray at one point. They aren't that cheap to begin with so they might as well be barebones sets with blu-rays inside. Besides, I have a feeling that a large chunk of their target audience would be well invested into blu-ray already. So at worst, even if they aren't fully restored, what harm to release them as 1080P encoded blu-rays instead of 480P DVD's?

I'm not so sure the reason behind it isn't the simple fact that they only produce limited numbers. Maybe in the low 1000's for each set(just a guess). So with that in mind they aren't going to do both formats simultaneously. Perhaps at some point in the future it will make sense to finally abandon DVD and release them only as blu-rays.

[*DrStrangelove*]

Anatomy of a murder looks interesting. I like George C. Scott so I might blind buy it. Anyone know if there's any chance Criterion will upgrade Band of Outsiders? If not ill just get the DVD.

[oildude]

Originally Posted by ParticleDan

Awesome. I ordered all of these except for the Dusan Makavejev and Kenji Mizoguchi's Fallen Women. I'm very excited to delve into this line!

I would recommend adding Eclipse #11: Larisa Shepitko to any ones Eclipse list. It is a fantastic set, two of the best films in the whole series.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by ParticleDan

Awesome. I ordered all of these except for the Dusan Makavejev and Kenji Mizoguchi's Fallen Women. I'm very excited to delve into this line!

That would prob be the 2 I would recommend to someone.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

Because The Trial (Welles) was mentioned on the CC Twitter feed.

If true Joe Dalek, then it's about time Criterion got around to some Welles. I'd like to see The Trial, along with Mr. Arkadin and 'F' is for Fake together in a box set...rounded out with something new to the collection like The Lady from Shanghai. Or even better, a BBS style mega box that also includes Chimes at Midnight, Othello, Macbeth...maybe even Touch of Evil under license.

Well, I can dream...

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by rock, stone

Your points seem to be all over the place, with a couple straw men thrown in for good measure.

Are they?

Originally Posted by rock, stone

I don't disagree with "esteemed Asian cinema critic Tony Rayns" (even if that has nothing to do with nothing), and despite how much I adore Seven Samurai, I personally like Hidden Fortress and Rashomon less than most people seem to (which again, is completely irrelevant).

The point is not a lot of people (if any) are posting that all Kurosawas are classics. However, every couple days someone decides to say that there is more to life that Kurosawa and WA, and drops the mike. A few posts worth of "rutabaga, rutabaga" follow, and next week it happens again.

But the conceit that "everyone else just doesn't get it" is a fallacy. The majority don't need convincing. And the minority who may be going through their respective "Kurosawa phase" are unlikely to stop watching movies at Madadayo.

I am unsure what is this "conceit" you speak of. Perhaps I am missing something because I rarely read this thread, or post in it. The fact of the matter is this: Kurosawa "gets named checked a lot" because the overwhelming majority of his films have been easily available to see in the West for years. These are the Japanese films most people have seen. And for a lot of people, especially in the West, Kurosawa is Japanese cinema. Yet you make it look as if there is some sort of anti-Kurosawa conspiracy.

Until a couple of years ago it was practically impossible to see the films of Mizoguchi, Oshima, Masumura, Mishima, Imamura -- and a lot of them are actually still impossible to see -- and a number of other important Japanese directors. This is the reason why people post that there is more to life than Kurosawa, because there really is more, and thanks to DVD, and now Blu-ray, some people have realized it. Yet you are trying to dismiss those who dare suggest that there is more beyond Kurosawa as film snobs whose only motivation is to prove that those around them "do not get it".

Pro-B

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

At this point I'd rather see the films of other Japanese directors make the transition to Blu-ray. And Stray Dog and Drunken Angel are, in my opinion, the best choices for 2012.

On the other hand, not all Kurosawa samurai films are "classics", though this seems to be a popular notion on this forum. So, Criterion "should have their way" because there are plenty of other important directors whose films deserve to be in the collection. Frankly, I find it quite bizarre that there are so many Japanese films in the collection but not a single Spanish film.

Pro-B

Thank you for that Pro-B. For several years now, I've felt that Japanese cinema in general has been overrepresented in the Criterion Collection, especially on Blu-ray. Of course, I own all of them, and have enjoyed most of them, but yeeeesh, when the closest we get to Spanish representation is Guillermo del Toro's Cronos, then something is askew.

[octagon]

This is a bit (okay, more than a bit) OT but does anybody have any quick feedack on Fernando Di Leo?

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Ferna...Blu-ray/29927/

Looks kind of interesting but I know absolutely nothing about him/them.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by EricJ

And wait, when did they announce the Eclipse: Sabu box?
Thief of Baghdad, I knew, but I was wondering when Criterion's Alexander Korda fetish would get around to rescuing "Jungle Book" from a slow death of public domain.

(Okay, so I never usually pay attention to the Eclipse-box announcements. )

Me either EricJ. Although I understand the completist logic that makes these Eclipse DVD sets attractive, I want to satisfy my UK-Technicolor fetish via Blu-ray, thank you very much.

Does this Sabu Eclipse set mean Criterion has abandonned plans to take The Thief of Bagdad to Blu? I've yet to purchase #431 on DVD because I thought it would be an early candidate for high-def re-release.

[VoodooSamurai]

Originally Posted by Marten

I know most people here think Criterion can do no wrong.....but....is Tiny Furniture really worthy of a Criterion release?! Another baffling choice.

i had the same thought about life after wartime. I guess they are trying to support the independent scene, even though these films aren't near the level of their others

[fkbrun]

Originally Posted by Brad1963

I was wondering the same about Truffaut, I'm surprised they have not released more on Blu ray. Shoot the Piano Player, Jules & Jim, Antoine Doinel series upgrades would be welcome.

They MUST release The bride wore black. One of his most overlooked gems.

[ROclockCK]

Originally Posted by fkbrun

They MUST release The bride wore black. One of his most overlooked gems.

...especially since it has a Bernard Herrmann score, and the MGM World Films widescreen edition is only letterboxed. Quite a 'backstory' too...

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by Clint Eastwood

i had the same thought about life after wartime. I guess they are trying to support the independent scene, even though these films aren't near the level of their others

Life During Wartime was a blind buy for me....... and a wonderful one at that


I watched The Rules of The Game today. Looked lovely, so I will assume some of the rougher spots are limitations of the source material??? It fluctuated through different scenes.

[fkbrun]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Life During Wartime was a blind buy for me....... and a wonderful one at that

I got it just to satisfy my completist side. I really wished they released Happiness to pair with it. That one's a great movie, unlike its sequel.

And I just got the email confirming the shipping of my Three Colors trilogy and The Rules of the Game. This month was, hands down, the best Criterion has had, IMHO.

To get any better than this, only if they released Children of Paradise, Les Parapluies de Cherbourg, any Truffaut (specially the bride wore black and small change), maybe Nights of Cabiria and Cries and Whispers.

But I suppose that would be too French of a month, so I'll stop daydreaming at night...

[Darkcritic]

Wow, lots of comments to read today . I hate it when I come late to the party! Well, February looks like a really solid month! First of and most importantly... World on a Wire!!! The first must-have release of 2012 from Criterion to me. Now that Fassbinder has been officially introduced to the BD Collection, the future can only be bright from here on for him (Although, after seeing how Criterion completely forgot Kiarostami after Close-Up I would not be surprised if Fassbinder goes through the same ). La Jetee/Sans Soleil is another great addition. I am quite surprised most titles this month were completely new (Just one upgrade). Anatomy of a Murder is another title I will get down the line, probably at the July B&N sale. Three Outlaw Samurai is an interesting choice which I will probably get (I am really liking this kind of releases, they probably lack supplements but the price make them easily affordable additions). Can't say I am terribly excited for Vanya on 42nd Street. While I like Malle, this is one his films that I am not all that fond to. From the very beggining I said Tiny Furniture was kind of a misstep if considered for release and I keep that. Not exactly a bad release but not something I would have choosen either. At the end, Februrary looks like a pretty solid month, here am I hoping for an even better March .

[AgentOrange]

Originally Posted by ROclockCK

Me either EricJ. Although I understand the completist logic that makes these Eclipse DVD sets attractive, I want to satisfy my UK-Technicolor fetish on Blu-ray, thank you very much.

Does this Sabu Eclipse set mean Criterion has abandonned plans to take The Thief of Bagdad to Blu? I've yet to purchase #431 on DVD because I thought it would be an early candidate for high-def re-release.

Thief of Bagdad is not in the set, so I don't think it means anything.

It's just
-Elephant Boy
-The Drum
-Jungle Book

I'm interested in all these (including Thief of Bagdad) after recently seeing Four Feathers for first time (first Korda film). Though I would have preferred blu-rays for the rest of them as well, obviously. Thief of Bagdad is actually on VuDu, and I have some free credit still with them from buying a few blu-rays at Wal-Mart. So I'm going to check it out there and hope for a blu-ray upgrade in the years to come...

No idea if I'll get the Eclipse set. I've had my eye on a few of those sets, but can't seem to pull the trigger even during the B&N sales. I tend to end up buying blu-rays instead and have to draw a line somewhere on the $$$ I'm spending.

[ShellOilJunior]

[AgentOrange]

Originally Posted by octagon

This is a bit (okay, more than a bit) OT but does anybody have any quick feedack on Fernando Di Leo?

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Ferna...Blu-ray/29927/

Looks kind of interesting but I know absolutely nothing about him/them.

I have no idea. But I went ahead and pre-ordered anyway on a whim. I'll give this new company (in the U.S. anyway) a chance, their release of the Clowns seems to be relatively solid quality. I certainly like their price point on this one - for a set of 4 films I've never seen, that sound interesting, it's worth a chance.

If this was an Eclipse set Criterion would have charged MSRP of $60 for DVD's.