The Criterion Collection

[IronWaffle]

Originally Posted by georgec

Gray's Anatomy
And Everything Is Going Fine

Originally Posted by rvawalt

http://www.criterion.com/explore/136-louis-malle
Vanya on 42nd Street

Just gotta say its nice seeing three of my favorite rarely discussed recent releases all getting name-checked

[EddieLarkin]

Releasing too many Kurosawas at once will create competition between them. One or two a year results in maximum return for Criterion. It's the same for the Chaplins, and other immensely popular sellers.

[blu beaver]

Originally Posted by Darkcritic

I wouldn't mind more Kurosawa but you have to admit he is the first or second director most represent on BD at the moment (The other one being Bergman but I am not sure who is at the top right now). I am sure his films will keep coming. I guess we will get at least two more Kurosawa this year and maybe another two Bergman. There are other directors who still need to make the jump, like Sirk. Mizoguchi just got his first BD from them and Ozu still has just one. I have a feeling Hidden Fortress and Ikiru will follow this year. There was also a hint years ago about Drunken Angel making the jump, if I am not mistaken. So, expect more Kurosawa in the future, at least you know it is a sure bet, some of us have been waiting years upon years for films never released in Region 1/A!

Let's hope Hidden Fortress and Ikiru follow this year. I remember that Drunken Angel hint from a year or two ago. I guess Criterion always puzzles me, because they release Suzuki, Stillman and Bergman double bills in a month, but for a director like Kurosawa they just eek them out one by one over what feels like an eternity. Even with their lone Ozu hi-def release, one would think they could've done one more film for that month... or better yet, a Noriko trilogy box set with Early Summer and Tokyo Story added. And how about Wes Anderson? He's a mainstream art house director, which is a rare breed, and it's taking them forever to upgrade his works. Now that they finally got Rushmore out, it seems like they'll start flowing more freely (Tenenbaums wasn't that long after, if memory serves), but there's another director where one must ask oneself: "why not release more than one at a time?" Perhaps it makes more sense for director-approved editions like Anderson, because his schedule probably doesn't allow him to sit around Criterion's offices all day working on blu rays lol, but nevertheless, it's frustrating. Also, I agree that Sirk not being available on hi-def yet is practically criminal. In regards to Ozu (again), I'm just glad BFI is so dedicated to releasing his works. I always scoop those up ASAP.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by jrsl76

This is the most exciting month for me in a little while. It all looks good. I'll get them all, but the only question for me re: how much I'll enjoy it is the Bresson. He is a master, but his film aesthetic is for me a very much have to be in the right mood. When I watched Au Hazard Balthazar, I must not have been in the right mood, because while it was very beautiful, it was like watching paint dry it was so slow and minimalist.

If you own em all....gotta nab that Bresson. I feel like such an ignoramus when it comes to Bresson, I've only seen Pickpocket. This calls for a Bresson Marathon as soon as I get my hands on A Man Escaped.

Am I the only one that thinks these are actually really good coverS?.

[ZooTv]

Guess I'll have to keep my fingers crossed for a future Fail-Safe Criterion release

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

If you go to Criterion's blu-ray page and change your browser to "no page style" you'll get their blu tally:


Akira Kurosawa - 7
Ingmar Bergman - 6
Charles Chaplin - 4
D. A. Pennebaker - 4
Jean-Luc Godard - 4
Louis Malle - 4
Steven Soderbergh - 4
Wes Anderson - 4
Alfred Hitchcock - 3
Chris Hegedus - 3
Emeric Pressburger - 3
Jean-Pierre Dardenne - 3
Jean-Pierre Melville - 3
Luc Dardenne - 3
Michael Powell - 3

Nicolas Roeg - 3
Roman Polanski - 3
Terrence Malick - 3
Wim Wenders - 3

and many more...

Only 4 Wes Anderson? Just a surprise for me, his name is or seem to be mention so much in this thread I figured a douzen of his movies were under the Criterion collection What is sad is out of this top 20 list I don't see Ozu or Mizoguchi

[exolstice]

Home sick today, so I watched:

- The Last Emperor
- A Christmas Tale
- Zazie dans le métro

Somehow that last one, at roughly 90 minutes, felt longer than the other two combined, which both reach nearly 3 hours. Zazie would have worked better as a short film.

[blu beaver]

Originally Posted by italy12

I didn't realize releasing Kurosawa films was Criterion's sole duty.

It's not, but it's by far its biggest cash cow (probably with Wes Anderson and Bergman trailing somewhere in the distance). Who else would they make a near-all encompassing filmography box set for? I understand what you're saying and believe me, there are hundreds of other films I wish Criterion would release (and dozens I am happy they have released and will be releasing), but it just seems that given their past treatment of Kurosawa's catalog, they'd be a little more inclined to push out the hi def versions.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by exolstice

Home sick today, so I watched:

- The Last Emperor
- A Christmas Tale
- Zazie dans le métro

Somehow that last one, at roughly 90 minutes, felt longer than the other two combined, which both reach nearly 3 hours. Zazie would have worked better as a short film.

Boo. At least you liked two pretty stand out films. A Christmas Tale and Rare Exports should be talked about more in regards to seasonal films.

[Strevlac]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

If you go to Criterion's blu-ray page and change your browser to "no page style" you'll get their blu tally:


Akira Kurosawa - 7
Ingmar Bergman - 6
Charles Chaplin - 4
D. A. Pennebaker - 4
Jean-Luc Godard - 4
Louis Malle - 4
Steven Soderbergh - 4
Wes Anderson - 4
Alfred Hitchcock - 3
Chris Hegedus - 3
Emeric Pressburger - 3
Jean-Pierre Dardenne - 3
Jean-Pierre Melville - 3
Luc Dardenne - 3
Michael Powell - 3

Nicolas Roeg - 3
Roman Polanski - 3
Terrence Malick - 3
Wim Wenders - 3

and many more...

There are only 6 Kurosawa films on Criterion bluray. Where are you getting 7?

I'm wondering where all the Fellini's are. Correct me if I'm wrong but to date we have exactly 2: Amarcord and 8 1/2.

[Darkcritic]

Originally Posted by Strevlac

There are only 6 Kurosawa films on Criterion bluray. Where are you getting 7?

The site counts the Yojimbo/Sanjuro boxset as another release.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by Strevlac

There are only 6 Kurosawa films on Criterion bluray. Where are you getting 7?

I'm wondering where all the Fellini's are. Correct me if I'm wrong but to date we have exactly 2: Amarcord and 8 1/2.

I would LOVE to see more Fellini on blu-ray. La Dolce Vita is at the top of my list once the rights are sorted out.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by blu beaver

Let's hope Hidden Fortress and Ikiru follow this year. I remember that Drunken Angel hint from a year or two ago.

That hint was for Anatomy of a Murder.

[doowopman]

So I finally got a chance to watch my Criterion BD of Paris, Texas. Probably one of the most quietly beautiful films I've ever watched. I actually liked this a little better than Wings of Desire. Harry Dean Stanton really laid his heart out for that role.

The landscape photography throughout was ridiculously beautiful and Ry Cooder's score sounded better than ever.

As usual, Criterion did a bang-up job with this release. Stacked with awesome extras (which I'm still going through). And the transfer is really good, IMO.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

That hint was for Anatomy of a Murder.

The link on the first page of this thread is now dead but Criterion posted a photo of film canisters labeled Drunken Angel a year or two ago.

Edit: over two years ago, actually

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...type=3&theater

[Show spoiler]

[retablo]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

If you go to Criterion's blu-ray page and change your browser to "no page style" you'll get their blu tally:

Ingmar Bergman - 6

Yet what an odd 6. We have 2 of his undisputed masterworks - Seventh Seal and Fanny & Alexander; his major comedy that turned out to be his breakthrough film, Smiles of a Summer Night; and 3 arguably lesser works. But no Wild Strawberries, Persona (owned by MGM, just saying), the faith trilogy (Through A Glass Darkly, Winter Light, The Silence), Cries & Whispers, Autumn Sonata... I'm happy to have 6, it's just an odd 6.

[*DrStrangelove*]

Originally Posted by blu beaver

Great announcements, BUT....
I have a question: WHERE THE HECK IS THE BULK OF KUROSAWA'S CATALOG????? I am so tired of getting my hopes up every month at Criterion announcement time, thinking maybe we'll see Hidden Fortress, Red Beard, Ikiru, The Bad Sleep Well, Throne of Blood, The Lower Depths, etc. Glad we got High & Low and Rashomon recently, but come on, Criterion... what are you doing?? I know that from a film snob's perspective, Kurosawa may be "uncool" because he's World Cinema 101. But he is exactly that for a good reason!!! Sure, there are loads of amazing, lesser known filmmakers and some real obscure gems that'll make you seem elite and cool at parties (lol), but who can deny that Kurosawa is actually one of cinema's true masters... So why must Criterion insist on drip feeding us his greatest works? If they keep putting out literally 1 title per year, how long will it take to have his oeuvre in hi def? I wonder if they lost the rights to a lot of these films. Funny thing is, no one else is putting out Kurosawa's catalog in hi-def either.


We need the rest NOW!

Couldn't agree more! Screw being cool at parties. Ill take The Bad Sleep Well or Throne of Blood over Ozu's boring ass any day.

[RiFiFi1955]

Originally Posted by Strevlac

I'm wondering where all the Fellini's are. Correct me if I'm wrong but to date we have exactly 2: Amarcord and 8 1/2.

Yeah tell me about it. We definitely need La Dolce Vita, I Vitelloni, La Strada, and Nights of Cabiria sooner than later. Not Fellini but Bicycle Thieves would be nice too!

[Fellini912]

Finally Badlands is going to be released. I am going to be broke in March. The life and death of Colonel Blimp, and The man escape are most buys. I hope Pickpocket will be out soon.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by *DrStrangelove*

Couldn't agree more! Screw being cool at parties. Ill take The Bad Sleep Well or Throne of Blood over Ozu's boring ass any day.

Ozu boring . You have lost all credibility. Floating Weeds and Tokyo Story are masterpieces. I have watch those movies 8 years ago and still remember them clearly how beautiful and full of emotion they are. I would like to see those movies out soon.