The Criterion Collection goes Blu!

[RedIsNotBlue]

Originally Posted by FilmmakingFiasco

If price is the sole factor for you buying a movie then Criterion DVDs/Blu-rays are not for you. Their price is directly related to how much effort and time goes into the restoration/rights/special features that are included.

There is not one Criterion title that I've purchased that I've thought 'wow, that's not worth the price'.

Its not the sole factor but it is definitely a big one. I just am not paying that much for a single movie sorry. Guess I will just have to pass if the movies really are that high priced. Meh hope you guys enjoy them.

[Octavio]

Originally Posted by FilmmakingFiasco

If price is the sole factor for you buying a movie then Criterion DVDs/Blu-rays are not for you. Their price is directly related to how much effort and time goes into the restoration/rights/special features that are included.

There is not one Criterion title that I've purchased that I've thought 'wow, that's not worth the price'.

My thoughts exactly. For me:

$5 for a movie like "Eragon" is too much even if it's on Blu-ray.

$30 for having Buñuel's "The Exterminating Angel" restored, remasterized, packed with great supplements and perhaps even with a booklet essay worth every penny.

But maybe it's just me.

[dialog_gvf]

Huge news!

Happy days for classic fans. I sure hope Blu owners support it.

Gary

[b-coli]

Originally Posted by CheapChildren

With Criterion you're not just paying for the movie your paying for a celebration of the movie. You get every cent worth. The transfer, the special features and everything.

+1 agreed ! they treat everything with the utmost care since they are true videophiles like us

even with title such as fishing with john. they can even make a fake fishing show into one of the funniest things out there... willem defoe and tom waits cracked me up, even dennis hopper.
damn... now i have the theme song stuck in my head (if you have seen it, you know what i mean) haha

[WickyWoo]

oh yeah... forgot the one i want most to come out with all the extras on north american format, and i hope they get the rights...

BATTLE ROYALE ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Battle Royale is unavailable for North American licensing. I was charged with acquring the film in both 2001 and 2004 by 2 seperate major lables. Toei wanted a Crouching Tiger size release for it, and refused to accept the reality of "Kids killing kids=NC-17. We either cut the film to ribbons to get an R (estimated 30+min cut), or it'll play in 12 theaters". In 2004 when I went to try again, they refused to even acknowlege the film's existence at the US office (seriously).

Armageddon will be released with the Criterion extras by Disney in the next year or so,they had to retransfer the movie, hopefully with the director's cut because the master tape got lost in a fire

[Marquoz]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

Battle Royale is unavailable for North American licensing. I was charged with acquring the film in both 2001 and 2004 by 2 seperate major lables. Toei wanted a Crouching Tiger size release for it, and refused to accept the reality of "Kids killing kids=NC-17. We either cut the film to ribbons to get an R (estimated 30+min cut), or it'll play in 12 theaters". In 2004 when I went to try again, they refused to even acknowlege the film's existence at the US office (seriously).

Armageddon will be released with the Criterion extras by Disney in the next year or so,they had to retransfer the movie, hopefully with the director's cut because the master tape got lost in a fire

I can't believe that Battle Royale would end up being NC-17, it wasn't THAT graphic when I saw it. *shrug* Would have been awesome to get a good copy of that and not the version I saw.

But to the initial topic, I've never heard of any of those movies, but I'm going to do a blind buy just to help support the future release of Criterion movies! I've had a couple on DVD, and they always blew me away, so here's hoping to Amelie, Brazil and Robocop done up nice!

[Zyclone]

i don't think they blocked it due to graphic violence its more the kids killing other kids aspect.

[Octavio]

Originally Posted by Zyclone

i don't think they blocked it due to graphic violence its more the kids killing other kids aspect.

"Voces inocentes" (Innocent Voices) by Luis Mandoki deals with a similar subject: 12 yo kids being forced to join the army during the civil war in El Salvador. But unlike "Battle Royale" it haven't been banned nor blocked in USA.

So I guess the reason must be other than that.

[Zyclone]

battle royale features high school kids killing each other , i can understand why a country that has suffered many high school shootings would'nt be to thrilled with a film like that.

[Octavio]

Originally Posted by Zyclone

i would argue there is a difference between war and the game like nature of battle royale.

well yeah there is a difference, yet you see kids killing kids. So the reason to ban it was/is not the mere fact of watching kids killing and being killed but "why" they did it.

If you ask me, the way the kids in El Salvador were forced to become cold blood killers at such young age is even more frightening than any game because that was for real. It really happened just 20 years ago.

Some of the scenes in "Voces Inocentes" are really disturbing.

just my 2 cents.

[RedIsNotBlue]

Then why was the movie Elephant ever released??

[Octavio]

Originally Posted by RedIsNotBlue

Then why was the movie Elephant ever released??

Good Question. Why?

[Zyclone]

Originally Posted by Octavio

well yeah there is a difference, yet you see kids killing kids. So the reason to ban it is not to the mere fact of watching kids killing and being killed but the reason behind their actions.

If you ask me, the way the kids in El Salvador were forced to become cold blood killers as such young age is even more frightening than any game because that was for real. It really happened just 20 years ago.

Some of the scenes in "Voces Inocentes" are really shocking.

just my 2 cents.

i have'nt seen it myself but i would'nt disagree that the imagery and what happened in el salvador is'nt shocking.

i just think that the US censors would be more worried about a back lash against something like battle royale then voces incoentes.

[HDJK]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

Huge news!

Happy days for classic fans. I sure hope Blu owners support it.

Gary

Yep, I know I will. I didn't expect them to enter the game this early. Great news.

[Octavio]

Originally Posted by Zyclone

i have'nt seen it myself but i would'nt disagree that the imagery and what happened in el salvador is'nt shocking.

I highly recommend you to see "Voces Inocentes", not only because it's a very good movie, also because it's based on true stories: Testimonies from some of those kids who survived the horror under the military dictatorships and the civil war.

[Blaumann]

This is awesome news. ESPECIALLY since the major studios seem to be a bit reluctant to release these kind of "art films" due to the expected rather low sales.

Should be a great niche to be filled by Criterion!

[Marquoz]

Originally Posted by Zyclone

i don't think they blocked it due to graphic violence its more the kids killing other kids aspect.

Meh, I guess I'm too desensitized by the local news to be upset about kids killing kids. Just seems an asinine reason to block a very good and thought provoking movie.

[glenn-bob]

Spinal Tap please!!!!!!!

[Rustmonsteru]

Great news; I gasped when I got that email myself.

[GregBlu5]

Originally Posted by nycomet

That's nice, but where's Robinson Carusoe On Marcus -- ooops! I mean, Mars?

I had that title on LaserDisc, and if you pause it when he jumps into the underground pool of water on Mars, well.... Good title.

And now there's a reason why I had The Complete Monterey Pop on my amazon.com wish list for more than a year and never bought it in SD.