The Criterion Collection

[ccfixx]

After e-mailing Jon Mulvaney last night about not receiving my plastic case for "The Third Man," yet, this is his reply...

Hi Chris,

Thanks for writing in!

The program has been so popular that we are currently out of the
plastic cases! We're expecting more to come in a the end of the week.
I have a record of all the payments so rest assured that as soon as we
receive more I'll be shipping one out to you!

Thanks for supporting Criterion and please accept my apologies for any
worries caused!

Best,

Jon

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[banned user105]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

After e-mailing Jon Mulvaney last night about not receiving my plastic case for "The Third Man," yet, this is his reply...



CC

Didn't they just start that program a week ago? You must be impatient if you've already e-mailed them about not receiving a case

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by doctorthodt

Didn't they just start that program a week ago? You must be impatient if you've already e-mailed them about not receiving a case

Well, that's true, but I only decided to write after I've been reading multiple accounts of other people who have already received their cases, including a few that sent payment after I did. That was my only concern.

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[ccfixx]

DVDBeaver on "Wings Of Desire."

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[Adam_ME]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

DVDBeaver on "Wings Of Desire."

CC

Wow, that isn't even close. I'm kinda torn on the sepia tone being changed to B&W. I think the latter is a better choice, but does anyone know how it looked when it was screened in theaters?

Either way, this is an easy upgrade over the MGM DVD.

[benricci]

Originally Posted by Adam_ME

Wow, that isn't even close. I'm kinda torn on the sepia tone being changed to B&W. I think the latter is a better choice, but does anyone know how it looked when it was screened in theaters?

The director Wim Wenders supervised and approved this transfer. I'd take that as proof enough that the black and white is more faithful to his original vision.

[Idioteque...]

Anyone know what makes a movie eligible for Criterion?

I would love a Criterion edition of The Fountain extended (It is Arnofsky's misunderstood film and he would love a Criterion as he stated), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and a few others I had in mind.

[Hendershot737]

A Criterion "The fountain" would be too good to be true. One of my favorite films of all time and it just boggles my mind that not many people enjoyed it. To each their own, I guess. But I would love The fountain to get some treatment that it deserves. What can I do to help make this happen?

[retablo]

Originally Posted by Idioteque...

Anyone know what makes a movie eligible for Criterion?

I would love a Criterion edition of The Fountain extended (It is Arnofsky's misunderstood film and he would love a Criterion as he stated), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and a few others I had in mind.

Someone posted this on Criterion's face book page:

"I've read that Darren Aronofsky has approached Criterion about doing a possible release of the Fountain...any truth to this? Warner Bros. DVD release was pretty shabby, so it'd be great to see and edition with some real backing. Any possibi...lty we might see some of his other films? Requiem for a Dream? Pi?"

Criterion's reply: "So far no Aronofsky on the slate..."

[Idioteque...]

Originally Posted by retablo

Someone posted this on Criterion's face book page:

"I've read that Darren Aronofsky has approached Criterion about doing a possible release of the Fountain...any truth to this? Warner Bros. DVD release was pretty shabby, so it'd be great to see and edition with some real backing. Any possibi...lty we might see some of his other films? Requiem for a Dream? Pi?"

Criterion's reply: "So far no Aronofsky on the slate..."

I don't know if he's approached them and I think the dvd sales have been good as well as bluray? Not too sure. They should definitely try to work something out with Criterion. Che was a supposedly misunderstood film by Soderberg and they gave him a Criterion and Button was Fincher's misunderstood film and they gave that a Criterion.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by Idioteque...

I don't know if he's approached them and I think the dvd sales have been good as well as bluray? Not too sure. They should definitely try to work something out with Criterion. Che was a supposedly misunderstood film by Soderberg and they gave him a Criterion and Button was Fincher's misunderstood film and they gave that a Criterion.

Button was a huge hit and Oscar nominee. Criterion released Che because it struck a distribution deal with IFC films. If the blu-ray sales have been good, then it's probably not fiscally sound to re-visit it so soon. They know everyone won't re-buy it, so if it's not anticipated to be a big enough seller, then they have no need to touch it right now.

[Adam_ME]

Originally Posted by Idioteque...

Anyone know what makes a movie eligible for Criterion?

I would love a Criterion edition of The Fountain extended (It is Arnofsky's misunderstood film and he would love a Criterion as he stated), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and a few others I had in mind.

I don't see why Criterion would need to bother with Eternal Sunshine. The HD-DVD release looked terrific and had tons of extras. Universal can just port it over to Blu-ray with a DTS HD-MA track and save Criterion the effort.

[Idioteque...]

Originally Posted by retablo

Button was a huge hit and Oscar nominee. Criterion released Che because it struck a distribution deal with IFC films. If the blu-ray sales have been good, then it's probably not fiscally sound to re-visit it so soon. They know everyone won't re-buy it, so if it's not anticipated to be a big enough seller, then they have no need to touch it right now.

The lack of extras is a reason to revist it and Arnofsky is planning an extended cut, who best to due it than Criterion? They support artistic freedom.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by Idioteque...

The lack of extras is a reason to revist it and Arnofsky is planning an extended cut, who best to due it than Criterion? They support artistic freedom.

It's not all about being artistic. They are a business like any other and choose their films based on demand and likely sales. There isn't much of a demand for another edition of The Fountain, I'm sorry. They have thousands of films to release, I doubt The Fountain — which wasn't a big hit, and even Arnofsky fans are divided on it — is a top priority, nor will be for a long time. Maybe if there wasn't already a blu-ray out, but don't hold your breath.

Besides, if he ever gets around to doing it, it'll be a while...

Arnofsky told MTV that his goal isn't an ultimate director's cut, but something akin to a remake. "It wouldn't be a 'director's cut' - more like an alternate story told with the addition of unused footage from the first go-round. This would be a complicated project on a couple of levels, though, and it's at least a few years away."

That has to be the most intriguing tease ever. Some of the missing scenes could be found in the graphic novel -- in its afterword, Aronofsky described rewriting the script to be the lean indie film we saw onscreen, which always implied that he had never shot the "extras" that were in the book. There's nothing that changes the story drastically -- the book was essentially the same, except for an extended sequence in Spain that explored the love affair between the Queen and Tomas, the political problems it was causing her, and the hold the Inqusition had on the country. It's a beautiful, incredibly romantic chapter of the book."

[Idioteque...]

Never saw an interview with the few years comment but that sheds some light. Maybe he'll release it to coincide with the release of Black Swan, maybe it's unlikely Criterion will handle it but I think Criterion would do a great job with it if they did. It's still a fascinating movie.

[Kartoon]

I'd rather eat my first born child then see them do The Fountain. Such a terrible movie.

Now Holy Mountain/El Topo/Santa Sangre on the other hand...

[edo9125]

Originally Posted by Idioteque...

I don't know if he's approached them and I think the dvd sales have been good as well as bluray? Not too sure. They should definitely try to work something out with Criterion. Che was a supposedly misunderstood film by Soderberg and they gave him a Criterion and Button was Fincher's misunderstood film and they gave that a Criterion.

Criterion doesn't get to do whatever films they want. They have to get the rights from the original studios. Then spend their own money on the restoration process and creating extra's and then after all that split the profits from those movies with those original studio's.

Benjamin Button was basically a re-badged Criterion, It was really a Paramount release with a Criterion label on, just like the Wes Anderson movies, Royal Tenenbaum's and Life Aquatic. Ben Button was in a blue case unlike other Criterion's and the UPC is a Paramount UPC number.

I'd like a Criterion fountain release, but they would have to convince Warner.

[fdm]

Originally Posted by Adam_ME

Wow, that isn't even close. I'm kinda torn on the sepia tone being changed to B&W. I think the latter is a better choice, but does anyone know how it looked when it was screened in theaters?

Either way, this is an easy upgrade over the MGM DVD.

Apparently it was sepia-ish toned when it came out (I vaguely recall that being the case). The reason it looked that way was that the entire film was printed on color film stock. Original intent was B&W, no tint. (Check the Wings Of Desire thread at criterionforum.org.)

[Idioteque...]

Originally Posted by edo9125

Criterion doesn't get to do whatever films they want. They have to get the rights from the original studios. Then spend their own money on the restoration process and creating extra's and then after all that split the profits from those movies with those original studio's.

Benjamin Button was basically a re-badged Criterion, It was really a Paramount release with a Criterion label on, just like the Wes Anderson movies, Royal Tenenbaum's and Life Aquatic. Ben Button was in a blue case unlike other Criterion's and the UPC is a Paramount UPC number.

I'd like a Criterion fountain release, but they would have to convince Warner.

Hmm I know Warner are *******s when it comes to that so I guess not I never knew how the Criterion system worked but now understand why they go for foriegn, independent and old releases.

Btw does that mean Button could possibly be double dipped? Has a criterion ever been double dipped ignoring Blu as a double dip.

[edo9125]

Originally Posted by Idioteque...

Hmm I know Warner are *******s when it comes to that so I guess not I never knew how the Criterion system worked but now understand why they go for foriegn, independent and old releases.

Btw does that mean Button could possibly be double dipped? Has a criterion ever been double dipped ignoring Blu as a double dip.

Yeah unfortunately it seems like Warner just wants to forget about The Fountain because they were disappointed at its performance at the Box-office. Aronofsky even offered to do a commentary on the dvd and they declined saying they didn't want to spend anymore money on the dvd. He still recorded one and its available online for free.


I wouldn't be surprised if paramount releases a non criterion single disc edition or some other kind of double dip (extended edition? if one exists) in a year or two.

A bunch of Criterion movies have been re-released on dvd by other studio but most of them were inferior and with out any extras.