The Criterion Collection

[rkish]

Originally Posted by captveg

Had some time and decided to look at the Collection from a "potentially on Blu by the end of 2012" perspective. Disregarding OOP titles and Blu already officially released/announced (w/ street date), here's my outlook on Spine #'s 1-50.

2 - Seven Samurai - Officially planned for late 2010
3 - The Lady Vanishes - Already had a DVD re-release, so possible.
4 - Amarcord - Already had a DVD re-release, so possible.
6 - Beauty and the Beast - Already had a DVD re-release, so possible.
7 - A Night to Remember - probably not a priority; less likely
14-16 - Samurai Trilogy - would probably want to do all three simultaneously, so that hurts its chances; less likely
17 - Salò, or The 120 Days of Sodom - Already had a DVD re-release, so possible.
18 - The Naked Kiss - Criterion on record as contemplating remastered re-release. Possible.
19 - Shock Corridor - Criterion on record as contemplating remastered re-release. Possible.
22 - Summertime - probably not a priority; less likely
24 - High and Low - Already had a DVD re-release, so possible.
26 - The Long Good Friday - probably not a priority; less likely
29 - Picnic at Hanging Rock - Remastered re-release long in the works. Definite.
31 - Great Expectations - Criterion on record as contemplating remastered re-release. UK release already out. Probable.
32 - Oliver Twist - Criterion on record as contemplating remastered re-release. Possible.
33 - Nanook of the North - Age of the film probably makes this less likely
34 - Andrei Rublev - Remastered re-release long in the works, however with issues gathering elements. Definite, but might take longer than 2012.
35 - Diabolique - Criterion on record as contemplating remastered re-release. Possible.
37 - Time Bandits - Anchor Bay/Starz probably will release it themselves; unlikely
38 - Branded to Kill - Criterion on record as contemplating remastered re-release. Possible.
39 - Tokyo Drifter - Criterion on record as contemplating remastered re-release. Possible.
40 - Armageddon - Disney releasing in a few months; never
41 - Henry V - UK release already out. Probable.
42 - Fishing with John - 16mm source and TV factor; unlikely
43 - Lord of the Flies - probably not a priority; less likely
44 - The Red Shoes - Definite. Most likely June 2010
45 - Taste of Cherry - probably not a priority; less likely
46 - The Most Dangerous Game - probably not a priority; less likely
47 - Insomnia - probably not a priority; less likely
48 - Black Orpheus - Criterion on record as contemplating remastered re-release. Possible.
50 - And the Ship Sails On - probably not a priority; less likely

So by my estimation that's:

4 definites
2 probable
12 possible
12 less likely
2 unlikely
1 never

Thoughts? Counter points? Additional info?

Any word on Charlie Chaplin releases? I'm told Criterion has the US rights to the BD releases.

[rkish]

Originally Posted by Paul Arnette

Thanks, Arkadin. I called and left a message. Hopefully, I will hear back from them shortly.

Do you have a phone number for Criterion? Didn't see one posted on their website.

Thanks!

[reallyagi]

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

To some people. Not everyone is pulled into Kurosawa because they like Star Wars and someone told them about Seven Samurai. I like some Kurosawa films but I don't see him in the light as everyone else. I get why he is very much liked because when alot of people start out in either the Criterion Collection or "artsy" films, they did so because Kurosawa's Samurai is like the gateway between Star Wars type films and better films. Alot of people don't go beyond him in the collection because they didn't actually want to adventure in the collection in the first place. They just wanted to watch his films. They don't care about Melville, Clouzot, Resnais, Godard, Fuller, Reed, Oshima, Cassavetes, etc. They just care/know about Kurosawa, Bergman, Fellini, Malick, Wes Anderson and some Truffaut. So that is why alot of people gets stuck on him and ignore better releases in the month of March because of re-release films of his came out.

If everybody loved Godard, Melville, Resnais, etc., would you have to search for more obscure directors so you can always be on a different level?

[Cheerupemokid]

Originally Posted by rkish

I guess if you're willing to be patient, you can hit Barnes and Noble in about one to three months (best guess is in June) and get any BD or DVD for 50% off. I dare say that Amazon will PM during that time as well.

I plan to wait and pick up Che and Paris, Texas (at least) myself.

You know, I consider myself a patient man, but the waiting is starting to get to me a bit. I'm by no means a by every release kind of collector, when the sale finally comes around I'll probably limit myself to 5 or 6 titles frankly, but the more I try to wait, the more tempted I become to pick some titles up right now. I almost bought something in Barnes And Noble just last week, but they didn't have the title I wanted, and everything they did have was way overpriced. So I continue to wait, for now, but man I might not make it to June. Might have to get at least one or two titles just because.

[captveg]

Originally Posted by rkish

Any word on Charlie Chaplin releases? I'm told Criterion has the US rights to the BD releases.

They've licensed the Chaplin films that MK2 distributes on behalf of the Chaplin estate, which is essentially all the films in the prior Warner sets. The general consensus is that there should be at least a couple of the feature films released by the end of the year, and for the major titles at the very least to be released on Blu-ray as well as DVD. (The major titles being The Kid, The Gold Rush, City Lights, Modern Times, and The Great Dictator. Whether A Woman of Paris, The Circus, Monsieur Verdoux, Limelight, A King in New York and any of the short films make it to Blu-ray is questionable. That's a lot of Chaplin Blus, but then again, it's Chaplin).

[captveg]

By the way, we may need to wait until Monday for the June release schedule announcement. While they announced May's schedule on Friday the 12th last month, that was also a case where Monday the 15th was a holiday.

[jmcy2k]

I was just thinking the same dang thing ...

Originally Posted by captveg

By the way, we may need to wait until Monday for the June release schedule announcement. While they announced May's schedule on Friday the 12th last month, that was also a case where Monday the 15th was a holiday.

[PowellPressburger]

You never know with Criterion and their announcements I've seen them announced late into the eve even on a friday. Fingers crossed. Just wishing that no matter what no release is left behind on Blu.

[Braktastic]

Originally Posted by rkish

do you have a phone number for criterion? Didn't see one posted on their website.

Thanks!

212-756-8539

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by reallyagi

If everybody loved Godard, Melville, Resnais, etc., would you have to search for more obscure directors so you can always be on a different level?

Sure, why not. The more you know, the better right.

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by Paul Arnette

212-756-8539

Maybe, Beta will post that number on the front page now because it seems that a quite a few people are requesting it now. However, it'd be funny if Criterion started receiving so many calls that they decide to change the number.

CC

[SpiderBaby]

Yeah I don't think it's a good idea to keep calling them.

[jcs913]

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

Yeah I don't think it's a good idea to keep calling them.

I agree, but unfortunately I did not get any response to my 3 e-mails I sent them, so I had to.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by jcs913

I agree, but unfortunately I did not get any response to my 3 e-mails I sent them, so I had to.

It's cool. I was meaning it is a bad idea for it to get out of hand, which it prob will. Right now is fine, because your still in the "first few" boat.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

To some people. Not everyone is pulled into Kurosawa because they like Star Wars and someone told them about Seven Samurai. I like some Kurosawa films but I don't see him in the light as everyone else. I get why he is very much liked because when alot of people start out in either the Criterion Collection or "artsy" films, they did so because Kurosawa's Samurai is like the gateway between Star Wars type films and better films. Alot of people don't go beyond him in the collection because they didn't actually want to adventure in the collection in the first place. They just wanted to watch his films. They don't care about Melville, Clouzot, Resnais, Godard, Fuller, Reed, Oshima, Cassavetes, etc. They just care/know about Kurosawa, Bergman, Fellini, Malick, Wes Anderson and some Truffaut. So that is why alot of people gets stuck on him and ignore better releases in the month of March because of re-release films of his came out.

This partly true but Kurosawa's quality of output is staggering. He made prob 20-25 films I'd consider great to masterpiece level (like Seven Samurai, High and Low, Ikiru, etc).

[SpiderBaby]

I like Kurosawa and some of his films. Is he one of my fav directors? Not really. Is his films some of my fav? No. Do I like some of his films? Yes.

[SpiderBaby]

Just to let you all know Criterion has a couple new posters for sale on the website, Lola Montes and Amarcord.

[ShellOilJunior]

I gotta get the My Life to Live poster. Beautiful.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

I gotta get the My Life to Live poster. Beautiful.

You should get the Pierrot le fou poster, because it won't be Criterion's film for too long. But get both, they look great together.

[MONTEL]

Criterion aren't answering my e-mails either.