Videodrome (1983)

[bigshot]

Well, I guess the Larry Cohen Criterion box set should be out soon then!

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by bigshot

I've seen all of Cronenberg's films going all the way back to Rabid. I'm a fan of his stuff. Heck, I even have a five foot tall prop Mugwump from Naked Lunch that i rescued from the shredder hanging over my bar.

I like David Cronenberg films... But is he a great Director like the ones that Criterion normally focuses on? Uh, no. Not really. His films are weird and silly and awkward and a lot of fun, but they aren't particularly meaningful or influential. He's a weird cult/horror director.

I guess I just remember back in the laserdisc days where every film Criterion released was a major title. Maybe they've run out of classics and have to scavenge for things that fall between the cracks of major studios.

It's just that Videodrome is one of the most aggressively goofy films Cronenberg ever made (Scanners and The Brood come very close).

Criterion Releases don't have equate with high brow seriousness. They do release plenty of films that have recieved cult status. I think VIDEODROME is one of Cronenberg's best, yeah it is dated, but I think it is a great time capsule, and the story is still relevant.

Criterion has focused on Cronenberg for years, since the laserdisc days.

[Starbuy]

This is indeed a cult classic. It blew me away when I saw it as a kid. It really sticks in your head.

[deadkidsean]

Originally Posted by bigshot

I've seen all of Cronenberg's films going all the way back to Rabid. I'm a fan of his stuff. Heck, I even have a five foot tall prop Mugwump from Naked Lunch that i rescued from the shredder hanging over my bar.

I like David Cronenberg films... But is he a great Director like the ones that Criterion normally focuses on? Uh, no. Not really. His films are weird and silly and awkward and a lot of fun, but they aren't particularly meaningful or influential. He's a weird cult/horror director.

I guess I just remember back in the laserdisc days where every film Criterion released was a major title. Maybe they've run out of classics and have to scavenge for things that fall between the cracks of major studios.

It's just that Videodrome is one of the most aggressively goofy films Cronenberg ever made (Scanners and The Brood come very close).

You're so incredibly wrong.

[bboisvert]

Originally Posted by bigshot

I like David Cronenberg films... But is he a great Director like the ones that Criterion normally focuses on? Uh, no. Not really. His films are weird and silly and awkward and a lot of fun, but they aren't particularly meaningful or influential. He's a weird cult/horror director.

I guess I just remember back in the laserdisc days where every film Criterion released was a major title.

I guess this statement doesn't make much sense to me, given that Criterion released two Cronenberg films on LD - Dead Ringers and Crash.

They also put out John Waters on laserdisc. Isn't he a weird cult director?


And you consider Shampoo to be a "major title"?

[Zen_Amako]

If they can release Wes Anderson movies, they can release Cronenberg...

[feeter]

Originally Posted by aggienader08

What's puzzling me is your comment. How is this a midnight movie? You have no idea what you're talking about...

Exactly... i bet they try to get their hands on influential movies like these but since they sell well the studios will not give them up... like Rocky Horror & Clockwork

[seppuku2]

Originally Posted by bigshot

I've seen all of Cronenberg's films going all the way back to Rabid. I'm a fan of his stuff. Heck, I even have a five foot tall prop Mugwump from Naked Lunch that i rescued from the shredder hanging over my bar.

I like David Cronenberg films... But is he a great Director like the ones that Criterion normally focuses on? Uh, no. Not really. His films are weird and silly and awkward and a lot of fun, but they aren't particularly meaningful or influential. He's a weird cult/horror director.

I guess I just remember back in the laserdisc days where every film Criterion released was a major title. Maybe they've run out of classics and have to scavenge for things that fall between the cracks of major studios.

It's just that Videodrome is one of the most aggressively goofy films Cronenberg ever made (Scanners and The Brood come very close).

It seems to me you clearly don't understand "the collection" You may not feel Cronenberg is a "criterion worthy" director where as another may think Godard isn't. Sure there are films that are not my favorites in the collection but as far as the dvd and blu-ray collection is concerned there isn't a single movie in either that isn't important in its own rights to make it into the collection. Everyone has different taste in film and criterion does a wonderful job of releasing important and sometimes hard to find or even forgotten films for people of every genre. If you are puzzled about criterion putting out videodrome, what do you have to say of Robinson Crusoe on Mars or Fuller's Naked Kiss coming out?

[bgmat58]

Getting this is a no brainer. My biggest hope is that the packaging is identical to the DVD but bd sized. Anyone know anything about this?

[Crimson King]

Originally Posted by deadkidsean

You're so incredibly wrong.

+1 Videodrome does deserve a place in the mighty Criterion Collection!

[bigshot]

Originally Posted by seppuku2

If you are puzzled about criterion putting out videodrome, what do you have to say of Robinson Crusoe on Mars or Fuller's Naked Kiss coming out?

I've never understood the appeal of Robinson Crusoe on Mars. It moves so slow and the script is pretty bad.

Naked Kiss is different. It shows a strong directoral hand and has a lot of things to say.

I could actually see Naked Lunch or Dead Ringers on Criterion because they have some meat to them. But Videodrome is different. For the first half it pretends to have a meaning in a TV movie sort of way, then in the second half it just gets goofier and goofier until the stratospherically dumb last scene. I always saw the movie as a joke on the audience... Build them up for one type of movie, then deliver a different one.

The Brood is the same sort of thing. It tries to involve us in the dynamics of a broken family. It deals a little with metal illness. Then WHAM! Midgets are popping out of mom's side and bashing in people's skulls with croquet mallets. I enjoy that sort of thing, but it just seems odd when people speak of it so seriously.

There are some exploitation and horror films that do have sly meaning under the surface... Dawn of the Dead for example... But Videodrome just seems like a goofy good-time film like Q or Evil Dead 2.

I guess Criterion has always released that kind of film too. I guess I never noticed.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by bgmat58

Getting this is a no brainer. My biggest hope is that the packaging is identical to the DVD but bd sized. Anyone know anything about this?

Criterion.com posts the covers.....


http://criterion-production.s3.amazo...8x490_w128.jpg


DVD Beaver usually has packaging shots up too.

[csdot]

Originally Posted by bigshot

I've seen all of Cronenberg's films going all the way back to Rabid. I'm a fan of his stuff. Heck, I even have a five foot tall prop Mugwump from Naked Lunch that i rescued from the shredder hanging over my bar.

I like David Cronenberg films... But is he a great Director like the ones that Criterion normally focuses on? Uh, no. Not really. His films are weird and silly and awkward and a lot of fun, but they aren't particularly meaningful or influential. He's a weird cult/horror director.

I guess I just remember back in the laserdisc days where every film Criterion released was a major title. Maybe they've run out of classics and have to scavenge for things that fall between the cracks of major studios.

It's just that Videodrome is one of the most aggressively goofy films Cronenberg ever made (Scanners and The Brood come very close).

dude what are you talking about???? if you dont think his films are meaningful (especially Videodrome) you really just arent paying attention. Criterion has been releasing Cronenberg films for over a decade this isnt something new.

[bboisvert]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Criterion.com posts the covers.....


http://criterion-production.s3.amazo...8x490_w128.jpg


DVD Beaver usually has packaging shots up too.

I'd guess that he's more concerned about the spine... and whether or not it is still designed to look like an old VHS tape.

[Indyjones]

Anyone selling this for less than $35 shipped?

[csdot]

Originally Posted by bboisvert

I'd guess that he's more concerned about the spine... and whether or not it is still designed to look like an old VHS tape.

Beta
now im a little biased because its one of my favorite movies but regardless i think that is one of the coolest package designs ive ever seen. its too bad it wouldnt really work with the bd size but its not like im getting rid of my dvd copy anyway...

[HDEyes]

Originally Posted by bmogav

awesome now I can replace my standard crap version DVD

Ha was thinking the same thing! I have this on DVD and ripped off the wrapper a week before this was announced for Blu! DAMN!!

[HDEyes]

Originally Posted by seppuku2

It seems to me you clearly don't understand "the collection" You may not feel Cronenberg is a "criterion worthy" director where as another may think Godard isn't. Sure there are films that are not my favorites in the collection but as far as the dvd and blu-ray collection is concerned there isn't a single movie in either that isn't important in its own rights to make it into the collection. Everyone has different taste in film and criterion does a wonderful job of releasing important and sometimes hard to find or even forgotten films for people of every genre. If you are puzzled about criterion putting out videodrome, what do you have to say of Robinson Crusoe on Mars or Fuller's Naked Kiss coming out?

I aggree!
Another Cronenberg film criterion released on DVD a while ago was "Dead Ringers". To me what the poster said didn't really make sense to me at all.

[bgmat58]

Originally Posted by csdot

Beta
now im a little biased because its one of my favorite movies but regardless i think that is one of the coolest package designs ive ever seen. its too bad it wouldnt really work with the bd size but its not like im getting rid of my dvd copy anyway...

I Agee 100%. I was referring to the spine. Hope it's VHS like!

[Ite]

Originally Posted by bgmat58

I Agee 100%. I was referring to the spine. Hope it's VHS like!

Yeah it was the coolest DVD package ever. I want to know how big this Blu is gonna be. I heard Criterions are normally bigger than normal Blus. I hope it fits inmy Blu ray stand!