The Official Arrow Video Thread

[moviegeek1992]

Hellraiser and Hellbound: Hellraiser II (in limited edition packaging), plus Heathers would be cool.

[Graphic_Delusions]

I have a strong feeling that their Hellraiser releases will also include the documentary, LEVIATHAN: The Story of Hellraiser and Hellbound: Hellraiser II, in a limited edition packaging.

I already have the documentary on order straight from the filmmakers, but knowing my luck it will also be included in the Arrow set (much like 'More Brains' documentary on the ROTLD Bluray from Second Sight).

I would prefer for them not to house them in a puzzle box; I still have the Anchor Bay DVD boxset and don't really have the room on my shelves for it.

[Ste7en]

Originally Posted by Graphic_Delusions

I would prefer for them not to house them in a puzzle box; I still have the Anchor Bay DVD boxset and don't really have the room on my shelves for it.

Much easier to store than the Phantasm sphere though

[Graphic_Delusions]

Originally Posted by Ste7en

Much easier to store than the Phantasm sphere though

Ha! That is true, but even with the Phantasm release I went for the standard digipack/slipcase boxset. Looks nicer on the shelves with everything else.

I guess it all goes down to space, something I don't have a lot of.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by EddieLarkin

Who knows exactly what went down but it seems like they did indeed feel the concept was "stolen" from them. This was getting on 10 years ago though so they may feel differently now.

Originally Posted by dvdmike

To be fair, that is a total rip off of a Criterion one

[Show spoiler]

You can't really copyright an idea or concept, just the work itself. So unless Criterion copyrighted the style and layout of the label exactly, then all they can do is grumble and argue that the Masters of Cinema sticker is misleading consumers to think they're Criterion releases, which would be difficult to prove since Criterion don't release titles in the UK! They could trademark the term 'Director Approved' but it would have to be okayed by someone coming back from a very late-liquid-lunch.

Arrow's blue-circle was another label 'inspired' by Criterion. I quite like them, but on occasion, at a distance they can be confusing!

[Pecker]

Originally Posted by chip75

You can't really copyright an idea or concept, just the work itself. So unless Criterion copyrighted the style and layout of the label exactly, then all they can do is grumble and argue that the Masters of Cinema sticker is misleading consumers to think they're Criterion releases, which would be difficult to prove since Criterion don't release titles in the UK! They could trademark the term 'Director Approved' but it would have to be okayed by someone coming back from a very late-liquid-lunch.

Arrow's blue-circle was another label 'inspired' by Criterion. I quite like them, but on occasion, at a distance they can be confusing!

Chip, I think it's clear that they were bother by the similarity in layout, which obviously included the same wording.

I'm not sure, but I don't think you have to copywrite something to get a bit peeved.

It's all a bit of a storm in a teacup, but there you go.

If it were me I'd not be bothered. Criterion and MoC are trans-Atlantic cousins doing a similar wonderful job, as far as I'm concerned. It's just that, as a Brit, the MoC release are far cheaper.

Steve W

[tenia]

You might argue that "being bothered" is not legally relevant and it's not like something as basic as the wording "director approved" could be patented or copyrighted in any way.

You might want to change the round sticker to a square one to be a bit further off Criterion sticker design, but the Lanzmann sticker from MoC was far off the Criterion design, and that still wasn't far enough for them, so who knows.


But true : I want a golden sticker for my UK Arrow copy of Pit Stop !

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Pecker

Chip, I think it's clear that they were bother by the similarity in layout, which obviously included the same wording.

I'm not sure, but I don't think you have to copywrite something to get a bit peeved.

I think that's all it boiled down to, they were annoyed that MoC went with such a similar design and vented about it. Even Total Recall has a similar label albeit with a slightly different design. It was more down to professionally courtesy that MoC stopped doing them. I don't think Criterion could stop them and I doubt they ever thought about going further than asking them to stop.



At the end of the day it's quite difficult to describe a director approved release as anything else! A lot of these stickers end up in the bin! I take mine off and put them on the inside of the case.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by tenia

You might argue that "being bothered" is not legally relevant and it's not like something as basic as the wording "director approved" could be patented or copyrighted in any way.

It's amazing what terms and words have been trademarked or copyrighted, some things are so general you imagine what they were thinking when they stamped the approval. Criterion would have to create a logo for the Director Approved series and trademark it, they wouldn't be able to get copyright for the term itself.

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by Lyris

Criterion surely don't have a patent on director approved stickers? What was their complaint? Surely it had more to do with a specific title than the entire concept.

I know others have addressed this since, but I just wanted to acknowledge your comment. I'm not sure what their specific complaint was, but remember the subject coming up over at the Criterion Forums years ago. Nick tweeted about it too (which someone else has already linked to). I don't think there was any formal, legal objection, rather Criterion felt a bit miffed that MoC had essentially copied one of "their" packaging features.

[nitin]

Copyright would have to be in the layout as chip said, trademark in the words 'Director Approved'. If they want to stretch it to a patent it would have to be in the concept of a director approved stick itself but I am not sure they have done any of the above.

So it's a bit dumb to grumble about it or be bothered about it. Otherwise where do you stop? A lot of Arrow's more recent announcement specs seem to copy the same (and sometimes vague!) wording wording that Criterion also uses about transfers, should they be asked to use other wording?

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by nitin

Copyright would have to be in the layout as chip said, trademark in the words 'Director Approved'. If they want to stretch it to a patent it would have to be in the concept of a director approved stick itself but I am not sure they have done any of the above.

So it's a bit dumb to grumble about it or be bothered about it. Otherwise where do you stop? A lot of Arrow's more recent announcement specs seem to copy the same (and sometimes vague!) wording wording that Criterion also uses about transfers, should they be asked to use other wording?

I guess there's an argument to be made (by Criterion) that it's a part of their packaging identity, but I don't think it would get very far in a court of law. I'm sure MoC dropped it simply because they didn't want to cause any bad feeling or friction between the two companies. I don't think it was ever a serious issue.

[skyofcrack]

Criterion started doing audio commentaries back with their laserdiscs so why not complain when others started doing it to?

Criterion should be complemented when other companies start using what they began.

[MifuneFan]

This is what happens when people discuss matters meant to be private. We know barely anything about the extent and tone that Criterion used when telling Eureka they didn't approve of them using the stickers. We just have a tweet from Nick Wrigley, the founder of Eureka (no longer working there) saying the sticker "got me into trouble with Criterion". We can't glean the tone Criterion used, we can't say whether they threatened any legal action, we can't even say whether Nick was exaggerating the situation a little.

It's highly unlikely that Criterion trademarked anything about the sticker. I'm guessing they just sent an email to Nick saying it was uncool to do. I doubt they could actually prevent Eureka from using them, but seeing as you don't want to burn bridges in this industry, Eureka likely agreed to just not use them again.

[thewerepuppygrr]

In other news...announcement in half an hour!

[kuro_sawa]

I doubt it was or is a serious issue, and Nick is frequently credited/thanked in Criterion releases so there's obviously no bad blood.

Excited for the announcements today! I hope Honeymoon Killers gets a date

[dvdmike]

Thinking about it I want a NOTLD double pack

[dvdmike]

NEW UK TITLE ANNOUNCEMENT: HARD TO BE A GOD BLU-RAY / DVD
Visually dazzling Russian sci-fi epic set on a terrifyingly medieval planet
Pre-order on Blu-ray here: http://www.arrowfilms.co.uk/shop/ind...product_id=573
Pre-order on DVD here: http://www.arrowfilms.co.uk/shop/ind...product_id=574
Release Date: 7th September 2015
Region: Free
A group of scientists visits the distant planet Arkanar, and discovers a society still trapped in its own medieval era. Unable to interfere with the course of its history, they can only watch in mounting horror as all sparks of intelligent and independent thought are mercilessly snuffed out by Arkanar’s cruel rulers. Will they remain enmired in their squalid existence for ever, or can the visitors subtly nudge the more open-minded in the right direction? Truly, it’s hard to be a god.
Legendary Russian sci-fi authors Arkady and Boris Strugatsky (whose Roadside Picnic was filmed as Stalker by Andrei Tarkovsky) wrote the source novel, and adapting it was director Aleksei German’s dream project for decades. It would take six years of shooting, a further six of post-production and a posthumous premiere before his masterpiece was finally unveiled.
But masterpiece it is: a visually astonishing, almost tactile recreation of an unnervingly recognisable alternative universe, drenched in blood, mud and the tears of the oppressed.

[rapta]

Excellent! Thought we'd never see a release of this over here. Much like AE did with The Dance of Reality, I'm glad somebody snatched it up (just a shame Snowpiercer that still hasn't made it over here).

[Yami]

YES! An unexpected but very welcome announcement. I've been wanting to see Hard to Be a God for years - it's very sad that it'll be German's final film (and a posthumous release) but hopefully it sparks an interest in releasing his previous masterpieces as well.