Godfrey Reggio was in LA for a showing of the trilogy over the weekend, and while I wasn't able to make the showing of Koyaanisqatsi, I was able to make the showing of Powaqqatsi and Naqoyqatsi the night after. Reggio discussed the usage of fast motion and slow motion in liberal amounts in his films that night and announced that the films are being remastered (holy shit) into Blu-Ray (holy shit) by the Criterion Collection (HOLY SHIT). Did anybody here make the showings?
Take it just as a rumor, but if these 3 films get the Criterion treatment for the BD release, they will be must buy for me.
GizmoDVD
09-22-08, 12:43 PM
Still waiting for the rest of Wes Anderson films along with Chasing Amy and Brazil. That will make me happy.
I did, however, bite on another Criterion thanks to the Amazon glitch sale...The Man Who Fell From Earth. Never saw it before, but thanks to the praise here, I figured why not.
Giles
09-22-08, 01:12 PM
it's not really a rumour but it's advance word that Pasolini's Canterbury Tales, Decameron, and Arabian Nights are slated for release sometime next year - they better be in HiDef considering the latter film has been shown on satellite channel MGM-HD
dx23
09-22-08, 01:38 PM
it's not really a rumour but it's advance word that Pasolini's Canterbury Tales, Decameron, and Arabian Nights are slated for release sometime next year - they better be in HiDef considering the latter film has been shown on satellite channel MGM-HD
Good to know about Canterbury Tale's being re-released. Several years ago I got rid of the Image release since someone was willing to purchase it for $250.
gimmepilotwings
09-22-08, 01:50 PM
Kurosawa + Bluray = Buy for me.
Giles
09-22-08, 01:54 PM
Kurosawa + Bluray = Buy for me.
I'd love to see 'Derzu Uzala' in hidef
Suprmallet
09-22-08, 01:58 PM
Well, on the original topic, I'd greedily buy all three Qatsi films if anyone released them on Blu-ray. I remember when Reggio was selling the first one on his website for some exorbitant amount.
NoirFan
09-22-08, 03:13 PM
Seventh Seal has been confirmed as a Blu and updated SD next year.
rexinnih
09-22-08, 03:35 PM
Kurosawa + Bluray = Buy for me.
Ran in High def :drool:
PopcornTreeCt
09-22-08, 05:59 PM
Seventh Seal has been confirmed as a Blu and updated SD next year.
The current Seventh Seal Blu-ray looks great. It'll be nice to see what Criterion does with it.
gryffinmaster
09-22-08, 06:09 PM
I'd love to see 'Derzu Uzala' in hidef
I'd like to see Derzu Uzala released, period.
clckworang
09-22-08, 07:01 PM
The current Seventh Seal Blu-ray looks great. It'll be nice to see what Criterion does with it.
That's why I've held off buying the current release. I'd like to see what Criterion will bring to the table and decide which one to buy then.
bluetoast
09-22-08, 07:25 PM
Kurosawa + Bluray = Buy for me.
This is what I was hoping for when I read the thread title.
Arpeggi
09-22-08, 08:10 PM
Still waiting for the rest of Wes Anderson films along with Chasing Amy and Brazil. That will make me happy.
Why would you want a shit title like Chasing Amy? I'm confused.
GizmoDVD
09-22-08, 08:13 PM
Why would you want a shit title like Chasing Amy? I'm confused.
Err...because I like it? I'd probably consider 90% of Criterion's label to be "shit" as they release titles that I do not care for. You guys may go nuts over some of their titles...not me. Its not like I'm asking for Good Burger or Troll 2 :lol:
Giles
09-22-08, 08:53 PM
Why would you want a shit title like Chasing Amy? I'm confused.
I agree that's the one Kevin Smith film I absolutely loathe
GizmoDVD
09-22-08, 08:54 PM
I agree that's the one Kevin Smith film I absolutely loathe
One of the few (Besides Clerks and Clerks II) that I actually like.
fumanstan
09-22-08, 09:18 PM
Chasing Amy is great. I'd love to see it on Blu-ray since the current Criterion DVD is pretty poor video quality wise :)
PopcornTreeCt
09-22-08, 11:24 PM
I certainly want to check out Armageddon. From non-anamorphic to HD should look pretty amazing. I'm sure Disney will release it eventually.
droidguy1119
09-23-08, 06:59 AM
I certainly want to check out Armageddon. From non-anamorphic to HD should look pretty amazing. I'm sure Disney will release it eventually.And if it's like The Rock, it'll include all the CC extras. I kind of think Disney will be doing the releases of The Life Aquatic and The Royal Tenenbaums themselves too.
I would also like to see Chasing Amy go Blu, especially since the 10th Anniversary Edition is almost two years late -- I doubt it will come out in November or December.
highclassrob
09-23-08, 07:16 AM
crossing my fingers for the Cronenberg movies and the Terry Gilliam stuff.
Zen Peckinpah
09-23-08, 09:22 AM
Even if the HD DVD of Fear and Loathing has a TrueHD track, I'd still be all over a Blu CC. And give us a damn CC of The Fisher King while we're at it!
rfduncan
09-23-08, 09:34 AM
Well, on the original topic, I'd greedily buy all three Qatsi films if anyone released them on Blu-ray. I remember when Reggio was selling the first one on his website for some exorbitant amount.
I admit that I want to see all three of these on Blu-ray. They're all about sound and vision which HD can deliver. I actually avoided the DVD releases hoping they'd show up in the theater again some day. Now, I'm gonna toss them onto my Netflix queue once they get released!
Actually Chasing Amy is the only Kevin Smith film I don't dislike.
:up:
BambooLounge
10-15-08, 09:12 PM
I agree that's the one Kevin Smith film I absolutely loathe
That is undoubtedly my favorite Smith film; mainly because it by far his most different in that it has a real emotional depth and maturity about it. That being said, I enjoy the rest of Smith's films, but Chasing Amy stands a cut above the rest for me. Definitely a controversial title among film fans (in that opinion is wildly split on it).
Mikael79
10-15-08, 09:39 PM
Err...because I like it? I'd probably consider 90% of Criterion's label to be "shit" as they release titles that I do not care for. You guys may go nuts over some of their titles...not me. Its not like I'm asking for Good Burger or Troll 2 :lol:
Chasing Amy on Criterion was a paycheck for Criterion - nothing more. If I'm browsing someone's DVD collection and I see Chasing Amy in it - I immediately close the window. Important foreign, classic, small-budget and hidden gems are the true diamonds that Criterion has to offer.
It's snobbish, I know, but that's just the way I am.
BambooLounge
10-15-08, 09:52 PM
Chasing Amy on Criterion was a paycheck for Criterion - nothing more. If I'm browsing someone's DVD collection and I see Chasing Amy in it - I immediately close the window. Important foreign, classic, small-budget and hidden gems are the true diamonds that Criterion has to offer.
It's snobbish, I know, but that's just the way I am.
It's not snobbish at all, it is just dismissive, there is a difference.
I am snobbish and like Chasing Amy as well as the "important foreign, classic, small-budget and hidden gems" that Criterion has to offer, but I do not dismiss films by quoting a DVD distributor's mission statement. But, I will cut this off because this is not the Film Forum and not even a Chasing Amy thread.
Back on topic...
Any links for the possible Blu-ray release of P.P.P's Trilogy of Life?
Mikael79
10-15-08, 09:55 PM
I wouldn't call it dismissive, but it's always a matter of opinion.
I have about six of Kevin Smith's films (I could be exact if DVDSpot hadn't closed their doors), and I really like the guy. I also respect Rob Zombie as a director (I'm probably the only one) and yet I don't think The Criterion Collection is the place for his films.
BambooLounge
10-15-08, 10:06 PM
I wouldn't call it dismissive, but it's always a matter of opinion.
I have about six of Kevin Smith's films (I could be exact if DVDSpot hadn't closed their doors), and I really like the guy. I also respect Rob Zombie as a director (I'm probably the only one) and yet I don't think The Criterion Collection is the place for his films.
(Shared disappointment about DVDSpot)
I would say the Criterion Collection is the perfect place for Smith's films. Smith is a director who makes personal films and employs a particular artistic style in each of his films. He is without a doubt an auteur, with Chasing Amy being his most personal film. If anything, it is the pure genre pictures (Monsters and Madmen set) that do not belong in the Criterion Collection.
Just because a film is a domestic release directed by a "name director" should not preclude it from getting the Criterion treatment. Under that rubric, Criterion should not include Wes Anderson or Martin Scorsese films. Unless you assume such recently released films are already "classics," which of course is the most subjective term used in your list of types of films that should be included.
Needless to say, I would love for every film in The Criterion Collection to be released on Blu-ray (excepting the Bay movies) because I want to experience films at home in the best possible form.
dx23
12-01-08, 06:14 PM
From Blu-Ray.com:
Kevin Smith Pitches Chasing Amy Blu-ray
Posted December 1, 2008 10:13 AM by Josh Dreuth
Criterion Writer/director/actor Kevin Smith has sent a proposal to Criterion for a Blu-ray release of his film 'Chasing Amy'. The filmmaker always had planned for a super 10-year anniversary release (much like the one completed for his earlier films 'Clerks' and 'Mallrat'), but Criterion has stated they refuse to double-dip (history, however, may disagree with that statement). So now he is proposing a Blu-ray release with all the added material, meaning it wouldn't technically be a double-dip of the DVD release.
This release would have all the bonus material from the original DVD release along with a host of extras not previously seen and (supposedly) exclusive to the Blu-ray release. Its yet to be seen if Criterion goes ahead with such plans, especially since the 10-year Anniversary of the film was last year.
http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=2120
GizmoDVD
12-01-08, 06:20 PM
I'd be down. That would allow me to cross off 2 of the 5 release I'd buy from Criterion.
PopcornTreeCt
12-01-08, 07:22 PM
I love how Criterion says they refuse to double-dip. That must be the standard answer they tell to Kevin Smith and Michael Bay.
NoirFan
12-01-08, 07:40 PM
Any links for the possible Blu-ray release of P.P.P's Trilogy of Life?
Not R1, but BFI have announced this for Blu-ray in 2009.
bunkaroo
12-01-08, 07:41 PM
I love how Criterion says they refuse to double-dip. That must be the standard answer they tell to Kevin Smith and Michael Bay.
Yeah no kidding.
Hmmm Criterion double dips....
Brazil? Check.
The Third Man? Check.
Seven Samurai? Check.
Giles
12-01-08, 10:41 PM
Not R1, but BFI have announced this for Blu-ray in 2009.
of course it will be region coded... -ohbfrank-
andicus
12-02-08, 01:16 AM
Yeah no kidding.
Hmmm Criterion double dips....
Brazil? Check.
The Third Man? Check.
Seven Samurai? Check.
Beauty and the Beast? Check.
DthRdrX
12-02-08, 01:22 AM
I believe Beauty and the Beast went OOP and was then released again. I can't remember if it was a rights issue or not.
dx23
12-02-08, 10:56 PM
More rumors and good news from thedigitalbits.com:
While we're on the subject of Criterion today, we've learned that the first wave of catalog titles by legendary filmmaker Akira Kurosawa has just been announced for release on Blu-ray Disc in Japan. Rashomon, Ran, Madadayo and The Quiet Duel are all expected on 2/6/09 in a box set from Jesnet. So how does this relate to Criterion? Well, Criterion owns the U.S. release rights to many of the Kurosawa films, and was involved in the new HD transfers. So it's likely that we'll start to see some of them released on Blu-ray by Criterion here in the States next year as well. Here's the page over at CD Japan where the titles are listed, though keep in mind that the Japanese discs will likely NOT have English subtitles (so you don't want to go importing them unless you're fluent with Japanese - just wait for the eventual U.S. releases). We'll look into this and keep you up to date as any U.S. release news becomes available.
http://www.thedigitalbits.com/#mytwocents
pro-bassoonist
12-02-08, 11:03 PM
Criterion do not own the rights for Ran, etc. They licensed them from Studio Canal, just as Wellspring did. And the Japanese discs won't offer English subs.
Pro-B
DthRdrX
12-02-08, 11:09 PM
I bought Ran and Madadayo in that limited DVD boxset back in the day. I won't make the same mistake this time. I'm just going to wait for a U.S. release.
dx23
12-02-08, 11:17 PM
Criterion do not own the rights for Ran, etc. They licensed them from Studio Canal, just as Wellspring did. And the Japanese discs won't offer English subs.
Pro-B
I do believe that Criterion owns the print of RAN they have, but as you said, Studio Canal owns the rights. The Quiet Duel DVD was released by BCI/Eclipse, so I wonder who would release the BD.
pro-bassoonist
12-02-08, 11:22 PM
I do believe that Criterion owns the print of RAN they have, but as you said, Studio Canal owns the rights. The Quiet Duel DVD was released by BCI/Eclipse, so I wonder who would release the BD.
Any possible BD RAN release will be run through Studio Canal. If Criterion secure the rights (and no, they do not own them) to release the SDVD print on BD then it will be them, which is the most likely scenario at this point as Wellspring are no longer an active player on the market.
A Studio Canal clearance, however, is required.
Pro-B
Suprmallet
12-02-08, 11:45 PM
I'd buy a Criterion Chasing Amy Blu-ray in a second. Only as long as it has the original commentary, though.
dx23
12-03-08, 12:07 AM
I'd buy a Criterion Chasing Amy Blu-ray in a second. Only as long as it has the original commentary, though.
I think that's a given. Smith has almost all the extras done, since he wanted the Criterion re-release back in 2007.
BambooLounge
12-03-08, 12:35 AM
Not R1, but BFI have announced this for Blu-ray in 2009.
All the more reason to pick up a LG BH200 I suppose.
gryffinmaster
12-03-08, 02:06 AM
I'd buy a Criterion Chasing Amy Blu-ray in a second.
Heavily agreed. Hell, just an updated transfer would be outstanding.
Buy: