November Criterions
08-23-05, 12:09 PM
#1
November Criterions
I was snooping around on www.image-entertainment.com and on their November releases they had the following criterions listed:
Tales of Hoffman
Ran
Ugetsu
See FilmFanSea's post for the specs below!
Tales of Hoffman
Ran
Ugetsu
See FilmFanSea's post for the specs below!
Last edited by honking; 08-23-05 at 01:23 PM.
08-23-05, 12:28 PM
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Release dates, specs, and prices are available on the Image website (but no artwork yet):
Ugetsu 11/08/05 $39.95
Ran 11/22/05 $39.95
Tales of Hoffmann 11/22/05 $39.95
Ugetsu 11/08/05 $39.95
The great Japanese director Kenji Mizoguchi draws on sources from both East and West for this, his crowning achievement. Set in sixteenth-century Japan, a period of bloody civil war, the film is equally rooted in the postwar psyche of 1950s Japan. Focusing on an ambitious potter haunted by a beautiful ghost and a farmer who dreams of becoming a samurai, the film offers a commentary on the delusions of lust and power, the folly of war, and the stoic suffering of women. Renowned cinematographer Kazuo Miyagawa helps Mizoguchi seamlessly interweave the supernatural with reality, resulting in one of the most beautiful films of all time.
Criterion's double-disc edition will feature audio commentary by critic Tony Rayns, a two-and-a-half hour documentary on Mizoguchi by Kaneto Shindo, a new interview with director Masahiro Shinoda on the film, new interviews with first assistant director Tokuzo Tanaka and Miyagawa on their work on the film, trailers, a booklet featuring the original stories on which the film was based, and more.
Criterion's double-disc edition will feature audio commentary by critic Tony Rayns, a two-and-a-half hour documentary on Mizoguchi by Kaneto Shindo, a new interview with director Masahiro Shinoda on the film, new interviews with first assistant director Tokuzo Tanaka and Miyagawa on their work on the film, trailers, a booklet featuring the original stories on which the film was based, and more.
Legendary director Akira Kurosawa re-imagines Shakespeare's tragic King Lear as a singular historical epic set in sixteenth-century Japan. Tatsuya Nakadai (The Sword of Doom, Kagemusha) stars as Lord Hidetora, a warlord who cedes authority over his vast dominion to his eldest son, setting off a familial power struggle for control of his kingdom. Majestic in scope, Ran is a visual masterpiece in which Kurosawa contrasts the immensity of war with the crumbling of one family under the weight of betrayal, greed, and the insatiable thirst for power.
Criterion's magnificent two-disc edition will include not only a newly-restored transfer, but also A.K., Chris Marker's 74-minute documentary on Kurosawa's craft in making the film; an introduction by filmmaker Sidney Lumet; a half-hour Toho documentary on the making of the film; a half-hour video piece reconstructing the film through Kurosawa's paintings and sketches; a new interview with star Tatsuya Nakadai; and more.
Criterion's magnificent two-disc edition will include not only a newly-restored transfer, but also A.K., Chris Marker's 74-minute documentary on Kurosawa's craft in making the film; an introduction by filmmaker Sidney Lumet; a half-hour Toho documentary on the making of the film; a half-hour video piece reconstructing the film through Kurosawa's paintings and sketches; a new interview with star Tatsuya Nakadai; and more.
In Jacques Offenbach's fantasy opera, the poet E.T.A. Hoffmann dreams of three women - a mechanical performing doll, a bejeweled siren who steals his reflection, and the consumptive daughter of a famous composer - all of whom break his heart in different ways. Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger create a phantasmagoric marriage of cinema and opera in their one-of-a-kind take on this classic story. Feverishly romantic, The Tales of Hoffmann is a feast of music, dance, and visual effects - one of the most exhilarating film adaptations of an opera ever produced.
Criterion's long-awaited DVD (one of our most requested titles) will feature audio commentary by Martin Scorsese & film historian Bruce Eder, a new introduction to the film by director and fan George A. Romero, Michael Powell's short musical film The Sorcerer's Apprentice, a rare collection of production design sketches and paintings, the trailer, and more.
Criterion's long-awaited DVD (one of our most requested titles) will feature audio commentary by Martin Scorsese & film historian Bruce Eder, a new introduction to the film by director and fan George A. Romero, Michael Powell's short musical film The Sorcerer's Apprentice, a rare collection of production design sketches and paintings, the trailer, and more.
Last edited by FilmFanSea; 08-23-05 at 12:30 PM.
08-23-05, 12:39 PM
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Well i just got the following Ugetsu DVD 
http://us.yesasia.com/assocred.asp?C...ection-videos/
well for 6$ its not too bad i guess - i will be getting the criterion for sure, Great news .
http://us.yesasia.com/assocred.asp?C...ection-videos/
well for 6$ its not too bad i guess - i will be getting the criterion for sure, Great news .
08-23-05, 01:17 PM
#7
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Intersting about Tales of Hoffman. I thought I read somewhere on the net, maybe the Criterion forum, that the film elements for this were in pretty bad shape. The three strip Technicolor negatives were intact, but they had shrunk and needed something like WB's "ultra resolution" process to line the images back up to make new prints (or an HD transfer). There didn't seem to be any good complete prints to work from, based on the story. Also, the owners of the film didn't or couldn't spend the money to restore the film. I wonder if a restoration on the negatives has been done, or if Criterion was able to find good enough alternate sources somewhere?
I saw parts of the movie years ago on a local PBS station but don't remember much about it, except it seemed extremely stagy, even for a musical. Anything from P&P is worth seeing though.
I saw parts of the movie years ago on a local PBS station but don't remember much about it, except it seemed extremely stagy, even for a musical. Anything from P&P is worth seeing though.
08-23-05, 01:19 PM
#8
Moderator
Originally Posted by Lemdog
Ugetsu, Ran, Tales of Hoffmann ... man November is going to be expensive.
08-23-05, 01:20 PM
#9
Moderator
In regards to Ran I'm glad to see that the folks at Criterion were able to include the Chris Marker docu A.K. - I rented the UK edition to see this and I wasn't disappointed - a truly fascinating documentary.
08-23-05, 04:55 PM
#12
DVD Talk Legend
Guess I need to get around to selling off that Kurosawa limited edition from Amazon.
Glad a new version of Ran is coming though. If only they could rerelease all the other Fox Lorber titles.
Glad a new version of Ran is coming though. If only they could rerelease all the other Fox Lorber titles.
08-23-05, 05:13 PM
#13
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Nice to see more Japanese films released on Criterion. 
Any chance that Criterion will pickup on The Burmese Harp by Kon Ichikawa? I think it one of the best anti-war film I seen for a long time. Touching and beautifully acted with one of the most haunted soundtrack I heard in awhile.
Any chance that Criterion will pickup on The Burmese Harp by Kon Ichikawa? I think it one of the best anti-war film I seen for a long time. Touching and beautifully acted with one of the most haunted soundtrack I heard in awhile.
Last edited by dom56; 08-23-05 at 05:15 PM.
08-23-05, 10:18 PM
#16
DVD Talk Legend
I hate it when I want all of the month's Criterions! Well, my wallet hates it.
I'm especially eager to get my hands on RAN, but wonder if the current "Masterworks" edition is worth picking up for the two commentaries.
I'm especially eager to get my hands on RAN, but wonder if the current "Masterworks" edition is worth picking up for the two commentaries.
08-24-05, 09:47 AM
#19
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
Originally Posted by LorenzoL
Nice to have an official confirmation for Ran. I'll definitely be picking this up.
08-25-05, 10:48 PM
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Stunning official artwork is starting to appear, even though the November releases haven't been officially announced on Criterion's website. Enjoy:
Ugetsu (Spine #309)
Unknown Title (Spine #314)
Ran (Spine #316)
The Tales of Hoffman (Spine #317)
Unknown Title (Spine #314)
Ran (Spine #316)
The Tales of Hoffman (Spine #317)
