Criterion in August
 

Spine 246 - I Vitteloni

-New high-definition digital transfer, with restored image and sound
-The Making of I Vitelloni: an exclusive documentary featuring interviews with late actor Leopoldo Trieste, actor Franco Interlenghi, assistant director Moraldo Rossi, Fellini biographer Tullio Kezich, Fellini friend Vincenzo Mollica, and director of the Fellini Foundation, Vittorio Boarini
-Collection of stills, posters, and memorabilia
-Original theatrical trailer and movie newsreels from the time of the film’s release
-New essay by Grammy Award-winning writer Tom Piazza (Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: A Musical Journey)
-New and improved English subtitle translation
-Optimal image quality: RSDL dual-layer edition
-More!

Spine 247 - Slacker
-New high-definition digital transfer, with restored image and sound supervised by director Richard Linklater and directory of photography Lee Daniel, made from the original 16mm film element

-Audio commentaries featuring Richard Linklater and members of the cast and crew

-It's Impossible to Learn to Plow by Reading Books (1988), Linklater's first full-length feature, with commentary by Linklater, available here for the first time on home video
-Rare casting tapes featuring select "auditions" from the over one hundred member cast
-Deleted scenes and on-set footage
-Footage from the Slacker 10th Anniversary Reunion in Austin, Texas in 2001
-Original theatrical trailer
-Stills gallery featuring hundreds of rare behind-the-scenes production and publicity photos, and early script versions
-History of the Austin Film Society, founded by Linklater with Lee Daniel, including early flyers from screenings
-Booklet featuring reviews, essays, production notes, an introduction to Plow by director Monte Hellman (Two Lane Blacktop, The Shooting), an essay by John Pierson (Spike Mike Reloaded: A Guided Tour Across a decade of American Independent Cinema) and a complete cast and crew listing
-English subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired
-Optimal image quality: RSDL dual-layer edition
-Much more!

248 - Videodrome
-New high-definition digital transfer, with restored image and sound and enhanced for widescreen televisions
-Audio commentaries by director David Cronenberg, actors James Woods and Deborah Harry, and director of photography Mark Irwin
-Camera, a short film starring Videodrome’s Les Carlson, written and directed by David Cronenberg in 2000 as part of the 25th anniversary celebration of the Toronto Film Festival
-Forming the New Flesh, a new half-hour documentary featurette by video effects artist Michael Lennick about the creation of Videodrome’s landmark video and prosthetic makeup effects, featuring new interviews with Rick Baker and others
-Samurai Dreams, the complete and unedited faux Japanese AV feature seen in the film
-Fear on Film, a 26-minute roundtable discussion from 1982 between filmmakers David Cronenberg, John Carpenter, John Landis, and Mick Garris about censorship, special effects makeup, and horror cinema
-Original theatrical trailers, plus a promotional featurette
-Stills gallery featuring hundreds of rare behind-the-scenes production photos, special effects makeup tests, and publicity photos, many never before seen
-English subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired
-Essays by film critic Carrie Rickey and Videodrome expert Tim Lucas
-Optimal image quality: RSDL dual-layer edition
-More!

Including Camera only makes Videodrome kick more ass. I can't wait!

this videodrome edition is
KICK ASS
I can't wait!

Videodrome is literally as excited as I can possibly get over a DVD. For me, it's like Star Wars for other people. Cronenberg is just a movie god IMO, one of the greatest living directors, I love this movie, & good lord those are some sweet extras.

I'm not a fan of Slacker, so that is one I'll pass on.

Good news about Videodrome but too bad Criterion still overprices their DVDs so much!

http://www.criterionco.com/content/i...ox_348x490.jpg

http://www.criterionco.com/content/i...ox_348x490.jpg

I couldn't find one for Slacker.

-rolleyes-
Can we never have a Criterion thread without that comment? If it's too expensive, please don't buy it.

Go roll your eyes else where. I like the film and i'm going to buy it but it sucks that it costs so much. If you don't like my comments than please don't read them.

It will be no more than 25 bucks at the site I buy from. I am not going to spam it, but that is not very much at all, considering how sweet a package it is...

Criterion does not overprice their DVDs.

He's going to have to read at least one of them, otherwise how's he going to know not to read any more of them in the future?

I'm all over Slacker and Videodrome.

those covers are awesome, especially for I Vitteloni

I've never seen I Vitteloni. Can anyone comment on how it compares to Fellini's other films?

...August might be a three-for-three Criterion release month for me.

Slacker is REAL?!!! I think some people on this forum and the Criterion forum owe someone an apology!

Unfortunately they do.

I find it funny that some American's complain that Criterion's are over-priced, when they're really just $5-10 more than other DVDs.

In Canada (unless you pre-order as soon as Amazon.ca has the title available) you can wind up paying anywhere from $20-$60 CAD more for Criterion's.

You have to understand whenever someone mentions how expensive they are, they will (usually) point to the MSRP. But, as Fed-Ex Pope pointed out, you can usually get Criterions for a lot less than MSRP. Let's take a look at an example for 2 recent releases from DVDPlanet:

Underworld 2-disc $24.47

Videodrome isn't listed yet but the MSRP should be typical at $39.95 for this type of release. DVDPlanet sells Criterions for 35% off ('m using the recent 3 Women as an example for the final price) so 3 Women $25.97

Yes, Criterions are more expensive ($1.50 in this case) but not that much more expensive... as long as you get them at the right places.

Decently priced criterion DVDs
 

Hey, Fed-Ex Pope! You can email me regarding the site you buy Criterion DVDs for $25, and so can anyone else that knows the site, in case I do not hear from him. Thanks!

As for I Vitelloni. I saw that once in the theater. I've seen most of Fellini’s films, read about him and even took a college course on him, and I can say it is one of his more marginal films. It's sort of like La Strada without the impact. It's good but packs a soft punch.

Of these three films, I am most interested in Videodrome. I'm glad I held off on the bare-bones release. "Death to Videodrome, long live the new flesh!" indeed. I love how it explores-- or maybe, better-put “fetisheses”-- videotape, a new technology for that time (1979-- I believe?), the way eXistenZ did virtual reality, a new technology for that time (1999). Though I think eXistenZ is the more accomplished film by a more mature director. Still, there is something to the mind-blowing fantasies of Cronenberg’s film, even the dated ones.

Well being in Canada, the prices are always much higher. Most Criterions are at least anywhere from 45 or 60 dollars here. I'd love to order from DVDplanet but the shipping is insane plus the convsersion to CAN funds, plus customs so it's not worth it, hence why i commented on the price.

Ah, okay... I understand, MSD. No Canadian sites with decent Criterion discounts? That would suck, though :(

slowcloud... look at my post above your :D

You have to pre-order from Amazon.ca as soon as the Criterion is available.

I pre-ordered Floating Weeds, The Tin Drum, Tokyo Story, Circle Rouge, La Strada and other 2-disc Criterions for $36 CAD at Amazon.ca. The single disc pre-order price can be a few bucks cheaper - I pre-ordered A Woman is a Woman for $27 CAD.

With the many $5 promotional gift certificates available to you, and the free shipping of orders over $39 - the prices are pretty sweet.

However, once you miss out on the pre-order - the price goes up anywhere from $10-20 at Amazon.ca

I avoid purchasing Criterions at retail, as they'll have Criterions with prices ranging from $50 all the way up to $90+ CAD. That's ridiculous.

yeah, that was the site I war talking about. 19.99 for the cheaper Criterions, 24.99 for the more deluxe editions. No tax, free shipping with orders with 3 items...I have bought about 20 from them so far, with no problems at all.

EDIT:(In Referrence of Tom's latest post.)

Even when pre ordering the price is still kinda high. It definitely stops me from checking out alot of their titles. I will pre order Viderdrome and any other C titles that i really want but it's a shame that they feel the need to continue to set such high prices.

www.dvdplanet.com has all Criterions for 19.99, or 24.99.

so let's stop complaining, eh?

(if you live in So.Cal. you can just buy them at their store)

:lol:

Maybe you should actually READ before replying. -wink-

Criterions are NOT overpriced. If you really believe that they are, it only means that you have no idea how much time and work go into the restoration Criterion films go under. They often have to lease the right to publish these films, and in all cases they take immaculate care of their titles regarding supplements, intelligent essays/commentaries and superb packaging. That (and the fact that they almost always kick ass) is the reason why discerning film fans love the Criterion Collection and are willing to pay the few extra dollars for the ultimate presentation of the film.

Oh i forgot that they were the only company that does this kind of stuff. Sorry my mistake..... Wait.... no, they're the only company that does this kind of stuff and charges what they do. Ya that sounds better. :)

MSD, I'm sorry you are getting targeted about this, and I, for one, can understand your situation with Canada's currency conversion, plus all the other costs of buying imports in your part of the world. You do pay more that us in the States, so it's easy for us in the U.S. to say, "it's just a few bucks more." I must say, I do value Criterion's extra efforts in their DVDs. It is also important to note to look beyond the care they put into transfers and adding significant extras: Criterion DVDs have no extra promotional material like trailers that do not have historical value. Their DVDs do not have commercials in them like other special edition DVDs, and you can rest assured that the supplemental material are not simple back-slapping PR puff pieces but real, unbiased documentaries and interviews done by other filmmakers, journalists and film scholars. This is worth the extra $ and is actually quite priceless in this age of commercialism disguised as art. But, MSD, you are right that it is tough on the wallet, especially from Canada. I usually wait to get gift certificates to order Criterion DVDs.

C'mon... if MSD can't tell the difference, that's his very great loss. No skin off my nose.

Tell the difference between what exactly? I have no problem telling the difference between a Criterion disc and a non-Criterion disc (the price tag usually clues me in ;) ), it's never been about that. My only problem with Criterion is that they overprice their DVDs. Their DVDs are great (most of the time) and don't get me wrong i actually have quite a few considering what i think of their prices but what they do nowadays is not so uncommon so i don't see the need for such high prices. So when a new Criterion disc is announced that i want i jump for joy but i wallet doesn't. That's all.

Actually what they do nowadays is very uncommon. I don't see MGM releasing 2-disc sets of Rhapsody in August or Fellini's Satyricon or Fellini's Roma. No other studio gives foreign films the kind of treatment Criterion does. I'm the same way with their prices though. I love Criterion DVDs but the pricing is almost like do I want these 2 releases or 1 Criterion?

There are obviously people here on stricter budgets than others. While it's easy for some to drop $30 or so for a DVD, it's harder for others. So if it's no skin of your nose, Richard, share the love and buy us each a Criterion disc. ;)

Seriously, though, no one is going to agree on this unless they can empathize with the other. And, sorry, MSD, the States is falling very short of empathy these days.

I empathize with the folks up in the Great Northwest in this situation but I guess you'll just have to pick and choose wisely if money is a factor. You know Criterion is not going to lower their MSRP since they have a consistent price point for their niche market.

btw, MSD... very nice collection there :up:

Two things must be remembered:

1. You shouldn't say what Criterion does is "not uncommon nowadays", just because other studios release great DVD sets too. The fact of the matter is that 20th Century Fox can afford to sell The Grapes of Wrath for $14 (which doesn't net them much) because they make up for it when they sell a gagillion X-Men, Fight Club, and Alien DVDs.

2. While their DVD prices my "annoy" some buyers today, their laserdisc prices of yesteryear would flat out piss you off. If you think paying $60 for Brazil on DVD sucks, I can't imagine how you'd feel about paying $180.

That's true but there are many independent DVD companies out there that don't charge what Criterion does and do the same work.

Alright. I'll take the bait.

Name just ONE other non-studio DVD company that consistently equals Criterion in quality and charges "reasonable" prices ....

Blue Underground.

Okay FINE... ONE company.

It's not like you could name another.



hehe, just kidding.

Anywhere here's the real reason I posted. My question is when do Criterions usually go up for preoder? I was hoping to order these on Amazon.ca today before the last of the coupons expire.

Actually not just Criterions, is there a site that has a list of when DVDs go up for pre-orders usually?

I'm really excited about the Slacker release, I"ve been waiting 9 years to see "It's Impossible to Plow..."