September Criterions!
 

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Spine #249 MSRP $49.95

SPECIAL EDITION THREE-DISC SET FEATURES:

DISC 1: THE BATTLE OF ALGIERS

-New high-definition digital transfer, supervised by cinematographer Marcello Gratti, with restored image and sound, and enhanced for widescreen televisions

-Return to Algiers (1992, 55 minutes): three decades following its emergence as a nation, director Gillo Pontecorvo and his son return to Algeria to talk with its people about independence

-Theatrical and re-release trailers

-Poster gallery

-New and improved English subtitle translation

-Optimal image quality: RSDL dual-layer edition

DISC 2: PONTECORVO AND THE FILM

-The Making of The Battle of Algiers: an exclusive new documentary created for this release guided by Pontecorvo biographer Irene Bignardi and featuring interviews with the director himself, cinematographer Marcello Gatti, composer Ennio Morricone, editor Mario Morra, actors Jean Martin and Saadi Yacef, and film critic Tullio Kezich

-The Dictatorship of Truth: a 37-minute documentary narrated by Edward Said about the relationship between Pontecorvo’s politics and filmmaking style

-Directors on The Battle of Algiers: a discussion about the film’s influence, style, and importance featuring, Spike Lee, Mira Nair, Julian Schnabel, Steven Soderbergh, and Oliver Stone

DISC 3: THE FILM AND HISTORY

-The Battle of Algiers and History: a new documentary featuring interviews with historians Alistair Horne, Hugh Roberts and Benjamin Stora, former FLN members Zohra Drif-Bitat, Mohammed Harbi and Saadi Yacef, and writer and torture victim, Henri Alleg (The Question)

-“Etats d’Armies”—a 30-minute excerpt from Patrick Rotman’s 3-part documentary, L’Ennemi Intime, which focuses on the horror of the French-Algerian War. It features interviews with various members of the French military during the French-Algerian War, including General Jacques Massu, General Roger Trinquier, General Paul Aussaresses, and others

-How to Win the Battle But Lose the War of Ideas: a conversation about the contemporary relevance of The Battle of Algiers between former National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism and author of Against All Enemies: Inside America’s War on Terror, Richard A. Clarke, former State Department Coordinator for Counterterrorism, Michael A. Sheehan, and Chief of Investigative Projects for ABC News, Christopher E. Isham

-Plus: a booklet featuring a new essay by film scholar Peter Matthews, a reprinted interview with writer Franco Solinas, brief biographies on the key figures in the French-Algerian War, and more

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Includes: A Constant Forge, A Woman Under The Influence, Faces, The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, Opening Night, and Shadows.

Spine #250-256 MSRP $124.95

SPECIAL EDITION EIGHT DISC BOX SET SPECIAL FEATURES

-New high-definition digital transfers of all films, with restored image and sound and (where applicable) enhanced for 16x9 televisions

-New video interviews with Cassavetes collaborators Gena Rowlands, Ben Gazzara, Peter Falk, Seymour Cassel, Lelia Goldoni, Lynn Carlin, and Al Ruban

-Two versions of The Killing of a Chinese Bookie: Cassavetes’ original 135-minute cut as well as his subsequent 108-minute re-edit

-Faces alternate opening: 17 minutes of footage revealing the most significant differences of the two version’s opening sequences

-Cinéastes de notre temps: an episode from the French television series, dedicated to Cassavetes

-Audio commentary on A Woman Under the Influence by sound recordist and composer Bo Harwood and camera operator Mike Ferris

-Stills galleries with hundreds of behind-the-scenes photos, publicity shots, and posters

-Booklet featuring new essays on Cassavetes and the films by writers/critics Jonathan Lethem, Gary Giddins, Stuart Klawans, Kent Jones, Philip Lopate, Dennis Lim, and director Charles Kiselyak, as well as reprinted writings by and interviews with Cassavetes, a tribute to Cassavetes by director Martin Scorsese, and more

-English subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired

-Optimal image quality: RSDL dual-layer edition

-More!

A Constant Forge
Special Features

-Biographical sketches of the actors Cassavetes used in many of his films, written by Tom Charity (John Cassavetes: Lifeworks)

-Poster gallery for Cassavetes’ Faces, Shadows, A Woman Under the Influence, The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, and Opening Night

-English subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired

-Optimal image quality: RSDL dual-layer edition

A Woman Under The Influence
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Special Features

-New high-definition digital transfer with restored image and sound, enhanced for widescreen televisions

-Audio commentary by longtime Cassavetes collaborators Mike Ferris (camera operator) and Bo Harwood (sound recordist/composer)

-New video interview with actors Gena Rowlands and Peter Falk

-Original TV spots

-Stills gallery featuring dozens of behind-the-scenes production photos

-English subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired

-Optimal image quality: RSDL dual-layer edition

Faces
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Special Features
DISC ONE—THE FILM

-New high-definition digital transfer, with restored image and sound and enhanced for widescreen televisions

-English subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired

-Optimal image quality: RSDL dual-layer edition

DISC TWO—THE SUPPLEMENTS

-Seventeen-minute alternate opening sequence, from the Library of Congress version of Faces

-Cinéastes de notre temps (1968, 48 minutes): an episode from the French television series dedicated to Cassavetes, featuring rare interviews and behind-the-scenes footage

-New video interviews with actors Gena Rowlands, Lynn Carlin, Seymour Cassel, and director of photography Al Ruban

-Lighting and shooting the film: Ruban explains how he and the crew achieved the distinct look of Faces, featuring specific sequences from the film

The Killing of a Chinese Bookie
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Special Features
DISC ONE—THE 1976 CUT

-New high-definition digital transfer of John Cassavetes’ original 135-minute edit of the film, unavailable since 1976, with restored image and sound, enhanced for widescreen televisions

-English subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired

-Optimal image quality: RSDL dual-layer edition

DISC TWO—THE 1978 CUT

-New high-definition digital transfer of Cassavetes’ 108-minute edit, from the 1978 theatrical re-release, with restored image and sound, enhanced for widescreen televisions

-New video interviews with star Ben Gazzara and producer Al Ruban

-Stills gallery of dozens of behind-the-scenes photos

-English subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired

-Optimal image quality: RSDL dual-layer edition

Opening Night
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Special Features

-New high-definition digital transfer with restored image and sound, enhanced for widescreen televisions

-New video interview with actors Gena Rowlands and Ben Gazzara

-Stills gallery featuring dozens of behind-the-scenes production photos

-English subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired

-Optimal image quality: RSDL dual-layer edition

Shadows
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Special Features

-New high-definition digital transfer, with restored image and sound

-Video interviews with actress Lelia Goldoni and associate producer Seymour Cassel

-Rare silent 16mm footage of John Cassavetes and Burt Lane’s acting workshop rehearsals

-Restoration demonstration

-Stills gallery featuring dozens of behind-the-scenes production photos

-Trailer

-English subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired

-Optimal image quality: RSDL dual-layer edition

:jawdrop:

A minute ago I had a hangover, but no more. Criterion, please marry me.

Half of me cheers, the other half despairs... In the beginning I was the champion of Criterion putting out as much as they could, but as one who collects every issue Criterion releases they are driving me out of the collection with continued box sets and 3 disc sets.

On one hand it's great! What treatment! On the the other hand, there's almost $200 of releases in the same month... I wish they could spread the box sets around a little... This month it's 'The Leopard' 3 disc and Jean Renoir's... Anyone else notice that they seem to put out a lot more titles per month than they used to?

Oh well, I guess it's a good complaint to have.

I thought this sounded familiar :D

Criterion in September

Oops. :)

Finally!!!!

Battle of Algiers, Woman Under The Influence, and Faces... and some other films I am looking forward to.

Cheers :beer:

DVD Smurf :)

I tell ya, some of these people are too quick. There have been several times I was going to start a thread but noticed someone else started one a few hours before. But it's easy to be excited with new Criterions :)

Good news is worth posting twice. And this was the better announcement.

The three biggest and best looking DVD releases of the year (adding Dawn of the Dead special edition to this) are all coming out in one month.

the cassevettes box set is :drool: worthy

i hope love streams will make it to dvd one day soon.

What's the fascination on this board with overpriced dvds?

Criterion's DVDs are not overpriced.

...AND THEY'RE OFF!!!

I can understand if you truly like the movies, but some people just buy them because they are Criterions.

They truly like the movies. As a 'cool new member' maybe you should refrain from posting comments like that, you'll get eaten alive and [BANNED] quick.

Ya i find that silly myself. And Criterion's DVDs are most definitely overpriced

With that said i am interested in that Cassevettes box set but i'll have to wait and see what else i'll be picking up that month becuase it's pretty pricey.

Holy shit.

I will have to get the Algiers set immediately, and then figure out how in the hell i can afford the cassavetes set. I am truly awed by this....God Bless you Criterion!!!

If you do a search, there are many many threads about this.

But, you are correct. Some buy the name. Some also buy all the Blue Underground (waves at gut :) ) ... etc etc.

But this loyalty also happens in other areas. Some people buy nothing but Mercedes. Some will only eat at the finest restaurants...etc etc.

I may be a cool new member because I just registered, but I've been looking at this site for years.

*starts building wishlist for next DDD sale*

I don't really understand why Criterions are called overpriced (unless you're Canadian, if you want to be P.C.). Especially considering how they are usually the only decent R1 vendors offering these films.

Would you rather pay $20-30 for a Facets, New Yorker, Vanguard, Fox Lorber or Kino DVD of a film that Criterion offers for $40, with high-def transfers, loaded with extras; most of which have never been seen in the states?

Because these are the people who would be getting the above films, and numerous extreme rarities like Il Posto, a Brakhage anthology (well, nobody else would release that, would they?), and Richard III, likely complete with less-than-satisfactory transfers of murky printts with little to no features.

They are priced to the point some people are willing to pay for them. (with enough people to keep them going).

Then you must know that your comment has been covered to death in other threads. It's basically a thread-fart.

these sets look awesome. Its like going to film school with each set.

For those frightened by the list price, if DVD Planet continues to offer it's 35% discount on Criterions, the Cassevettes films will cost $16.25 each (yes, I know, you have to buy all five together...)

I guess another month to wait and see if Playtime gets re-released. You guys think it will happen?

Criterion announced early this year (or maybe late last year) that a new Playtime DVD; as well as the DVD debut of Jour de Fete, would be coming. I expect them both before the end of the year; and I expect Playtime to be one of Criterion's more astounding releases.

Well you must be lying because if you've been around here at all in the past you would have seen this topic discussed many, many times already.

I used to think Criterions were overpriced until I started seeking out other foreign films. And good lord! Did you see the price for Kino's release of Stalker? And Ran Masterworks was equally high as Criterions and the same for the definitive Metropolis DVD. We can't even get a 2-disc set for Empire Strikes Back but Criterion gives us a 3-disc set of The Battle Of Algiers! C'mon how cool is that?

I just saw that one guys post earlier in this thread about "Criterion, please marry me" and couldn't take it any more. In all honesty, I wouldn't spend anymore than $15-20 on a DVD unless it was LOTR EEs, multi-movie box sets (i.e. - Alien Quadrilogy, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, etc.), or TV show season box sets (Simpsons, Family Guy, etc.). That's just me though. You guys probably don't share the same opinion. Sorry for expressing my opinion, but I thought this was the "DVD Talk" section. Next time I won't say anything.

That's the difference between you and people who love The Battle of Algiers and the films of John Cassavetes; or those interested in them.

Battle of Algiers is better than everything you just named (and that's coming from someone who is a Simpsons nut and Indiana Jones phanatic who lined up before the store opened on 10/21 to be the first to grab Indy)

The other difference is that you guys probably have 1000s of dvds and bottomless wallets. I only have about 300 dvds.

Here's a nutty idea: Why don't you go write a book about your life story and leave us and this thread in peace?

If you don't like Criterions, why did you even click on this thread in the first place? Just to complain?

If I had to choose, I would always select quality over quantity (I am fortunate to have both at present). It also appears, Novasonic (and correct me if I'm wrong), that you don't care for the kind of films that Criterion releases. So why are you even commenting in this thread? Around these parts, that's considered either baiting or threadcrapping, and neither will endear you to other members.

Personally, I wouldn't own the Alien Quadrilogy or Indiana Jones or Star Wars sets if they were given to me giftwrapped--I mean, we all have our personal tastes--but I don't begrudge other members their excitement over these releases (and I don't feel compelled to post my negative opinion in a Star Wars or Alien thread). So, I'll ask again: why are you posting in this particular thread?

Just to see why people like Criterions so much. I guess I got my answer now. I can't believe you guys don't like Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and Indiana Jones. To each his own.

Novasonic, let me know if you are wanting to buy the LOTR EE's! I have them for sale.

Sorry just trying to get everyone to calm down. ;)

Thanks, but I already have the first two. I'm just waiting on the ROTK EE.

You really should follow your own advice and not say anything else. The more you say the more you expose how uninformed you really are and you're also derailing this thread. If you wanted to talk about how expensive Criterions are, there are plenty of threads to do so in or you can even start your own thread. There's no need to hijack this one.

It seems apparent to others but not to you, but not everyone who buys Criterion has deep pockets or 1000s of DVDs. There are many like myself who are very selective about what we buy. No one denies that Criterion are expensive, but we have to recognize the fact that not all DVD production costs are the same and not all DVD make the same amount of money.

One more thing, you can't judge other people by your own values. It's their time and their money, they're entitled to do with them as they pleases. Personally, I think that anyone who paid $9+ to see "Dude, Where's My Car?" at the theaters are crazy, but I'm not going to make a post about how crazy they are because what would it serve? Isn't it just my personal value and how is it any more valid than that of the people who paid to see the movie?

It's one thing if you didn't like these movies and weren't planning on getting them, but it's another to try and insult the people who are looking forward to them. It doesn't make you look good.

ok

Did you pay more than $9+ for Armageddon, Chasing Amy, or Salo?

You did make a post about value, and you did judge by it.