Criterion will be releasing a boxed collection of literary film adaptations. The set will include Lean's renderings of Oliver Twist and Great Expectations as well as Lord of the Flies and The Most Dangerous Game. The titles are of course available separately, but for people who have been pining for these but haven't picked any of them up, this is a cheaper way to do it. Neat looking box, too.

http://www.criterionco.com/asp/connections.asp?id=63

I watched Great Expectations a couple of weeks back and really liked it. I own Oliver Twist and I don't think it is as good. There is also an 8-disk David Lean Collection coming out in September that will have these two films also for $67 pre-ordered at Amazon. The Criterion and forthcoming set seem to be fairly bare-bones editions.

I have been on the fence about picking up The Most Dangerous Game since it is so cheap and I like classic movies. The Lord of the Flies is interesting too and I've seen it before but I've heard the transfer isn't all that great.

The DAVID LEAN COLLECTION has been cancelled by MGM for unknown reasons. There is no new release date at this time.

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

It won't include a new title of Adaptation the movie?

Four movies based on classic books, huh? Here's a suggested, possible box design:

dumbest boxset ever. And this from a staunch supporter of all that is Criterion....

I've said it on the criterion forum also,
but yes i agree. Dumb idea to package these together.

But then again,
I don't have those 4 titles, MGM has delayed the Lean Box,
I probably will get this set, even though I'm not in school.

I think its an awful idea. I passed on the David Lean Criterions during the DDD sale hoping a boxset would be coming out soon. And instead we get this. Shame on you Criterion.

can you not upload images on this forum?
i can't find a 'browse' or 'attach' button.
am i just missing it?

anyway,
since i can't attach this image, i'll just use the link i found



although funny marketing, nice cover, i must say.

Aw, who cares, let Criterion make a few bucks. These are all old DVDs anyway. With the revenue they can continue their brilliant work on new and upcoming DVD projects that are worth getting excited about.

JiM T

Will this box set have the UPC symbols punched out like other box sets?

I'm glad they are doing it... these are four Criterions on my want list that I will now be able to pick up cheaper.

I agree with everyone else: Stupid idea for a box set (though the cover design's not bad), but, given that I don't have any of these DVDs yet, I might go for it...

Pretty lame.

I have all the titles listed, and they are all very good, but it's a rather bizarre boxset. Maybe this will be big with high school students trying to avoid reading the actual books.

I'd be ecstatic if any high schoolers watched these films as a result of this. I might introduce them to the world of good cinema and pique their interest in reading the actual book. Hmm, New York Minute or Great Expectations?

True. Besides if I had to read Great Expectations I'd go out buy the DVD of the one with Gwyneth Paltrow naked on the cover.

Ditto. I don't understand why people are so cranky about this. I understand the MGM set getting cancelled is frustrating, but that's no reason to go bitching to Criterion. They're two completely different sets.

Hey, it's not the flimsiest premise they could have used to make a box set.

"Criterion presents: Four films in black and white!"

I think that would send most heterosexual men running back to the book.