LorenzoL

If this was Criterion's idea of a April Fools Day joke, it was a really bad one IMO.

Chris777

pretty ****ing funny, anyway i really hope they release this and boy if they aren't messing, well i guess .................................................... that means no more criterion for me (for a while)

naitram

I knew this had to be a joke. My most anticipated Criterion, I guess I'll keep waiting.

Fielding Mellish

So, how many people panic-sold their Wellspring editions over the last 24 hours? I know I consdered it.

kingtopher

That's pretty stupid, especially since the news was first put up on the night of the 31st. Screw you, Criterion.

wendersfan

Someone posited the theory that it wasn't 'really' a joke, but that Wellspring objected to the early announcement (since their version i still in print) so Criterion took it down. Sounds plausible, but I don't know.

littlefuzzy

Has Criterion really pulled any April Fool's jokes before?

For those who follow the video game forum, it was announced in the April EGM that Nintendo would include a graphically updated "mature" version of Zelda: Windwaker for people who pre-ordered the new Zelda game. - For those who don't know, this has been all but proven to be their April Fool's joke...

The magazine had a history of April Fool's jokes, and that was something that was kind of off the wall...

Since Criterion has released many Kurosawa films in the past, it seems very plausible that they would be trying to acquire the rights to Ran, as well.

LorenzoL

That's why I would find it in bad taste if this was an April Fools prank since they just released a wonderful version of Kurosawa's Kagemusha.

I sincerely hope what Wendersfan indicated is the reason why the announcement is no longer on their website and that the possible release of this movie comes to fruition.

Lemdog

Criterion would most likely get in legal trouble if they announced a title they didn't have the rights to. So I doubt it was a April fools joke.

buckee1

OK, This really sucks. I was really looking forward to this title. I guess My R2 WB disc will have to suffice until they make a "real" announcement.

PopcornTreeCt

Props to Criterion for having a sense of humor.

gutwrencher

I just can't believe that they would be that stupid...really. If thats the title they chose to joke about....then they really would be idiots. I don't even know hoodrats that are that ignorant.

Bill Needle

I don't find it so much in bad taste, but utterly not funny. I don't see any possible source of humor or pranksterism to draw on in this.

Criterion: We are announcing the coming release of Kurosawa'a Ran.
Response: Oh, that's nice.

Criterion: No, we're not really! April Fools!
Response: What? Uhm...OK. Ha-ha, I guess.

PopcornTreeCt

Actually if you read the responses, they were a little more than just "Oh that's nice"

Jepthah

billy9215

The announcement is back up on Criterion's home page...so it seems it was a joke and then not a joke..

Life goes on.

Giles

so it is.... sneaky bastards.

talemyn

Maybe they put it up on the 1st and then realized what day it was so they took it down so that people wouldn't think it was an April Fools Day joke? And now that it's over they're put it back up?

kingtopher

I take it back. Criterion, you no longer have any obligation to do anything to yourselves other than patting yourselves on the back.

naitram

It is indeed still there, so let me officially say hell ya.

Cameron

good news...glad they don't have a sense of humor

jmj713

I can only imagine what kind of freaky orgasm-inducing cover they'll come up with...

pigmode

Okay, this is getting a little strange. OTOH, you just gotta love Lady Kaede's psychotic laugh.

L.A.

What was wrong with this dvd release?



It's the one I bought.

Richard Malloy

Very poor, shimmering, artifact-ridden transfer on "Ran", no anamorphic enhancement on the documentary (which was shot 1.78:1), and a less than ideal transfer on "Madadayo".

All that, plus it cost $100.