I just don't see why that documentary would be Criterion-worthy. I haven't seen it, but from what I've read it goes into those crazy theories about how the film is "really" about the genocide of native Americans and how Kubrick helped fake the moon landing.

It might be fun to watch as entertainment, but why would Criterion, Warner, and/or Kubrick's estate want such a thing bundled with The Shining? It's like they'd be approving of the doc's messages.

Well, one can't make judgements about a film they haven't seen. I plan to check it out when it's released next year. I think it's likely a lot better than your giving it credit for as it got rave reviews and is sitting at a 98% fresh rating on RT. Warner also screened The Shining together with Room 237 at a gala event at this years Cannes film festival.

As for all of this talk about The Shining, I thought I was completely done with purchasing Kubrick films... Yet I would absolutely purchase a Blu-ray release containing the European cut of The Shining and the Room 237 documentary in one final Criterion package.

(Of course, I would also consider a Criterion re-release of Spartacus.)

I would second these thoughts. I am looking forward to seeing this documentary, as it speaks to the power of interpreting a Kubrick film (the book would never get such attention and actually seems cartoonish next to the majesty of K's film adaptation). However, the idea of concrete meanings, as wild as they are, goes against the film's brilliant open-endedness and would only seem trite in comparison. Still, the lack of Kubrick-related work for die-hards that took his productions-- however sporadic-- for granted post-death should get a nice "fill" from this documentary (and I look forward to it).

Not to beat a dead horse...since this is pretty out there speculation anyways but I would guess the sequence of events would go like this:

1) Room 237 was acquired by IFC films at the Sundance film festival after getting big buzz and great reviews.
2) To avoid potential litigation over the release of Room 237, IFC would want to clear the rights to The Shining footage with Warner Brothers.
3) As part of their talks with Warner Brothers, IFC could have made a deal to pair the films together on dvd/blu, with both studios sharing in the profits. (I pointed out that Warner has made similar deals recently with Universal/Fox for their Hitchcock/Kazan titles)
4) IFC offers the package to Criterion as part of their output deal.


If "Room 237" is Criterion worthy or not wouldn't really matter, as it would be IFC that packaged the "Shining" deal, not Criterion. I will point out that Criterion has actually tweeted about The Shining on 3 occasions in the last month and a half:

11/2: Is THE SHINING horror's greatest achievement?
11/28: A rare look into the mind of Stanley Kubrick. Exploring THE SHINING archive
12/12: Behold! Saul Bass’s awesome sketches for THE SHINING poster

The tweets probably mean nothing but they certainly have been tweeting a lot about The Shining and Kubrick since late October for whatever reason.

Warner isn't going to license out ANY of their Kubrick titles unless it's a weird one-off deal like what I suggested. This whole conversation started because a poster thought a Criterion tweet might have suggested Eyes Wide Shut or a Warner Kubrick was in the works.

Thanks for the summary, I guess it can definitely go in the "plausible" pile. I'm just not sure how willing I am to double-dip on this one.

today's announcement wishlist:

BRUTE FORCE
THE BLOB
ERASERHEAD
FRIENDS OF EDDIE COYLE
BADLANDS

Here're my hopes:

Eraserhead
The Friends of Eddie Coyle
Ikiru
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
The Shining (Dare we dream of accurately-colored tennis balls?)

Criterion just tweeted "We'll be announcing our new releases for March later on today... It's a big one".

Not sure if big one is for one title or the month in general, but I'm excited nonetheless.

A big... red one?

Big Top Pee-wee?

I got your big red one

pink!

My wishlist:
2 or 3 more Kurosawa films.

nothing else.

I really want a Blu upgrade on Vanishing (Sporloos) but I imagine that would be a good candidate for an October release.

Hoping for:

Badlands
M Hulot Holiday upgrade

My most wanted upgrade is Pandora's Box. But I'd settle for Steve Zissou.

Could it be 25th Hour?

Clair's I Married A Witch (1942) is one.

I hope when they release this it coincides with a Do the Right Thing upgrade.

wouldn't Criterion have to comission/pay for a new 65mm transfer? and that's no small beans.

They're up!

Badlands
Ministry of Fear
Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
A Man Escaped
Monsieur Verdoux

the cover for Badlands could've been SO much better...I get what they were trying to do, but this is kind of terrible.

These are in Something Awful's Criterion thread and they look legit to me...



649:



650:



651:



652:

Plus The Blob