Agreed, the existing blu-ray looks amazing, like it was shot yesterday. But if they throw in the roadshow version and nice extras, the Criterion version could be worth double-dipping on.

I really hope Criterion has something big up their sleeve for IaMMMMW, because otherwise it does seem like a completely unnecessary release.

Not that it matters that much to me anyways - in spite of all the talent involved, I've never found the film to be particularly funny. And it's waaaay too long.

I thought I was the only one.

I'd probably feel the same if I first saw it as an adult, or even a teenager. But I was 8 or 9 when I first saw it and it left a real impression. Blame nostalgia, I suppose.

How about a Criterion edition of 1941 or Rat Race.

Ice Storm ...little disappointed on the video review, but still a buy nonetheless.

I'm not surprised. I was told (off the record) by one director who is on criterion that they had ported over one of his DVDs to Blu-ray and he was upset they even added his director-approved sticker.

Regarding the ratio. Has it always been pushed up?

Might have to pick up Mulholland Drive if it's released.

I don't understand. Are you saying that you're not surprised that The Ice Storm has a sub-par transfer? Or are you saying you're not surprised that Criterion released a sub-par transfer? I'm not trying to give you a hard time. I honestly just don't understand what one has to do with the other or what you're trying to get at.

No worries. Sorry about that. I'm not surprised to hear that Criterion released a DVD port on blu-ray of The Ice Storm, hence the sub-par transfer. That is exactly what I heard from one director who had that happen with one of his films being "upgraded" from DVD to BR. So what I was trying to say is that I at least know of one other occasion where Criterion has released a blu-ray version of a DVD and did nothing to remaster it for BR and never truly got director approval.

Sounds like the old justification THX used for leaving their approval on that old Highlander transfer - the original master was made for laserdisc, but since it was approved then, it's still technically "approved" now.

So even if it's a 2k transfer that was good enough for DVD, it's become apparent with other Blus (from other studios also) that those transfers just aren't good enough. A lot of fans on Star Trek forums that aren't really into the how and why of Bluray think the Trek movie box set Blurays (particularly the first six movies) are simply upconverted DVDs because they don't have the same level of detail as some of their other Blurays.

The first half of Mulholland Drive was produced as a TV pilot and framed for 1.78:1. (Well, really, it was primarily framed for 4:3 but "protected" for 1.78:1.) When it was turned into a feature film, the photography was matted down to 1.85:1. Lynch must have felt that was too tight on the top, and wanted the image slid down a bit to compensate.

Although they have been all but confirmed, it might interest some to know that The Brood and Scanners have been added to Criterion's iTunes channel.

If anyone feels like taking a look at my owned titles and recommend anything they feel are 'must haves' that I might be missing, I'm taking suggestions in preparation for the B&N sale!

THE SALE (you know the one) starts on TUESDAY.

overlap or die!

So I'm thinking of blind buying the Three Colors Trilogy during the sale, and I was wondering if you guys could help me out with that decision. It seems like it has a lot of themes I'm really in to (mostly character driven, kind of sad, romantic, beautiful, introspective, etc.) but I feel weird spending that much money on a set of movies I haven't seen yet. Are they really feely?

The Three Colors movies are almost universally beloved by everyone in the entire world who's ever seen them... except me. I think they're a huge load of unwatchably pretentious BS.

Take that for whatever it's worth. I seem to be in a minority with that opinion.

It's not hyperbole to say they are some of the finest crafted movies ever made, with something to offer everyone. If they had been made in English, most adult movie fans in the U.S. would have seen them.

They are far better than a large percentage of the art house tripe in Criterion's catalog.

I don't wanna say they are 'very' feely in case you would take that as a bad thing. I found they struck a pretty perfect balance.

I wouldn't go that far, but I'm another decided non-fan. There's some impressive imagery on display, to be certain, and I'd certainly recommend giving a shot to watching them, by all means, as there's a lot more going on than most movies have to offer. For me, though, there's not enough resonance beneath the twaddle and once was definitely enough.

Thanks. It looks like it's definitely something worth picking up. I'll see what my paycheck says on the matter.

Going to be up early to pick up some Seijun Suzuki films.