Looks like we Canadians may finally see some less-ridiculous prices on Criterion releases, as Criterion will now have a Canadian distributor.

Toronto: Criterion Collection Lands Canadian Distributor

It'll still be overpriced, but maybe we could see more Criterion BDs for less than $40 now.

Interesting!

It is insane how much more expensive CC stuff is, on Amazon Canada.

I hope this really does remedy the discrepancy.

Unless they are cheaper than when Barnes and Noble run their sale, not much changes for me.

Just received my email with the December titles listed.
Really looking forward to checking out the 287 minute (wow!) director's cut of Wim Wenders' "Until the End of the World."

Wow.

Can't believe it's finally coming out...

That's a big-ass release in terms of minutes.
To be honest, I was somewhat underwhelmed with it. It was ambitious and was decent - but there were just many boring parts. It could've easily been trimmed by an hour or more.

Speaking of boring, I see "Old Joy" is a December title. I almost slipped into a coma watching that.

Never seen Until The End Of The World but it seems fascinating so I will give it a blind buy.

Oh my goodness. Finally after much teasing, one of my top 10 all time is coming. Thank you Criterion!!!

I bought the Dvd of Until The End Of The World back in March......really should have waited. Im both excited and annoyed with myself

The Director's Cut is much better than the theatrical cut. The long version is really intended to be viewed in three parts like a miniseries, which is how it aired on German television.

Wenders' movies have never been known for being "tight." The loose, freewheeling vibe is part of his style. I can understand why some people would find that boring, but many of his movies are very enjoyable if you just sink into them and let Wenders take you wherever he feels like going.

That said, his earlier work is much better than his later work, and Until the End of the World is sort of the turning point where his movies started going downhill.

^ Yea, I saw the Director's cut and didn't watch it in one sitting - and it was still too long.

I loved Paris, Texas and Wings of Desire. I even didn't mind Don't Come Knocking.

Wim Wenders's documentaries are still of the highest calibre. His movies with actors and a script, not so much. Kind of funny how similar that is with his fellow countryman Werner Herzog.

Don't you dare disparage Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans!

I'd equate Until the End of the World more with some of his very early films, like Kings of the Road, which is three hours long and doesn't really come together until the last half.

My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done

Yeah I like both of those. I'm talking more recently. I thought Queen of the Desert and especially Salt and Fire were both pretty lousy.

Sidney Lumet's Fail-Safe https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058083/

This comment could have come from my typewriter, at least as regards Herzog. Wenders's fiction films are better than Herzog's, though his Americophilia irritates.
Of those I have seen, the only fiction film of Herzog's I like is Kasper Hauser. Lessons of Darkness, imo his best documentary, is visually and narratively mesmerizing. Aguirre and Herz aus Glas, which I viewed (attempted to, at least) 25+ years ago, are both so intolerably pretentious and stone-cold boring (I don't bore easily) that I decided I had much better things to do than to further explore his fiction oeuvre.

Criterion January 2020 list of releases:

I'm very excited about more Almodovar plus Holiday is being released.

I've never seen it but I remember hearing that All About My Mother was an excellent film.

In for Godard, Almodovar and both Lumet.

All About My Mother remains my favourite Almodovar film. It's one of those films that keeps setting up confrontations and foreshadowing powerful scenes, but other lesser films would handle them differently, the character would keep their feelings to themselves or it would be alluded to happening offscreen, but EVERYTIME Almodovar delivered. He would set the scene for an epic encounter, tease that you might not get it, then would unleash it like phoenix rising from the ashes. This happened over and over. Great film.

Todo sobre mi madre is one Almodovar's best (and a wonderful introduction to Penelope Cruz back in the day). Between this and the magnificent Hable con ella, Mala Educacion, and Volver, Almodovar entered the 21st Century stronger than any other director I can think of.

Fail Safe is a masterpiece and an easy purchase. I've never seen The Fugitive Kind but I'll watch anything Lumet has directed.