I'm happy about the OUATIC box set since I always eyed the Eureka Box set overseas.

Anyone have any idea if Criterion has Hard Boiled and The Killer? I would love for them to release it again.

Seems unlikely. The rights to the early Woo films are in a very complicated situation. I would be ecstatic to be proven wrong.

A while back Kino Insider indicated that another label had the US rights to the Woo films. The assumption was that it was Criterion, but maybe it was old data and/or a misunderstanding on the part of Kino. Everything else we've heard suggests that the Golden Princess catalog is a no-go. At the very least we know this is the case in the UK.

Where is Lost in Translation? How is it there’s just a basic ass 15 year old old Blu-ray edition?

It's possible Criterion licensed it and is just sitting on the rights - something they have a longstanding habit of doing. It's such an obvious choice for a boutique label, but Kino Lorber made it sound as if they didn't license any Sofia Coppola films as part of their Universal deals, which generally just leaves Criterion, Shout Select, and maybe Arrow. And given that Criterion did such a great job with The Virgin Suicides, it follows...

Does anyone know if Criterion has any intentions of licensing John Sayle's Lone Star?
I looked all around and it doesn't appear to have a release anywhere on BD, nevermind in UHD-BD. Lone Star feels like a perfect title for Criterion to handle - or any other boutique label.

I had hoped the release of Matewan was an indication that they would continue releasing more of Sayles’ work… Secaucus Seven… Lone Star… I think he is someone who may retain home video rights to his films, so maybe one day.

I really like my Kane digi-book, but I guess I'll get the Criterion as well, maybe.

Definitely in for OUaTiC.

Yeah Kane digi is nice. I just found/saw it yesterday. If Crit Blu gets new master and new extras then in a heartbeat. Ah hell of course it’s better. I’m getting no matter what. Even if they turn it teal or colorize and it’s approved by his estate.

How is OUaTiC series? Don’t know much about it, but sounds interesting. Never a huge Jet Li fan, but I guess this was before Jet Li of American made films.

It’s early 1990s period martial arts. They are considered classics from director Tsui Hark. If you don’t know who that is or are not really a fan of period martial arts or Jet Li, this is not for you at all. Don’t waste your money on something you’ll never watch.

The movies are mainly about the legend of Wong Fei Fong, who has been chronicled in many Chinese movies over many decades.

I know these will all go lower, but what’s up with the Amazon pricing, even for Blus? Higher than I’ve ever seen even a few months in advance. China is $125, Kane $50, I never saw those prices. Especially Kane which is just one movie.

Can’t wait to get into the BL set…

I thought they sounded interesting. I really like Martial Arts films especially when done right. The Ip Man films, Crouching Tiger…, Woo’s Red Cliff saga, Bruce Lee, though he’s more modern of course. Why wouldn’t I like this?

I think the original Once Upon a Time in China is one the great movies of all time, Hong Kong or otherwise. It's epic and timeless yet says a whole lot about the turmoil in Hong Kong as it approached the handover to China. The action is mostly great, but it's also a little uneven because of behind the scenes problems. I think they went through 3 different action directors? Jet Li also injured himself badly during production and required heavily doubling. He was never really the same after that. That said, the movie has so much going for it beyond the action, that it doesn't matter. A classic.

The second one is usually held up as one of the greats as well. Some even think it's better than the original. The plotting is a bit tighter and the action is more consistent (Jet vs Donnie Yen!), but I thought the politics were simplified a bit and it definitely feels like a sequel rather than a bold new vision in cinema. I don't think it's as good as the original, but I still love it.

In all honesty the rest of the set is hit or miss. If you're a big fan of the genre, the set is absolutely worth it (especially since 4 & 5 have been tough to see in recent years), but after part 2 it's mostly downhill. Tsui just doesn't have as much to say and the action begins to feel repetitive. I'm buying it day 1 without a doubt, but my suggestion to anyone on the fence would be to check out the first 2 films. If you love them and are willing to drop $65 (sale price) on the set on the basis of those two alone, then you'll be good to go. You won't be disappointed. If not, buyer beware.

OUATIC is a 6 disc, 6 movie set. Pricing is perfectly in line with something like the Jacques Demy set.

Citizen Kane is a 4 disc set (or 3 disc for blu-ray only). Again, perfectly in line with previous pricing. In fact you might even be getting a deal considering the 3 disc blu-ray edition is priced the same as their 2 disc blu-rays like Seven Samurai.

Now that Best Buy is on its last legs as a media seller, Amazon has no more serious pricing competition. Amazon only lowers prices when matching Target, Walmart or Best Buy these days. Try looking into music releases now that retail music has collapsed - Amazon sets a price and almost never drops much lower unless they are clearing out their warehouses.

Amazon pricing Criterion titles at full retail early on in the preorder period is SOP for them. They'll go down before release. They always do.

This is the correct answer.

Best Buy is terrible with physical media (movies and games) as a whole. I think my local one might have 500ish BD titles in store - either new releases or evergreen titles. The day of browsing is gone. Wal-Mart/Target are equally as bad, but they were never as big as Best Buy.

I picked up a dozen or so 4k titles in the past month from eBay and such as local retailers don't even carry them (X-men, Planet of the Apes, few others I wanted to upgrade from BD to 4K).

Not to mention all of those November releases will be 50% off during the November sale. I don’t know why anyone would by these outside of the 4 times a year when they are 50% off.

Have you met oldboy?

I mean anyone.

They listened!

Nice. I hope they do the same for Roma some day.