The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
#4202
re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
The stiffs at Warner won't license their crap to anybody and won't do proper releases on many films.
#4203
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re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
Wacky rosemary. (wacky_rosemary.jpg)
If we're to add Wacky to the equation... Pirates is getting its DVD/BD debut! j/k
Is "wacky rosemary" a euphemism for pot? (Hey, I was born in the 80's, there's a lot of 60's vocabulary that died before I was born)
If we're to add Wacky to the equation... Pirates is getting its DVD/BD debut! j/k
Is "wacky rosemary" a euphemism for pot? (Hey, I was born in the 80's, there's a lot of 60's vocabulary that died before I was born)
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re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
That image is definitely 100% Rosemary's Baby. Any other interpretation would be too much of a stretch.
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re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
This is why I haven't bought these two yet. I was hoping for a box set with all three films. But if the other post is correct, Criterion may never get the rights to Barcelona.
#4208
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re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
And it was already hinted at with the previously discussed medallion/necklace around Ruth Gordon's (who, of course, was in both Baby and Maude) neck in the 2012 preview drawing.
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re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
And yes, please Criterion, get on The Tenant; probably my favorite Polanski film. Also, if you can strike a deal with Columbia and get ahold of his Macbeth, that would be swell, too.
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re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
I think there's been some big announcements. Certified Copy was big to me, as was The Gold Rush. I hope Criterion gets more noteworthy releases though. When I see Masters of Cinema releasing stuff like The Lost Weekend and Double Indemnity, I hold out hope Criterion will get some huge movies too.
I understand it is a matter of taste and one man's Last Days of Disco is another man's Touch of Evil. But, to me, a "big" title is a landmark classic film, not a new release or something more contemporary.
Criterion DVD was a way for young people or new film fans to get a crash course in foreign classics (Bergman, Fellini, Kurosawa, etc), but so far, it has been pretty slim pickings on Blu-ray for the foreign masters. MoC is blowing them away with their Antonioni and Pasolini output alone.
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re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
I've actually been a bit disappointed in Masters of Cinema over the past year or so, mainly because the past several announcements seem to represent a change in focus to big, canonical classics. It's not that those classics aren't (usually) great, rather it's that the reason I started loving MoC in the first place is because of all the hidden gems in their catalog. Fortunately, there's still an occasional release like A Man Vanishes and Coeur fidèle that I find really exciting (I thought both films were masterpieces.)
In terms of Criterion, I'd say, just from their announced titles this year, Anatomy of a Murder, Late Spring, and The Gold Rush are all "landmark classic films." I'd also say they're all better than The Lost Weekend, but I've never been a fan of that particular Wilder film (Double Indemnity, on the other hand...)
Those "foreign masters" are Criterion's bread and butter, but at this point I get a lot more excited about the hidden gems - the Czech New Wave set, The Letter Never Sent, The Organizer. None of them have the name status of the Wilders or the Chaplin, but I would rank them among the greatest films ever made - higher than many of the more established classics, even. They may not be focusing as much on the obvious choices, but they still manage to release one or two (or more) genuinely great films most months - even if the titles or directors aren't as well known as Kurosawa or Fellini.
I don't really get that. If we're looking at their Blu-ray output as a whole, Criterion is "beating" MoC pretty handily. Even Criterion's schedule of upcoming releases includes two previously unreleased Bergman films, along with upgrades of Ozu and Hitchcock films. The Bergmans and the Hitchcock may not be among those directors' most highly regarded titles, but MoC's two recent Antonioni releases aren't generally considered among his most major works either (though I absolutely loved La signora senza camelie.)
Of course, Criterion releases a lot more every year than MoC, so that gives them an advantage. But while the past six months have seen fewer upgrades, in the past few years we've seen Criterion HD releases of major films from such masters as Fellini, Bergman, Godard, Truffaut, Ozu, Powell & Pressburger, Antonioni, Nicholas Ray, Satyajit Ray (my favorite BD release of last year,) Bunuel, Cocteau, Malle, Pontecorvo, Melville, Lumet, Vigo, Lubitsch, Clouzot, etc.
Which isn't to turn this into an MoC vs. Criterion thing - I love both companies equally - Criterion simply has a lot more resources than MoC, so they're able to put out a lot more. Even if I am sometimes underwhelmed by their choices, I will always be grateful to them for introducing me to a lot of genuinely great films, and I have full faith that the average quality of their releases over the course of any given few year period will always be pretty high (if that makes any sense.)
In terms of Criterion, I'd say, just from their announced titles this year, Anatomy of a Murder, Late Spring, and The Gold Rush are all "landmark classic films." I'd also say they're all better than The Lost Weekend, but I've never been a fan of that particular Wilder film (Double Indemnity, on the other hand...)
Those "foreign masters" are Criterion's bread and butter, but at this point I get a lot more excited about the hidden gems - the Czech New Wave set, The Letter Never Sent, The Organizer. None of them have the name status of the Wilders or the Chaplin, but I would rank them among the greatest films ever made - higher than many of the more established classics, even. They may not be focusing as much on the obvious choices, but they still manage to release one or two (or more) genuinely great films most months - even if the titles or directors aren't as well known as Kurosawa or Fellini.
so far, it has been pretty slim pickings on Blu-ray for the foreign masters. MoC is blowing them away with their Antonioni and Pasolini output alone.
Of course, Criterion releases a lot more every year than MoC, so that gives them an advantage. But while the past six months have seen fewer upgrades, in the past few years we've seen Criterion HD releases of major films from such masters as Fellini, Bergman, Godard, Truffaut, Ozu, Powell & Pressburger, Antonioni, Nicholas Ray, Satyajit Ray (my favorite BD release of last year,) Bunuel, Cocteau, Malle, Pontecorvo, Melville, Lumet, Vigo, Lubitsch, Clouzot, etc.
Which isn't to turn this into an MoC vs. Criterion thing - I love both companies equally - Criterion simply has a lot more resources than MoC, so they're able to put out a lot more. Even if I am sometimes underwhelmed by their choices, I will always be grateful to them for introducing me to a lot of genuinely great films, and I have full faith that the average quality of their releases over the course of any given few year period will always be pretty high (if that makes any sense.)
Last edited by Sondheim; 04-19-12 at 03:14 PM.
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re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
^ I see your point, but while MoC has moved towards those "big, canonical classics," Criterion has moved away from them. So, I think the two collections still compliment each other, but in the inverse manner than they used to.
Unfortunately, MoC releases are much more expensive (for those of us in the US at least) and while I appreciate both companies and the types of films they release, I much preferred it when the cheaper alternative was the canonical classics and I was able to cherry pick the few more obscure releases I wanted from overseas.
I'm probably in the minority here, but I cannot stand the Criterion-IFC partnership. I enjoyed it when each month's announcement was a collection of classic gems. The contemporary stuff, even if deserving, just never feels right. And unfortunately, results in stuff like Tiny Furniture (a rant for a different time and thread) being given a Criterion BD release.
It may not be the most rational frustration to have and I freely admit that, but in my magical ideal world, Criterion would be reserved for classics, not contemporary films they are betting will be deemed classics at some later date.
Or maybe I am just reeling a bit from the July announcements...only 4 films and none from before the 80s (only particularly interested in picking up Down by Law right away).
Unfortunately, MoC releases are much more expensive (for those of us in the US at least) and while I appreciate both companies and the types of films they release, I much preferred it when the cheaper alternative was the canonical classics and I was able to cherry pick the few more obscure releases I wanted from overseas.
I'm probably in the minority here, but I cannot stand the Criterion-IFC partnership. I enjoyed it when each month's announcement was a collection of classic gems. The contemporary stuff, even if deserving, just never feels right. And unfortunately, results in stuff like Tiny Furniture (a rant for a different time and thread) being given a Criterion BD release.
It may not be the most rational frustration to have and I freely admit that, but in my magical ideal world, Criterion would be reserved for classics, not contemporary films they are betting will be deemed classics at some later date.
Or maybe I am just reeling a bit from the July announcements...only 4 films and none from before the 80s (only particularly interested in picking up Down by Law right away).
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re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
"The Criterion Collection is a continuing series of important classic and contemporary films on home video."
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re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
ok, well excuse me while go and do a merry jig. It's one my favorites and I thought it'd gone into Paramount's forgotten bin.
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re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
I didn't expect Criterion to begin releasing Blu-rays and then just open the Fellini floodgates, but it would be nice to have more than two Fellini films in 3 years. And it seems they have gone heavier on US films than normal, which is not in and of itself a bad thing at all, just a difference I've noticed. But don't get me wrong, I was thrilled to add The Killing/Killer's Kiss, Sweet Smell of Success, and Anatomy of a Murder (seen for the first time) to my collection.
But alas, it is Criterion, satisfaction with them ebbs and flows from release announcement to release announcement.
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re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
I've started preparing for the July sale and am trying to narrow down the list of titles I'll be getting. If anyone has any recommendations of blu-ray releases they very strongly recommend that aren't in my collection yet (see the link below), feel free to let me know!
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re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
I'll chime in with another "nothing for me", but great news on Rosemary's Baby. I've only seen it once, years ago, and I'm anxious to revisit it.
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re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
Blow Out and Videodrome are definitely on my shortlist. As for The War Room, I tend to stay away from documentaries unless the subject matter really interests me, and I can't say that politics do. I've heard great things about this one though.
#4222
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re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
Days of Heaven
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Also both on my shortlist, but I have to admit that The Tree of Life has scared me off of Malick a bit.
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re: The Criterion Collection 4K/Blu-ray Discussion and Release Thread
Wouldn't Carnage make it an "Apartment Tetralogy" now? Or are we just counting horror-themed efforts?
And yes, please Criterion, get on The Tenant; probably my favorite Polanski film. Also, if you can strike a deal with Columbia and get ahold of his Macbeth, that would be swell, too.
And yes, please Criterion, get on The Tenant; probably my favorite Polanski film. Also, if you can strike a deal with Columbia and get ahold of his Macbeth, that would be swell, too.
Glad to see the apparent Rosemary's Baby hint. Hopefully that might be coming our way in August.