Criterion and Fox / MGM / Universal
- oldsheperd
- Joined: Thu Nov 11, 2004 5:18 pm
- Location: Rio Rancho/Albuquerque
Re: Fox and Universal Licenses
Perhaps Criterion got a couple blu rays to license in trade for letting Universal release Traffic, Do the Right Thing and Spartacus. Let's see an excellent blu ray of Sorcerer finally!
- Finch
- Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:09 pm
- Location: Edinburgh, UK
Re: Fox and Universal Licenses
I originally posted the quotes in the Blu-Ray General thread but Universal's upcoming BD of The Game is dreadful if the early review is anything to go by: they've used an old master and applied DNR to it; better still, they haven't even ported the extras from the SE DVD over.
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- Joined: Wed Mar 16, 2005 9:20 pm
Re: Fox and Universal Licenses
If Criterion wants anything else from FOCUS they should work out a deal in the near future...
Universal is in early discussions about selling off Focus Features. According to the rumors, the asking price is $300 million.
I wonder if this potential streamlining is being forced by new owners Comcast?
It would be unfortunate if this ends up leaving Focus shuttered or even severely crippled. There's not many independent/specialty film companies out there left than can handle a wide, national theatrical release for art house fims.
Universal is in early discussions about selling off Focus Features. According to the rumors, the asking price is $300 million.
I wonder if this potential streamlining is being forced by new owners Comcast?
It would be unfortunate if this ends up leaving Focus shuttered or even severely crippled. There's not many independent/specialty film companies out there left than can handle a wide, national theatrical release for art house fims.
- flyonthewall2983
- Joined: Mon Jun 27, 2005 3:31 pm
- Location: Indiana
- Contact:
Re: Fox and Universal Licenses
Along the same lines of my post on the Paramount thread, I'd also think it would be cool if Midnight Run got a number. It did well critically and at the box office, but hasn't been too well represented on home video. Martin Brest is probably still in director jail for Gigli, and I think he deserves his due for films like this.
- Gary Gnu
- Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2011 5:50 pm
Re: Fox and Universal Licenses
I agree. Not to mention, De Niro isn't represented in the Collection right now, excluding the Laserdiscs. I'd like to see Criterion release 1900, as well. I forget who had the rights to that DVD. (I think it's out of print now.)flyonthewall2983 wrote:Along the same lines of my post on the Paramount thread, I'd also think it would be cool if Midnight Run got a number. It did well critically and at the box office, but hasn't been too well represented on home video. Martin Brest is probably still in director jail for Gigli, and I think he deserves his due for films like this.
- swo17
- Bloodthirsty Butcher
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:25 am
- Location: SLC, UT
Re: Fox and Universal Licenses
DeNiro is in Brazil.
- Gary Gnu
- Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2011 5:50 pm
Re: Fox and Universal Licenses
Wow. That was a fail on my behalf. I wish I could go back and delete that!swo17 wrote:DeNiro is in Brazil.
It's a pretty minor role there, though. I still want one that he has a lead role in.
I was also mistaken about the DVD of 1900 being OOP. Paramount owns the rights to the relatively barebones release.
- ASeriousMan
- Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2011 2:31 pm
Re: Fox and Universal Licenses
I wonder what Fox is doing with The Coens' Barton Fink. It was included in their previous box set, but is conspicuously absent on the new Blu set coming out. There's a German Blu release forthcoming, not sure of its region code.
Of all of the Coen titles fit for Criterion, Barton Fink would be my pick. Any scuttlebutt regarding this title?
Of all of the Coen titles fit for Criterion, Barton Fink would be my pick. Any scuttlebutt regarding this title?
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- Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 5:48 pm
Re: Fox and Universal Licenses
Where did you see a forthcoming German release? I can't see any information on Amazon.de
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- Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2009 3:20 pm
Re: Fox and Universal Licenses
Unless you count the bonus "Love Conquers All" version, but then (quite rightly) nobody does.Gary Gnu wrote:It's a pretty minor role there, though. I still want one that he has a lead role in.swo17 wrote:DeNiro is in Brazil.
- Gary Gnu
- Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2011 5:50 pm
Re: Fox and Universal Licenses
... What's wrong with that version?Arthur House wrote:Unless you count the bonus "Love Conquers All" version, but then (quite rightly) nobody does.Gary Gnu wrote:It's a pretty minor role there, though. I still want one that he has a lead role in.swo17 wrote:DeNiro is in Brazil.
- ASeriousMan
- Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2011 2:31 pm
Re: Fox and Universal Licenses
My mistake, it's a Swedish release.bergelson wrote:Where did you see a forthcoming German release? I can't see any information on Amazon.de
- Roger Ryan
- Joined: Wed Apr 28, 2010 12:04 pm
- Location: A Midland town spread and darkened into a city
Re: Fox and Universal Licenses
Everything?Gary Gnu wrote:... What's wrong with that version?Arthur House wrote:Unless you count the bonus "Love Conquers All" version, but then (quite rightly) nobody does.Gary Gnu wrote:It's a pretty minor role there, though. I still want one that he has a lead role in.
- matrixschmatrix
- Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 11:26 pm
Re: Fox and Universal Licenses
It's actually maybe my favorite part of the package, although I've never managed to watch it through without the commentary- it's an amazing mini-course on the profound impact relatively small changes of cutting, take, and shot order can have, as it really is an entirely different film built of broadly the same materials.
- zedz
- Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2004 7:24 pm
Re: Fox and Universal Licenses
Seconded. The commentary on this is one of the most revealing pieces on the nuts and bolts of filmmaking in the entire Criterion Collection. It shows just how little needs to be done to completely reverse the meaning of a film
- Roger Ryan
- Joined: Wed Apr 28, 2010 12:04 pm
- Location: A Midland town spread and darkened into a city
Re: Fox and Universal Licenses
I don't know that the term "small changes" is really accurate. Perhaps the most inexplicable aspect of this version is the realization about two-thirds through that all the comedy has been cut out!matrixschmatrix wrote:It's actually maybe my favorite part of the package, although I've never managed to watch it through without the commentary- it's an amazing mini-course on the profound impact relatively small changes of cutting, take, and shot order can have, as it really is an entirely different film built of broadly the same materials.
- matrixschmatrix
- Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 11:26 pm
Re: Fox and Universal Licenses
Well, right- it's technically small changes, all working with material Gilliam shot etc, but in spite of Gilliam's incredibly distinctive art design the result is almost unrecognizable.Roger Ryan wrote:I don't know that the term "small changes" is really accurate. Perhaps the most inexplicable aspect of this version is the realization about two-thirds through that all the comedy has been cut out!matrixschmatrix wrote:It's actually maybe my favorite part of the package, although I've never managed to watch it through without the commentary- it's an amazing mini-course on the profound impact relatively small changes of cutting, take, and shot order can have, as it really is an entirely different film built of broadly the same materials.
I was in a situation once where I was arguing with someone over the merits of the movie, and we were totally at loggerheads- he insisted the movie didn't make any sense, that it was Hollywood-ish, that it felt like the characterization was all over the place. Eventually it came out he'd only seen it on TV, and at the time the Love Conquers All version was the only one that played on TV- when he watched Gilliam's cut, it immediately became one of his favorite movies. I sometimes wonder how many movies would be similarly transformed if the studios didn't get involved on the back end.
- knives
- Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2008 6:49 pm
Re: Fox and Universal Licenses
Or if they did. Ford's original cut of My Darling Clementine is not that good. I'm not saying the present version is a masterpiece, but it's good.
- Matt
- Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 12:58 pm
Re: Fox and Universal Licenses
Ford's original cut of Clementine no longer exists. I think (hope?) what you are referring to is Zanuck's theatrical cut. The "pre-release" version reinstates some of the excised footage from the original cut and removes the kiss Zanuck insisted on including.
- knives
- Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2008 6:49 pm
Re: Fox and Universal Licenses
That's the stuff I'm referring to yes. It's not as significant as the Brazil stuff, but it does show a two way street situation.
- Gary Gnu
- Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2011 5:50 pm
Re: Fox and Universal Licenses
Sorry, guys. I was just joking. With the commentary, that version is very watchable and revealing; but without, it's a grueling experience. (It feels longer than the original 2 1/2 long cut!)
- Gary Gnu
- Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2011 5:50 pm
Re: Fox and Universal Licenses
I heard about this punctuation mark called the "sarc mark" that's used to indicate sarcasm. It's hard to communicate in writing, I guess.
Here's what it looks like:
Here's what it looks like:
- captveg
- Joined: Wed Sep 02, 2009 7:28 pm
Re: Fox and Universal Licenses
So Fox has licensed The Ox-Bow Incident and Yellow Sky to Koch Lorber for European release, and they both just came out on Blu-ray in Germany. What are the chances that Criterion might have picked up either of these from Fox? Their relationship seems to be pretty solid.