Why Won't They Release Only What I Want?

[Napier]

These two packages look like chores, done to be rid of, and not labors of love.

Precisely.

[paranoid-knight2008]

I'm totally buying Last Year... even though the case looks (as of now) so... ghostly.

However, there are no other releases this month that I'm interested in.

[Tommaso]

I'm starting to wonder if Criterion isn't experiencing financial problems, and trying to combat them by focusing on safe choices (and, arguably, skimping on extras).

I was thinking the same; but if they have finanicial problems (which wouldn't be surprising, considering the current crisis), their customers certainly have, too. And so, if people cannot spend as much on discs anymore as in former years, wouldn't they rather buy something new than a re-release not graced by any significant extras? Thus, "Marienbad" is certainly great -even compared with existing releases-, but "Seventh Seal" is clearly unnecessary in this form.

[StevenJ0001]

but "Seventh Seal" is clearly unnecessary in this form.

A high-def Seventh Seal is unnecessary?

[Dr. Snaut]

I find it funny how much people are complaining. The releases this month are solid. Yes, the missing spine number and the the Bergman Documentary are a bit upsetting, but Marienbad, Andre, and the Seventh re-issue are very exciting and long awaited releases. Even the new Art House Essential DVD is a noteworthy release. What people are failing to realize is that Marienbad and Andre did not have a R1 releases prior to Criterion's announcement, and the previous Seventh Seal release was lacking. These new releases are fantastic because they are giving viewers an opportunity to explore these films for the first time.

In terms of the extra's, I don't think I have read one positive thing on this forum concerning extra's on a Criterion disc. If there is a commentary, the rest of the extra's suck. If there are great extra's, but no commentary, Criterion has dropped the ball again. I remember reading about how the Cassavetes' Box sucked because Ray Carney was not included in it. Seriously, what the fuck?

The Marienbad extra's are good in my opinion. The only real "Extraordinary extra feature" I can think of that is missing on this release is a commentary, which could have completely sucked depending on who Criterion chose to record it. I think the only extra that would have overwhelmed me would have been a commentary by Resnais, which clearly was not going to happen. But the fact that Resnais approved the transfer is unbelievable and should make this noteworthy to anyone who is a fan of Marienbad. Additionally, the Seventh Seal re-release extra's are great, providing R1 purchasers with new extra's they haven't previously seen.

But, clearly it would be outrageous for anyone to be impressed with Criterion's release. It's probably better to stick with Kino or New Yor....oh wait.

[domino harvey]

In terms of the extra's, I don't think I have read one positive thing on this forum concerning extra's on a Criterion disc.

Oh brother. I guess you never bothered to open the yearly Criterion Voting threads, where dozens of members single out their favorite supplements from the year, among countless other threads where people compliment the extras.

[Gregory]

What people are failing to realize is that Marienbad and Andre did not have a R1 releases prior to Criterion's announcement, and the previous Seventh Seal release was lacking. These new releases are fantastic because they are giving viewers an opportunity to explore these films for the first time.

Actually, Marienbad and Andre did have R1 releases. They went out of print at some point but have consistently been available through Netflix. Sure the transfers weren't too good (downright bad in the case of Andre) but it's not as though these films have been at all hard to see over the last couple of decades. In contrast, there are a huge number of films that are very difficult to obtain on any format, and Criterion doesn't always show much interest in releasing this kind of thing. There are a good number of exceptions to this, fortunately.

It's true that a lot of complaining goes on here, but a number of your other points oversimplify and portray things in an unfair light. For example, the concerns about Carney and the Cassavetes set had to do with charges that Criterion had benefited from his contributions in a way that was unethical. I don't remember anyone saying the set "sucked."

[fdm]

I got an email response from Mulvaney. Last Holiday will get the criterion treatment in the future but it's not on the production schedule.

Hmm.it seems very stranger for them to release it on essential arthouse first. I'm game for the film but will hold off till whenever the criterion shows up...which probably isn't that far off, in spite of mulvaney saying it's not on the schedule.

They said something like that about White Mane and Red Balloon too, as I recall.

[swo17]

In terms of the extra's, I don't think I have read one positive thing on this forum concerning extra's on a Criterion disc.

Oh brother. I guess you never bothered to open the yearly Criterion Voting threads, where dozens of members single out their favorite supplements from the year, among countless other threads where people compliment the extras.

That being said, I think it's a bit harsh to condemn the announced extras on the June titles until after having actually gone through them. I can see being frustrated over the absence of a particular feature, though with regard to Andre lacking the screenplay, is this really that common of a feature? The only other one I know offhand that has this is Vampyr.

Actually, Marienbad and Andre did have R1 releases. They're out of print but have consistently been available through Netflix.

These two titles haven't been available on Netflix for at least the last year.

[Dr. Snaut]

In terms of the extra's, I don't think I have read one positive thing on this forum concerning extra's on a Criterion disc.

Oh brother. I guess you never bothered to open the yearly Criterion Voting threads, where dozens of members single out their favorite supplements from the year, among countless other threads where people compliment the extras.

Wow, fantastic point! Picking 5 extra features from the entire year really does justice to the countless other extra's Criterion puts out each year. It's not like there isn't a "Worst Supplement" on those voting threads. The best supplements in the voting thread does not make up for the countless number other complaints people make on this forum everyday. Not that I care or take it personally, but I find it funny to mention this syndrome.

[domino harvey]

I'm pretty sure you do care, otherwise you wouldn't be trying to pick a fight over something so ridiculous

[kaujot]

That being said, I think it's a bit harsh to condemn the announced extras on the June titles until after having actually gone through them. I can see being frustrated over the absence of a particular feature, though with regard to Andre lacking the screenplay, is this really that common of a feature? The only other one I know offhand that has this is Vampyr.

Two-Lane Blacktop

[Dr. Snaut]

No one is picking a fight. Jesus.

[HerrSchreck]

I find it funny how much people are complaining. I remember reading about how the Cassavetes' Box sucked because Ray Carney was not included in it. Seriously, what the fuck?.

What a dork. The Cassavettes Box was voted by this forum All Time Best Release in the whole collection in the forum's CC Tenth Anniversary DVD List-Poll from last year.

Go lecture someplace else.

[knives]

Where do you get all of those great smilies?

[HerrSchreck]

Little elves leave them in my beard while I sleep, and I comb them out into a finger stall in the morning.

Actually they're from some gambling site which I found via tracing the url of a really cool avatar I saw on some other site. They have a page of smilies I use here & there, usually reach for them in lieu of my ears steam-blasting sideways off my head when knuckleheads toot their butts too loud. Today went double dutch from the load.

[Gregory]

[Marienbad and Andre]These two titles haven't been available on Netflix for at least the last year.

OK. I no longer have an account with Netflix and stand corrected on that particular score, but I don't think that changes the point I was making.
It is good they'll be back in circulation in R1, even though I personally can't foresee buying either.

[jbeall]

These two packages look like chores, done to be rid of, and not labors of love.

Precisely.

Odd, that was precisely how I felt watching Marienbad. Does every release need to be a labor of love? I'd argue that that's a fairly unrealistic expectation for forum members to have.

[HerrSchreck]

Well in all fairness, considering their sticker-price compared to just about every other line of single-title dvd's, they should be-- if not of love-- labors of something.

[colinr0380]

Following Schreckian logic I suppose it could be worse:



But otherwise:

[Thomas J.]

there are a huge number of films that are very difficult to obtain on any format, and Criterion doesn't always show much interest in releasing this kind of thing.

(not directly addressing Gregory)

Exactly, except I take this argument to the next level and point out the media's complicity in the end-result. Criterion is treated as the gold-standard in DVD production, including the films they choose to distribute. If Criterion puts out a film, it's necessarily a "classic" with very few exceptions. Unfortunately, the opposite mindset is subtly promulgated by the media as well -- if Criterion has no interest in releasing a foreign film, it must not be very good. It's very sad and leads to the hegemony of the cinema.

Now with regard to extras, sorry, but imo a commentary in no way shape or form is an extraordinary extra. These days Criterion puts out commentaries, documentaries, trailers, essays, etc...this stuff literally could have been, and sometimes was, created and released on a 1980s laserdiscs. We're almost into the second decade of the new millennium. Take advantage of the interactivity of the medium with your extras. This is especially the case with Blu-ray, but even Criterion's usage of the DVD format has been very laserdisc with regard to extras. (and, yes, there are exceptions, of course, but they are increasingly fewer and further between). Acquiring a vintage docu and a commentary is not really that special. In the days of the KING KONG laserdisc, yes, but not over two decades later.

Regarding the labor of love issue...doesn't Criterion profess their DVD productions to be the last word on the film in question, at least on that particular distribution format? That's basically the same goal as aiming to give each release the "labor of love" treatment. So for anyone to say there's no reason to give each release the "I adore this film" treatment...well, that flies in the face of the company's own wishes.

P.S. Swimminghorses pm'd me and revealed that he designed his covers in 3-D and if only you were to wait to have his designs in your actual hands with the red-and-blue glasses on, then you would actually get them, in the sort of way some of you think you will with Marienbad.

[kaujot]

Unfortunately, the opposite mindset is subtly promulgated by the media as well -- if Criterion has no interest in releasing a foreign film, it must not be very good. It's very sad and leads to the hegemony of the cinema.

What?

[HerrSchreck]

Following Schreckian logic I suppose it could be worse:



But otherwise:

So would following common logic dictate that Gigli in the CC would make things better?

Hmmmm... Colin, your periodic use of my monniker viz me-isms is getting...unusual?

[domino harvey]

Unfortunately, the opposite mindset is subtly promulgated by the media as well -- if Criterion has no interest in releasing a foreign film, it must not be very good. It's very sad and leads to the hegemony of the cinema.

What?

He's saying that Criterion releasing a film lends it a certain cachet, and more and more the inverse (a film not released by Criterion is of less interest) is true. It may sound a little far-fetched, but we've all seen a milder version of what he's talking about (think the dot com forum)

[kaujot]

My "What?" is more in reference to the "media" being the ones who somehow perpetuate the myth that films that aren't released by Criterion are somehow unworthy.