Why Won't They Release Only What I Want?

[aox]

It's not like Che would have required any effort to get in the way of the Kurosawa Box. The Blu's in Europe supposedly look beautiful. This film is almost a year old and it doesn't have a US release.

I am still hoping for a December release.

[Napier]

This is exactly why Criterion never used to unofficially announce titles and we had to wait until they appeared on the website.

I'm sure this thread is quickly becoming the bane of Matt's existence, if it already isn't. Guys, Che is on the way........soon.

[Flike]

Guys, Che is on the way........soon.

Not to fan the flames, but my issue with all this is that they're sitting on sooooo much.

[Matt]

They've always been sitting on so much. Old-timers will remember when they had only released one Ozu film, when we couldn't believe they hadn't released Rules of the Game yet, or when we were clamoring for at least one Mexican Buñuel. The fact that you whippersnappers are shitting your pants because Che hasn't been officially announced a mere three months after it was hinted at in the newsletter and not even a year after it was in theaters is slightly amusing, but mostly irritating. It's not like it was printed in their catalog as "coming soon" almost 10 years ago and still hasn't been released.

[cdnchris]

I'm sure Cousin, Cousine and Cocktail Molotov will be released any day now.

[aox]

Question for the Old-timers,

Would sending threatening letters to the company be helpful? Did you ever try this method back in the day? Was it effective? Is this how you finally got the entire Antoine Doinel box?

Seems the non-violent approach hasn't yielded any Attenborough yet.

Thanks!

[Napier]

I remember bombarding Criterion's in-box back in 1999 when I first got The Lady Vanishes, I remember seeing Dodes' ka-den as "coming soon". We finally just got that. But to answer your question all I ever got in a reply was thee good ole' "nothing is certain at this time". So I wouldn't send "threatening" e-mails, that will get you nothing. They're a DVD company for crying out loud. Just wait patiently like I used to. Even if it takes ten years. You'll eventually get your Che, and us old timers will eventually get Cocktail Molotov, and Cousin, Cousine.

[Doctor Sunshine]

In my experience, yes, it's very cathartic and retaliatory legal action has been minimal. I've yet to see any evidence that they listen to my suggestions but the outlet does make me feel better.

[Napier]

I've sent them so many e-mails over the years for a release of The Quiet Man, that I'm almost positive I'm affectionately referred to as, The Quiet Man nut, around their office. I started again recently with all the deals they've been securing, now clamoring for a Blu-ray of said John Ford film about Ireland. They haven't returned one e-mail, I'm sure they all have a big laugh and say now he's obsessing about a Blu-ray, of said John Ford film about Ireland.

[aox]

haha

just to be clear, I was totally kidding.

I do, however, write them all of the time...mostly with questions, sometimes with suggestions, but always with praise. I always get a very nice response from them.

Best company.

[tojoed]

Seems the non-violent approach hasn't yielded any Attenborough yet.

Christ, if they ever release any films directed by Richard Attenborough, they might as well give up. You don't mean it, do you?

[aox]

Seems the non-violent approach hasn't yielded any Attenborough yet.

Christ, if they ever release any films directed by Richard Attenborough, they might as well give up. You don't mean it, do you?

haha nope. I was just making a Gandhi reference.

[tojoed]

Ah, I see. I was so shocked by the mention of Attenborough I missed the joke. I was worried there for a moment. Great actor, though.

[Murdoch]

He was great in that dinosaur movie.

[scotty2]

Surely there would be room for Oh! What a Lovely War done right. The Paramount disc isn't bad though.

[MoonlitKnight]

In my experience, yes, it's very cathartic and retaliatory legal action has been minimal. I've yet to see any evidence that they listen to my suggestions but the outlet does make me feel better.

They actually HAVE listened to some of my suggestions over the past couple years ("Mala Noche," "El Norte," "Repulsion," "The Hit," "Permanent Vacation," "Night on Earth," "The Exterminating Angel," "Simon of the Desert," "The Milky Way," "Sawdust and Tinsel," "The Last Metro"...plus "Tristana" and "Deep End" now in the pipeline) but not nearly enough (granted, I'm sure I wasn't the only one who requested many of those titles). Still I'll cut them a little slack.

[Doctor Sunshine]

They actually HAVE listened to some of my suggestions over the past couple years ("Mala Noche," "El Norte," "Repulsion," "The Hit," "Permanent Vacation," "Night on Earth," "The Exterminating Angel," "Simon of the Desert," "The Milky Way," "Sawdust and Tinsel," "The Last Metro"...plus "Tristana" and "Deep End" now in the pipeline) but not nearly enough (granted, I'm sure I wasn't the only one who requested many of those titles). Still I'll cut them a little slack.

I don't know what I'm doing wrong, I've threatened to cut them, cut their families... who else do I have to threaten to cut? But, no, yeah, they obviously release what they can and want to release but they've mentioned films being among their "most requested" titles a couple times so they do keep some kind of tally and, while I don't email them very often, they've made good on some of my suggestions as well.

[Lemmy Caution]

Though many recent releases have been uneven and less than great, Criterion has given me an interesting selection of films to watch -- most of which I would have otherwise missed: EL Norte, Wise Blood, The Hit, My Dinner with André, Jeanne Dielman, Homicide, The Last Days of Disco. A pretty good mix of more recent films.
Though I'd say those are more like rentals than purchases (but living in China, and using Chairman Mao money, I buy everything).

I have been a little disappointed with titles which I already own in other editions: Repulsion, ChungKing Express, Gen. Della Rovere, the twin Oshimas, Last Metro, Wings of Desire, Gomorrah and Xmas Tale (okay the last two I didn't buy in other versions, because I wasn't especially interested.

I am impressed with the Imamura set, Science is Fiction, and The Human Condition.
That to me is classic Criterion.

[colinr0380]

At this point we're more likely to get Cousins with retrospective interview with Ted Danson than Cousin, Cousine.

Wasn't that anthrax scare letter years back just a mis-addressed threat to Criterion promising more of the same if they didn't hurry up with Eisenstein: The Sound Years?

Oh, and can I add People On Sunday to the mix. Since it's too recent an announcement for the old timers and too old an announcement for the new-timers, it might be feeling a little left out.

[Perkins Cobb]

I don't know what I'm doing wrong, I've threatened to cut them, cut their families... who else do I have to threaten to cut?

Hmmm ... maybe Yo La Tengo?

[domino harvey]

I don't know what I'm doing wrong, I've threatened to cut them, cut their families... who else do I have to threaten to cut?

Hmmm ... maybe Yo La Tengo?

Response back from Mulvaney:

If it's true, I don't mind. There's a million other things that keep me up at night.

[jmj713]

Guys, Che is on the way........soon.

But wasn't it said as coming in December, or did I dream that?

And by the way, I am also one of the so-called "old-timers". My first Criterion DVD was exactly 10 years ago, Andrei Rublev.

[Nothing]

With the release of Monsoon Wedding, Hunger and Benjamin Button, Criterion are really in danger of going down the toilet. There have been hundreds, perhaps thousands, of superior contemporary films made in the past few years - if they're going to get involved in the contemporary arena, Criterion should be looking to make their own acquisitions, rather than striking deals with the reprehensible likes of IFC.

[Michael Kerpan]

Going down the toilet?

If Criterion can bring in some extra cash from these releases -- which allows eventual release of more "risky" stuff -- I will blow kisses to them.

[aox]

If Criterion can bring in some extra cash from these releases -- which allows eventual release of more "risky" stuff -- I will blow kisses to them.

CRITERION IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE STAR WARS SAGA. EPISODE'S I-VI