Criterion Discussion and Random Speculation Volume 7

[Buttery Jeb]

Thought they did one besides the New Year's wacky drawing.

Usually they have, but this past year or the year before the December newsletter had the New Year's drawing instead of a standalone clue.

[Ribs]

Also, last year's new years drawing came on the 31st, not the 1st (I'd say there's a relatively good chance it might come tomorrow so it goes out on a business day).

[atcolomb]

Whose releasing Dersu Uzula? As far as I was aware it was a Kino licence and the master elements are all stuck, uncatalogued, in a russian film archive?

Streaming on Filmstruck with a Criterion logo, and also announced at a Wexner Center presentation.

That would be great news about a possible Criterion release. The Kino dvd is 16 years old and non 16:9 and the Ruscico dvd has a horrible shimmering issue and is unwatchable but has great extras on it. Criterion did release it on laserdisc which I have and still play it once in awhile.

[Vegeta84]

Where is the Oshima trilogy or so?

Criterion does have Boy. I'd love to see it again. I'd also love to see his Youth Trilogy on Blu-Ray. And what the hell Gohatto/Taboo as well.

Been hoping for the Youth Trilogy as well. Surprised it hasn't happened yet.

[feihong]

What films are in Oshima's "Youth Trilogy?" Boy, I suppose...but I can think of so many of his films that focus on youth and young people.

Carlotta released an odd Oshima set in France, which includes 3 blu-rays: The Ceremony, Boy, and Death by Hanging. There there's DVDs of Dear Summer Sister, The Catch, Band of Ninja, Diary of a Shinjuku Thief, Diary of Yunbogi and The Man Who Left HIs Will On Film. The blu rays are fantastic. If Criterion were to import these discs, they would be very worthy of the quality we generally expect from Criterion. For myself, The Ceremony would be great to have in an English-friendly form. The DVDs are also quite fine.

[Ribs]

Night and Fog in Japan, The Sun's Burial and Cruel Story of Youth. Sun's Burial is the only one that wasn't available in HD on Hulu though.

[Big Ben]

Carlotta released an odd Oshima set in France, which includes 3 blu-rays: The Ceremony, Boy, and Death by Hanging. There there's DVDs of Dear Summer Sister, The Catch, Band of Ninja, Diary of a Shinjuku Thief, Diary of Yunbogi and The Man Who Left HIs Will On Film. The blu rays are fantastic. If Criterion were to import these discs, they would be very worthy of the quality we generally expect from Criterion. For myself, The Ceremony would be great to have in an English-friendly form. The DVDs are also quite fine.

I've been hoping for a friendlier release of The Ceremony myself as it's my favorite Oshima. I've not seen quite a few you've listed due to them not having English friendly releases. I would place my bets on Boy being next for Criterion though. And no worries there, it's a great film in my opinion. Quite accessible too.

[Ribs]

Just noticed Do the Right Thing now has the C branding on its artwork. Probably wishful thinking, but perhaps a Blu-ray upgrade is coming.

Just noticed that according to their website, Criterion re-released this (probably reducing it down to a regular 2-disc Amaray rather than the thick one it used to be in) sometime in February this past year. So that's probably all it was for.

[ianungstad]

MisterLime on the bluray.com forums stated that he's heard that Criterion has the rights to Stanley Kramer's The Defiant Ones. Awhile ago he also alluded to them having the rights to the Robert Wise pic Odds Against Tomorrow as well. Both are MGM titles.

[Noiradelic]

MisterLime on the bluray.com forums stated that he's heard that Criterion has the rights to Stanley Kramer's The Defiant Ones. Awhile ago he also alluded to them having the rights to the Robert Wise pic Odds Against Tomorrow as well.

Was wondering why Kino hadn't gotten to Odds Against Tomorrow. Rough Criterion announcement eve for domino.

[Ribs]

Buena Vista Social Club Spine #866

[domino harvey]

Criterion is that student who was granted an extension and still waited til the last minute!

[captveg]

Criterion is that student who was granted an extension and still waited til the last minute!

It's what they do.

[Brian C]

Isn't that the whole point of an extension? Why would I need an extension if I wanted to complete a project in a timely manner?

[domino harvey]

Don't be an enabler

[Brian C]

Fine. I'd never get around to enabling them anyway unless you set a deadline.

[captveg]

Unless there is another late addition to the April slate, that makes only six true upgrades in the last year (Carnival of Souls, Night and Fog, Woman in the Dunes, Night Train to Munich, Short Cuts, and The Exterminating Angel), and only one (The Exterminating Angel) over the last six months (Oct-Apr).

[HitchcockLang]

Anyone else notice the Coning Soon page says "17 results" but is only showing 15 titles. I bet two more announcements pop up.

[Self]

It's the standalone releases of Umbrellas of Cherbourg and Young Girls of Rochefort

[Never Cursed]

Why put these as a standalone release unless the Demy set is going OOP? I'm afraid I don't understand.

[krnash]

Why put these as a standalone release unless the Demy set is going OOP? I'm afraid I don't understand.

You can't understand a very popular movie being liked by someone who doesn't enjoy the others, and therefore doesn't want to shell out over $100 for the set?

This precedent was established quite awhile ago with films like Easy Rider, Brief Encounter, etc. It's nothing new and those sets are not OOP.

[Ribs]

I literally have stood behind somebody in line at Barnes and Noble at a sale arguing with the cashier it is not fair to bundle Umbrellas in with five movies he did not want and, overall, I have a hard time believing this actually requires all that much more effort from Criterion (it's not taking up a slot or anything).

[cdnchris]

If you look on other online movie forums there are a number of posts complaining about just wanting Umbrellas and not the others. So there is an audience.

[eastguy]

If you look on other online movie forums there are a number of posts complaining about just wanting Umbrellas and not the others. So there is an audience.

Yep. Funny enough, the first comment on the Blu-ray.com post for today's announcement is asking for a standalone of The Last Picture Show.

I have a hard time believing this actually requires all that much more effort from Criterion (it's not taking up a slot or anything).

I agree, but it sure does feel like we're losing a slot. The upgrade numbers in captveg's post bum me out.

[Ribs]

Last April was also four titles + a box title made single, so I guess just it's developed into being a fairly light month.