Criterion Discussion and Random Speculation Volume 7

[eerik]

Pan's Labyrinth - Cover art leak!

Guillermo del Toro posting it on his own Twitter account is hardly a "leak".

[What A Disgrace]

Given Criterion seems to have a newfound fondness for these trilogy box sets, are there any other future bundles that seem likely? Would they pair Squid and the Whale with Frances Ha and Kicking and Screaming? A third Sturges title being put bundled with the other two?

I wouldn't be surprised if they do it for Olivier's Shakespeare titles.

[FakeBonanza]

I could even see them packaging the two King Hu titles once Dragon Inn is released.

[Feego]

Don't forget that not all recent bundles were necessarily for trilogies or even movies that formed any sort of series. For instance, their Classic Hitchcock bundle simply includes all four Hitchcock titles that are currently in print. Had they not included Foreign Correspondent, they might have referred to it as a British Hitchcock set.

[Ribs]

If Weiner is coming (it's getting DVD-only from Paramount, unlike 45 Years), a bundle of War Room/Kennedy Films/Times of Harvey Milk/Weiner would seem pretty consistent with the two other Costco boxes.

[anton]

Interesting note for this month. Two films in one month that is influenced by Franco's spain. Coincidence?

Probably not... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Civil_War

Spoiler

17 July 1936

[onedimension]

Only thing I would've added to this month, reasonably, would have been remasters of the two great Olmis they put out a decade+ ago.

[hanshotfirst1138]

Pan's Labyrinth - Cover art leak, interview in Spanish magazine, Del Toro has been confirming or pushing this for a number of years now. Even when people would ask him directly, he would say "its coming." He probably helped finalize the WB deal for Criterion even.

Damn, and here I spent all of that money on the Zaavi steelbook ](*,) ! Wonder if it'll keep all of the old extras, I don't see the Charlie Rose interview. I'd love to be able to get rid of my steelbook and DVD I keep to have all of the extras around. I already have The Devil's Backbone & Cronos, so if they release the box separately, I'll get it, but otherwise, I'll just get the individual release. I would like to clear some space and get rid of my old discs though. With del Toro's approval, Criterion's pedigree, and a 2K transfer (Presumably off of the DI?), this sounds like a winner. Maybe I'll at least be able to get rid of one of them .

[FrauBlucher]

For those hoping, like myself, that It's a Wonderful Life would return to Criterion from it's laserdisc days, sorry to disappoint but it seems that Paramount is releasing a new Anniversary edition. (Although never heard of the site that I linked.)

[Moe Dickstein]

For those hoping, like myself, that It's a Wonderful Life would return to Criterion from it's laserdisc days, sorry to disappoint but it seems that Paramount is releasing a new Anniversary edition. (Although never heard of the site that I linked.)

Shame, its got an excellent commentary.

[krnash]

They DO keep moving forward, in a way, by supplying a worse and worse cover with every release.

[jwd5275]

Edward Yang's Taipei Story and Tomás Gutiérrez Alea's Memories of Underdevelopment are now listed on the Film Foundation website as WCP restorations, so eventual Criterion releases could be forthcoming.

[knives]

The later isn't a guarantee as the rights should be with First Run in America.

[zedz]

Criterion posted about One-Eyed Jacks playing at Il Cinema Ritrovato.

I saw the new restoration of this on the weekend, and it's simply stunning. I had no idea that this film, which has been kicked around in atrocious PD releases for decades, could look so good. It looks like the original elements haven't been touched in all these years. Honestly, it's one of the most beautiful restorations of a VistaVision film I've ever seen.

[reesepd]

I recently e-mailed Mulvaney concerning Shyamalan's The Village; mainly out of curiosity between myself and a few others over on the Criterion subreddit. The film is the only one of the director's work that hasn't been put on Blu by Buena Vista, so naturally we were curious on if there was anything going on with that title, in particular.

Eagerly waiting for a response, and I'll update anybody else who may be interested in what he has to say about this one. Due to Shyamalan's polarizing reception for his work - and the Cahiers love for him, in general - I thought it was worth a shot.

[dda1996a]

I'd be really surprised if criterion release it. It's one of two shay, S films I havent seen but it's reception and that it's a new unlike film doesn't really make much sense for criterion to release it

[CSM126]

Yeah... I like The Village but that would be a weird Criterion. If they ever release anything of his (and I imagine they won't) it would probably be Praying with Anger, in keeping with their apparent like of lesser-known early films by famous directors (eg. Border Radio, Following), not to mention that his best-loved films are already represented just fine.

But given his swift drop to below the bottom of the barrel and subsequent attempts to get lower, I just don't see Criterion rushing to add any of his films.

[Noiradelic]

If they were going to do any of his films, it would be one that is actually generally considered good.

[domino harvey]

The Village is a masterpiece and a Criterion release, however unlikely, would go a long way towards rehabing its unfairly toxic reputation

[Randall Maysin]

Cameron Diaz. poor Cammy

[The Narrator Returns]

I would legit jump for joy if The Village was coming soon, but beyond the factor of "a lot of people hate this movie (and are wrong)", hasn't Criterion's relationship with Disney pretty well completely stalled at this point, now that they're done with their Wes Anderson movies?

[Luke M]

OK, guys. What are you seeing in The Village that so many critics and myself missed?

[knives]

Quality? It's been discussed alot here, but in short stepping back from the silly twist shaming that was boiling at the time it's a beautiful and mildly sadistic film (wow that ending is great) which simultaneously deals with childish nostalgia and ennui in adults.

[The Narrator Returns]

Also, I find it incredibly poignant (especially in regards to the ending) and utterly gorgeous on an audiovisual level.

[Luke M]

Quality? It's been discussed alot here, but in short stepping back from the silly twist shaming that was boiling at the time it's a beautiful and mildly sadistic film (wow that ending is great) which simultaneously deals with childish nostalgia and ennui in adults.

Ah, well I found some discussion on it in the Shyamalan thread and I think I'll give it another shot.