Kino Lorber Studio Classics

[swo17]

And really looking forward to The Long Goodbye in Nov/Dec myself. Would have preferred Criterion, but glad it's coming from one of the MGM catalog distributors in the US.

Criterion did release it. It's just that sometimes now they call themselves Arrow.

[captveg]

And really looking forward to The Long Goodbye in Nov/Dec myself. Would have preferred Criterion, but glad it's coming from one of the MGM catalog distributors in the US.

Criterion did release it. It's just that sometimes now they call themselves Arrow.

And I know I'm a luddite for being this way on this forum, but I rarely import.

[Gregory]

I don't think ordering on the internet from within one's own country is being any more of a "luddite" than ordering from another country. My latest Arrow purchase, Sisters, is even region-free, so no real reason to wait any more years for Criterion to upgrade that one.

[captveg]

Well, I meant luddite more-so in not bothering with an All-Region player. I just choose to purchase from the US companies 99.999% of the time so they continue to have financial incentive to produce US releases. As long as the films are presented well bonus content differences between the releases rarely sway me.

Of 600+ Blu-rays I have only the following imports: UK releases of Warner's Gone with the Wind, Ben-Hur, The Goonies (because the US releases were over priced and over packaged), Moonwalker (because Warner doesn't have US rights and Sony Music is unlikely to release it anytime soon), and Eureka's Sunrise, which I bought because it's a particular favorite and I figured it would be years before Fox released it, and that was proven true. Otherwise I can usually wait out for the US release, or there's plenty of other US releases of other titles I like equally that I have yet to pick up.

[Gregory]

I just don't get the general lack of attention to economical all-region overseas releases (judging from relative lack of discussion on most film buff forums) from those who are region-locked but appreciate things at least somewhat outside the mainstream. What about all the things put out by labels such as BFI, MoC, etc. that are unlikely to ever get released in the U.S.? Don't those merit financial encouragement too? For example, if you liked Sunrise that much, City Girl is also region-free.
I'm not suggesting a duty to make purchases of any kind, just trying to understand. I also recognize that there are a lot of releases to keep track of, so paying attention only to the domestic market simplifies things—but it's a bleaker and more limited array of choices.

[FrauBlucher]

Even Robert Harris went region-free this past year which really shocked me that he wasn't already. I don't get it. There are companies in Europe that do just as good a job as Criterion. Why would anyone not want to have access to them? Especially, since the majors have seemed to step back from being the torch carriers of best product possible.

[captveg]

I just don't get the general lack of attention to economical all-region overseas releases (judging from relative lack of discussion on most film buff forums) from those who are region-locked but appreciate things at least somewhat outside the mainstream. What about all the things put out by labels such as BFI, MoC, etc. that are unlikely to ever get released in the U.S.? Don't those merit financial encouragement too? For example, if you liked Sunrise that much, City Girl is also region-free.
I'm not suggesting a duty to make purchases of any kind, just trying to understand. I also recognize that there are a lot of releases to keep track of, so paying attention only to the domestic market simplifies things—but it's a bleaker and more limited array of choices.

I also rarely blind buy, and I've never seen City Girl, so therefore I've not purchased it. Setting arbitrary limits on my purchasing sphere is one reason I have no debt.

[Gregory]

So then you've missed out on the Murnau-Borzage set so far too.
I have limits on my purchasing too, just not quite as arbitrary, but whatever works for you... I was just remarking on what I see as a larger trend that makes no sense to me.

[Shrew]

I'm in a similar boat of just not having saved up enough for a Region-Free Blu-ray player, but I've still picked up several of MoC's and BFI's region-free releases (City Girl, The World, Bill Douglas) and some Dual-Formats. The Long Goodbye is the one release that's really made me think about it, though (also the Phantom of the Paradise, but then there was the Shout announcement). Stuff like the Rohmer box is also appealing, but the prospect of saving up for both that and a new player in order to view it is a little daunting.

City Girl is totally worth the blind buy though.

[criterion10]

Kind of surprised Criterion didn't pick up The Long Goodbye. At this point, I find it hard to believe the upcoming Kino release will be better than Arrow's. (Are these Kino releases even including any new special features?)

Regarding Region Free players, I got pretty lucky in that my Panasonic has a simple remote hack that allows me to watch Blu-Rays from anywhere. Region Free Blu-Ray players don't seem that expensive though; I might pick one up for when I go to college next year, and I believe Bombay Electronics sells some that are only a little over $200 (at least last time I checked).

[domino harvey]

Jennifer (1978)

Is this the first Kino MGM announcement for a film MGM didn't already put out on DVD? I'm pretty sure this one's new to R1

[Ashirg]

Paris Blues was never on DVD as well.

[Jameson281]

(Are these Kino releases even including any new special features?)

PRIVATE LIFE OF SHERLOCK HOLMES includes the recently-discovered audio for the cut Inspector Lestrade epilogue that wasn't on the DVD.

WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION includes an excerpt from the Billy Wilder documentary.

Scorpion announced a new interview with Roger Corman for BLOODY MAMA.

[boywonder]

What? I thought for sure Criterion would be doing that. Ah well, another sale here for the Arrow.

I have never understood the business end of acquiring titles, but of all of Altman's films "The Long Goodbye" and "McCabe & Mrs Miller" seem to be the two that really turned their respective genres on edge. I can't imagine not wanting to snag either or both of those titles ... but, now when the emphasis is on going after "It's A Mad, Mad ..." and "The Big Chill" ... well, at least the film does get a bluray release. Luckily, I don't need the full CC treatment because I know the film like the back of my hand. Still, it is a small but telling disappointment.

[swo17]

Why does everyone assume that Criterion had right of first refusal for every single film that anyone else releases?

[ianungstad]

I don't think it's all that complicated. Criterion works differently than most of these other labels. Criterion will license a batch of titles and then slow drip them out over many years; while Olive-Shout-Kino crank them out as soon as they're licensed. There are positives and negatives to both release strategies. Criterion are not going to license more MGM titles when they still have tons from previous licensing agreements to release and are only going to pick up more titles once previous titles are close to being depleted. In the interm; some pretty choice titles may end up at competing studios.

At the same time; it's pretty obvious that many studios and independent licensors would prefer a Criterion release over their competition.

[wllm995]

I bought a very inexpensive all region Blu-ray player about 2 years ago for about $69.00 from Walmart.

It has functioned flawlessly; and for the money was a good investment.

For less than $70 you can be Region free - what is not to like about that?

[captveg]

Nothing. I simply like keeping the arbitrary barrier up for financial restraint reasons. It allows me to focus my purchases to a more narrow field that doesn't get out of hand. Just a personal preference.

[What A Disgrace]

Is there a master list of the announced titles, for future reference?

[domino harvey]

Is there a master list of the announced titles, for future reference?

Ashirg has provided a list and I've moved it to the first post

[Ashirg]

Married to the Mob is coming Oct 14.

[domino harvey]

Hopefully Fabulous Baker Boys won't be far behind

[PfR73]

Married to the Mob is coming Oct 14.

Was always hoping it'd get some kind of special edition, especially with the deleted material hinted at in the extra credits, or a Twilight Time release with the David Byrne isolated score, but I'll take it! Any more Demme on Blu-Ray is a good thing.

[captveg]

The Party has been pushed to 9/16 to add 5 additional bonus features.

[PfR73]

Hopefully "5" includes everything from the overseas special editions:

"Inside The Party" - documentary (23.59)
"The Party Revolution: A New Technology" - featurette (16.30)
Filmmaker Profiles:
- Blake Edwards (5.59)
- Walter Mirisch (4.25)
- Ken Wales (7.19)
Vintage Interviews with Peter Sellers:
- Sellers on: The Life of a Gypsy (1.56)
- Sellers on: Television (2.23)
- Sellers on: The Goons (7.40)
- Sellers on: His Favourite Characters (1.23)
- Sellers on: Developing a Character (0.58)
- Sellers on: At a Party (3.15)
- Sellers on: Gadgets (1.24)
- Sellers on: The Optician’s Ball (1.08)
- Sellers on: The Future (0.25)
3 Barclays Bank Commercials (3.06)
Theatrical Trailer (1.54)
Photo Galleries:
- The Party Invitations (0.36)
- A Party (1.48)