Why Won't They Release Only What I Want?

[ben d banana]

King Kong was laserdisc spine #2. The real question is why have we been waiting so long for more monkey love?

[The Invunche]

Tell your girlfriend to stop shaving, ben.

[Narshty]

I'm pretty shocked they're charging $40 for Yi Yi, given the chief supplement is a commentary ported over from the UK release. In terms of effort versus price, this does not deserve to sell. But, dammit, the film does.

[Musashi219]

Actually, I think it is. Criterion is spending time and energy on a so-so films as Koko and Equinox, when they could be focusing their efforts in Spanish, Latin-American and other types of cinema that haven't been profiled on the Criterion Collection. Criterion is not new to the home video business. I'm pretty sure that they have the rights or the necessary contacts to better films than Koko and Equinox. As customers, we have had incredibly high expectations year after year that have been met by the company. Unfortunately, most of this year releases have left us hanging dry and haven't fulfill the high expectation of the quality films that Criterion has given us in the past.

I'm sorry, but one word alone in your post bothers me greatly and that is CUSTOMERS. As I said in a previous post on this same thread, no one is FORCING you to buy or even watch these "so-so" films. They're not and people seem to keep forgetting this. Its as if you have a damn magazine subscription service with them and they change the content and you're getting peeved by it all because you're required to give them money.

The sad thing though is I know people who feel it is required of them to purchase EVERY title Criterion releases and your comment has that vibe to it. I'll be honest, I own alot of their DVDs, but there are still plenty I would never purchase in my life yet don't sit here whining about it.

Like I also said, no matter what, you can never please EVERYBODY. Name drop any film director in this forum and there will be someone who says "Meh" to him/her. Everyone just needs to accept things once in awhile and realize that at some point down the road, they'll release some film you've been dying to have for ages therefore making all your negative comments about Criterion simply fade from memory.

Most of the year's releases have left us hanging dry? Speak for yourself sir. Last I checked, so far this year I've been blessed with Mr. Arkadin, The Bad Sleep Well, Kind Hearts & Coronets, The Virgin Spring, La Bete Humaine, and a whole bunch of Louis Malle. Plus how can I forget the fact that Late Spring WITH Tokyo-Ga will be mine in only a month? If you're feeling so sore, I can only imagine what you think needs to be in the Collection.

[Narshty]

Yi Yi is a terrific title, and the importance of Criterion releasing it is estimable as every other release of Yi Yi in R1,2 and 4 so far has been appalling. They don't DARE drop the ball on the transfer, though.

As for the 39.95 price - well it's a three hour long movie for chrissake.

True, but there are plenty of $29.95 DVDs with 3+ hours of material on them, which should theoretically cost more to produce, given that Criterion are paying for both the film and additional supplements on top of that.

[Narshty]

Seriously, the constant complaing is getting annoying. It's not going to change anytihng, at all.

All very true.

Why don't those unenthused just e-mail Criterion and express their displeasure directly? Not that the sensible solution has ever been the most popular on this board. Complaining in a vacuum is infinitely more worthwhile.

[kschell]

Yi Yi is a terrific title, and the importance of Criterion releasing it is estimable as every other release of Yi Yi in R1,2 and 4 so far has been appalling. They don't DARE drop the ball on the transfer, though.

As for the 39.95 price - well it's a three hour long movie for chrissake.

True, but there are plenty of $29.95 DVDs with 3+ hours of material on them, which should theoretically cost more to produce, given that Criterion are paying for both the film and additional supplements on top of that.

Not to mention the recent "Glamour" collections with five feature films, six - seven hours of content, for $19.95.

[GringoTex]

Unfortunately, most of this year releases have left us hanging dry and haven't fulfill the high expectation of the quality films that Criterion has given us in the past.

Most? Name the 11 titles announced this year that aren't worthy of Criterion.

[Narshty]

True, but there are plenty of $29.95 DVDs with 3+ hours of material on them, which should theoretically cost more to produce, given that Criterion are paying for both the film and additional supplements on top of that.

Not to mention the recent "Glamour" collections with five feature films, six - seven hours of content, for $19.95.

Well, I was only referring to Criterion releases.

I dunno, even if they kept it as a one-disc release but put a really good stills gallery or an illustrated essay on Edward Yang's career or something, I'd feel like it was less of a gyp.

[tryavna]

"Criterion, devoted to monkey extravaganzas"

I'm thinking that this might be the logo for their "new line, new look" that we've been discussing elsewhere.

[dx23]

Unfortunately, most of this year releases have left us hanging dry and haven't fulfill the high expectation of the quality films that Criterion has given us in the past.

Most? Name the 11 titles announced this year that aren't worthy of Criterion.

Yeah, I overexagerated with the word most. I should have use several. But Equinox, Metropolitan and Koko don't come to my mind when the word Criterion is mentioned. I think that they fit more on the now defunct Home Vision label.

[atcolomb]

I think Criterion should consecrate on releasing the great films like Erice's "Spirit of the Beehive", Kurosawa's "Dersu Uzala", Paradjanov's "Shadows of our Forgotten Ancestors" or re-release Tati's "Playtime" and others that are worthy of seeing.

[skuhn8]

I think Criterion should consecrate on releasing the great films like Erice's "Spirit of the Beehive", Kurosawa's "Dersu Uzala", Paradjanov's "Shadows of our Forgotten Ancestors" or re-release Tati's "Playtime" and others that are worthy of seeing.

Because you have deemed the others unworthy of seeing? Ok. I think this makes #154 in the category "I think they should release [insert personal shortlist here] instead of [insert 2-3 recent CC releases here]."

I won't even touch on the consecration slip.

I keep returning to this thread hoping that someone will finally explain why 2006 is any worse or better than any other year in the past thus far. Instead it's just grumbling about their own shortlist not getting released all at once. Seriously, write to the Consecrated Collection (there it is) and suggest your favs and wait like the rest of us.

[maxbelmont]

I think Metropolitan was an excellent choice to be released on Criterion. Stillman's satire of the young bourgeoisie was an important film to release. I'm just waiting for a Barcelona and Last Days of Disco release.

[Narshty]

Hi Max - welcome to the forum. Warner already released a Barcelona special edition, with commentary, deleted scenes and some sort of behind-the-scenes footage (and at half the price of the Criterion to boot).

[Cinephrenic]

What do you hope to prove by labeling Yi Yi "lower tier" (with not a single word of justification or explanation, as usual) and trying to exlude Yang from some nebulous pantheon of "masters"?

So your suggesting that Yang is in the same league with Bergman, Kurosawa, Antonioni, and Godard?

That's what I meant.

[skuhn8]

uh-oh--criterionforum hot button has again been pressed.
"tch-ksh": sound of another can of whoop-ass being opened.
bring out the acrobats.

[Gregory]

Without a doubt. I believe Yang's body of work so far (I'm reserving judgment on The Wind) can stand beside the work of any of the great filmmakers. And personally, I think his work so deserves more availability and recognition that I would be more excited about releases of more of his films than about the rest of the Bergmans, Kurosawas, Godards, etc. that remain unavailable on good-quality DVDs. No disrespect meant to those directors' work.
I don't mean to be irritable about it, I just get tired of all the unsubstantiated dismissals and denunciations.

[Cinephrenic]

I was referring to the bitching about these two films like they are the only ones being released in July. Who said anything about dismissal.

[justeleblanc]

Junior year of college I saw a double-feature of Yi-Yi and In The Mood For Love. While Yang may not be Ozu, he's light-years ahead of Wes Anderson... and did anyone complain when Life Aquatic was released?

[Gregory]

All right... You said that they had announced the "lower tier" titles first (meaning Yi Yi and Koko) and that they would follow this up with the announcement of titles by "masters," drawing a clear contrast to the likes of Barbet Schroeder and Edward Yang. It is dismissive to simply declare something "lower tier" without saying anything about your criteria or how it fails to meet them.
But it wasn't just your comments, it was those of quite a few others. But perhaps because it's an anonymous messageboard it's silly to think there should or could be any standards for the discussion. I'll try not to say anything more on this point because I guess complaining about complaining is still a form of complaining.

[backstreetsbackalright]

What do you hope to prove by labeling Yi Yi "lower tier" (with not a single word of justification or explanation, as usual) and trying to exlude Yang from some nebulous pantheon of "masters"?

So your suggesting that Yang is in the same league with Bergman, Kurosawa, Antonioni, and Godard?

That's what I meant.

To a certain degree, that's a question of canon more than of merit. Only time will tell if Yang will be added to that shortlist in undergraduate film appreciation classes. And it's difficult to say from a distance of under ten years if Yi Yi ranks with such a class (which is altogether discounting the fairly arbitrary exercise of anointing an elite auteur class in the first place [which isn't to say it's something I don't think about constantly]). Far as Yang's complete body of work, I think most of us on the Forum (zedz obviously excluded) haven't had the opportunity to see much of Yang's work. Having only seen Yi Yi, I can't possibly say I know if I consider Yang of such a caliber.

But I'm being evasive. To actually respond to your question, I find Yi Yi more interesting, more exciting, more satisfying, and more relevant to my own concerns than any of the Bergman I've seen (with the possible exception of Winter Light).

And as far as contemporary additions to the Collection are concerned, the only names I'd personally value higher would be Oliveira, Akerman, the Dardennes, Denis, Kiarostami, and Marker.

... and did anyone complain when Life Aquatic was released?

Does that can of worms really need opening?

[toiletduck!]

And as far as contemporary additions to the Collection are concerned, the only names I'd personally value higher would be Oliveira, Akerman, the Dardennes, Denis, Kiarostami, and Marker.

It's been mentioned elsewhere as well, but, hot damn, let's get us some Tsai Ming-Liang while we're at it!

-Toilet Dcuk

[atcolomb]

You miss understood me SKUHN8...i have not deemed the others unworthy of seeing. Most of the dvd's Criterion has released are worth watching and happy to see like "The Rules of the Game" or "The Eclipse" but "Armageddon" or "Equinox" ?.......I am not complaining, just giving my opinion.

[ByMarkClark.com]

>>So your suggesting that Yang is in the same league with Bergman, Kurosawa, Antonioni, and Godard? <<

Are you suggesting that Antonioni and Godard are in the same league with Bergman and Kurosawa?

Let's face it, all this stuff is entirely subjective. I don't think anybody could be delighted by every single 2006 Criterion release, because the slate has been so diverse and unpredictable. I've been ecstatic about some of the titles and completely uninterested in others. But I have to give the CC credit for really mixing it up this year. I like the fact that they are challenging our expectations.

Besides, I'm sure we'll see more titles from the Great Masters in 2006. (Even if we don't all agree on who those Great Masters are.)

I just wish they would get those damned Tati discs out.