The New Criterion Releases Thread

[Popcorn Reviews]

Okay, thanks for the recommendation. I'll definitely look into them.

[Oxnard Montalvo]

new releases for February

September 03 - Fists in the Pocket by Marco Bellocchio (upgrade)
September 10 - The Cloud-Capped Star by Ritwik Ghatak
September 17 - Polyester by John Waters, Cluny Brown by Ernst Lubitsch
September 24 - Local Hero by Bill Forsyth, The Circus by Charles Chaplin

[Torgo]

Barnes & Noble has a 50% off sale. Now's your chance to pick up Salo for cheap.

[ThatDarnMKS]

Barnes & Noble has a 50% off sale. Now's your chance to pick up Salo for cheap.

Anyone who didn't already buy Salo for cheap at one of these sales isn't a true Criterion collector. #gatekeeping4eva

[topherH]

A treat for the whole family that Salo

[MadMan]

Barnes & Noble has a 50% off sale. Now's your chance to pick up Salo for cheap.

I went overboard last time, so this time I may only pick up a couple.


Or at least 6, probably.

[Oxnard Montalvo]

what do you guys think the #1000 Criterion release will be?

I'm gonna wager that it will be something with "Grand" in the title.

[Popcorn Reviews]

what do you guys think the #1000 Criterion release will be?

I'm gonna wager that it will be something with "Grand" in the title.

It's probably going to be something really great such as The Garbage Pail Kids or Birdemic.

[Torgo]

what do you guys think the #1000 Criterion release will be?

I'm gonna wager that it will be something with "Grand" in the title.

Grand Hotel
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Grand Canyon
Grand Prix
Grand Piano
The Grand Seduction
Rio Grande
Dirty Grandpa

Any of those would be fine with me.

[ThatDarnMKS]

I'm doing a comparison between the Shout Factory Blu of Police Story and the new Criterion release. It's like the difference between a DVD and 4k despite both being the same Blu-ray format. Upgrading to a Criterion is never the wrong call.

Off to compare my Blue Velvet Blu and Criterion.

[Oxnard Montalvo]

new releases for October

October 08 - 3 Silent Classics by Josef von Sternberg (upgrade)*
October 15 - Haxan by Benjamin Christensen (upgrade)
October 22 - When We Were Kings by Leon Gast
October 29 - Matewan by John Sayles

*includes Underworld, The Last Command, and The Docks of New York

#1000 will be announced next week

[ThatDarnMKS]

Of those, Haxan is the only certain buy. The Sternberg set is intriguing but I have the feeling like the Dietrich set, will be priced just high enough to give me pause and grab something of greater interest.

[Torgo]

When We Were Kings is an awesome doc.

[Captain Terror]

Of those, Haxan is the only certain buy.

Having perused the bonus features, I'm a little disappointed that there doesn't seem to be anything besides what was already on the DVD. I'll still get it just for the new scan, though.

[ThatDarnMKS]

Having perused the bonus features, I'm a little disappointed that there doesn't seem to be anything besides what was already on the DVD. I'll still get it just for the new scan, though.

If I had the DVD I would be more apprehensive but I've only seen the Burroughs version streaming so that jumps it up quite a bit.

Now that I've gotten a 4k set up, my appreciation for Criterion blu Ray has grown tremendously, even with it already at inflated heights. Some of these transfers, when upscaled through the UHD player, can go toe to toe with the majority of my 4K blu rays. Tree of Life and Barry Lyndon look better than the majority of what I have in 4K and only the upper crust of 4k Blu like Dunkirk and Blade Runner 2049 have handedly beat them.

So, in my long winded fashion, my nearly forgotten point is that Criterion puts so much effort that the transfer is often enough of a selling point for me.

[crumbsroom]

When We Were Kings is an awesome doc.

This

[Captain Terror]

I
So, in my long winded fashion, my nearly forgotten point is that Criterion puts so much effort that the transfer is often enough of a selling point for me.

Definitely. It's funny, Criterion's Haxan was one of the first DVDs I ever bought back in the day, and it was pretty much the one that opened my eyes to how good films of this age can look. I remember being flabbergasted that I could see the pores on people's faces in close ups. So I'm looking forward to this 2K scan.

Bought The Kid last month and when you realize that the film is 98 years old, the quality really is incredible.

PS--The Ali doc is indeed a good one, for those who haven't seen it. I just wouldn't rewatch it often enough to merit a $40 purchase.

[ThatDarnMKS]

This Do the Right Thing release is amazing.

[Torgo]

Spine #984 is, appropriately, Michael Radford's 1984.
It's a movie that gets the job done, is what it is, good for what it is, etc. I'd prefer to watch Brazil.

[Captain Terror]

https://www.criterion.com/boxsets/2648- ... -1954-1975




OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

[ThatDarnMKS]

Time to sell all my sets before they become worth nothing.

[Oxnard Montalvo]

as someone without much appreciation (or exposure) to these types of movies, why I should I become a Godzilla fan? no wrong answers

[ThatDarnMKS]

as someone without much appreciation (or exposure) to these types of movies, why I should I become a Godzilla fan? no wrong answers

There's hardly a franchise with more ingenuity and charm than Godzilla. The imagination and skill needed to pull off these now antiquated but extremely important effects is something that everyone should appreciate.

Some of them are thematically brilliant, especially the first film. Others are just camp masterpieces of pure eye candy fun, like Invasion of Astro-Monster.

It's also the flagship franchise in one of the most successful cinematic universes of all time and forms a direct line to the MCU.

[Captain Terror]

Time to sell all my sets before they become worth nothing.

Exactly my thoughts. I never got around to Criterion's Gojira, so I'm not double-dipping there, at least.
Good thing about being single is that nobody cares if I spend money on stuff like this. So leave me alone until at least November, ladies!

[ThatDarnMKS]

Exactly my thoughts. I never got around to Criterion's Gojira, so I'm not double-dipping there, at least.
Good thing about being single is that nobody cares if I spend money on stuff like this. So leave me alone until at least November, ladies!

Oh, it's a double dip for me plus selling an OOP collection that's about to plummet in worth and a half dozen Blu Rays. I've never been so irritated and excited at the same time.

[Captain Terror]

Is it this one? This is the one I have, didn't realize it's OOP.

[ThatDarnMKS]

That's the one!

[Hipster Thor]

Already pre-ordered. This is a dream come true as for the first time ever this set will include the Japanese version of King Kong vs. Godzilla. Universal has never allowed that version to be distributed in the West before. Other bonuses are Son of Godzilla and Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla which have been OOP for over a decade. I hope the masters for the films that don’t previously have HD released look good.

I was not aware you also collected these movies, MKS. Lol

[ThatDarnMKS]

Already pre-ordered. This is a dream come true as for the first time ever this set will include the Japanese version of King Kong vs. Godzilla. Universal has never allowed that version to be distributed in the West before. Other bonuses are Son of Godzilla and Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla which have been OOP for over a decade. I hope the masters for the films that don’t previously have HD released look good.

I was not aware you also collected these movies, MKS. Lol

Hilariously, I just got a copy of GvM (hadn’t seen it since the days of VHS) for $20 and felt like it was a steal. Thinking about popping all of mine on on eBay right now. The only one I don’t have is Son of Godzilla.

Given the treatment that they gave Godzilla, Zatoichi and Lone Wolf and Cub (and every other movie in the collection), I have full faith that this will be the best any Godzilla film has ever looked.

[Hipster Thor]

I’ve seen some dissent on other places online that not only is this set not worth the hype of being spine 1000 but also that most of the movies in the set are “undeserving” of the label and that bums me out. I think each movie in the set is of cultural significance to where Japan itself was at the time of the film’s release and even the “bad” ones are important to the bigger picture of understanding what the franchise is.

[Captain Terror]

I’ve seen some dissent on other places online that not only is this set not worth the hype of being spine 1000 but also that most of the movies in the set are “undeserving” of the label and that bums me out. I think each movie in the set is of cultural significance to where Japan itself was at the time of the film’s release and even the “bad” ones are important to the bigger picture of understanding what the franchise is.

I admit I was expecting something more high-brow for #1000, and was hoping for some sort of upgrade to the Eisenstein set, which is approaching 20 years old. (Although I guess that wouldn't have gotten a new spine number anyway?)
But I never expected to see a set like this from any distributor, let alone Criterion, so I'm a little flabbergasted at my (our) good fortune.

[ThatDarnMKS]

I’ve seen some dissent on other places online that not only is this set not worth the hype of being spine 1000 but also that most of the movies in the set are “undeserving” of the label and that bums me out. I think each movie in the set is of cultural significance to where Japan itself was at the time of the film’s release and even the “bad” ones are important to the bigger picture of understanding what the franchise is.

That’s always going to happen due to the breadth of cinema that Criterion respects and covers. I’ve definitely encountered people that have a very rigid appreciation of art cinema and if it isn’t by Tarkovsky, Resnais or Bergman, there’s a sneer of dissent at it being lesser cinema. I’m sure they voiced similar contempt to Zatoichi, Lone Wolf and Cub, Lady Snowblood and any of the other cult-y Japanese films that don’t fit into the higher art framework of Ozu, Kobayashi, Oshima or Kurosawa.

But it’s sets like this that make me love Criterion so much as it shows their dedication world cinema beyond the pin-hole that many cinephiles view it from.

That said, I think the criticism is in the minority. I see TONS of excitement on FB, Twitter and Instagram on a level I’ve never seen for a Criterion release and it honestly makes me nervous that I won’t be able to get one unless I pre-order. I want to... but I’d also much prefer to get it during the November half off sale...

[ThatDarnMKS]

I admit I was expecting something more high-brow for #1000, and was hoping for some sort of upgrade to the Eisenstein set, which is approaching 20 years old. (Although I guess that wouldn't have gotten a new spine number anyway?)
But I never expected to see a set like this from any distributor, let alone Criterion, so I'm a little flabbergasted at my (our) good fortune.

It was my #1 prediction when I and a fellow collector were discussing what the 1000 title could be. They’ve had the rights for streaming for a really long time and it just seemed like they were waiting for something big to pull the trigger.

[Captain Terror]

it honestly makes me nervous that I won’t be able to get one unless I pre-order. I want to... but I’d also much prefer to get it during the November half off sale...

Is it limited? I haven't seen anything about that. I just blew my budget on a massive music set, so I was hoping this could be a Christmas purchase.

[ThatDarnMKS]

Is it limited? I haven't seen anything about that. I just blew my budget on a massive music set, so I was hoping this could be a Christmas purchase.

I don’t think it’s limited but for instance, the Bergman set went on back order after a weekend of availability and wasn’t available until well after the sale ended (came back in stock in February) and while I haven’t gotten a close look at the set that rereleased, like the Zatoichi set, it appears to be a much smaller, less impressive edition. So it may still technically in print but the original version may disappear. It’s happened a few times with their digibook releases too (looking at you Night of the Hunter).

There’s no concrete evidence that this will happen but given its strong anticipation and positivity, my collector alert level is high.

[Hipster Thor]

Is it limited? I haven't seen anything about that. I just blew my budget on a massive music set, so I was hoping this could be a Christmas purchase.

It’s very difficult to determine how limited this release is. I imagine it will remain in print for as long as they have the license to print it, not some limited edition type thing. It might just be hard to get on Release and pre-orders help them understand General demand. The problem is getting the rights to all of these films was a Herculean achievement. The rights have been spread across New World, UPA, AIP, Universal International, Kraken Releasing, Sony, Classic Media, etc. To Frankenstein all of these agreements together makes the prospect of how many years it is in print dubious. The fact that they were able to convince Universal to allow them to release the Japanese cut of KKvG cannot be understated. They have been infamous in their refusal to distribute it.

[Popcorn Reviews]

A Godzilla box set was probably the last one I expected them to pick for their 1000th title, but I like how they're not afraid to release a bit of fun as opposed to a widely beloved art house classic which we were all expecting.

[Jinnistan]

I’ve seen some dissent on other places online that not only is this set not worth the hype of being spine 1000 but also that most of the movies in the set are “undeserving” of the label and that bums me out.

There's only one undeserving Criterion release....

Equinox

[Popcorn Reviews]

There's only one undeserving Criterion release....

Equinox

I thought you were also unhappy about Bowling for Columbine.

[DaMU]

I would hope there's not too much sneering re: that set, the artwork looks great and the legacy of the films speaks for itself.

Heck, we all survived a Criterion release of Armageddon.

[Jinnistan]

I thought you were also unhappy about Bowling for Columbine.

Outside of Roger & Me, I don't care much for Moore. There are a number of films on Criterion that I don't care for, but for most of them I can recognize something of significance to make them worthy. For somebody. Equinox is just trashy sub-Harryhausen/Land of the Lost cheepness that doesn't have the charm of more entertaining schlock from that era. It's the only Criterion that doesn't have any interest whatsoever for me.

Heck, we all survived a Criterion release of Armageddon.

Oh, yeah. Ugh. But they were young and needed the money.

[Rock]

As long as we're not knocking their release of The Rock. That's a great fucking movie.

EDIT: I'm glad this got bolded, and I'm hardcoding it.

[DaMU]

Outside of Roger & Me, I don't care much for Moore. There are a number of films on Criterion that I don't care for, but for most of them I can recognize something of significance to make them worthy. For somebody. Equinox is just trashy sub-Harryhausen/Land of the Lost cheepness that doesn't have the charm of more entertaining schlock from that era.

Yeah, it's a pretty drab film. Goddamn shame. I've watched it twice and, apart from a few intriguing moments of otherworldly tone/mystery, the flick is less than the sum of its very scattered parts.

[Oxnard Montalvo]

There's hardly a franchise with more ingenuity and charm than Godzilla. The imagination and skill needed to pull off these now antiquated but extremely important effects is something that everyone should appreciate.

Some of them are thematically brilliant, especially the first film. Others are just camp masterpieces of pure eye candy fun, like Invasion of Astro-Monster.

It's also the flagship franchise in one of the most successful cinematic universes of all time and forms a direct line to the MCU.

I know that the first Godzilla was a way for Japan to exorcise its feelings on Hiroshima/Nagasaki, are there any other movies that mirror cultural anxieties in a similar way? just in case I want to enjoy them as historical artifacts.

there's probably something to be said about turning their a-bomb monster into an ally as well.

[Hipster Thor]

I know that the first Godzilla was a way for Japan to exorcise its feelings on Hiroshima/Nagasaki, are there any other movies that mirror cultural anxieties in a similar way?

there's probably something to be said about turning their a-bomb monster into an ally as well.

The director of the early films, Ishiro Honda, was a participant in WWII, and actually walked through the ruins of bombed cities. When the war ended and the UN was formed Honda optimistically thought it would solve every major issue the world faced. So many of his science fiction films emphasize the importance of human cooperation between all nations. He really believes in the ideal. Other themes the movies tackle are the dangers of capitalism, and most notably pollution. Godzilla vs. Hedorah is played as a surprisingly graphic ecological horror movie, featuring humans dissolving into skeletons. It’s directed in a surreal style quite unlike any other movie, let alone Godzilla movie. The director on that one is Yoshimitsu Banno. It’s a very psychedelic picture.

[Hipster Thor]

I should also note that Godzilla’s Revenge is actually kind of an interesting commentary on the Americanization of Japan and the changing of traditional family roles in a booming period of industrial expansion.

[Oxnard Montalvo]

I should also note that Godzilla’s Revenge is actually kind of an interesting commentary on the Americanization of Japan and the changing of traditional family roles in a booming period of industrial expansion.

heh, now I'm thinking about a Godzilla movie done Ozu-style.

[Captain Terror]

The problem is getting the rights to all of these films was a Herculean achievement. The rights have been spread across New World, UPA, AIP, Universal International, Kraken Releasing, Sony, Classic Media, etc.

Right, this is my main concern. I don't expect it to be in print forever, so I definitely intend to get it within the year. I've just never known Criterion to do a limited/numbered thing before (could be wrong). But like MKS says, my "collector alert" levels are spiking anyway. What the hell- that's why we have credit cards, right?

[Oxnard Montalvo]

new releases for November

November 12 - The Daytrippers by Greg Mottola
November 19 - Betty Blue by Jean-Jacques Beineix, Cold War by Paweł Pawlikowski
November 26 - All About Eve by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Now, Voyager by Irving Rapper

[crumbsroom]

I've had a crappy copy of Betty Blue sitting around my apartment for years and have never watched it, and now Criterion is just giving me more reason to not put on my crappy copy. Urgh.