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ByMarkClark.com · #126 Post by **ByMarkClark.com** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 4:38 pm

Actually, I thought that late 2005 and Jan and Feb 2006 were very strong for Criterion. But I must agree that April brings the lamest batch of titles in ages. I am not a fan of double-dipping unless there's a truly compelling reason to do it (marketing considerations are not reason enough, imho). Now that Criterion is splitting up its boxed sets, I'm concerned this will make buyers hesitant to purchase new sets. And I don't understand the ongoing delays with announced titles like PLAYTIME and JOUR DE FETE.

But in a strange way, I'm also sort of releived! Months like this, when I will probably only buy 1 title, give me the opportunity to go back and pick up some of the older titles lingering on my want list!

swimminghorses · #127 Post by **swimminghorses** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 11:09 pm

this from a question I sent Criterion:

"so we bought the one disc in good faith and now a two disc pops
up. it sounds like the double dipping of the major studios, what's up?"

and this is the reply from someone answering for an out of town JM:

"Thanks for your note which was forwarded to me.

This is a concern of ours and we're planning on offering the new supplements
separately for all those who already own the disc so as not to "double dip."

As the title hasn't been officially announced, we don't have specific
details but will make them available shortly. Just curious, how did you
find out about the new release?"

Tribe · #128 Post by **Tribe** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 11:49 pm

"Thanks for your note which was forwarded to me.

This is a concern of ours and we're planning on offering the new supplements
separately for all those who already own the disc so as not to "double dip."

As the title hasn't been officially announced, we don't have specific
details but will make them available shortly. Just curious, how did you
find out about the new release?"

Jeez, that's a new one...a straightforward answer. I see unemployment in someone's future over at Criterion.

Tribe

Toshiro De Niro · #129 Post by **Toshiro De Niro** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 12:23 am

swimminghorses wrote:this from a question I sent Criterion:

"so we bought the one disc in good faith and now a two disc pops
up. it sounds like the double dipping of the major studios, what's up?"

and this is the reply from someone answering for an out of town JM:

"Thanks for your note which was forwarded to me.

This is a concern of ours and we're planning on offering the new supplements
separately for all those who already own the disc so as not to "double dip."

As the title hasn't been officially announced, we don't have specific
details but will make them available shortly. Just curious, how did you
find out about the new release?"

that made my day.
It's also interesting that they knew that you were talking about Grey Gardens and not "M" or "Wages of Fear" or did you mention Grey Gardens?

Max von Mayerling · #130 Post by **Max von Mayerling** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 12:31 am

The question "how did you find out" suggests that they don't exactly breathlessly follow every word that gets posted on this forum.

justeleblanc · #131 Post by **justeleblanc** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 1:38 am

jasloat wrote:The question "how did you find out" suggests that they don't exactly breathlessly follow every word that gets posted on this forum.

I know for a fact they do and I've gotten into trouble for saying stuff.

If only we can trade secretive information. Or better yet, we can have riddles for upcoming releases that haven't been announced. And you can pm the person with guesses.

I'm up for either of these ideas.

kappoka · #132 Post by **kappoka** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 2:09 am

That is a great idea! Next time I will cryptogram the May titles so as to not reveal too much and not create panic. We will decipher titles--

DVD Beaver has had this up since tuesday
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDReview ... erions.htm

You should tell you found out through them.

arsonfilms · #133 Post by **arsonfilms** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 10:49 am

Image has confirmed that Harlan County USA and Elevator to the Gallows ARE in fact 2 disc sets and not overpriced "the transfer cost us a lot" single disc releases like the recent Virgin Spring and Metropolitan.

GringoTex · #134 Post by **GringoTex** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 11:44 am

stroszeck wrote:To me, January THROUGH April has yielded nothing but disappointments

The Bad Sleep Well
Young Mr. Lincoln
The Virgin Spring
The Complete Mr. Arkadin Welles
The Children Are Watching Us
La bÃªte humaine
Kind Hearts & Coronets
3 Films by Louis Malle Box Set
Viridiana
Fists in the Pocket
Elevator to the Gallows
Harlan County, U.S.A.

What a fabulous lineup.

pauling · #135 Post by **pauling** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 11:57 am

I couldn't agree more: More Welles, more Renoir, more Bunuel, more Bergman, more Kurosawa and the introduction of Ford and Malle to the collection. Not to mention, some lesser-known films to boot. No disappointment here, whatsoever.

Max von Mayerling · #136 Post by **Max von Mayerling** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 1:48 pm

The fact that I know Viridiana is coming is enough to make me content with the first four months of 2006, even though I'm not exactly salivating over the rest of the schedule. That said, I haven't even seen some of these things, and I'm looking forward to renting them.

I am also in the group that is pleased by the single disc release of the 400 Blows. After seeing Stolen Kisses, I didn't feel motivated to buy the Doinel box (especially after what I've heard about Love on the Run), but I've been mildly obsessed with getting my mits on the 400 Blows.

I doubt that they're going to start issuing all the box set discs individually. If that were the case, you'd think that they'd issue the other Doinel flicks. I suspect we're only going to see this to a very limited extent. I can see the marketing logic of the Monterey and 400 Blows releases. I'm not sure it would make sense in many other cases. For example, I'm willing to bet it won't happen with the BDR trilogy.

I'm also ready to bet that there won't be anything on the single 400 Blows that isn't in the box set. So those that already have it won't have a reason to double dip. And for those of us who couldn't get the first version before it went OOP & who didn't want to buy the Doinel set, this is a great release.

oldsheperd · #137 Post by **oldsheperd** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 1:54 pm

Harlan County USA is definitely needed on dvd especially considering this past week's events.

Tribe · #138 Post by **Tribe** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 3:42 pm

Perhaps not many folks who post here have seen it, but Harlan County USA is a masterpiece of the documentary, and while it portrays a point of view that I agree with wholeheartedly, the truth be said it's also a fascinating example of propaganda as film. Kopple portrays the miners and their families as they really are and it's fascinating that what the strikers are demanding are incredibly basic things and needs and dignity. At the same time, while the sympathies of the director lie with the miners, the film doesn't pull any punches with their union, which is in the midst of the Tony Boyle scandals.

All this accompanied by a great, great bluegrass soundtrack (and Merle Travis' paen to coal mining at the beginning of the film Dark as a Dungeon) and the magnificent high lonesome voice of Hazel Dickens! It holds up amazingly well after almost forty years.

I'm surprised there hasn't been more acclaim for this amongst the posters here. But then again, gimme militant unionism and bluegrass, with real life violence, and I'm like a pig in shit.

Tribe

Tribe · #139 Post by **Tribe** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 3:44 pm

The Bad Sleep Well
Young Mr. Lincoln
The Virgin Spring
The Complete Mr. Arkadin Welles
The Children Are Watching Us
La bÃªte humaine
Kind Hearts & Coronets
3 Films by Louis Malle Box Set
Viridiana
Fists in the Pocket
Elevator to the Gallows
Harlan County, U.S.A.

I can't understand what's disappointing about this line-up.

Tribe

kekid · #140 Post by **kekid** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 3:55 pm

There is nothing wrong with the selection unless you compare it to what it could have been given what we know Criterion to possess (a boxed set of Ozu's, a boxed set of Mizoguchi's, Tristana combined with Viridiana, Elevator combined with other Malle's in a box, etc.). Having said that, I accept that each of us has a different perspective, and for some this may indeed be a good selection.

rwaits · #141 Post by **rwaits** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 5:13 pm

Its a great selection.

stroszeck · #142 Post by **stroszeck** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 5:55 pm

Well, quite frankly I'm disappointed over several things: A) Viridiana, the main title I was looking forward to gets kicked back. B) All the double dipping that Criterion is getting us into (Hope this isn't a sign for the future, I'd like to have newer titles than unnecessary re-releases).

Furthermore, I was expecting this year to give us major works by directors; maybe a SANSHO DAYU here or even a PLAYTIME (which in fact was mentioned as being available Spring of '06).

Some very positive points for me, and I'm sure, for everyone else on this forum:

LOVE the ARKADIN (came from outta nowhere, for me) and of course: VIRGIN SPRING.

pzman84 · #143 Post by **pzman84** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 7:21 pm

Once again, May is Roberto Rossellini's 100th Birthday and June is Billy Wilder's 100th B-Day as well. Some possiblities:

Rossellini War Trilogy
Rome, Open City
Paisan
Germany Year Zero

Rossellini/Bergman Trilogy
Stromboli
Europa '51
Voyage to Italy

Wilder Collection
The Major and the Minor
Five Graves to Cairo
Double Indemnity 2 Disc Special Edition
The Emperor Waltz
A Foreign Affair

This is all just random speculation. Why do it here and not in the Random Speculation? Think of it as a morale booster to unhappy fans. Better times are ahead.

exte · #144 Post by **exte** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 7:36 pm

...and for those who don't know? You mean the miners?

Narshty · #145 Post by **Narshty** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 8:05 pm

stroszeck wrote:Furthermore, I was expecting this year to give us major works by directors

I'd say Young Mr. Lincoln and La BÃªte Humaine count as major works by (presumably great) directors. Kind Hearts and Coronets, too, is possibly the masterpiece of Ealing Studios who possessed a style every bit as distinctive, refined and influential as that of Sturges or Lubitsch.

rwaits · #146 Post by **rwaits** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 8:37 pm

You know, as stupid as this may sound, I didn't realize until just reading your post that Kind Hearts and Coronets was Ealing (I haven't seen the film yet). I love just about anything Ealing, so now this is a definite purchase. If only Criterion Could get their hands on Whiskey Galore!

Cinephrenic · #147 Post by **Cinephrenic** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 8:41 pm

I want Ichikawa War Trilogy now! (Enjo, The Burmese Harp, Fires on the Plain). Oshima, Teshigahara, and more Imamura.

stroszeck · #148 Post by **stroszeck** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 9:38 pm

Yeah, KIND HEARTS is a fantastic pitch-black-as-hell comedy from Britain (of all places). But considering I already had the one-disc/barebones edition I failed to overlook that one. Then again, the price on the two-discer is fairly high, which makes me hope the second disc better have one helluva long, detailed documentary on the film as well as TONS of extras. (If they could do it for the Archers, I'm sure they can swing it for Ealing.)

By the way, anyone have any info on Bunuel, Ozu or Resnais in the collection? The major Resnais that I've been DYING to see is PROVIDENCE...can't seem to find that one anywhere, not even on VHS.

POST-POST-SCRIPT: Also any info on Berlin Alexanderplatz and possibly Jail Bait? Two Fassbinder films unseen by myself (the latter of which has never been available even on VHS).

rwaits · #149 Post by **rwaits** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 9:45 pm

Regarding Resnais, I wish someone would release Muriel. Saw it once on what may have been the crappiest transfer on VHS I've ever seen. Amazing film, but the presentation made it nearly unwatchable.

Mr Pixies · #150 Post by **Mr Pixies** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 9:46 pm

I'm glad that I can get the new extras for Grey Gardens seperately, withought having to buy it again.