Eclipse Discussion and Random Speculation

[Michael Kerpan]

I assume a new set for June will be announced around the time Ozu releases.

My Ozu set shipped today....

[HelenLawson]

I assume a new set for June will be announced around the time Ozu releases.

My Ozu set shipped today....

I meant once the publicized street date passes.

[tavernier]

No Eclipse set in July.

[domino harvey]

Well, they want to make sure there's enough time between Ozu sets

[kekid]

Well, they want to make sure there's enough time between Ozu sets

Or they are having second thoughts about the Eclipse line. What do we know about how Criterion perceives the success of Eclipse?

[criterionaficionado]

i am really excited about the july CC releases. where is the eclipse announcement? holding fingers crossed for naruse/mizoguchi/imamura.
i think the release is being delayed due to the CC switching the march release being pushed back to may (klein set). predicting info by 4/22/08...

[tavernier]

They've yet to announce an Eclipse release apart from the Criterion releases; with four double-disc sets in July, I'd be surprised if this is the month they do it.

[jaredsap]

They've yet to announce an Eclipse release apart from the Criterion releases

This is incorrect. Multiple Eclipse sets (e.g. Bernard) have been announced a week or more after the Criterions.

[jaredsap]

How about an Eclipse set of Richard Lester's early TV work?

[Fan-of-Kurosawa]

Yes, Naruse/Mizoguchi/Imamura. That's the spirit. =D>

And then imagine they announce a 5 disc Naruse box set and the 5 films are Repast, Sound of the Mountain, Flowing, Late Chrysanthemums and Floating Clouds. #-o (the 5 films that are already available from MOC and BFI).

Or they announce a Mizoguchi box set and it includes some of the films that are available from MOC.

So please, we want Summer Clouds, Mother, Sudden Rain, A Wife's Heart etc. After all, Naruse made so many wonderful films.

And as for Mizoguchi, please include his great films from the '30s and '40s that are available only in France.

[mteller]

Yes, Naruse/Mizoguchi/Imamura. That's the spirit.

And please, we also still want the Mizoguchi/Naruse/Imamura films that have been released by MOC/BFI/whoever because not all of us have all-region players. Thanks so much.

[TIVOLI]

Let me join in the plea that Criterion release Naruse, 1930's-era Mizoguchi, or early Imamura, but NOT duplicate what has already been made available in outstanding editions by BFI and MOC. I do not mind double-dipping when a print has been restored or significantly upgraded. But I am completely mystified why anyone would still resist getting a region-free player and avoid discovering the rest of the world.

I would also be in seventh heaven if the next Eclipse is devoted to Gremillon or Sternberg.

[Forrest Taft]

How about an Eclipse set of Richard Lester's early TV work?

Yup. Following the Rossellini announcement with an Eclipse set of Lester´s early TV work and/or Altman´s late TV work would make my year.

[stalker_ozu]

Yes, Naruse/Mizoguchi/Imamura. That's the spirit.

And please, we also still want the Mizoguchi/Naruse/Imamura films that have been released by MOC/BFI/whoever because not all of us have all-region players.

I am with you, PLEASE! We want a boxset of Naruse films including Floating Clouds, Late Chrysanthemums, Flowing and many others. I will sure buy it!! I want a Mizoguchi set!! It doesnt matter If they are duplicated if they duplicate films like High and Low (from same company ) why not duplicate from other companies?

[sidehacker]

Well, I'd rather they release Naruse films I haven't seen yet as opposed to those that I already own. Anything would be nice at this point, though.

[zedz]

Well, I'd rather they release Naruse films I haven't seen yet as opposed to those that I already own. Anything would be nice at this point, though.

Or to put it a little less solipsistically (and I'm all for solipsism!), when you've got such large, important bodies of work that are largely unavailable, it's a disservice to continually recycle the same handful of titles. The High and Low analogy would only work if the only Kurosawa titles available anywhere with English subs were that one, Seven Samurai and Yojimbo / Sanjuro, and Criterion had gone ahead with their reissues ahead of any other titles.

[Fan-of-Kurosawa]

Exactly. Zedz is right. The High and Low analogy does not apply. Not only because they reissue the film after they have already made available most of Kurosawa's body of work but also because the existing High and Low disc is AWFUL. Furthermore, the BFI disc of High and Low is also quite bad. (forced subs, no extras, etc). So there is a need for a new disc.

But this is not the case with Naruse or Mizoguchi. The existing R2 versions of their films are excellent. So apart from the R1 vs. R2 thing there is absolutely no reason for duplication. Of course I understand that some people don't have multi-region players so it is necessary to make the films available in R1 also but please, Criterion, make them available after you issue a few films that are not available ANYWHERE.

[Michael Kerpan]

But this is not the case with Naruse or Mizoguchi. The existing R2 versions of their films are excellent. So apart from the R1 vs. R2 thing there is absolutely no reason for duplication. Of course I understand that some people don't have multi-region players so it is necessary to make the films available in R1 also but please, Criterion, make them available after you issue a few films that are not available ANYWHERE.

Since passable multi-region players cost only about as much as two Criterion SE releases, the _cost_ of multi-region players should not deter anyone from picking up excellent discs from outside R1. Moreover, anyone with a PC DVD drive can play virtually any disc with free (and safe) software -- e.g, DVD43 (Windows) and VLC (Windows, Linux, Mac).

It seems that having a wider array of the works of important directors like Naruse has the potential of maximizing sales -- while cannibalizing sales from releases already available would more likely hurt (in the medium to long run).

But I'm no MBA, so what do I know.,

[miless]

in the latest OnFive blog, it was revealed that they are working on a Larisa Shepitko Eclipse set. They could easily include all of her feature films (all three of 'em) and possibly her diploma film Heat (which was completed when she was 22).

I can't wait, as her films sound really fascinating (I generally enjoy Soviet-thaw era filmmaking, and I've read many reviews calling The Ascent one of the best from that era)

[jbeall]

The Shepitko set definitely sounds interesting.

And with some late Rossellini history films on the way, I’m looking forward to more cinematic avenues opening up for me in the very near future.

Hmmm... I really hope that includes Louix XIV. It's not exactly "late" in his career (1966), but it's certainly "historical," and certainly worthy of a dvd release.

[subliminac]

Since passable multi-region players cost only about as much as two Criterion SE releases, the _cost_ of multi-region players should not deter anyone from picking up excellent discs from outside R1.

Its not so much the players as it is the imported disks that become cost prohibitive. I've pretty much ruled out any purchases from continental Europe due to the terrible exchange rate between the euro and the dollar. UK disks generally aren't too bad though, usually equaling the price of an upper tier Criterion.

[Max von Mayerling]

Its not so much the players as it is the imported disks that become cost prohibitive. I've pretty much ruled out any purchases from continental Europe due to the terrible exchange rate between the euro and the dollar. UK disks generally aren't too bad though, usually equaling the price of an upper tier Criterion.

Indeed. For example, with all due respect to MoC, an Eclipse Naruse box would have a significantly milder impact on my bottom line.

[Perkins Cobb]

I'm glad Eclipse is tackling another obscure (at least outside of the major cities) filmmaker, but Shepitko is a curious choice apart from the feminist angle and the compact filmography. I saw all of four of her features at the Walter Reade two years ago and the real standout is Wings, a melancholy piece that contrasts a Soviet aviatrix's exciting past with her banal present. I hope they include it. The Ascent has some striking imagery but it's also kind of leaden and pretentious in its symbolism, and I barely remember the other two.

I kind of wish they were doing Shepitko's husband, Elem Klimov, instead; I haven't seen as much of his work, but two of the early features, Welcome or No Trespassing and Adventures of a Dentist, have a very droll sense of humor.

[stalker_ozu]

I hope the next eclipse is going to be the Mizoguchi set. If it is a Naruse set I will be happy too.

[criterionaficionado]

i wont mind if the next eclipse will either be mizo or naruse (i'm hoping for mizo though).
i have to totally disagree with perkins cobb regarding his erroneous criticism of shepitko's film "ascent". I saw this movie (a very bad copy with illegible subs, and i must say, this film is what has me so excited about the chance of seeing more of her work. "ascent" was such a powerful and moving pic, and i couldn't even read or see the images all that clear. there was nothing leaden about this film. this film was nothing short of a masterpiece. yet, you give it undue justice by calling it dull, or better yet, perhaps by leaden you thought it lacked spirit and/or animation? this film left me with tears in my eyes (and i am not ashamed to admit).
also, what about this film was pretentious? i believe you missed the boat on this one. but, this is just 1 opinion by yours truly...