'Forthcoming' Lists Discussion and Random Speculation Vol.2

[Gregory]

Silly me, I thought we were talking about a lack of silent-era features. No one has argued that Criterion avoids films by Brakhage that happen to be silent. It's not the same issue.

I forgot Bucking Broadway, so twenty out of about 550.

If we're counting extras like Bucking Broadway and individual films as part of multi-film packages (e.g. Painlevé), then the total number would obviously be much higher than 550.

[swo17]

Imagine if Crit had released a Mauritz Stiller box, instead of Kino? Would that have been impossible for them? I doubt it. Would it have been completely out of character? Yes.

This is a good point, as Stiller is a great but underappreciated (and probably not very bankable) director. I can't help but think though that Criterion would love to get their hands on, at the very least, some of Kino's flagship titles (The General, Potemkin, Birth of a Nation, Metropolis, etc.), as they would bring a different kind of prestige and would surely sell well, but that for whatever reason, they let Kino have them. I know they have said things before like "our friends at Kino have that one" in response to Facebook requests for, say, Murnau. I'm sure Kino need these titles to be able to subsidize the costs of their more risky releases profitwise. Maybe it's not so much a case of Criterion not wanting some of these films, but rather of Kino wanting them more, and Criterion throwing them a few bones?

[captveg]

Imagine if Crit had released a Mauritz Stiller box, instead of Kino? Would that have been impossible for them? I doubt it. Would it have been completely out of character? Yes.

This is a good point, as Stiller is a great but underappreciated (and probably not very bankable) director. I can't help but think though that Criterion would love to get their hands on, at the very least, some of Kino's flagship titles (The General, Potemkin, Birth of a Nation, Metropolis, etc.), as they would bring a different kind of prestige and would surely sell well, but that for whatever reason, they let Kino have them. I know they have said things before like "our friends at Kino have that one" in response to Facebook requests for, say, Murnau. I'm sure Kino need these titles to be able to subsidize the costs of their more risky releases profitwise. Maybe it's not so much a case of Criterion not wanting some of these films, but rather of Kino wanting them more, and Criterion throwing them a few bones?

It wouldn't surprise me.

One hopes they've at least discussed with Paramount the status of Wings, and discussed with Fox being able to release Sunrise. And I'm sure there are plenty of Warner, MGM and FBO silents they'd like to get their hands on, but Warner, of course, won't license.

And let's not forget they jumped for the chance to distribute the upcoming Chaplin titles.

[Cinephrenic]

There's a shitload of Brakhage silents too, if you wanna get technical...

Yes, apart from his 'talkie' films.

[captveg]

There's a shitload of Brakhage silents too, if you wanna get technical...

Yes, apart from his 'talkie' films.

LOL

[Svevan]

Thanks for the corrections, folks. For the record, though I excluded Eclipse titles for the sake of concision, I think Criterion's Silent Ozu set is one of their best even without extras, and the silent included on the Shimizu set is very welcome. I think I just said this a week ago: pour the silents onto Eclipse, if they aren't going anywhere else. Out-Kino Kino by "assembly lining" these sets that won't get released here otherwise (more Japanese stuff, perhaps?). Criterion should take note that there is a fanbase to be built, not just waiting to be served. They set the dialogue, the "Criterion" (pardon); we don't. This is why we complain when they "don't release what we want." They define what it means to be a boutique label, and by ignoring silents they're affecting the entire market. If they gave us a flagship silent once a year and a few on Eclipse, and I think sales would go up, prestige for these things could go up, and the industry-wide anathema towards silent releases would stall. Inconsistency is the problem, not the solution.

Step 1 - do what (we think) you're already doing: release a set of silent Sternbergs on Blu. The new silent era could start NOW.

But Criterion could more easily absorb a few low-selling silent releases without finding themselves hanging by a thread. Criterion's last silent was #358. Nearly 170 spine numbers have been added since then. It's not unreasonable - especially with the backlog of silents crying for restoration and release - to have expected one or two more in the main line by now - even with the pending von Sternbergs.

Richly agreed.

[Michael Kerpan]

I am certain Criiterion could snap up the 4 (surviving) Naruse silent films from Shochiku (which has already licensed the Ozu and Shimizu films). Two of these -- Apart From You and Every Night Dreams are masterpieces. Flunky, Work Hard! gives us our only glimpse at Naruse's early career. While Nasanunaka (The Stepmother / Not Blood Relations) is a lesser film, it is still an interesting one -- and would serve to round out an Eclipse set.

[felipe]

And re: Videodrome, I agree about the packaging, but making it a DVD case would make no sense, the whole plot of the film is centered around VHS. I trust Criterion to realize how cool the case for the original is and to just make a stubbier version of it. Fingers crossed.

That packaging is truly amazing. I hope they'll do something similar for the blu-ray.

[mfunk9786]

To paraphrase Matt, it could come in a greasy Wendy's bag and I'd buy it.

[Cinephrenic]

Where is Naked Lunch?

[Max von Mayerling]

But really, as a first Cronenberg on blu from Criterion, isn't Videodrome just about perfect? (See thread "Cinematic Violence: Can Anything Be Justified?") In fact, I thought I wasn't going to buy it, but now I think maybe I am.

[MyNameCriterionForum]

To paraphrase Matt, it [Videodrome] could come in a greasy Wendy's bag and I'd buy it.

Shouldn't it come in a rubber stomach-vagina?

Where is Naked Lunch?

Check the rubber stomach-vagina.

[Rupert Pupkin]

I'm happy to see Videodrome announced on blu-ray...
I know a HD transfer is around since I saw it in HDTV a couple of years ago...
I hope that Criterion will do better that what I saw (which was ok, but could have been better...)

I really enjoy the original DVD packaging with the betamax, and since Criterion stopped the digipack/ and or box set for blu-ray (I liked what they did for The Last Metro, but well...) I wonder if they will do something special for the Blu-Ray reissue or if they will start the arwork from scratch.

The TV show with Big John Carpetner (who has just finished The Thing), John Landis and Cronenberg is what of the most interesting bonus I've ever seen. But I hope that Criterion will add the extra/cut scenes (used for the TV edit of Videodrome). Sure it was a Cronenberg "approved" edition, I don't ask for a double feature (Cronenberg/director's cut + TV cut) but it was kind of frustrating to see the diaporama/photos of these cut scenes, whereas these can be seen when the TV edit is broadcast on TV (for instance the scene where Nicki and Max are in a cab...)
Those scenes can be seen on YouTube. I really hope that Criterion will put as a bonus these extra scenes.


and while talking about Cronenberg, is there a chance that CRASH sees one day the light of the day (on Criterion or whatever;) on Blu-Ray ??? (the zone 1 Alliance is still very good for an early DVD transfer)
I don't believe anymore (would like too, though) to a Criterion Crash release, but I really hope to see one day this movie on blu-ray.

[Jonathan S]

I can't help but think though that Criterion would love to get their hands on, at the very least, some of Kino's flagship titles (The General, Potemkin, Birth of a Nation, Metropolis, etc.), as they would bring a different kind of prestige and would surely sell well, but that for whatever reason, they let Kino have them. I know they have said things before like "our friends at Kino have that one" in response to Facebook requests for, say, Murnau. I'm sure Kino need these titles to be able to subsidize the costs of their more risky releases profitwise. Maybe it's not so much a case of Criterion not wanting some of these films, but rather of Kino wanting them more, and Criterion throwing them a few bones?

There's nothing to stop Criterion doing their own editions of The General, The Birth of a Nation and many other PD silent films if they wanted to. Re. The Birth of a Nation there is at least one very different and arguably superior restoration to that available from Kino which, according to the Photoplay Productions "home video" page, will be "coming soon to the UK through the The British Film Institute" (they also mention The Phantom of the Opera from the BFI). I'm not suggesting these should be priority titles for Criterion but if they "let Kino have them" it's only in the sense that, for whatever reason, they don't want to compete with their editions and the other existing DVD releases of these films.

[HistoryProf]

I wouldn't expect Fantastic Mr. Fox, though, since they put out an SE and Blu.

I wouldn't expect it because it's animated. That's a dirty word in Criterion Land.

The present blu ray is fantastic, so it's not like it would be necessary anyway.

[HistoryProf]

Didn't see it posted:

Usually, titles from The Criterion Collection are first officially announced and then come up for preorder. But this time, the opposite has happened and five major titles are apparently coming soon from the studio: Antichrist (Lars Von Trier, 2009); The Darjeeling Limited (Wes Anderson, 2007); The Seven Samurai (Akira Kurosawa, 1954); The Thin Red Line (Terrence Malick, 1998); and Videodrome (David Cronenberg, 1982).

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=4563" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Criterion confirms all these titles are coming this fall: http://theplaylistnation.blogspot.com/2 ... -line.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

All in BluRay too.

a blu of Charade finally too?!??!? Hot Diggity!!! I honestly don't know how I'm going to afford all of these dammit!

[dad1153]

^^^ Do you really need two kidneys? Just sayin'.

[Adam X]

I've only got one properly functioning kidney, so I'm glad VIDEODROME's the only one of those BDs I'd like to buy

[Cinephrenic]

I'm down to one lung with machine support for the other. I suppose I can sell a testicle for that month.

[perkizitore]

Don't you own Videodrome and Seven Samurai on DVD already? Just sell them and you might save your testicle.

[bevilacq12]

It'd be cool if they had another Cronenberg title to release alongside Videodrome on BD. Crash would be good, and Scanners and The Brood are certainly good bedfellows for Videodrome. I know Scanners and The Brood already have DVD releases from MGM, but I'm not sure of their quality and I definitely doubt they're high on MGM's list for BD releases.

[Zot!]

ExistenZ is the true companion piece to Videodrome.

[flyonthewall2983]

So, is it safe to assume that Criterion will announce this on their website fairly soon?

[Matt]

ExistenZ is the true companion piece to Videodrome.

Sigh. I would love to see ExistenZ on Blu-ray. I think it's my favorite Cronenberg film (and yes, a true companion piece to Videodrome). If Criterion has any access to Miramax titles, why not this one?

[cdnchris]

The Alliance DVD was actually an okay special edition, though don't recall the transfer (probably looked like ass considering all their other in-house jobs--I still have nightmares over the transfer of The Fast Runner.) Something tells me Alliance will release a Blu before we see one here, but then again I don't know how good it would be. But I agree with Matt, if Miramax is willing to licence out Chungking Express, and Criterion obviously loves Cronenberg, why wouldn't they go after this one? It's a great film, and it was a great experience seeing it in a packed theater where you could sense the general audience reaction to it.