Archived Criterion Streaming Discussion

[Fred Holywell]

The version on Hulu is identical to the version on the Fox DVD.

Except Criterion's print of "Anna Karenina" opens with a London Films logo, rather than the Fox logo, and slightly different credits. To my eyes, it doesn't look quite as clean as the Fox print (but it has been a while since I've watched the dvd). Criterion probably didn't have to license the title from Fox, since it must be part of the large London Films package they acquired. If they ever do put it out on dvd again, I hope it's the full-length version, rather than the cut one -- otherwise, what's the point.

BTW, if you have the Fox dvd, you may notice that some half-wits confused supporting player Sally Ann Howes with star Vivien Leigh. It's Howes' image, rather than Leigh's, that's all over the menu artwork. Sort of like shoving Thelma Ritter's face all over the "All About Eve" menus. (Though I admit Howes is a lot easier on the eyes than Thelma.)

[knives]

Mine doesn't have that artwork since I bought it as a four pack fortunately.

Edit: and the credits are the same right down to the London Films logo.

[dwk]

They've added Godzilla, King of the Monsters! to Hulu.

[knives]

Does this mean Classic Media lost the rights? I'm really confused right now.

[Doctor Sunshine]

And Breaker Morant, History Is Made at Night, Foreign Correspondent, The Long Voyage Home and Quadrophenia.

Godzilla and Quadrophenia being the most unexpected. Maybe Godzilla's another juke like when Rialto put it in theatres.

[Tribe]

Does this mean Classic Media lost the rights? I'm really confused right now.

The Classic Media/Toho release is still in print. Very, very strange that there might be some Criterion connection. I wonder if perhaps Criterion has acquired some subsidiary rights to the American version.

[Tribe]

Breaker Morant was an HVE title...and I believe Criterion released it on Laser back in the day.[/quote]

[knives]

It would be really weird if they held the rights all along and were just licensing it out. That's a stupid idea, right? Hopefully if they do have the original cut they can release a progressive Blu in October maybe alongside that Kaiju/ sci-fi eclipse we've been hearing about for years.

[The Elegant Dandy Fop]

It's only the campy Raymond Burr version of Godzilla. I know the last (and terrible) Blu-Ray release of Gojira didn't come with this version. Does Criterion own it now or can we hope they own it with the horrifying anti-nuclear one? Anyways, anti-war politics aside, I just want to see kaiju action along with The X from Outer Space!

Quadrophenia has been out of print for years so it's neat to know they own it. That movie is guarantee to bring Criterion money the moment it's put out. Probably going to get a release along with Deep End as cult British cinema.

Also, we're never going to get those Gosha's, huh?

[knives]

The bit about the Goshas depresses me the most. Death Shadows might be my favorite of the masculine Japanese films they have.

[Matt]

Quadrophenia will likely be their big Christmas release for Boomers. They are going to make so much money off of that.

[matrixschmatrix]

Isn't Foreign Correspondent a Warner title, or did they lose the rights?

[Gary Gnu]

Perhaps Tommy will follow?

[knives]

Just how famous is it? Honestly my first thought went to The Who album.

[Gary Gnu]

Just how famous is it? Honestly my first thought went to The Who album.

It's an adaptation, like Tommy.

[matrixschmatrix]

It's not nearly as tied to the album as Tommy is, though- it's as much a movie about someone who was a Who fan in the era Quadrophenia describes as it is an adaptation of the story the album tells.

[Gary Gnu]

It's not nearly as tied to the album as Tommy is, though- it's as much a movie about someone who was a Who fan in the era Quadrophenia describes as it is an adaptation of the story the album tells.

You're correct, but knives correctly associated it with the album. Tommy, the film, is essentially a visual companion for the album, with no dialogue; but I love how dark and creepy it is. It's an adaptation that didn't pull any punches, which surprised me. It's strikingly accurate.

[knives]

Personally I prefer The Wall, but on this board I seem to be alone in that. Will have to see Quadrophenia tomorrow. Watching Charles Boyer make masturbation jokes right now (and this was during the Hays code).

[Gary Gnu]

Personally I prefer The Wall, but on this board I seem to be alone in that. Will have to see Quadrophenia tomorrow. Watching Charles Boyer make masturbation jokes right now (and this was during the Hays code).

Is there an anti-Wall sentiment on these boards? I love that film, too. (I love Pink Floyd, so I guess that helps.) I think that film is worthy of being added to the Collection. I'm surprised that no Alan Parker films are currently in there!

[matrixschmatrix]

The Wall is the perfect format for Alan Parker, all sound and fury signifying lots of sound and fury. It fits the album really well, they're both enormously bombastic and striking and full of sort of glib profundity, and it's one of those movies that's a great way to get a teenager to realize the possibilities there are in the medium of film.

(That came out more backhanded than I intended it to, I actually like that movie a lot.)

[Gary Gnu]

The Wall is the perfect format for Alan Parker, all sound and fury signifying lots of sound and fury. It fits the album really well, they're both enormously bombastic and striking and full of sort of glib profundity, and it's one of those movies that's a great way to get a teenager to realize the possibilities there are in the medium of film.

(That came out more backhanded than I intended it to, I actually like that movie a lot.)

Actually, I like your description just fine. I take bombastic as a compliment, even though many consider it to be an insult. So, do other people on these boards not take too kindly to the film, or something?

EDIT: Has Criterion said anything about not having released a single animated feature? Are they opposed to that sort of thing? I'd love for them to release The Wall! (Please Criterion, tear down this discriminate wall!)

[knives]

As much as I love The Wall (top ten for me) there's no reason for Criterion to release it. The present DVD is stacked and I believe they are working on a blu. I'd much rather they work on, say, the unreleased films of Kihachiro Kawamoto instead. Also are we considering Parker to be anything other than the name on the box when it comes to The Wall now? I thought everyone just considered it to be Waters and Scarfe's movie.

[dwk]

Isn't Foreign Correspondent a Warner title, or did they lose the rights?

Warner Brothers lost the rights.

[Roger Ryan]

The Wall is the perfect format for Alan Parker, all sound and fury signifying lots of sound and fury. It fits the album really well, they're both enormously bombastic and striking and full of sort of glib profundity, and it's one of those movies that's a great way to get a teenager to realize the possibilities there are in the medium of film.

(That came out more backhanded than I intended it to, I actually like that movie a lot.)

Actually, I like your description just fine. I take bombastic as a compliment, even though many consider it to be an insult. So, do other people on these boards not take too kindly to the film, or something?

THE WALL is definitely bombastic, but it comes off as quite subtle when compared to how Ken Russell filmed TOMMY! As an examination of a man's struggle with his misanthropy, it works well especially given there is little dialogue. Despite its reputation as being overblown, the original album was a fairly risky and emotionally devastating departure from what was considered "progressive rock" at the time; it's closer to Lennon's PLASTIC ONO BAND album than to anything Genesis or Yes were coming up with (although Pink Floyd had avoided most of the prog-rock cliches with their previous albums as well). The film follows suit and I like how it taps into the then-current National Front issues which help ground the film in reality. I saw a preview of the film in Detroit before it opened in '82 and a sizable portion of the audience were cheering on the racial violence depicted in it! This just reinforced the idea that Roger Waters really was at odds with some of his audience and made the album (and film) all the sadder.

[Gary Gnu]

As much as I love The Wall (top ten for me) there's no reason for Criterion to release it. The present DVD is stacked and I believe they are working on a blu. I'd much rather they work on, say, the unreleased films of Kihachiro Kawamoto instead. Also are we considering Parker to be anything other than the name on the box when it comes to The Wall now? I thought everyone just considered it to be Waters and Scarfe's movie.

Really? I don't own the DVD, but for some reason I was under the impression that it was barebones. Was it reissued? I also thought Waters and Scarfe had little involvement in the movie, and when they saw the end product; they liked it. I consider Alan Parker to be a notable director. He's got some worthwhile movies under his belt.