Forthcoming Lists Discussion and Random Speculation Vol. 6

[Drucker]

I have to say, it seems like Criterion's riskier titles they give budget-based releases must not be big sellers. Eclipse is pretty similar to the 23.99 price-point release, and I feel like a lot of those lower-price point titles that got released were pretty small titles in hindsight. It's a shame that Criterion seemingly can't find a viable way to get these riskier titles to do well, but I imagine it's easier to make a big deal about a huge release of Il Sorpasso or Investigation Of a Citizen than 3 Gremillion DVDs.

[Murdoch]

A complete Tati blu box. I have no words. I'm gonna need a bigger TV.

[sir_luke]

A complete Tati blu box. I have no words. I'm gonna need a bigger TV.

You could get the one that was just suggested in the La Dolce Vita thread...

[Jeff]

Guess [My Darling Clementine] explains this guy.

Never mind. A Sony-restored The Man from Laramie was just announced for Venice Classics. Bank on it.

[domino harvey]

In three years?

[Jeff]

In three years?

Nah. Next month. The already-announced restorations of Macbeth and The Innocents are also playing at Venice Classics this year.

[Drucker]

Jeff, Twilight Time already released it.

[Jeff]

#-o

I'm an idiot. That's what happens when I start tuning out Twilight Time. I can't help but wonder if it was originally supposed to go to Criterion, since it most closely resembles the New Year's clue.

[Drucker]

Tuning them out was easy for me for a while, but announcing Laramie and The Train made me pay attention. Some other recent announcements have piqued my interest as well.

[Moe Dickstein]

The last Eclipse was in January. Can it be buried already?

We can only hope.

[Jeff]

The last Eclipse was in January. Can it be buried already?

We can only hope.

You realize the death of Eclipse would not mean those films going to Blu-ray, it would mean them not being available on disc in the U.S. at all, right?

[FrauBlucher]

The last Eclipse was in January. Can it be buried already?

We can only hope.

You realize the death of Eclipse would not mean those films going to Blu-ray, it would mean them not being available on disc in the U.S. at all, right?

I think Moe got confused and thought he was posting on HTF.

[The Narrator Returns]

We can only hope.

You realize the death of Eclipse would not mean those films going to Blu-ray, it would mean them not being available on disc in the U.S. at all, right?

I think Moe got confused and thought he was posting on HTF.

He's just mad that the The Misinformed Message Pictures of Stanley Kramer set is on indefinite hold.

[FakeBonanza]

I think Moe got confused and thought he was posting on HTF.

I think he got confused and thought he was posting about Tootsie.

[domino harvey]

I think he got confused and thought he was Tootsie

Wow, women have it hard!!!

[movielocke]

I think the only reason Moe wants it dead is because he hasn't bought any of them, and since they have spine numbers if he bought one he would naturally be obligated to buy the other 39, and he'd rather collection laser disc spines than eclipse spines.

[zedz]

I think the only reason Moe wants it dead is because he hasn't bought any of them, and since they have spine numbers if he bought one he would naturally be obligated to buy the other 39, and he'd rather collection laser disc spines than eclipse spines.

I pray that's satire.

[FrauBlucher]

I think he got confused and thought he was Tootsie

Wow, women have it hard!!!

Oh Dom, You wound me so.

[Minkin]

To be fair though, Moe has a point, but if you guys want to pile-on, rather than admit the shortfalls of the series...

The Eclipse series made more sense in 2006 - but less so in 2014 where every mainline release gets a blu-ray. Criterion themselves seem to be confused - putting special features that could have been on a set online, or now that some titles have received major restorations (like both films in the Raymond Bernard set).

Hell, we even voted Fassbinder as the 2nd most disappointing release last year - since well, what was the fucking point vs the Wellspring/Arrow DVDs?

Criterion just needs to rethink the Eclipse series. Either add blu-ray when possible, ditch the "barebones only" routine or some other solution (like prove that a title can be lifted out of Eclipse-land to a main-line release - therefore not destroying hope forever for these titles in R1). Now, its just disappointing when things are dumped into Eclipse vs a spectacular set (Etaix/Zatoichi -which are the perfect way of having a deluxe set, without going overboard on special features). Don't get me wrong, the Dušan Makavejev Eclipse set is perhaps my favorite thing Criterion has done, and I own every Eclipse set except Late Ray.... but there are too many other examples that are head-scratching (Putney Swope, Daisies, Fassbinder, the Bergman/Mizoguchi titles that are on Blu in the UK, etc, etc).

I don't think Hulu should be a replacement for the Eclipse series though. I suppose I'll just say: Eclipse needs some change to its format. It should at least be more Matarazzo-obscure and less "hey look, we just licensed nearly every film from a prominent director, here's some Eclipse sets to get you by."

I really hope Les Blank can muster an Etaix set rather than Eclipse #41.

[swo17]

I think the only reason Moe wants it dead is because he hasn't bought any of them, and since they have spine numbers if he bought one he would naturally be obligated to buy the other 39, and he'd rather collection laser disc spines than eclipse spines.

I pray that's satire.

He did use that exact excuse once for why he refuses to buy any MoC releases.

I do agree with Minkin that BD/DVD hybrid Eclipse sets would be ideal, but that sadly seems unrealistic now given what happened to dual formats.

[Arrow]

If releasing another Czech new wave set on DVD is the only way they can get it released, Eclipse is very valuable.

[ccfixx]

Didn't see it mentioned, but according to the press sheet Foreign Correspondent will be released in stand-alone blu-ray and DVD editions on October 7th, as well.

[swo17]

Didn't see it mentioned, but according to the press sheet Foreign Correspondent will be released in stand-alone blu-ray and DVD editions on October 7th, as well.

This likely will make no difference, but I personally will not be buying this stand-alone Blu-ray edition for the same reason that I made a point recently to upgrade to the dual-format editions of Breathless and The 400 Blows--each one a vote to bring back dual formats.

[criterion10]

My guess is that Criterion will most likely be doing this for most dual-format titles, and then discontinuing the dual-format editions.

[captveg]

Well, that kinda makes me not want to buy any of the dual format releases I haven't picked up if they are in digipaks. I'd rather have the BD only personally, especially if packaging space can be saved by going from digipak to plastic case.