Eclipse (was Criterion Cult Film Sub Company)

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Lemdog · #126 Post by **Lemdog** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 12:53 am

Well there is no arguing with that.

The Fanciful Norwegian · Sun Jul 31, 2005 1:24 am

It's obviously part of a deliberate misinformation campaign.

Cinephrenic · #128 Post by **Cinephrenic** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 1:36 am

Well was there more info before? The link doesn't contain anything?

#129 Post by **Jeff** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 6:30 am

Argghh... Well when the link is working, it shows the site as being registered to:

The Criterion Collection/Janus Films
210 E. 52nd St.
New York, NY 10022
US

Domain Name: ECLIPSEDVD.COM

Administrative Contact, Technical Contact:
Darden, Tammi [email protected]
The Criterion Collection/Janus Films
210 East 52nd Street
5th Floor
New York, NY 10022
US
212 756-8822 fax: 212-756-8850

Record expires on 08-Dec-2005.
Record created on 08-Dec-2004.
Bulk whois optout: N
Database last updated on 31-Jul-2005 02:28:46 EDT.

Domain servers in listed order:

NS83.WORLDNIC.COM 216.168.228.44
NS84.WORLDNIC.COM 216.168.225.224

Tribe · #130 Post by **Tribe** » Tue Aug 02, 2005 4:16 pm

With the news that Image Entertainment is gobbling up Home Vision, I'm wondering whether or not this sub-label thing has anything to do with that. These industry deals likely take months and months of negotiations, and Criterion had to have been in the mix of those negotiations. Perhaps Criterion, being well aware that Home Vision was going to be bought out, set up this cult label with that in mind.

Tribe

ByMarkClark.com · Tue Aug 02, 2005 5:08 pm

I think that, if nothing else, this transaction explains why the launch of the new imprint has been moving slowly. Hopefully, once all the dust from the sale is settled, we'll finally see the first Eclipse discs hit the streets.

Theodore R. Stockton · Tue Aug 02, 2005 6:15 pm

I hope and think that with releases that could be considered "cult" like Videodrome and The Man Who Fell to Earth, Criterion will continue the output that they have become known for but the "sub-company" will replace HVE as the shit left over company. But, we will only know by the care put into the new company's releases.

godardslave · #133 Post by **godardslave** » Tue Aug 02, 2005 6:56 pm

Theodore R. Stockton wrote:Ibut the "sub-company" will replace HVE as the shit left over company.

Zumpano · #134 Post by **Zumpano** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 7:09 pm

Someone named Joe Kaufman posted this at the "a film by" message boards:

Nothing's set yet, but Criterion approached Rene recently re MASSACRE
AT CENTRAL HIGH. We may put out POPULATION: ONE on our own label.
Avoid the bootlegs of the latter, which are cropped, mono and not the
director's final cut.

This sounds like it would be for Eclipse and perhaps not Criterion proper. Anyone ever see this film before?

Narshty · #135 Post by **Narshty** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 7:29 pm

Seems like Criterion are going to be picking up where Blue Underground left off. They used to release treat after treat each month, but sadly the Mondo Cane Collection was their last gasp of greatness.

#136 Post by **zedz** » Wed Aug 10, 2005 11:05 pm

Zumpano wrote:Someone named Joe Kaufman posted this at the "a film by" message boards:

Nothing's set yet, but Criterion approached Rene recently re MASSACRE AT CENTRAL HIGH. We may put out POPULATION: ONE on our own label. Avoid the bootlegs of the latter, which are cropped, mono and not the director's final cut.
This sounds like it would be for Eclipse and perhaps not Criterion proper. Anyone ever see this film before?

Massacre at Central High is a lot of fun. It's a nifty revenge-of-the-(armed)-nerds exploitation film with a greater-than-usual degree of political acuity, as the nerds become the new campus fascists. The film has a weird allegorical vibe that suits its basic production values. It's the kind of intriguing exploitation film that is pretty much exactly what I would expect from a Criterion-driven cult line.

katjakassin · #137 Post by **katjakassin** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 5:50 am

Narshty wrote:Seems like Criterion are going to be picking up where Blue Underground left off. They used to release treat after treat each month, but sadly the Mondo Cane Collection was their last gasp of greatness.

Not true. Blue Underground has done a lot of nice things since the Mondo Cane collection. First off their teaming with Anchor BayUK to do an all out Phantasm set (Which will be housed in a sphere). They've also released some good titles such as Venus in Furs, Night Train Murders, Deathdream, Mark of the Devil, Killer Nun, Fight for Your Life, Zombi 2 and Smithereens. Not to mention they have the Blind Dead set coming out (Even though it's in a dumb coffin).

DrewReiber · #138 Post by **DrewReiber** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 6:58 am

katjakassin wrote:Not to mention they have the Blind Dead set coming out (Even though it's in a dumb coffin).

And people like myself have been waiting for this set... for, let's see, at least 7 years now. Blue Underground is also doing a major release of Fire & Ice and Dario Argento's first giallo feature, Bird with the Crystal Plumage, later this year. They still have a ton of Giallo titles and those Enzo G. Castellari crime movies, plus a few other notable foreign films. People just need to have patience.

It's easy to make judgement calls on the catalogue of a speciality label that has been around for a while, because their initial releases are usually more sizable in order to make a big splash and get noticed by consumers. Eclipse is going to go through the same rough patches once they start getting through their larger acquistions. If it's true and they do indeed release most of the Jodorowsky titles, we can be sure that a lot of film fans will criticize them somewhere down the line. They'll complain that it's all been downhill ever since, when in actuality it's just because their interest in the label waned once they got what they wanted.

Eclipse is going to go through the same crap that Anchor Bay, Blue Underground, Synapse and any other specialty company goes through. The diversity of their line combined with whatever vague criteria they set forth for the reasons behind their releases will cause film/DVD fans around the world to whine incessantly until the end of their existence as a label. After all, it's what we live for. The important thing, in my opinion, is that we should be positive and supportive of these people and their work. If it wasn't for people like these guys, a lot of these films might never truly get the attention they deserve.

When these labels go out of their way to do a great transfer or special edition of obscure films like Thriller: A Cruel Picture, Dellamorte Dellamore, Deathdream or even Equinox, we should be eternally grateful and not turn our happiness for having gotten the disc(s) into some kind of vengeful criticism like "what have they done lately?". It's a completely useless endeavor, helps no one and probably gives them a reason to stop working as hard on merchandise geared towards people like us. I for one thank everyone of these guys for raising the bar, not only on DVD, but for the presentation of films that have probably NEVER, EVER looked so good.

Anyway, that's my two cents. I really look forward to Eclipse.

Brian Oblivious · Thu Aug 11, 2005 7:51 am

katjakassin wrote: Blue Underground has done a lot of nice things since the Mondo Cane collection.

Yes. Anyone who releases Fast Company with Crimes of the Future and Stereo among the extras is all right by me. And those were after the Mondo Cane set.

dekadetia · #140 Post by **dekadetia** » Thu Aug 11, 2005 12:03 pm

cinephrenic wrote:Well was there more info before? The link doesn't contain anything?

You can also verify the domain ownership here:

http://www.checkdomain.com/cgi-bin/chec ... psedvd.com

Mathieu · #141 Post by **Mathieu** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 3:28 pm

I wonder if Criterion is planning to surprise us by announcing the launch of the Eclipse label immediately before the first batch of titles is released? It seems more likely that the expected October date has been pushed back, perhaps until next year. Although the last few announcements have been erratic compared to the usual first week of the month news, so they may be preparing something. Any news or thoughts on the matter?

Cinesimilitude · #142 Post by **Cinesimilitude** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 3:46 pm

Let's all hope the exclusive info in next month's newsletter pertains to eclipse.

I wonder if that domain name will be available for sale on the 8th of december, I assume they are up on that sort of thing, but you never know...

rwaits · #143 Post by **rwaits** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 3:32 pm

Anyone heard further news on Eclipse?? My first recommendation would be La Rose de Fer. Saw it years ago, thought it was a weird, creepy (if not a bit cheesy) little film, and it has not left me since. Even if Criterion wouldn't put it out, anyone know if any other companies have discussed a possible region 1 release? Same goes for Cemetery Man!!!

Keaton · #144 Post by **Keaton** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 6:30 pm

rwaits wrote: La Rose de Fer

There is a german DVD from x-rated, with german and french audio, as well as french and german sub's. It's released as "LA ROSE DE FER - FRIEDHOF DER TOTEN SEELEN". Reviews say the quality is very good. (here you can find screecaps: http://www.dtm.at/Reviews/Screen-La-rose-de-fer.htm)
I was always curious about this one, but I don't care much for Rollin or Franco, so I didn't buy it...is this one different, or to say, better?

Regards,

Dennis

dekadetia · #145 Post by **dekadetia** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 11:42 pm

RE: Cemetery Man, see my post here:

http://www.criterionforum.org/forum/vie ... 9121#39121

blindside8zao · #146 Post by **blindside8zao** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 9:35 pm

thought there was spose to be october news on this? Maybe they are waiting til the 31st.

godardslave · #147 Post by **godardslave** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 12:37 am

blindside8zao wrote:thought there was spose to be october news on this? Maybe they are waiting til the 31st.

its all just rumors...2005...2006...never...no-one really knows.

rwaits · #148 Post by **rwaits** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 11:47 pm

I was really thinking today might have been an appropriate time for an official announcement. Oh well.

Anonymous · #149 Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 3:37 am

Eclipse is still happening

rwaits · #150 Post by **rwaits** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 5:00 am

Really? Care to indulge more?

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