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I was thinking about Indian titles that I would most like to get released, and remembered about the best film made about the 1947 Partition of Indian and Pakistan - Garm Hava (Scorching Winds). That is a film that would be perfect for Criterion to release, giving a great opportunity to do a Battle of Algiers-style series of features around the historical events as well as the making of the film.

November looks like a great month, but the announcements were boring. No surprises.

Rushmore - hinted on Saturday
The Rules of the Game - confirmed via newsletter last week
Fanny and Alexander - confirmed on Facebook, although more than a year ago
Three Colors - hinted about a month ago
12 Angry Men - confirmed in an e-mail few months ago

Also, I hope they'll release those other Anderson films as soon as possible, so I would not have to read/see all those whining comments anymore.

Whine, whine, whine.

Also: whining about all of the other people who are whining.

And those people aren't even whining...

Well sorry, but every month, after the announcements when I try to read some opinions regarding the announcemets, every third post or so that I see is something like "I've never heard anything about those films, I want more Wes Anderson". Same goes for Fincher's The Game. Oddly, nobody seems to care about Following. I though Nolan had a huge fanbase. I guess Batman and Inception crowd just don't care about that film.

I understand when people are unhappy about the quality of the actual product (a poor transfer, lack of supplements considering cost, etc.) but what's the point of getting upset about the films that end up getting released? Being annoyed at Facebook posts?

Wait, what are you reading?

eerik wrote:November looks like a great month, but the announcements were boring. No surprises.

Criterion's Facebook page has become this insatiable hint-eating monster that, within a day of seeing a picture that likely mentions every single release Criterion is currently working on, is already asking for the next hint. It's a wonder anything is a surprise anymore.

December's releases are just going to be repackagings with commemorative Christmas ornaments and themed cookie cutters attached

domino harvey wrote:December's releases are just going to be repackagings with commemorative Christmas ornaments and themed cookie cutters attached

Now it won't be a surprise anymore

domino harvey wrote:December's releases are just going to be repackagings with commemorative Christmas ornaments and themed cookie cutters attached

Really? I heard the Christmas editions of Seven Samurai and M were just going to be the packages rubbed with a glue stick and glitter sprinkled on top.

I'm holding out for the Ikiru snowglobe.

Get ready for Le cercle rouge et vert.

The real question is whether you guys think they'll announce Fantastic Mr. Fox for December.

I'd rather have Because He's Awesome: either The Complete Works of Paul Thomas Anderson, or at least just There Will Be Blood.

Requiem For a Dream: It's Like Sooo Deep Edition

Badlands and Tree of Life - the Terrance Malik Bookends Collection!!!!!!!!! ZOMG!!!!!!!!!!!

I'd actually go for that one.

cdnchris wrote:It looks like Image is handling [Rushmore]. Not too surprising since Disney has been licencing a lot of their Touchstone titles to other distributors like Millcreek.

Recall that Darius Khondji recently visited the Criterion closet, and there was some speculation about what transfer he might be supervising. I now wonder if it might be Evita. It's clearly a personal favorite of either Becker or Turrell since they released it on laserdisc. That possibility doesn't do much for me, but I'd certainly welcome it as a harbinger of a Disney decision to license more Hollywood and Touchstone properties directly to Criterion.

What were we guessing earlier? Stealing Beauty? I haven't seen Evita, but it couldn't be much worse.

The major problem with Evita, though one made for obvious commercial reasons, is the casting of Madonna who does not really hit all of the nuances of the songs as well as, say, Barbara Dickson did.

colinr0380 wrote:The major problem with Evita, though one made for obvious commercial reasons, is the casting of Madonna who does not really hit all of the nuances of the songs as well as, say, Barbara Dickson did.

And the fact that Ken Russell did not direct it ](*,)

At least we will always have Phantom of the Opera!

colinr0380 wrote:At least we will always have Phantom of the Opera!

Yes, that we have

colinr0380 wrote:The major problem with Evita, though one made for obvious commercial reasons, is the casting of Madonna who does not really hit all of the nuances of the songs as well as, say, Barbara Dickson did.

Eva doesn't sing that song.