criterionforum.org

So now the same Marc Morris who said that Criterion were indeed going to release some Jodorowsky titles in 2006 back at the Anchor Bay UK forum, is now saying that our beloved DVD producers are no longer going to release them...

What gives?!

So, not really related to the potential Criterion release of Jodorowsky's films, but nonetheless related to the Jodorowsky/Manson relationship discussion: Marilyn Manson has gotten married, and the ceremony was conducted by none other than Mister Alejandro Jodorowsky.

Link

Over the at Anchor Bay UK Forum, Marc Morris said that Criterion "passed" on the Jodorowsky films:

http://www.anchorbay.co.uk/forum/showth ... post110067

Not what I wanted to hear. So who the hell are releasing these films?

It would be nice to see Blue Underground take them on.

Gordon McMurphy wrote:Over the at Anchor Bay UK Forum, Marc Morris said that Criterion "passed" on the Jodorowsky films:

http://www.anchorbay.co.uk/forum/showth ... post110067

Not what I wanted to hear.

Saddest news of the day for me.

After so much hope and anticipation, this is a tremendous loss.

Today is a dark day for the fans of Jodorowsky.

I wonder if this means that Eclipse is not going to happen? It's hard to imagine that a company about to start off a "cult films label" would pass on these films. Look up "cult film" in the dictionary and you see a still from El Topo! (Maybe all of those Suzukis this year were water-testers that froze and sank?)

Who is Marc Morris?

For Criterion to pass these up, there must have been a good reason. Does Allen Klien work for Criterion? Maybe the elements are in such piss poor condition that they wouldn't be able to release them in what Criterion feels is up to their standards. But even then...us guys would appreciate a release of whatever condition they're in.

I wonder if this means that Eclipse is not going to happen?

It definitely seems like it won't....or maybe this is a lie, and Criterion is waiting till Christmas to announce it.
It would be one hell of a Christmas present.

stroszeck wrote:Today is a dark day for the fans of Jodorowsky.

I would call it a dark year. Years of patience, decades for some, and all for nothing.

Well that's me asking on the Anchor Forum (as Dr Phibes) why it seems reasonable that Criterion would pass on what would genuinely be big selling DVDs, as far as foreign 'cult' films go. I am dreading hearing that an obscure independent label has acquired the rights and screws them up in one way or another.

Indeed, it would be great to hear some substantial news regarding the mysterious Eclipse label.

Maybe "Criterion" isn't releasing them...maybe Eclipse is...if its still gonna happen?

Gordon McMurphy wrote:I am dreading hearing that an obscure independent label has acquired the rights and screws them up in one way or another.

I'm dreading that we'll hear how another fight broke out between Jodorowsky and Klein, keeping the set out of North America for another few decades, or equally problematic, Klein ended up asking too much for the rights.

BrightEyes23 wrote:Maybe "Criterion" isn't releasing them...maybe Eclipse is...if its still gonna happen?

One would hope, but "passed" sounds like a sudden, negative decision to me.

Dear Geoffrey,

We have no plans for any Jodorowsky films at this time.

Best,
JM

For what ever it means, it doesn't sound good.

Talked to Mark Morris via email. Apparently what was SUPPOSE to happen was that Criterion was going to co-release (Have the Region 1 rights) with Allen Klein to the Jodorowsky films by liscencing them through a new production company seperate that Klein has started. I have no idea why they "passed"; I would assume Klein wanted too much money for the region 1 rights...but who knows.

Anyways apparently they will be distributed similarly to what David Lynch did with Eraserhead and his short film collections through his site....

Allen Klein...can settle a feud, but still a money crazed pig.

Here is what Marc Morris said that kinda confirms this:

The titles are set to be released by Klein's own label. I know that Criterion's cult line has been delayed.

Best regards,

Marc Morris

My thought is that delayed is quickly going to become "not happening at all"....sad, would have been nice to see some more of those offbeat surprises that criterion only get around to releasing once in a blue moon. (Equinox anyone>!)

It's all a conspiracy, Criterion tells certain people to tell us that they aren't going to release these films, so our hopes drop... And then they release tham as a surprise. Just watch... It's happened with so many Criterion releases...

ianungstad wrote:Anyways apparently they will be distributed similarly to what David Lynch did with Eraserhead and his short film collections through his site....

Except how much do you want to bet that they won't be anywhere near the quality of Lynch's presentations or pressings, and will easily be as expensive if not worse? Now I'm even more concerned about the fate of the non-Klein owned films such as Fando Y Les, Santa Sangre and Tusk. All that work, all that hope for a box set and now it's all gone to hell. Great.

If Klein releases them a la Lynch, I won't touch them. No amount of red tissue paper will make me shell out to that prick. And anyway, there's no possibility that he'll show any love to the films. I'll be amazed if he doesn't hook up with New Yorker to deliver a shite transfer at $45 a pop just to milk the fanboys. I'll survive with my lo-fi bootlegs.

I strongly doubt the Criterion cult label (if it ever was a serious idea) was conceived solely with Jodorowsky's films in mind - if it was, then Criterion probably won't be in business for much longer. "Delayed" is not hte same thing as "cancelled" - maybe they're just having trouble because the Viridiana cover was going to be the line's logo?

bunuelian wrote:I strongly doubt the Criterion cult label (if it ever was a serious idea) was conceived solely with Jodorowsky's films in mind - if it was, then Criterion probably won't be in business for much longer.

I have no doubt it was an extremely heavy blow to the line, if not the biggest they could have imagined going into development. El Topo and Holy Mountain are two of the very top requested cult titles in North America and have been for years, requested in chats and interviews with every major specialty label to date. They would have served as perfect launch titles to familiarize the market with what Eclipse was about and helped raise awareness on more obscure titles such as Equinox and the Richard Gordon films.

That aborted box set contained 5-6 titles, many of which are probably still with Criterion and don't have a lot of value on their own. I'm sure their delay of Eclipse is due in part to the difficulty in finding the appropriate starting title(s) that could command the kind of attention they were hoping to get before this happened.

The contents of this box set were probably the most anticipated DVD purchase I have had since the format was created and would have been the crown in my collection. I am extremely disappointed that this deal did not go through and I have little doubt that Klein's efforts will be an abominable presentation better served by my Revok bootlegs. I will be shaking my head in disappointment and frustration for years to come, it's THAT big of a deal to me.

I just hope to the gods that someone who knows what they're doing is working with Jodorowsky and Klein on this website-specific release, but seeing as how half of us predicted this skirmish before it happened... it's extremely doubtful.

So here we are at the end of April, does anyone have any news at all amount these films?

I thought Klein was dead already.

DrewReiber wrote:
I'm dreading that we'll hear how another fight broke out between Jodorowsky and Klein, keeping the set out of North America for another few decades, or equally problematic, Klein ended up asking too much for the rights.

This seems like the most likely scenario. I don't think Criterion would pass on them otherwise unless they felt the terms for the licensing deal (which I can only imagine - given his reputation - Klein offering for an extremely limited timeframe) were completely outrageous.

I managed to see a screening of the Holy Mountain a few years ago (Cinema Du Parc in Montreal managed to wrangle the reels from Klein for a screening) and the print I saw was in poor condition. Bringing it up to Criterion standards for DVD would probably cost a fair bit in itself.

feihong wrote:I thought Klein was dead already.

Still alive. He's 75.

According to this article Criterion is releasing the films in 2007.

http://www.uwmpost.com/article/c58b6a04 ... caccca004b

Antoine Doinel wrote:I managed to see a screening of the Holy Mountain a few years ago (Cinema Du Parc in Montreal managed to wrangle the reels from Klein for a screening) and the print I saw was in poor condition. Bringing it up to Criterion standards for DVD would probably cost a fair bit in itself.

Well, they don't usually do transfers from release prints.

solaris72 wrote:

Antoine Doinel wrote:I managed to see a screening of the Holy Mountain a few years ago (Cinema Du Parc in Montreal managed to wrangle the reels from Klein for a screening) and the print I saw was in poor condition. Bringing it up to Criterion standards for DVD would probably cost a fair bit in itself.

Well, they don't usually do transfers from release prints.

True, but if the release print is in this shoddy condition, I can't imagine that Klein - who isn't a particular fan of the of the movies - is keeping the source materials in anything close to resembling an archival state.