Criterion News and Discussion

modage · December 01, 2004, 06:03:00 PM

Quote from: NEON MERCURYits all about the name.

i will agree 100% that criterions do offer exellent audio/visual/supplements and nice cover art , yadda yadda.

but what i am saying is that people will buy these films because criterion puts them out. if kino put these out or some other distributer put them out instead of critrerion then none of us would still have newer heard of them or soon enough-buy them.

we are slaves to criterion.

yes, i agree with this. kino needs some better graphic designers/more help in the marketing dept, and they too could have a massive following.

Ernie · December 01, 2004, 06:04:58 PM

Quote from: themodernage02
Quote from: NEON MERCURYits all about the name.

i will agree 100% that criterions do offer exellent audio/visual/supplements and nice cover art , yadda yadda.

but what i am saying is that people will buy these films because criterion puts them out. if kino put these out or some other distributer put them out instead of critrerion then none of us would still have newer heard of them or soon enough-buy them.

we are slaves to criterion.
yes, i agree with this. kino needs some better graphic designers/more help in the marketing dept, and they too could have a massive following.

there's a very small demographic of kino whores, yes. it needs to grow.

Gold Trumpet · December 02, 2004, 02:55:13 AM

I understand the criterion snob label. Shockingly, I don't think I am one. Blind buy purchases I have made from them, but really only when the title interests me or is by a certain filmmaker. I've always been the first to admit that some of the films they release really are shit and I wish I could trade in some of their dvds I own. As far as I know I can't, but fuck, I'm so limited on just seeing these types of movies I sometimes have to give in to a blind purchase. And yes, I know Netflix is available and all, but I have yet to try it. Mailing DVDs back and forth always struck me as not reliable for some reason.

That being said, the February release slate is excellent. I'll pick up the Jules Dassin discs simply because of the genius of Rififi and Tout Va Bien because I am interested in tapping Godard post '67, but to the person who buys all Criterions, you are insane. They definitely have the best collection of films, far better than Kino or any other company, but they are not perfect.

Ravi · December 02, 2004, 02:04:45 PM

Kino has a pretty good collection too, including the Buster Keaton films and some from Murnau and Lang.

cron · December 02, 2004, 10:15:18 PM

Quote from: ebeamangoing back to what mercury said for a second, let me just say that lots of people have completely forgotten the simple idea that movies are either good, bad, or ok regardless of their label. i think that was, maybe, what he was trying to say, in pertience to criterion, specifically. there are of course those that are a whore to criterions, for whatever reason. usually a completely understandable reason, like the guarantee for good quality. there are those that are a whore to art houses, starbucks, gap, tic-tacs...there's all kinds of label whores. i myself am a whore to hot pockets and mountain dew.

the bottom line is that every label has its whores. we can only be thankful that the only thing we're all guilty of is being xixax whores, really, as a whole. i think some of us actually might have heard about "nigeria's election", after all.

a shower thought:

if happiness was a label, would all of us be happiness whores?

think about that. think about that issue.

Gold Trumpet · December 03, 2004, 12:33:19 PM

Is Werner Herzog's Fitzcarraldo on the horizon? An article in the Chicago Tribune has some interesting things to say about the future of Criterion. Here's the quote:

"Criterion keeps its upcoming slate under pretty tight wraps, and release dates are indeed prone to delay for numerous reasons. But Hendrickson is willing to confirm a few new titles for the Criterion faithful and hint about several more in store for 2005 and beyond. These include Powell/Pressburger's "The 49th Parallel" and "A Canterbury Tale," Antonioni's "L'Eclisse," Les Blank's riveting Werner Herzog documentary "Burden of Dreams," and a new edition of "Seven Samurai" (plus possibly other re-released Kurosawa titles as well).

"We're always addressing the issues of the library and getting out new filmmakers that we haven't been able to put out before," Hendrickson says. "I feel like 2005 is the introduction of a lot of people to the Criterion library that you haven't seen before. John Ford is possibly on the horizon. There will be Mizoguchi and a few more women inserted into the collection. But we're driven as much by what the collection is missing and how we're going to address those gaps."

Fitzcarraldo isn't mentioned per say, but Burden of Dreams pairs up well with the film like "The Making of Fanny and Alexander" would pair up well with Fanny and Alexander. Most people doubt that Criterion would release Burden of Dreams on its own and other foreign dvds have released the documentary and film together already. Its odd Fitzcarraldo wasn't mentioned at all, but its safe money to bet Criterion will do everything in its power to release both films in one dvd special edition.

modage · December 03, 2004, 05:31:59 PM

damn, how many times are they gonna make cinephile buy this movie?

Find Your Magali · December 04, 2004, 12:50:42 AM

Oh, I think "Burden of Dreams" could definitely stand on its own. Criterion has certainly released documentaries that were more obscure -- and just as brilliant -- as that.

cine · December 04, 2004, 12:51:37 AM

Where have you been, sir..

Find Your Magali · December 04, 2004, 01:02:33 AM

Oh, it's been a looooooooooooong year. ... It would make an interesting documentary. If Errol Morris is interested.

Then again, maybe it's not very interesting at all. Which is fascinating in and of itself.

Oh, bother....

samsong · December 10, 2004, 07:31:24 PM

Cover art for My Own Private Idaho is now posted and it's beautiful.

I must see this movie... very very soon.

Just Withnail · December 10, 2004, 08:57:03 PM

Quote from: samsongI must see this movie... very very soon.

And here's to you liking/ loving it!

Two thumps up for the film, two for the cover, and two for finally not just getting a DVD after years of shoddy VHS viewing, but on top of everything getting it Criterioned.

SiliasRuby · December 10, 2004, 09:44:54 PM

That Cover For My Own Private Idaho is sooooo badass....Sorry for like an imature little kid but that is one cool cover. I love the film as well.

modage · December 11, 2004, 12:38:19 AM

here's to river phoenix getting blown FINALLY in widescreen!

Gold Trumpet · December 16, 2004, 12:17:48 PM

According to a sourse who overheard critic John Simon discussing it outside The Merchant of Venice premiere, it looks like he will provide an essay for the film Kanal in the upcoming Criterion box set for Andrzej Wajda's War Trilogy, (Ashes and Diamonds/ A Generation/ Kanal) I guess the news means to look for the box set to come out shortly.