Criterion Discussion and Random Speculation Volume 7

[DRW.mov]

Has there been strong rumors that Godzilla coming this year? I don't remember seeing anything specific

Yes. First, earlier in the year Janus finally secured the rights to the last three titles they had been missing. Subsequently, after years of getting requests to screen the films theatrically, Janus has finally started letting them out with a number of Godzilla marathons sponsored by Janus popping up of late. Finally, Eric Skillman has been contacting a number of kaiju-related comic book artists on Twitter and asking them to take part in a new project for Criterion. One of them posted a few days later asking whether or not they should buy a giant, $700 Godzilla figure, Skillman replied jokingly that it could be considered a work expense.

This is the same thing they did with Zatoichi, and if they’re already putting artwork together we can more than likely expect an announcement in the next 6 months.

[DRW.mov]

Also, with Godzilla: King of the Monsters dropping this summer and King Kong vs Godzilla coming early next year, a fall 2019 slot couldn’t be better timing.

[zedz]

All the new titles announced for the month will be day-one (of B&N sale) purchases for me. This hasn’t happened for a long time.

Can anybody remember the last time that all the new releases in a month were of films not already available in English territories / English-friendly editions? (The Ozu was previously released in a box set by Tartan UK, but that's been OOP for more than ten years.)

[domino harvey]

Not this month— the Inland Sea had a US DVD release from Image in 2000

[Glowingwabbit]

Wouldn't any month including this one where there was an upgrade be disqualified?

Edit: oh did you mean new to the collection?

[zedz]

Not this month— the Inland Sea had a US DVD release from Image in 2000

If it's been OOP for even longer than Tartan's been out of business I don't think it really qualifies as "available". Though you can buy a sealed copy on Amazon for $200+. (I hope they sell that copy soon!)

Technically, all of the Kiarostamis had been variously available on VHS in the US and UK, but most of those editions have been OOP longer than some forum members have been alive.

[cdnchris]

So we're not all a bunch of old fogies? That's good to know.

[artfilmfan]

Edit: oh did you mean new to the collection?

Yes. And the hint was “B&N sale”.

I almost bought the Shochiku Blu-ray of Green Tea. I am glad I didn’t.

[Michael Kerpan]

I have that Image release _somewhere_. But not still shrink-wrapped.

I have a motley assortment of videos of the Koker trilogy -- one US release, one UK one and one from heaven knows where (that had a left track of some other film -- so I had to play it with the balance turned all the way to the right).

[FrauBlucher]

I guess the rodeo left town.

[Glowingwabbit]

Edit: oh did you mean new to the collection?

Yes. And the hint was “B&N sale”.

My gaffe was actually in reference to zedz's comment. Although I'm not sure how a B&N sale is a hint for distinguishing between titles new to the collection and Blu upgrades of older titles.

[HitchcockLang]

I don't even remember the last film that had a $30 price tag; it must have been before dual format?

Not quite that old. Bitter Rice (spine #792) and David Lynch: The Art Life (spine #895) are both $30 blus and released well after the demise of dual format. Have there been any since the Lynch doc? The Inland Sea certainly seems like a good candidate but I imagine there could be other contractual, rights, or production budget reasons for being a $40 release. It's not like Criterion pays by the minute to license films (at least, I don't think that's how it works).

[Minkin]

I guess the rodeo left town.

It just had further to travel this month, but nothing stops the rodeo from eventually making its way into town! (August 2019)

The Koker Trilogy - New Years Clue (three coke bottles); Janus Kiarostami Retrospective tour; Multiple confirmations from Kiarostami's son on social media; + "Where is My Friend's Home" has been on Criterion's streaming services going back to Hulu. I think we saw this result coming.

The Inland Sea - An actual surprise! There was a phantom page + some grumbling when not paired with The Naked Island; but this is an otherwise completely unexpected announcement. Edit - there was actually a page for this film on the Janus website; still a big surprise.

The Flavor of Green Tea over Rice - Had been making the informal rounds from Janus; on Filmstruck. Also a well-placed bet by myself. Also: What Did the Lady Forget? (1937) was also on Filmstruck/etc.

Magnificent Obsession - One of those random upgrades that we didn't have any definitive clues for (cue someone pointing out a Twitter post I missed)

An Angel at My Table - Upgrade; New Years Clue (angel sitting at table)
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-240 upgrades remain to be Blu'd
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Remaining from the New Years Clue:

-The Sled (Bamboozled and/or Citizen Kane)
-The Clockface (9 to 5 OR Nine Days of One Year; or 1984, if anyone was able to give that any thought)
-Bringing Up Baby + Children of Men (the clues have already been solved, but these fit the theme and could still be forthcoming, even though it would make it like a quadruple clue; Criterion has until Dec 2019 to announce these before they get the boot from the list).
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The All-Around Cowpoke for this month's rodeo (most accurate Speculation guesser) goes to:

criterionsnob

For their correct guess of The Flavor of Green Tea over Rice, which was the most obscure guess of the month. They can pick up their Bolo Tie at the concession stand.

Consolation prizes go to both DRW.mov + JakeStewart for both correctly guessing Koker Trilogy + Angel at My Table (both New Years clues, so worth less points combined than the Ozu). You can both pick up your consolation lariat at the concession stand.

All-Around Cowpoke is a subjective award, to which I'm the only judge; but films are worth less points if they are extremely well speculated ahead of time (as was the Koker Trilogy). So, an Inland Sea guess would've been an instant victory; unless somebody managed a 4/5. Don't worry, this all makes sense inside my head; and I don't have any favorites in this race (hence why I never make an entry). Congrats to all participants though!
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And with that, its time for my S/O and I to go fix up our cabin. See ya'll at next month's Speculation Rodeo!

[RSTooley]

A user on Criterion's Reddit page found some neat evidence for a future MASH release.

[domino harvey]

Fox has its own Criterion Collection which is a different thing, this comes up a lot when Fox titles screen in retros

[RSTooley]

Oh! I forgot all about this issue. It has come up a few times in the past. My apologies!

[dwk]

The Fox Criterion is Criterion Pictures, I suspect that the MASH thing is just a typo

[HitchcockLang]

Am I missing something? That link mentions a double feature of California Split and M*A*S*H and says the 35mm prints are courtesy Criterion Collection and Fox, which I take to read one movie from one and the other from the other. Doesn't Criterion have California Split? I don't see anything on that page to link MASH to Criterion, again, unless I'm missing something.

[domino harvey]

Why would the Criterion Collection be licensing any 35mm print for theatrical distribution? It’d be Janus for their titles, but Fox titles are licensed separately for Criterion release. Scroll up and you’ll see California Split’s print attributed to Columbia

[KJones77]

Am I missing something? That link mentions a double feature of California Split and M*A*S*H and says the 35mm prints are courtesy Criterion Collection and Fox, which I take to read one movie from one and the other from the other. Doesn't Criterion have California Split? I don't see anything on that page to link MASH to Criterion, again, unless I'm missing something.

No, California Split is noted as being provided by Columbia alone.

MASH is provided by Fox and the "Criterion Collection", which Domino clarified above.

Essentially, neither are confirmed to be from Criterion in this link.

[HitchcockLang]

Why would the Criterion Collection be licensing any 35mm print for theatrical distribution? It’d be Janus for their titles, but Fox titles are licensed separately for Criterion release. Scroll up and you’ll see California Split’s print attributed to Columbia

So you are correct. Mea culpa. I did assume that Criterion must have been a typo when Janus was intended, but now I see that is not even the case.

[DeprongMori]

So, the MASH attribution should be to these folks -- "Criterion Pictures" -- rather than "Criterion Collection"?

In other words, there is no "Criterion Collection" associated with Fox, correct? All of the previous posts (except for dwk's) are rather confusing on this question.

[domino harvey]

That’s correct. Whoever made the copy presumably just confused the two when writing this up for the website, possibly because they assumed they were the same thing (and many people have over the years)

[Drucker]

Seems like a good chance Girlfriends could be one of the titles in another WB deal. It's featured on the Criterion Channel, and now Criterion has some content about it and an interview with the director up.

[jazzo]

That would be wonderful. I've been holding off on purchasing the DVD-R Warner Archives version for years now in hope of this.