Criterion Random Speculation Vol.3

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patrick · #751 Post by **patrick** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 5:10 pm

Anderson may have a say in the way the DVDs are distributed, no? I understand directors don't have all the power people like to think, but when the contract was being written couldn't Anderson have said "By the way, youll have to license my films ot Criterion if they wish to pick them up."?

This has always been my assumption (and it was discussed in the Darjeeling Ltd. thread a little), especially since Disney/Buena Vista/Miramax haven't wanted to license titles out (other than Chasing Amy, to my knowledge) since the time where they pulled all of their licensed titles from Anchor Bay.

arsonfilms · #752 Post by **arsonfilms** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 6:06 pm

patrick wrote:
Anderson may have a say in the way the DVDs are distributed, no? I understand directors don't have all the power people like to think, but when the contract was being written couldn't Anderson have said "By the way, youll have to license my films ot Criterion if they wish to pick them up."?
This has always been my assumption (and it was discussed in the Darjeeling Ltd. thread a little), especially since Disney/Buena Vista/Miramax haven't wanted to license titles out (other than Chasing Amy, to my knowledge) since the time where they pulled all of their licensed titles from Anchor Bay.

Well, and like I said, anything produced independently is a wild card, but it's worth pointing out that Disney didn't license the films. Disney and NOT Image distributed Chasing Amy, Tennenbaums and Life Aquatic, which is why the prices were all subject to reduction after 6 months or so. Criterion did the work and produced the discs, but everything else was out of their hands. This is why Darjeeling Ltd. could go any number of ways, and it isn't safe to assume anything without confirmation. I wouldn't be surprised if Criterion did get to do the DVD, but Fox Searchlight is still building its brand as an "art house" distributor, so I also wouldn't be surprised if their theatrical arrangement required DVD rights as well.

LightBulbFilm · #753 Post by **LightBulbFilm** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 4:10 pm

Maybe a Fox Searchlight bare disc will be released with a more expensive Criterion edition, a la Rushmore.

denti alligator · Wed Jul 11, 2007 4:16 pm

Can we randomly speculate on the when/how of Criterion making the shift to HD.

- When?

- How? (more interesting question):
- how easy will it be (technologically) to simply author HD versions of existing SD discs? Can this be done relatively swiftly?
- or, will Criterion pick and choose the crown jewels of the collection to present in HD format?
- will these be identical in content to the SD versions? Will extras also be in HD? Will there be any way for those who already own said film to buy or exchange the film-only disc?
- packaging: will we have to put up with the ridiculous HD and BR packaging?

Gigi M. · #755 Post by **Gigi M.** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 4:22 pm

denti alligator wrote:Can we randomly speculate on the when/how of Criterion making the shift to HD.

Will there be any way for those who already own said film to buy or exchange the film-only disc?

Now, when have this happened before? I'm not aware of any company in the world, except Sony Fifth Element BR replacement, that has changed a disc because of technology upgrade. Did Criterion exchange my old laserdisc copy of Seven Samurai? Sorry, not today.

ellipsis7 · #756 Post by **ellipsis7** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 4:31 pm

Because Criterion has a niche market, they ain't going to move to HD until is pretty widespread among general consumers, otherwise they radically reduce their catchment area... They could conceivably earlier produce dual HD & SD editions, but would that really be viable or cost effective?....

#757 Post by **domino harvey** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 4:49 pm

will never ever happen

The Elegant Dandy Fop · Wed Jul 11, 2007 4:53 pm

domino harvey wrote:will never ever happen

My thoughts exactly.

patrick · #759 Post by **patrick** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 5:27 pm

I seriously doubt that HD formats are included in the licensing agreements Criterion makes, much like the transition from laserdisc to DVD. The only thing I wonder about is if we'll start seeing stuff like Blu-Ray versions of Wes Anderson's films from Disney/Buena Vista.

denti alligator · Wed Jul 11, 2007 6:43 pm

The Elegant Dandy Fop wrote:
domino harvey wrote:will never ever happen
My thoughts exactly.

Are you guys serious? Why would you say that?

#761 Post by **domino harvey** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 6:57 pm

because they're still sore from the losses they took on pressing all those Fishing With John DIVX discs

#762 Post by **Jeff** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 10:24 pm

denti alligator wrote:
The Elegant Dandy Fop wrote:
domino harvey wrote:will never ever happen
My thoughts exactly.
Are you guys serious? Why would you say that?

Criterion already serves a niche market. HD discs (even if you combined the installed base of both formats) are an even smaller niche market. It would be fiscally irresponsible for a company the size of Criterion to invest in such a format right now. For that to happen, the format war would have to be decided and the installed base would need to triple (at least). While it's easy to get excited about HD or Blu-Ray as the "next format" when you hang around technophiles or read CF or HTF, the reality is that the average consumer doesn't discern enough of a difference between standard and high-def formats to give a shit, and for the time being, high-def will be relegated to a few select conniseurs.

LionelHutz · #763 Post by **LionelHutz** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 12:00 am

Jeff wrote:Criterion already serves a niche market. HD discs (even if you combined the installed base of both formats) are an even smaller niche market. It would be fiscally irresponsible for a company the size of Criterion to invest in such a format right now. For that to happen, the format war would have to be decided and the installed base would need to triple (at least). While it's easy to get excited about HD or Blu-Ray as the "next format" when you hang around technophiles or read CF or HTF, the reality is that the average consumer doesn't discern enough of a difference between standard and high-def formats to give a shit, and for the time being, high-def will be relegated to a few select conniseurs.

Couldn't agree more..Besides most of the early adopters (with the exception of film lovers of course,but we know we are a minority) want shiny prints of brand new films and a lot of explosions to show off their system,so I can't really imagine criterion would sell many copies of..say,"Secret Honor" !

Shrew · #764 Post by **Shrew** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 1:59 am

Man, it would be awesome if The Rock and Armageddon were number 1 and 2 in Criterion's HD line.

#765 Post by **Jeff** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 2:04 am

Shrew wrote:Man, it would be awesome if The Rock and Armageddon were number 1 and 2 in Criterion's HD line.

Yes, I suppose that having the first and the last spine number in Criterion's HD line be sequential does have a certain poetry to it.

patrick · #766 Post by **patrick** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 3:57 am

I believe The Rock and Armageddon are both coming in non-Criterion Blu-Ray versions from Disney.

justeleblanc · #767 Post by **justeleblanc** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 4:31 am

patrick wrote:I believe The Rock and Armageddon are both coming in non-Criterion Blu-Ray versions from Disney.

Too bad. I assume Criterion would've make a fortune on The Rock and would have then had enough money to buy New Yorker films.

Mental Mike · #768 Post by **Mental Mike** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 4:45 am

Man, I would have loved to see Robocop early 90's techno-junk on Criterion's release list in Blu-Ray! I guess I'll have to be satisfied by the coming issue of Berlin Alexanderplatz on regular DVD...

#769 Post by **Jeff** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 4:48 am

justeleblanc wrote:
patrick wrote:I believe The Rock and Armageddon are both coming in non-Criterion Blu-Ray versions from Disney.
Too bad. I assume Criterion would've make a fortune on The Rock and would have then had enough money to buy New Yorker films.

Not likely. So far the few very best-selling Blu-Ray discs are moving a grand total of about 40,000 units.

Factor in Criterion's production and distribution costs and licensing fees to Disney. Net profit = 75 cents.

LightBulbFilm · #770 Post by **LightBulbFilm** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 6:33 am

I wonder if the Criterion/Paramount deal will be able to ressurect an Academy Award winning film starring Emil Jannings... The Last Command. A nice extra could be the surviving footage from The Way of All Flesh.

Narshty · #771 Post by **Narshty** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 11:39 am

As per the thread title: if Criterion are indeed releasing Mishima, it might explain how their Unbearable Lightness of Being commentary managed to turn up on Warner's 2-disc set, as a possible trade for Schrader's Mishima track from the OOP DVD.

Lino · #772 Post by **Lino** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 9:35 pm

This is not speculation, it's more wishful thinking but I really hope Criterion tackles the works of Peter Whitehead in the future because I just had the good fortune of watching Tonight Let's All Make Love In London and The Fall at a film festival last week and it's quite amazing that noone is declaring Whitehead the most underrated and underrepresented film director today.

I was blown away at how good his stuff is. Can anyone ask whoever answers these questions about the possibility of something like this ever happen?

Awesome Welles · #773 Post by **Awesome Welles** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 9:40 pm

Lino wrote:it's quite amazing that noone is declaring Whitehead the most underrated and underrepresented film director today.

It's shame that there are so many directors that we all come up with as underrepresented geniuses (plural: Geniui?). Mine at the moment is Elio Petri (Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion and The Working Classes Go To Heaven blew my socks off), when will they catch up with us eh?

jbeall · #774 Post by **jbeall** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 2:44 am

FSimeoni wrote:
Lino wrote:it's quite amazing that noone is declaring Whitehead the most underrated and underrepresented film director today.
It's shame that there are so many directors that we all come up with as underrepresented geniuses (plural: Geniui?).

Genii. (Pronounce the 'i' like 'ee', twice.)

The Fanciful Norwegian · Tue Jul 17, 2007 6:51 am

The OED (and every other major dictionary I'm aware of) recommends "geniuses" as the plural for all senses of the word except the mythological ones. The Latin word doesn't even have the same meaning so it's not like we should be concerned with fidelity to the original.

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Criterion Random Speculation Vol.3