Criterion Newsletter (Part 2)

[swo17]

More Imamura!

I hope they incorporate that image into the cover art.

[What A Disgrace]

Obviously hinting towards Whale's Show Boat and Pialat's Police.

[Harmonov]

Well, all the people who whined about more Imamura can now be happy. The fact that they let us know exactly when it will come out has to be of comfort as well.

I guess the calls for more Naruse will now ring even louder...

[tugboat5555]

I saw Pigs and Battleships at the BAM Imamura retrospective last year and it's fucking great. A lot of seedy, pulpy fun with some pretty effective social commentary and a beautiful B+W look. The ending is fantastic, and this is the film that sold me on Imamura. Very excited, although I hope there's more coming too.

[Michael Kerpan]

One of my very favorite Imamura films -- with a great opening sequence that calls to mind that to Welles's Touch of Evil.

If enough people buy this, I presume more Imamura will follow.

[Awesome Welles]

I think it's a great Imamura film, I know what you mean about the opening sequence MK, though for me the tour de force shot in this film was in the scene in which

Spoiler

Haruko is raped by the America GIs, Imamura shoots from above spinning his camera 45 degrees faster and faster until the camera spins blurring the scene until we see Haruko lying in the floor with her clothes ripped. This is also a particularly great scene as we also see that someone like Haruko, loyal to Japan has succumbed like the others in going with the Americans, with disastrous consequences, stooping even as low as to take money from a pocket, she is chased out and there is a moment of despair which recalls the final moments of The Bicycle Thief, Haruko runs away shamed, shouting to Kinta's father not to tell him. Stunning.

[Michael Kerpan]

There are many, many stunning moments in this first truly great Imamura film (earlier films may have shown clear promise -- but this is now the real thing).

[Shrew]

I guess a Criterion Pigs and Battleships with an Imamura Eclipse set. Although I don't know enough to guess what would be within the confines of the slim halfbox.

[Tommaso]

Let's not jump to conclusions

Exactly. I remember they promised a 'Silent Eisenstein' box since about 1999....
<only kidding>

[AfterTheRain]

Well, at least we know that Pigs and Battleships will be coming out next year for sure. Anyone have an idea on what else Criterion might release in May '09 (in terms of Imamura, of course).

[zedz]

Pigs and Battleships is probably my least favourite of that wild 60s run of his. That said, it's still fantastic. My fingers are crossed for a hearty Eclipse box (not a stingy twofer, please!), or a mainline release of Pigs plus a hearty Eclipse box.

Or they could always do a proper bells 'n' whistles 'n' pigs 'n' battleships 'n' slovens 'n' incest Criterion Imamura in the 60s box. It's not as if they frittered away all the possible supplements on their previous Imamura releases.

[kaujot]

Have they ever put an Eclipse clue into the newsletter?

[Yojimbo]

'Pigs and Battleships' is the one Imamura I've been especially wanting to see since seeing 'The Pornographers' and 'Profound Desire of the Gods'
(also loved 'The Eel' and much of 'Vengeance Is Mine', and 'Ballad of Narayama' has pride of place among my 'Great Unwatched' pile of DVDs)

[zedz]

Have they ever put an Eclipse clue into the newsletter?

Rossellini most recently, and Lubitsch, but Bergman as well, I think.

[kaujot]

How on Earth did I forget about the Lubitsch clue? Ah well.

[Cold Bishop]

I have to side with Zedz and say its probably his weakest 60s film.... but its still nothing short of fantastic. I'm curious why this film seems to be THE Criterion worthy one however.

One of my very favorite Imamura films -- with a great opening sequence that calls to mind that to Welles's Touch of Evil.

You know, thanks to a showing time mistake by the NW Film Center, I missed the opening... Care to sum it up.

[feckless boy]

I've posted some caps from the Japanese release of Pigs and Battleships in the proper thread.
It is anamorphic, single-layered, quite heavily window-boxed and apparently interlaced, see last cap.
Very much looking forward to a full Criterion treatment (with a Richie commentary?) and hopefully an Eclipse-collection to go with it.

[Michael Kerpan]

You know, thanks to a showing time mistake by the NW Film Center, I missed the opening... Care to sum it up.

I'd have to re-watch this in order to provide any sort of meaningful summary. One goes from a view of the ships in the harbor, to sailors on leave going down the street -- and eventually being enticed by prostitutes, to military police barging in on the ladies and their customers.

[bradass]

No newsletter yet for January... is it possible that they are no longer making them? I can't even find the link to sign up for it on the new site.

[Antoine Doinel]

They sent a newsletter to members of The Auteurs a week or two ago.

[Shrew]

...but there was no clue?

Double boo.

[Matt]

[img]http://criterion_images.s3.amazonaws.com/Other/ImagesneedingURLs/wackyangel1.jpg[/img]

Wings of Desire

[Astroman]

And, maybe, Breaking the Waves?

[justeleblanc]

And, maybe, Breaking the Waves?

Maybe. If only it was a picture of a golden heart.

[Tom Hagen]

Hopefully we are getting a Wenders box.

I like that Monte Hellman's 10th favorite Criterion is "Fellini." Thanks for the insight, Monte. This may be the moment that the favorites lists officially jumped the shark.