'Forthcoming' Lists Discussion and Random Speculation Vol.1

[Cinephrenic]

Is there any reliability to this source? It is Wikipedia after all... Regarding Kurosawa's The Quiet Duel:

Home video: The R1 DVD was released by BCI Eclipse, as the first title in their "Director's Series". A high definition 1080p Blu-ray is planned for release by Criterion on 2009.[1]

References: Blair, Gavin J. (2007-11-01). "Director Senkichi Taniguchi dies at 95". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved on 2007-10-05.

[aox]

we can only hope Criterion releases Caligula to show that they are not afraid.

[Kirkinson]

Is there any reliability to this source? It is Wikipedia after all... Regarding Kurosawa's The Quiet Duel:

Home video: The R1 DVD was released by BCI Eclipse, as the first title in their "Director's Series". A high definition 1080p Blu-ray is planned for release by Criterion on 2009.[1]

The page the article links to as a source is a listing at Blu-ray.com for the Japanese box set also containing Rashomon and Ran. It says nothing about a Criterion release. Either the information on that page has changed since the sentence was added to the Wikipedia article, or the person who added it was a little overexcited.

[Jun-Dai]

I bet that this is the article that inspired that edit. In any case, it's just unsubstantiated conjecture. I remember hearing that the entire Kurosawa catalog is going through an unprecedented restoration effort at 6K, and I'm guessing Criterion has first dibs at renegotiating US rights to the films, so the conjecture is reasonable—but it's still conjecture.

[atcolomb]

I bet that this is the article that inspired that edit. In any case, it's just unsubstantiated conjecture. I remember hearing that the entire Kurosawa catalog is going through an unprecedented restoration effort at 6K, and I'm guessing Criterion has first dibs at renegotiating US rights to the films, so the conjecture is reasonable—but it's still conjecture.

I did read somewhere that there is a restoration of Francois Truffaut's films too and it's nice to see The Last Metro and The 400 Blows looking good so i hope Criterion will release more Trauffaut.....

[oldsheperd]

I'm hoping for a complete Criterion retooling of Neighbors with the appropriate soundtrack supplied by fear.

[jorencain]

This just arrived in my inbox today:

Last month, we offered customers the unique opportunity to vote for the next Blu-ray release from the Criterion Collection. We're excited to announce that "Howard's End [Blu-ray]" is the winning title and will be released from the Criterion Collection later this year. Why wait? You can pre-order "Howard's End- Criterion Collection [Blu-ray]" from Amazon.com today.

[oldsheperd]

Wow!
The term "rigged" comes to mind.
I demand a recount.

[so lightly here]

So when was "Howard's End" ever under the CC banner. Wasn't it part of the M/I series? What a rip. And I still haven't gotten over no Blu-ray for "Contempt".

[HerrSchreck]

Balderdash!

[swo17]

There is absolutely no way this legitimately won. It is a known scientific fact that everyone that watches this film to the very end dies instantly of boredom.

[Tom Hagen]

Two theories: 1) the uninitiated voted for it because they thought that it would be a "new" addition to the Collection or 2) never underestimate the drawing power of a prestige movie people remember hearing about a couple of times on an Oscar telecast 15+ years ago.

[swo17]

More likely: most people had heard of none of the five choices, but remembered Hopkins being pretty badass in that Hannibal movie.

[Saturnome]

That's my guess too. Hopkins alone made this possible? I never ever heard of this film (and all of the Merchant Ivory collection too, the covers reminds me of Danielle Steele stuff), but I'm kinda young, and I guess somwhat focused on my tastes...

[kaujot]

Booooo! Booooo!

I'm going join in with the rigged chorus.

[Cosmic Bus]

Apparently, I'm the only Merchant-Ivory fan present? I didn't vote for it (content with the DVD) but it'll be lovely in high def, no doubt, and a nice addition to the main line. And isn't it a given that the other options are coming eventually, just that Howard's End will be released first?

[atcolomb]

I guess we all got rear ended by Howard....

[Tommaso]

Well, I suspect we'll soon have a second Button-style thread, but of course I can't help agreeing with the majority of voices here. But I think we'll have to face it: Ivory, Hopkins, 'big' contemporary Hollywood 'semi-arthouse' fare seems to be the kind of thing that really is marketable in larger quantities, regardless of whether that poll was representative or not, and CC's release schedule increasingly reflects this. But allright, if this sells sufficiently enough to finally provide funds for an Eclipse 'Silent Sternberg' box (for example), then I'd be happy to ignore the fact that they even bother about Ivory. Unless they next come up with a Collector's Edition of Emma Thompson-films...

[cdnchris]

I think I just threw up in my mouth a little. I was so sure Kwaidan would win and was looking forward to it.

[James]

Would a bluray release of Kwaidan mean a rerelease standard extended version of the film (I could care less about bluray, because it doesn't affect me)?

[kaujot]

Just to clarify: I have no problem with Howard's End. I actually quite like the film. But there's no way that it legitimately won.

[Highway 61]

I can believe that it won. The Criterion brand name is as fashionable as a Fight Club or Lebowski poster for my generation, but the problem is, most of the collection is too obscure. The set looking for another Criterion to sit beside their copies of Seven Samurai and Royal Tenenbaums surely voted for this, the choice with the highest name recognition.

[med]

Perhaps there's a popular Howard's End and/or Merchant-Ivory Web site that rallied the troops and brought out the vote in force. Seriously, though, Highway 61's post is on point. I don't think this contest was rigged; a lot of you are likely underestimating just how large of fanbase this film may have.

Anyway, who cares? As it's already been pointed out, the other films will likely get a Blu release in the future. It's a matter of time. HE was coming eventually.

[kaujot]

Anyway, who cares? As it's already been pointed out, the other films will likely get a Blu release in the future. It's a matter of time. HE was coming eventually.

But I want Picnic noooooow.

[Tommaso]

but the problem is, most of the collection is too obscure.

I always suspected that myself and a large number of this forum's members are living in some sort of parallel universe, but it's tough to have it confirmed in such a way. And then only to think about Thomas J. advocating releases of films made in Africa or the Philippines (generally speaking)...