'Forthcoming' Lists Discussion and Random Speculation Vol.1

[atcolomb]

Another thing too is the fact that there are some nice looking dvd's of Howard's End but both Picinic and Kwaidan can use a good upgrade and they were released by Criterion 10 years ago!!

[Shrew]

I think our film clique group probably split its vote between Hanging Rock and Kwaidan, leaving Howard's End a winner by default.

[Feego]

I think our film clique group probably split its vote between Hanging Rock and Kwaidan, leaving Howard's End a winner by default.

That might not be too far off. Picnic and Kwaidan were the clear favorites on this board, and it's possible that two such enticing titles ultimately cancelled each other out. Luckily, I have the R2 editions of both titles to tide me over until they eventually (hopefully) are released on BD.

[Jun-Dai]

Many of the bluray.com users seem as puzzled about the selection of Howards End as our own forum members, but there are at least a few that favored it.

Unless Criterion was lying about the results or there was some Howards End fanclub that barraged the poll, I'm guessing that people visiting the poll most likely split into two main groups in terms of tastes: those that would choose Howards End (and possibly hadn't heard of the others) and those that would choose one of the other titles. While the second group might have been more numerous, they were disadvantaged by having four titles to choose from.

[CSM126]

I don't understand why it even matters. Does anyone actually think the other titles will never be released now just because they lost the poll? They're all coming anyway, this stupid vote was just a PR thing.

[cdnchris]

I have no doubt the others will come out and it's nice to know that I can expect Kwaidan and Picnic, but my mind is still sorta blown that people actually voted for Howard's End. Not only that but it also won.

[swo17]

The reason this matters is, after all the complaining on the internet, it's the first time we the people have been given the chance to actually tell Criterion what to do. And we failed miserably.

[fiddlesticks]

We're all assuming that there was an actual election, conducted fairly and openly. The proclaimed winner was not the one that we or anyone we know voted for. Some of us suspect that there may have been some funny business behind the scenes, but even if it's a mistake, we'll live with the result and hope that our favorites get a second chance down the road.

Does any of this sound familiar?

[swo17]

Does this mean Gore will eventually be president on Blu-ray?

[CSM126]

Does this mean Gore will eventually be president on Blu-ray?

I think he invented Blu-Ray, actually.

[ianungstad]

Mulvaney told me a few weeks back that this isn't going to be part of the Merchant Ivory line but as a spine number in the regular collection. Does anyone else think they'll "re-release" the sd of Howard's End as a spine number as well, or if it will be a Blu-exclusive?

I imagine that the sales on the Merchant Ivory titles have pretty much dried up at this point. Moving the titles over to the mainline would be an easy way to reinvigorate sales with little cost/overhead. If they are going to make a big promotion out of Howard's End, I don't see why they would limit the renewed interest to Blu Ray and hinder sales.

[kaujot]

It'll get an SD re-release.

[Jun-Dai]

I have no doubt the others will come out and it's nice to know that I can expect Kwaidan and Picnic, but my mind is still sorta blown that people actually voted for Howard's End. Not only that but it also won.

Well, I'm not sure what the results are, but the downside here is that if any of the titles got very few votes, I'd imagine there'd be a decent chance that Criterion would shelve the title until there were more obvious reasons to release it (e.g., following on the heels of a restoration).

[ianungstad]

Considering the lead time Criterion usually takes for DVD production and that all the options were available for a fall release, it's almost a given that they are nearly all ready to go, doubtful anything gets shelved because of an Amazon vote.

[Antoine Doinel]

Amazon has gone ahead and given Howard's End a pre-order page with a $29.99 listing (no release date though).

[mteller]

I don't understand why anyone would doubt the results. You guys do realize that Amazon.com has millions of visitors who AREN'T cf.org members, right?

"Oh cool, an opinion poll on the internet, I love those! Let's see. Do I vote for the Japanese movie I've never heard of, the Australian movie I've never heard of, the low-budget American movie I've never heard of, the French movie I've never heard of... or something with Hannibal Lector in it?"

[stereo]

agreed; it'd be nice (however unlikely) if they did a CF-only poll

[oldsheperd]

My question is since I haven't seen Howard's End, is the cinematography on par with Picnic or Kwaidan? I mean blu-ray really lends itself to those who value solid cinematography. I just find it strange that Criterion would waste the effort on some drawing room drama unless there is something that blu-ray can do that normal dvd cannot.

[cdnchris]

My question is since I haven't seen Howard's End, is the cinematography on par with Picnic or Kwaidan? I mean blu-ray really lends itself to those who value solid cinematography. I just find it strange that Criterion would waste the effort on some drawing room drama unless there is something that blu-ray can do that normal dvd cannot.

Everything about this movie is dry, dull, and, well, boring. I guess the settings do look nice and high def may help in detail but it's the last film I would ever release on Blu-ray. But I'm a little bias. Oh well, maybe it will actually sell some copies when it's given a spine.

[Cinephrenic]

I don't see the urgency in getting this out on Blu-ray. The mainstream crowd must have voted this one in, being unfamilar with the other choices that Criterion was offering. Howard's End already has a decent DVD at the moment, but Kwaidan and Picnic at Hanging Rock don't have anything near perfect on DVD (R1), regardless of a Blu-ray release.

[Tribe]

I imagine that the sales on the Merchant Ivory titles have pretty much dried up at this point. Moving the titles over to the mainline would be an easy way to reinvigorate sales with little cost/overhead. If they are going to make a big promotion out of Howard's End, I don't see why they would limit the renewed interest to Blu Ray and hinder sales.

Good point. But aside from Howards End, I really don't see the other Merchant Ivory titles ever making it to the Criterion line (maybe The Bostonians?) If anything, perhaps some of them willl end up as an Eclipse box.

My question is since I haven't seen Howard's End, is the cinematography on par with Picnic or Kwaidan? I mean blu-ray really lends itself to those who value solid cinematography. I just find it strange that Criterion would waste the effort on some drawing room drama unless there is something that blu-ray can do that normal dvd cannot.

Everything about this movie is dry, dull, and, well, boring. I guess the settings do look nice and high def may help in detail but it's the last film I would ever release on Blu-ray. But I'm a little bias. Oh well, maybe it will actually sell some copies when it's given a spine.

Yeah, it has some of those qualities that Chris mentions. On the other hand, I find it has some fine performances by Emma Thompson and Anthony Hopkins and it is a rather engrossing statement about class-tiered England. I happen to like this one from Criterion's Merchant Ivory line, unlike the remaining titles which indeed are a great cure for insomnia.

[StevenJ0001]

My question is since I haven't seen Howard's End, is the cinematography on par with Picnic or Kwaidan? I mean blu-ray really lends itself to those who value solid cinematography. I just find it strange that Criterion would waste the effort on some drawing room drama unless there is something that blu-ray can do that normal dvd cannot.

Firstly, Blu-Ray can benefit any movie that was shot in a format that has a higher resolution and/or more color or grayscale information than that which can be accurately rendered in the image on a standard def DVD; which translates, essentially, as virtually any movie ever released! (Unless it was shot on standard def video, perhaps.) It doesn't need to have "solid cinematography," although I'm not sure how that can be conclusively defined, anyway.

Secondly, I am not the biggest fan of Howard's End, but I saw a 70mm print of the film during its theatrical release and it is visually quite memorable.

Thirdly, I would attribute any surprise here about this film winning the Amazon poll to the insularity and overblown sense of self-importance of CF.org members (and I am implicating myself here, since I take part in the forum and probably have an overblown sense of self-importance also, from time to time! )

[starmanof51]

On the other hand, I find it has some fine performances by Emma Thompson and Anthony Hopkins

Better than fine, I'd say. It's as good as Thompson's ever been, and Hopkins remarkably manages to turn off the ham for once - his Wilcox is rather uncompromisingly rendered. Sadly, I find the film they're stuck in nearly as torpid as Cdnchris does.

[Jun-Dai]

My guess is that Criterion already had a plan, and that the poll was largely a publicity stunt, coupled with a sanity check to make sure that their decisions about what to put out on Blu-ray this fall weren't too completely out of touch. But really, unless someone here works there and can give us the inside scoop, we'll never really know what the motivations or the results were.

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

Secondly, I am not the biggest fan of Howard's End, but I saw a 70mm print of the film during its theatrical release and it is visually quite memorable.

Forgive me, but how the hell does a Merchant-Ivory film get the 70mm treatment? It's not Lawrence of Arabia. I'm just surprised considering how intimate and modest the films are that they'd get such a treatment.