'Forthcoming' Lists Discussion and Random Speculation Vol.2

[domino harvey]

I would be interested to see what the split is between online and B+M sales, because with the move to online, there's no excuse to not release more unless its a staffing issue and not a marketing one

[Amazing Goose]

does anyone have any info on how well the "essential art house" sets are selling? i bought the 50 films box set a few years ago, but i'm having a hard time thinking that there's much of a demographic for the six-disc sets they're releasing. and yet they just announced vol. V, so someone must be buying them....

[Highway 61]

Purely anecdotal, but during both B&N sales, I had employees tell me that the Essential Art House discs were major sellers.

[CSM126]

I can imagine libraries and schools snatching the EAH boxes up. I can also see the individual discs being popular with people who might have gotten the cineaste bug from a film-obsessed friend (kind of a "dip your toes in the water" buy when it comes to certain films/filmmakers). I suppose it also helps that stores like Barnes and Noble often put the things on prominent endcap displays with the Criterion discs and whatnot.

[Vegeta84]

Criterion has a huge library of unreleased Japanese films. I hope they get to some of those soon, especially the Gosha.

[MyNameCriterionForum]

Maybe they thought Ang Lee was Japanese

[CSM126]

Criterion has a huge library of unreleased Japanese films.

I have a funny feeling they'll push a bunch of the J-Horror/Sci-fi stuff they have to Eclipse at the same time they finally put House out on DVD. Maybe a mainline release of The X From Outer Space while they're at it (you can never have enough giant monster movies in the Collection).

[Tootletron]

Criterion has a huge library of unreleased Japanese films.

I have a funny feeling they'll push a bunch of the J-Horror/Sci-fi stuff they have to Eclipse at the same time they finally put House out on DVD. Maybe a mainline release of The X From Outer Space while they're at it (you can never have enough giant monster movies in the Collection).

Wait, Criterion is the one that has the rights to X From Outer Space??

[Grand Illusion]

Disappointed with the lack of an Eclipse set or a catalog upgrade on blu-ray. They could announce a Bergman title instead of Ride with the Devil.

What's the news on Bergman titles in the wake of the whole Isis scandal? I haven't been following it. What's the status regarding domestic rights to Bergman films?

[CSM126]

Criterion has a huge library of unreleased Japanese films.

I have a funny feeling they'll push a bunch of the J-Horror/Sci-fi stuff they have to Eclipse at the same time they finally put House out on DVD. Maybe a mainline release of The X From Outer Space while they're at it (you can never have enough giant monster movies in the Collection).

Wait, Criterion is the one that has the rights to X From Outer Space??

Apparently. We have it listed as a Janus holding in one if the Stickied "Forthcoming List" threads.

[ianungstad]

re: X from Outer Space

Former Criterion producer Mark Walkow had mentioned that it was one of several J-Horror titles that Criterion picked up YEARS ago. He was also instrumental in getting Criterion to license House. I think he's involved in the House release as an associate producer or something because he filmed an interview with the director while in Japan recently, working on a different project he produced (Special edition of Miike's Audition)

X From Outer Space looks like cheesy fun. Wouldn't mind if they batched it with Goke and Princess from the Moon and put it out through Eclipse.

[hoogo shteeglitz]

Is the cook, the thief, his wife and her lover no longer coming from criterion?

[HarryLong]

X From Outer Space looks like cheesy fun.

It's kind of the Japanes equivalent of THE GIANT CLAW in that it features an equally absurd giant bird. If nothing else it'll give you new appreciation of the effects in the Godzilla movies.

[swo17]

Is the cook, the thief, his wife and her lover no longer coming from criterion?

I believe their exact words were "it's not looking good."

[hoogo shteeglitz]

Is the cook, the thief, his wife and her lover no longer coming from criterion?

I believe their exact words were "it's not looking good."

Damn that really sucks... well if they still release Blue Collar it's not all bad.

[Cash Flagg]

Damn that really sucks... well if they still release Blue Collar it's not all bad.

Doubtful, as this is part of Universal's new DVD-R series.

[hoogo shteeglitz]

Damn that really sucks... well if they still release Blue Collar it's not all bad.

Doubtful, as this is part of Universal's new DVD-R series.

No it's not.

[knives]

Damn that really sucks... well if they still release Blue Collar it's not all bad.

Doubtful, as this is part of Universal's new DVD-R series.

No it's not.

Look before you leap.

[Jeff]

I finally found out who has the rights to Fedora. It's German distributor Bavaria Media. The even better news is that they are in the process of restoring it. That information was gleaned from the last sentence of this Hollywood Reporter article about the restoration of Deep End. Criterion previously licensed Berlin Alexanderplatz from Bavaria, and we've heard they've got Deep End too. Can Fedora be far behind? Bavaria is working on restoring three unnamed Fassbinder projects too.

[ianungstad]

I hope so! There needs to be more Wilder in the collection! Fedora should be a priority since it's almost impossible to find anywhere in the world. I really hope they have or will grab A Foreign Affair and Five Graves to Cairo too! It would suck if they become part of some DVR burn on demand program.

The Lost Weekend disc is horrible too. It's treated very poorly considering it was a best picture Oscar winner.

I hope your right about Fedora Jeff!

[Jeff]

It looks like the three Fassbinder projects are likely I Only Want You to Love Me, The Stationmaster's Wife, and Despair. Eclipse set?

[Highway 61]

As always, nice detective work Jeff. Fedora would be classic Criterion. Yet, I wonder who'd they get to contribute supplements, since it seems as if only about a couple dozen people have ever seen the film.

[knives]

If they can't get anything too specific for the film they might do general Wilder extras, but I'm sure Fedora will have enough surrounding it for extras.

[fdm]

As always, nice detective work Jeff. Fedora would be classic Criterion. Yet, I wonder who'd they get to contribute supplements, since it seems as if only about a couple dozen people have ever seen the film.

I saw it. Long ago, far away. Suppose it would be interesting to see again 30 years or so later, but I recall sitting there wondering what the payoff of it was going to be and it never seemed to really get there or when it did I didn't really care one way or the other. Perhaps I snickered too (reading the review on allmovie.com), I wouldn't put it past me. Not one of the highlights of my early filmgoing days.

(Edit: Deep End and Fassbinder, now that's exciting.)

[justeleblanc]

I finally found out who has the rights to Fedora. It's German distributor Bavaria Media. The even better news is that they are in the process of restoring it. That information was gleaned from the last sentence of this Hollywood Reporter article about the restoration of Deep End. Criterion previously licensed Berlin Alexanderplatz from Bavaria, and we've heard they've got Deep End too. Can Fedora be far behind? Bavaria is working on restoring three unnamed Fassbinder projects too.

Did Criterion even know this information? Jeff, you are amazing!