'Forthcoming' Lists Discussion and Random Speculation Vol.2

[domino harvey]

HELL YEAH

[Dr Amicus]

HELL YEAH

Seconded.

The only time I've seen this was when my Dad taped it off Sky Movies about 10 years ago - unfortunately he managed to set it wrongly so the last few minutes were missing (it may only have been 30 secs or so, but I haven't been able to double check). Still, probably my favourite US Forman (although Cuckoo's Nest and Man in the Moon are strong contenders (and you never know - the last few seconds / minutes might make all the difference!)

[Tom Hagen]

Outstanding news. Following Two-Lane Blacktop, this will make the second of the low budget, post-Easy Rider films that Universal produced in the early '70s to appear on Criterion. I hope it's a success; I'd love to see Criterion take a stab at Diary of a Mad Housewife and, god help us all, The Last Movie.

[Forrest Taft]

Steven Soderbergh´s new Spalding Gray doc now has a title: And Everything is Going Fine. Josh Olson reviews it here, and his review includes this bit:

the producer hinted that we’ll get more, eventually - something’s in the works with Criterion. Hooray!

I´m guessing this means this new documentary as well as the Gray´s Anatomy, which has been on the "forthcoming" list for years...

[Matt]

Ugh, what is the delay with The Red Shoes? The only excuse I will accept is that Criterion is waiting to release it in tandem with Black Narcissus on Blu-ray.

[triodelover]

Ugh, what is the delay with The Red Shoes? The only excuse I will accept is that Criterion is waiting to release it in tandem with Black Narcissus on Blu-ray.

Or in tandem with The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp =D> , which Thelma Schoomaker said was undergoing a new HD restoration her Film Forum interview.

[Brian C]

Or in tandem with The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp =D> , which Thelma Schoomaker said was undergoing a new HD restoration her Film Forum interview.

Wouldn't a new release of Blimp be an awful long way off, though? The theatrical release isn't yet imminent, so a new DVD release would be, what, at least a year off? Probably more? I certainly hope that Criterion isn't sitting on The Red Shoes for that long, just for the sake of a tandem release that would be more symbolic than anything.

Most likely, they just needed/wanted an extra month. It happens, right?

[triodelover]

Or in tandem with The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp =D> , which Thelma Schoomaker said was undergoing a new HD restoration her Film Forum interview.

Wouldn't a new release of Blimp be an awful long way off, though? The theatrical release isn't yet imminent, so a new DVD release would be, what, at least a year off? Probably more? I certainly hope that Criterion isn't sitting on The Red Shoes for that long, just for the sake of a tandem release that would be more symbolic than anything.

Most likely, they just needed/wanted an extra month. It happens, right?

Sure. Because of the enormous buzz created by the restoration, I can't imagine Criterion withholding a release any longer than absolutley necessary. My "suggestion" comes from my enthusiasm over Thelma's announcement regarding what is probably my favorite P&P and the fact I already own the ITV BD of Black Narcissus (which I would likely dump at any rate for a Criterion BD release).

[brendanjc]

I'm pretty happy about the releases this month, but I was hoping that Mystery Train would be accompanied by a Down By Law Blu-ray, since it was one of those titles in that Amazon contest awhile back. It'll probably be quite awhile before they get to it now.

[perkizitore]

I am disappointed that two modern films are DVD only, while i already own Red Desert and Leopard on blu! [-(
I am happy for Mystery Train and Night Train To Munich!

[Jeff]

Steven Soderbergh´s new Spalding Gray doc now has a title: And Everything is Going Fine. Josh Olson reviews it here, and his review includes this bit:

the producer hinted that we’ll get more, eventually - something’s in the works with Criterion. Hooray!

I´m guessing this means this new documentary as well as the Gray´s Anatomy, which has been on the "forthcoming" list for years...

Might even be more than that...

He mentions that during the q & a, one of the producers (Joshua Blum or Amy Hobby) answered a question about plans to release Gray's performance films on DVD by saying, "We hope to see a box set come out through the Criterion Collection in 2011, but the deal's not done yet."

[Ishmael]

Or in tandem with The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp =D> , which Thelma Schoomaker said was undergoing a new HD restoration her Film Forum interview.

Wouldn't a new release of Blimp be an awful long way off, though? The theatrical release isn't yet imminent, so a new DVD release would be, what, at least a year off? Probably more?

Probably more. I saw Thelma Schoonmaker speak in DC last night at a screening of The Red Shoes, and she said they were hoping to have Blimp restored by next year. It's definitely happening; it just won't be hitting DVD all that soon.

[movielocke]

Loved Everlasting Moments and was really looking forward to its release. too bad I won't be buying it since its only in SD

[ianungstad]

Loved Everlasting Moments and was really looking forward to its release. too bad I won't be buying it since its only in SD

Then you obviously don't love the movie that much. If you really loved a movie you would buy it regardless if it was barebones, criterion, dvd, blu, warner archives, etc.

These thinly veiled "tech fetish" posts are starting to get irritating month after month.

[Svevan]

There's nothing wrong with wanting the best possible edition of a movie, especially since there's a Blu of that particular title floating out there in multi-region land. Saying he doesn't truly love the movie is childish. It's his choice, not yours.

[Fierias]

3+ years into the life of a new format, I think there is no shame in looking forward without turning back. I stopped buying VHS 2 years into the life of DVD.

And why complain about 'tech fetish' on a criterion board? Isn't the label about tech fetish?

[Tom Hagen]

I was hoping that Criterion was going to announce the upgrade of it's entire catalogue in Blu this month.

[MyNameCriterionForum]

They just posted everything to YouTube (including the restored Andrei Rublev)

[AisleSeat]

Outstanding news. Following Two-Lane Blacktop, this will make the second of the low budget, post-Easy Rider films that Universal produced in the early '70s to appear on Criterion. I hope it's a success; I'd love to see Criterion take a stab at Diary of a Mad Housewife and, god help us all, The Last Movie.

When queried several months ago on Facebook regarding Diary of a Mad Housewife (and Perry films in general), the response was "We like Frank Perry." Neither a qualified affirmation nor a firm denial, so it seems more of a vague possibility. To be fully appreciated, Diary needs to be viewed uncut in its complete, non-TV version. It would be an interesting addition to the Collection, but my first choice for a Frank Perry inclusion would be Last Summer.

[scotty2]

Regarding Perry, I could certainly be persuaded to pick up The Swimmer and Play It As It Lays.

[foofighters7]

Loved Everlasting Moments and was really looking forward to its release. too bad I won't be buying it since its only in SD

Then you obviously don't love the movie that much. If you really loved a movie you would buy it regardless if it was barebones, criterion, dvd, blu, warner archives, etc.

These thinly veiled "tech fetish" posts are starting to get irritating month after month.

Completely agree.

I simply do not understand someone saying "loved the film, cant wait to get it on dvd!"

Then, as soon as it is released, "Well, loved the film but its ONLY on dvd, so I will pass."

To me, this just sounds ludicrous if you actually liked and wanted the film. Get an up-converting player and stop being so anal! At least it is available on dvd!

But that's just me.

[Fierias]

Loved Everlasting Moments and was really looking forward to its release. too bad I won't be buying it since its only in SD

Then you obviously don't love the movie that much. If you really loved a movie you would buy it regardless if it was barebones, criterion, dvd, blu, warner archives, etc.

These thinly veiled "tech fetish" posts are starting to get irritating month after month.

Completely agree.

I simply do not understand someone saying "loved the film, cant wait to get it on dvd!"

Then, as soon as it is released, "Well, loved the film but its ONLY on dvd, so I will pass."

To me, this just sounds ludicrous if you actually liked and wanted the film. Get an up-converting player and stop being so anal! At least it is available on dvd!

But that's just me.

not that any of this is on topic, but I think it makes sense to hold out right now on DVD-only releases because the likelihood that a Blu-rerelease following soon after is so high. Why bellyache about those who want a company to keep high standards for their transfers? The difference between blu and DVD is greater than the difference between single-layer, non-anamorphic DVDs and their dual-layered, anamorphic rereleases that everyone is clamoring for. "If you actually like Andrei Rublev, be thankful Criterion released it in a crappy addition! if you don't buy that and are waiting for the rereleased blu you must not love Tarkovsky!" Everlasting Moments should be on blu, and it is ridiculous that it isn't coming day and date with the DVD in June (yet).

[swo17]

Actually, at this stage in the game, I would assume that if a film is going to get a Blu-ray release in the near future, it would be at the same time that it gets a DVD release. If there wasn't a compelling reason for Criterion to put this out on BD while they were actively working on a release of some form, what's going to motivate them to do so after they have moved on to other projects? For the next three months, the best strategy to get Everlasting Moments on Blu is to barrage Criterion with complaints, but failing that, the only effective way to lobby for a BD release is to show Criterion that it's a viable moneymaker by putting your money where your mouth is and buying the DVD!

[triodelover]

not that any of this is on topic, but I think it makes sense to hold out right now on DVD-only releases because the likelihood that a Blu-rerelease following soon after is so high.

Speaking specifically of Everlasting Moments, why to you think this? The pre-eminent authoring house in R1/RA has just announced a June release that is DVD only. Unless they are going to pull another A Christmas Tale and announce the BD well before the June release, they risk angering their customer base, most of whom will buy on the basis of the film and not the format (except for a very small subset of tech addicts on the Blu-ray.com forum).

The UK release is said to be incomplete - excised minutes -and it, too, is DVD only. The Swedish Blu-ray isn't English-friendly. Where is the rights-holder that is going to release an English-friendly BD located?

Frankly, not buying this particular DVD if you love this film makes less sense that normal since Criterion DVDs tend to retain their value and can be sold on the used market fairly easily. This isn't Facets.

Addendum: What swo said.

[fdm]

not that any of this is on topic, but I think it makes sense to hold out right now on DVD-only releases because the likelihood that a Blu-rerelease following soon after is so high. Why bellyache about those who want a company to keep high standards for their transfers? The difference between blu and DVD is greater than the difference between single-layer, non-anamorphic DVDs and their dual-layered, anamorphic rereleases that everyone is clamoring for. "If you actually like Andrei Rublev, be thankful Criterion released it in a crappy addition! if you don't buy that and are waiting for the rereleased blu you must not love Tarkovsky!" Everlasting Moments should be on blu, and it is ridiculous that it isn't coming day and date with the DVD in June (yet).

The likelihood at this point of a Criterion blu-ray release following soon after a blu-ray era Criterion dvd-only release is essentially nil. This likelihood will only change once Criterion finally does such a thing. Until then, this sadly is just random speculation. Wait if you think you must, but why try to convince anyone else that they are wasting their time/money/whatever if they don't share your opinion? And why be so obnoxious about it (this isn't blu-ray.com)?

Addendum: I guess this is a bit redundant with what swo said.