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on 8 1/2 blu:

The Last Sequence, a new 52-minute documentary on Fellini’s lost alternate ending for 8 1/2 (available on Blu-ray edition)

WAR TRILOGY -

Disc Features.SPECIAL EDITION THREE-DISC SET:

•New, restored high-definition digital transfers
•Video introductions by Roberto Rossellini to all three films, from 1963
•New video interviews with Rossellini scholar Adriano Aprà, Rossellini’s friend and confessor Father Virgilio Fantuzzi, and filmmakers Paolo and Vittorio Taviani
•Audio commentary on Rome Open City by film scholar Peter Bondanella
•Once Upon a Time . . . “Rome Open City,” a 2006 documentary on the making of this historic film, featuring rare archival material and footage of Anna Magnani, Federico Fellini, Ingrid Bergman, and many others
•Rossellini and the City, a new documentary on Rossellini’s use of the urban landscape in these films, by film scholar Mark Shiel
•Excerpts from rarely seen videotaped discussions Rossellini had with faculty and students at Rice University in 1970 about his craft
•Into the Future, a new visual essay about the War Trilogy by film scholar Tag Gallagher
•Roberto Rossellini, a 2001 documentary by Carlo Lizzani, assistant director on Germany Year Zero, tracing Rossellini’s career through archival footage and interviews with family members and collaborators, with tributes by filmmakers François Truffaut and Martin Scorsese
•Letters from the Front: Carlo Lizzani on “Germany Year Zero,” a 1987 podium discussion with Lizzani
•Italian credits and prologue for Germany Year Zero
•New illustrated essay by film scholar Thomas Meder on Rossellini’s relationship with his mistress Roswitha Schmidt
•New and improved English subtitle translations
•PLUS: A booklet featuring essays by director Irene Bignardi and film scholars Colin McCabe, James Quandt, and Jonathan Rosenbaum

And this is where we kiss and make up.

January has historically been one of Criterion's best months, so it's not like they were gonna screw this up anyways. But still, =D>

That Rossellini set is tremendous.

All I can say is that I hope I get a lot of Christmas money this December! WOW what a month!

Jesus H. Christ! This is an astonishing month. I'll be buying every release. The Rossellini set is particularly amazing.

So the "War Trilogy" is #500. Did anyone predict that?

I may eventually pick up every release announced today, except for "Che."

The Rossellini set looks and sounds wonderful, and Rome Open City features the lovely Anna Magnani, so I can't wait to experience these films for the first time come January.

Bravo indeed! Now I need to find a new importer to the UK that won't mean I get stung for duty or charged extortionate prices before January so I can pick up the War Trilogy. And possibly Paris...

(off topic - any suggestions for a UK source? Used to use CriterionDVD)

Mr Finch wrote:The Rossellini set looks and sounds wonderful, and Rome Open City features the lovely Anna Magnani, so I can't wait to experience these films for the first time come January.

Germany and Rome were two of the worst DVD transfers ever for classic films, you are fortunate indeed to experience them the first time in what can only be better editions

Feego wrote:So the "War Trilogy" is #500. Did anyone predict that?

I may eventually pick up every release announced today, except for "Che."

I did! \:D/

The Glue Man wrote:(off topic - any suggestions for a UK source? Used to use CriterionDVD)

I'd still try Amazon Marketplace; AxelMusic (http://www.axelmusic.com/dvd" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) aren't bad either. Might order Sony's Sam Fuller and Noirs from them.

Re Rossellini set: considering how much time and resources Criterion have invested in this set according to Becker, I can only imagine how it must feel for anyone who loves the trilogy to see these films in (presumably) great transfers.

Mr Finch wrote:

The Glue Man wrote:(off topic - any suggestions for a UK source? Used to use CriterionDVD)

I'd still try Amazon Marketplace

I regularly go with Amazon Marketplace (both from Amazon.com and .co.uk). With Amazon.co.uk I would recommend, first, Caiman_USA (although I haven't seen them around for a couple of weeks) who offer good prices, fast delivery and great service. Caimanzone-UK was set up for a while - though I think they may have shut this down - that imported R1 titles directly into their storage so that titles could be shipped even quicker and without tax issues on the buyer. I only bought one box set from them, and haven't seen them on Amazon Marketplace since, though they have a website caimanzone.co.uk you may want to check out. It's down at the moment which may suggest something.

Second to Caiman_USA, little come close in terms of delivery speed, though Moviemars-USA, AllYourMusic (who used to be Importcds_com) and Overman2000_UK have always delivered well within the date scheduled and i've not yet been hit by customs tax. In fact the only time that has happened was when I bought Twin Peaks: Gold Edition from Amazon.com (directly) for my brother for Christmas, and found it sitting outside my door with a customs note attached stating "Do not deliver to recipitent until payment of £11 has been made". It seemed like a moment of rare Christmas spirit at the Royal Mail in 2007.

Hail_Cesar wrote:on 8 1/2 blu:

The Last Sequence, a new 52-minute documentary on Fellini’s lost alternate ending for 8 1/2 (available on Blu-ray edition)

Dammit. Is that doc any good?

Whoa, whoa, guys, guys, I'm happy to see the War Trilogy too ... but let's not go off-message here: Criterion sucks. If we stop telling them that, they might get the idea they don't have to release Out 1.

Perkins Cobb wrote:Whoa, whoa, guys, guys, I'm happy to see the War Trilogy too ... but let's not go off-message here: Criterion sucks. If we stop telling them that, they might get the idea they don't have to release Out 1.

That bears keeping in mind...after all, where's that War Trilogy Blu Ray?

Akerman films seems to be licensed from World Artists, where one of their holdings is Begotten. Anyone think this would make a good cult release?

manicsounds wrote:I thought they were "Che", "Cronos", and "More Ozu" Eclipse

I'd love to see them come out with the "Ozu: the non-extant films" Eclipse set.

Jun-Dai wrote:I'd love to see them come out with the "Ozu: the non-extant films" Eclipse set.

Why not, some are rated on IMDB. ;~}

" 4 Devils - The complete extant film stills" - gorgeous new HD-transfer (slightly pictureboxed to reduce overscan) with optional music track by David Sosin.

Tommaso wrote: ... with optional music track by David Sosin.

Donald's evil twin brother.

Michael Kerpan wrote:

Jun-Dai wrote:I'd love to see them come out with the "Ozu: the non-extant films" Eclipse set.

Why not, some are rated on IMDB. ;~}

Yes, along with the lost Murnau ones =P~

I would like to see Vivre sa Vie and some more Bergman at some point next year?...Im surprised that Revanche isnt coming out in Jan.

Suggestion for a forum poll: January 2010 is one of the most impressive scheduled release slates in recent memory. How long will it take before people forget this and start calling 2010 Criterion's worst year ever?

A) June
B) March
C) As soon as they announce Ride with the Devil