Criterion Discussion and Random Speculation Volume 7

[mfunk9786]

The entitlement over the announcements and the timing of the announcements has made this forum almost unreadable around this time of the month. Get. a. fucking. life. These are titles that aren't getting released for another 3 months. Let the people at Criterion do their jobs while you do your job (or literally anything else aside from whining about the timing of announcements) and they'll get them up when they're ready. I don't understand what's so complicated about this for some users here but it's really distasteful and obnoxious and childish for them to constantly post rhetorical questions about whether they'll get their binky soon.

[jindianajonz]

You all know the old adage: "A watched pot doesn't release Rivette"

[mfunk9786]

"A watched pot doesn't release stuff you're just going to moan and groan about anyway"

[FrauBlucher]

I was going to say something really funny, but now I'm afraid.

[bamwc2]

Has Criterion just given up on posting the announcements?

I suspect that each month is a successive attempt to drive Domino Harvey insane. However, since Jellyfish Eyes didn't do it,they're at a loss over where to go next.

[Cremildo]

Has Criterion just given up on posting the announcements?

Or, you know, they work on their own schedule and not yours.

You could keep the snark to yourself. His was a reasonable question.

For years Criterion have been announcing titles on the fifteenth. The fact that they have stopped doing so without any clarification will obviously make people impatient.

[mfunk9786]

They owe you clarification? They're working on it and will announce when they're ready. There's your clarification.

[Tommaso]

There are people here who have been waiting for years now for Edition Filmmuseum to release the ultra-rare films they announced. But other people, waiting for the latest announcements for films that are already available somewhere else in the world, apparently can't wait for another day or two...

[CSM126]

Has Criterion just given up on posting the announcements?

Or, you know, they work on their own schedule and not yours.

You could keep the snark to yourself. His was a reasonable question.

No. It wasn't. What are the odds of Criterion blowing off a month without explanation? More importantly, we are not entitled to anything from them. It's not like you own stock in the company and have some right to demand results.

And yes, as has been pointed out, most of us are just going to gripe about "Where's [X film Criterion can't reasonably acquire rights to]? I mean c'mon! Fuck this Rivette guy, I want something else!"

[sir_luke]

Yay! Criterion DIDN'T give up on releasing movies!

[captveg]

Anyone recall the last month without a Blu-ray upgrade?

[flyonthewall2983]

The American Friend sounds interesting.

[carmilla mircalla]

Anyone recall the last month without a Blu-ray upgrade?

I was wondering the same thing

[CSM126]

Anyone recall the last month without a Blu-ray upgrade?

I was wondering the same thing

Yay! Something for some wretch to complain about!

[captveg]

Anyone recall the last month without a Blu-ray upgrade?

I was wondering the same thing

Yay! Something for some wretch to complain about!

Not a complaint. Just a contemplative inquiry.

[Minkin]

The woman on the boat that most initially thought was for Bitter Rice was almost certainly actually for My Summer with Monica. There haven't otherwise been any hints for Bitter Rice, other than it being on Hulu. Also surprising is that it appears (along with Jellyfish Eyes) to usher the return of the $30 titles, after the Dual Format era killed off the lower priced line (and its pretty well stacked for a $30 title).

All of the other films were otherwise hinted at /on the forthcoming list. Llewyn Davis + Lady Snowblood (one of the most difficult to figure out clues - nobody could even figure out what we were looking at, except there were some guesses of possibly a pile of snow, or blood, thus combine the two) were 2015's New Years clue; Gilda (monthly newsletter clue); American Friend (Janus tour).

Rather great month. Had been waiting for Bitter Rice ever since we thought it was being hinted at (when I went ahead and watched it on Hulu). I've been meaning to see Gilda for ages now, and somehow always pass it by, thus it should be great to finally see it.

[Ribs]

So next month seems likely to bring us Spine #800 - exactly two years after Fantastic Mr. Fox at 700. Any guesses as to what it might be?

[movielocke]

Anyone recall the last month without a Blu-ray upgrade?

April 2014 (400 blows dual format packaging)

June 2011 (six new releases and an eclipse)

The June 2011 is odd in retrospect as 31 titles were upgraded that year, and one of the July titles was probably bumped from June into July (high and low, beauty and the beast, naked).

My guess is that we got a delay in announcements in part because an upgrade or two got bumped into February.

There's also the possibility that criterion has harvested a lot of the low hanging fruit of titles with that can be easily updated, like downhill racer, and we may be in for and eclipse like slowdown of release frequency.

[CSM126]

So next month seems likely to bring us Spine #800 - exactly two years after Fantastic Mr. Fox at 700. Any guesses as to what it might be?

Something that was in no way specifically chosen for that spine because Criterion doesn't care about century marks.

[cdnchris]

Mostly true but they have gone out of their way to give certain titles a centennial number.

They released Life Aquatic (#300) before they actually released anything in the 290s. They also rearranged the order of the titles in the Rossellini War Trilogy set so that the actual box got the 500 spine. I'm also sure Mr. Fox getting 700 wasn't entirely a coincidence.

[captveg]

Anyone recall the last month without a Blu-ray upgrade?

April 2014 (400 blows dual format packaging)

June 2011 (six new releases and an eclipse)

The June 2011 is odd in retrospect as 31 titles were upgraded that year, and one of the July titles was probably bumped from June into July (high and low, beauty and the beast, naked).

My guess is that we got a delay in announcements in part because an upgrade or two got bumped into February.

There's also the possibility that criterion has harvested a lot of the low hanging fruit of titles with that can be easily updated, like downhill racer, and we may be in for and eclipse like slowdown of release frequency.

Thanks! I thought it had been a while, and 4+ years (aside from the wacky 400 Blows "upgrade" (re-grade?)) certainly qualifies.

[chatterjees]

I am guessing that we will not be seeing Road Trilogy soon. Also, I hope that the price tag for Bitter Rice is not a typo. I am glad to see that Criterion is bringing the price point back after a prolonged break, but I never thought that they will give us 3 features for almost free. May be it was compensatory (as we waited for so long for this title) and will never happen again.

[RyanGallagher]

Mostly true but they have gone out of their way to give certain titles a centennial number.

They released Life Aquatic (#300) before they actually released anything in the 290s. They also rearranged the order of the titles in the Rossellini War Trilogy set so that the actual box got the 500 spine. I'm also sure Mr. Fox getting 700 wasn't entirely a coincidence.

Let's not forget they gave The Devil's Backbone spine # 666!

[movielocke]

Re the princess bride was brought up and criterion said they were trying to figure out how go better the existing release.

It occurs to me that princess bride is obviously a casualty of dual formats demise. Obviously they were going to do it like picnic at hanging rock with the book. Now they can't do it.

[ryannichols7]

if I was a seriously betting man, I would say The Graduate would be spine 800.