only thing on this list i’m interested in is the bunuel films. i want to give “simon of the desert” another chance. i sense there’s something special there. but honestly, both times i’ve tried to watch the movie, i’ve fallen asleep! third time’s the charm.
I’m buying The Exterminating Angel next month, and in March I’m getting Dodes’ka-Den. I haven’t decided what I’ll be getting in April, In the Realm of the Senses and Empire of Passion sound interesting.
The special features are up and it seems that The Hit will get a lower price despite coming with commentary, very cool since commentary usually bumps up the price.
Whenever CC announces new titles it can either be like Christmas or a disappointing birthday, glad to see April and February have some choice titles, Santa’s a-comin’!
Also, the April releases are coming out around the time of the DVD planet and Deep Discount sales, fuck yeah! (Dances around room and pounds fists into the air)
I’ll be picking up all of these. I’ve seen the majority of them, but the 3 disc set of Jean Painleve sounds extremely interesting to me for some odd reason. It may be because it seems like such an obscure and out-of-the-blue choice. I can’t wait. I love surprises, and typically CC never disappoints when it comes to these types of things.
Love,
Snag
PS —> I’m gonna be all over those Oshima titles, by the way.
I’m very glad to be getting the sublime HOBSON’S CHOICE and THE LAST METRO on Criterion DVDs. Can’t wait. I’ll rent DODESKADEN before buying it, my memory of it isn’t very positive at all. Otherwise it looks like I’ll be picking up the Essential Art House releases of PYGMALION and COL. BLIMP, maybe one or two others.
I’m glad to see that Oshima is getting some attention. I’m hoping that they’ll release his brilliant BOY at some point.
I’m so excited about the Bunuel releases and The Last Metro: I’ve been desperate to see these films for a long time. Hobson’s Choice is probably my favorite early Lean, and I’m glad that there will be a better release of The Hit (the current one is dreadful).
I’ve heard a lot about In the Realm of the Senses. That might be one to rent…
Edit: I just looked at the websites information on Science is Fiction. It looks amazing!
I’ve never actually heard of The Hit, but I like Stephen Frears a lot. I’m looking forward to that one.
The Hit is a pretty good film. Good performances from Terence Stamp, John Hurt and a young Tim Roth.
Simon of the Desert I saw recently on TCM. Probably my least favorite Bunuel.
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The Exterminating Angel looks pretty good. So does Empire of Passion. I haven’t seen any of these.
Dodes’ka-den has good cover art but I’m not really interested in it.
I’m a little irked we won’t be getting a blu-ray of THE HIT, as I’ve pretty much sworn off SD-DVD at this point… Just been burned too many times with HD upgrades.
Am i the only one confused as to why In The Realm Of The Senses is coming out on both DVD and Blu Ray but Empire of Passion is coming only to DVD.
it just seems like people including myself would buy both on Blu Ray.
Alex-I think Criterion is still testing out the waters on blu ray and In the Realm is the more well known of the two so maybe they feel it would do better as a blu ray. Possibly it may also have better source materials to work with.
I am looking forward to Danton. It’s the best thing I’ve seen so far about the French Revolution and really captures the essence of it. Georges-Jacques Danton is one of the most fascinating characters of that time. I’ve had a crappy VHS copy of it for years!
I first saw the Exterminating Angel on vhs during college. It was when at a time of my life when I had seen a lot of classic films, but was just starting to delve into world cinema and the avant-garde. I don’t recall a lot from the movie, but the general premise and feeling of the film has stuck with me as much as anything over the past decade. I very much look forward to a new print and hopefully some good extras.
I also adore Truffaut and have never seen The Last Metro, which looks pretty nice.
Very excited about the Oshima films.
I’m super excited for Dodeskaden.
Please put something from John Waters!!!!!!
Ugh, THE LAST METRO.
Oshima, finally.
According to Criterion Wings of Desire will be coming this summer
Also, according to a reliable source Last Year at Marienbad should be coming this summer, also. Yipee!
what reliable source?
EXTERMINATING ANGEL is one of the best films of all times (and by far my fave Bunuel).
Absolutely brilliant cinema, and destined to be a landmark Criterion item.
@ Wally
A poster a Criterionforum.org who has many connections to CC and understands their workings far better than I. I hope My Life to Live isn’t too far behind it.
I remember watching a few minutes of The Last Metro, I love Truffaut’s work, although I could not get through METRO. I’m sure I need to see it once more to get a real opinion. Wings of Desire would be a perfect release. A source told me Fuller’s UNDERGROUND U.S.A was coming out soon…just kidding, oh I wish I wasn’t.
I’m personally a little disappointed that Criterion isn’t using the same box art for the Shimizu release that was used in the identical Japan release…I understand the eclipse consistancy and all that, but the original box art was just gorgeous.
Also glad to see some legit Mexico releases, even if it is Bunuel…
I recently purchased my first new Criterions in a few years and I was surprised by the change in packaging. The clear plastic box, the single-width thickness of the 2-disc sets. I think I preferred the old style ones, they seemed more durable and hefty. I guess it might be an environmental issue. I was wondering what other people thought. The films themselves remain impeccable.
I personally don’t care for the cardboard packaging on the blu rays.
1. They don’t conform to the size of other blu rays and more importantly
2. If they get damaged you can’t replace it with a new case.
The Blu Rays have cardboard packaging? I can only think that they are testing the waters and don’t want to have to cut too many losses if Blu Ray itself does not catch on.
___ _____
Thought it would be a good idea to start a thread covering the upcoming releases for Criterion, generate discussion about whatever from the covers to the extras, although keep off in-depth discussions of the films to keep this thread from falling apart and straying from its point, which is just generate excitement about the releases and fuel the beast.
Starting with February:
The Exterminating Angel and Simon of the Desert – Luis Bunuel
Hobson’s Choice – David Lean
Cassavetes re-releases
March:
Dodes’ka-Den – Akira Kurosawa
The Last Metro – Francois Truffaut
Danton – Andrzej Wajda
Eclipse 15: Travels with Hiroshi Shimizu
April:
In the Realm of the Senses and Empire of Passion – Nagisa Oshima
Science is Fiction: 23 Films by Jean Painlevé – Jean Painlevé
The Hit – Stephen Frears
April looks like a great month, the best in a while and the covers are gorgeous to boot! April might be the first time I ever buy all the releases. (If anyone knows how to post images tell me how, I have no clue).