amen, I would be more Herzog too if the DVD’s were better and/or on Criterion
I’d love Criterion versions of Aguirre, Fata Morgana and Fitzcaraldo as well, but I’d have to say that Herzog has been treated better in non-Criterion releases than many other European directors.
It’s been a couple years since I’ve last watched my copies, so I’ve yet to see one of the standard DVD’s on HD equipment, but I’d have to say that as far as transfers go, the pq was decent for the time of release, and the commentaries (with Herzog in interview form) were always enjoyable and informative.
It’s my guess that the folks at Criterion have already given a bid at Ol’ Werner’s films and were unsuccessful, (“Burden” feels like a consolation prize). I know that their magic would put an even brighter sheen on films that are already magnificent, but I’ve given up hoping.
I hope he gets Kinoed. After the AK 100 debacle, I’ve switched my allegiance.
I’d love a decent copy of Aguirre. Fata Morgana has a really well done DVD with commentary – an anchor bay release.
I hope he gets Kinoed. After the AK 100 debacle, I’ve switched my allegiance.
I love Kino for the films they release, but they’ve had more debacles than you can shake a stick at.
@Gringo Tex: What sort of debacles?
“What sort of debacles?”
If I may…
There’s the Stalker release for one. Quite possibly the very worst two disc special edition of any film I’ve ever seen. The extras aren’t even that great and could probably fit all on one disc. In fact a lot of their DVD’s barely look above a VHS transfer, and on some rare occasions they look worse, as with Stalker.
However, if we’re comparing catalogues… there’s no comparison. Kino destroys criterion by a few hundred miles.
I hope criterion gets a bit more of a varied catalogue before they start releasing the films of an already heralded master. I’d much rather see some early Chinese silent films on criterion than Aguirre, for example.
AK 100 debacle? Hardly. I’m thankful Criterion released it, it’s a perfect opportunity for someone like me to pick them all up in one swoop. Most people do not have every single Kurosawa movie released. I know it’s hard to fathom but yes, it’s true.
And yes, Werner definitely deserves to have his films get the Criterion treatment.
Werner Must get CRITERIONED????
really?
what do you say?
do you actually know there are hundreds of great directors out there that deserve such treatment?
do you really need me to give out names?
I just say Edward Yang. Werner Herzog is one of the lucky directors to have all of his films and even documentaries and shorts released on DVD, so we should indeed rather talk about those equally great directors whose films remain without DVD-release.
i agree with dimitris, herzog on criterion is not any kind of priority and there are innumerable directors that have been thus far overlooked by the criterion collection. i have the herzog-kinski set and all of the included films are up to par with the average criterion release. the only thing i’d like to see is a double feature release of fitzcaraldo and burden of dreams, but other than that herzog on criterion would be unnecessary.
Okay, this has finally gotten down to the prioritization of Herzog.
It’s a question mark……I’ll leave it there.
yer
El fantasma del cine: I agree! The Kino “Stalker” DVD was a major disappointment! The picture quality was worse than many old videotapes I have, and in fact, worse than the old Anchor Bay “Dawn of the Dead” cassette (which in my opinion is one of the worst VHS transfers ever)! Criterion has a magnificent version of “Solaris”, with absolutely gorgeous picture and sound, so I do not understand how “Stalker” (the more superior film, in my opinion) got such a horrific transfer. That being said, I truly think that Herzog deserves a Criterion release of many of his films, if for no other reason than the wealth of bonus materials that Criterion usually loads their DVD’s with, not to mention the care with which they restore the films. I agree that Kino has by far the most impressive catalogue, but Criterion gets the edge for trying to present the films in the best picture and sound quality available. The recent Criterion release of Polanski’s “Repulsion” is one of the most beautiful black and white transfers I’ve EVER seen! Kino may have the better selection, but Criterion truly cares more about the films themselves!
Where are you getting your prices for the box set? On amazon, it’s $80, and not long ago it was on sale for only $30. In fact if you go to the amazon market place a lot of their sellers are selling it brand new for $30, that’s a steal.
Herzog got what he should, in my opinion, from criterion and that’s a film that’s more about him and his process of creation more than the films themselves. They could always add some of his earlier, or even later documentaries, I guess. But they probably will add aguire, it seems like something criterion would do.
The AK thing isn’t a big deal. This is probably the last they’re ever going to do for him, and thank god. The only problem I see with it is how someone might want to buy it, and it’s too pricey. Otherwise, I could care less about what criterion does with their resources.
Wow! You all took my comment far more seriously than I’d intended it. Thanks. I guess.
I believe Kino also added some electronic music in the scene when they ride into the zone in Stalker. What a great idea that was.
If nothing else, Criterion deserves a firm, masculine handshake and possible kiss on the cheek for what Herzog they do have — “Werner Herzog Eats His Own Shoe” on the Burden of Dreams DVD is one of the weirdest and best extras they ever slapped on a disc.
KINO has a better selection?! Criterion has released masterpieces from Kurosawa, Fellini, Bergman, Godard, Cronenberg, Fassbinder, Tarkovsky, Bresson, Bunuel, Scorsese, Marker, Lang, Ozo, Kobayashi, Renoir, Cocteau, Hitchcock, Dreyer, Antonioni, Cassavetes, Mizoguchi…..am I missing any other great directors. KINO really doesn’t have anything on Criterion.
But Kino has all these directors.
Criterion has The Passion of Joan of Arc, Day of Wrath, Ordet, and Gertrude. Kino has Michael.
Kino has been great at contributing lesser known titles from great directors (with some exceptions), but Criterion has tends to have the best titles. You can use similar examples for Lubistch, Sirk, Bunuel, and others.
Though I’m grateful to any company that releases Ida Lupino’s The Hitch-Hiker. They’ve also released a wealth of very early cinema, including huge sets on Edison and Melies
Nathan; In your list of Dreyers, you neglected the most recent: Vampyr.
And so close to Halloween, too. For shame.
(Certainly not a criticism; jus’ filling the gap. And pointing out that that release is a prime example on how much further Criterion goes in the packaging and enviability of their releases.)
I second (or 3rd/4th?) the Herzog/Kinski boxset. Five films plus the My Best Fiend doc, decent transfer, and all for under $40 on Amazon.
Although I agree it isn’t a high priority, I would like to see Herzog’s movies in the Criterion Collection… whenever Criterion gets a chance. No rush, but please do it some time before I die. As sensationalope cruz mentioned, they did add a little gem to Burden of Dreams, but that has only left me wanting more, much more.
I have to admit I got week and bought the Herzog/Kinski set which is like the next best thing to owning an official Collection of his work.
I think the Anchor Bays look great, and all the commentaries I’ve heard are great too…can’t imagine doing much better. And I understand that Herzog doesn’t keep many supplementary materials beyond a few months after a film’s completion: 6 months after the negative is finalized, the leftover footage gets chucked, or something like that, and I believe paper archives are chucked too. BURDEN OF DREAMS could have been an extra on FITZCARRALDO, and …EATS HIS SHOE on something else, and there are a few other short docs about his works that might act as timely extras for other releases of his, but who knows what else might or might not get dug up to fill out a Criterion release. Really, an Eclipse box of some of his shorts that have never seen the light of day with proper commercial release or that were recently put out of print when New Yorker Video would be the best thing Criterion could do.
LoL I just watched most of the DvD’s they do look great.
Pavel
Werner Herzog is a terrific and fascinating – not to mention energetic director, but sadly not one of his films is in the criterion dvd or blu-ray collection. I will not buy a film of his unless it has been properly licensed and distributed. The Criterion Collection has Burden of Dreams which I got as a gift, and is a great movie, but not one film has even been issued? Why is this Criterion?
I Have seen several films, mostly by chance and I can honestly say that if there is one film maker who deserves the Criterion treatment it’s Werner Herzog.The picture quality for Aguirre and Kasper Hauser, as well as Stroszek and Fitzcarraldo are so so as single DVD’s there is a collection of films available but the price value is close to $93 or even $110 dollars for five or so films. Petition for Herzog to go to Criterion!!!