I do not agree with Josef K, but I do agree with sexy beast; it is difficult if a Studio sits on its behind while punters are growing older by the day. Library titles should be made available to the market place much quicker than it is now. Furthermore, since the advent of BLURAY, it has slowed smaller independents releasing regular editions of titles on DVD, so they can coincide the release with a BLURAY version. Look at a film like “Let the Right One In”, the film has been out there for close to a year, and yet the DVD is still not available; it is coming in March ‘09, but I’ve got a copy of it to tide me over till I buy the official release (no, it is not for lending or copying…I simply adore the film and need it NOW).
As for Josef, I would feel bad ripping music from an independent artist without paying for it; you guys need the money for more gear and recording facilities; that stuff is not cheap by any means.
Ultimately, for all our sakes as consumers..ART needs to be patronized for quality product to be produced…..stuff that will bend our minds in new and challenging ways.
That’s my take on it.
Any HAMMER aficionados out there who would like to see a classic HAMMER title given the once over by our favorite DVD producers?
Write your titles in please.
“The Curse of the Werewolf” totally UNCUT (I saw a French print of this as a lad, and it had the complete scene in the jail where, after being raped, Yvonne Romain kills Richard Wordsworth with a rock to the head) . The UNIVERSAL DVD omits this scene and another of a young LEON limping home after being shot in the leg early in the story.
Anyone out there salivating yet?
OK people, this is a post where you are allowed to love Aki Kaurismäki and other greats and shamelessly admit to a love of HAMMER as well.
2 brave souls have already posted; I want more.
By the way, I hope you know that the British Film Institute have the 1957 “Dracula” as an upcoming release; that’s right Criterion….the BFI….what are you going to do about it? Can you one-up them I wonder.
To all HAMMER and CRITERION lovers, check out the end of Powell’s “Black Narcissus” (the scene with the crazy nun played by Kathleen Byron is lurking in the dark following Deborah Kerr’s character; the close-up as she opens the huge wooden doors makes her look like a vampire) and some of the early Gothics lensed by Jack Asher (Dracula/“Brides of Dracula” particularly); I believe there is a distinct homage to the Powell film.
I’m scared here (prepare the wrath patrol) but I’m going to have to go with contemporary films of David Lynch. Because a film is so obviously obscure and overly long such as INLAND EMPIRE does not make it a modern masterpiece…I’m sorry. I better hide right now.
“run away….run away!”
“Fool’s Gold” by The Stone Roses; “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels”; the scene where Vinnie Jones leaves the bar at the end of the film, and tells his son they’re in the money lending business; priceless.
“A Whiter Shade of Pale” instrumental interpretation by King Curtis; opening credit sequence to “Withnail and I”
Just made the move to Blu today and having a 42" plasma watching Pan’s Labyrinth is rather beautiful. I compared it with my SD copy played on my OPPO (which is a fantastic SD up sampling all region player by the way), and blows it out of the park.
The Blu player also up samples, and gives a richer image than the OPPO. So I think with players (at least) coming down in price, it was a good decision. I recommend it to anyone here, and CRITERION, hurry up and release more BD Discs.Still waiting for WALKABOUT.
I have ordered 2001 and The Shining and The Searchers and Bullitt. What are your opinions on the up sampling capabilities of your respective machines. Do you find that certain standard DVD titles of yours simply look so good, they don’t need upgrading?
Agree with Mr. King on Walkabout (by the way Criterion was supposed to have re-released this title by now…does anyone know what happened to it?)
I like the Pablo Ferro films titles for the opening of Peter Yates’s Bullitt. The crawling transparent letters (within the letters, you see a different image).
The Graduate with Dustin Hoffman on the airport treadmill seemingly going nowhere.
Bonnie and Clyde with the white letters turning red foreshadowing the extreme violence which we see later in the film intermixed with what appears to be period photos of the Barrow Gang.
I agree with Alanedit that Alien 3 was underrated. It beats James Cameron’s sequel for me on all counts. (Which is also probably why I enjoy the original version of The Exorcist better than the redux version released as “The Version you’ve never seen”)
Kim Ki-Duk for the sheer visual beauty of his films; only Criterion could release these already available disparate titles in next to perfect versions.
Have not seen it yet, however it is coming out on DVD soon via YESASIA on line store.
Have you seen Samaritan Girl? very good although I question the image on the DVD cover as it could lead to a misapprehension as to the nature of the film. If you have a chance seek it out.
Fabulous film, but purchase the Masters of Cinema version from Amazon.co.uk; it has the complete version and much better transfer in all regards. I own the Criterion and would not part with it, but after reading http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDReviews8/kwaidan.htm, decided to upgrade since it’s one of my favorite films.
There’s a great seduction scene between Helen Mirren and John Lynch in CAL by Pat O’Connor. Helen Mirren offering a young Cal warmth in a very cold outhouse that has been converted into living quarters; very beautiful and touching scene.
The real question remains why did studios go standard def in the first place since blue laser technology was available more than 10 years ago. Many companies had figured out that blue laser CD players had significantly improved sound reproduction in high end audio equipment back then. The studios could have gone for that tech without ever releasing regular DVDs, but no….they were conspicuously short sighted and figured the consumer would buy a new format down the line and the studios would make more money that way.
I took the plunge in BD, and I’m happy I did, however I still hold a grudge for the manufacturers not bringing this out 10 years ago as they should have in the first place.
to Isayc Payne; “Don’t Look Now” is not a Criterion release, I believe it is a Paramount release so far; let’s hope for a Criterion edition soon though.
I just upgraded to blu ray very recently and I agree completely with you Richard. Current DVD releases are very nicely rendered with today’s standard tech anyways. I only have 3 blu rays in my collection, and apart from PAN’S LABYRINTH, not great ones. The only other title I have in mind of purchasing are THE SEARCHERS, and the upcoming March ‘09 release of LET THE RIGHT ONE IN. (that’s in 3 months!!)
I kept going to Bill Hunt’s Digital Bits website for reviews and upcoming DVD news, but since BLU RAY, all Bill has been on around is describing exactly what Richard is saying….tech over art. I can’t say I’m too enamored by the whole thing, I rather like film for its own sake, not because of the “WOW” effect. Even after buying into Blu, I’m still rather confused over the whole thing now; I just finished watching EARLY SPRING by Ozu on my OPPO in 720p and I got lost in the film completely; did not care that it was not a blu ray or HD or whatever. It was still a very beautiful film and the main reason I’m in love with movies I suppose.
Reservoir Dogs any day; his best film…I don’t believe he will top it. PF is very good indeed and I love it also, but DOGS is more spontaneous and less contrived.
Steve McQueen as far as cool Hollywood goes.
Paul Newman in “The Verdict”; should have won that Oscar over Ben Gandhi Kingsley; I’m sorry, you just cannot win an Oscar just because you look like a famous guy…Newman was robbed.
Currently:
Johnny Depp is very good and has great versatility.
Robert Downey Jnr. is fantastic in pretty much anything he does.
I voluminously hate Shia LeBoeuf , or whatever he calls himself; the worst actor that gets major roles since that other guy that destroyed many 80’s films fading in obscurity eventually himself:Steve Guttenberg.
Cannot stand “the beef”……
I had heard from AnchorBay that they were in fact working on a revamped edition of their HAMMER titles, but I believe their licensing agreement ended before it could come to fruition, and nothing more was heard.
I did manage to upgrade my “Dracula Prince of Darkness” DVD (let’s face the AB transfer sucks) with a German edition which is anamorphic and in English which really amazing. Highly recommended. You can purchase at the Amazon.de website.
Unfortunately, DVDs now out of print can be found as torrents, but really they are only stopgaps until the genuine article is re-released. I was kind of hoping that Blue Underground might make a bid for the 20th century titles……Bill any chance?
Is buying pirated DVDs justified - due to state censorship? cost of original DVDs? love of films? over 3 years ago
I do not agree with Josef K, but I do agree with sexy beast; it is difficult if a Studio sits on its behind while punters are growing older by the day. Library titles should be made available to the market place much quicker than it is now. Furthermore, since the advent of BLURAY, it has slowed smaller independents releasing regular editions of titles on DVD, so they can coincide the release with a BLURAY version. Look at a film like “Let the Right One In”, the film has been out there for close to a year, and yet the DVD is still not available; it is coming in March ‘09, but I’ve got a copy of it to tide me over till I buy the official release (no, it is not for lending or copying…I simply adore the film and need it NOW).
As for Josef, I would feel bad ripping music from an independent artist without paying for it; you guys need the money for more gear and recording facilities; that stuff is not cheap by any means.
Ultimately, for all our sakes as consumers..ART needs to be patronized for quality product to be produced…..stuff that will bend our minds in new and challenging ways.
That’s my take on it.
Go to Comment
HAMMER FILMS for Criterion over 3 years ago
Any HAMMER aficionados out there who would like to see a classic HAMMER title given the once over by our favorite DVD producers?
Write your titles in please.
“The Curse of the Werewolf” totally UNCUT (I saw a French print of this as a lad, and it had the complete scene in the jail where, after being raped, Yvonne Romain kills Richard Wordsworth with a rock to the head) . The UNIVERSAL DVD omits this scene and another of a young LEON limping home after being shot in the leg early in the story.
Anyone out there salivating yet?
Go to Comment
HAMMER FILMS for Criterion over 3 years ago
OK people, this is a post where you are allowed to love Aki Kaurismäki and other greats and shamelessly admit to a love of HAMMER as well.
2 brave souls have already posted; I want more.
By the way, I hope you know that the British Film Institute have the 1957 “Dracula” as an upcoming release; that’s right Criterion….the BFI….what are you going to do about it? Can you one-up them I wonder.
To all HAMMER and CRITERION lovers, check out the end of Powell’s “Black Narcissus” (the scene with the crazy nun played by Kathleen Byron is lurking in the dark following Deborah Kerr’s character; the close-up as she opens the huge wooden doors makes her look like a vampire) and some of the early Gothics lensed by Jack Asher (Dracula/“Brides of Dracula” particularly); I believe there is a distinct homage to the Powell film.
Go to Comment
Who do you think the most overrated director is? over 3 years ago
I’m scared here (prepare the wrath patrol) but I’m going to have to go with contemporary films of David Lynch. Because a film is so obviously obscure and overly long such as INLAND EMPIRE does not make it a modern masterpiece…I’m sorry. I better hide right now.
“run away….run away!”
Go to Comment
Favorite use of a song in a film. over 3 years ago
“Fool’s Gold” by The Stone Roses; “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels”; the scene where Vinnie Jones leaves the bar at the end of the film, and tells his son they’re in the money lending business; priceless.
“A Whiter Shade of Pale” instrumental interpretation by King Curtis; opening credit sequence to “Withnail and I”
Go to Comment
to blu or not to blu over 3 years ago
Just made the move to Blu today and having a 42" plasma watching Pan’s Labyrinth is rather beautiful. I compared it with my SD copy played on my OPPO (which is a fantastic SD up sampling all region player by the way), and blows it out of the park.
The Blu player also up samples, and gives a richer image than the OPPO. So I think with players (at least) coming down in price, it was a good decision. I recommend it to anyone here, and CRITERION, hurry up and release more BD Discs.Still waiting for WALKABOUT.
Go to Comment
to blu or not to blu over 3 years ago
I was wondering about Kubrick; worth double dipping for those titles?
Go to Comment
to blu or not to blu over 3 years ago
I have ordered 2001 and The Shining and The Searchers and Bullitt. What are your opinions on the up sampling capabilities of your respective machines. Do you find that certain standard DVD titles of yours simply look so good, they don’t need upgrading?
Agree with Mr. King on Walkabout (by the way Criterion was supposed to have re-released this title by now…does anyone know what happened to it?)
Go to Comment
Your favorite title sequence over 3 years ago
I like the Pablo Ferro films titles for the opening of Peter Yates’s Bullitt. The crawling transparent letters (within the letters, you see a different image).
The Graduate with Dustin Hoffman on the airport treadmill seemingly going nowhere.
Bonnie and Clyde with the white letters turning red foreshadowing the extreme violence which we see later in the film intermixed with what appears to be period photos of the Barrow Gang.
Go to Comment
Underrated / overrated over 3 years ago
I agree with Alanedit that Alien 3 was underrated. It beats James Cameron’s sequel for me on all counts. (Which is also probably why I enjoy the original version of The Exorcist better than the redux version released as “The Version you’ve never seen”)
Go to Comment
WHICH DIRECTORS...NOT...CURRENTLY REPRESENTED IN THE CRITERION COLLECTION DO YOU WANT TO SEE INCLUDED? over 3 years ago
Kim Ki-Duk for the sheer visual beauty of his films; only Criterion could release these already available disparate titles in next to perfect versions.
Go to Comment
WHICH DIRECTORS...NOT...CURRENTLY REPRESENTED IN THE CRITERION COLLECTION DO YOU WANT TO SEE INCLUDED? over 3 years ago
Have not seen it yet, however it is coming out on DVD soon via YESASIA on line store.
Have you seen Samaritan Girl? very good although I question the image on the DVD cover as it could lead to a misapprehension as to the nature of the film. If you have a chance seek it out.
Go to Comment
Kwaidan over 3 years ago
Fabulous film, but purchase the Masters of Cinema version from Amazon.co.uk; it has the complete version and much better transfer in all regards. I own the Criterion and would not part with it, but after reading http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDReviews8/kwaidan.htm, decided to upgrade since it’s one of my favorite films.
Go to Comment
Kwaidan over 3 years ago
Agree with DCDreams about HARA KIRI; another masterpiece; incredible film.
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Help make The Auteurs totally awesome over 3 years ago
Make it a bit more obvious when you’ve added someone as a friend that a positive reply has been given.
Ability to delete sent messages.
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Most Memorable "Open" Endings in Cinema over 3 years ago
L’avventura; I love the end where Monica Vitti gently puts a hand on Gabriele Ferzetti’s shoulder as she is standing behind him.
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Most Memorable "Open" Endings in Cinema over 3 years ago
Thank you Allison; I’m afraid I’ve not yet had the privilege of seeing Broken Flowers.
Go to Comment
Most erotic films you've seen. over 3 years ago
There’s a great seduction scene between Helen Mirren and John Lynch in CAL by Pat O’Connor. Helen Mirren offering a young Cal warmth in a very cold outhouse that has been converted into living quarters; very beautiful and touching scene.
Go to Comment
Criterion's lame blu-ray debut over 3 years ago
The real question remains why did studios go standard def in the first place since blue laser technology was available more than 10 years ago. Many companies had figured out that blue laser CD players had significantly improved sound reproduction in high end audio equipment back then. The studios could have gone for that tech without ever releasing regular DVDs, but no….they were conspicuously short sighted and figured the consumer would buy a new format down the line and the studios would make more money that way.
I took the plunge in BD, and I’m happy I did, however I still hold a grudge for the manufacturers not bringing this out 10 years ago as they should have in the first place.
Go to Comment
Nicolas Roeg over 3 years ago
to Isayc Payne; “Don’t Look Now” is not a Criterion release, I believe it is a Paramount release so far; let’s hope for a Criterion edition soon though.
Go to Comment
Criterion's lame blu-ray debut over 3 years ago
I just upgraded to blu ray very recently and I agree completely with you Richard. Current DVD releases are very nicely rendered with today’s standard tech anyways. I only have 3 blu rays in my collection, and apart from PAN’S LABYRINTH, not great ones. The only other title I have in mind of purchasing are THE SEARCHERS, and the upcoming March ‘09 release of LET THE RIGHT ONE IN. (that’s in 3 months!!)
I kept going to Bill Hunt’s Digital Bits website for reviews and upcoming DVD news, but since BLU RAY, all Bill has been on around is describing exactly what Richard is saying….tech over art. I can’t say I’m too enamored by the whole thing, I rather like film for its own sake, not because of the “WOW” effect. Even after buying into Blu, I’m still rather confused over the whole thing now; I just finished watching EARLY SPRING by Ozu on my OPPO in 720p and I got lost in the film completely; did not care that it was not a blu ray or HD or whatever. It was still a very beautiful film and the main reason I’m in love with movies I suppose.
Go to Comment
Slumdog Millionaire Overrated Film of the Year over 3 years ago
Does it have a VANGELIS soundtrack?
Go to Comment
Pulp Fiction v Reservoir Dogs over 3 years ago
Reservoir Dogs any day; his best film…I don’t believe he will top it. PF is very good indeed and I love it also, but DOGS is more spontaneous and less contrived.
Go to Comment
BOXING DAY BLU'S over 3 years ago
What are your boxing day wanna get titles? Planet of the Apes BLU box. The Man who fell to Earth? hmmmmm
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Whats your favourite actor,and what actor is so bad you cant look at him over 3 years ago
Steve McQueen as far as cool Hollywood goes.
Paul Newman in “The Verdict”; should have won that Oscar over Ben Gandhi Kingsley; I’m sorry, you just cannot win an Oscar just because you look like a famous guy…Newman was robbed.
Currently:
Johnny Depp is very good and has great versatility.
Robert Downey Jnr. is fantastic in pretty much anything he does.
I voluminously hate Shia LeBoeuf , or whatever he calls himself; the worst actor that gets major roles since that other guy that destroyed many 80’s films fading in obscurity eventually himself:Steve Guttenberg.
Cannot stand “the beef”……
Go to Comment
WHAT MOVIE WILL YOU BE WATCHING THIS NEW YEAR'S EVE? over 3 years ago
Hopefully “2001” coupled with a Tarkovsky, not sure which one yet.
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List the most exemplary acting performance(s) over 3 years ago
Paul Newman “The Verdict” Mamet script/no make-up to make him look like Gandhi/The should-have-been Oscar performance of the year.
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Most Memorable "Open" Endings in Cinema over 3 years ago
This topic needs a refresh.
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Best British Film over 3 years ago
Powell and Pressburger’s “Black Narcissus” should be part of that list and Jack Clayton’s “The Innocents”.
Go to Comment
HAMMER FILMS for Criterion over 3 years ago
I had heard from AnchorBay that they were in fact working on a revamped edition of their HAMMER titles, but I believe their licensing agreement ended before it could come to fruition, and nothing more was heard.
I did manage to upgrade my “Dracula Prince of Darkness” DVD (let’s face the AB transfer sucks) with a German edition which is anamorphic and in English which really amazing. Highly recommended. You can purchase at the Amazon.de website.
Unfortunately, DVDs now out of print can be found as torrents, but really they are only stopgaps until the genuine article is re-released. I was kind of hoping that Blue Underground might make a bid for the 20th century titles……Bill any chance?
Go to Comment