The first five are up on Criterion's site. Sad to see that The Third Man, The Man Who Fell to Earth and The Last Emperor have all had supplements trimmed compared to their DVD counterparts (though mostly in the form of booklets).
But on the other hand, it's virtually impossible to imagine Hitchcock at this stage in his career preferring a toned-down version of the film. This is the same Hitchcock who filmed a rape scene so brutal 12 years later in Frenzy that the BBFC in the UK refused to let it through uncut until...
There's dazzling craftsmanship throughout, but the violent moments are anything but subtle. Hitchcock wanted to present the wildest, grisliest ride yet seen in movies and could get away with it in the shower scene because there was essentially nothing there to cut, which he could prove - not so...
I'm in total agreement, Jeff. This is a clear-cut case of restoration, not tinkering after the fact. These aren't outtakes retrieved from the cutting room floor but U.S. censor cuts to three of the most contentious sequences in the film. The footage was still in certain prints in the...
Well, quite. As far as I'm concerned the proper 2-disc set of this film hasn't yet appeared. Proper, restored transfers of the 1973 theatrical release and complete preview version, along with special features that have some semblance of taste and judgement. But it seems sadly unlikely.
While I agree that the current Warner release does not do justice to this great film, the last thing that should be done is attempt to 'sort out' the workprint by 'tightening', 'fine-tuning' or what have you. By all means reinstate the scene with Garrett's wife and sort out the colour timing and...
http://www.criterion.com/asp/release.asp?id=404 Coming in September! An anamorphic transfer from a 4K-definition restoration with the supplements from Criterion's laserdisc plus a few more. Good times!
I love Part 2 as well - ludicrous and jumbled the script may be, but there's a really creepy vibe to the whole thing (even by Part 3, things were getting seriously campy) and very nicely directed by the ever-underrated Jack Sholder.
Agree with the first statement, but not the second - they're charging almost twice what they normally do for a 2-disc set, and there's almost nothing else apart from the films. Were there not even any risque pre-code shorts that could be added? No commentaries? An unusual move from Warner, to...
It's very likely if Buena Vista does bring it out, we'll get most of the extras from the Criterion laserdisc anyway - The English Patient, Sling Blade and Trainspotting featured the commentaries and at least some of the other material. It depends whether they're willing to bring over all the...
Grim news, but there is at least a silver lining - Buttery Jeb over at the Criterion Forum came across early copies of Criterion's Kicking and Screaming on store shelves and according to the back of the case it's been licensed directly from Lionsgate. If Lionsgate and Criterion are starting a...
I don't know for certain on the MGM (I doubt it, given how wildly different the colour scheme is), but the Criterion definitely is ("The Silence of the Lambs is presented in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. This new digital transfer was made from the 35mm interpositive and the...
As far as I'm aware, Criterion's supplementary section consisted mostly of a huge illustrated text essay, with numerous stills and a section featuring deleted scenes and unfinished footage from a VHS copy of the workprint. Everything aside from the commissioned text itself could just about be...
Terrific thread! Alien - more information on either side on the 1999 version, and the "Here kitty" sequence hasn't had a sepia-wash makeover. Sid & Nancy - the Criterion still reigns supreme; the colour timing on all the other releases is way off. EDIT: Add to that Criterion's The...
Second Sight also released Caught on VHS in the UK (also as part of a "Max Ophuls Collection" - the head of the company is clearly a major fan), so I'm wondering if they're planning to add to these initial four at some point in the future?
Even if the print isn't better, the compression certainly should be. This is a stunning film and I'm thrilled about this release. Two questions: is the main feature windowboxed, and how does Humphrey Jennings' Listen to Britain look? There are often days when I think the Jennings short is the...
Looks excellent - hopefully the "More!" will refer to the deleted scenes that managed to make it onto even the VHS edition but so far remain absent on DVD. Perhaps they'll turn up as Infinifilm branching clips? The metal tin looks nice and all, but nowhere near as gorgeous as the original UK...
I won't rake up the windowboxing issue in detail here, especially as it was discussed by myself and many others (EDIT: including yourself!) in this thread, but on my current monitor I find it ugly as hell and very distracting.
They could just use the elements used for the original British release (at least for the censored moments). The cinema and initial video versions were entirely uncut.
I'm going to have to pass on the Seven Samrai disc for two reasons. One, the disc will be windowboxed ("The picture has been slightly window-boxed to ensure that the maximum image is visible on all monitors" is right there on the website). I'm not watching this most majestic of films with a...
The extract that Paul Scott mentions above (full article) about third-party distribution seems to indicate Fox will be acting as both distributor and partial agent for MGM's DVD catalogue. It would certainly make sense of Criterion head Peter Becker's comments about Salo at the end of this...
The Criterion CAV laserdisc edition contains:
The Syd Mead Gallery: a collection of original gouache illustrations, pen and marker renderings, and preliminary sketches by the "visual futurist" for Blade Runner, with his production notes and comments.
A Fan's Notes, including a detailed...