Criterion Blu-ray titles! (1 Viewer)

[jayembee]

Been waiting a while for Romeo and Juliet. Saw this version in 9th grade English class on VHS. Probably the first and last time I saw it .

I saw it 9th grade English class, too. Except that we went on a field trip to see it in the cinema.

I can't say as I'm surprised that Paramount passed this one on to Criterion. They probably didn't want to deal with any controversary over Olivia Hussey's underaged bare breasts.

 

[Matt Hough]

Romeo and Juliet is a lush, classical version of the piece, as far removed from the Baz version as it's possible to be. It's exquisitely made and beautifully cast. The two leads were inexperienced, and that shows occasionally, but overall, I think it's the best Romeo and Juliet on film.

 

[Matt Hough]

I can't say as I'm surprised that Paramount passed this one on to Criterion. They probably didn't want to deal with any controversary over Olivia Hussey's underaged bare breasts.

Or Whiting's bare tush!

 

[jayembee]

Or Whiting's bare tush!

I wasn't paying any attention to that.

 

[Lord Dalek]

I can't say as I'm surprised that Paramount passed this one on to Criterion. They probably didn't want to deal with any controversary over Olivia Hussey's underaged bare breasts.

Still rated G!

 

[uncledougie]

Which shows the hugely varying ratings discrepancies since 1968; we’ve come a long way, but noses in many ways have gotten bluer - very inconsistent.

 

[mark brown]

I think it was rated M!

 

[Capt D McMars]

I think it was rated M!

probably the era in which it was run, Cockwork Orange was rated X when it was first released...

 

[uncledougie]

Originally rated G - as well as U in the UK, suitable for ages 4 and up. It was in fact later rerated PG, but as pointed out, standards have changed and evolved over time and were in a fair amount of flux in the early years.

 

[battlebeast]

Haven't seen Romeo and Juliet. I wonder if it would be worth a blind buy.
The only Romeo and Juliet I have seen is the Baz Luhrmann version, and I quite liked that.

It’s not at all like the Baz Luhrman version. Very different, but very good in a classic setting.

 

[Capt D McMars]

Looks like BFI is set to release a new hd classic offering from Akira Kurosawa ~

 

[B-ROLL]

probably the era in which it was run, Cockwork Orange was rated X when it was first released...

I'm pretty sure "A Cockwork Orange" (several virgins versions)

is still XXX!
But "A Clockwork Orange" was according to Wikipedia cut from an original X to an R...

 

[Jeffrey D]

I'm pretty sure "A Cockwork Orange" (several virgins versions)
View attachment 165207
is still XXX!
But "A Clockwork Orange" was according to Wikipedia cut from an original X to an R...
View attachment 165208

View attachment 165209

i guess it was safe to assume there was an adult title of that name. Probably no message of free will exists in that other film though.

 

[B-ROLL]

i guess it was safe to assume there was an adult title of that name. Probably no message of free will exists in that other film though.

I've um heard these are often parodies of the original film with some plotpoint ending up with someone ending up end up ..!

 

[jayembee]

probably the era in which it was run, Cockwork Orange was rated X when it was first released...

It was. So was Midnight Cowboy. I saw A Clockwork Orange its opening weeks in Boston when it was rated "X". When it moved into the 'burbs, it was rated "R". I couldn't tell the difference. As I understand it, a scene or two was trimmed by a few seconds to lower the rating. I've no doubt that it was done solely to make it easier to market in the suburbs.

The current "R" rated versions of both A Clockwork Orange and Midnight Cowboy are identical to their original "X" versions. It's just that standards have changed, and what would get an "X" circa 1970 would get an "R" later on.

 

[Derrick King]

Looks like BFI is set to release a new hd classic offering from Akira Kurosawa ~

I believe this is actually a re-release of the existing restoration, not a new 4K job.

 

[Lord Dalek]

It was. So was Midnight Cowboy. I saw A Clockwork Orange its opening weeks in Boston when it was rated "X". When it moved into the 'burbs, it was rated "R". I couldn't tell the difference. As I understand it, a scene or two was trimmed by a few seconds to lower the rating. I've no doubt that it was done solely to make it easier to market in the suburbs.

The current "R" rated versions of both A Clockwork Orange and Midnight Cowboy are identical to their original "X" versions. It's just that standards have changed, and what would get an "X" circa 1970 would get an "R" later on.

The 69-70 ratings are all sort of screwed up. Part of the reason On Her Majesties Secret Service ended up taking a big loss in the US (besides Lazenby of course) was it saddled with the dreaded "M" rating that was quickly tossed for PG.

 

[Lord Dalek]

MARCH:

Mildred Pierce (UHD)
Last Hurrah for Chivalry
Inland Empire (No UHD)
Chilly Scenes of Winter

 

[jayembee]

MARCH:

Mildred Pierce (UHD)
Last Hurrah for Chivalry
Inland Empire (No UHD)
Chilly Scenes of Winter

(1) Interesting to see an upgrade to Mildred Pierce.
(2) I have the John Woo two-fer from Eureka that includes Last Hurrah for Chivalry, so I'm inclined to pass on this. Quite frankly, if they wanted to do a John Woo title, I would've killed for some sort of "ultimate edition" of Bullet in the Head.
(3) Given that it's supposed to be from a 4K restoration, I'm surprised that Criterion decided against a UHD release of Inland Empire.
(4) The JMS film is a welcome surprise.

 

[Lord Dalek]

(3) Given that it's supposed to be from a 4K restoration, I'm surprised that Criterion decided against a UHD release of Inland Empire.

Maybe somebody realized 4K UHD for a movie shot in FOUR EIGHTY EYE was kind of...you know...a stupid idea.