Encounters at the End of the World (DVD)

Eddie --

You didn't write parting thoughts in the end:-). Anyways, enjoyed your review as always.

From your review -
"Chris Long. Chris is fearless and honest he is one of the few reviewers who aren´t afraid to deliver negative reviews of DVDs released by Criterion."

Movies released on Criterion is hardly any representation of how good or bad a movie is. How well a critic (like Chris) reviews a movie should not be based on his/her Criterion reviews. The other day I was reading a review which you wrote in 2001. Melville's last movie "Un " something like I thoroughly enjoyed the non-criterion review. You know what I mean:-).

As you know, we both have agreed couple of times, Criterion in way too overated. They only release Japanese and French movies.

Nuff said.

Ranjan,

Chris and I fully agree with your views about Criterion. However, just take a look around the Internet--so many "reviewers" fall over themselves praising Criterion just to avoid appearing to be idiots. However, Criterion has picked some really awful movies to release (like "Armageddon"), and many of Criterion's early DVDs (Spine Numbers 1 through 100) look/sound terrible.

I've decided not to tack another paragraph to the end of the review after the "Extras" section...it seems like people stop reading after a certain point, so I'm going to put all the substantive stuff all in one place.

Hey I read the parting thoughts paragraph.

As you know, we both have agreed couple of times, Criterion in way too overated. They only release Japanese and French movies. Nuff said.

"Only release Japanese and French movies"... huh?

I can think of several ENGLISH Criterions right now...
KING KONG
THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS
THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER
THE THIRD MAN
BLADE RUNNER
THE GRADUATE
GIMMER SHELTER
SHORT CUTS
THE SMALL BACK ROOM
THE KILLING OF AN CHINESE BOOKIE
A WOMAN UNDER THE INFLUENCE
THE LAST EMPEROR
ROBINSON CRUSOE ON MARS
THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD
THE WIZARD OF OZ
...etc

I guess you were joking.

Don't read too much on the "only" word. French and Japanese movies in Criterion collection make the majority of their movie portfolio. Half of the movies you mentioned are not even in their current DVD collection now. They were once part of their Laser Disc collection.

joe,

ranjan was obviously exaggerating for effect, though criterion is not really very worldly about its selection of non-english cinema. in criterion's eyes, it seems like only japanese, french, and italian cinema are worthy.

as of november, there are ZERO indian titles and three chinese movies. considering that there are more than two billion indians and chinese combined (two-fifths of all humanity), criterion is awfully short-sighted here.

Outstanding point Eddie. Few years ago I requested Criterion to get in touch with the India Arts Council to bring Satyajit Raj movies. Few movies by Ray are released in the UK but nothing in the US for now.

I think too many people criticize Criterion for what it is not, instead of what it is.

They have a relatively limited focus with Japan making up the overwhelming majority of their Asian cinema releases, but what they do, they do extremely well. Criterion is "a continuing series of important classic and contemporary films on DVD" and I think that's a fair description. They don't claim to be the sole gatekeepers of the canon, and nobody should think of them that way. It'd be nice if they expanded their reach, but that's what studios like New Yorker, Facets and Zeitgeist (among others) are there for.

It's a shame none of those other studios can afford the same facilities as Criterion can. New Yorker has such a great catalogue of titles, it would be wonderful to see them released in the same quality as just about any recent Criterion transfer.

chris: the truth will set criterion free.

ranjan: have you seen criterion's "merchant ivory" collection? there are several movies set in india, including a couple directed by ismail merchant (who was indian).