Along with the mind boggling collection of single-film releases Criterion is planning to shower down on us this November , the studio has also announced plans to release an incredible looking 7-film boxed set called America Lost and Found: The BBS Story , containing the films made and produced by Bob Rafelson , Bert Schneider , and Steve Blauner between 1968 and 1972. I can hardly believe that Criterion was able to license all of these films... 

Uhhhh… Criterion totally blew me away this week. I think that’s why I haven’t gotten around to posting their slate of November releases yet (announced a couple of days ago.) There’s just way too much coming out! So, I’m splitting the announcements up into a couple of posts. This one will deal with the single disc titles and I’ll follow up with the rundown of titles in their…  Read More →

THE CRITERION COLLECTION: CRUMB (1995, Blu-ray released August 10, 2010 – MSRP $39.95) I grew up fascinated with comic books, spending as much time in the classroom creating cartoons as I did reading them afterward. When the documentary Crumb was released in 1995 it was like a sucker punch to my gut – seeing so much of my own passion for the medium on screen but filtered through the incredibly twisted mind of Robert Crumb and his... 

Huh. Well, how do you like them apples? It appears as though a good portion of the best discs out this week are comedies – Classic Bogdonavich , stars of NBC comedies, and a couple of the best Chevy Chase films ever made. All topped off by a brand, spanking new Criterion Blu-ray release. It’s gonna be a good week… 1. CRUMB There is a perpetual stream of discussion regarding the question of the best “comic book”... 

I’m going to have to get a second job. There isn’t a single title in Criterion ‘s October release slate that isn’t a must-own for me. They are all films I love, most from directors I’m quite passionate about ( Kurosawa, Anderson, Kubrick, Bergman .) What’s a film nut to do but offer up all of his hard earned cash to the gods of home video? PS: See, I told you Criterion was preparing Hausu for Blu-ray disc... 

We’re back! You might have noticed a lack of posts in the last few days. Well, we’ve been out west in Winnipeg attending the wedding of our good friends Angie and Tyson (see the incredible photos here: http://kampblog.com ) and have just returned back to Montreal. It was a fantastic trip with some really fantastic people. But now we’…  Read More →

Sometimes I wish that I was still in the UK. Sigh…The Masters of Cinema label might not be flooding the market with Blu-ray releases but man, when they tackle a title they really go full tilt! I was perusing their list of Blu-ray titles today and stumbled across these upcoming releases that, to my knowledge have yet to be officially announced. Of the three, only Shôhei Imamura ’s 1979 gem, Vengeance is Mine , for which you can see... 

Sometimes I wish that I was still in the UK. Sigh…The Masters of Cinema label might not be flooding the market with Blu-ray releases but man, when they tackle a title they really go full tilt! I was perusing their list of Blu-ray titles today and stumbled across these upcoming releases that, to my knowledge have yet to be officially announced. Of the three, only Shôhei Imamura ‘s 1979 gem, Vengeance is Mine , for which you can see... 

All right, you know the drill. Despite the fact that there’s a pretty major new TV-on-Blu release, a new Criterion Collection disc easily trumps it as this weeks “must-buy” title. Now, don’t give me any guff over this. I’m a day late with this post and sweating my bits off in this ridiculous Montreal heat. Is it summer already? Sheesh… 1. STAGECOACH John Wayne made movies before the 1939 film, Stagecoach ,... 

I’ve always loved the films of Robert Altman and I can count The Player among my absolute favourites. I’m excited to see that Warner Home Video is bringing the film to Blu-ray but I have to admit, I’ve been secretly hoping that this would eventually be a Criterion release, in the style of their feature-packed and quite mammoth Short Cuts DVD. Sigh…A film nerd can dream… THE PLAYER (September 7, 2010 – MSRP... 

This is the part of the month that gets me most excited – the new Criterion Collection announcements are here! August will see the release of Marcel Camus ’ Black Orpheus , a groundbreaking Brazilian film with an incredible score by bossa nova legend Antônio Carlos Jobim , and Terry Zwigoff ’s documentary portrait of legendary underground comic book creator Robert Crumb in his aptly-named film, Crumb . Both works are stunning... 

This week is a no-brainer for me, as the number one pick is one of my all time favourite films! The rest of the Blu-ray discs out this week are a bit of a mixed bag, though, with some decent, new Hollywood fliks (and some truly awful ones), some catalogue titles and a couple of pretty decent anime releases. 1. WALKABOUT My old Criterion Collection edition of Walkabout has been one of the most treasured DVDs in my vast collection for years now.... 

Remember how I had trouble getting inspired to pick up one of last weeks new Blu-ray releases? Well, let me tell you, that’s so far from being an issue this week. There’s actually just way, way too many quality discs coming out over the next few days, from a couple of new Criterion releases, an Oscar winner and the biggest…  Read More →

Oh boy! This is a big, big day. I think a lot of us were expecting Criterion to announce a Blu-ray release of Powell and Pressburger ’s The Red Shoes at some point, seeing as how it was all over the news last year due to its remarkable restoration. But actually seeing the cover, the disc details…well, I’m left a bit breathless. Never satisfied to leave my lungs at peace, Criterion has also announced plans to deliver P&P’s... 

(Thought I should let you know that I started this post yesterday, to get it out in time for release day. Then the office called, forcing me in early and keeping me from finishing this up until now. Sorry about the delay!) This week is a killer. Seriously, this list could easily be a top 10. Or 15. I can’t recall a week in recent history when their was such a plethora of amazing titles hitting the shops on the same day! Four Criterion...